Thread: Travel question

Im pretty new to SR shaving. I'll be traveling in a few weeks and have been thinking of bringing my regular strop rather than learning to use a paddle. My question is: if I can't find anything to attach it to at the hotel can I lie it flat and stop that way?

Yes, you can. In fact, you're better off doing it that way. If you attach it, you may forget it!

The typical hotel room has a security lock attached to the door and the jamb above the deadbolt.
One part of this lock is a double bar with a closed end that flips over a single bar with a ball end.
I usually pull the closed end double bar out straight and clip the strop to it. Works great for me.

Pete <:-}

Good idea. Thanks!

Be careful when packing a hanging strop to ensure that you don't get any creases in it. Once they are there, they are there to stay.

I wouldn't rule out a paddle strop as they are more robust. If you can use a hanging strop you can use a paddle strop for sure. If anything it is easier.

Other than that, it might be worth taking some good strength string. There will very likely be a towel rail that may be too large for your strop attachment, but you can tie it on with string. Laying it flat will give you a similar result and experience to a paddle strop.

Typically I travel with a DE razor just to reduce risk and packing space.

I have a piece of web strap (seat belt type material) with as metal ring attached. Close the strapping in the bathroom door, attach your strop to the ring. No chance of forgetting it, because you have to get out of the bathroom....strop falls on the floor when door is opened.

Packing a hanging strop: I roll it and put a rubber band around to keep it rolled.

I use a regular strop all the time when traveling. Lay it flat next to the wall of a rigid or semi-rigid bag in a plastic sleeve and it should travel just fine. Takeshi at AFrames Tokyo sells strop cases if you want one. This way I don't have to buy or learn to strop on something different than I am used to.

Take a piece of paracord or thin climbing-style cord and you can anchor the strop to a doorknob, shower rod, towel rack, etc. I usually carry a piece of cord several feet long and it doubles as an expedient clothesline.

Cheers, Steve

Originally Posted by alschepis

Im pretty new to SR shaving.

My question is: if I can't find anything to attach it to at the hotel can I lie it flat and stop that way?

I would not do it, especially if I were new to stropping.

The purpose of having having a firm anchor point is to create enough tension to keep the strop from sagging too much, and to keep - in particular softer strops - from buckling in front of the advancing blade.

A carbiner clip (or S-Biner dual spring carabiner), or even a short piece of rope, will come handy if you are looking for a something to fasten your strop in a hotel room.
If neither door handle nor anything else in your room should be suitable to affix your strop, you could even use a drawer or chair if you keep it firmly locked in place with your foot.

By putting the hanging strop on a flat surface you have no positive control over tension and results become less predictable.


B.

Small paddle strops aren't called travel strops for nothing. They are small, compact, easy for travel and use and have at least two sides one with sharpening compound as a bonus.

That's what I always used.

I wear a paracord bracelet so I always have a way to hang my strop that I travel with, or the quick ties that Hirlau put me onto. So no bg deal, you can always poke a hinge pin up a little to hook your strop on to. Tc