Muhle R89 Review & Buying Guide (Incl. Twist & Grande)
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Today’s article is a Muhle R89 review and buying guide – a German-made closed comb de safety razor; We check out the Muhle Traditional, Twist, and Grande versions.
How does the Muhle closed comb safety razor measure up against other safety razors such as the bestselling Merkur 34c and Edwin Jagger de89? Let’s find out in this Muhle R89 review!
Muhle R89 (Summary)
Recommended Use: Beginner
Editor’s Rating:
Value for Money:
Quality:
Rating & Feedback: Check out more reviews and feedback here.
Summary: As our Muhle R89 review will show; this double edge safety razor is a great choice for beginners that want to get into classic shaving. Muhle is known for its stunning quality and finish. The Muhle safety razor is also a great 2nd safety razor for men who’ve mastered the skill of wet shaving and looking to invest in high-end German quality safety razors.
Muhle Safety Razor First Impression
This classic safety razor has a traditional single blade razor design, but important factors such as weight (the standard model is very light), high-quality material, chrome finishing, the distance between the DE safety razor blade and handle, and the angle of the blade have evolved to near perfection due to a highly motivated and skilled design -and manufacturing team.
After the parts of the safety razor are cast in brass or steel, they go through a specialized chrome plating process.
This provides the Muhle closed comb safety razor with its classic gloss and appearance and protects the metal underneath. When you hold a Muhle R89 safety razor in your hand you will immediately notice that this is one of those real German quality shaving products!
Please note – The Muhle Traditional safety razor version is also sometimes referred to as Classic and Standard.
If not particularly mentioned in this review, we are referring to the Traditional safety razor version, if we are not explicitly saying Muhle Grande or Muhle Twist. There is also a Rosegold handle version (which is based on the Standard version). This version is a great safety razor for women
The first impression in this review is that the safety razor feels great in the hand, the finishing is perfect and it is designed to be lightweight. This is Solingen’s handcraft at a high level for sure!
The standard version of the Muhle safety razor weighs only 64 grams (2.26 ounces). Generally, given that it is a closed head comb, will provide you with a mild shave pretty similar to the Bevel safety razor.
However, this single razor shaver can still offer you a nice and tight shave when you want it to. All you need to do is load it with a more aggressive blade like the Feather and you will be good to go.
- The Muhle safety razor has an excellent design and construction as well as a perfect chrome finish
- Muhle provides you with 3 options to choose from; the 3-piece or 2-piece. If you have bigger hands and therefore prefer a longer & thicker handle, Mühle shaving has that option covered as well
- It is perfect for persons who prefer a mild, but tight shave (especially beginners)
- It is lightweight which is perfect if you are transitioning from cartridge razors to a safety razor
- The two-piece Muhle Twist variation is quite expensive
- Not the best choice for those that have a thick, tough beard
Muhle R89 Closed Comb Safety Razor Versions
Many brands in the market today will provide you with either a three or a two-piece safety razor variant. The Muhle R89 razor, however, offers them both.
It also provides you with a variant featuring an extra-long handle if this is what you fancy. They refer to the latter as the Muhle R89 Grande.
Both the Muhle R89 Grande and the Standard Muhle R89 feature the same safety razor head. They come with a three-piece razor while the Muhle R89 Twist version features a two-piece head, allowing for the base plate and the handle to be permanently bolted together.
We shall break this review into different parts since it has different razor variants that sport some subtle differences.
Interestingly enough, some pro wet shavers who have tried this safety razor have gone on record to say that it is similar to the Edwin Jagger DE89. Looking deeper into it reveals that the head of these 2 popular safety razors has the same design.
Here is another neat feature: It has (Standard and Grande versions only) the same handle as the “evil brother” Muhle R41 Open Comb Safety Razor, so you can start your wet-shaving career with a Muhle R89 and after a while, pick up just a Muhle R41 replacement headpiece and use that on the old and familiar handle.
