Uberkinky Bondage Tape

October 15th, 2014

UberKinky Bondage Tape
$6.36 from Uber Kinky

I don’t often talk about my family, but I’d like to start this post with an anecdote. My sister is in her tween years and loves to spend time at my apartment playing video games. I am more than happy to oblige, but if I don’t have notice, I might forget to remove something that she doesn’t need to see.

She has now twice discovered Uber Kinky’s bondage tape — which I have in both black and red — and asked what it was for. I had to explain that, no, it wasn’t duct tape. On the second occasion, I hope I saved my butt by telling her it was for costumes. I mean, it can be used for that, right?

Which brings me into my review. Bondage tape is a great way to bind someone to something or even to themselves, and, yes, it could be used as part of a costume. The great thing about this PVC tape is that it only sticks to itself, but it’s much less clingy than saran wrap. Wrap it around arms and legs until your bottom/submissive is secure or cut off a chunk and hope it’s long enough.

I can’t argue against the cleverness of the idea, and seeing someone wrapped in black or red PVC is certainly hot. It doesn’t pick up cat fur or human hair, which is fantastic! Plus, the stretchiness helps with bondage and costuming, but Uberkinky bondage tape is more frustrating than I was expecting for a couple reasons.

  1. It’s difficult to roll back up. Perhaps I should just completely unroll it and cut it into pieces to fold and store.
  2. If you do cut it, then you’ll either be lucky enough that you have the size lengths for reusing or you’ll wind up tossing some of the tape.
  3. While it sticks to itself, you’ll have to hold that first end in place as you wrap the bondage tape around. This is easier said than done, but not impossible.
  4. You’ll want to use several layers if you really want to keep someone bound because it can be ripped apart at the wrists. Alternatively, you could bind someone’s arms or legs in multiple places with fewer layers.

If you do decide to cut, it easily cuts more easily with a scissors than some restraints, and a paramedic scissor is a great tool to have during any scene anyway. Bondage tape can be moved much more easily than handcuffs in the event of an emergency, and you could cut it with a blade to make shapes. In fact, I feel like bondage tape is a cheap source of PVC for whatever kinky craft you might have up your sleeve.

I guess the point I’m getting at is that no matter how reusable and convenient bondage tape seems, it’s not actually as convenient or reusable as it might seem. And while bondage tape certainly doesn’t cost that much, you’ll save a lot of money if you just buy plastic wrap. It won’t look as nice, but it’ll do the same job. With that said, bondage tape is going to do a better job of not ripping out your hair, and it’s certainly more durable when it comes to sharp edges.

20 yards of bondage tape in each roll will likely go a long way, and there’s nothing stopping you from using discarded tape in another project.

I suppose, to wrap this up, I like bondage tape, but I don’t love it the way I expected. It’s hardly a risky investment, though. Give it a try and let me know how you feel.

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Categories: BDSM, Reviews

PVC Lace Up Gloves

October 14th, 2010

Pvc Lace Up Gloves

Pvc Lace Up Gloves

Ah, these gloves looked so interesting and vampy. The shiny PVC, the corset-styled lacing, the single finger hole that made a “V” shape down the top of the hand. All so nice and much more appropriately entitled an “arm warmer.” I didn’t really have any purpose for them but my inner-Goth cried out. And then I cried when I got them.

They look very nice on the model but they just didn’t fit me. Period. I have rather short arms so the 19″ gloves reached far up my arm–to a point where my arm was far too wide for the gloves to fit. Granted, I don’t have tiny arms but, as I tried to adjust, it was clear that the included string–shoestring style–didn’t offer a lot of give. In fact, if you look at the model in the picture, you can see there really isn’t that much room to loosen the strings anymore than they are and it’s obvious she’s a thin one.

Let me put this into numbers for you. The widest part of the glove has an 8.5″ circumference and I’m pretty sure that most bracelets are about 7″ long so I have no idea why the designers figure a 1.5″ increase in size is enough to fit most women. It just seems pretty realistic.

