This is our first riding crop and it won't be our last! Having seen these in catalogs, I never really knew what to expect, but we sure liked what we found in the long narrow box.

The Lover's Super Strap Crop has a comfortable, bumpy handle for a good firm grip; no worries about having it slip out of your hand during intense play. The shaft is quite flexible and the "business end" tip is made from a loop of leather that can pack quite a punch if desired. Our first experiments were a lighter series of slaps which were somewhat absorbed by the flexing of the crop, yet still made a satisfying sound. From there we ramped it up to heavier, more focused smacks around the thighs and bottom. The sharpest bite seems to come more from the edges of the leather tip and less from the center of the impact zone. Keeping the surface of the tip parallel to the skin produces more of a thuddy sensation, while a slight rotation (more of an impact from the edge of the leather tip) produces more of a stingy feeling. The length of the shaft and grip allow for some creative uses and accurate reaching from a distance.

This crop is easy to keep clean and has held its shape and flexibility in the four years we've been using it. There are fancier and more elaborate variations on the market, but none have this balance of bang for the buck. I have since tried another model from another brand that began to fall apart after just one use. This other crop had poor quality stitching and a thinner shaft. After three uses, it was ready for the trash. This has not been the case with the Lover's Super Strap crop.