Are safety razors better than cartridge razors for men?

Across the reviewers and specialist communities we read, the recurring theme is that double-edge safety razors deliver closer, less irritating shaves than multi-blade cartridges once you learn the technique, and cost far less per blade over time. The trade-off is a learning curve: community members repeatedly note that pressure and blade angle matter much more than with cartridges, so the first few weeks involve some adjustment.