Twisted Monk Conductive Bamboo Rope

Twisted Monk Conductive Bamboo Rope

Vendor: Regulation

Construction

A few months ago I talked about Twisted Monk Hemp rope which comes in a number of different thicknesses for different kinds of play. Today’s review item is made out of bamboo fiber which stands out compared to other materials because it has anti-bacterial properties. While this provides some level of protection, if you want to be 100% sure, you have to wash your rope between scenes. Bamboo is softer than hemp, making it ideal for fragile areas like the fingers or the crotch area. Twisted Monk only makes Bamboo rope with 6mm thickness. It can be used for most forms of bondage but is not strong enough for suspension bondage. Like all Twisted Monk ropes the ends are whipped using strong yarn to keep the strands from unraveling. There is about 4cm of rope before the whipping. I prefer to keep it because the slightly unraveled end makes the ends easier to grab but you can cut it off if you prefer a neat and tight end.

Detail of the Whipped End

While Regulation only stocks the “Steel” as a color which is a nice blend of white, dark and lighter blue, Twisted Monk also offers black, crimson, denim, ivory, sunset and violet as colors. As an added feature, a conductive fiber which is not made out of cooper has been weaved into the rope. This allows for electric currency to be transmitted while not triggering metal allergies. This fiber is white and thus even the solid colors like black and crimson have some white spots.

Playing with the Conductive Rope

Switching from hemp or cotton rope to bamboo takes a bit of getting used to. Since it is softer, it hugs the body more, making it ideal for body harnesses (though the thickness of 6mm sometimes lacks a bit of “presence” on the body). But since it is softer, knots also tend to travel a bit. So while the rope is theoretically strong enough for most forms of bondage, I did not really use it as a primary fettering mean but add it to exiting ties.

Charging the Rope with a Violet Wand

The rope opened up a whole new world in e-stim play. Except silver covered cooper wire which is pure sting and agony, the Conductive Bamboo rope is the only large area electrode I am aware of. So suddenly entire legs or arms (always be aware that currency MUST NEVER TRAVEL ACROSS THE HEART!) could be energized surprising my bottoms and through the muscle reflexes even myself. Being soft, it enabled intricate layouts like a helix around the dick (something conductive silicone tubes are too stiff for) or around the toes. The latter is especially fun with a motion triggered e-stim box.

To connect the rope to an e-stim unit pole connection clamps are used. I recommend using isolated ones to keep the connection clamp itself being the connection to the body. Theoretically you can simply push a 2mm pin (4mm banana plugs are too thick) into the rope but the connection is unstable so I would not recommend it.

Connecting the Conductive Rope to an E-Stim Box with A Pole Connection Clamp

Despite the mass and contact area being relatively low, it is enough to counter a conductive loop or pad for example. So to really get the e-stim sensation at the rope position I recommend using a massive butt plug from E-Stim System. Even the smaller Classic or Micro ones did work well so no worries if the sub is anally inexperienced. Alternatively, the rope works also great with a violet wand. This is especially fun when used for a body harness when the currency suddenly flows all over the body.

Conclusion: Unique electrode
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Opens up new play possibilities Knots travel Regulation £29.99
Soft rope so it hugs the body

Leather Handcuffs

The Mr S Leather Handcuffs

Vendor: Mr S

Construction

The Leather Handcuffs are made out of two slim cuffs made out of belt leather. The belt leather strap is 25mm wide and lined with soft leather. 50mm behind the flap which houses the lockable roller-buckle the strap widens to 40m. This section is 120mm long and is padded with soft foam. Into the last, also 120mm long section of the strap holes have been punched for the buckle. The spacing allows the cuffs to adjust for almost every size of wrist; starting at a tiny diameter of 50mm up to a massive 100mm wrist diameter.

Detail of the Padding

The two cuffs are connected cross-over by two strong rivets. This way the cuffs don’t twist. Between them is an 80mm long and 25mm wide strap of leather which has welded D-rings on both ends. The Handcuffs come with a pair of keyed alike Master Locks.

