Ball stretchers like the Snapping Stretcher from Spartacus have different uses for different guys. Generally speaking, these types of devices are designed to pull your testicles away from the base of your penis and stretch them tightly. Since the amount of stretch is determined not only by how much "give" your balls have as they dangle in the scrotum, as well as the width of the ball stretcher you are using, it's important to choose a stretcher that's a suitable size. If you're more experienced with ball stretching, or you have typically low-hanging balls (i.e. "low hangers"), you'll probably want to order a wider band: two inches or more. This particular toy has four different versions, from one inch wide, up to three inches. For the purpose of this review, I gave the two inch wide ball stretcher a try.

The uses for these types of toys are many. Some men enjoy the tugging sensation on their balls while wearing a stretcher. Others love the fact that it can push their balls up or out against the scrotal sac, making them more accessible during play, or more sensitive to stimulation. Men who enjoy a more intense type of ball play may savor the feel of themselves or a partner roughhousing with their nuts, either twisting and pulling them, or even using BDSM-type devices, like paddles, whips and the like to deliver more heavy-duty bouts of pleasure or pain to the testicles. Some men claim to achieve longer or stronger erections while strapped into a ball stretcher, and others realize their orgasms can be more prolonged, as the balls are unable to pull up toward the body during climax as they normally would without the ball stretcher in place. Some may just enjoy handling their balls (or having them handled, if a partner is putting it on for them), or delight in the way the tight band makes them more aware of their balls during sex or masturbation.

This particular ball stretcher from Spartacus is made of leather. It's the real thing, not an imitation material. The stretcher has a nice leather smell, but it's not overpowering. The texture is smooth on both sides, but the band doesn't feel at all flimsy or cheaply made. The stitching on either side is well done and even. There are two sets of snaps (tight, and tighter), and everything is well fastened and seems to be made out of materials that are designed to last. One of the snap covers is embossed with the Spartacus logo. I'd say the craftsmanship is very well done for a toy of this type. I've seen similar leather items with snaps that aren't nearly as nice, and some have higher price tags. This ball stretcher seems affordably priced for the overall quality.

As indicated, I am testing the 2" wide band. I'd say this is a size more suited to guys with ball stretching experience, or with balls that already hang pretty low. You'll want to gauge the distance between the top of your hanging balls and the root of your penis. Take into consideration the amount/thickness of skin in your scrotal sac also; this ball stretcher will be wrapped around this flesh like a corset, and snapped firmly into place. If you have an unusually thick ball sac or a generous amount of skin on this part of your body, you may want to start out with a stretcher that has a narrower band, and work your way up to a wider model.

Once snapped into place, the interior circumference of the band is pretty snug: just under 4 inches while using the first set of snaps; and a super-tight 3" circumference (which I didn't even attempt at this time) if using the second set of snaps. Even while using the first set of snaps, this ball stretcher was tight, and took awhile to put on. Don't force it. Enjoy the sensations of pulling on your balls with your hands, willing them to relax and stretch so you can work the leather band between them and the base of your penis, and then work on getting the pair of snaps fastened.

I found the Spartacus stretcher a bit of a struggle to get into, as the material is thick and has virtually no stretching (lengthwise) capabilities. But that's not to say it was an unpleasant experience. I patiently worked on my balls until I could get the strap pulled all the way around the skin between my testicles and the base of my penis. Still, I was unable to fasten even one of the snaps right away. I gently worked my balls one at a time until they were more relaxed, and hanging lower than normal. With the leather band pulled tightly around, this also worked to push my balls down, stretching them somewhat before I tried to fasten the first snap. Once I felt comfortable enough doing so, I managed to get the uppermost snap fastened. I knew I wasn't going to get the bottom one snapped just yet, so I laid back and worked on my balls some more. I should mention that my cock was very erect at this point; the work I was doing on my balls was very arousing! It took awhile longer to get my balls stretched enough to finally fasten that second snap, and when I did, the band felt quite tight. But it was a pleasant feeling, and my balls seemed to "adjust" the longer I kept the stretcher in place, but never did the stretcher start to feel loose while I had it on.

I actually liked the fact that the material is so well-made that the band itself didn't become more pliant as time went on. The snaps held firmly, also. I've worn leather cock rings with snaps similar to these and have had issues with them staying fastened during long-term use, so I was glad that wasn't an issue here. On the other hand, I knew that with this type of snap enclosure, I could fairly easily undo the stretcher if it became uncomfortable or painful at any point. Thankfully, I didn't have that problem either.

It took longer than usual to climax while wearing the ball stretcher. While I'm sure the intense stretching this provided accounted for some of the delay, I also decided not to use a lubricant, because I didn't want to increase the difficulty of putting on and fastening the toy by coating any part of it in a slippery lubricant, and - once it was in place - I didn't want to stain the leather material with any lube. I did notice a somewhat protracted orgasm while wearing the stretcher, but I'd really like to try it with a little lubrication next time, or even try it during partner play, to see if I can enhance the experience even more.

As long as you don't soak this device with lubricant or other fluids, it should be fairly easy to care for. I'd make sure to wipe it clean with a dry cloth if needed, but you definitely wouldn't want to use soap or water on this, due to the leather material. If you need to clean it, a substance designed for leather cleaning and care should be used. If you tend to make a mess with lubricants and/or body fluids while using toys such as this one, you may wish to search for one made of a more suitable material, that lends itself to easier cleaning.

Storing is easy. When unsnapped, the leather band lies flat, and takes up little room. Still, it's best to store it someplace where it won't get wet or dirty. This particular stretcher would be perfect for travel, too. It would fit easily in any suitcase or bag, and wouldn't call any attention to itself.

This product was shipped with no packaging whatsoever. It was packed loose (and unfastened) in brown paper packing and shipped in a mailer from Eden Fantasys. There were no instructions or inserts provided with the item.