The idea behind the Fetish Series Bondage-belt Restraint System (herein referred to as the "kit") is that the average, kinkily-mined consumer should be able to purchase everything they need to tie their lover to the bed in one box. When I saw this, I thought it was a fantastic idea. And it still is, mind you. If your purpose is to restrain someone, or to be restrained yourself, alternatively, then this kit is worth a gander.

In my opinion, the kit is both sturdy and innovative enough to be useful for beginners and veteran couples alike. That said, I think it's appeal will be generic at best, judging by the lack of leather, studs, and overall appearance of severity. This is the no-frills package, and as such, is meant for newcomers looking to experiment before making a serious investment.

My overall impression of the the kit's quality is good. The kit is made, primarily, of black nylon straps and sturdy metal hardware. I think that for most people, it would hold up quite nicely, and would withstand significant years of abuse. The straps are quite strong, and barring any accidental nicks or inherent imperfections, your bed will break long before the restraints will.

It should be noted that you'll absolutely need a bed to use this kit. Without a mattress to secure the waist restraints, you'll be left with just tethers and cuffs. But assuming you do have a bed, here is breakdown of what is included in the kit and how it works:

1) The central piece in the kit is an adjustable thick strap (suitable for large beds too) that is meant run along beneath your mattress, with the ends folding up and over the top on either side. These ends are tipped with large metal o-rings and snap hooks that attach to a waist belt, also made of thick nylon. This belt utilizes a large plastic clip to fasten around the waist. It's not the sturdiest clip in the world, but it works fine for light restraint. This whole apparatus is intended to hold down the restrainee's midsection, however playfully, so that they can be subjected to your machinations without squirming around too much.

2)There are four cuffs included for the ankles and wrists. They're essentially made of the same stuff, but are lined on the inside with soft and flexible neoprene. They're comfy enough, but they're only sturdy enough for light restraint. This is due to the fact that they fasten with velcro. In my opinion, velcro is incredibly convenient. It opens and closes quickly and allows you to adjust without much fuss at all. That said, it's not as strong as a buckle would be. Keep this in mind if absolute restraint is what you're looking for.

3)Included in the kit are four 3-foot tethers. These are meant to attach to the four cuffs mentioned earlier, as well as to the headboard and foot-board of you bed. This is where the true restraint occurs. With the hands and feet fastened tightly (the tethers are adjustable), the restrainee will be truly immobilized.

4) Also thrown in is a blindfold, or "love mask". This is fun to try out, but is ultimately lacking in quality. The material is soft, and wearing it is comfortable enough. But it does a very poor job of conforming to the face, fastening to your head by way of a cheap elastic string.

Now for the nitty-gritty: how well does it actually work?

It works fine once you figure out how to set it up. As I've mentioned, the construction is adequately sturdy, and the restraints are comfy enough to wear for a moderate amount of time. But I have one major, all-encompassing criticism: it's really complicated.

By the time I figured out how to set it up, half an hour had gone by. Then, by the time we were actually on the bed and ready to roll, we still had to adjust the tethers, cuffs, and waist belt. This took a further 10 minutes. Then, we finally got into things. We went along using the kit in the standard way, on-the-back with limbs tied to the four corners of the bed. But when we decided to switch it up and try a new position, it took a further 10 minutes to readjust it all. By that time, the mood was significantly squashed.

Let me sum it up: while the box illustrates several ways to use the kit, it contains no instructions or user guide to show you how. I expected, at least, a guide to help with set-up. But I found no such thing. I was left to decipher which parts were what, and I found myself squinting at the box in my underwear, just trying to figure out the proper assembly.

I suppose that it takes some practice. And I admit that the first time around anything is more like a test drive than a well-practiced racing circuit. After a couple more uses, I'm sure my wife and I will be pros when it come to using this kit in the way it was truly intended. But for a product that seems to be geared towards beginners, I expected a little more guidance in both set-up and use. So, if you buy it, keep in mind that you'll most likely need a trial run, or maybe two, before you really get your money's worth.