If you haven’t heard the name Muhle before, they are a company located in Germany that specializes in premium shaving products and skin care accessories. The company has been producing high-quality shaving products since 1945 and continues to innovate to this day. Whether it’s a shaving brush or a shiny new safety razor, Muhle’s hand-crafted wet shaving products are of the highest quality, at a modest price point.
My first experience with Muhle products was the R89 closed comb double-edge safety razor. While I have tried numerous other similar razors, the Muhle performed better than my expectations. The closed comb design made it super comfortable to shave with, and the 3-piece design made it very easy to change blades. The R89 is very attractive as it is hand-crafted and polished to a mirror finish. Other features that set the R89 apart are the rinse ports on the plate and the balanced handle that provides a great grip. Overall, the Muhle R89 has the potential to be the only safety razor you ever need to buy.
Summing it up simply, the R89 is exceptional in every way. The R89 provided a gimmick-free experience that left me thinking very highly of the brand as a whole. Continue reading for my full unboxing and Muhle R89 review.
Unboxing the Muhle R89
The R89 arrived to me in a simple, yet attractive box. The box features the company name and logo embossed onto it, front and center. The packaging was also textured which was a nice touch.
Opening the R89 box presented me with a beautifully hand-polished razor. The carton itself presented the razor beautifully.
Contents included with the package were the R89 safety razor, a single Muhle safety razor blade, and a very detailed instruction booklet. I found that the booklet covered all aspects of using the R89 to make it as simple as possible to get started, even for beginners.
The head of the R89 is gorgeously polished to a mirror finish. If I had to guess, these razors are polished and handled in a white glove setting before packaging.
The handle is textured to increase grip and the Muhle company name is engraved in a ring around the base. You can also tell by the picture that there is a slight curve to the plate, and the rinsing holes are nice and large.
The 3-piece R89 came apart very easily and the threads are very smooth. The R89 is polished top to bottom and clearly shows the level of detail put into manufacturing these razors.
Shaving with the Muhle R89
Shaving with the R89 was VERY comfortable. I used the included Muhle brand blade as I had never tried them before. I found that with this combination of blade and razor, I got zero irritation. Also, while I’m usually a fan of longer handles, the R89 felt really good in the hand and had a great balance. There was something truly elegant about shaving with this razor.
Another thing worth mentioning is that shaving with the Muhle safety razor was a bit faster than most other safety razors I’ve tried. I attribute the faster shave to the comfort and ease of rinsing the razor. Overall, the R89 quickly made it to my list of favorite razors.
Muhle R89 vs Merkur 34c
Comparing the Muhle R89 vs Merkur 34c was a pretty clear choice in my opinion. While they are both exceptional safety razors, the overall comfort and quality of the shave by the Muhle surpassed the Merkur. Don’t get me wrong though, the Merkur 34c is a great razor at a comparable price point.
Other than being a 2-piece razor as opposed to the 3-piece R89, the 34c had subtle differences that differentiated it from the R89. Firstly, the R89 is a much more polished and eye-appealing razor. Secondly, the head of the Muhle R89 is slightly more pitched than the 34c, which might make a difference in shave quality. While both are in my top favorite safety razors, the R89 is a clear winner for me.
You can read my full review of the Merkur 34c safety razor here: Merkur 34c Review – One Amazing Shave
What’s to Like About the Muhle R89
- Beautiful and polished
- Exceptionally comfortable shave
- Extremely high quality and handcrafted in Germany
- Great balance and grip
What Could Be Disliked About the R89
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- Short handle
- Expensive
- No accessories included
Overall Impression
Muhle is a company that prides itself on exceptional quality in all things wet shaving. With that, the R89 safety razor was able to deliver. I was blown away by the speed and comfort of the shave that I got when using this razor with the Muhle blade included. As my collection grows new favorites are picked regularly. However, I think the Muhle R89 has set the bar high for me in terms of aesthetics and shave quality.
