Monday, July 18, 2011

Beginner Ball Gag

Gag

The Tantus Beginner's Ballgag is a silicone gag with a unique shape. Rather than the traditional 'ball', it's a plug or pacifier shape, which fits farther back in the mouth. The 'ball' part of the plug is 2.5 inches long, and sits back in the mouth, but no so far back that you need to worry about your gag reflex being triggered unless it's super sensitive. The silicone plug is attached to the leather straps by snaps that pass through holes on the side of the plug. The gag fastens with Velcro, rather than the traditional buckle closure, so you can more easily release your partner if needed.

 

You could also switch the straps out with another pair if you prefer your gags to be less easily escape-able, which is what I am planning on doing, as I found that Velcro caught on my hair and pulled in an annoying way. The gag feels quite comfortable during use, even with my hair getting caught a few times. The ball part of the gag measures 1.6 inches across, and doesn't bother my mouth or jaw, even with extended wearing. I know I've bitten down hard on my gag several times during some scenes, and I can't see a single mark on it. I can spit the gag out if I *really* work hard at it, but it isn't easy to do, so no worries if your submissive is a bit bratty.

 

With the Beginner ball gag, there will also be drooling issues unless they manage to keep their heads back and somehow swallow around the ball every few minutes. The care and feeding of your Tantus gag is as follows: for the silicone bit, you can boil it for three minutes, however, this won't totally sterilize the leather, so it's something to consider before using this gag with multiple partners if you are worried about any kind of bodily fluid sharing. I adore my gag — It's a great first gag, and definitely worth splurging on.

Crave T-Style Divider Cock Ring

Balldivider

I've recently bought the Crave T-style Divider in purple having used similar products before. At first glance the the Divider looks stiff and uncomfortable. The leather just doesn't seem as supple as the other products I've used. I'd been experimenting with ball-play toys lately, starting with stretchers made of leather and in viewing related products, this one caught my eye. The first time I used it I was pleasantly surprised at the little extra room the manufacturer gives so that you can slip a finger between yourself and the Divider making it easy to do the snaps.

 

Next, I flipped the Divider part up over my balls and gently guided one testicle through each sideand snapped it into place on either side. The first one was plenty tight for me, the second one was a bit too tight for comfortable wear. There is a little bit of a comfort issue, which I suspect mostly just comes with using any product like the Divider. The first is that I've noticed that the edges of the leather are squared, which causes a little discomfort when it rubs against you. Other products of this type that I've used have had some what rounded edges, making them less likely to chaff.

 

The producers of the Divider say no more than 20 minutes, but that seems like you may have to rush the act if you follow that time scale. Once on and comfortably snapped into place, this thing felt great. There was a nice amount of soft pressure on my scrotum from the Divider and the ring part worked nicely. I think this thing looks awesome and sexy on-it does a great job of parting the testicles and enhancing the erection, and the purple leather is just great. All in all I would say that the Divider is a good product and an enjoyable one.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Bondage Bar - Spreader

Bondage Bar

The Sportsheets bondage bar is a restraint play product designed to restrict movement of arms and legs. I would exceed the word limit just attempting to elaborate on all the positions and uses we have found in a short time span.

The Sportsheets bondage bar is for anyone who wants to be restrained with their arms and legs close by, yet not in a traditional hog tie. This set combines a spreader bar to keep the legs apart and attached cuffs to keep the arms immobile. Different positions are possible but somewhat limited, as all of the cuffs are securely attached to the bar and cannot be removed. Since the cuffs are closed by Velcro, they are widely adjustable and either wrists or ankles will fit into any of the cuffs.

The Bondage Bar will work best for those who like quick release cuffs and who enjoy a spread position or keeping their arms and legs cuffed close by.This product is made of neoprene (the cuff lining), metal (the bars), and nylon (the covering for the bars and the main part of the cuffs). The "Bondage Bar" actually has two rigid, yet flexible bars inside of it. Sewn into a thick nylon sheathing side by side (in separate "pouches", see picture below) to produce the almost 2" wide Bondage Bar you see on the box. Two cuffs are Sewn very firmly to the two ends of the "bar". And the other two Sewn 2 1/2" in from the sides, and 9" apart from each other on the front of the bar.

