Often the subject of derision a gimp mask, BDSM hood or sensory deprivation hood also generates a great deal of quiet curiosity. Or is that just me? LOL. The sensual and sensory aspects of sex are very important, and something that we like to explore so when we unpacked this particular, unusual sex toy it offered the opportunity to explore some uncharted territory as opposed to inspiring trepidation on our part.

I say our part because it was only ever me who was going to wear the thing!

The Total Blackout Hood is hand-made from latex and has a number of features listed on the box:

• There are no eye or ear holes
• The wearer’s breathing takes place through a stiff rubber tube
• It’s double-skinned to allow the hood to be inflated
• The hood can be inflated and deflated by a valve stem at the upper rear of the hood.

Well that’s what it said on the box anyway. But before I describe how I used this particular adult product I’ll point out a couple of points that the blurb on the packet doesn’t mention/has wrong.

First the breathing tube. For me it was too narrow, I’m not into breath play so the 5-6mm internal diameter was far too small. I found myself struggling for breath when I tried the hood on. So long as you’re careful this may be OK if you get off on restricted breathing, but I hate to think what would happen if you exert yourself while wearing this hood in an unmodified state. I had no choice but to find a stiff wider bore tube and with the help of some water based lubricant to push this inside the rubber tube provided.

The valve stem at the back is not the one described on the box. The box says that the stem can be used to inflate the hood and the pressure can be released by squeezing the base of the valve – wrong. The valve stem has no valve in it so as soon as you stop inflating the pressure starts to flow back through it. You can get a reasonable pressure built up but only by quickly screwing the cap back on.

Wearing the hood for the first time was a bit odd. Not quite scary but a little unnerving would be the best way to describe it. The smell of latex was nice but covering your face and forcing yourself to breathe through a tube in your mouth is pretty alien to me. Zipping up the back of the hood can be accomplished by either the wearer or their partner.

Inflating the hood is another matter. I’ve mentioned the issues with the valve stem above so I’ll not repeat this problem; the issue for me as the wearer was something a little different. Having a tube in your mouth forces you to keep your mouth slightly open. As the hood is inflated your cheeks are forced in and the muscles around your jaw completely immobilised. I quickly found that I was developing cramps in my jaw muscles – Eeeek! In fact this is what stopped me leaving the hood on and experiencing a prolonged period of sensory deprivation.

And there’s the final problem with this hood. Although inflating it does deaden the sounds you hear slightly there’s no way in which you could say this adult product cuts you off from auditory stimuli. Sounds are slightly deadened but not even as effectively as a good pair of ear plugs would do.

All in all Total Blackout Latex Hood did not deliver the experience I was expecting. It wasn’t all bad and was interesting to a sensory explorer like myself, but I personally did not find it in any way exciting or erotic. That just means it’s not for me and anyone who does like sensory deprivation, is into latex and/or submission may well like this product.

That said of course there are a couple of issues with the product (the size of the breathing tube and the issue with the valve) that make me wonder if the production run Pipedream products received was the same as the prototype they approved?