I bought this strop in a lot with every intention of selling it as I already had a great red latigo strop with the cotton option. I was happy, but before selling it, I was told that I needed to give it a try. So, to the review:
Fit and Finish: I love everything about this strop except the look of the Linen component as Joel mentioned. It looks a little unkempt, but there's not really anything that can be done about that. Everything else is great.
Amount of Draw: I rate this high because it's my desired amount of draw. I find that using the linen extensively and following it up with the horsehide makes for a really great, smooth shave. My red latigo never did match this level of smoothness, irrespective of the various techniques/combinations I employed.
Thickness of Leather: This piece of leather is really nice. I believe it to be just about the perfect thickness.
Efficacy: The horsehide combined with the linen has proven to be my best strop combination. The linen does an excellent job of removing oxidation and restoring sharpness while the horsehide provides the smoothness that I want in my edge. I would love to find a better one if it's out there because it would be truly tremendous
Overall Value: I think it's a great value because it helps me get the most out of my razors, and I'm willing to pay a premium for the best products.
Conclusion:
The most cogent comment that I can think of referring to this strop is that I rarely even use the latigo at all anymore. I've found the linen/horsehide to be a significant upgrade in both the stropping experience as well as performance of my razors.
Fit and Finish: I love everything about this strop except the look of the Linen component as Joel mentioned. It looks a little unkempt, but there's not really anything that can be done about that. Everything else is great.
Amount of Draw: I rate this high because it's my desired amount of draw. I find that using the linen extensively and following it up with the horsehide makes for a really great, smooth shave. My red latigo never did match this level of smoothness, irrespective of the various techniques/combinations I employed.
Thickness of Leather: This piece of leather is really nice. I believe it to be just about the perfect thickness.
Efficacy: The horsehide combined with the linen has proven to be my best strop combination. The linen does an excellent job of removing oxidation and restoring sharpness while the horsehide provides the smoothness that I want in my edge. I would love to find a better one if it's out there because it would be truly tremendous
Overall Value: I think it's a great value because it helps me get the most out of my razors, and I'm willing to pay a premium for the best products.
Conclusion:
The most cogent comment that I can think of referring to this strop is that I rarely even use the latigo at all anymore. I've found the linen/horsehide to be a significant upgrade in both the stropping experience as well as performance of my razors.