Muhle R89 Classic
- Weighs 2.26 ounces (64 grams)
- Measures 3.7 inches (94 mm) in length and 1.6 inches in width (41 mm)
- 3 piece safety razor design
- Polished chrome finish
- Medium aggressiveness
- Made in Germany
- Great for beginners and people with sensitive skin
Overall Length: 94 mm/ 3.7 inch
Handle Length: 82.5 mm/ 3.2 inch
Handle Diameter: 12 mm/ 0.55 inch
Weight: 64 g/ 2.26 oz.
Material: Metal
Finish: Chrome
Type: 3 Piece Closed Comb
Adjustable: No
Knurled handle: Yes
Blade included: 1
Please note that the star ratings below are our ratings – it has nothing to do with how the product is rated on retailer sites.
Weight:
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Affordability:
The traditional version is the lightest of the three variants. It weighs only 2.26 ounces.
Such a light safety razor has its pros and cons. If you are transitioning from a lighter razor, like the cartridge type, then a light safety razor will make the transition to wet shaving easier.
You can later proceed to slightly heavier safety razor models. During your transition phase, however, there are a few things that you should unlearn fast.
One of these bad habits is putting on too much weight on your safety razor. You also will need to learn to use more of your shoulders rather than your wrist as was the case with cartridge razors.
As for the grip, the Muhle safety razor features a knurled design though it is not as deep as one would expect it to be. When working it horizontally, you will not slip, but while working it vertically your hands can slip especially since they will be wet.
With regards to its length, the traditional version measures 3.7 inches (94 mm). With this length, men with larger hands will find it comfortable and have just the right grip.
Finally, the standard version is a three-piece safety razor. This means that the Muhle R89 safety razor has 3 different parts including the handle, base plate, and head plate.
Muhle R89 Twist
At 4.2 inches (107 mm), the Muhle Twist safety razor is the longest variant (along with the Grande) from this company. In addition to this, it also is the heaviest of the three choices at 3.17 ounces (90 grams).
- Weighs 3.17 ounces (90 grams)
- Measures 4.2 inches (107 mm) in length and 1.6 inches in width (41 mm)
- Two-piece design
- Polished chrome finish
- Medium aggressiveness
- Made in Germany
- Great for beginners with bigger hands and people with sensitive skin
Overall Length: 107 mm/ 4.2 inch
Handle Length: 95 mm/ 3.7 inch
Handle Diameter: 14 mm/ 0.55 inch
Weight: 90g/ 3.17 oz.
Material: Metal
Finish: Chrome
Type: 2 Piece Closed Comb
Adjustable: No
Knurled handle: Yes
Blade included: 1
Weight:
Grip:
Length:
Aggressiveness:
Blade Replacement:
Shave Quality:
Affordability:
This variant features a thicker handle and has a completely different balance point that is closer to the end of the handle than the head. With the Twist, you have most of your concerns on how to get a perfect shave addressed.
Cleaning this version is much easier.
Why?
Well, rather than having a hole that runs through the shaft, this model is much shallower which makes it easier to clean with a swab. This design, in addition to making it easier to clean, also reduces the chances of corrosion.
On the flip side though, it is less aggressive than the standard version. Adding to this, it works perfectly with mid-range safety razor blades like the Wilkinson Sword.
When you decide to use sharper and more aggressive blades like the Feather, you need to keep a sharp focus as well. However, it is also important to know that how aggressive a blade feels on the face is also dependent on the person.
What may be aggressive for you could be mild for another person. That said, if this is your first time trying out wet shaving, you probably should purchase a sampler pack to find your preference.
Muhle R89 Grande
Both the Muhle R89 Grande and the Twist safety razor version are of the same length.
The Grande version proves to be slightly lighter by approx. 10 grams.
But unlike the Twist variation, the Muhle R89 Grande is a 3 piece safety razor.
So in comparison, the Grande safety razor is more of a heavier and longer version of the standard Muhle safety razor.
