Recently, I received an email from a blog reader asking which chastity device I’ve reviewed that I recommend for someone trying chastity for the first time. I’ve addressed that question here before, but I understand it’s easier to email than to page through the 178 posts I’ve written and published to date to find the answer. And, to be honest, I’ve changed my mind slightly since visiting this topic the last time. So, with Locktober fast approaching, it seems a good time to revisit chastity device recommendations for beginners.
I still stand by my previous recommendation that the Holy Trainer is one of the best choices for chastity device beginners. That’s because it is a high-quality device offering great comfort overall and particularly the most comfortable base ring I’ve ever worn thanks to its ergonomic design. I also like the fact that the end of the cage that is closest to the body extends a short distance through and past the base ring. That, combined with the tight fit of the cage, makes the Holy Trainer harder to slip out of while locked. It’s not absolutely secure. No ball-trap device is without an incorporated piercing, but the Holy Trainer feels more secure than many other devices.
Having now worn a Kink3D Cobra N for almost two straight months, it is my new second pick as one of the most beginner-friendly chastity devices. It is also a very comfortable, light-weight cage. Kink3D also offers a wider cage option with all models except the Baby Cobra for guys with above average girth. With the Holy Trainer, everyone gets the standard 33 mm internal diameter cage except for the Maxi model (35 mm). Kink3D doesn’t publish specs down to the internal diameter of the Cobra to protect the company’s intellectual property, but the standard size is around 37 mm and the wide option is larger than that. I can’t say what the internal diameter of my wide model is exactly since I haven’t measured it.
Kink3D also offers three different base ring types; standard round, the XD (extra thick), and curved. I’m a guy with average-size, high and tight balls and have learned from experimentation that only the standard round ring works for me. The XD thicker ring makes the gap tighter and too tight for me. The curved ring, even the smallest size I can get on (41. 3 mm), allows ball escapes.
For price comparison, you can get any Holy Trainer model for $165. Kink3D Cobra kits (ring, cage, & lock) are pricier and the price goes up with the size, ranging from $160 for the Baby Cobra to $200 for the BFG. If you have a hankering for the new Fusion Pink color devices, expect to pay even more; from $200 for the Baby Cobra to $240 for the Cobra BFG. Sorry, for a plastic device, that’s just obscene. I like the new color, but I’d never pay that much for any plastic device. At $240, you are very close to the price of a custom-made device you know will fit you exactly.
I’ve been curious about the Kink3D pricing strategy since I first learned about the company and its devices. I suspect they view Holy Trainer and CB-X as their primary competitors and used the prices of those devices as a starting point. Kink3D also uses the modern 3D printing technology to fabricate the Cobra, which is more expensive than injection molding.
The cost of 3D printers and printing has dropped sharply during the last decade, but the current technology costs and quality of the printing Kink3D uses probably explain part of the higher prices. Still, I think Cobra prices could be significantly lower and still generate substantial profits for the company. That’s because I have purchased Cobra knock-offs that are 3D printed and of nearly the same printing quality for $35 or less. If those manufacturers are making a profit at that price point, I don’t see how Kink3D justifies the current prices. I hope the company will lower the prices in the future or at least run an occasional sale. I think that would encourage more guys to buy the original rather than one of the cheap Cobra counterfeits produced mostly by China manufacturers.
Here, as far as my recommendations for the best devices for beginners, I’m only recommending the original Kink3D Cobra. That’s because it is a known high quality device. While I understand the temptation to buy an almost identical device for the fraction of the cost of the original Cobra, I also know a wide disparity of quality exists among the counterfeits on the market. I’ve talked to guys who have bought copies advertised as 3D printed that were actually molded plastic and more than a few guys have told me the Cobra copies they bought broke after less than a month of normal use.
I’ve been fortunate with the Cobra copies I’ve purchased and just ordered another one from a company I’ve bought from before, a knock-off copy of the Baby Cobra. I ordered the copy because I want to see whether I like the fit of Baby Cobra better than the Cobra N before spending $160 to get the original.
So, that’s my current device recommendations for chastity device beginners. The price difference between a HT device and the higher priced Cobra (black) will be within $10-$15 for most guys. Knowing what I do now, I’d probably go with the Cobra simply because it’s an open-style cage I can keep clean in the shower without removing it. Holy Trainer devices are closed tube types that users should remove at least weekly to maintain proper hygiene. If you don’t mind the regular cleaning unlocks, I think the Holy Trainer offers more comfortable wear for guys with penis girth sizes that work with the 33 mm internal cage diameter.
