I start whit Whipped dog and i have no regret about it. Since my budget is tight is shaving gear fit right for me, i do have 2 strops the balsa strop green and brown abrasive and i have 5 straights of different sizes who are just marvelous shavers. I did start straight shaving last december and even my first straight 9/16 still had a good edge. I did refresh whit the abrsive strop and the edge is as good as new. For advices(mentor) is a real gentlemen to my opinion he know is bussiness.