I am no expert by any means. This is my only strop and it has good reviews on the knife forums. It comes preloaded and was only $20.

http://www.knivesplus.com/KP-STROP8-STROPBLOCK.html


I've use the sharpmaker in the past with ok results, but my technique was off. I would pull the blade off the stone as a result rounding the tip. It also helps me to have the sharpmaker at waist level with my thumb on top as a reference so i know the blade is straight up.