The good side is that, like anything that laces up, you can invest in a longer string. You can even replace it with your own ribbon, if you so choose. I personally think that would be more attractive. You’ll need one that is more than 5.75′ long; however. You’ll have to lace it up through all 27 eyelets, of course. That will be a nice afternoon’s work.

Aside from the fit, I am fairly impressed with the quality. I’ve never heard of this XoXo line of latex and leather gear but it seems like the company, Allure, sells quite a bit. The gloves were packaged in an easy-to-open plastic case with a picture of a model wearing them. While folded, they haven’t retained any creases.

The gloves appear to have two layers but the inside of the PVC isn’t finished. To be honest, I don’t know if this is a common thing because I haven’t owned a lot of PVC but it really is only one layer (I think). The exterior is super shiny and the inside is matte and softer. There is a hem around all the edges that is about 1/2″ wide so your skin will touch some of the shiny material on the edges. The eyelets for the lacing are sewn in through the hem so they’re secured to two layers of fabric and they’re quite flat and smooth. The sewing around all the edges and the placement of the eyelets are perfectly straight.

The hem continues around the single finger hole. Depending on your arm, you’ll probably wear this around the middle finger. It’s not full length but measures a little over 1.5″. Again, quite long for my fingers but the 3″ circumference fits loosely around my middle finger. It’s a bit bulky with the hems and the straight seam where both sides of the material meet to form the finger loop. It’s also the same width through the entire length.

It seems like scratches and stabby things can leave my marks. I know because my cat decided this glove looked yummy. Be careful of sharp objects and fingernails as this can mar the overall appearance of the PVC lace up gloves.

If you are a thin armed person who is taller and wants a just-above-the-shoulder arm warmer to complete a fetish outfit or costume, then the PVC Lace Up Gloves may be right up your alley. If you’re not so thin, not so tall or not patient enough to purchase alternative strings or ribbons, I’d pass. I know I’m extra lazy, however; so others may be more likely to be more patient and go the extra mile with these.

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Categories: Non-Sex Toys, Reviews

Santa Duckie

December 11th, 2009

Santa Duckie

Santa Duckie
$23.52 from Of Sex and Love Store

Most people I know consider the I Rub My Duckie line to be cute. I do. I don’t lust over every single piece but it’s cute and I own two: the Paris duckie and now, the Santa Duckie. Actually, there is sometihng about the design of the Santa duckie that really appealed to me, much more than most of the other designs despite the fact that it’s only the mini, travel sized version (which I have thus far avoided). I definitely think the fact that it comes in a functional Christmas tree bulb holder is part of that draw. After spending a bit of time with the vibrator, I can’t say I will rush out to buy ever other duckie but I can say that I like it a lot. It’s cute but also more practical than I would have guessed.

As I mentioned, the packaging of this duckie is a bit more thought out than other versions. The whole thing is in a plastic box with different snowflakes printed on the front and sides. Inside this sites a tray where the Christmas bulb rests. The front half of the bulb is clear with more snowflakes and the back is solid blue, creating a backdrop for the duckie. The bulb is topped off with a red bow and a silver string which means it could be hung on a tree, if you’re into that sort of thing.

At first, I was disappointed because there were two pieces of tape which seemed to hold the two sides of the bulb together but those are only there for extra support. When together, the bulb actually has a short, threaded neck on top onto which screws a silver plastic cap which mimics the metal caps on the top of actually Christmas bulbs (this is also where the box and hanging string attach). Without the tape, the globe still stays whole but it’s a bit more secure with the tape on the bottom. In fact, the duckie is uber secure as there are a couple of places where there are twisty tries threaded through and then taped, just the way Barbies are secured in their boxes.

Of course, the Duckie himself has a bright red suit and hat, complete with black belt and fluffy trim. Although the entire thing is hard PVC, the white parts are textured to look fuzzy. There is quite a bit of texture on the Santa Duckie from his closed to his wings, break and other body parts. There are a few mostly smooth pieces but there’s no entirely smooth, spacious surface like most vibrators.