These cuffs have three 1" seams attaching them to the bar, so it's nothing that you will easily destroy. The Velcro on the cuffs is 1 1/2" wide 5" long strips (one strip per cuff) Sewn firmly to the outside of the cuffs on one side. Both attached well enough and with Velcro strong enough to hold against even the hardest of pulls.This Bondage Bar performed amazingly! It's so easy to use — you can play around with the Bondage Bar a bit, and soon you'll have loads of favorite positions. Sportsheets bondage bar comes in a large white and purple cardboard box.

The bar is compact when the cuffs are pressed against it, so it would travel easily in a suitcase. The bar was wide enough to keep things open, yet not so wide to be uncomfortable. My husband also liked it on me with me on my back, as he could hang onto the bar and have my legs in the position/height he wanted easily. The cuffs were comfortable on my ankles and wrists, and stayed firmly attached. I'd also love to have the wrist cuffs in some way detachable from the bar.

Couture compagnia by Cal Exotics: The Double-Ended Screw

 

product picture
Double ended dildo by California Exotic
Material: Silicone
Safety:


Review Coming Soon!

 

Under the bed restraint system by Sportsheets: Pleasure bound

This simple assembly, comfortable restraint system can turn any normal boring bed into a place of binding pleasure. Both beginners and experienced bondage players will find countless ways of using this restraint system.

You may see other bondage systems, but restrain yourself! For both beginners and advanced bonders, the Sportsheets Under the Bed Restraint System has everything you need. Are you tired of having to take apart your intricate bondage system every time someone comes over to visit or knocks on your bedroom door? A quick slip under any size mattress and 1…2…3… your bondage playground is born. Just as quickly, you can tuck the restraints under the mattress to hide the evidence of your naughty games. Bondage virgins or master incarcerators will enjoy the many different ways you can bind your partner to the bed- spread eagle, doggy-style, feet over head, hog-tied or straight-jacket style just to name a few.

The restraint system comes in a simple plastic box with a picture of a lady who is thoroughly enjoying her binds. The back of the box has a simple picture diagram for assembly. It even suggests shifting the four-corners of the restraints around the bed corners for additional modes of fun. We, however, were able to be a bit more creative than that.

The restraints are made out of black nylon straps with metal rings on the ends to attach the wrist and ankle cuffs. The four 10 inch cuffs are softly lined and are closed via Velcro. Don’t be fooled by the Velcro, it will not snap open and is pretty durable, so make sure your partner does not leave you strapped in alone. Also, one would think that they would get relatively uncomfortable after wearing them for a long duration or from tugging on them too hard, however, this is not the case and they are actually extremely soft and comfy to wear.

They can wrap securely around 13 inches in circumference. Each cuff is attached to a metal ring on which hangs a metal clip. The cuffs can easily be clipped to any of the four straps as well as other cuffs. The possibilities are endless. The straps of the system are easily adjustable and can easily be tucked under the mattress for quick digression.

You can adjust the lengths of the restraints and move them around the corners of the bed, like the box suggests. We have even connected all four corners of the restraints together in the middle of the bed to create a master binding post, which is perfect for over the bedside play. While initially you may think that the Under the Bed Restraint System restrains your fun only to the bed. What we also discovered is that if you can put this restraint system under the bed, you could also position it under the kitchen table or the couch for some out of the boudoir play. We have found that the wrist and ankle cuffs are great by themselves as well as they can be connected to each other or any other restraining equipment with O-rings attachments.

As both my fiancé and I are on the taller side, we had to shorten the T-strap under the bed for the corner restraints to be short enough to really restrain us. With a little fiddling, the Under the Be Restraint System is sure to be a great addition to any sex life. The price may seem steep at first, but this system is durable and can be used in as many ways as you can imagine. Since the system is so simple and compact, my fiancé and I have already planned to pack it with us to complete our honeymoon.

product picture
Under bed strap kit by Sportsheets
Material: Nylon / Neoprene


Those who are into serious BDSM and prefer leather restraints might prefer to use their own with the straps, as long as they have a snapping clip attachment, they can easily be used with this system.

