It’s time for my long promised House of Denial Hera XS chastity device review. The Hera, part of the Olympus Collection, is a new, sleek 3D printed offering designed in-house by the House of Denial team, manufactured in the UK, and sold exclusively by the company.
The House of Denial Hera XS chastity device is part of the company’s new Olympus Collection, a collection of ergonomic, CMR-free, 3D printed male chastity devices. At the time of this post, the Hera was available in white or black. The six sizes range from XS to XXL, and there are two lock options, barrel lock (i.e., MagicLock type) or hexlock screw system. I wear tested the black Hera XS (extra small) with a barrel lock for this review.
An Alternative to the Kink3D Cobra?
My Kink3D Cobra N fits well and has performed flawlessly but because I often enjoy the sensations wearing shorter cages provide by forcing my flaccid penis to “turtle,” I was considering ordering a Cobra Baby model as soon as I could justify the spend. I didn’t expect I would wear the Baby often, but I wanted to satisfy my curiosity after reading the positive reviews from others on Reddit who enjoy wearing shorter cages and had tried the Baby. But before I got around to ordering one, I discovered a new 3D printed device that was getting some rave reviews of its own, the House of Denial Hera XS device.
When I visited the website and checked the specifications, I felt sure the Hera XS was very comparable in size to the Cobra Baby and was almost $40 cheaper. So, instead of ordering the Baby, I ordered the Hera XS instead.
The House of Denial device did not disappoint. On the surface, the Hera looks similar to the Cobra. But on closer examination, you see the device is a unique chastity device, not another attempt to copy the Cobra. The first time I handled mine and put it on, I knew the quality nylon material used to make the Hera and the satin smooth finish were every bit as good as that of my Cobra device. Without reservation, I say that the Cobra, often imitated but never duplicated, now has some serious competition.
Hera XS Specifications
Construction
3D printed from ultra strong and lightweight Nylon 12 material, then finished using an industry-leading, body-safe chemical smoothing process.
Weight: 30 grams
Cage Length: 3cm (Total length with base ring 4.5cm)
Cage Internal Diameter: 34mm
Base ring sizes (internal diameter): 36mm through 60mm (2mm increments)
Hera XS Components
The Hera XS kit is a three component system; a cage, one back ring, and an internal brass barrel lock with two keys. Those who choose the Hexlock system option get two hex locking screws and one pendant key instead of the barrel lock and keys.
Hera XS Physical Details
I ordered the Hera XS in black, but the device also comes in white, which I plan to get next. This device, which I find quite comparable to my Cobra N, is marginally lighter but just as solidly made. While I ordered mine with an integral lock, it is also available with dual hex head locking screws. As shown in the image above, instead of perfectly round, the base ring is wide at the top and tapers toward the bottom, which I find more comfortable than the circular base ring that came with my Cobra N. I also feel that the Hera gap is a more comfortable fit. In my opinion, the quality of workmanship with the Hera is every bit as good as you will find with the Cobra 3D printed devices. My device fits perfectly and the connection between the cage and base ring is tight with zero play. Once I snap the cage into the two receptacles on the base ring, I don’t need to hold the components together while inserting the lock because they stay together.
I was super impressed with the packaging. House of Denial ships the Hera in a reusable storage box along with a red velvet drawstring bag that holds the base ring, barrel lock, and keys.
Comfort and Feel of the Hera XS
As mentioned, the Hera weighs slightly less than the Cobra. The base ring and interior of the cage finish feels satisfyingly, silky smooth. It’s the most comfortable 3D printed device I’ve worn since the Cobra. It felt comfortable the first time I put it on and stayed that way. It feels as secure as it gets with a standard ball-trap device, none of which are absolutely inescapable without the added security of a body piercing.
I particularly appreciated the more generously sized urine outlet. The design helps keep your urethral opening aligned with the urine outlet making it possible to pee in the usual way without too much concern for missing the target.
The tapered-design of the ring I mentioned, keeps the device firmly against my lower abdomen except when my penis tries to grow erect. That tapering-effect also helps keep the base ring properly positioned around the scrotum. With the Cobra, I frequently have to readjust the base ring because it allows my balls to gradually ride up against the ring until it gets uncomfortable.
