Chastity Locking System Guide

If you take a moment to browse through our large collection of chastity devices you’ll see that they’re all quite different. They vary in design, the material that they’re made from, size (both in length, internal width and how slim or bulky they are) and colour. Some come with extra features such as a urethral tube. There’s another aspect of chastity play that you should consider before making your cage choice, which is the locking system.

In this guide we’re going to take a deeper look at all of the different locking systems that we offer on our cages, the benefits and potential downsides to each.

Padlock

The original classic. Pretty much all of us will be aware of the simple padlock, which uses a key to unlock it. They’re very easy to use and work by preventing a cage from sliding away from a locking pin. Unlock the padlock with a key, turn the shackle (the u-shaped part at the top), put that through the hole in the pin then lock it shut.

Pro’s

• Easy to replace if you lose it - We’ve all been there. You put your device in a drawer and forget to put the padlock with it. The next time you want to use it you can’t as you don’t have a lock. Head to your local hardware store and pick up a new one.
• Great for if you have a keyholder - Keys can be worn on chains or necklaces around a keyholder's neck or ankle. The visual tease and denial of the key is enough to keep you in your place.
• Easy to access - If you’re lucky enough to be released from your chastity cage you don’t want to change your keyholder’s mind by making it challenging to access and unlock the padlock.

Con’s

• They’re bulky - Many of our customers want to keep their lock secret exactly that, a secret. Padlocks add to the size of the cage and make it more obvious that you’re wearing one under clothing.
• They’re noisy - A consideration that very few make before ordering a chastity device with a padlock. They move around when you do, which makes a noise, particularly when it’s a metal padlock and cage. This can be solved by wrapping an elastic band around the padlock and cage to hold it in place.
• Metal detectors - Padlocks will set off metal detectors, so they’re not a good choice if you plan to go through airport security wearing your device.
• Don’t lose your keys - Our padlocks come with either 2 or 3 keys, so you’ll have backups. Avoid having to take an embarrassing visit to A&E by keeping an emergency key easily accessible to you. Don’t find yourself in a situation where you only have 1 key to unlock the padlock.

Plastic single use lock

These work in the same way a padlock does, but they’re single use. Plastic locks are individually numbered so that a keyholder can see if you’ve removed it without permission. To remove them they’ll need to be cut off, so be careful if you’re using a sharp blade anywhere near your genitals.

Pro’s

• Lightweight - Plastic locks are much lighter than padlocks, so they help to minimise the weight of the cock cage you’re wearing.
• No keys to lose - Unlike the padlock locking mechanism the plastic locks don’t require you to have a key to unlock them. A pair of scissors is all you’ll need to remove the lock, which is much easier if you need to be released quickly.
• Individually marked - OK, so if you’re the type of person who likes to sneakily remove your cage and play with yourself without permission then this isn’t a positive, but from a keyholder perspective this type of lock is great. They can be sure that you’ve remained locked up for the time that they’re decided on.
• Airport safe - These locks are made from plastic, so as long as your cage isn’t metal then it shouldn’t cause any issues the next time you pass through a metal detector.

Con’s

• No keys - As much as this could be a positive, for those of you who like the visual aspect of someone holding a physical key this becomes a negative. 
• Single use - Once they’ve closed the lock the only way to remove it is to cut it, so they’ll need to be replaced every time you run out.

Cylinder / Barrel Lock

Internal locks make a device much more streamlined and more discreet when worn under clothing. The locking area is built into the cage and ring, which helps to minimise the profile of the kit. A cylindrical lock then slides into the hole and, when the key is turned, it locks the device in place.

Pro’s

• More discreet - As I’ve already mentioned above the locking area is built into the device. This allows us to design cage kits with much less height to them. 
• Keys for keyholders - Our internal locks use a key to both lock and unlock them, which means your keyholder will have a shiny reminder that your cock is locked until they decide otherwise.
• Weight - Our barrel locks are very small and lightweight, so they don’t add much weight to the overall kit.
  

Con’s

• Difficult to access the lock if it fails - In the very rare event that the lock fails it can be quite challenging getting to it depending on the device that it’s locked into. The rotating blade on the lock is nearly always visible and accessible with our devices specifically for this reason. If a lock fails you’ll need to very carefully pull the blade section so that it’s in line with the lock hole. You should then be able to slide it out of the device.
• Difficult to get new keys if you lose yours - There are many different lock and key combinations, so if you lose your lock keys we can’t guarantee that the spares we have in stock will fit your lock. Take action before you get to a point where you only have one working key. We can supply new lock and key sets, so contact us if you need a new one.