The best part of the Under the Bed Restraint System by Sportsheets is its versatility. It can be used in almost infinite ways – if you’re creative and your partner and you are willing to take some time figure out what works and does not around your house/apartment.

One of the greatest things that we discovered is that if you have the tethers and hip restraints made by Sportsheets, you will open up another door to the magical kingdom of restraint play. Add a spreader bar or two in there and you have a low-priced alternative to an actual BDSM room. Not to mention that all these products can be easily stashed away when you guests arrive…and not the special ones who have come to play!

Some of the more fun positions we have found mostly involve using the restraints and connecting them with themselves. Connecting the wrists to the ankles while on you belly will quickly give you the hog tie position. Or do the same when you partner is sitting in a chair (preferably one where you could pass their hands between the bars) and they will be helpless to you teasing (I spoke about how my fiancée uses this position on me a lot in the Silicone Ball gag review).

More options are always available, from using the tethers and having the person on the couch or down on the floor in a submissive position. In all honesty there are just too many to list!

Anal Probe by Doc Johnson: Anal beginners meet your new best friend!

Those starting out their exploration in the field of anal play will find an invaluable companion in this Anal Probe by Doc Johnson. With it's slender size and flexibility it will help in warming up novices to anal play; while at the same time allowing more advanced users to come up with more imaginative uses for this probe. Those looking for product for more advanced play or for discovering new sensations might be disappointed. However, given it's low price and myriad uses, this is a winner and a keeper for us!

Well truth be told this should’ve been one of the first toys that we reviewed since this was officially the first toy that my fiancée and I used, not counting the restraints we had been enjoying until that point!

So, we figured that it was only fair that we gave its due deserves and focus some attention on the original bedroom accessory that opened up a whole world of sexual exploration in our relationship.

Now, since we started using this back in 2007 our memory about the packaging is a little hazy, but if memory serves right, it came in a simple hard plastic package with a suggestive picture of a woman on the back. Nothing beyond that, there were no other accessories or booklets explaining the product or how it might be used, but then again its pretty self-explanatory!

The initial reaction to its unveiling involved slight anxiety about the way it appeared, the first thing that came to my mind when I saw it was a ‘police-baton’, given the products black coloring and the handle. It packs some weight to it and appears to be larger than it really is, but once again this could be because this was out first sex toy.

At the time I had the future-wifey restrained and blind folded, partially because I was nervous about how she would react to seeing it. That’s one thing about this toy -it is not the sexiest or classiest looking probe to introduce your partner too. Like I said before, it has an almost sinister quality to it from the way it appears – mostly due to its large bulbous head – some might consider that a good quality. But trust me, looks are deceiving and as far as functionality goes, this is a little gem!

The Anal Probe itself is around 12 inches long, with an insertable length of 7 inches. The probe has a larger bulbous head which beginners might take a little getting used too, and should use plenty of lube to get in, silicone and water based lubes should do the trick as they will not damage this probe comprised of rubber. After the initial insertion the rest of the length is relatively narrow and easy to glide in and out without any discomfort, even for beginners. Plus the handle really helps in keeping grips on the probe and the flare before the handle helps prevent the toy from being pulled in accidentally.

Those who are more advanced in anal play might want to go for something larger as the probe is not thick enough after the initial entry and is smooth without any curves or bumps, so the remainder of the shaft will not stimulate the nerve endings as you play with it. The only way to really stimulate yourself would be to take it out and insert it again, but that in itself presents a challenge as the probe is very flexible and hard to insert back in without careful manipulation in solo play, or even if a partner is helping you, it will slow things down a bit on re-entry.

Cleaning is quite simple because of its rubber construction; simple soap and water should do the trick. But word of caution here, since the material is rubber, it is porous an can easily hide bacteria, so this is not a safe toy to share among multiple partners, if you must then make sure you cover it with a condom for safety.

