Confession time – I had never used a flogger, hadn’t really considered it. But a new play partner was very clear about her desire to be spanked, even quite firmly, and I was feeling adventurous. This flogger seemed beginner friendly, and it most definitely is, for both the giver and receiver.

First, the toy itself is quite lovely. It is solid and well constructed, comparable to toys that cost much more. The suede tendrils are solidly attached. The handle is easy to grip, even though I have fairly small hands, and the wrist cord is a nice touch to help control. The tendrils are suede, so very soft when ran softly up or cascaded down a willing body. They are also cut straight across, which decreases their potential for stinging. And for all of these great features, the flogger is also surprisingly light, which I appreciated even more once I started using it.

As always, I used the toy on myself before trying it out on play partner. To my surprise, I found I could slap it hard against my own thigh with a definite sensation but no sting. Even working up to a using a crack-the-whip motion to flick the ends hard against the skin produced only a slight sting. If one were to apply this sting to the same place over and over, it would build some redness, but no welts or lasting pain. The noise and motion are wonderful, bigger than the physical sensation, making this a great beginners’ toy.

Taking advice from some several books and reviewers, I practiced using the flogger on pillows lined up on my sofa, building a feel for the how to place the blows. The sharpest stings come from hitting with the tips, while hitting in the middle of tendrils creates a loud thwack that is “thud” but not stinging sensation. The overall length of this flogger worked very well for my heights (5’4”) and arm length.

The only tiny drawback, as noted by my femme play partner, is the suede left little lint droppings in pink and black over her sheets. But she might have been complaining only to see if I would act on her disapproval…

I was shy and nervous about using this at first. I wanted that level of impact that would bring sensation, but not a level of pain beyond my partner’s range. Because this was a first play date I started very slowly, simply pulling the suede tendrils along her body, while she sat handcuffed to a chair. I drug it up her inner thighs, along her arms, around her neck where I tightened it just enough for her to feel restrained, then cascading down over her breasts, where the suede matched her pink and black bra quite beautifully.

We both became familiar with the toy’s weight and great new-leather smell, and she got to know its feel as I slapped it against her thighs a few times as she sat. As we progressed and she was standing bent over her bed, the tendrils were again great for running up the inside of her thighs, so softly in between a cycle of gentle to hard strikes across her ass. The sound was excellent, and I could tell the feel was just right for her by her trembling legs and delighted moaning. After building her excitement, we moved on to other play.

After, when we were lying quietly on her bed just talking and coming back to ordinary headspace, I found myself meditatively using the flogger to slap hard on the bed between her thighs and then pulling it up slowly past her cunt and belly. I have no idea how many times I did this, for it felt so completely natural, like stroking her arm with my fingers, that I was nearly unaware of it as willful action.

We went nowhere near her limits or mine with this toy, but will play more soon and see where we get. It was a wonderful start, in large part because the toy is designed is exactly for our shared goal that session – sensual exploration, not a hardcore scene.

In the months since I first purchased and used this flogger, I've encountered many other flogging/spanking toys, and this one continues to be at the top of its class. Even with fairly heavy use it is still looking like new, with no fraying anywhere on the toy.

Compared with some other floggers I've encountered, this toy is so well-balanced and easy to use, with a handle that is easy to grip. I've learned that it can, with force and aim, deliver both a very sharp sting and a strong thud, but in most instances is a fairly light toy.

For my height and arm length, I wish it were a little shorter, but that in no way distracts from its usefulness or from the pleasure it provides giver and receiver.