Paddle Meets Barefoot: A Bondage Couture Review.

Now that’s a pretty little paddle, don’t you agree? When the team at Betty’s Toy Box offered me to choose from a selection of products to review I had to ask for this paddle from Bondage Couture.. From the description on the site, I knew that it was different to the other impact toys I own, and wondered if it would make a nice addition. I wonder if this fair and honest review can answer that question.

Firstly, what exactly is the Bondage Couture paddle?

Made from PU leather, a 100% artificial material, it offers up the sensation of leather in a vegan friendly package. The paddle is 44cm long, the handle measuring in at 17cm and the spanking surface totalling 27cm long and 7.7cm wide. It is 5mm thick, and feels like it has a firm seam up the centre. This means it is rigid rather than floppy, and maintains its form upon impact. When I opened the parcel from Betty’s Toy Box, I found the stylish packaging informative as well as attractive. The paddle itself was packed in a simple plastic sheath inside.

Self inflicted pain.

As you may know, I’m a bit of a pain monkey. The intense sensations that come from pain play are something that reinvigorates my soul, puts me back in touch with myself and charges me up for the next phase, whatever that may be. As such, if I’m to be using something to elicit those feelings I need it to be able to tease my senses appropriately. I rather hoped this would provide a warming layer of sting across my flesh, and so I set about with gusto.

As always I tried my forearms first. Delighting in the flush of pink that corresponded nicely with the crack of PU leather meeting flesh. I’d aimed for a three out of ten in the pain scale, but only hit two. No matter, I tried again, working the soft, lily white skin to a gentle, heated rose colour. Building the impact steadily I reached a five before moving to a fresh area.

My inner thighs had a similar reaction. And as I spread those thighs, granting access to a more sensitive location, I did work myself up to a six. While I enjoy Sir taking me to an eight or nine, and casual playmates would be capped at a seven, self-inflicted is a different beast (in my head) and six is entirely appropriate for me. The psychological battle contributing to my discomfort as much as the impact.

What I did discover was the lack of uneven, bothersome edges. The seams are sewn back in on themselves, carefully and neatly. The resulting edges are therefore smooth. This means they’re unlikely to inflict any pain other than what the spanker would like to give. This would prove important information for later on. For now though I was pleased to feel there were no unplanned ouchies on my sensitive labia.

I’ve attached some pictures taken in comparison with a lower quality ‘spanker’ paddle I have in my collection. You can clearly see the quality differences between the two.

The bondage couture paddle, taken in hand by Sir.

A couple of weeks ago Sir paid me a visit, left me with some beautiful marks to poke, prod and enjoy far beyond our time together.

His request “please have your equipment available” gave me free reign to choose toys that I liked, though I did select some I’m less keen on, and I also chose to include this paddle in the pile of possibilities. What he would choose was none of my concern and, as he kept me blindfolded, I was none the wiser as to what he’d used.

Some of them were clear to me, much loved toys coming good in my owner’s hands. Others less familiar, or desired, but each offering something different. There was warmth, stingy, thuddy and bitey, layering up the different strokes with equal amounts care and passion, orgasms arrived without warning and my brain leaked out of my pussy in the guise of lusty liquids. Not much sense came from those feelings at the time, but as I tidied I discovered this one had been used. In tandem with a heavy flogger, which meant I was able to pin down how it felt. A crisp sting across the surface with each intense blow, interspersed with the thud of a well thrown leather flogger coursing through to deeper layers. No wonder I’d floated off!

I bruise easily, which is lucky as I love to be marked.

I couldn’t find visual signs to match this particular implement of torture, in spite of the force with which it was used. This wasn’t a negative for me- you should have seen the display that bloomed across my hips, thighs and shoulders- but I mention it as this may be a positive if you’re not a fan of being turned black and blue.

Enter Miss Barefoot.

This is very much a tongue in cheek nod to my less submissive side. And she tends to come out to play when I’m nervous, in new situations, with bigger groups. No wonder people think that I’m top! I prefer the term alpha sub, as SWL describes me, but that’s for another day. For now, let’s get back to the Bondage Couture paddle, and how this little delight came in handy for Miss Barefoot at a recent event.

