Before I got this leash, I wasn't sure there was much to review about leashes. I mean, how hard can it be? Does it allow me to control and signal someone? Yes? Then it's a good leash, right?

It turns out I was wrong - there are a lot of subtle details to a leash that makes a big difference for the person on the holding-end of the leash. I am not entirely sure that these things make as big a difference for the person being leashed. Both of the partners I used it with seemed far more interested in what I was doing with the leash than how the leash was made.

The first thing I noticed about it was that it is heavy. It feels good in your hand: this is not a pretend leash. It will hold your pet dog, or your slave. It makes its presence felt. I really like that.

The next thing I noticed is that the chain feels really good to hold in your hand. While you are playing with a leash, you might sometimes want to shorten the leash, to focus your partner's attention on you more sharply, or to pull him/her towards you for reward or punishment or simply to make a point. A chain that is too thin, or too thick, will feel awkward while you're grabbing it to shorten the length. This chain, however, felt perfect. Part of why it felt so good was the shape of the links meant that it was rounded on one side and flat on the other. This meant that making multiple coils was easy, since the chain would lie flat against itself, but the rounded side gave you something to grip with your fingers.

The longest length of this chain, 4 ft, is a good neutral length. It's long enough to allow your partner to navigate obstacles, so you do not need to think very hard about exactly what path you are taking past crowded play spaces. It's not too long, though, so they will be very aware of their limited range of motion. If you want a tighter control, you can coil up the chain very easily and have them on a short leash.

The other thing that wasn't clear from the photographs is that the studs you pick are only on one side of the handle. This makes sense, since you need to have a side that you can grip comfortably. I wasn't sure, so I got the flat round studs, but it turns out that you can get any style of stud without worrying about getting a good grip.

The handle I think is a little bit too big for my hand. It doesn't feel quite as comfortable as I would like. My hand is on the medium-large range for womens' hands. I think most men would probably find the size of the handle more comfortable than most women. The handle construction is decently done, though I think higher-quality studs could have been found. But this is largely a minor detail.

Overall, I am very pleasantly surprised by the quality and thought that went into the construction of this leash. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a good leash to round out your collection or to start your play with.