Playing with the Leather Handcuffs

Handcuffs are one of the most common pervertable and thus bondage means in BDSM scene. Widely available they come loaded with fetish fantasies and are easy to use. But long-term wearing of tightly fitted handcuffs can lead to serious nerve damage and wrist injuries. So as hot as – carefully! – snapping handcuffs around the bottom’s wrist, they should not be worn during an entire scene. Through the wide strap and the padding these cuffs can be worn indefinitely long.

Detail of one of the D-rings

Unlike professional handcuffs these leather ones have to anchor points to incorporate them into a more elaborate bondage layout. My testees most often used them for rope bondage setups because the rope ran very smoothly through the D-rings. In combination with leather or rubber gear and toys I used them for impromptu shoulder-to-wrist restraints by locking them to a harness or connect them to a ball stretcher with a D-ring for an interesting feedback loop. The wide strap and padding provides some support for the wrist. So the handcuffs can be used for stress bondage like a hogtie. Unlike in a traditional hogtie the wrist are not in line with arms but oblique and over-cross. This adds extra stress to the arms and shoulders once the sub starts to move his legs. The leather handcuffs can even be used for limited suspension like keeping the sub on the tip of his toes, though they are not made for real suspension bondage.

Detail of the Locking Buckle

The large holes for the lockable buckle require rather large spacing between the holes. This makes a secure adjustment sometimes difficult when the wrist is just too large for the tighter hole and the next hole makes the fettering considerably looser. A locking pin with the consequently tighter spacing would have been better and more secure. To tell the truth this only happened once during the 6 month testing period. The cross-over design makes it really difficult to find a point of application to wiggle out of them.

Conclusion: Simple yet versatile handcuff like restraints.
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Comfortable to wear over extended periods of time Spacing sometimes too large for secure fettering Mr S $79.95
Locking
Two D-rings

 

Fetters Padded Fist Mitts

The Fetters Padded Fist Mitts

Vendor: Regulation

Construction

The basic design of this toy are mono mittens which enclose the entire hand. They are conically shaped for a tight fit around the cuff. The mitts are padded all around with a medium firm padding.  The overall length of the body is 21cm and comes in two sizes: Small/Medium for a clenched fists circumference between 22.5cm and 27.5cm and Medium/Large a circumference between 28cm and 32cm. Regardless of the size, the cut of the mitts is rather restrictive. It is not possible to enter them with a clenched fist and even after they are broken in, putting them on takes a bit of strength – which bothered none of the bondage bottoms in the test panel.

Detail of the Locking Post to close the Mitts and one of the D-rings

The mitts are closed with a thick belt leather strap. It is attached to the body with two rivets. Between them there is a welded D-ring. There is another one at the end of the strap. What makes the strap special is the way it is closed: Unlike most other restraints, the mitts are not closed with a (roller) buckle but just with a locking pin. The holes in the strap have a 10mm spacing. The tight spacing in combination with the thick padding allows for the mitts to be fettered tight enough to make them inescapable.

I guess at this point I do not have to say much about the material quality anymore. Like every other piece of Fetters bondage gear the mitts are made out of highest quality leather which just smells awesome!

Detail of the Second D-ring on top of the Body

Playing with the Padded Fist Mitts

Mitts are the toy category to go to when the sub’s hand should be rendered useless. And these ones excel in it. The clenched fists in combination with the thick padding makes grabbing objects almost impossible. Grabbing larger, lighters ones like a gym bottle for hydration is still possible but requires a lot of attention and some practice. But most other tasks like operating a door handle or manipulating the toys and bondage gear put onto him, won’t be possible. This includes operation his dick. Even with spit or lube, only one of the testee subs could create enough friction through the padding to jerk off.

Detail of the Padding and the Expension Fold for easier Entry

Naturally the two D-rings are great for creative bondage layouts. The number of D-rings is especially useful when incorporating the mitts in a rope bondage setup. Since the mitts can only be closed using a lock, the sub soon will associate the mitts with inescapability, adding an important mental element to the play.

