If you’ve been rummaging around in the Chintz Toy Box, you may remember that last year, Thomas and Lizzie reviewed a set of Squeezer Teaser nipple clamps.  Low and behold, that post has gone on to become one the most popular and visited on Behind the Chintz Curtain and, even weeks and months after its publication, it continues to draw readers on a regular basis. It seems there’s a definite appetite to know more about the practice of nipple clamping – the various clamp styles, how they’re used, the pros and cons of the different designs out there, and the sensations they create.

How intense are they? Are they easy to get on? What happens, exactly, when you take them off?

To that end, I’ve asked the pair of them to put together a quick ‘n’ dirty overview of their clamping experiences, discussing their perceptions of the sensations clamps generate, and a breakdown of the benefits and hindrances of the various styles on offer.

IMPORTANT: This isn’t a ‘how to’ guide. If you think clamping is something you’d like to try, please make sure you do your homework and are aware of the risks involved/understand how to apply clamps safely. Please also take the time to read the Behind the Chintz Curtain disclaimer.

 

Sensation

Lizzie
First off, let me say this: clamping won’t be for everyone. To use the old flavouring analogy (although I’ll avoid the term ‘vanilla’) it’s all a matter of taste. For me, personally? I find that having my nipples clamped incredibly erotic and the sensation of compression a huge turn on. Bluntly, I get aroused by the pain they generate – the hit when they go on, the ache they generate once applied, and the devilish throb that kicks in when they come off. Some of the more intense styles also leave me feeling incredibly sensitive after removal and there is nothing nicer, I think, than experiencing the brush of clothing, or lips, or fingers a day or two later and being reminded of what Thomas and I did together to make them that way.

So what do clamps feel like, exactly? Well, the sensation depends on the style (whether they’re adjustable or not, the surface area they cover, their weight) but, broadly speaking, nipple clamps are all about pressure. They’re a step up from having your nipple pulled or squeezed between a thumb and forefinger; the pain isn’t sharp, more of an intense ache that blunts slightly during wear as the blood stops flowing into the nipple and intensifies (dramatically!) when they’re removed and the blood rushes back in. In fact, the latter sensation is probably the one that stands out most from my point-of-view and immediately afterwards the flesh of the nipple is incredibly, incredibly sensitive to touch. Nothing beats a mouth applied to one and gentle sucking in the immediate aftermath of removal, although the sensation is a push-me-pull-you one – almost too intense to stand.

 

Safety

Clamping does carry a degree of risk. Therefore, if you are going to engage in it, you need to make sure you know what you’re doing. We’re not medical professionals so cannot provide formal advice, only relate the precautions we take ourselves.

The main and most important point to be aware of: don’t leave clamps on, whatever style you use, for too long. We all know what happens when the blood supply is cut off to a body part (it can be permanently damaged and fall off) so keep that in mind at all times when using them. Personally, we don’t apply clamps for longer than fifteen minutes at any one time.

 

Nipple clamp styles

Tweezer clamps

Tweezer nipple clamps are carried by most mainstream sex toy retailers and we suspect are the style most people try in the first instance because they look the least intimidating and are adjustable. As the name suggests, each clamp looks like a pair of tweezers. The ends are bought together and thus produce pressure when the sliding toggle is slid along the arms – the closer to the ends the toggle sits, the more severe the clamp’s grip. Generally, the two tweezer clamps are connected together by a thin chain, although some feature small decorative charms.

The advantages:

• The toggle means that the clamps are very adjustable. You can dial the pressure up or down to suit the wearer.
• They’re slim and thus look quite elegant – and, if you like to accessorise, this style really lends itself to adornment.

The disadvantages:

• We’ve always found it difficult to adjust the toggles – they tend to stick and catch and it’s often quite difficult to get the pressure just right.
• They pull off easily. Although they often come with a tug-able chain, the grip most tweezer clamps have on a nipple isn’t particularly good/secure.
• The surface area of the clamp end on a tweezer isn’t very wide, so those with larger nipples may still get blood-flow through once applied and thus find the effects aren’t intense enough.

Verdict: our least favourite style of clamp. We have some, but they never get used.

 

Screw clamps

Image: Sex and Mischief feathered screw clamps courtesy of ohtique

There are loads of different screw clamp designs on the market. Like their tweezer clamp siblings, they offer the ability to adjust the level of pressure applied and, accordingly, give some flexibility to the clamping experience. However, the clamp intensity is adjusted via a small screw at the side of the clamp rather than by a sliding toggle.

The advantages:

• Compared to tweezer clamps, you have much better control over the level of grip (the screws allow for a far greater degree of fine-tuning than a sliding toggle).
• They’re relatively small in size and often come with decorations or a connecting chain.

The disadvantages:

• Like tweezer clamps, they can pull off under strain.
• Although more ‘accurate’ in terms of pressure application, they can be fiddly to use. Not great if dexterity isn’t your strong suit.

Verdict: their adjustability is definitely a plus for beginners – and the loading is more accurate than with tweezers – but if you’re after intensity, you’d be better off with a clover, Mawa or Thai stick.

