Schlagwort-Archiv: HML

The HML Fetish Leather Straitjacket

Vendor: HML Fetish

After the past weeks were all about anal toys, the Sundays will follow a different tune: It will be all about heavy bondage. So expect reviews of sleepsacks, hoods, extravagant restraints – and straitjackets.

One of the most common questions in the realm of heavy bondage is: Where do I get a good, reasonably priced straitjacket? Despite most heavy bondage items like sleepsacks or straitjackets are once-in-a-life-time purchases, not everybody can afford the mid-four-digit price tags of Mr S or Fetters straitjackets. On the other end of the price spectrum there are cheaply made models from Asia which cardboard-like leather from questionable sources and unreliable metal fixtures. So I did some research for something in between and found this model from HML Fetish in Bremen.

Detail of the Straps for Tightening the Straitjacket at the Back

Construction

Since a straitjacket is most likely be worn on the bare skin in order not to overheat, let’s talk about the material first. HML Fetish uses high quality, European sourced cow hides so you do not have to worry about Chrome-6. The leather of the jacket itself is 1mm thick which is a good compromise between the feeling of being clad in leather, the leather fitting well around the body and temperature control .The inside of the jacket is not lined but since all metal fixtures are made out of stainless steel, neither allergies nor rust should be a too big problem. Knowing HML Fetish I am pretty sure they can line the jacket with leather if you ask them. Despite the price point just below 1.000€, you get premium features like thickly quilted leather on the elbows which is a nice touch and keeps the elbows protects when the sub is made to crawl on the ground while being fettered. Another great feature are the nipple flats which measure roughly 10x10cm. Six sturdy snaps are keeping them in place so even a very actively struggling sub cannot get them off.

Detail of the Quilting over the Elbows

Like most straitjackets, the HML Fetish one is closed by a zipper. Then going down from head to waist there is a belt around the collar, one going around the chest and upper arm and one around the waist. These straps are led but leather straps riveted onto the body. On the back, two additional belts going over the zipper to tighten the jacket properly around the body. Like all straitjackets the arms are crossed over the chest with a belt strap on the end of the left arm and a buckle strap on the right arm. Once they are closed together behind the back, there is a strap in the middle of the front to secured them tightly and limit any potential wiggle room. Finally, there are two straps which run through the crotch to prevent the more than unlikely possibility that with crossed arms the jacket could be pulled off.

All straps are made out of 1.5mm thick cow hides which is doubled, glued and sowed all around which gives the straps a nice quality feel and touch of craftsmanship. The belt holes are reinforced with stainless steel rivets so the buckle’s pin does not damage the leather. The strap around the waist, the collar and the once securing the arm in front of the torso are about 40mm wide, all other straps are 25mm.

Detail of the D-Ring at the Bottom of the Body

There is only one D-ring on the entire straitjacket: In the middle of the torso, just above the waist seam. Again, when ordering this straitjacket, get in touch with the guys at HML Fetish and they will place D-rings where you desire and need them. My recommendation (from the way I play) would be at least three at the collar (center, left and right) and replacing the leather leading loops on each side of the waist and just below the shoulder so you can tie the sub between two posts.

The straitjacket comes in sizes from S to XXL and are pretty adjustable. So when you are a top who entertains different body types of subs, I recommend getting a largerish size; you can always tighten it afterwards.

Detail of the Tit Flaps

Playing with the Straitjacket

Being put into a straitjacket is probably one of the most intense bondage experience once can have. Unlike a sleepsack where the sub is still somewhat in control of the putting on process (like slipping the arms into the arm pocket, adjusting the leg divider, etc.), once he has put the body one, the top is in control. He can move around the arms and with a leash even the sub at his will. While in a sleepsack the sub will most likely remain in the area where he lay down, in a straitjacket the sub is mobile and can be forced quiet easily into environments and situation the top wants him to be – regardless of how much the sub dislikes it. This mental aspect is one of the greatest appeals of a straitjacket.

Detail of the Jockstrap-Style Crotch Staps

An important element of it, is the fettering process; the straps being tightened around the subs, gradually limiting the control over his arms and torso. While the HML Fetish straitjacket technically does this well, it falls a bit short on the sensation side. Since most straps are only 25mm wide, the tightening sensation is not as strongly felt as on most other straitjackets. I would describe it this way: Compare the impact sensation of a wood paddle and a thuddy flogger. The pain intensity might be the same, but the flogger with the sheer amount of kinetic energy will shatter and thrust you against the St. Andrews cross while the paddle “just” hurts. Quantity wise the effect it the same, but the quality wise there is a lot more going on with the flogger or in regards of straitjackets with wider straps. I have talked to the guys at HML Fetish about this and they the thinner belts are an aesthetic decision, leaving more of the body visible. But most of my testees said that the fettering process was disappointingly unspectacular so I guess you again have to ask during the ordering process if you can get wider straps if you prefer them.

