As a note to future readers, this was written at the height of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the beginning of 2020, I made it my mission to explore new kink horizons, a goal I’ve managed to actually make some progress towards. I sat on a cake for our four year anniversary! (The video is on Patreon). I’ve also found myself gravitating towards leather spaces for the first time. To be entirely honest, it’s hard for me to say much about it at this point, because I am but a wee babe in those spaces, but already the camaraderie and warmth I’ve been welcomed with have been a breath of life in a year that has thus far felt so, so stifling. My fascination with leather and the community surrounding it continues to grow by the day, and while I am still figuring out my place in it, I have definitely found my way into it with the new piece I received from Naughty Betty’s. While it’s not real leather, it does still feel like a step towards something. And so, without further ado, I’ll tell you all about it.
The Strict Female Chest Harness is made of PU leather, which is a cheaper leather alternative. Upon further research, it seems that PU leather can often be made of thin, stripped leather covered in polyurethane, but it isn’t necessarily always. So it’s not clear exactly what type this piece is, but I am going to assume it’s not entirely vegan. This piece is almost identical to the Bust Harness from Jt’s Stockroom, but it’s half the price. It is designed to be adjustable in circumference of the chest and neck, as well as the length. I found the fit to be just fine for my body type, and it seemed to have a pretty wide range of further adjustability for the people who do not have identical bodies to my own, but I would still advise you to check specifics of fit before buying.
This piece has two large D-rings, one at the neck and one at the chest, and two smaller ones at the sides, making it pretty versatile and able to be used in quite a number of ways. The PU leather material is on the stiffer side, but it’s still generally pretty comfortable. I find the neck to be the most uncomfortable part, due to the thick overlapping leather where the D-ring is attached. This makes it very stiff, and it feels as if it’s pressing into my windpipe a little more uncomfortably than I would like it to. Because of this, I find it’s hard to wear the harness for prolonged periods of play because it just becomes too uncomfortable on my neck.
Despite the neck discomfort, I have absolutely found this harness to be a fun addition to our play. To test it out, I put the harness on and let my partner Dick grab me by it and throw me around a bit. The strap down the center makes a pretty good handle, though I have noticed some stretching in the belt holes after we’d played with it a few times. I really enjoy having my arms cuffed to my sides by the D rings, which keep my arms out of the way of either my front or back for optimal access. While writing this, I’m also now thinking that it could potentially be attached to the O-rings on my bed posts…and of what kinds of kinky things could come of that… Ahem. Right, like I said, this thing is versatile and that’s awesome, especially for a bondage piece.
Since I had Dick try this harness with me, I figured I would throw in a little Q & A with him, so that you might get his impressions as well:
Did you like using this harness with me? And if so, what did you like about it? Yes! It makes it easy to throw you around but also feels safe in the fact that you’re tethered to me. Particularly in the way that we used it, where I was holding you by the strap or rings rather than with a chain or leash. For reference, the scene we did with it involved me pushing and pulling you around very hard and I felt I could throw you harder while still having more control.
Anything you don’t like about it or could be improved? Other then wishing there was maybe one more ring in the center of the back of it, not really!
My personal pros and cons:
Pro:
- Versatile, lots of ways to play with it
- Highly adjustable.
- PU leather makes it easier to clean and care for
Con:
- Stiffness in the neck makes prolonged wear a challenge
- PU leather not as durable as actual leather
Overall, I think what I like the most about the Chest Harness is just finally having a harness in my collection. It’s not perfect, but it feels comforting to have some sort of connection to a community I am not physically able to be around right now. The versatility of this harness and the price point make for a good starter piece, so long as the pressure on the neck isn’t too bothersome for you. I would probably recommend it if you are someone looking to start your leather collection like I am and are big into bondage and flattering harnesses.
I’ve had a hard time figuring out how to end this review, aside from my general endorsement of this product; to be frank, the global pandemic has taken a toll on my mental health in a way I could not have predicted. What I can say though is that even though everything feels terrifying right now, having a partner I can play with really feels like a blessing, and I am more grateful than ever to have kink, as well as leather, in my life.
Thank you to Naughty Betty’s for sending me this product in exchange for an honest review!
