Thread: Torn on First Kit to Buy

Originally Posted by ElChe

You summed it up perfectly! That's EXACTLY why I'm torn. That and I also hear that the modular paddle strop may be easier for me to learn on since it's 3" and flat. After I cut it up while learning, I can just replace a pad.

I have both. I cannot say one is easier than the other. I personally like the "live" feel of a hanging strop over the paddle strop. You can replace the leather on either of them when you cut it up. SRD has replacement leather for their hanging strops as well as the paddle strop.

So here is my 2 cents. The paddle strop gives you more versatility for sure. There are a lot of pads available and you can try out many of them for not much cost. But the feel on a paddle strop is very different than a hanging strop. If that is what you learn on that won't be any problem for you. It also makes a good travel strop. If that is what you get, I would not put the diamond spray on the felt yet. That is a tricky proposition for a beginner and I personally put 5 razors out of commission the first time I tried it. Diamond spray can be very aggressive and you can wreck an edge pretty easily if you don't have much experience. Plain felt and Premium I leather are a really good combination.

Having just bestowed all of the virtues of a paddle strop, I still prefer a hanging strop. But that is just me. There are a lot of guys here that love the SRD paddle strop.

The rest is up to you.

BTW - if you hadn't noticed yet, there are a heck of a lot of opinions here and they are mostly based on personal preference. It takes skill in your hands to implement this. That takes time to develop. That goes for stropping, shaving, honing, mixing good lather, etc. All we can tell you is what works for us. If all you have is a hanging strop, that is perfect - you will do well. If all you have is a paddle strop, that is perfect - you will do well. If you have the DOVO Special - perfect. If you have the Dovo Best - perfect.

See the pattern here?

Some equipment may be easier to learn on, but that does not mean you won't learn. Relax a little about buying "perfect". Get some stuff, make sure your razor is shave ready and get going. You will make mistakes - we all have, but that is the way to learn. Trust me, you have already made the most important decision you can, which is to hang out here at SRP.