Hera Size Guide
On the company’s website, unlike Kink3D, House of Denial provides complete device specifications to help you choose the correct size device for your specific measurements. I ordered the Hera XS with the intention of getting a size comparable to the Cobra Baby because I often enjoy shorter devices that force my shaft to “turtle” inside my lower abdominal cavity. But the Hera XS in my estimation is actually designed for those with a flaccid length of 1.25 to 2 inches. My average flaccid length (not shriveled) is 3 inches. The Hera XS produces a “turtling” effect of about an inch for me. That’s sufficient to give me the satisfying feeling of compression I enjoy from shorter devices. If I wasn’t looking for that compression effect, I think the Hera M (Medium) would be my ideal size.
While Kink3D offers the Cobra in eight sizes, House of Denial offers the Hera in six. My guess is the company aimed at producing alternative devices for the six most popular Cobra sizes and eliminated two of the Cobra sizes, most likely the Cobra N and Cobra S+. Here are my rough guess estimates about equivalent sizes between the Hera and Cobra.
Hera XS – Cobra Baby
Hera S – Cobra N+
Hera M – Cobra S
Hera L – Cobra R
Hera XL – Cobra R+
Hera XXL – Cobra BFG
Remember, these are only guesses. I don’t have examples of all the devices to make side-by-side comparisons. And, to protect intellectual rights, Kink3D doesn’t provide device specifications. But I think my estimations are pretty close and you could probably use the above and the Kink3D Cobra size guide to choose a Hera that fits you. Still, I recommend instead that you take an accurate measurement of your flaccid length and girth and then compare your specifics to the specifications House of Denial publishes on the website to get the perfect fit.
House of Denial offers more Hera base ring size options than Kink3D, twelve to the Cobra’s eight. The Hera base rings all come in even metric diameters, so those who own a Cobra and might consider getting a Hera may not find the same diameter base ring. In my case, I wear the 44.5mm base ring with my Cobra but the slightly larger 45mm base ring with the Hera. The difference is so negligible that I don’t even notice it.
Hera cage internal diameters start with 34mm (XS), increases to 36mm with the Hera S (small), and then increase to the maximum, 38mm, for all other sizes. The 36mm or 38mm sizes would be more ideal for me, but 34mm has felt fine, just a bit tight.
Hygiene Considerations When Wearing the Hera
Like Cobra devices, the Hera has a “birdcage” style design with plenty of ventilation openings that allows me to keep the contents reasonably clean using a hand-held shower head. I’ve worn my Cobra device for an entire month on several occasions without removing it for cleaning and see no reason I couldn’t do the same with the Hera. And, as mentioned, the extra generous size of the urination outlet means I can pee while standing while wearing it with little concern about spraying the wall or floor.
Final Thoughts
The House of Denial Hera XS is an impeccably well designed and well-made chastity device. It’s marginally lighter than the Cobra and super comfortable. It’s a device that deserves serious consideration by those seeking a high-quality 3D printed plastic cage-style device, especially those looking to save some money over buying a Cobra.
At £99.99 ($123.80 USD when this post was published), the Hera XS offers outstanding quality at a reasonable and affordable price, and at about $36 less than the comparably sized Cobra Baby. And unlike Kink3D’s pricing model, where the price increases along with device size, the Hera comes at the same price regardless of the size you select. So on the larger sizes, you can save even more. In comparison, I feel the Hera matches up well with the Cobra in every single category.
I have only one minor complaint about the Hera. As someone who uses only remote keyholders, I love the Kink3D Airlock accessory that allows me to lock the Cobra N securely using the disposable plastic numbered locks. That’s the option most remote keyholders prefer. Since the devices use the same internal barrel lock, I had expected I could use the Airlock with the Hera. I was wrong. The lock receptacle on the Hera has slightly less depth, just enough that the Airlock pin won’t go completely in. So, wearing the Hera for a keyholder means I would have to go back to using some less convenient method to secure the keys to give my keyholder confidence I wasn’t accessing the keys without permission.
That’s the bad news. But there is some good news. A House of Denial representative told me recently that the team is already working on designing an accessory that will perform the same function as the Airlock and will allow use of the plastic numbered tags directly on the Hera device. I’m eager to get my hands on one as soon as the accessory becomes available.
I really like the white color option, and my next device will be a white Hera. House of Denial says the company is also planning to offer the device in other colors in the future. I like this device so much I’m not sure I will ever be able to justify the spend for another Cobra. I think I have already found my go to 3D printed device option with the Hera.
Disclaimer: This review represents my own honest opinions. I purchased this device at the full retail price using my own funds, and I have no affiliation with House of Denial other than being a satisfied customer.