As one might probably guess, KinkLab's leather hog tie is best used in conjunction with BDSM activities. Both the rivets and leather are very sturdy and the crab-claw hooks can maintain a solid hold on whatever you choose to hook them to. This allows users to dress it up, or dress it down: the hog tie can be part of an elaborate scene or something very simple.

The design is simple but effective. What makes it work is the length of the straps. I'm not a particularly flexible person, and the 11" diagonal length of the straps allowed me (just barely!) to get strapped in without spraining a muscle. Were I more flexible, I could very well see getting into the hog tie being easier. That wouldn't, however, detract from its effectiveness once I was in.

The craftsmanship, like all the KinkLab products I've tried, is extraordinary. The solid metal rivets hold the leather straps firmly to the center ring. The hooks are equally well attached to the leather. What is particularly useful about the hooks is that they are able to swivel 360° - a terrific advantage when going between positions.

The leather itself is thick and sturdy.

My personal tastes in bondage gravitate towards the tamer, still-pretty-vanilla end of the BDSM spectrum and the hog tie blew my mind. I'd never experienced anything like it and, while my muscles are still a bit out of whack from being pulled in new directions, I wouldn't hesitate to use the hog tie again.

I began by putting on wrist and ankle cuffs. I then knelt on the floor and my partner hooked two ends of the hog tie to my ankles. He then pulled my arms behind my back and hooked my wrists to the remaining two hooks.

The sensation of being in a hog tie is entirely unique. There was nothing at all comfortable about it. I got into the hog tie only with some pulling and, as I felt my knees burn their way into the carpet, I resolved to start yoga practice immediately. My muscles strained and only when I realized that the only way to endure was to relax, was I able to make the experience bearable.

Being in such a position renders your pussy wide open. Your back is arched at a completely unnatural angle, which forces your legs wide open. Your butt rests on the back of your heels. Anything and anyone can get between your legs. Your mouth is equally vulnerable. When your hands are attached to your ankles in front of you, your ass becomes completely open.

Using a hog tie is akin to saying, "open sesame". The orifice that is revealed depends on the position you're in. Regardless of that position, though, being attached to a hog tie means that something will be completely open to the world.

Care for the hog tie is much like that for any leather product. If you are in a monogamous relationship with no concerns about STD transmission, you can get by with cleaning the hog tie with a leather cleaning product when it seems necessary.

If you will be sharing the hog tie with other partners and there is a risk of bodily fluids getting on the leather, it is recommended that you disinfect the hog tie by soaking it in a 10% bleach solution for two minutes. That will most likely discolor the leather, but will also eliminate the risk of STDs. Follow the bleach bath with your regular leather cleaning routine.

You may store the hog tie with your other toys or in the clear, plastic container it was originally packaged in.

The hog tie is packaged in a round, clear plastic canister that's great for storage. It can be stacked on its side with other KinkLab products or stood up on its end.