Once out of his box, I immediately felt that the more compact size of the Santa Duckie, as compared to my regular sized one, would be beneficial. That might be slightly detrimental if you want him mostly for decoration purposes but it just seemed less bulky to me, more like the size of a clitoral vibe like Laya Spot. For me, the tail was the best surface to actually press against my body as it is somewhat broad and there are no immediate obstructions from the shape of the toy. This allowed me to apply firm pressure with the duckie. The tail also comes to a rounded point for those who might prefer a pinpoint sensation.

Besides size, the Santa Duckie has different controls and battery requirements than a regular duckie. The battery compartment is covered by a small plastic cap with a straight indentation to unscrew it. A knife, screwdriver or possibly even fingernail could be used without too much difficultly. Inside is room for a single AAA battery, rather than the AA batteries which the regular uses. I was quite surprised by how much power this lone battery can put out. I think the size reduction actually means that more of the vibrations can be felt. The regular sized duckie seemed to absorb more vibrations even though it had a stronger power source. The vibrations are a little buzzy and there’s very little variation, if any, but I found them to be sufficient because I could apply pressure.

The control is a knob like the ones which control the burners on my stove. Turning is clockwise (looking at the duck’s belly, head toward the top) turns on the vibrations. The knob can only turn about a quarter of a circle and it kicks in at about half of that distance. Unfortunately, the style makes it seem like the vibrations are adjustable but they feel pretty much the same to me even if I turn it as far as possible.

The Santa Duckie is pretty loud for its size and strength, however. Definitely loud enough to be heard in the same room but probably safe to use in the shower or with the door closed. Sometimes I can also hear the battery rattling inside which adds to the noise factor.

During play, I used him through my panties (which I sometimes do with the Layaspot). That will probably be how I play because I do not like the idea of having to clean fluids from him. This duckie’s belly has many embossed words and indentations which could easily pick up liquids but would require a toothpick to fully clean. If these words are completely necessary (and they’re not; most of the mare promotions for the company), a tiny informational packet would be a much better option. Even the helpful stuff isn’t really needed. I could easily figure out how to open the battery compartment and turn this thing on without instructions.

I’m happy to say that this duckie performed well underwater. Not a drop made it into the battery compartment which is more than I can say for my Paris Duckie. So take him in the shower or bath as much as you want. On the not so bright side, he doesn’t float upright. Santa Duckie floats pretty much every other way than right side up but I can live with that.

Even after my first use, I was surprised with the Santa Duckie. I haven’t played with many clitoral toys lately and my focus on squirting has meant fewer orgasms in general. Santa Duckie reminded me what masturbating used to be like and took me through a session of multiples. He is definitely a better duckie than my Paris Duckie; although, he probably won’t replace my Layaspot.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Sex Toy Materials at a Glance

November 24th, 2008

I am a little concerned about sex toy materials. Being, that I would prefer to use safer and higher quality toys but I would likely not completely rule out certain materials because they are not as quality. It really depends on the toy in question.

However, keeping track of sex toy materials – of which there are many – can be difficult even if you make an effort to be aware. So, I thought I’d provide a fact sheet detailing some of the common materials used for sex toys in descending order of quality. (I’m excluding things like wood, glass and metal which are much less confusing.)

Elastomed
Elastomed is a medical grade elastomer derivative which is nonporous, phthlalate free, hypoallergenic, odorless and completely safe. These toys are safe to use with either silicone or water based lubricants. Sex toys made of Elastomed tend to be less pliable. Although Elastomed shares many of the same great characteristics as silicone, it should not be boiled or wiped with an alcohol or bleach solution.
Silicone
100% silicone is nonporous, therefore it can be sterilized by boiling for 3 minutes or washing them in your dishwasher (top shelf, no mechanical toys, remove bullets) which makes them safe for sharing. It also does not contain potentially harmful chemical softeners known as phthalates. Silicone is rather pliable, comes in many colours and densities and also retains heat (try warming before use) which makes it very popular.

