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A while back, I wrote a guide to buying inexpensive kink toys on Amazon. A lot of people have used that guide since then, but I have also received questions about what else can be found on Amazon. Last time, I told you where to find the cheap stuff, but is there quality gear on Amazon, too?

First of all, I want to dispel the notion that something being cheap means that it is low quality. This is sometimes true, but often times the “officially kinky” kink toys you find at inflated prices on kink toy websites are the same items as you can find for cheap on amazon. They just get a hot model and a better photographer and the products seems better, but is actually the same thing. In other cases, kink stores will take items that cost $25 on the vanilla market, like a TENS unit, and inflate the price for $50 when selling it as a kink tool.

This is one of the reasons that buying from Amazon (or sites like it) is ideal, when you can do it. Because a TENS unit is going to sell for its actual value, not the kink-skewed value.

But there are some things that you really should buy from vendors who are making and marketing their products for kinky purposes. Rope, for instance, is best purchased from people who are making the rope using materials and methods that are best suited for human bondage, especially if you are going to be doing suspension. This can mean that it is more expensive, but in cases like that, I believe that it is worth it.

The other reason buying from Amazon is good is that you can take advantage of things like a Prime membership or free shipping to help keep your costs down. Depending on the product, I am also willing to buy it used sometimes, which most kink vendors will never offer.

Finally, with Amazon, you get some level of protection if the product is not delivered or not as advertised. It’s a little less shady than ebay or random websites and makes me feel more confident in the purchase. If you want to see the full range of BDSM toys Amazon has to offer, click here (Don’t forget to select the option to see “adult items”, too, or you will miss out on a lot). Just be wary of the quality of the items, it varies widely.

So here is my short list of toys (whether intended for kink or not) that I think are the better quality items Amazon.com has to offer, without breaking the bank.

Bondage

What not to buy: Avoid anything with the word “Fantasy” in the title and under no circumstances buy anything labled with “50 Shades of Grey”. Chances are that this will be cheap material meant to give the appearance of bondage, but will probably break after a minimal amount of struggling. Avoid anything with velcro or snaps, too. Finally, while fake handcuffs are a part of a lot of people’s fantasies, they are also an easy way to get injuries. Even the fuzzy, friendly looking ones can be too tight and can put pressure on nerves and joints.

Instead, go for leather (beware of fake leather, which is easily torn) or canvass, something with buckles or locking pins. It’s quick, easy, durable, and reliable.

Also keep in mind that you will need different sized cuffs for wrist vs ankles.

For good quality leather bondage on Amazon, I like Ardour Crafts. Their 4-piece cuff set ($59) includes a pair of ankle cuffs, a pair of ankle cuffs, and four padlocks. They also have a 5-piece set that includes a collar. They also have unique items like this wrist/thumb binder, as well as an array of floggers and whips.

If you don’t like leather and prefer metal, go for something like these or these, rather than the fake handcuffs. They’re a better quality and will be a little easier on the body. If you insist on getting handcuffs, get real ones, like these, that have the ability to prevent tightening during use.

“Master Lock” actually has a line of cuffs that aren’t really designed for use on people, but are large enough for most (measure the intended wrist/ankle before you buy) and don’t use a standard handcuff key (which can be helpful with some of the bratty and resourceful subs out there). They also have this item, which can be perfect for attaching your sub to a fixed point in the house or yard. Just don’t lose the key, because it’s made of heavy-duty, hard to cut materials.

If you are leaning more to the softer side, you will have trouble avoiding the low-quality, velcro and snap variety of cuffs. UTIMI has some canvass bed restraints that aren’t terrible.

Cuffs like those above are very efficient, quick in and quick out. But if you prefer to take your time, rope is the way a lot of people go. So the thing about rope, though, is that it is a skill. Tying wrong can cause a lot of problems. Start with some books. I have several recommendation on the Bookshelf Page.

After that, you want to make sure that you are using the right tools. All rope is not equal. The nylon stuff you buy at Walmart is slippery and stiff. Utility rope from the hardware store is scratchy and usually thin, so cutting off circulation is more likely.

Natural fiber rope intended for bondage is expensive, but is the absolute best. It is comfortable, flexible, and holds a knot like nothing else. Hemp is the most popular material, but bamboo, jute, and silk are all very common as well. There are lots of great brands out there. Expect to pay about $1 per foot. deGiotto Rope is a brand trusted by many, but they don’t have much left on Amazon. In fact, most quality rope-makers are not using Amazon anymore, opting to sell direct from their own site, instead.

If you can’t spend that kind of money on really good, fancy rope, then the next best thing is MFP. It doesn’t hold a knot quite as well as hemp, but it is strong and soft. I usually buy my MFP rope from RainbowRope.com, but if you want to bundle it into your Amazon order, you can get it here. I recommend 1/4 inch thick for wrists and ankles, 3/8 inch for full body harnesses or waist bondage. It’s available in all sorts of colors, even glow in the dark. When tying with rope, always have a pair of trauma sheers or a rescue hook in case you need to get them out quickly. Using normal scissors or a knife can be dangerous, especially in a panic situation, so have the right tools on hand to get your person out safely.

A popular alternative to rope is bondage tape. Though, if we’re being honest, it’s mostly just saran wrap. Get a roll of the kind designed for packing and shipping and it will work just as well, it’s cheaper, and you get a lot more per roll. An alternative to that, that many prefer, is called vetrap. Vetrap is breathable, soft, and flexible. If you are doing a mummification or making a hood out of it, the person won’t get as sweaty, it won’t hurt as much to remove it, and it’s stretchy, so it’s much easier to remove using a pair of trauma sheers. It comes in a variety of widths and lengths. But the most common is 2″ by 15′.