Screw / Hex Lock

One of my personal favourites. Using a screw in place of a more traditional lock allows for the connection between the cage and ring to remain very secure when it’s correctly tightened. This lock uses a hexagonal shaped hole in the screw, which locks and unlocks with an allen key.

Our Olympus range of chastity devices including Hera has a hex lock option. Our device comes with a hex lock pendant instead of an allen key. That way a keyholder can still wear the key on a chain to tease you.

Pro’s

• Very secure - Once it’s screwed into place you aren’t getting out without the key to the lock.
• No mechanical parts that could malfunction - It’s a screw and bolt system. There aren’t any moving parts that might fail, so it’s a reliable locking option.
• Silent - There aren’t any parts that come into contact with the cage, so it’s a stealthy and discreet locking method.
• Let’s make this permanent - Some of our customers love the idea of permanent chastity and some dominants demand it of their subs. Short of snapping the key off in a lock (no, we absolutely don’t recommend doing this) the screw lock option is our pick for making this arrangement a little more, well, permanent.

• Screws can be fiddly - Small screws can be a little difficult to handle, hold in place then screw down. You’ll also need good lighting to see what you’re doing. This can be difficult in dark dungeon environments.
• No proof that the cage has been removed without permission - If you can’t restrain yourself using a simple allen key can release you quickly. Your keyholder will need to trust you completely before accepting this lock type.
• It’s easy to lose the screws - Don’t drop them and don’t leave them loose in a drawer. We recommend loosely screwing them into the hole(s) on the ring if you’re going to store your device between lock ups.

Locking Pin

Some of the cages in our collection come with two different locking options. For example, the HoD373 and HoD398 both come with a plastic locking pin. Instead of using a barrel lock the pin slides into the same lock hole. You can then use one of the included plastic numbered locks to key it locked.

• Travel safe - Plastic parts won’t set off a metal detector, so they’re the only choice if you want to travel and remain caged for the duration. 
• Options - With a plastic locking pin you can lock it using a metal padlock or plastic locks. The choice is your own or your keyholder can make it for you. 
• Doesn’t add much extra weight - The pin is really light and when you use a plastic lock it will only add a few grams of weight to the kit.

• Don’t lose the pin - It goes without saying (but I’m going to say it anyway) please don’t lose the plastic pin. Without that you won’t be able to use the device in the way you want.

Mistress K’s opinion

When looking at a chastity device for slave D it must meet my two most important criteria. I must be confident that he’ll remain securely and comfortably locked for as long as I demand and I must have a physical key to wear at all times.

It’s a very common misconception that subs think that all dominants want to see them writhing in pain at every opportunity. That’s not true in my case. OK, so I don’t want to see slave D suffer all the time, just sometimes. A chastity cage shouldn’t cause you pain when you’re not being stimulated and it should be minimised when you do. For long term wear it’s essential that a cage is well fitted and comfortable. That way he won’t bitch and moan all day begging to be released for the wrong reasons. If he’s going to be on his knees in front of me begging for a release it better be because he wants an orgasm.

Tease and denial is one of my favourite aspects of our kink play. The chastity key to his cage is one of the most powerful tools in my kinky arsenal and I’ll use it for my amusement whenever it suits me. I wear his key all day every day and I play with it between my fingers before, during and after we play. It’s a reminder of his commitment to me and to us.

For these reasons I like a range of locking systems including the padlock, barrel lock and screw lock. I initially didn’t like the hex lock cages as they come with an allen key, which I can’t wear. We developed the hex key pendant that comes with our Hera chastity cage for that exact reason. Seeing the subtle black pendant hanging from a silver chain around my neck in the mirror makes me smile every single time.

Slave D’s opinion

Let’s be perfectly honest here, I don’t get much say in this when it comes to decision time. But I can tell you what I think based on my experience of wearing a large variety of cages over the years.

I’m not a massive fan of padlock cages as the lock does tend to move around when I do. It’s a little distracting at times, which Mistress K likes as it acts as a reminder of my servitude to her.

My personal favourites are the internal barrel lock cages and screw lock devices. The built-in lock is more discreet, so I don’t feel as conscious of the cage under my clothes when we’re out of the house.

The hex lock devices we sell are particularly good as they’re really stable. Some locks still allow for some movement between the cage and back ring, which has pinched me a few times. When a screw in lock is fully engaged I’ve found that they’re really secure and don’t move around as much.

Finally, and this is one of my biggest points when it comes to lock systems, is a lock that comes with a key. Catching sight of Mistress K wearing a key around her neck is a massive thrill for me and she knows it. She teases me with it when she spots me staring at the key and on occasion she’s transferred the key to an ankle bracelet to tease me while I give her a foot massage or worship her high heels.

It’s important that you select a lock type that works best for you if you’re self locked or for both of you if you have a keyholder.