The X-Lock Cobra series looks promising bringing a modern option offering a design with lessons learned from issues of other male chastity devices out there.
As a somewhat tangent start I think worth mentioning I'm not what most would call a male chastity enthusiast since being typically dominant, however I thought worth looking into it to better understand the gear and the submissive perspective. The result is to give perhaps more of a "newbie" perspective than a seasoned male chastity pro.
Starting with interest, one of my first attempts was actually with the Birdlocked Silicone Neo. I was worried about sizing since many cage designs have lots of different size parts and since the Neo was advertised as accommodating I thought it was worth a try for my average-ish sized penis. Once received it was a pretty substantial hassle to cram my cock in the shaft part, as in I had to get out the lube and everything. When it finally appeared to be "on" with an uninspired half assed security test I was able to pull the whole thing off. It wasn't cheap so I was just left feeling like a totally frustrated chump; one notch away from declaring all cock cages are dumb and never wanting to try again.
Fast forward to later I saw the X-lock Cobra showing up on the internets and thought it stood out enough to be worth looking into a cock cage design again. I liked how it had an integrated lock, was fairly rigid, a 2-piece design, and generally liked how the cage was spaced out when it came to coverage vs clean-ability. So I gave Kink3D a holler and luckily they were down for a review. After making the plan and getting to know about their operation a little better I also like how it is a small startup from a fellow gear designer and BDSM enthusiast.
I was upfront that I was new and could use to sizing help so the next step was to do some measurements. Kink3D's data points of interest were:
- Flaccid length (measured along the top)
- Erect length (measured along the top)
- Erect circumference (just trying to determine if you're significantly above average and would need a boost to the cage diameter)
- Balls more high and tight or more low-hanging?
For my initial response notes I had:
For flaccid length it can kinda vary depending on how measuring, so estimate 4" to 4.5"
Erect length estimate around 5.75" - 6" and approx.
4-7/8" Erect circumference
Wasn't sure on balls, sent a pick and assumed something vaguely average.
As you may notice on the notes it isn't an exact science since the penis is quite a flexible size changing organ. Kinda the best you can do is do several measuring attempts and average it out. For flaccid in particular basically you are trying to find your default penis state with no stimulation. One doesn't need to go too far in the other direction like jumping in a cold shower, but also have to consider sometimes just the touching required to measure your cock is going to cause a little growth. To try and standardize where the hell to start a penis measurement I tried to lift it slightly to cause a more obvious crease starting point at the base. This is definitely not the time to sneak in some extra length like you have someone to impress as most will want a snug fit. Experience notes wise I'll have to admit since I don't have a small penis fetish I was going to be sad if the size chart declared the smallest size was my best fit :P
My concerns were spared at the time as Kink3D recommended having me start off trying the Cobra S+ cage in standard matte and Cobra R cage in glossy. Also worth noting they declared the Cobra S+ customized with notes of: Cobra S+ design, which is a medium-length cage, then swapped in a 1.05x scaled-up head. For base ring notes we agreed just going by cock ring sizes I'm used to would probably be a good start and so my notes on that were: I have a ring that is approx. 1.75" (4.5cm) Inner Diameter that seems to work alright.
I tried a 1-9/16" (4cm) one, but it was quite a fight to try and get second ball through so gave up. (To clarify this is me talking about cock-rings I already have)
At the time I wasn't thinking contextually enough as I had been used to sizing cockrings based on my use when already erect. Thus after some playing with my initial base ring sizes of 1.75" and 1.875" on the Cobra parts I found I could probably get a decent amount smaller since getting a flaccid penis through a ring is quite a bit different than dealing with a hard penis. For some follow up parts I got a matte base ring in 1-5/8" in both normal and surprise double wide. I hadn't seen any pics of the wide version and it seems to be a nice balance of adding a little something extra to the feel but not so much width that it forces everything forward too much.