Detail of the Strap Fettering the Arms in Front of the Torso

Again compared to a sleepsack a straintjacket is the perfect combination of active play and intense bondage sensation. And the HML Fetish one excels at that. With the relatively large tit flaps, you cannot only attach clamps easily but even do wax play when you are a bit cautious (and the sub is sound tightly enough so he cannot move). Due to the not too thick leather, lying on a spanking bench is comfortable and the crotch straps make a nice jockstrap-like framing of the cheeks for impact play. This straitjacket’s collar is even soft enough to just be loosely closed if you are putting a hood or muzzle on which already has a collar.

Vendor: HML

The HML Bondage Harness

The thing I love most as a BDSM toy collector than using toys (or more precisely having them used on me) is strolling through small BDSM shops who make their own gear and toys. While I love the products sold by Mister B or 665 Leather to name two big players in the market, I love the sometimes unexpected creativity of small shops. So when discussing with the guys at HML the suggestions for improving the electro ball stretcher I stumbled across this bondage harness, a category of gear I thought that wasn’t made anymore. So I was quite surprised when they provided me with a review sample.

Construction

The basic construction follows the blueprint of a standard full body harness: Two straps run over the shoulder, one under the arms and one around the waist. What sets this harness apart from a standard full body harness is that the strap running around the ass: You can either wear it with once strap over the ass crack or add two contouring the ass cheeks for a thong-like look.

Like all HML leather toys the 4cm wide straps of this harness are made out of soft black hide which is folded so the seam is in the middle of the back of the straps which makes for a clean look without edges. The individual straps are attached to massive and heavy steel rings by rivets. The connecting strap between the upper torso part and the thong-like part around the waist uses snap fastener for connection. They are quite convenient because once you have adjusted the harness to fit your body by using the roller buckles you don’t need to open them again so the harness fits perfectly every time you want to wear it. The holes in the belts for the roller buckles are reinforced by steel rivets. The right size depends on your body type: The harness can be adjusted to different body heights but is quite limited to adjusting so bigger bodies. If in doubt ask the friendly guys at HML. Another thing that can be changed is the stainless steel cockring. The harness comes with a standard 50mm cockring that can be changed into the perfect size for you.

Detail of the Snap Buttons on the Middle Strap

What makes this harness special are the six D-rings that are riveted under sturdy pieces of leather just behind the roller buckles on the shoulder, under the arms and around the waist.

Playing with it

I have made it a rule not to talk about gear on this website: The different styles and cut and ways of making it are way too personal and actually controversial in our community (I have seen friendships break over discussing the “right” place to get your rubber…). But being a harness the gear aspect is the pink elefant in the middle of the room so I get it out of the way first: I’ve been out with this harness a couple of times and it performs well as gear. The cut is very good helping to highlight your good assets. It can be worn either as a full body harness or you take the connecting strap out and wear it just as an upper torso harness or as a cockring thong.

Detail of the Roller Buckle with the D-Ring

But now on the playing aspect. As the name states this harness is made for bondage and it performs really well in the field of play. First I thought that six D-rings are a bit few but when trying out the harness there were more than enough. When tying someone into a bondage frame you can effectively immobilize someone’s torso quickly by using chain and carabiners or tension belts without having to worry about cutting of circulation like when using rope. If you use rope, you can also incorporate the four steel rings on the front and the back for an even more elaborate designs. A fun thing when taking out your sub to the bars is to use the shoulder D-rings for tying a head harness in its place and attaching upper arm restraints to the upper and wrist restraints to the lower strap that runs around the body. Depending in the method you chose for attaching your sub is quite immobilized, coming close to the effect of a straight jacket yet every part of his body is accessible. In order to limit access to certain body regions there are anal toys out there which can be put onto a harness (sadly I have forgotten where I have seen them). They will probably fit on the strap running down the crack keeping them well in play. What works in any case is attaching a show plug for pup play onto the harness. I a friend of mine was thrilled that he can pup out with a tail despite not being able to take something up his ass when wearing this harness.

Detail of the Straps which can be Added to Create a Thong-Like Look

When talking about the usage possibilities a word of warning is in place: The well chosen location of the D-ring would THEORATICL make this harness good for suspension bondage where the matter of supporting the torso is always a difficult one, especially when you are not using rope. BUT: Do to the snap fasteners I strongly discourage you from using this harness for suspension bondage because there is always the fear of the snap fasteners opening under the stress they are put onto. To be honest I put them to a hard test with strong subs who fought against the bondage and I tried the harness for suspension (with security measures of cause) and nothing opened. Yet still because the security of the sub is paramount I would not advise using this harness for suspension!

HML also makes another kind of harness called the HML Restraint Harness which exchanges the shoulder straps with a collar, has D-ring in front of the collar and two at the crotch and has build in restraints above the hip. It is made in the same great way as this bondage harness is and costs 345€.