Another classic layout is for pet play: Simply attach connect the mitts with a collar and the sub is forced to walk on his elbows which is very stressful yet dehumanizing (for this layout elbow pads are a must!). Less intense is walking on all fours using his fists. In this situation the padding is thick enough for most kind of pet play, especially indoor and outdoor on tarmac and paved streets. For cobble stone roads and gravel paths the padding is a bit thin.

Conclusion: Well made, heavy duty bondage mitts
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Thigh and tapered fit for intense and secure bondage experience Padding could be thicker and firmer Regulation £119
Closed through locking posts
Two D-rings

 

Twisted Monk Rope Kits

The Twisted Monk Started Kit including the Safety Shear and DVD

Vendor: Mr S (USA) or Regulation (EU)

A lot of people ask me on advice where to get quality rope, especially after reading my Bondage Hardware Special on Rope. Living in Germany, I know a couple of places here. Obviously that does not help most of my readers. So last year I got myself two sets of Twisted Monk rope which is sold internationally.

Construction

Today I am taking a look at the Twisted Monk Hemp Rope. While they do also offer cotton and polyester rope as well as exotic materials like bamboo or silk, hemp is the material of choice for many rope bondage tops because it is strong and the knots don’t travel once tightend. However, getting hemp rope ready to play is an annoying process: In order to make it soft and flexible to hug the sub’s body and minimize rope burn, you have to boil the rope, dry it under tension and run it multiple times over an edge under tension (for example through a carabineer). All Twisted Ropes are pre-treated so they are very soft and flexible for usage straight out of the box.

Comparison of 6mm (Red) & 8mm (Black) Rope

The rope is twisted out of three strands right-handed (or S-twisted) like most modern rope. It comes in three sizes: 4mm for genital bondage, 6mm for most purposes and 8mm for suspension bondage. While 6mm rope creates smaller knots and thus you can go further with the same length, 8mm might be good for your if you are doing a lot of demos or take videos or pictures because the rope has more presence on the sub’s body. The ends are whipped using strong yarn to keep the strands from unraveling. There is about 4cm of rope before the whipping. I prefer to keep it because the slightly unraveled end makes the ends easier to grab but you can cut it off if you prefer a neat and tight end.

The Contrast of the Crimson and Black Contrast

Twisted Monk offers rope in eight colors: Natural, black, a bright green, a lightly tealish blue, violet, grape which is actually burgundy, crimson which is a bright red and raspberry. The colors are solid and even, really vibrant and do not bleach out even after many washing cycles if you stick to the washing guidelines. However, what really disappoints me is the fact that only the ropes are dyed and not the individual strands are colored-through. Especially at the loose ends before the whipping and on tight knots the natural color shines through. While this may sound like pedantic bean counting, it disappointed me because Twisted Monk claims to be the best rope in the world and I have seen less expensive, pre-treated hemp rope in one of the German stores where I shop which ahs been colored-through.

I have bought two kits of rope: The Starter Kit which consists of one 10m and two 3m lengths of 6mm rope (which I got in Crimson) and the Robust Kit with one 13m and two 5m lengths of 8mm rope (which I got in Black). Each Twisted Monk kit comes with a safety shear (you can’t have enough of those), a card on rope maintenance, a card with safety advice and a DVD with some basic rope bondage layouts.

Detail of the Whipping

If you want to learn more about which kind of rope is right for you, take a look at my Bondage Hardware Special on it.

Playing with the Rope

Today, there is actually not much to say about how to play with. Rope offers infinite, creative way to create sexually and/or aesthetically pleasing setups which can but don’t need to be elaborate. It is really not difficult to learn ones way around the ropes. Two or three knots, some knowledge of human physiology, memorizing the dos and don’ts and common sense are enough. To learn these basics and get some inspiration, I have assembled some recommendations on reading and video material at the end of the Bondage Hardware Special.

Detail of how the Strands are not Colored-Through

To choose which set to get depends on what you want to do. Simple ties like handcuffs or fettering a sub to a bed don’t require much more then 3m per joint. Depending on the bottoms physique, 10m is enough for simple body harness. So the Starter set is a really a good starting point to start ones journey into rope. As the designs more elaborate, you can always expand your rope collection. Personally I prefer combining the two sets of mine: Take the 8mm black rope for the basic “structure” and tie in the 6mm red for delicate details. The black makes the red really pop for a striking contrast.