My poor ring sizing thought process wasn't a total disaster though. I'd say the 1.75" is still quite reasonable for a more relaxed long term wear fit. Security wise the main concern is just not being able to get testicles to sneak between the cage and ring, which would require a really oversized ring to be possible. For my short burst play I do like the 1-5/8" rings for a more snug feel without quite making it uncomfortable or feeling like bloodflow is being restricted. Another note to balancing out size pluses and minuses is if go too big on the ring it will bump into your thighs more doing basics life movements.
For other new comers it is worth noting it helps greatly to at least have some sample cock rings as a starting point. Trying to simply measure for a cock ring and hoping for the best is pretty much a guaranteed way to not get the size right the first time. You will want to test different sizes for different activities and lengths of time to provide a more informed decision. Luckily sets are out there that are overall pretty affordable and they can be fun on their own so don't have to consider them a wasted purchase.
Jumping back to the cage part sizing I'd say the Cobra S+ ended up being a closer fit. The Cobra R is longer so there is a little more room, yet not to the point of being a problem. I don't have a particularly large penis tip so the 1.05x scaled-up head appears to not be something I personally needed. If I wanted to snug things up further I'd be curious to try the next down S size. Cage sizing wise there is quite the bag of possible considerations. If plan to be hardcore and wear your device as much as possible, then probably want a fairly snug tip fit so easier to pee without making a mess and many generally like the smashed in there look.
As the counter however, the more snug the more difficult it is to get a penis in the cage and typically a cage is always going to be much smaller than a fully erect penis so a little breathing room for expansion during play is not a big deal. If one jams on everything super tight to begin with, when you get hard that blood still has to go somewhere so tends to cause a bulge behind the base ring pushing everything forward. Additionally, a tight cage is not necessarily more secure than a cage that is a little less snug. Despite the Cobra being a more open design to aid in hygiene while wearing, having a super tight fit is going to be more difficult to clean than a fit with a little more space.
An additional sizing note to consider is the double wide base rings push things a little forward so for better or worse this can cause the penis to be slightly less pushed into the cage. Thus an option if the wearer wants things a little less cramped or a consideration one may want to look into a cage size down if plan on using the double wide base ring.
Getting into first time usage notes, the Cobra parts feel nice showing that 3D printing can have a polished final feel. Normally I'm pretty off-put when someone tries to sport 3D printing as a selling point when usually that just means really obvious layer ridges with shitty edges and final texture. The matte Cobra parts however have a nice subtle texture while still feeling overall smooth. The 3D printing process allows all the parts to have smoothed out edges so don't have to worry about any scratching sneak attacks. This is quite a perk especially on the cage where with typical mold based designs there would have to be some form of seam lines to deal with. Most of the Matte parts fit with a satisfying snugness, not too much not too little. The glossy parts however have a little more play in them since the process basically removes a little bit of material all over. As a result I can get a rattle out of the full glossy device if shaking in hand, yet it doesn't seem to be much of an issue once a penis is crammed in there.
On either finish type, when squeezed in hand there is minimal flex so the parts feel strong and durable offhand. Look theme wise the matte is probably going to fit the leather look more while glossy goes better with latex. The glossy is a little easier to clean since bonus smooth, but the matte still isn't too hard to keep clean. When getting picky with up-close pics though, you can see the matte texture hang onto skin / misc junk more.
Putting the Cobra parts on was fairly intuitive since just 2 obvious pieces and a lock. The basic idea is to put the ring on first, when flaccid I typically do balls first then shaft. Once the base ring is on snug the cage interfaces with 2 main prongs and the locking hinge. Some concern does need to go into making sure not to pinch skin into the prong areas when connecting the cage which is a bit of a con, but I don't have any great ideas how to do it better design wise offhand. Luckily I never had pinch issues with the prongs when the device is actually locked on.
