Merkur Progress

Merkur Progress

$$ Mid-rangeTrending Down$69.95

tldr; Highly praised for smooth and comfortable, aggressive performance.

$69.95 on Amazon

Sentiment Breakdown

54%Positive
Positive
54%
Neutral
43%
Negative
3%
Based on 239 Reddit opinions

Strengths & Weaknesses

Each axis shows what % of Reddit comments are positive about that topic. Higher = more praise.

Key Features

  • ONE OF THE FIRST SAFETY RAZORS WITH AN ADJUSTABLE BLADE GAP: MERKUR 500C offers a smooth, irritation-free shave with an adjustable blade gap tailored to your skin and hair. It eliminates razor burns, nicks, and cuts for a flawless, effortless shave.
  • TWIST HANDLE TO ADJUST: The MERKUR 500C adjustable razor works by twisting the handle to modify the blade gap and control shave aggressiveness. It offers a gentler or closer shave, suitable for different skin types, hair thicknesses, and shaving needs.
  • TIMELESS GERMAN DESIGN SINCE THE 1950s: The MERKUR 500C embodies German craftsmanship and precision engineering. It's a double-edge razor Built for durability and offers a customizable shave, ensuring a smooth, comfy experience tailored to your needs.
  • SMOOTH, IRRITATION-FREE SHAVE: The MERKUR 500C delivers a smooth, irritation-free shave with its adjustable design. Ideal for sensitive skin or coarse hair, it eliminates razor burn, nicks, and cuts, ensuring a comfortable, effortless shave.
  • NO PLASTIC DESIGN: With a handle made of high-quality brass and a chrome finish, this double-edge razor ensures long-lasting performance. It's heavier than aluminum and plastic razors, delivering a smoother shave every time.
  • USE WITH STANDARD BLADE, PENNIES PER SHAVE: This single-blade razor is compatible with any standard double-edged razor blade, delivering outstanding performance at an affordable cost. No subscriptions or custom blades are required.
  • EXPLORE THE MERKUR COLLECTION: Discover MERKUR's versatile razors, designed to match your shaving routine. With various handle styles, comb designs, and finishes, it's ideal for everyone. Find the perfect fit for you or expand your razor collection.
  • 😌 Comfortable with minimal irritation

Sentiment Over Time

50%75%100%Apr '25May '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25100% (Apr '25) - 47.3 comments90% (May '25) - 15.6 comments100% (Oct '25) - 24 comments50% (Nov '25) - 7 comments100% (Dec '25) - 2.3 comments

Historical Price Data

Merkur Progress
$64$68$72$76Apr '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Nov '25Dec '25Feb '26Mar '26Mar '26Low: $68.4Current: $68.4
Merkur Progress
All-time low: $41.26(2016-03)

What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Merkur Progress

Best Praise
+8 pts
* Razor: Merkur Progress (4/4) * Blade: Gillette Nacet (2 of 10 Total Passes/5 Total Shaves, Final Use) * Brush: Semogue SOC Mistura * Lather: Hendrix Classics and Co Empire State of Mind (Leftover Sample in Lather Bowl) * Aftershave: Aqua Velva Musk Yesterday, u/Jill_Lett_Slim shaved with his Progress on Setting 4 for all three passes and commented that he had an incredible shave. I usually top out on Setting 3.5, but decided to give it a go. With about 24 hours growth, I got the same incredible result over two passes (WTG/ATG). It kind of makes me wonder if my Progress is a better shaver than my 37c?🤔
r/wicked_edge
View
Top Criticism
+3 pts
I never heard that Merkur razors are known for their strict manufacturing tolerances. As an adjustable, Merkur Progress isn't an expensive razor. Nowadays "made in Germany" doesn't mean much: you can find many made in Germany cheap products. It really depends on the Country you are comparing to Germany. If you compare a random African car with a random German car I understand your bias but I think that this rule of thumb does not apply to mass produced DE razors. I haven't a Merkur Progress but I read a lot about it. I always considered it a reliable not expensive adjustable razor not too aggressive on higher settings, mild on lowest setting and not CNC machined. When I was looking for my 1st DE razor, an adjustable, I opted for a Pearl Flexi open comb. When you set it to the lowest setting it goes beyond the 1.0 mark but it's not a real problem. The blade alignment is almost perfect but I still check and correct it a little when clamping the blade, just as a Quality Check (I do it with all my razors, even with GameChanger. Both GameChanger and KCG have a very good blade alignment but after a little correction, if needed, the alignment I get with the Flexi is almost perfect). I do the same with gap, checking if it's even along the entire edge and on both the edges (the reason behind possible uneven gaps along the edge with the Flexi is the spring base. They weren't flattened so you can encounter some need for small corrections when you clamp the blade. Nothing serious).
r/wicked_edge
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13 more quotes available below

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Merkur Progress worth buying?
Highly praised for smooth and comfortable, aggressive performance.
What do Redditors love about the Merkur Progress?
Redditors highlight: 😌 Comfortable with minimal irritation. 🪒 Delivers smooth, close shaves. ⚠️ Aggressive blade exposure requires careful.
What are the downsides of the Merkur Progress?
Some criticisms include: "I never heard that Merkur razors are known for their strict manufacturing tolerances. As an adjustable, Merkur Progress isn't an expensive razor. Nowadays "made in Germany" doesn't mean much: you..."
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Products with more mentions (Merkur Progress has 239) tend to have more reliable scores.

239 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 4/10/2026

Merkur Progress Review - A Grade | reccs.co