- Weighs 2.8 ounces (80 grams)
- Measures 3.7 inches (107 mm) in length and 1.6 inches in width (41 mm)
- 3 piece design
- Polished chrome finish
- Medium aggressiveness
- Made in Germany
- Great for beginners, people with sensitive skin, and bigger hands
Overall Length: 107 mm/ 4.2 inch
Handle Length: 95 mm/ 3.7 inch
Handle Diameter: 14 mm/ 0.55 inch
Weight: 80g/ 2.8 oz.
Material: Metal
Finish: Chrome
Type: 3 Piece Closed Comb
Adjustable: No
Knurled handle: Yes
Blades included: 1
Weight:
Grip:
Length:
Aggressiveness:
Blade Replacement:
Shave Quality:
Affordability:
Ease of Loading the Blade
For the standard and the Grande versions, loading the blades is slightly more difficult since they are 3 piece razors. Working with 3 different parts as you would imagine is slightly harder than with two parts.
Take care when you are loading the safety razor and ensure that you hold onto the sides of the safety razor to have the blade aligned as you tighten the grip. As for the Muhle R89 Twist which features a 2 piece design, you have the base plate attached to the handle.
So to load the blade, you will need to twist a lever located on the bottom side of the blade and then remove the top cap to load it. After loading the blade put back the bottom piece and then tighten it.
What Does Other Reviews and Users Say about Muhle R89 Shaving Razor
Many persons who have made this safety razor purchase have just been introduced to the art of wet shaving. Most have gone on record leaving reviews to state that they loved the experience especially because it gave them a smoother and a close shave that was for the most part nick-free.
One user in a review specifically said that with this standard model he used a Feather blade which gave near-perfect shave results. There were, however, some concerns about safety razor quality.
Some complained that the bolt broke off and some about the chipping of the chrome finishing. Check out hundreds of unbiased Muhle R89 reviews and feedback for this safety razor.
A solution for these problems is to ensure that the safety razor is dried completely to prevent any corrosion of the metals. Proper care and maintenance are usually the keys to product longevity.
Many find a cotton swab to be very useful for this.
But here is the thing, regardless of the variant that you choose you will still have a close quality shaving experience that with regular care will last you year after year, thus deserving a spot on many shaving blogs’ best men’s safety razor lists.
Muhle on ‘TV2 Helps You’ Against Gillette Fusion Pro Glide
Muhle R89 was tested against Gillette Fusion Pro Glide with the Norwegian “TV2 Hjelper Deg” (“TV2 Helps You” is a consumer aid- and unbiased reviews tv program).
Below is a translation from Norwegian of the main points.
The original article is found here (with video, and Norwegian audio)
Gillette Is the Most Expensive, but Not ‘The Best a Man Can Get’
“We test market giant against competitors which is ten times cheaper, and the result is surprising”.
Gillette’s newest model “Gillette Fusion Power ProGlide” is being put to test against the traditional D-E razor from Mühle and the disposable razor “Dual Blade Diamond” from Rema 1000 (Norwegian grocery chain).
To determine what good razors for men we have found three men with different beards.
They are being shaved by a professional barber blindfolded (not the barber!) so that they do not know which razor the shaves were done with.
The razors get points on comfort during shaving and the quality of the result.
Different Expectations
All testers use Gillette’s razors at home, and two of them have the most faith in the market leader’s product.
- I choose to believe that Gillette has spent all their money on making a good razor, so I think they are the best, says Andreas Loef before starting the test.
The last one thinks, however, that the traditional razor will grab the victory.
- I think the traditional razor is best. It looks better and sharper, comments Magnus Rokenes.
Surprising Result
After the shave is completed and the guys have assessed the results of their experience, the winner is clear.
The traditional razor (Mühle R89) takes away with the victory with a total of five stars.
Gillette finished second with four stars and the disposable razor even razor finished last with three stars.
The favorite Gillette did not win, this was not as Loef had expected.
- I thought Gillette would win maybe just by a “hair”, but I’m not surprised that the traditional razor is the winner, he says when he learns the result.