Once the main pieces are together the lock element can now be inserted in the top hinge zone. This style lock starts on the key and then is inserted and turned about 45 degrees to then lock the pieces and allow the key to be removed. The compactness is nice, but things can be a bit finicky where when on the key the lock part can rotate so you have to make sure it is lined up properly for insertion and then if stuffing cock tight in the cage things can shift so also have to make sure the lock hinge zone is flush. Thus if both the lock and parts aren't where they need to be it just feels like the lock was never meant to go in there. It is one of those things were easy to do when just playing with the parts on the table, but a different story when putting it on yourself. I do overall like the integrated lock compared to a small pad lock since less bulk or things flopping around. I think I saw somewhere someone was complaining they wish the keys were smaller, I suppose one can always cut off the wide ends and drill in a new ring hole / round out edges if you feel the same way. To me the keys come as a reasonable use size if not worried specifically about hiding them somewhere.
As I noted on sizing earlier, size matters when it comes to ease of installation. When putting everything on it is common to get a little excited so amusingly the result is trying to put a hard cock into a relatively tiny cage. I found myself having to go browse the news since certainly not very sexy these days or other distractions to try and get flaccid again. Even then without a helper like lube it can be difficult to get the shaft nice and centered in the cage. Sometimes I ended up declaring the fit close enough to start and then try and get hard in the cage to fill things out and help center up. Once everything is finally on properly I enjoy the feel of the Cobra device. I have enough parts to toggle between sexy snug and a little more loose comfort fit. I haven't come across any obvious hot spots or discomfort zones yet, which seems to be an issue on a lot of other designs. I don't have a lot of comparable experience, but the Cobra fit angle seems pretty reasonable when it comes to the balance of comfort and concealability. When designs do it wrong too out straight just looks like a sad boner when trying to conceal and when too angled down it makes the balls smash out to the sides to get banged around by thighs doing any sort of leg movement.
Now for some real talk though (get ready for some hard to swallow pills), pretty much no similar cage style chastity device is super secure. At this point I feel like it is some male chastity unspoken secret since rarely even hinted at. On the X-lock Cobra the balls are secured between the parts, but with a flaccid penis and motivation you can snake that bad boy out of about anything. There isn't much to stop you from doing that, wacking off and jamming the shaft back in or even say using a vibrator externally without any bad boy tricks. If you want something more secure you have to switch to a good belt design or go pretty all in and get a PA (Prince Albert) piercing. The Cobra design fortunately accommodates this where dedicated people have been securing PAs to the shaft end bar so at least it is an option by default.
So one may be inquiring what the hell is the point and I'd say definitely not all is lost. The device becomes a constant reminder of a chastity arrangement and way more fun than just having someone declare you shouldn't have sex or orgasms. I'm more of a short term chastity player anyway even as a dominant so teasing with bondage makes the security issue no big deal for my needs. What makes chastity play fun is the interaction between partners, the teasing and growing of desire, the role play of having any sexual needs controlled under lock and key. For starters the slight compression of having on a cock ring equivalent with a bonus enclosure around the rest of the penis is hot to me being a fan of bondage and all. That careful balance of restriction so you know it is there, but not in a painful way. Then when locked on it is easy to get excited thinking you will have to do whatever the keyholder wants to ever have them consider letting you out. Thanks to male hormones, the intensity typically increases the longer an orgasm is denied so it tends to make the wearer eager to serve when their direct pleasure is no longer an option. Even during shorter play durations being used with the cage on, it will make you super appreciate any cock attention once the cage finally comes off. Before that though I find it common to start settling for almost any attention. With the cage on just teasing the balls seems like a treat compared to normally I'd consider that just an annoyance going nowhere.
As I like to say to others, any chastity device can be removed with a dremel tool so it all comes down to some form of role play. There is always a balance to be had on comfort and practicality vs having some level of security to make it feel sexy. On this subject I had the MR-S Max Security Bondage Jock around so I thought worth showing it used together with the Cobra. Although not a discreet setup it makes for a pretty great security addon option.
