The Infinity is something of an anomaly. Although it follows the same basic architecture as the classic Hybrid design, its efficiency and overall performance are notably higher than many of the razors that share its underlying DNA.

The defining characteristic of a Hybrid is a clamp width of roughly 12–16mm, measured between the widest points at which the blade is secured. The classic Hybrid architecture uses two raised pillars, or ridges, that extend from the base plate to meet the top cap and clamp the blade. Interestingly, this arrangement first appeared in the UK in 1927 in a design by two little-known British inventors, John Henry Morgan and Alfred Stewart Mumme. The design was later acquired by Wardonia UK, which appears to have licensed it to Merkur, where it ultimately evolved into the legendary Model 34. Much of the subsequent development of this design language took place in Germany. In 2007, Mühle, working with Edwin Jagger, introduced the R89/DE89 with a closely related architecture. Giesen & Forsthoff followed in 2014 with the strikingly similar three-piece Timor, while Design94 introduced its own interpretation in 2021. All share the same basic twin-pillar layout and clamp widths of approximately 12mm.

Despite these similarities, the Design94 behaves very differently from its predecessors. The fundamental weakness of the Hybrid architecture is blade rigidity. Because the blade is clamped roughly midway between its centerline and cutting edge, it is neither supported close to the edge nor bent aggressively enough to generate significant rigidity through torsion. The result is a greater tendency toward flex, or chatter, which can compromise both efficiency and comfort.

The Design94 is not immune to this weakness, but it departs sharply from the others in two important respects: blade gap and blade exposure. Its 1.1mm gap is substantial, a dimension that ordinarily demands at least a degree of caution and technique. Merkur does not publish the gap of the 34C, although it is generally believed to be around 0.70mm, similar to the Timor and Yaqi Orion, while the R89 is estimated at only 0.45mm. The more intriguing difference, however, is exposure. While these other razors are generally neutral to slightly positive, Design94 specifies the Infinity at negative 0.05mm. On paper, that should make it relatively tame. In practice, it is anything but.

The feel and efficiency of the Infinity simply do not correspond to a razor with genuinely negative exposure. ShaveSplash’s contention is that the published figure is technically correct, but somewhat misleading in describing how the razor actually behaves on the face. A close examination of the top cap reveals two raised humps that appear to form a narrow contact ribbon, helping stabilize the head as it moves across the skin.

If a straight line is drawn from the top of one of these humps to the shave guard, the resulting geometric shave plane does indeed place the blade edge slightly behind the line. Measured this way, the Infinity has negative exposure.

After numerous shaves, however, ShaveSplash does not believe this represents the functional shave plane experienced in use. The raised hump appears to depress or redirect the skin slightly lower, bringing it closer to a plane defined by the broader curvature of the top cap and the guard. Relative to this plane, the blade edge sits well forward. In other words, the Infinity may have negative geometric exposure, but its effective exposure appears distinctly positive. ShaveSplash estimates that effective exposure at approximately +0.10 to +0.20mm, placing it in the same general territory as several famously efficient razors, including the Blackland Blackbird, Tatara Nodachi, Wolfman WR1 0.74, and Timeless 0.78.

And therein lies the Infinity’s real strength. Its effective exposure is substantial, and when combined with a 1.1mm blade gap, it produces tremendous cutting power. Efficiency is Medium-High, scoring a 9, with an average result of BBS. The tradeoff is that the Infinity cannot fully escape the limitations of its Hybrid architecture. Blade rigidity remains less than ideal, and Comfort suffers accordingly, scoring a 7. Consistency is solid, with repeatable and predictable results, earning an 8. Ease of Use is more demanding. The combination of a wide gap, high effective exposure, and noticeable blade flex leaves relatively little margin for error, particularly with a very sharp blade. Cuts, nicks, and weepers appeared during several early test shaves, which is why Ease of Use earns a 6. The Infinity is capable of an exceptionally close shave, but extracting that performance requires attention and technique.

Its titanium construction is equally impressive. The machining is precise, the mirror polish is exceptionally lustrous, and at 96g the Infinity manages to feel both nimble and substantial. Mechanically, it is essentially an evolution of Design94’s first titanium model introduced in 2021, which received a Special Mention at the German Design Awards in 2022. The aluminum Aviation94 and steel-headed Life series introduced in 2023 share the same head geometry, including the 1.1mm gap and stated -0.05mm exposure. The Infinity distinguishes itself with a new 92mm handle featuring a distinctive three-sided fluting pattern, along with a matching titanium stand that allows the razor to be displayed upright.

Among Hybrids, the Infinity is a particularly strong performer. Its Composite Score of 30 sits above the class average of 29, and it is one of only two razors in the category to produce an average result of BBS or better. The best-performing Hybrids tend to use trapezoidal head shapes that bend the blade downward more aggressively, creating additional torsion and improving rigidity. Razors such as the Maxwell June, Yates Winning, and class-leading Stando Sarmata benefit from this approach. Among conventional, non-trapezoidal Hybrids, however, the Infinity is the most efficient, while its Composite Score is surpassed only by the Hone Type 15, Rocnel 304, and SV 2.0, all of which place greater emphasis on Comfort and Ease of Use than outright Efficiency. For wet shavers who value exceptional workmanship, unconventional engineering, and a close shave with a healthy bite, the Design94 Infinity belongs on the short list.