My Current Top 10 Modern Double Edge Safety Razors for 2026
Hey folks, Mike here. Four years into traditional wet shaving as of this past February, and my top 10 has changed more than I expected since I last put one of these together. Razors that were in my top five a year ago aren’t on this list at all. Not because they’re bad. They’re not. Just because my preferences have shifted.
The biggest shift is material. Early on I loved a heavy stainless steel razor. I thought that’s what I liked. I still like some stainless, but I’ve moved hard toward titanium. A lot of the heavier bronze and stainless razors are gone from my regular rotation. Some of them I’ve actually repurchased in titanium when the maker offered that option.
Before I get into the top 10, two honorable mentions. A lot of what’s on my list is expensive. I didn’t want to lead with razors that cost hundreds of dollars without saying something useful for anyone just getting into traditional wet shaving. So these two come first.
Honorable Mention: Proof Select 2.0
If you’re coming from a cartridge razor and wondering where to start, the Proof Select 2.0 is worth a serious look. It’s a single-edge razor, not a double edge, but that’s why I’m pointing to it as a starting point. The pivoting head works the way you’re already used to. Less of a learning curve.
The Select has an aluminum body with a stainless steel insert, which gives it a bit more heft than the all-aluminum Benchmark 2.0. Proof recently slimmed down the pivoting head, so the profile is easier to work with. The top plate is magnetic. Drop in your half DE blade, snap on the magnet, you’re done. I’ve been shaving with the Gem blade in mine this past week and I’ve been impressed with how it handles.
Budget pick, go with the Benchmark. Got a few extra dollars, go with the Select. Either way you’re getting a real shave instead of dragging a five-blade cartridge across your face.
Honorable Mention: Leaf Thorn
The Leaf Thorn is my other beginner recommendation. Also a single edge, also a smart transition from cartridge. Leaf makes two versions: the Thorn and the Twig. The Twig is milder. I prefer the Thorn because I like more efficiency. But if you have sensitive skin and shave every day, start with the Twig.
They come in chrome, black, and other finishes. At the time I recorded this video, Leaf was running 25% off for Earth Month. Check their site directly to see what’s current.
#10: Rockwell 6C / 6S
The Rockwell 6C was one of my first razors when I got into this hobby and it’s still in my top 10 four years later. I shaved with it yesterday on plate five. Smooth, clean, efficient. Still delivers.
The base plate system is what makes this razor worth recommending. Three plates, six settings. Flip a plate over and you move up two levels of aggressiveness. Level six is the most aggressive. I live on plate five because I want efficiency and blade feel. New shavers should start at one or two and work up from there.
The 6C is zinc alloy at $60. The 6S is stainless at $120. The color options - black, red, blue - run around $150. For anyone new to wet shaving trying to figure out what aggressiveness level suits their face, this is one of the most practical ways to find out without buying six different razors to get there.
One thing I tell every new wet shaver: don’t press. With a cartridge razor you pushed down to engage the pivot. You don’t do that with a double edge. Let the weight of the razor do the work. Light touch. The blade does the cutting. That goes for every razor on this list.
#9: Maxwell June
I picked up the Maxwell June about three or four months ago. It’s already in my top 10.
What’s different about this razor is where the adjustment lives. On most razors, the base plate sets the aggressiveness. Swap plates, change the shave. On the Maxwell June, the base plate is universal. It doesn’t change anything. What changes the experience is the top cap.
I have the standard and the EX. The EX is more aggressive than standard, but I don’t find it harsh at all. Smooth, very little blade feel, still efficient. That combination is why this has become one of my recovery razors. If you went too aggressive the day before and your skin is a little raw, but you still need to shave for work the next morning, you reach for this. Gets the job done without punishing you again.
#8: Karve Overlander
The Karve Overlander was in my top 10 a year ago. Still here.
I love this razor. Comes in aluminum and stainless steel. Very little blade feel, zero blade chatter, tight tolerances throughout. Like the Maxwell June, I’ll use it as a recovery razor when I need to take it down a notch. But I’ll also grab it on any day I just want a clean, no-drama shave. It’s that reliable.
The Rest of the Lineup
From there it’s the Razorock The GOAT at #7, Goodfellas Smile Libra at #6, Oliworks Meteorite at #5, Lambda Athena TI at #4, Tetalus Velocity One at #3, Blackbird TI at #2, and the Carbon CX at #1. I cover each of those in the full video with the same level of detail. Jump in there for the complete breakdown.
Thanks for watching. Hope this helps you figure out what to grab next, whether you’re just getting into this or looking to shake up what’s already in the den. Enjoy the shave.