For those wanting to push the long term wear factor or long distance play the Airlock option is offered. This piece allows a plastic security tag/seal to be inserted instead of the normal metal lock part. I'll have to say it is pretty difficult to route the tag arm tip since it gets jammed up at the lock housing opening. I straight up rage quit trying to put it on myself for a picture. In retrospect it seems to help doing it as pieces before hand which then bends the tip in the right angle to make a little easier to route on the next attempt. The airlock is admittedly an afterthought to the core design, but for any future part changes I think adding a little notch cut out where the tip hits on the base ring lock area would help routing ease a lot.
Now bear with me for a rant, but I'm very against anyone thinking going through airport security with a chastity device on is reasonable. You are just doing BDSM public play at that point with non-consenting people and jamming up the security line being a weirdo. These days it isn't just about making it through a metal detector, most airports use backface tech scanners which will cause chastity devices to show up. Hell I get hassled just having lots of EMPTY pockets on my pants. So yeah perhaps it is possible to declare you have a medical device on your penis and get a real awkward pat-down if not being taken to some side screening room, however all this would be avoidable by not wearing a chastity device while going through security and then putting it back on once through. We have all kinds of video chat and phone controlled locks these days, this whole airport chastity thing is a very avoidable problem. My rage intensifies when there are people all into this idea and they were planning on using less than full secure chastity devices so I'm just shaking my head thinking about how they are going through all this trouble for a cage they could take their penis out and wack it at anytime anyway. Rant aside, I'm not against offering the Airlock as a non metal option; if one can go through a form of security without issue then the public play issue no longer exits.
As a bonus round, the X-lock system was originally started as a lockable cock-ring idea, the cage / chastity part actually came later. The concept being a lockable cock-ring is a way for those new to chastity to ramp into the play concepts. I think a reasonable idea as not every girl is ready to go from being vanilla to suddenly dealing with a rowdy cock cage. Although the locking part isn't something I'm necessarily hunting down in a cock-ring the end result is still a nice cock-ring system. The same Cobra base ring parts can be used and then shaft rings are offered to form the cock-ring setup. My only semi concern was the lock zone sticking out compared to basic rings, but it hasn't seemed to get in the way of any fun yet.
In conclusion, the X-Lock Cobra series perhaps isn't perfect, but at the same time it is almost an impossible task. The take away is the Cobra is one of the best attempts at a cage style male chastity currently out there. Compared to other designs I think Kink3D did a good job honing in on comfort and practicality. The interchangeable parts allow for users to really dial in the fit and should interface with future parts for a while. A good amount of stock ring and cage sizes are already available, but thanks to the 3D printing manufacture custom is possible without a hefty cost.
For some additional notes on chastity device play I think worth mentioning when playing with women in particular, care should go into starting slow. First off selling the idea as fun to get shared interest is a whole task in of itself I could write an article on, but once established the next step of installation can go hilariously bad. If into the chastity idea then having someone put a cage on you is asking for a guaranteed boner when the only thing that is going to help is a sad flaccid penis. Thus the reaction can be something along the lines of "What do you expect me to even do with this?!" So before full play you may need to experiment with what you both feel is a reasonable way to get your penis in a install capable state. Chastity dudes frankly put up with a lot for the fetish where a typical lady new to the chastity idea is going to think the whole process is a big hassle so it is best to concentrate on making any steps as easy as possible.
The 2 piece design of the Cobra helps a lot here compared to mostly single piece designs that require a lot of jamming things into place or multi piece designs that end up with a lot of small parts to deal with and keep track of. It is nice the Cobra base ring can be installed and left on without looking ridiculous so can get to the cage part later. As mentioned earlier, sizing can help out a lot when it comes to planning on someone else doing the installing; for example for me it is way easier for someone to put the 1.75" base ring on me compared to the smaller rings. I also think my current cages are probably about right to give a little more install room compared to a more default snug smaller size. Lube can help slide things on, but there is no getting around the more the penis is played with the higher your chances are it is just going to get hard again. Now it isn't the end of the world to have to put on a cock cage yourself, I just wanted to share some newcomer considerations to help planning to smooth out first time experiences.
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