Noob buying first razor from SRD...

I would not spend more money on your first strop than required. The three inch is a good idea but remember you will most likely nick the strop while you learn. The difference in the leathers is simply how the razor feels and moves over the material. Some leathers are faster and provide more feed back than others.

Hello, Weldor. The razor and strop set from SRD is a good start. What's more, the 2-inch strop will teach you the X-pattern of stropping, which you will need to do on narrow strops. It's good to learn it from the start. You need to strop before every shave. The ratio of stropping on the fabric and the leather varies among shavers. I do a 25/50, 35/75, and 50/100 ratio, depending on the razor and on my mood. I do enjoy stropping. Eventually you will find what works best for you. Good luck. Oh, by the way, welcome to Straight Razor Place.