To date I’ve reviewed cuffs, collars, even nipple clamps, but until now, I have never reviewed (or even owned!) one of the most basic bondage pieces – a gag. Unless you count panties… there have been a couple occasions of panties serving as a makeshift gag… but that’s just not quite the same has owning a proper ball gag.
Thankfully, Tantus exists.
They heard my plea. And lo unto me they did bestow a Beginner Ball Gag, in a yummy cotton candy pink. Thus bringing balance to the universe and diversifying my collection of kink.
Okay, I think “ball” might be a little bit of a stretch when describing this particular gag. When I think ball gag, I usually think more of the traditional, simple round ball that you hold between your teeth. The Tantus Beginner Ball Gag is really more like a baby pacifier that slips inside your mouth, allowing you to close your mouth around it. A more traditional style ball gag continues to look ball-like from the non-wearer’s point of view, the Tantus Beginner Ball gag just shows the flat back of the gag. So, it may or may not fit your visual aesthetics. Personally, I find the more traditional ball shaped gag more of a turn on, but it can put a lot of pressure on the teeth, which can get uncomfortable with extended wear. So, the Tantus Beginner Ball Gag is definitely far more comfortable in the long run! I appreciate being able to breath and talk (albeit muffled) around the gag. It allows for a little bit more freedom.
Right out of the packaging, I struggled a little bit to put it together. Not really a design flaw on Tantus’ end, more like a special human problem. I was having one of those days where I simply could not human with a brain. So, if you too struggle to fit the leather straps through the holes and snap them shut… well, know that you are not alone.
If you were googling “how to assemble Tantus Beginner Ball Gag” and ended up here, let me do my best to help you out… So, on the gag you will find two holes, one on either side of the gag, and a pair of leather straps with snaps on one end and Velcro on the other. So, what you need to do is with the mouth portion of the ball gag facing you, take one of your leather straps (fuzzy side facing in) and push the first snap through one of the holes, coming from the back and pushing it in through the hole towards you. Once you’ve got your straps in place, pop it into your (or your partners) mouth, adjust the Velcro, and you are good to go!
As you may have realized from the assembly of the gag, the straps are removable, which makes it super easy to sterilize the mouth portion of the gag. Just unsnap, pull off the straps, and plop your gag into some boiling water or the dishwasher, and BAM you have yourself one clean gag.
But, I’ll be honest, if there is one thing I truly hate about this gag, it is those leather straps. Sure, they are soft, supple, and fit just fine. You don’t even feel the metal snaps against your head while wearing the gag, it really is comfortable. But… they have what I’ll call an “unfinished” side where the leather is kind of hairy and feels gross to me. It also makes the whole product look less professional overall (in my opinion). The leather also smells overwhelmingly leather – which isn’t a bad smell, but when its right up against my face for an extended period of time, it started to give me a headache. The leather also sheds little fuzzy black bits all over – something I associate with cheap leather. So, if there was one thing I could change about the Tantus Beginner Ball Gag, it would be its straps. There has to be something better that could be done for it. Oh, and the Velcro… while I don’t hate it, let me just say that hair + Velcro = OUCH!
Other than that, the ball gag meets with the high quality I have come to expect from Tantus. The mouth portion is made from 100% silicone with a matte finish. The silicone itself is pretty firm, not a lot of give when you bite into it and has no smell or taste.
So, do I recommend the Tantus Beginner Ball Gag? Even with the hated straps, yes, I would recommend it. The silicone half of the gag is great. I think it would be a great gag for ball gag newbies, or those looking for something with a more comfortable fit. As I said earlier, it does have a bit of a baby’s pacifier feel to it, so if you are not into age-play, this could potentially be a turn off for you if you start to think too much about the shape. Also, if you have a small mouth or a sensitive gag reflex, this might be uncomfortable for you. I found myself gagging uncontrollably when I first put it on. But, I was able to adjust the straps and find a comfortable position that kept the gagging to a minimum – so don’t be too discouraged!
Ready to purchase a Tantus Beginner Ball Gag of your very own? You can buy one directly from Tantus for $44.43! Pictures shows the Beginner Ball Gag in pink/black, but red/black and black/black are also available!
The Tantus Beginner Ball Gag was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review.