Skill has a lot to do with it in my opinion. First strop was a nice hanging affair, unfortunately left in a hotel. Top tip: don't hang it on the back of a door!

Made an emergency (now permanent) strop out of an old piece of quite inflexible and relatively short leather I had knocking around. It's not going to win any beauty contests with those garden string hangers...

I strop better now on that by learning to vary the pressure and stroke than I ever did on the 'real' strop. I'm sure a better strop will make a difference and this is next on my list of improvements, but the point is not to worry too much as even a basic strop can work well once you get to know it; make something, pick up an old belt, try it out. Leave your kit in a hotel and rush around for a solution in a panic :-)