Conclusion: High quality ready-to play hemp rope.
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Pre-treated for softness and out of the box fun … which are not colored-through Mr S Starter Kit $64.95
Mr S Robust Kit $89.95
Tightly whipped ends to prevent unraveling Regulation Starter Kit £64.99
Vibrant colors… Regulation Robust Kit £94.99

Padded Posture Collar

The Regulation Padded Posture Collar

Vendor: Regulation

Construction

The actual collar is a piece of leather which is roughly anatomically shaped to follow the jaw line on the top and create a support around the sternum. The minimum width of the collar is 100mm so it is quite restricting through its sheer height. Onto the collar an anatomically shaped rest for keeping the chin from moving is riveted.

All pieces are made out of stiff bridle leather so it is really restricting. The edges are burnished and dyed so despite the stiffness the collar is comfortable to wear (leaving out the stress bondage aspect). Regulation calls this collar “padded” and technical I have to agree: Below the soft garment leather lining there is a thin, stiff layer of foam padding. However it is far from the lavish padding on their other premium bondage equipment. Thicker padding would actually compromise the purpose of this collar because it would give in to movement limiting the restricting aspect.

Detail of the Posture Collar’s Anatomic Shape

The collar comes in two sizes: M for a collar circumference between 37cm and 46cm; L for between 45cm and 51cm. It is closed by two 32mm wide leather belts with roller buckles and is equipped with three D-rings: one in the front and one on each side.

Playing with the Posture Collar

As the name of this piece of bondage already tells: It is designed to keep the head in a certain position and it does it really well. Of cause there is a little room for movement because leather is not steel and even the strict riveting allows for a little wiggle room. However it is the most strict posture collar I have come cross yet thus it is fitting gear for stress bondage. And while it is comfortable to wear over extended periods of time through the great production and material quality, keep in mind that forcing any limb or joint to remain in one position for extended periods of time will make it go stiff. This in combination with the head being rather heavy requires a lot of attention and support when taking the collar off the sub’s neck. Otherwise something similar to whiplash can happen.

Detail of the Rollar Buckle and the Custom Locking Posts

The three D-rings are ideal for “traditional” bondage positions: Attach a leash to the front one and wrist restraints or bondage mitts to the side ones. A handler friend of mine gives his dog elbow and knee pads, fetters his legs with the Fetters Heavy Hogtie Set, clip the bondage mitts to the posture collar and leads his K9 around this way for a more intense animal play headspace. Another top friend of mine attached short leashes to the side D-rings to have something to hold onto while face-fucking his boy who could not turn his head away.

Detail of the Burnished and Dyed Edges and the Padding

Especially on Tumblr I have seen pictures of people incorporating this posture collar into (rope) bondage layouts to completely immobilize a sub. While this collar is good for keeping the sub’s head from moving, the rest of the bondage layout should be equally tight or even tighter. Otherwise the sub might be able to get up and strangle himself.

When I ordered my collar I had it custom made with added locking posts. Especially when it comes to such an intense piece of (stress) bondage gear, hearing the locks lick and the inescapability sink in is a big mindfuck! If you are interested in that option, simply write it as a comment in the ordering process.

Conclusion: Very well made and very strict (stress) bondage collar.
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Reliably keeps the head from almost moving at all Off the rack without locking posts Regulation £199.99
Very well made with attention to detail out of high quality leather
Three D-rings

 

Fist Mitts “San Francisco”

The Meo Padded & Lockable Fist Mitts „San Francisco“

Vendor: Meo

Construction

In order to create a tight and confining bondage experience these mitts have two distinct parts which are covered by one large piece of leather. The upper 2/3 is thickly padded. The padding covers a leather-lined pouch. It is so short and tight that when putting the mitts on the sub is forced to form a fist. The lower 1/3 is a wide cuff which covers the entire wrist. There is a wide strap of Velcro going down all the way to the pouch for opening the cuff wide, allowing for easy entry and tight closing of the cuff. Onto this part a belt is riveted. Between the rivets there are two welded D-rings per mitt. The belt is closed with a roller buckle and can be locked with locking posts. The mitts come with a pair of keyed alike locks.