 

Japanese clover clamps

This is the style of clamp that we reviewed for our Squeeze, tease: the agony and ecstasy of nipple clamps post. As you may have gathered from that write up, we like them. A lot. They’re easy to apply, have a great intensity (they’re spring loaded) and the design means that they tighten (rather than slide off) if pulled upon – and that also means you can add weights to them and still expect them to remain in place. That said, clovers do tend to be quite large (they’re far bigger than screw and tweezer clamps) so aren’t really the most delicate looks-wise, although you can soften their appearance somewhat and pretty them up a little by adding ribbons and other threadable adornments.

The advantages:

• Once they’re on, they’re on! Japanese clovers have some serious grip and are extremely secure once placed.
• Easy to apply – we’re talking seconds.
• Clover clamps give an excellent (excellent) level of intensity.
• The after-effect factor. Because of the strength of these clamps, your nipples often remain sensitive, even after they’re removed.
• Their size means they sway around nicely if left on during sex, which tends to ‘freshen’ the feeling of the clamps in the same way that pulling and twisting does.

The disadvantages:

• You can’t adjust the pressure – there’s only one intensity choice and that’s ‘on’!
• They’re quite large and not the most delicate looking.

Verdict: the pressure these generate is outstanding and they don’t slip when toyed/played with during use. A really good clamp for those who are comfortable with discomfort and want to experiment with more significant pain levels.

 

Mawas

These guys look a little scary – they have a strong resemblance to stationary bulldog clips – and, like clovers, are not adjustable. Unsurprisingly, they exert some high-end pressure, however, their broad clamping edge means that the load is spread over a decent area. We definitely prefer this style of nipple clamp to the tweezer and screw varieties but, having said that, if picking between these and Japanese clover clamps, would go for the latter from a sensation and looks point of view.

The advantages:

• Really easy to apply – like clover clamps, you simply squeeze them open and place them on the nipples.
• Brilliant if you want something with serious wellie.
• Mawas often come with weight hooks, which means there’s room for more ‘ouch’.

The disadvantages:

• No room for adjustment. Significant pressure from the word ‘go’.
• Mawa clamps have a very ‘industrial’ look. If you’re after ‘pretty’, these may not be for you.
• Very similar to a clothes peg and/or stationary clip in design and you could potentially substitute either of those for a set of these for less cost.

Verdict: robust, simple and should be in every sadist’s toy box. Definitely not a style that we would recommend to beginners or those who aren’t into more marked pain.

*You can read our full review of this style of clamp here.

 

Thai nipple sticks

Look like chopsticks with a rubber band and, really, that’s kind of what they are, only somewhat more refined for purpose. You separate the sticks slightly, slide them over the nipple to get them in place, and then adjust the position of the bands at either end to ramp up the intensity of the clamping. This style is like a hybrid of the clover and the tweezer clamp, although it has to be said that the pressure starting point is much more intense than the latter – even before the bands are adjusted, there’s some intensity to the grip of these.

We’ve only recently started using Thai nipple sticks but have to say it’s a toss up between these and clovers with regard to pride of place in our toy box. They’re really easy to place and adjust, are aesthetically pleasing once in position, and provide interesting opportunities for pulling and twisting the nipple.

The advantages:

• Can be placed in a flash.
• Exert strong pressure immediately – and this can be increased very simply.
• The bands are really easy to move up and down the sticks, unlike the toggles you find on tweezer clamps.
• Look pretty on.
• The bamboo variety (which we have) is relatively inexpensive.

The disadvantages:

• They’re adjustable, but the entry point is one of reasonably intense pressure.
• Because they’re long and thin, the ends can poke you in the torso if you’re bent forwards whilst wearing them.

Verdict: the pressure of a Japanese clover clamp with the added bonus of adjustability. A really brilliant all-round nipple clamp.

 

Our picks

• Best nipple clamp style for beginners – screw clamps
• Best nipple clamp style for masochists – Mawas or Japanese clover clamps
• Best all-round design – Thai nipple sticks

 

Where to find them

Tweezer clamps

• Tweezer nipple clamp with chain – Bondara 
• Spartacus adjustable tweezer nipple clamps – Lovehoney 
• Fifty Shades of Grey, The Pinch (adjustable nipple clamps) – Lovehoney 

Screw clamps

• Sex & Mischief feathered nipple clamps – ohtique 
• Spartacus adjustable screw clamps with chain – Lovehoney 
• Erotic crystal nipple clamps – Bondara 
• Fresh Alligator nipple clips (blue and pink) – Lovehoney 

Japanese clover clamps

• Monarch Noir nipple clamps – Passion8
  
• Japanese clover nipple clamps, Squeezer Teaser – Bondara 
• Squeezer Teaser nipple clamps – Lovehoney 

Mawa clamps

• Mawa nipple clamps – UberKinky 

Thai nipple sticks

• House of Eros Thai nipple sticks (bamboo) – SexShop365
• Ultimate nipple sticks – Bondara
• Deluxe stainless steel nipple sticks – Lovehoney 

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