There is some debate about whether silicone toys can be used with silicone lubricants. Pure silicone toys can be used with silicone toys. However, toys need only contain 10% silicone to be labeled as such so your toy and lube (or if you store several silicone toys touching) may appear to “react” with eachother. This is actually the melting of chemical softeners in your toy which indicates that it is not pure silicone. However, you should spot test your toys to check. It is always safe to use a water based lube with silicone toys.
VixSkin Silicone
VixSkin Silicone is a 100% premium silicone product from Vixen Creations and is safer than other skinlike materials without losing its realistic feel. The material in VixSkin Silicone is nonporous and can be sterilized by boiling for 3 minutes, wiping down with a 10% bleach solution or washing in the dishwasher. Like silicone toys, it is best not to use silicone based lubricants with VixSkin Silicone because it may cause a reaction. Spot test your toy in an inconspicuous place if you would like to use silicone based lube.
TPR Silicone
TPR Silicone is a mix of Silicone and ThermoPlastic Rubber (see below). This phthalate free composite is 10% silicone or more and generally has no taste or smell. Hardness varies in TPR silicone which can be very pliable. It is less porous than jelly but cannot be sterilized so sharing should only be done with condoms. TPR Silicone can be cleaned with a toy cleaner of soap and water and, to ensure a long life of your TPR silicone toy, it should only be used with water based lubricants.
TPR
TPR, or Thermo Plastic Rubber, Silicone is a blend of silicone and rubber. Although it is less porous than rubber it is still slightly porous, thus it cannot be sterilized like pure silicone but can easily be cleaned with warm water and soap or a toy cleaner. TPR toys should not be boiled. If you plan to share TPR toys, use them with a condom. TPR Silicone is pliable, easy to wash and phthalate-free. TPR toys can be used with water or silicone based lubricants.
TPE
Thermoplastic Elastomers (Elastormer, TPE Plastic) are not nonporous and is essentially the same as TPR. However, they are less porous than materials such as Cyberskin. Like TPR toys, TPE sex toys should not be boiled and cannot be disinfected. These toys can be cleaned with warm water and soap or an antibacterial toy cleaner. If shared, use condoms with Elastomer sex toys. TPE is often used in toys which have several textures. Like TPR, TPE can be used with water or silicone based lubricants.
Jelly
Jelly is a common sex toy material and may be cheaper than silicone alternatives. However, it is also more inferior in quality. Jelly toys are made of PVC which is chemically softened with phthalates, a potentially harmful ingredient which causes jelly toys to have an unpleasant and sometimes stubborn “rubber” smell. Jelly toys are soft and pliable and come in many colours. Jelly toys are porous and cannot be sterilized so they should only be shared if condoms are used. Condoms may also prolong the life of jelly sex toys. Jelly toys can be used with both water and silicone based lubes, should be cleaned with warm water and mild soap and store in a cool environment.

Jelly may be a term given to any soft sex toy when the material is actually higher quality of traditional PVC jelly.
Rubber
Rubber sex toys generally contain latex, an ingredient to which many people are allergy. Latex toys are also lower quality than other sex toy materials and have a shorter life, even when looked after carefully. Rubber toys usually have a strong smell that may never be completely eliminated. Rubber toys are nonporous, thus they cannot be sterilized and you should use condoms with rubber toys you plan to share. Rubber toys can be cleaned with warm water and soap but should never be boiled. Rubber toys come in over 260 different colours, are cheap to make (and buy) and are soft which make rubber one of the most popular sex toy materials. Rubber toys can be used with silicone or water based lubricants.
Cyberskin
Cyberskin and other skin-like materials (Pure skin, SoftTouch, SoftSkins, PassionSkin, Futurotic) tend to be the least safe materials in the sex toy market because they are so porous. However, what they lack in safety may be counteracted by their flesh-like appeal to some folks. Cyberskin and similar toys can be cleaned with soap and water but never can be disinfected so use with a condom is a must if sharing toys. Using a condom may also be beneficial even if you do not share Cyberskin toys because these materials may contain potentially harmful chemical softeners known as phthalates which can also cause reactions between toys so store your Cyberskin toys away from eachother and silicone toys as well. Use only water based lubes with these toys and store them in a cool, dark place. Many of these toys arrived dusted in cornstarch and should be stored as such when you are finished with them (but not talc!) Condoms may prolong the life of these toys but do not expect Cyberskin and similar toys to last a lifetime.

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Categories: Articles

Image © MisterUnlucky; used with permission.