Saying that you want a "leather flogger" is a lot like saying you want a "meat sandwich." It's a start, but you're going to have to be a lot more specific to find the product that's right for you. When many people think of leather, they think of tanned cowhide. However, while cow leather is certainly a viable option, the possibilities don't end there! Deer, elk, moose, and other leathers all make great floggers with differences in "thuddiness", stinginess, and more. This guide is designed to help parse out some of the key differences between the most common leathers used for floggers.

Deer- Deer leather is thin, soft, and lightweight. It offers a small amount of thud with virtually no sting. Deer leather floggers are very low intensity, but they have a number of uses. First, they can be used for a gentle warm-up or cool-down, before or after a more intense flogging session. Second, deer leather floggers are well-suited to breast and genital flogging due to their softness and lighter weight. Finally, a deer leather flogger can be a useful tool when you want sensation play with little to no pain.

Cow (Suede)- Suede is soft, flexible, and a medium weight. Due to the (usually) abrasive edges of the falls, suede delivers a light to medium sting, as well as a medium thud. Suede is a good choice for those that want a decent amount more sting, and perhaps less thud than you get with an elk flogger.

Cow (Oiled)- Oiled cow leather is very stiff and a medium weight. Although both are made from cowhide, oiled cow leather should not be confused with suede. Oiled cow leather produces a medium to very high sting, and a light to medium thud. If you want a very mean, very stingy leather flogger, oiled cow leather is a perfect choice.

Elk]- Elk leather is very soft and a medium weight (though it's slightly heavier than cow leather). It provides a medium thud with a light sting. Elk leather is usually considered to be about a medium intensit leathery, and it is recommended for both beginners and more advanced users alike. An elk leather flogger provides a decent mix of thud and sting (with an emphasis on thud), making it a great first flogger. More advanced users will also find that elk is an excellent weight for Florentine flogging.

Moose- Moose leather is soft and a medium weight. Overall, it tends to be fairly similar to elk, though it's somewhat heavier.

Buffalo- Buffalo (or American Bison) leather tends to be thick, soft, and heavy. It is usually considered to be a medium to high intensity leather, as it provides a light sting, and a deep, powerful thud. Given its high weight, a buffalo leather flogger may be difficult to wield for long periods of time (or even shorter periods of time if your arms are on the weaker side). The deep thud is provides is ideal for creating beautiful bruises. That said, if you'd rather avoid leaving marks (or if your partner bruises very easily), buffalo leather might not be the best choice for you.

Bull- Bull leather is thick, dense, and very heavy. It is a high intensity leather, and it tends to offer a medium, "biting" sting. It also has a deep, powerful thud. If you're looking for a high intensity leather flogger with a decent sting and a lot of thud, bull leather is a very good choice.

Choosing the right leather is an important step in finding the flogger that's right for you, but it doesn't stop there. Tail (or fall) length, width, and quantity are all important considerations. Also, of course, there are non-leather materials out there, such as rubber, which can make mean floggers, too. Perhaps I'll cover those topics in future articles. For now, I hope this guide has helped lead you on the path to the perfect flogger.