The first time I purchased something kinky, it was at the behest of my (now ex) boyfriend. He had grand ideas about our bedroom escapades, and we needed to stock up on a few things. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what I was doing, and ended up with some dud purchases. Here are three things I wish I knew before I started buying bondage gear.
- If you know you’re into it, buy for quality
The first paddle I bought practically disintegrated on first impact. The first ball gag I purchased melted with a dildo I stored it with, which means they weren’t silicone. The first straightjacket I used ripped during the first session. It was disappointing to not be able to rely on the things that I bought with my money.
Now I know better, and I buy things that are a little more expensive, but are made from safe, quality materials, like my Aslan leather collar, or Twisted Monk rope.
2. But don’t spend money if you aren’t sure!
The shitty thing about kink stuff is that sometimes you aren’t sure that you’ll REALLY be into it. That’s what happened with this gag/dildo combo I purchased on a whim. One side was ball gag, with a black dildo protruding from the other side like some sad, fallen, obscene unicorn horn. I don’t know why I thought I’d be into it… my then-partner wanted me to sit on their face and wear the gag, having me ride the dildo. I was into the idea, but then purchased this and remembered that I hate sitting on faces? Whoops. Wasted money.
I could have really used some decent beginners bondage kits that would have exposed me to a few things I could test out, instead of relying on my surface browsing of a few sites.
3. But always, always buy from reputable companies
This is one I didn’t know about until I got into sex blogging. I thought that surely– surely!– there must be some All Powerful Governing Body that made sure toys were at least body safe, right? Nobody would sell you something on purpose that could give you infections or chemical burns or get stuck on your clit with no release valve?
No such thing. It wasn’t until I started reading blogs like Lilly’s and Epiphora’s that I really started to see how unsafe some products can be. I still shudder to think of Lilly’s experience with a dangerously designed clit suction toy! I buy from SheVibe almost exclusively, nowadays. Betty’s Toy Box and Peepshow Toys are also great options!
When you start out buying sex toys or bondage stuff or kink accoutrements, it can be intimidating to see the mere breadth of options. Take your time, buy from reputable sites, and don’t be afraid to spend money on the things you really want.
Happy shopping!
Although this post was sponsored, all opinions are my own. Sponsoring posts is a great way to help support my work. Interested in working with me? Let’s chat.