What exactly is the Universal Gates of Hell? Is it a chastity device? Is it for cock and ball torture? Or is it simply for show: an accessory for the penis? The answer is all of the above because the Universal Gates of Hell combines elements of all three.

As a chastity device, the Universal Gates of Hell can impede the wearer's capability of getting an erection and his ability to orgasm. It doesn't preclude the wearer from doing those things, but it might make it difficult. This leads to the second function of the device: CBT, with an emphasis on the "C". When the user's penis begins to get erect, the rings will get tighter and tighter and there will be some discomfort to the wearer. Levels of discomfort will vary from user to user. Lastly, the Gate's leather straps, metal snaps, and rubber rings give, the wearer's penis, a striking look. It just looks kind of cool when it's on.

The Universal Gates of Hell is a good introduction device for beginners interested in this type of BDSM play. Other gates of hell devices are longer and have more rings, including those made of non-flexible steel, which can be intimidating. This device, on the other hand, has removable rings and is not too demanding physically (but caution should always be used when wearing).

The Universal Gates of Hell is composed of stitched leather straps and metal snaps. It is well made with good quality material and it should last a long time. The only negative were the rough edges where the straps had been cut at the ends. It could be a source for possible fraying in the future.

The leather straps are connected by a permanent snap. The longer of the straps is nine inches in length. It has five metal snaps that can be connected together in various sizes. The smaller strap is four and a half inches long and has four snaps, which are connected to make the loops to hold the rubber rings.

According the product description the maximum stretched diameters of the rubber rings, largest to smallest, are 3.5, 2.5, and 1.5 inches. I did not try and measure this, as the rings are not easily stretched. There is some give to the rubber material, but not much. I measured the un-stretched diameters of each ring and I think this is a better indication of how they will fit. The smallest ring has an inside diameter measuring 1.25 inches. The inside diameter of the medium-sized ring is a little larger at 1.625 inches. The largest of the rings has an inside diameter of 2 inches, which was too big for me. The two smaller rings should fit most average sized men, but it's always good idea to measure yourself before purchasing. The rubber rings do not have a lot of give and they will exert a lot of pressure on any erection that has a larger diameter. If the rings are too tight, they will leave a temporary indentation in the skin.

If it is unattached to the device, the largest ring could be used separately as a cock ring that fits around the base of penis and behind the scrotum. However, I think that the adjustable leather strap makes it unnecessary to use it in conjunction the device.

The material is rubber and has an Eden Fantasys material safety rating of three. It's porous but wear-resistant. It can also be a little rough on the skin and I would suggest using lubrication to minimize possible chafing. All types of lube are suitable to use with rubber.

The device measures 2-and-half-inches long when it is fully assembled. The width of the strap that fits around the base of the penis is a half-inch. From there, the rings are spaced about an inch apart.

Please see the photos below and keep in mind that the measurements are approximate, not precise.

The Universal Gates of Hell is not difficult to put together or to put on and if there is any confusion, the box it comes in has a photo of how the device should look when it is worn. Basically, the larger strap fits around the base of the penis and behind the scrotum. There are different size options and it's easily attached by snapping together (watch out for pinched skin). The smaller strap snaps together creating loops for the rubber rings. A flaccid penis will easily fit inside these rings.

The Universal Gates of Hell is not quite a chastity device because it doesn't prevent erections like a cock cage would. Instead, it can make erections difficult to achieve and maintain. Once the penis begins to swell, the rings work similar to a cock ring and prevent blood from leaving the penis. However, because the rings can be tight, getting the penis to a fully erect state may be difficult and a little painful. This slight pain could contribute to having a less than fully erect penis. Of course, all of this depends on how the device fits the individual.

Did the Universal Gates of Hell work for me? Yes and no. The smaller of the rings was very tight but not so tight that it prevented an erection. The medium ring wasn't as tight and its effect was minimal. I think that it would have worked better for me if the medium ring had a slightly smaller diameter. Because the rings are interchangeable I might purchase another smaller rubber ring, like this one here.

If the rubber rings are not too constricting the Universal Gates of Hell can be worn on a flaccid penis for an extended period of time. The leather strap around the base can be loosened for comfort. I've worn mine under my clothes for several hours at a time. It's kind of a weird feeling because you always know it's there. However, users should treat this device like a cock ring during an erection and not wear it for more than 20-30 minutes. It's important to stop using it if the user feels any numbness, has discoloration and/or severe pain.

The Universal Gates of Hell is easy to clean, but its components can't be sterilized. Leather is water-resistant and can be cleaned with mild soap and warm water, along with the metal snaps. I try to dry as much of the water up after cleaning and not let the leather stay damp. The rubber rings can be detached and washed separately. Rubber is porous and more difficult to clean, but I find that soap and water works, too.

The cardboard packaging that the Universal Gates of Hell came in was not discreet as it features a nude male on the front and the sides of the box. However, this is very helpful as it shows how the device should be worn. The instructions on box say that the device snaps together and that the user choose which two of the three rings fit best. The photo below shows the front and back of the box. It's a little bigger and more revealing than the similar photos on the product's page.

I suppose with any device like this, the benefits depend on the user's imagination. The Universal Gates of Hell is a very simple toy and not much should be expected from it, but as a diversion from the ordinary or just as a flight of fancy, it works. It isn't as painful as it is playful, although it's definitely on the edgy side of playful.

After determining that the larger ring was of no use, I attached the small ring and the medium ring to the front strap. First, I put the outer strap around the base of my penis and behind my scrotum. Then, I put the shaft of my penis through both rings. The strap looks like a stripe down the length of my penis and I really like the way the black leather and metal snaps against my skin. My partner remarked that it looked "gladiatorial", which was a good way to put it. Our goal was for my partner to tease me and to see if how hard she could get my penis with the rings device in place. As I began to get an erection, the small ring squeezed tighter and tighter about a third of the way above the base of my penis. The lower, medium-sized ring was not nearly as tight, but there was some pressure there. I was able to get a normal erection and there wasn't any pain, but I felt some discomfort brought on by the smaller ring. I also felt a lot of frustration brought about by the teasing. Using lubrication, my partner tried to bring me to orgasm with a handjob. She said she liked the way the rings felt in her hands while stroking. After several agonizing minutes I told her that I didn't think I would be able to orgasm with the device in place. It came off easily by unsnapping the strap and then rolled off the two rubber rings with no major difficulty. There was a groove where the smaller ring had been, but this went away after a few minutes, leaving only a reddish mark. The skin of my penis was a little irritated the next day and this was probably caused by chafing, a reaction to the rubber material, or both.

We'll be using this device in the future, but probably only on occasion. It's kind of neat, but not as much fun as I thought it would be. Still, a decent product at a decent price for those looking to try something different.