I think that for most, the paddle strop is a specialized tool for sharpening, not aligning the edge. A haning strop has far more surface area and is the right tool for daily, pre-shave stropping.

There are a few guys here, some with a lot of experience who use a wide paddle for daily use prefering the advantages of a rigid surface over the negative of smaller surface area. (I am soon to have a solution to that <g>).

I do however, often suggest a paddle for a beginner as it give a guy on a budget a single tool to get the job done. Three sides for mild abrasives to keep his razor sharp a month or two down the road when his shave ready razor is no longer shave ready and to give him a very usable, but not ideal too for daily use before each shave.

I based this on how I started. You make the decision to drop $100-150 on a razor, strop, mug, soap brush, etc... from a vendor, get your stuff home and dive in. A few weeks later the razor is pulling instead of cutting. Now what? You call your vendor, or come here to SRP only to be told you now need to spend more money on a hone, or a second strop, or to send your razor away, etc.... Back into the wallet for more money on a hobby your are not really at home with yet. So, with a single tool in my opinion, a pasted paddle and you "could" go forever if you had to. Yes, you will add other stuff later if you like this hobby but you don't have to go there.

BUT, if you are sure you will continue AND have the funds start with the hanging strop and go from there

So, hanging strop........best tool for the job, hands down. Paddle strop, most versatile tool, but not the best. To do it right, for me anyway you need a hanging strop, a hone/stone and/or a paddle with finer pastes.

Tony