hey everyone I am shopping around looking for my first strop!!! Where does everyone get theirs? What are some good ones and what should I stay away from ?

Ebay, Maggards, Whipped Dog, Amazon are choices. Just remember, your first strop will probably get chewed up some, so don't go real expensive. Illinois strops, 127 and 827, are very good, and not expensive. I still use my Illinois 827 every day.

Awesome thank you I will check out the Illinois strops

The Illinois strop was my first and was of good quality. My stropping technique wasn't though. RIP strop.

For a beginner strop I would also recommend an Illinois strop. They area good quality and a good price. Lay it flat on a table at first to help to get the motion down without having to worry about proper tension or as much risk of nicking it. I still use an Illinois 206 and also a bridle leather paddle strop.

I found a used Illinois horse hide and linen strop. Yes, I nicked it a couple of times, but nothing bad.

maybe that would be my best option find a used strop somewhere and get a new one after I get the hang of things.

Naa, get an Illinois Strop. They are inexpensive enough. Just go slow, at first, then muscle memory will kick in. Used strops are not much cheaper.

ok well that info will help cut down the research time lol.

+1 @DaltonGang, avoid the eBay used strops, they're usually priced way too high and many will be dry and need weeks or months of rejuvenation to be usable. If you need some cool vintage hardware though, look for the $10 strops that are completely shot but have good hardware. Don’t get a Chinese strop, Illinois is fine and not expensive. When you learn to steop well, look at the Kanoyama line at AFrames Tokyo or Fendrihan.

Cheers, Steve

The scrupleworks strops are great love mine

Ed is telling the truth however not for a first strop. I did not spend a lot on my first strop and I’m happy I didn’t. It did not have a long life. I know there are some that never nicked a strop, but I’m not in that group.

Yeah tell me about it I think I had the sandpaper out trying to sand the nicks out of my first couple of strops more than actual stropping!!.

And too

I don't nick mine anymore after the first time.

When you say that, it brings on "Bad JuJu". Now you're going to nick the heck out of your strop.

So I talked to my grandfather he’s been a barber since I can remember. 96 and still cuttin hair and handling a SR. Hopefully he will be able to get an extra set of his barber strops sent out to me.

Have you asked if he has any Straights that you can use???

He showed me his collection. Probably about 30 + all different types. But he’s holding onto them said they will all be mine but I will wait as long as possible

Well, still no more nicks.