Now, as a first strop I'd really, really like to invest in a Tony Miller 2 1/2 inch Artisan Red Latigo with handles and genuine linen, but it's also very expensive. After buying a few cakes of Williams Mug, a Tweezerman badger hair brush, and a shave-ready straight off of BST, I've run one or two test shaves and... wow. Steep, steep learning curve.

All I've got to say is...

it hurts. ;_;.

It's gotta be my technique, because something about this is just wrong. It hurts, and the shave isn't close at all. So, while I'm still up in the air about whether it's worth continuing this adventure, I'm trying to keep at it for at least a couple months. But, if it's only going to last a couple months, that fancy strop just doesn't seem worth it. So, I looked around for cheaper alternatives to get me through.

What do you fine gents think of these:

http://www.pointshop.com/Mall/Catalo...000027931.html

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010EN6X8?...0&linkCode=asn

Now, if only I could get someone out here in the Baltimore MD area to give a noob an in-person tutorial!