Detail of the Locking Posts, Roller Buckle and D-Rings

Playing with it

The first thing you notice when you put these mitts on is the tightness. If you don’t form a fist while putting them on the locking belt won’t close. With other restraints people with slim fists can wiggle out despite the belts being tightly closed. But with these mitts the opening of the pouch is so tight that one the fist is locked in place there is no getting out creating an inescapable bondage experience. The tightness comes with a price though: The mitts are one size fits all. If the sub has larger hands (glove size 8 ½ and up) or his hands don’t collapse much he will have really problems getting these mitts on. The hard clinging of the large hands can cause circulation problems over time despite the mitts being quite comfortable.

Detail of the Velcro Cuff Adjustment

Through the forced fist forming and the thick padding these mitts effectively render the sub’s hands useless. He might be able to somehow hold a large, not to heavy object like a gym bottle between his hands so he can take of his hydration on his own. But that is as good as it is going to get. With the hands being rendered useless this just leave the feet and mouth as a means to escape from these mitts. I put one of my testees in them who is a real escape artists but he could not open the restraints so the locking posts are really just a nice psychological touch, adding to the felt bondage experience. Your sub won’t get out of them anyway.

The thick padding – especially at the front – and the loss of the power to grab things made these mitts quite popular with the pet players in my test panel. Like animals most the absence of thumbs force the pet to rely on his handler to grab things. The padding is thickest at the top so the mitts are good for walking on all fours. The leather is a bit stiffer, more dressed and treated than I wanted it to be on high quality bondage gear; I prefer a more natural feel with a rich leather scent. But this sturdier kind of leather treatment is good when playing outside like at street fairs when rough surfaces like tarmac or gravel would damage softer leather.

Conclusion: Very constrictive bondage mitts
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Really and strongly constricting bondage mitts One size fits all might be too small for people with large hands Meo 129€
Thickly padded
Leather quality could be a bit better
Lockable
Disclaimer: This toy was sent to me by Meo for an honest and unbiased review.

 

Mr S Shoulder to Wrist Restraints

Vendor: Mr S

The Mr S Shoulder to Wrist Restraints

Construction

The first element of this three-part bondage toy is a 32mm wide latigo leather strap which runs over the neck and around the shoulders. It is closed by a roller buckle and can be locked through a post. There is also a D-ring next to the roller buckle. The strap’s length can be adjusted between 110cm to 140cm which is long enough for beefy subs; the buckle’s pin has to be in the third hole for the last hole to fit over the locking post. For fettering an extremly beefy body builder meat machine Mr S can certainly make a custom strap which is longer but neither my testees nor me ever found the strap too short respectively too long for skinny subs.

On this strap runs a 380mm long and 53mm wide latigo leather strap. Between 45mm to 225mm measured from the bottom 12 holes are punched into it. For an even tighter bondage experience I had 6 holes added so the restraint can be pulled up even higher.

Detail of the Roller Buckle, Locking Post and D-ring of the Shoulder Strap

These holes are used to attach the 53mm wide latigo leather back strap using a roller buckle with a locking pin. Below the roller buckle there are two wrist restraints riveted onto the strap. They are closed with locking roller buckles.

Playing with the Shoulder to Wrist Restraints

The possible usage scenario is determined by how much the shoulder and the back strap are tightened. If both straps are not too strict this restraint can be used for self-bondage. It takes some time and practice to get the wrists fettered and undone again. But the latter struggle is part of the self-bondage experience. If you should fail to undo them there is enough slack to cut the back strap with a safety scissor in a case of emergency. If both straps are tightened in a medium intensity (elbow forms a right angle) the restraints can be worn comfortably and safely for an extensive period of time. This makes the Shoulder to Wrist Restraints the ideal piece of bondage gear for social settings like a bar night. The sub is bound into a presentable position yet he is able to move around to follow his top while the bondage is comfortable enough to be kept on for an entire nights.  In the tightest configuration on tall guys it becomes impossible to open the wrist restraints even when they are not locked.

