My girlfriend and I purchased this product as an introduction to BDSM. We had decided on a breathable ball gag model because we felt this was the safest and simplest way to experiment with light bondage play. However, we quickly found that this product can become uncomfortable and then even painful after even a short amount of time.

The biggest problem is one that we noticed immediately; the ball, while perfectly breathable, can barely fit into her mouth. Within minutes, it was hard for her to extend her jaw so widely, and it quickly led to becoming painful. In addition, the ball can shift from side to side, causing an even greater amount of awkwardness and discomfort.

The straps fared no better. They are cheap, imitation leather and, while the bands themselves are strong enough to withstand prolonged use, the buckle itself is much flimsier. However, with all that said, the buckle and straps do not bother me. They are exactly what many will expect from a bargain-priced gag.

In the end, the discomfort was quickly erased when she simply spat the ball out because, even at the tightest setting, the straps seem to do little in the way of actually holding the gag in. And, in this specific case, I am thankful for the oversight.

Overall, we were disappointed by the Sex and Mischief Breathable Ball Gag. We simply tossed the gag in the hotel trash can on our way out the door. It may be eleven dollars gone, but it was a welcome learning experience. We now know to look carefully at the gag's diameter because, even though BDSM does not generally involve absolute comfort, this was not the pain we were looking for. We also now know to look for a product with a higher quality buckle that will keep the gag in until the band is unstrapped.

We did, however, agree that we liked the breathable holes. That is a feature we will look for again in the future. It may be cheating, but we both enjoyed the security of knowing we could still breathe.