I wasn't sure what to expect from the Engage kit. The pictures were very cute, but looked a little cheaply made. And I mean, come on: Velcro? How long would that hold up? Well, at least it should be good for some foreplay.

The Engage arrived a few days before my boyfriend returned, so I had plenty of time to examine them at my leisure. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this kit.

The cuffs were first in the inspection line. They very comfortable and well put together, with no loose or harsh seams, and nothing gave way, no matter how hard I tugged. They can easily be adjusted to a wide range of sizes: they fit up to a 10" wrist without a gap, but also easily adjusted down to my not-quite-6" wrists. They can even be used as ankle cuffs, if your detainee has dainty ankles. They barely fit my ankles, so measure before you buy! The Velcro was another surprise: I never imagined it could be so secure! While not designed for hardcore bondage, playful bondage isn't going to rip them open. The tension was very well distributed, though more comfortable if the clip is at the front or back of the wrist instead of the sides. The clips are well-made (metal, not plastic), but small. They can be clipped to each other, to tethers, or to anything you can devise. While there are no D-rings, the base of the clip is very close in shape to a small D ring, so things can be attached there, too. For those without a partner or playmate, these can be used for self-bondage if one is slightly limber.

One cautionary note about the cuffs: because they are so squishy and comfy, it is easy to over tighten them without realizing it. After a few play sessions we were able to figure out the right tightness, but be careful the first few times so you don't cut off circulation!

The mask is nice, but nothing really special. It's comfortable, it blocks out most sight but not all light, it's sewn together pretty well. One thing I did like: the elastic. It’s nice and wide, a full inch thick! This makes it much more stable, especially if you have fine, silky hair that makes most bands wander in search of your neck or pillow. It was a good length, not too big or too small.

The rubber whip got a lot of "yes, but..." comments, so I waited until after use to pass judgment. It looks like fun, but to be brutally honest, it looks like a thrown-together afterthought. I can see the thick glue where the 5 3/4" rubber tails enter the handle, which is a stick of plastic that was cut off at the end and left unfinished. The handle has space for even a large hand, but it's just a plastic rod. The tails are easy to clean, but they smell like tires. It looks, well, kinda dinky. What good could it do? I absently tested it on my forearm... then tested it again. And again in the name of science. And again just for the hell of it. I had a line of four progressively more impressive red welts rising on my arm. This baby has potential. As unimpressive as it looks, this little koosh ball of doom, as my boyfriend has dubbed it, has quite a sting, and almost no thud. I had to use it as hard as I could to get an "ouch!" instead of a "please!" In many ways it is ideal for a beginner: it’s going to be hard to actually hurt someone, and those tails are so short there is very little danger of wrapping (unless you’re testing it on, say, a hand, or a cock). Those rubber tails do make a lovely sound going through the air, which heightens the anticipation.

The entire kit is easy to clean, which is an issue with more expensive leather restraints. The whip is made of rubber and plastic: a little antibacterial soap and warm water and you’re good to go. The cuffs and mask take a little more work, but not much. Neoprene is what wetsuits are made of, and is pretty easy to clean: throw them in the laundry in a garment bag (mostly to protect your other clothing) with the Velcro closed, on a gentle cycle, then hang dry. Tough stains can be loosened with a brush and some very dilute laundry detergent.

One warning about this kit: neoprene is part of the latex family. Those with latex allergies may have a reaction to neoprene, so please be careful to test for a short period of time before heavy use!

As the weaker of the two of us, I got to get strapped down first to see how it would hold up. I put up a struggle, then had to stop. You can’t really put these cuffs onto a struggling lover without a lot of practice, or they will be too loose, too tight, or ridiculously lopsided. Once they were on, we got back to business. I struggled as hard as I could, but all I accomplished was banging my elbow against the wall and scaring the neighbors. Even though it was "just" Velcro, it wasn’t going anywhere. Once the mask was on, I was unclipped from the tethers and refastened on my stomach, and got to experience the little koosh of doom firsthand. The whistle it made through the air was agonizing, and the sting it made was lovely. Even though this was the first time we had ever played with a flogger, or any impact toy that we hadn’t been born with, I was begging after the first few strokes. We found a new advantage to the whip's diminutive size: it was just right for use while we made love doggy style. Just don't let the tails hit your lover’s hair, they cling to it and tangle terribly.

When we recovered, it was his turn. While he liked the blindfold and whip, his favorite part was the cuffs. When they were on, he could just let go and enjoy. He was able to ask for things he'd never been able to let down his guard and ask for before... like a turn with my favorite glass dildo, the Diamond. He'd given me diamonds the year before, now it was my turn to return the favor. He'd promised he would try to break free of the cuffs, but he didn't struggle for very long.

All in all, we were very satisfied with this kit. The cuffs will probably last the longest, and get the most use, but the whole thing will get plenty of use before it dies. But when it does, we're going to upgrade to something a little more substantial.