Detail of the Wrist Restraints

Almost regardless of the tightness the Shoulder to Wrist Restraints create an interesting bondage experience. Especially in the looser configurations the bondage feeling of the wrist restraints quickly fade away. So when the sub wants to act naturally because he forgot about the restraints he will quickly be reined back. A big advantage of the Shoulder to Wrist Restraints is the effective bondage in combination with great accessibility: With the arms bound behind the back nipples and the junk can easily be played with and his torso is exposed for (gut) punching; once bend forward for a spanking the ass cheeks are exposed and the sub can’t raise himself again so he is at the top’s mercy.

Detail of the Back Strap attached to the Runner

To intensify the bondage experience I recommend attaching a shackle to the strap of the lower wrist restraint between the two rivets. Onto this new anchor point ankle restraints can be added – either with chains to create a prison setup to limit the sub’s ability to run or just with carabiners to keep him kneeling. For a more painful sensation connect the wrist restraints to a ball stretcher with a D-ring or – even more evil – a parachute with spikes. If pain is induced and he tries to work it out with whatever limited movements he has in his arms he will tug on his balls.

 Conclusion: Versatile restraint – from comfortable to stress sbondage.
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Very well made Mr S $169.95
Versatile usage scenarios
Unique Bondage experience
Lockable

Fetters Heavy Leather Hogtie Set

Vendor: Regulation

Construction

The Fetters Heavy Leather Hogtie Set

The Heavy Leather Hogtie Set consists of a pair of modified Fetters Padded Leather Thigh Restraint, a pair of Padded Locking Wrist Cuffs and an Elbow Strap. All pieces are made out of high quality leather, thick soft padding and stainless steel trim. The set comes without pad locks. If you want to lock the restrains the shackle diameter of the pad lock should not be larger than 3mm.

The core of this set is a modified version of the Fetters Padded Leather Thigh Restraints. As all restraints from their padded & lockable range are basically made the same way: An 8cm wide cushion of thick padding covered with soft leather is sewn onto a wide strap of bridle leather. Onto this a belt with a roller buckle and a locking post is riveted. Usually each restraint is equipped with two welded D-rings.

The lowest circumference the thigh restraint can be adjusted to is 42cm; the largest is 71.5cm with a padding gap of 11.5cm; largest circumference with padding all around the thigh is 54cm and the largest circumference and still being able to lock is 67cm with a padding gap of 7cm. Next to the locking post there is a welded D-ring. 15cm away from the D-ring a Padded Locking Ankle Cuff (which I reviewed here) is riveted with its two D-rings being perpendicular to the rivet. Since only one rivet is used the cuff can turn to allow for different bondage positions. Another difference to their standard Padded Thigh restraint is that they have replaced the second D-ring with a stainless steel loop which has a width of 38mm and a height of 8mm. Through this loop the belt of the Padded Locking Wrist cuffs (which I reviewed here) can be threaded to attach the wrist restraint to the thigh one.

Detail of the Wrist Restraint attached to Thigh Restraint

For an even stronger bondage experience an elbow strap comes with the set. The basis of it is a 13.5cm long and 8cm wide octagonal piece of two bridle leather layers which are sewn together. In the middle there are two roller buckles with a locking post riveted onto the body.  In front of each buckle a slot is punched through which a leather belt with unburnished sides is threaded. This belt is 118cm long and 3cm wide. It features 7 holes on one side and 29 holes on the other side which allows for fine adjustment.

Playing with the Hogtie Set

To put these restraints on it is best when the sub lies face down so the top can easily move the limbs to put them into the corresponding cuffs. Each buckle is far away enough from the wrist restraints to prevent the sub from opening the roller buckles. If you want to be extra sure each restraint is lockable which adds a lot of mental bondage sensation. Once fettered you can choose between four different bondage positions: The traditional lying face down, lying face up, kneeling or sitting on the ass. Since sitting up requires a lot of muscle strength this position is a bit of stress bondage. Lying face up is equally stress bondage but great for CBT or an extreme form of gut punching – even with low intensity punches. The thigh restraints quickly became popular with a top friend of mine in kneeling position. He used them in combination with the Handlock (which I reviewed here) to restrain the hands above the head with the thigh-ankle-combination effectively preventing the sub from standing up.

