My Top 5 Aluminum Safety Razors
My five favorite aluminum double-edge safety razors, ordered from least to most expensive. I have a couple of clear favorites and I’ll point those out as we go, but I love all five of these. I can get a damn fine shave every single time from any of them.
The Ascension by Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - $69.95
Quick disclosure up front: my links to Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements in the video description are affiliate links. I earn a 10% commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
The Ascension is absolutely one of my favorite razors. I own it in every material it’s been made in: copper, stainless steel, the Ascension Select (Zamak head with a stainless steel handle), and the aluminum version I’m showing here. The orange color isn’t available anymore, but the electric aqua is back in stock after being gone for a few years. Same razor, different color.
I’d recommend the stainless steel version as the primary pick overall, but for an aluminum razor, this one is genuinely special: it’s adjustable. Load a blade, tighten it down snug, then twist to open up the blade gap. At its snuggest setting it’s one of the smoothest, mildest shavers you’ll ever use.
The open comb does not make it more aggressive. Don’t be afraid of it. The dual open comb on this razor is mild, full stop. And the adjustability makes it close to a true anomaly in the aluminum space. I can’t think of another purely aluminum adjustable razor on the market. Mild when you want mild, efficient when you push it open. That’s a lot of razor for $69.95.
The Alpha Ecliptic by Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - $69.95
Same price as the Ascension, completely different razor.
This one is a slant bar and it’s efficient. I wouldn’t hand it to a brand-new wet shaver without a warning first. It takes some technique and some patience to dial in. But when you do dial it in, the shaves are excellent. I have it in two colors. They currently have the antique brass available; the ones I’m showing aren’t in stock, but the razor itself is the same.
If you want an efficient slant at this price point, the Alpha Ecliptic is one of the best options you’ll find. New to wet shaving? Just be patient with yourself. Give the razor time and it’ll reward you.
The Rex Supply Co. Envoy - $75
Stepping up to $75, and this is the Envoy from Rex Supply Co. I recommend picking it up at Razor Emporium, though you can also find it at Rex Supply Co. directly.
I’ve had this one for a while and I still don’t use the magnet that comes with it. Gimmicky, in my opinion. The razor itself, though, is a great daily driver. Perfect for a newer wet shaver or someone who wants something sitting just below medium efficiency. The one complaint I hear from some guys is that it’s not efficient enough, which was kind of the intention. Rex had the Envoy and the Console, both more efficient than this. The Envoy here comes in just under that threshold. Made in America.
I actually used it just a few days ago. I’ll always have this one in my den.
The Goodfellas Smile Styletto - from $79.99
The Styletto from Goodfellas Smile retails at $79.99 or $99.99 depending on the version, but if you buy it at The Wet Shaving Store and use my discount code TOBIN, you’ll save 10%. The lower-priced version comes out around $72. They carry it in blue and red. Free shipping kicks in at $85, so if you want free shipping you’ll need to add blades or a soap to hit that threshold. My code applies to virtually everything on the site, blades possibly being the one exception.
Full disclosure: Andy, the owner of The Wet Shaving Store, is a friend of mine. That’s the connection behind the discount code. I won’t earn anything from it, but you will save 10%.
This and the Ascension are my two absolute favorites in this countdown. Every time I grab the Styletto I’m just excited for the shave. I look forward to it. I love the way this razor shaves. I really do.
The Timeless Slant - $84
Last because it’s the most expensive, not because it’s the least impressive. The Timeless Slant is $84 direct from Timeless and $89 at Maggard. If you want a slant that delivers a mild shave rather than an aggressive one, this is your razor.
I’ve had this one since Timeless first released it and I seriously love it. I’ve owned other Timeless razors and eventually traded or sold them. This one I will never trade, never sell. It’s that good.
If I had to rank all five, it goes: Ascension first, then the Styletto, then the Timeless, then the Alpha Ecliptic, then the Envoy. But I want to be clear - I love all five.
A few honorable mentions
The V2 Starling from Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements is a single-edge aluminum that uses GEM-type blades. It’s not currently available, but I’m hoping it comes back.
Then there are my vintage Gillette Techs with aluminum handles and base plates. The head is brass with nickel plating, but the rest is aluminum. I have a huge collection of these and I love them.
And my Gillette Super Speeds. The 1969 was the first razor I ever bought personally - eleven years ago on a road trip with my wife. It holds a special place. The 1976 has an aluminum handle with the same knurling you’ll find on the blue tip, just coated differently. Technically the head is brass and nickel, but for me they count. Little big things.
80% technique, 20% science
I buy razors looking for a bargain and something that makes me feel like I got my money’s worth. I feel that way about every razor in this list. The Timeless might not be efficient enough for some guys. The Alpha Ecliptic might be too much for others. But with enough practice and the right blade combination, most people can get comfortable with any of them.
I truly believe wet shaving is 80% technique and 20% science. If your technique is there, you can build a good lather with almost any brush or soap base on the market. And you can get a damn fine shave with virtually any razor - especially the ones in this countdown. For me a Feather or a Kai is what I reach for. Experiment with blade combinations until something clicks, and then keep experimenting.
Take care. See you in the next one.