CalExotics Scandal - Double-sided paddle, soft and firm

One soft, padded face and one firm face: this paddle behaves completely differently depending on which side is used, without changing objects. Double stitching holds the assembly across its total length of 37.5 centimetres, in red and black polyester. The CalExotics Scandal Double-Sided Paddle therefore allows a switch between caress and impact within a single session, with a turn of the wrist.

Why choose this model?

• Two distinct faces: the padded side brushes, the firm side strikes, and moving between them costs no pause at all.
• Double stitching: the assembly is reinforced along its whole length, which matters on an object built for impact.
• 37.5 centimetres: a middling length, short enough to stay precise and long enough to carry momentum.
• 258 grams: the weight is felt in the swing and contributes as much as the force applied.
• Red and black polyester: material and finish are both stated by the manufacturer.

How to use it

1. Agree on a stop signal before the first stroke, and on a simple scale for saying where things stand.
2. Stay on fleshy areas: buttocks and upper thighs. Never the lower back, the spine, the joints or the face.
3. Begin with the soft face, at low amplitude, to establish rhythm before intensity.
4. Move to the firm face at half the amplitude: it strikes far harder than the soft side suggests.
5. Stop if a mark blanches, if the area goes numb, or if the skin turns cold.

The blindfold removes sight and makes every contact unpredictable, which changes the perception of an identical stroke; the silicone gag, by contrast, requires agreeing on a non-verbal signal. See also starting BDSM safely and choosing an accessory for two.

Care and precautions

Polyester wipes with a barely damp cloth and dries flat, with no immersion that would deform the padding. Check the stitching after every session, since impact stresses it more than anything else. Impact play is not improvised: whoever strikes must know the map of forbidden areas before starting, and whoever receives must be able to stop at any moment. Skin sometimes keeps marks for several days, which is decided beforehand rather than afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

What separates the two faces?

One face is soft and padded, the other firm. The manufacturer publishes no separate measurement for either.

How long is it?

37.5 centimetres in total, handle included, according to the manufacturer.

Is it suitable for beginners?

The soft face allows a gradual introduction, provided the areas to avoid are known.

What is it made of?

Polyester, in the range's red and black fabric.

How is it cleaned?

With a barely damp cloth, no immersion, then dried flat.

SoPigalle tip: try each face on the inside of your own forearm before aiming at anyone else. The difference between the two sides is far greater than it looks, and it is the kind of thing better discovered on yourself.