Minimum and Maximum Diameter of the Thigh Restraint

The most traditional position is obviously lying with the face down. In this bondage layout mouth and ass are still accessible but (if the top is strong ort the sub light) you can still move the sub around. Besides face fucking most testees used the hogtie for impact play. With the ass exposed (and if you are not fettering gymnasts the feet unable to cover the ass) and the restraints covering the sensitive area of the upper thigh this layout is great for spanking. Especially if you want to administer bastinado I recommend locking both ankle restraints together using a small shackle. This will effectively limit the movement even more. When you want to create a stress bondage position add a head harness or a muzzle and connect the top D-ring to the shackle. In this layout I would not recommend inducing too much pain because heavy movement can lead to neck or spinal injuries. Of cause this layout can be used for lighter play like sensation play or – if you are not afraid to get lube on the leather – fisting.

I am a bit hesitant to recommend using the elbow strap. It is a great piece of bondage gear which can increase the sense of being bound quite a lot – also in other bondage layouts. But the construction is killing it for me. With the edges being unburnished, at best they are just sharp and uncomfortable. But if the sub moves a lot it can cause abrasions. In order to make this part of the toy useful I am actually considering having movable padding custom made like on the thighs on the suspension harness.

Detail of the Buckle of the Elbow Strap and the Unburnished Belt

Besides hogties this set can be used in many different other bondage layouts. If the added ankle cuffs don’t bother you the thigh restraint can be used to fetter down upper legs. To attach thicker rope or carabineers to the metal loop, simply use a shackle to add a larger anchor point. When the sub doesn’t have to small hands the ankle cuffs can be used to restrain wrists to the thighs. However this does only work if the bondage layout is either standing up or lying with the ankles also fettered. Otherwise there is a chance the sub can simply slip off the thigh restraint. On testee even used the restraint for pup play: He gave his puppy knee and elbow pads, connected the ankles to the thighs and the wrist to the collar and thus forced his sub in an even more dog-like position. However I do not recommend this form of stress bondage for extended periods of time since especially the elbows are not made to support such weight.

Conclusion: Unique and clever restraint set with one disappointing element.
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Unique layout Finishing of the belt makes elbow strap unusable Regulation £459.99
Comfortable through thick padding
Very well made – except elbow strap
Locking
Plethora of D-rings

 

Adjustable Nose Shackle

Vendor: Uberkinky

The Adjustable Nose Shackle from Uberkinky

Construction

The Adjustable Nose Shackle is made out of two square metal plates onto which two 25mm high shackles made out of wire are welded. The tips of the shackles are bent towards each other. Through the metal plate a screw is put through which the shackle can be opend up to 17mm and closed again. The screw head is textured for better grip yet especially with lubey fingers or when wearing heavy gloves it is a bit hare to turn. Below the screw there are two bars to guide the shackles. The entire toy is made out of stainless steel and weights 33g.

Playing with the Adjustable Nose Shackle

This toy might look small and innocent yet it is one of the most intense pieces of bondage gear I know. The nasal septum is a quite sensitive body area. For most bottoms just the weight of the lightly attached Adjustable Nose Shackle is a noticeable sensation. The pain of the shackle being pulled will make most subs comply and move in the desired direction. Of cause if you want to be mean you can tighten it even more for constant and agonizing pain.

Since the shackles are made out of wire instead of solid metal plates like other nose shackles are they can dig a little bit deeper into the tissue which results in better grip. To lead a sub around or incorporate the toy into a bondage layout simply put a little carabineer around the three bars and attach your favorite leash, rope or chain. But keep in mind that this will add extra weight which increases the experienced pain, especially when through dangling around movement energy is added.

