Maglocks are hot.
They’re a marvelous addition to predicament bondage. There are pins that go through straps and hold belts shut.
There are electromagnetic timers that shut off and pop open, leaving you at the mercy of something outside of your control and allowing you to play solo.
But those two things work in opposite ways.
The pins require application of a magnet to pull a lock open. No additional magnet and they don’t open.
You need a partner for those.
The electromagnet locks lose power and tend to release.
Failing closed (the way a pin lock works) requires a second person or the ability to apply the magnet yourself.
Some timers and remote locks fail open, which means that even if you play solo you can be safe. Not knowing what yours does is dangerous. Pull the batteries and find out before it’s an issue.
Locks don’t fail often, but they fail in ordinary ways:
- A battery dies mid-session.
- A timer or app crashes, or loses its Bluetooth connection.
- A power strip gets kicked, or the power goes out.
- The person holding the backup key falls asleep, leaves, or has a medical problem of their own.
Any of these is possible in the most boring way. A lock that fails closed for self play goes from kink to Gerald’s Game real quick.
If you haven’t read it it’s phenomenally terrifying.
We don’t sell maglocks.
Yet.
We will, and when we do this post will be here. It’s an issue of supply and finding quality non-TEMU vendors.
But when we do you can guarantee that we will tell you if a lock fails open or closed before you click purchase. We source, and we sell, but we can’t bench test. Therefore we ask the manufacturer and pass their answers to you.
If you’re purchasing maglocks elsewhere, know the failure mode before you buy.
- Have a mechanical backup. Keep a key, a manual release, or safety shears within reach of someone who can use them to cut straps.
- Don’t leave a locked person alone unless you’ve planned what happens if every electronic part fails and you verify the failure state.
- Pull the battery or the plug with nobody in it, and watch what it does.
- Use your locks with a nonverbal safety. See When you can’t say red.
And if you want to buy from a reputable manufacturer of high-quality goods, I personally and exclusively recommend Klinik Bondage.
Love,
-KR