The Anal Probe is a good starter toy for those delving into the world of anal play and would work really well to warm you up to more exciting and bigger toys down the road. Given its cheap price I think it’s a bargain and good way to find out if your partner or you enjoy anal adventures. I was quite glad I tried it with my fiancee, because soon she took to all things anal related like a fish to water – and I must say, made me an even an happier man to have met her!! Also, this can be used for prostate milking, but there are better and more specific toys out there for this, but still this toy will perform in a crutch if other alternatives are not around.

product picture
Probe by Doc Johnson
Material: Rubber
Safety:


As with time we have advanced in our expertise, we have started using this toy more as an accessory to other toys as opposed to using it exclusively. Personally I have found that she really enjoys to have this in her while we are in a doggie position and I thrust this in and out in sync with my own thrusting. It really fills her up and helps her achieve orgasm faster. Of course you could also use this toy vaginally, but once again make sure you put a condom on, even if it’s the same person using it.

Another thing that someone else had suggested, and turns out the fiancée has dabbled in several times when I was away, is inserting just the bulbous part and walking around with it, giving slight anal pleasures to you with every step.

Elise by Lelo: The Rolls Royce of Sex Toys

Anyone in the market for a new toy or vibrator should overlook Elise’s price and give her a whirl. Her twin motors and silky smooth texture are sure to blow you away with not only their aesthetic appeal but also their incredible functionality. Don’t waste time giving subpar vibrators a try; you’ll save more down the road with this purchase. I assure you, your pocket and your body will thank you in the long run!

product picture
G-spot vibrator by LELO
Material: Silicone / Plastic
Safety:
Rating:
Vroom:
Bee:


The Swedish craftsmen, LELO, do not disappoint with Elise, one of their newest additions to their luxurious line of vibrators. Flaunting it’ sleek silicone design and various modes of vibration, Elise almost seems like one of the newest tech toys from Apple. Although it is on the pricier side for vibrators, I think this purchase is definitely worth the cost.

Elise comes packaged in a beautiful box fit for a queen. The packaging was so nice and inconspicuous; I keep it by my bedside to store Elise for the day. Elise also includes a satin storage bag and a compact charger. It is nice to know they make vibrators without needing all of those clunky batteries that are constantly being worn out. Included along with these is Lelo’s 1-year warranty plan, which should help ameliorate concerns some might have about investing in a relatively expensive toy. Also included in the package are detailed instructions for the unit’s features and use.

The medium sized Elise fits ergonomically in my hand and has a comfortable firm weight. It’s made from nonporous and hypoallergenic silicone and can be shared easily with some quick cleaning. The silicone is very smooth and velvety and feels incredible to gently rub against the skin. It is also gently curved to easily hit the G-spot and can be used for external clitoral stimulation.

We have also found Elise to be wonderful at stimulating other erogenous zones on both my fiance and myself. The single push-pad button gives Elise its fashionable look but was a little confusing at first. The on/off function was a slightly awkward initially but after a few tries, both my fiance and I became quite skilled in manipulating Elise’s vibrations.

Elise has five modes of vibration with a wide range of intensity and motion. Personally, the highest setting was too strong for me but I could easily find a happy medium for my pleasure. This vibe contains two independent motors, one can be found at the tip and the other at the base of the unit. The dual motors, which provide different modes of vibration, are excellent and keep the sensations exciting so you don’t easily become desensitized to the same repetitive feeling. These two stimulation points can act in unison, or alternate intuitively. The rolling sensation of one of the vibe’s settings provides a great “riding” feeling without even moving the toy. In addition, the sound of the motor is relatively quiet compared to other vibrators I have tried and lives up to the high standards of quality that LELO upholds.

Elise is relatively easy to take care of as long as you’re careful about certain aspects of its design. Firstly make sure that you use water-based lube or even oil-based as this vibe is made from silicone and will easily get damaged by silicone-based lubricants. As for a cleaning of the product goes, some toy cleaner or a little soap and then water and you should be good to go. However, make sure that you don’t allow lube or water to enter the socket for the charger plug; though this should not be a major concern as the socket is covered by a little tab which can be moved out of place when the unit needs to be recharged and firmly fixed when Elise is in use. As far as the charging of the unit is concerned, a thee hour charge should give you four hours of play, however, this time will decrease if you use the unit at medium-higher settings like us.

On the whole I couldn’t be happier with this vibrator. Orgasm is only one button away when Elise is nearby. Just add a little bit of lube (Remember no silicone-based due to its silicone material) and you and your partner will perfect a magnificent menage-a-tois. Elise is not only fashionable and easy on the eyes but her soft texture just begs to be touched.