Serious question: how effective are 'open' cages?

[KnownAsHerbert]

It seems the bars on the cage are strategically placed to limit sensation. For me, the cobra is the best cage for long term wear.

I love those words "strategically placed to limit sensation".
It means that the lack of sensation is deliberate.

The lack of sensation is real and convinces me that it is, as you suspect, deliberate. Strategic indeed.
I also believe that the constant sensation and arousal of my steel is also a design intention. Equally deliberate and strategic in my opinion.

There are some evil minds at work in this world.

[Tom Allen]

FWIW, my skin usually swells out of the openings in those style cages. In the past I have had to put silicone or epoxy to close the holes. THat's why I wear a solid tube design now.

[benny22]

I think neither 'open' nor 'closed' cages are effective. I tried both types: cobra and HTv2. It is enough for me to touch the cage with good massager and the result is inevitable. Maybe it's not very strong, but it's still an orgasm.

[Curious_Sven]

Thank you all for your thorough responses! This really did motivate me to go for the Cobra option
Not to mention it's a very nice welcome to this forum.

I have one more question though if you don't mind.
I am quite sensitive down there (uncircumcised + quite a bit of my ex's told me I'm more sensitive than average lol, just seems this is my nature), which is one of the reasons why I can't wear my CB for too long. The very tip of my glans will rub against my underwear and create some very uncomfortable sensations for me. I can barely walk 100m.

One thing I do like with my HT v5 is the fact there are these little 'ridges' at the top, with prevents underwear from rubbing against my tip.
I have other issues with this cage lol but this does take away this issue.
I've seen that with the Cobra cages, the bars at the 'head' of the cage are actually quite thick. At least they look that way.

This made me think, perhaps these bars around the head are thick enough so that the tip of the glans isn't touching underwear?
What has your experience been?

Many thanks in advance!

[Curious_Sven]

Not a stupid question at all.

I started with a CB6000S (the short version) but for various reasons had difficulties with it. Someone on the forums here suggested that “smaller is better” (and by smaller it means that the cage is smaller than your flaccid penis as strange as that might sound). I was pointed in the direction of the Cobra 3D, either the “nano” or the “nub”.

My kh chose for me and I ended up with a Cobra Nub. Just big enough to hold the head of my penis and the rest of the shaft just squashed in. Sounds unlikely but it works.

I wouldn't say that the Cobra is particularly “open” though. Yes, I can touch myself but the holes are too small to do anything useful. I've worn mine for a 6 week stretch with only supervised unlocking for cleaning every few days, (up to about a week I think?). Maybe if I tried really hard to come I might manage it, possibly, but in normal use, you won't.

Since you mention hygiene as one of your reasons for considering a Cobra, I would say that I've found it really easy to keep clean. Not had any problems at all. Just the occasional release for a more thorough clean but otherwise just routine showering does the job.

I have seen this many times, shorter is better. Seems that is one mistake I've made, as both my CB and HT are not completely filled when I'm not aroused

Glad to hear about the ease of dealing with hygiene as well!

[Curious_Sven]

I have to agree with Mr. Herbi on this one. Mrs. Groove keeps her penis in a nub almost all the time. We did daily removal in the early days. Any more three days is a short run for in depth inspection. Usually it’s 5 to 7. The nub is pretty easy to clean in the shower while intact. I have some gentle liquid soap that has a pleasant aroma to it that I use.

We both like that she wants her penis kept slick so a thorough wash and shave on a regular basis seems to work well.

I also need to support the smaller is better advice. I think it’s also easier to clean. She has an almost flat cage (I call it the stubby nub) that she will have me use if she thinks I need to appreciate the nub.

As for self pleasuring in the nub, good luck. She did get me off one time with a vibrator. It was difficult for me to get there and was not enjoyable at all. Just takes a little pressure off is about all it’s good for.

On a side note. Any advice on permanent hair removal in the cage area. I think if it was gone cleaning would be easier and I’m not so sure she would ever remove it until she wanted HER piv. (She comes, I don’t)

I'm starting to realise I will need to order a smaller cage than I've thought. Guess my male ego will need some talking to
It does sound like good advice, yep. Even just with the couple of times that I've worn a cage some of the hair got stuck and all around it was just annoying. Not sure about permanent hair removal though.

[benny22]

Thank you all for your thorough responses! This really did motivate me to go for the Cobra option
Not to mention it's a very nice welcome to this forum.

I have one more question though if you don't mind.
I am quite sensitive down there (uncircumcised + quite a bit of my ex's told me I'm more sensitive than average lol, just seems this is my nature), which is one of the reasons why I can't wear my CB for too long. The very tip of my glans will rub against my underwear and create some very uncomfortable sensations for me. I can barely walk 100m.

One thing I do like with my HT v5 is the fact there are these little 'ridges' at the top, with prevents underwear from rubbing against my tip.
I have other issues with this cage lol but this does take away this issue.
I've seen that with the Cobra cages, the bars at the 'head' of the cage are actually quite thick. At least they look that way.

This made me think, perhaps these bars around the head are thick enough so that the tip of the glans isn't touching underwear?
What has your experience been?

Many thanks in advance!

I'm also uncircumcised, but I kept my foreskin retracted for quite a long time, so my glans is not that sensitive. Rubbing against underwear is not a problem, so keeping foreskin retracted for a while is something I'd recommend. Only problem I sometimes have is foreskin pinching when it comes out behind the bars. But it's rather rare.

[KnownAsHerbert]

I have seen this many times, shorter is better. Seems that is one mistake I've made, as both my CB and HT are not completely filled when I'm not aroused

I wouldn't say you made a mistake. More likely you were simply misled by advertising and/or website wording like the rest of us!

Yes, you definitely need to fill the cage at all times. Nice and snug. I was told to measure myself at its smallest and then subtract at least 30% (I think I've got that right) but in the end I got the Cobra Nub which is even smaller. Holds me comfortably in place with no movement, no swinging, no rubbing.

[Tongue+groove]

I kept my foreskin retracted for quite a long time

Interesting? Being circumcised I have noticed a loss of sensitivity in my later years. I tried stretching for years. I gained some, just enough to cover about half my head when shrunk down. I guess I had just been cut too tight. In the past I would have painful erections at times.

Now in the nub I pull the skin as far forward as possible. This has greatly increased sensitivity and color. Mrs. Groove likes it too.

I do wear a soft pouch g-string. If I happen to wear my cotton boxer briefs I still wear the g-string underneath. I highly recommend them.

[benny22]

Interesting? Being circumcised I have noticed a loss of sensitivity in my later years. I tried stretching for years. I gained some, just enough to cover about half my head when shrunk down. I guess I had just been cut too tight. In the past I would have painful erections at times.

Now in the nub I pull the skin as far forward as possible. This has greatly increased sensitivity and color. Mrs. Groove likes it too.

I do wear a soft pouch g-string. If I happen to wear my cotton boxer briefs I still wear the g-string underneath. I highly recommend them.

I'd say the old proverb: 'grass is always greener on the other side'. I retracted my foreskin because of better hygiene and oversensitive glans, I also think that cut penis looks better, perhaps I'll decide for circumcision one day, also because it's convenient if you're caged. You mention something totally opposite anyway - keeping foreskin retracted will slightly reduce sensitivity and might solve OP's problem.