It was my first swinger’s social, and I was nervous. I always take a bag of rope to kink events- it helps relax me- but I wasn’t sure what to expect last weekend. I almost decided against going, I got myself in such a pickle. However with a few adjustments to my plan and a change of kit in my rope bag I was ready to go. Turning up alone was such a good idea, and I was deep in conversation when a friend arrived. Sinking the teas (and finding some digestives on the buffet for dunking) we soon noticed that the play spaces were opening up. My friend and I found a space in the dungeon where I explained the plan I had as we stripped off into our sexy smalls.

“I’d like to tie you up in some crazy positions and spank you”

This was greeted with an eager nod of the head. I showed her the impact toys I’d taken along and, to my delight, she chose this one. As well as a slightly heavier leather one which has holes in.

It was her first time in bondage. It was also her first time being spanked by a lady, so I wanted to make it special for her. As I manipulated her into different positions she noticeably relaxed into the scene, closing her eyes and drifting off. Which was lucky as the dungeon filled with curious faces. Understandably there are differences between the reactions of swingers and kinksters, in their respective clubs, but I’d forgotten where I was. So absorbed was I in our play. Picking up her two chosen impact toys I checked that she knew how to communicate and set to work, reddening her cheeks. I took her to a seven with both paddles. She was happy for more, but this was my limit. And given the collective intake of breath around us, I don’t believe the audience would have taken more!

We chatted as I spanked her, discussing what she liked about each.

I should add that this was so I could learn as we went, rather than gathering information for the review. However, I’m not going to lie, it was very helpful! She said that the holey paddle was a sharper sting, which penetrated deeper. She preferred this overall, but the Bondage Couture paddle felt warmer and made a delicious contrast.

As I discovered when spanking myself, the paddle feels firm and easy to control. Because it is quite narrow it fit between her legs nicely (I’d tied her into a strangely awkward position) and as it’s easy to control I didn’t do any mis-hits. The lightness of the paddle meant that I was able to try it out on her feet. When she said how nice her soles felt I realised I should have taken a cane. No matter, I can improvise. I mentioned the edges being smooth, right? Well, this meant that turning it over in my hand and using the side as I would a cane became an option.

More oohs, ahhhs and eeeks coming from the crowd (feet are often underestimated) I decided to wrap up our play. Some simple maths (I never said I wasn’t a sadist) and the countdown began. Building to a crescendo of cracks and slaps, alternating between the two paddles. One buttock or two, from the top or the side. This paddle coped with all I threw it at. Soon we ran out of numbers and it was time to gently untie her, stroke her reddened flesh and then hand her her drink. The next day she sent me a lovely picture of her bottom and, yes!! She had a bruise. Happy friend, happy barefoot.

My final thoughts on the Bondage Couture paddle.

I hope you can see that there is a lot of fun to be had with this impact toy. It works well in the hands of inexperienced spankers, as well as seasoned Masters of pain. It’s small and lightweight so easy to transport, and while it’s not heavy it certainly can pack a punch. The sound it emits is very much audible, but it doesn’t reverberate so I think the sound wouldn’t carry through walls. Presumably this is right as no sleeping children were woken with my late night, downstairs testing sessions.

If you’re looking for an impact toy that will leave you battered and bruised, this isn’t the toy for you. Please do get in touch for my favourites in this area. However, do you: like pain on a variety of different levels; don’t enjoy marks; have limited experience giving or receiving impact; just fancy a new, well made, vegan toy for your collection? If any of the above are true, I can’t encourage you enough to add this to your collection. (This list isn’t conclusive. If you have more reasons then let me know in the comments below.)

If you would like to get your hands on a Bondage Couture Paddle, they are available from Betty’s Toy Box for $22.99. (Price correct upon publishing on 10th June 2022)

Affiliate links have been used in this post. For more information please see my disclosure page.