I have been stropping with a vintage horsehide and sometimes not getting very good results. I accidentally cut the top side of my Buckingham strop and on a lark I turned it around and tried stropping on the suede side. The results are much better and I always pass the HHT after twenty or so strops on the suede side. I think the suede gives a better grip on the razor and there is less likelihood of bending the edge over onto itself. It also helps that I use a quality chromium oxide paste that I bought on ebay from a guy in England.