Fresh buckle collar - collar by PHS International - review by sparklesneeze

I bought the Fresh Buckle Collar with intentions of using it with my long-term boyfriend. We are by no means a 'vanilla' couple, but this would be the first 'bondage' restraint we brought into the bedroom. I chose the collar because it was cute, to be honest, cheap, and the vegan material was easy to clean as opposed to leather. My boyfriend and I intended to use it to get the feel for using a collar during a scene and make sure we were comfortable using one before using something a little pricier like the Aslan Leather Pink Candy Collar. I also purchased the matching leash (now unavailable on EF) because during play, he mainly wanted to lead me around and such. We weren't looking for something that was more functional, moreover, something that was symbolic and aesthetically pleasing to enhance D/s play. I wouldn't recommend it for advanced users, but it is perfect to introduce the use of collars during play.

All of Fresh's products are vegan and made of a plastic-type material. The collar is in two parts, the pink outer and the blue inner connected by four sets of rivets, two around the centered d-ring and two midway between the center and ends. The rivets are of okay quality, but probably won't stand up to anything more than a tug on the d-ring or by a leash. On the inside there is a soft foamy lining for added comfort of extended wear. It is white, so to keep it clean I would spot clean or use a tide-to-go pen. The outer pink layer, while not flimsy per say, is very thin and flexible. One of the biggest complaints about the collar is the width. It's about as wide as a AA battery. I was nervous about this, but after a little wear, it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would, and I have about an average size neck. My biggest complaint, personally, is the outer pink layer. It is just so thin and floppy it makes the product seem very cheaply made, even though in other aspects, it isn't.

I bought this collar not for a serious, heavy, long-lasting bondage restraint but for something light and non-threatening to introduce into our moderate play. At first, he was very shy and reluctant, but he has much, much warmed up to the idea and we are interested in buying another, more 'serious' collar. I think the colors, not expected from most bondage restraints make it come across fun and cheery. We also have the matching wrist and ankle restraints, but this is our favorite of the line because even when having more 'vanilla' sex we can still keep a symbol of D/s incorporated. It does dig into my collarbones at times, but nothing deal-breaking. The wider design also makes it so being pulled by a leash doesn't hurt as much. Overall, we were very pleased with this product as a first collar.

The vegan material feels just like plastic, so I find it easier to clean than leather because you can use soap and water. The inner padding is white and prone to stains, so I use a little toothbrush or tide-to-go pen for spot cleaning. Be advised, like most collars, it can't be sterilized.