Cute Beginner Set

The Sex and Mischief Bondage Escape Kit is a small set of bdsm-related items that seems to be geared toward beginners and fans of the 50 Shades series. It includes a sash (good for use as a bindfold or restraints), basic handcuffs (not suitable for anklecuffs on most) and a small crop, as well as a contract for use between one dom and one sub.

This set is very accessible to beginners, and while more advanced users will enjoy some aspects of the kit (the crop is very small and makes the whole kit great for travel, the sash is very sturdy and soft), I believe they would be a bit disappointed by the standard handcuffs and weak crop. This set is definitely aimed toward couples, and is not very well-suited for solo play. None of the contents save the cuffs can be sanitized.

This product would make a nice gift for a significant other, as the packaging is sleek (if not very fancy) and the contents are presented clearly and neatly. While the contract might startle someone who has previously not tried bdsm, it would be easy to discard it before giving them the box or just tell them that you weren't planning on using it.

Although I have not read the series, this set does seem to be aimed toward fans of the 50 Shades series. The sash, which I expected to be lavender from the product photo, is actually silver, and the prose on the back of the box is reminiscent of selections from the book that I have seen. Everything has a very sleek look, down to the shiny silver twist ties used to hold the products in their box. I really liked the lack of design on the products; everything is solid color, silver and black, with no tags on the sash and only a small, black cloth tag labeled "S&M" on the crop. The box lists only the materials used to make all the products, not separately according to product, so I cannot say for sure what the contents of this kit are made of.

Speaking of the crop, mine came with a few loose threads near its top,. It was a bit disappointing and looks unpolished but does not seem to have affected the structural soundness of the crop. Other than the loose threads, I love the design, although I do wish it was a bit heavier, and had a sturdier material for the grip (smooth plastic). It has a slight plastic-y smell, but I spritzed it with some perfume and it covered it up immediately.

The sash is very smooth, and although the stitching along it's edges isn't the sturdiest I've seen, I have no worries about it coming undone. It is long enough to function as a blindfold on even the largest of heads, or could alternatively be used as a restraint (they make the metal handcuffs much more bearable if layered underneath). As I said above, I expected it to be lavender from the product photo but it is silver, making it completely gender-neutral for those who worry about that sort of thing. As a blindfold, it did not completely block out all light, but was both wide and thick enough to provide good coverage (even with my huge nose).

The handcuffs are no different from your standard metal handcuffs, complete with two keys as well as emergency releases. They are not luxurious, but will serve well as a first set of cuffs, especially since many padded and leather cuffs do not come with emergency release tabs. One detail that I loved about these cuffs is that the keys have a sweet design on them, setting them apart from other similar pairs. It's nothing extravagant, but adds a nice detail to the otherwise plain-jane cuffs. They are suitable for most wrist sizes, but are too small to be used as ankle cuffs (and would probably be pretty uncomfortable for anyone who used them as such).

While apart from the sash none of these items are discreet in and of themselves, their designs are compact and minimalistic, making them easy to store and more appealing to those who do not like bright colors. It is rare to find a crop this small, and while it does sacrifice some functionality it is a great piece to bring along on a trip as it contains no metal and could even fit in a medium-sized purse.

The main reason I got this kit is because of the crop: I'd wanted one for a while, but my storage space is limited and I didn't want to drop big bucks on something I wasn't sure if I'd use often. For me, I found that it is too light, and takes far too much effort to produce a good mark (and I mark pretty easily!) or any pain. It will work much better for those who have a low pain tolerance or are more interested in the mental aspects of bdsm than the physical. I was a bit worried about how well it would hold up to use, but found that even after many solid whacks it remained perfectly intact.

The sash is much better quality than I had expected, and despite it's shine (which I usually see as a sign of low-quality fabric) it it quite sturdy and soft, and has held up well to being used as both wrist restraints and a blindfold. It does gain some wrinkles after being tied tightly, and I wouldn't risk ironing it, but you can always place it flat under a stack of heavy books to smooth it out again. I actually prefer the sash to the cuffs as a restraint, but if you are uncomfortable/unskilled with knots or wish for your sub to have an easy way out if something should go wrong, then I would suggest using the cuffs instead.

The handcuffs are exactly how I expected them to be - they leave deep marks if worn too tight and will not stand up to heavy play, but are easy to get out of and are very shiny. I had no trouble popping the emergency release tabs while wearing them, and felt that the length of the chain connecting them was appropriate for most people.

As I said above, the materials for the items in the kit are only listed on the box as a group, not by item, so other than the handcuffs (listed as "nickel free metal handcuffs"). Because of this, I am not comfortable doing anything other than spot-cleaning to this kit. A little soap and water, carefully dried with a soft towel, has done the trick for me so far.

The packaging is clearly designed to showcase the contents, with a large clear window in the front of the box. The cardboard is glossy and sturdy, with a tame erotic story written on the back. While this packaging would work well for a gift, it is in no way discreet! Next to the story on the back is a black and white photograph of a blindfolded woman (no nudity is shown). I would not use this box for storage, as I found it a bit difficult to open (I was worried about ripping the tabs), but it is by no means low quality.