Things To Hit People With

Floggers are the most popular impact toy. They are also some of the most difficult products to determine quality for. Cheap products like these are very common. They are also very bad. The craftsmanship, the materials, and the just about everything else about them are very poor.

For floggers, I am going to again recommend Ardour Crafts. They have less expensive and softer suede floggers, as well as full-grain leather floggers. The important thing to remember is that suede cannot be thoroughly cleaned the way that full-grain leather can, so you may need to replace it when it gets dingy and dirty. So I recommend that you look for floggers that are made from full-grain leather, meaning one side of the leather strips will be hard and shiny and the other side will be soft like suede. You can get them with more tails for a thuddier feeling or with studs for a sharper and more painful sensation. For the stingiest of sensations (and the scariest of noises), they also have bullwhips.

Look for floggers that are made from full-grain leather, meaning one side of the leather strips will be hard and shiny and the other side will be soft like suede. Here is an example. Good leather floggers can be expensive. But they will also last forever. Cheaper products fall apart after just a little use. However, there are some options.

Floggers made with chain or chain-mail are incredibly painful, but are less expensive. Suede floggers like this and this make a good, less-expensive substitute, but the important thing to remember is that suede cannot be thoroughly cleaned the way that full-grain leather can, so you may need to replace it when it gets dingy and dirty.

Another popular impact toy is a paddle. Tantus has a line of absolutely amazing rubber paddles. They feel great and material is the most body-safe stuff on the planet. It can be washed, sanitized, and shared without worry. It is incredibly durable and is one of my favorite toys. But they are expensive.

So instead, beginners who aren’t ready to invest that kind of money usually turn to either wood or leather. The thing to remember about both is that if they get blood or skin cells in them, they can’t ever be completely clean, so if you play really rough, you probably want to make that toy unique to your partner.

Wood paddles can range in price and style depending on what you want. But I like to tell people that a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula generally works just as well and is usually way cheaper. If you prefer leather, there are lots of options for that, too.

Another common tool of pain are sticks. Canes, crops, etc. On everything else, I have told you to avoid the cheap knockoffs, but actually with this one, I haven’t found many truly bad crops or canes. Some of them break, and slight variations in the size and material can change the sensation drastically. So unfortunately, it’s really difficult to give you advice and honestly, it’s just not a good product to buy online. The shipping will kill you. If you don’t have sex shops in your area, you might have access to a place that sells supplies for horses. You can get crops there. As for canes, they are just long sticks. Dowels, fiberglass rods, even pipes and poles can make good substitutes for the things that are marketed as BDSM tools. Buy local for this one.

If you really want to buy a crop through Amazon, get one that is actually made for use, not a costume piece. Prairie Horse Supply and Intrepid International are both good, trusted brands.

Other Pain Toys

Nipple clamps are a favorite. They come in a variety of styles. Clover clamps are my favorite. There are also alligator clamps, tweezer clamps, vice clamps, and many more. You can find all sorts of variations. Some have weights, some vibrate, some have bells, some have decorations. All of them are super cheap and readily available online. There is no reason to pay $30-40 for this toy in a sex shop when you can easily find it for $10 on amazon. And, of course, you can also just buy a whole box of clothespins for a couple bucks. It’s pretty hard to go wrong on clamps. It’s mostly about preference and style here, not quality.

Another great sensation is scratching. My scratchy claws are from Hammerfell Armory. They cost $150. Most people aren’t up for that. So some affordable options include things like this or this or this or this. Get creative. Even a fork from your kitchen drawer can get the job done. A word of caution. Knives can be fun to play with, but it’s easy to slip up with big consequences. Use other things until you get confident.

Wartenburg pinwheels are a very popular, very effective, and very cheap toy. The ones with multiple wheels are more expensive, but can quickly intensify the sensation. Malik makes them with as many as 7 wheels.

Blindfolds and Gags

Taking away sight and speech is a great way to heighten the sensations and intensify the experience.

Blindfolds are pretty easy. A sleep mask works pretty well, and that one also comes with ear plugs if you want to go for full sensory deprivation. If you want something a little better, a leather blindfold like this one is a good bet. Look for something that is shaped around the nose and pushed in on the eyes for a good light seal. Something with buckles is usually better than elastic, and two straps is always better than one. It’s up to how much you want to spend and how important it is that they see nothing. Some go under the nose as well, but they are more uncomfortable. If you want to be sure they will see nothing, go for a full hood instead of just a blindfold. There are some that also come with a gag attached.

As for gags, there are some differences in styles. Ball gags are the standard. The wiffle-ball style gags make it easier to breath, but also make you drool quite a lot. Bit style gags come in firm or soft. Panel gags have a ball that goes into the mouth while the outside panel covers the outside of the mouth as well. In some cases, the ball is replaced with a dildo. For extra effect, the outside panel can also have a dildo so the dom can have some fun, too.

What Else

It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

You might have some fun with this “finger control” mitt designed for difficult hospital patients.

If tease and denial is your thing, maybe a chastity device is in order, or even chastity + anal. Or maybe it’s about CBT with penis plugs, ball stretchers, or gates of hell.

On the flip side, maybe a forced orgasm belt is right for you.

If you want to put a person in a big mesh bag, for some reason, they have you covered there, too.

If you’re into latex, you can get a full-body suit or leave off the hood for an intimidating sort of look, or get whatever the hell this thing is.

Amazon has a seemingly unlimited variety of insertables and sex toys, but this one locks in side of you (hot).

Just about everything is there. There were a few things I mentioned that are better to source locally, but for the most part, whatever you want can be found if you search right.