Leather leash - leash discontinued by Spartacus - review by Rawhide

First impression: this leash arrived tightly rolled in a clear plastic bag (not the packaging shown, no big deal, just fyi). The leather is serviceable, thick, and will certainly do its job, but isn't the quality leather that I look for in most of my gear. The finished side is really finished. There's no trace of natural grain, nothing. The unfinished side is rough textured, yet soft and nice against the skin. I'm glad they left one side unfinished, otherwise I don't think it would be possible to condition this leash. The unfinished side absorbed conditioner very quickly (indicating that it was quite dry from the manufacturer), but the finished side didn't soak it up period, meaning that side is completely sealed off from moisture. No intoxicating "fresh leather" smell that I could detect. All in all, about the sort of leather that I'd expect at this price point.

The length on this lead is just about perfect. For folks just playing in the bedroom it might seem a bit long, but for functional walking on a lead, four feet is a sweet spot. For most people, it is enough so that there will be relative comfort and no straining on either side, but not enough that the lead is dragging on the ground and picking up dirt and who knows what else. Whether your partner is walking or crawling alongside, four feet gives you some wiggle room, and if the handler desires to shorten it they can easily do so at will by looping extra length around their hand (something you can't do comfortably with a chain leash).

One big plus for leather on a leash is the nature of leather in the midst of tug and pull. Because leather is skin, when stretched it is going to have a certain amount of give to it, so it will absorb some of the force. You are still going to have effective control and the ability to pull sharply, but it's going to be more difficult to jerk your partner (or be jerked by them, even by accident) in a way that will cause damage to either of you. With a toy that is getting clipped to a person's neck (or other sensitive areas), that's something I greatly appreciate.

The swivel end on the spring clip is nice for functionality, making it very hard to get tangled up. The clip itself is not as large as I imagined. It will fit most standard d-rings that you'd find on collars, but with an opening of only 5-6 mm, you will definitely find things you can't clip it to. On the plus side, it won't put as much weight on the bottom's neck. The entire leash is very lightweight (compared to chain), won't add bulk to a toy bag, and is comfortable and quite fetching to carry on your belt.

For use in bondage, you could certainly clip this leash to a collar or harness and then tie the remaining length around a post or other attachment point. The thickness of the leather does somewhat limit how tightly you can knot it without causing damage to the leash. You could also pass the clip through the handle to create a loop that will hold under tension, and then fasten the clip to an attachment point. Either way, this item will augment existing bondage gear, but it won't make up for a total lack of it.

I have no doubt that this leash will last a long time. It is one solid strip of leather that is folded over and riveted at each end, once to form the handle and again around the clip at the other end. No stitches, nothing fancy, just leather and hardware. It is very easy to clean and maintain. There's nothing to rip, no seams to get up under, just a bit of saddle soap (especially around the handle) and it should be good to go. As with all leather, you'll want to avoid getting it wet, and if it does get wet lay it out to dry at room temperature (not by a heat source, which will literally cook it).

All things considered, I'm quite pleased with this leash. I will write a follow-up review once I have tested how it performs at a play party.

Upon further use, I would certainly recommend this leash for use in venue like a play party. As mentioned before, it's length functions well for leading someone regardless of whether they are standing or on all fours, though four feet is really ideal for someone standing. If you are walking someone on all fours I would recommend shortening the leash by looping some of the length around your hand. This will keep them close by and prevent the possibility that other people will trip over the leash or get clotheslined unintentionally. With a partner on all fours it is also important for the handler to remember to watch their walking speed, as a person crawling is significantly slower than a person on two legs.

For use as an impact toy, I was very impressed. This is what really sets this leash apart from the nylon leashes you can pick up at a pet store. You can double it for an effective strap. Double it again and you have a nice short-range two-tailed slapper. You have to make sure the clip stays securely in your hand, but aside from that it's a wonderfully stinging improvised toy that produces a delicious snapping sound and lovely marks.

Another big issue is visibiltiy. In a well lit bedroom or social area, this isn't as big a deal. However, in a dimly lit dungeon this leash is practically invisible. When using it in a dark area, consider having your partner stand or heel very close by to avoid unintentional accidents. You could also easily embellish and personalize this leash in a way that would make it more visible, but all in all, this is the area where I believe a shiny chain leash is superior.