Huge Differences in Price
A pack 4 count refills razors for Gillette Fusion Power ProGlide costs 217 NOK (USD 26) on Rema 1000 (currently available for around $17).
This is more than ten times as expensive as traditional DE safety razor blades (for Mühle R89 or similar types of safety razors) that cost 25 NOK ($3) for five blades (currently you can get a pack of 3 x 5 blades for around $5), and disposable razors for 0.99 NOK ($0.12) per razor.
Asked about whether the difference in quality is enough to defend the price difference the boys in unison agree.
- I think not at all. When I learned that traditional shaving costs as little per blade I was quite surprised, says Roekenes.
- The disposable razor I think it’s okay to drop since the results were so bad, Loe adds.
The price is about 55 NOK ($6.64, $4.25) per Gillette Blade, unlike traditional blades, which costs a maximum of 5 NOK per blade ($0.6$ or currently 0.33).
The money you save makes it tempting to switch, the boys think.
- I actually come to consider it, because the traditional was cheaper, it won the test and was then the best, says Kloosterman.
- When I have worn out my Gillette, I’ll probably make a change, yes, commenting Rokenes.
Defends Price
When asked why they are so expensive, Gillette has the following to say.
- The price of products reflects the research and development invested in them, says Gillette’s communications manager Andras Papp.
How much research lies behind the products is Johan Brox, founder of barbershop.no and the barber shop “Dapper” skeptical about?
- Gillette worldwide has a 70 percent market share of razors and razor blades, so they can set the price they want. It’s probably the simplest explanation for the price as it is, says Brox.
Back to our review
Price
The variants of the old fashioned razor all have different price tags due to their different features. The two-piece safety razor is the most expensive, but it offers more convenience when it comes to loading the blade than the other two variants.
Muhle R89 Razor – Which Version Should I Choose?
Choosing between the three (or 4 if we include the Rose Gold version) product variations is all a matter of preference. But even then as earlier pointed out, you should bear in mind that the three-piece safety razors are easier to clean though they take a slightly longer time to assemble and load a blade.
The Twist takes a relatively shorter time to assemble.
Also, it is essential to note that the aggressiveness of the safety razor, for the most part, depends on the blade that you use. That being said, the Twist version is a tad less aggressive.
The more aggressive the blade – the more aggressive the shaving will be thus calling for more of your attention while wet shaving, but still all versions are to be considered safe razors. For some users, the lightweight might be a drawback, as they don’t get that heavy, solid feeling but that is a personal shaving preference.
Muhle r89 Accessories, Blade Recommendations, Kits, and Gift Sets
Muhle R89 is a safety razor that is great for beginners, but also a good pick as a safety razor for women, so you might want to start with a kit. Luckily for you, there are several grooming kits and gift sets for a beginner to choose from.
Since this razor has more or less the same specs as Edwin Jagger 89 Double Edge – accessories that fit that one will also fit this safety razor and vice versa.
Blade Recommendations
Other men also suggest that when you purchase the safety razor, you also purchase a sampler safety razor blade pack featuring different brands of blades to find your personal shave favorite. But you will not go wrong with either a Muhle Stainless Steel, a Feather, or Astra.
Travel
There is a nice leather travel case if you want to bring your ’89 safety razor out on the road. It will fit your razor and a travel brush nicely. If you don’t want to go all-out regarding a safety razor travel case, you should at least consider this Blade Guard.
Stands
If you don’t want to pick up a complete safety razor shave kit, but rather build up your own set a step at a time, it doesn’t get much better than this stand: Muhle Classic stand (Safety Razor and Brush) – Please keep in mind if you have a shave brush already – this stand will only fit up to 25mm knot size.
If you already have a stand for your brush, then this one will be a good match: Muhle Classic stand (Safety Razor only).
Fits R89, R106, R 107, R41, R101, R102, R89 Grande and R 41 Grande. It should also accept Merkur’s models: 11C, 15C, 23C, 25C, 33C, 34C, 37C, 41001, 42001, due to its neck size.
