Locking collar with mini bondage rings by Spartacus - review by Dawn (Lilac Distraction)

Collars! Something every kinster can appreciate! Whether you've never ever been kinky, or you're one of the most seasoned veterans out there, collars are a wonderful piece of equipment. They can be used by everyone regardless of skill level, tastes, or basically anything else. They're one of the most versatile pieces of equipment because of their versatility.

This collar in particular has a few different kinds of appeal to it. First and foremost, the various bondage rings around the collar allow you to use it in several different ways. You have three large O-rings located on the sides and the "back" of the collar. (This collar can be worn with the buckle to the front or back, so these are relative. For the purpose of this review we'll stick with the buckle being the front of the collar.) These allow various points to connect the collar to things, or to connect things to it. Leashes? Yes! All of the leashes! Cuffs? Go right ahead! Straps? Chains? Of course!

The visual appeal of this collar is also quite stunning. It's gorgeous and quite serious looking. Players who are into the 24/7 activities can use this as a slave collar that their little pet can wear outside of play. What a luxurious way to proclaim that your slave is owned! This is a collar that will inspire a little slave envy. Others will be clamoring at your feet because you're such a gracious Master that bestows quality gear onto your lovely little pet.

The only players out there who will want to pass this up are those who only go for Vegan gear, as it is genuine leather. On the other hand, this may make those with a leather fetish fall to their knees with delight.

As a safety note, make sure you use this collar wisely. If you're using the ring on the back of the collar be extra careful about what you're doing with it and make sure not to put too much force on it. It has the ability to choke someone and that breaks that whole safety rule of safe, sane, and consensual play.

I'm extremely picky about the quality of my gear. Normally I stick to Aslan Leather because they've never let me down with their gorgeous premium leather. Because of this, I'm quite spoiled and look at other pieces of leather gear with a raised eyebrow. I'm a fan of Spartacus but I've only played with their metal gear, but so far I've been incredibly impressed with everything they've done in that respect. I've found that Kinklab has some fine leather, as well, so I decided to give Spartacus a shot. I'm glad I did.

This leather collar is gorgeous. Splendid. Eye-catching. (Insert other adjectives of that nature here.) The leather is impressive for a company that doesn't specialize in it. It's incredibly soft and flexible but is quite sturdy and thick. It's also got that lovely drool-worthy strong leather smell unlike Aslan and Kinklab's leather I own. You can't miss it and this makes it a perfect fit for those players out there who get all tingly when that smell meets their nose. It adds a genuine appeal to the collar and you can faintly smell it while wearing it. The only real flaw that I can see in the leather of this pieces is that the edges aren't finished and remain raw meaning that they look slightly rough. The product picture leads you to believe that this is a double layer leather, but it's not. The inside is a raw edge, as well. This isn't a huge issue or a major downfall, though. I'm just used to using the Aslan gear which is that double layered stuff that is finished both inside, outside, and along the edges. Regardless of this, it's still very comfortable and not the slightest bit itchy.

The collar itself is made with a solid construction that seems very durable and will hold up to use and abuse very well. The outside strap that runs around the collar is more rigid than the rest of the collar which is great because it adds some shape, allows the collar to be adjusted in a sturdy manner, and keeps the adjustment notches from stretching or tearing. The metal hardware here is very beautiful and has a wonderful amount of strength to it. It's not that flimsy "will bend out of shape if you pull too hard" stuff, either. Gorgeous and flawless chrome finish with smooth edges. The collar is made of two layers of leather.

The actual collar is around 1 3/4" wide and the outer strap is 1" wide. It will fit necks between 13" to 18" around giving you quite a bit of room to play with. There are 6 adjustment holes allowing you to get a perfect fit, as well. This collar allows you to tuck the excess length inside the collar for a wonderfully smooth look to it without it being uncomfortable or bulky. The outside strap is secured underneath the metal loop right next to the buckle. If you've got quite a bit of strap left over it can be tucked beneath the O-ring, as well, so that everything is nice and secured. The buckle has a loop at the end of the tongue which I love for a few different reasons. It helps to get the tongue of the buckle through the strap and makes removal a lot easier than it is without a loop. Not to mention, it makes this collar lockable. Grab yourself a little luggage lock and you not only have something you can't take off without the key, but also an extra heavy-duty look.

The only issue I have with this collar is that, like every collar ever, it is much too big for me to wear, but it's still a valued piece of equipment because of my switch orientation. It's just so pretty that I wanted to wear it and I still pout about that a little. This made it a little difficult for me to put on since I was trying to pull the strap so it was as small as it would go without using a mirror. On normal sized bodies it is much easier to put on. Those with more petite frames, such as myself, may find it a tiny bit bulky, but again, if it fits it usually isn't at all and it doesn't get too overly sweaty or itchy when worn for long periods of time. Quick, comfortable, and attractive.

The front features a small triangular ring that hangs down right under the buckle. With all of these rings you have a few options for what you can do! A leash can be attached to the triangular ring so you can lead a lover around and make them bow at your feet any time you like. Another bonus of this ring is that you can slip a pair of nipple clamps through it. Clovers won't fit, but if you still want to give that a go you can flip the collar around so that the large O-ring is in the front and try to squish one through there.

The rings on the sides are also very useful. A slightly creative use for these is to attach cuffs to them so that your lover's arms are immobilized and away from their body. You can also attach both cuffs to the back of the collar so that the restrained has their arms completely away from their body. You can also attach a spreader bar to the back ring and attach the cuffs to the bottom of it. Again, make sure your sub is comfortable and isn't going to choke themselves with the collar. It's best to have them in a standing position for this.

There are several other ways to make use of this collar. Use your dirty imagination!

Leather usually needs a little love to keep it in the best condition. The unfinished edge does tend to soak up sweat, so if you start to get overly sweaty it's best to take it off or you can apply a light layer of cornstarch underneath it. With all leather, make sure you keep it dry. If it needs cleaning you can wipe it with a slightly damp cloth and dry it to keep the leather from being damaged by the moisture. Leather also has a tendency to dry out after a while, so it's best to use a little leather conditioner on it every once in a while. Keep it out of heat and direct sunlight, as well. I normally store all of my leather in a plastic shoebox-like container with a flip open lid to help it stay supple and out of dry air.