Not hard to use, but with the reduced width, you have to use an X-pattern to contact the entire width of the blade. Also, because the entire blade is not continually in contact with the strop, you need to increase your total number of passes in order to get the same amount of stropping as with a wider strop.

For everyday stropping, most suggest a hanging strop. However, if funds are limited, yes, you can easily get by with only a paddle strop.

Cheers,
Ed