Muhle r89 vs Merkur 34c & Edwin Jagger De89
The wet shaving industry has indeed grown exponentially in the past couple of years. And while this is a great thing – finally you get to enjoy shaving like your beloved grandfather used to back in the day, it’s also a big problem especially for beginners searching for the best shave product.
You see, the increased demand for safety razors has led to an increase in the number of manufacturers. And while many are whack and provide low-quality shave products, some are true to quality and pay attention to details.
Separating the good from the not-so-good is easy. But honestly, it’s not easy to differentiate between safety razors considered the best in the industry. In light of this, we shall take you through 3 of the best safety razors with a closed comb, detailing their pros and cons to help you make an informed shave choice. The razors we choose to go head to head include; Muhle, Merkur, and Edwin Jagger since they are easily available. Another razor that is similar, but not so easily available (at least in the US) is the Timor safety razor.
Model | Our Rating | Item Weight | Item Length |
---|---|---|---|
Muhle R89 Traditional | 2.26 ounces/64 grams | 3.7 inches/ 94 mm | |
Merkur 34c | 2.83 ounces/ 80.5 grams | 3.3 inches/ 84 mm | |
Edwin Jagger de89 | 2.2 ounces/ 62 grams | 3.9 inches/ 99 mm |
First of all, none of these safety razors are bad picks, it mostly comes down to personal shave preferences and price.
Muhle R89
Pros
- High quality and great craftsmanship
- Excellent design
- Perfect chrome finish
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than the competitors (this goes especially for the Muhle R89 Twist version)
Merkur 34c
Pros
- Mid-level pricing
- Great design and build
- Knurling prevents the hand from slipping
- 2 piece safety razor design easy to adjust the blade so that it is even on both sides
Cons
- Very short handle
Edwin Jagger DE89
Pros
- Very affordable
- Same safety razor head as Muhle R89
- Different colors and handles to choose from
Cons
- Quality is good, but not as good as Muhle R89
Summary: The Merkur 34C HD is a great safety razor, it is more or less perfect both for beginners and experienced wet shavers. The design and construction are of great quality, but that does not seem to affect the price of the product. Even though the price has gone up over the last couple of years, it still is an affordable and safe razor.
The two-piece design it sports makes assembling easier in comparison to many three-piece products available on the market.
The major downside is the length of the handle, if this concerns you, you might want to check out the Merkur 180 Long Handled Safety Razor – also known as Merkur 23C
If the price concerns you, you should have a look at our review of the Merkur 34C.
When it comes to the quality and finish – Muhle R89 is for sure the best pick.
But just to make this clear, the Merkur safety razor is not of bad quality, it is just that the Muhle safety razors are in a different league (and therefore more expensive).
The Muhle R89 also has a better grip and handle vs Merkur.
If you have big hands, then for sure the ‘R89 safety razor is a better option – and you should maybe consider the Grande version in this case. Personally – if this is your first safety razor, I would maybe have gone for the Edwin Jagger DE89 – good quality, cheaper vs Muhle, and with the same shave performance.
Muhle – A Quick Look at the Background
Mühle safety razors are being produced in Mühle’s factory in Stützengrün, a 30-minute drive south of Leipzig, Germany. Muhle started as a company that made high-end shaving brushes but has since then branched out into all kinds of wet-shaving accessories such as high-quality shave creams, stands, and double-edge razor blades.
Wet shaving has recently caught on like wildfire.
Many new companies and brands have popped up like weeds in the spring. However, even with the influx of the new reusable razor, and safety razor brands on the market, the company is still considered to be one of the best and most popular.
This is courtesy of the precise design and construction as well as its flawless chrome finishing on their machined safety razor. The fact that Mühle (means a “mill” in German), founded by Otto Johannes Müller in 1945, was built up in the ruins of war and has been in the business for the past 72 years is ample proof that they know their shave stuff.
I hope that my Muhle R89 review and buying guide has helped you in your decision in search of a safety razor that will fit your shave preferences.