The cartilage structure of the septum in combination with the smooth round tips of the Adjustable Nose Shackle is enough to prevent serious injuries if you tighten the shackle cautiously and not too tight. But especially when the bottom already has a septum piercing or the septum is damaged (through drug usage for example) be extra careful when pulling. Serious injuries might occur!

Detail of the Guiding Bars and the Screw to Adjust the Opening

The wide opening enables you to attach the Adjustable Nose Shackle to other body parts like the tongue, ear lobes, the foreskin or the frenulum. Some testees even put it on the sack (take extra care you don’t trap a spermatic cord!) or the perineum to lead their subs around. It is worth to experiment which body part gives the best reaction, where it can be worn the longest time or if you are extra sadistic get two, put them opposite ends of the body, apply some tension and see into which pain the sub will give in the most.

Being made out of stainless steel cleaning and sanitizing this piece of bondage gear is easy: Simply boil it in water for some time and let it dry properly.

Conclusion: Intense piece of bondage gear.
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Makes sub comply quickly A bit difficult to operate Uberkinky £19.99
Finely adjustable sensation
Allows to incorporate unexpected body parts into bondage
  Disclaimer: This toy was sent to me by Uberkinky for an honest and unbiased review.

Sling Suspension Straps

Vendor: Regulation

The Regulation Sling Suspension Straps

When I posted last week’s review of the SeriousToyS Rubber Sling I have gotten a lot of questions about the leather restraints hanging in the background. So I decided to review them this week. When I announced the review on Twitter the guys from Regulation got in touch with me and said that the product has been discontinued which is a shame. Usually I don’t write reviews about products which are not available any more. But since I really love these restraints maybe this review will be helpful to kinkster who run across a pair of hand slings and wonder what to do with them.

Construction

The basis of the Suspension sling is a 64cm long and 4cm wide strap of saddle leather. On one end a large, welded D-ring is riveted using four rivets, on the other end a 4.5cm long leather loop using again four rivets is created. Between these two sections thick and soft padding covered by soft nappa leather is sowed onto the strap.

Detail of the D-ring at the top

Playing with the Sling Suspension Straps

The function principle of these restraints is pretty simple: Put a foot or a hand through the loop formed by the strap and tighten it. If you than put tension on the D-ring there is no way to get out of these. Through the thick padding and the fact that the force pulling on them is in line with the limb and not perpendicular like it is the case with a D-ring attached to a cuff-style restraint these restraints can be worn comfortable even with considerable tightening draft on them. These properties along with the sturdy build make these restraints ideal for any situation where pulling force is involved like in a spread eagle or for the wrists on a St.-Andrews-Cross. Another usage scenario are hogties where a lot of sensations are induced like tickling or bastinado. The movement will keep the bondage tight while the force distribution minimizes the injury risk. I personally use them in the sling. The unique combination of softness, sturdiness and easiness to hold onto makes them ideal to grab onto something and work things out physically when the sensations get too intense. In combination with the stir-ups (which I will review next week) they are ideal to lift oneself up from the sling and ride the fist in your own speed.

Detail of the clever fettering way through a leather loop.

One thing must not be forgotten to be mentioned here: Despite being called sling SUSPENSION straps they are NOT made for extended suspension. Putting the entire body weight on these restraints can cut circulation. If you are looking for suspension restraints I recommend these for the hands and these for the feet.

When buying a sling type strap pay attention to some important details. There are suspension hand straps out there which just feature a d-ring on each end. While basically you can do the same thing with them as with the Regulation ones reviewed here, the ones I own have a major advantage: Since the loop which forms the sling is wide the leather is twisted forming a smooth curve. Thus the padding is all around the wrist or ankle, unlike the two-D-ring-version where they are exposed to the edges of the stiff strap leather. So when you are planning on buying a two-D-ring-version pay attention that the edges of the strap are either padded or piped.

Conclusion: Simple yet clever and effective restraints.
Pro Cons Where to get Price
Clever design which places padding all around the joint Discontinued Regulation

(Manufacturer)

£44.99 (discontinued)
Made for heavy duty play
High quality leather