The Spanker by Leatherbeaten is my first experience with a paddle- it certainly will not be my last! The paddle arrived packaged in the usual manner- wrapped in bubble wrap inside of a discreet box that gives no indication of the contents.

The portion of the paddle intended for spanking is approximately 8 inches long and 3 1/2 inches wide, the handle is 5 inches long and about 1 1/4 inches wide and made completely from heavyweight leather with the only exceptions being the small hanging loop, the stitching and a rod running through the handle to lend support. The overall thickness is right at 1/4 inch, so this is a good sturdy paddle, no flopping about while in use. The stitching is quite perfect- straight with no loose ends peeking out anywhere. My hands are much smaller than my husband's, so being able to find a paddle that fits us both comfortably with a handle that is not too wide for me or too skinny for him is a nice plus, Leatherbeaten really hit this one perfectly, at least for us.

The first thing I discovered upon using this paddle is that it can be surprisingly gentle, almost caressing if used lightly. The very next thing I found out- it also delivers a wicked, stinging slap if the wielder wants it to! I was pleasantly surprised to find that this paddle is much more versatile than I had initially expected and can take me from warm up to heavy play with ease. My husband noted that it was weighted perfectly, not so heavy he fatigued just from the weight but yet not so light he had to put a lot of force behind each blow. This meant he was able to spank longer without getting tired, leading to a prolonged play session.

The Spanker by Leatherbeaten is very well made and to keep it performing well, remember that leather does not like to stay wet and it needs to breathe. With that in mind, it is best not to keep it closed up with no circulation, and you definitely don't want to put it away without making sure it is completely dry. Properly cared for, this paddle will last you for years to come.