For folks that want to get into the harness scene with an all-in-one kit rather than compiling a collection from the huge variety of harness systems and attachments available, the Doc Johnson Vac-u-lock female set is a good start. A good START I said. After examining, testing, and using this product I am now firmly in the belief that this is not a set that would satisfy an experienced user looking for a new addition to a toybox. Instead I feel this is a much better choice for someone getting started in the strapon and pegging scene. Oh sure, the included dildo is a little on the hefty side but you're buying a system, not just a toy.

To my great surprise the harness itself is made of leather. I've seen some of the Doc Johnson harness systems up close and been disappointed in the quality of construction and choice of materials but this time I think we have a product that will last a plenty long while. The included dildo is a tad large and is listed on Eden as being made of PVC rubber. I'm not entirely sure this is the case however, I own a number of Doc Johnson toys and this one seems very similar to the Sil-a-gel products I already have. But hey, what do I know? I'm not some kind of dildo scientist. This set also has two plugs included, one for vaginal use and one for anal use by the wearer. These plugs are much slicker and firmer and may in fact be the actual rubber items in the set. The harness has a typical leather odor while the plugs have no smell whatsoever. The dildo on the other hand has a powerful plastic odor typical of some Doc Johnson toys.

The harness is a typical single-strap design with steel buckles on each strap for adjustment. The lower strap can thread through the two plugs included with the set and indeed, it comes with them already threaded and ready to go. If you so desire however, you can simply slip one or both plugs off the strap and turn the harness into a standard style harness. The beauty of the Doc Johnson Vac-u-lock system is that it is universally compatible with all toys, harnesses, and accessories in the Vac-u-lock line of products. I think that's what makes this particular product such a good deal, it comes with not only what you need to get started right away but it's a system you can add to in the future as you buy different toys. Maybe silicone is your thing? You can get a silicone Vac-u-lock dildo and install it on your current Vac-u-lock harness without having to buy a different system. Some folks aren't fans of the Vac-u-lock system in general and I agree there are certain improvements that could be made but on the whole it is an excellently designed and executed line. I find the Vac-u-lock system the be one of the most secure and reliable systems available and I'm happy to see Doc Johnson continue to support the line and release new items pretty regularly.

The harness is one of these one-size-fits-most sort of deals and the straps are very long and forgiving. They fit standard and plus-sized women no problem, the only issue I forsee is a particularly small person tried this on. The shortest length of the straps are not particularly short and that might be an issue. She would have to be pretty uncommon small though. The included dildo is, as has been mentioned previously, quite large. Maybe too large but that depends on the person of course, I find that persons interested in pegging often have some experience in anal play already and are often able to accept more than one might think. Women may find this a bit filling as the toy is fairly thick. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a size-queen's toy however. As for the plugs, they are both approximately the size of a medium sized butt plug though more elongated. It's nice to see accessories added to kits like this but frankly most people I've spoken to about this have stated they are not interested in the plugs.

The harness does an excellent job of holding the included dildo firmly in place, as well as some dildos of other shapes and sizes I chose to test. I feel the great advantage of the Vac-u-lock system over the ring harness system is the fact that the Vac-u-lock plug attached to your dildo also snaps into place on the inside of the harness. The four snaps holding the plug keep it from wiggling, twisting, or otherwise going where you don't want it. Getting the harness adjusted just right can be a little tricky but the nice thing about that is you won't have to do it again. For the life of me I can't figure out how to make these plugs work as advertised. When testing we found the plugs were dry and painful to insert by themselves. When covered in lube they are too wet and partially slip out despite the lower strap of the harness. I like the idea but I just can't make it work. I also liked the fact that even though the hard plastic of the plug is pressed up against your body while wearing this harness, the plug has a foam rubber coating that keeps it from chafing or being otherwise uncomfortable.

No part of this system is made of body-safe material so exercise caution if sharing use between two or more wearers. The two plugs are smooth and despite some ribbing on the shafts, they don't pick up much in the way of body fluids. They can be washed in soapy water and be good to go. The included dildo is a little trickier though, since it is a realistic dildo it has texture that can easily trap bacteria. When you clean it make sure you really get in there or use a condom when playing so you don't get anything on the toy itself.