Blush xoxo paddle by Sportsheets - review by ViVix

You would think that this paddle would be good for a round of sexy swats...many members on Eden also seem to think that it would be great if this paddle left an imprint due to the inlaid XOXO design. I'm here to tell you that the only thing this paddle is actually good for is maybe hanging up on your wall to intimidate a partner who doesn't know that this paddle is actually a dressed up piece of cardboard.

I'm a beginner to the paddle scene, and I'm also cheap. For this reason, an $8 paddle didn't seem suspicious to me, but many of you will know better. I do think that very very hesitant beginners to the spanking scene may see something in this paddle. I also think it makes for a nice wall decoration if you happen to actually have the space for a toy room. I suppose in the worst case scenario, this is an interesting gag gift to embarrass that shy friend who doesn't review on Eden!

For non-beginners, I would think that this could possibly only please you if you enjoy a swat to the genitals, as that's the only area that this paddle might actually be firm enough to cause a sensation in.

This paddle is nice and flat for travel, yet I wouldn't advise putting it under any weighty items because it tends to suffer from indentions when stressed and may bend. I can't honestly tell if the ring around the punched hole for the string to hang this item up is metal or just plastic made to look like metal. There also seems to be a rod of some sort down the middle underneath the cardboard (though it's too thin to make this paddle sturdy), and I'm not entirely sure what that consists of. Therefore, I wouldn't be taking mine through a metal detector.

The material this consists of seems to be mostly faux-leather and cardboard. The faux-leather is hard to tear and is also water resistant. This can generally be washed with warm water and non-detergent soap as well as a microfiber cloth. In the case of this paddle, I'm convinced the cardboard would practically dissolve if it became wet, and for that reason, I suggest cautiously spot cleaning with a damp microfiber cloth.

This particular paddle is pink and black. The front is pink, the back is black. The "XOXO" design that is inlaid is black and shiny. The stitching itself is black. The stitching is a major source of disappointment for me. The pieces were not aligned correctly before this paddle was stitched, and therefore, some of the stitching does not go through every layer. There are also little loose threads. I can see the cardboard on the backside of the paddle, and it looks cheap!



This is not a long-term paddle. This paddle will not withstand hard play and will not withstand a lengthy period of light play either. This paddle really isn't firm enough, and the design is just cutesy while not leaving an imprint as many have suggested they would enjoy. The stability rod inside is far too thin and does not run the course of the paddle, therefore the handle is not properly stabilized.

I knew going into this purchase that this item was not real leather, so I'm not surprised that it completely lacks the smell that most love from leather. It actually has a faint cardboard smell, but it's not bad. I did not lick this paddle, so I hope nobody is disappointed by the lack of review on taste! ;)

The measurements given on Eden are:
Length:
12 1/2"
Width:
2"
Weight:
0.1 lb
From the weight alone, I should have been aware that there is not much to this paddle.

The Blush XOXO Paddle is something that almost anyone could craft themselves in my opinion and perhaps even craft better than the manufacturer. I was ultimately disappointed by this paddle time and time again as the handle bent or the contact of the paddle left me asking for a hand instead. Sure, this paddle is only $7.99, but a hand is free and does a better job! Unfortunately, it seems that this paddle will need to be replaced, and the original will most likely be trashed. I have nowhere to display it for purely aesthetic reasons, and I didn't find another alternative use worth the careful storage (see part about indents).

This paddle arrived with just a cardboard square attached to the string on the handle. There was no covering or packaging really, which is somewhat of a pro for those who prefer minimal packaging. However, since this paddle can't be under anything heavy, if it's part of a large order, you might find the lack of packaging to be damaging. The cardboard piece basically says anything in this package...yada yada yada (company info for Sportsheets. There is no packaging, so I'll assume that this is a tag that is used for several of their products. There aren't any instructions for cleaning on the tag, and there is no product information really. I'd say the tag was basically useless for me.