You have decided you want Claws. The next question is which set. Claws & Clamps makes five Claw styles, and the difference between them is not only decoration. Each one has its own geometry, which changes how it feels, and its own look, which changes how it reads. This guide walks through all five so you can pick the set that suits how you play and how you like to present.
Two choices, not one
Every set of Claws is really two decisions stacked together: a style and a material. They are independent, and it helps to keep them separate in your mind.
Style is the shape: the length of the talon, how sharp the point is, and the visual character of the piece. Kitten, Wolfcat, Steampunk, Armour and Skull are all styles. A style is the same idea whatever it is made from.
Material is the collection it is produced in: Premium Nylon, Crystal, or Metal. Material changes how a style expresses itself. It sets the surface texture, the look under light, and how the set feels in the hand, but it does not change what the style fundamentally is. That is why a product is always named as style plus collection, for example Kitten Crystal Claws or Wolfcat Metal Claws.
Every style is sold as a set of five Claws, one for each finger. This guide is mostly about the first decision, style, because that is the one that shapes the sensation and the look the most. There is a short section near the end on how material changes things, and our Claw Materials Guide goes into the feel of each collection in full.
How style shapes sensation
Two things about a Claw's style drive how it feels, and they are worth separating because they are easy to confuse.
Sharpness is how concentrated the point is. A sharper Claw focuses contact into a finer point, so it reads as more precise and more intense for a given amount of pressure. Length is how far the talon reaches from the finger. A longer Claw sweeps across more skin per stroke and gives a more dramatic, drawn-out contact, while a shorter Claw stays tighter and more controlled.
A razor blade is very sharp but not scratchy; a sanding block is blunt but very scratchy. A Claw's sharpness comes from its style; its scratchiness comes from its material.
You can have a sharp Claw with a smooth draw, or a less sharp one with more grip. One more thing worth saying plainly: intensity is a range, not a setting. When we describe a style as more or less intense, we mean the ceiling of what is available. You are always the one deciding how much of it to use.
The five styles
Kitten
The sharpest, shortest Claw. Pinpoint and precise.
Kitten is our best seller and our default recommendation for a first set. It is, with Skull, the sharpest Claw we make and one of the shortest, which is exactly what makes it so controllable: the short talon keeps everything close and precise rather than sweeping. That precision is not a limitation. Plenty of people who have worked through the whole range keep coming back to Kitten as their main set. It is also available across all three collections, so once you know you like the shape you can choose the material that suits the mood.
Wolfcat
Longer reach and a less sharp tip, so a broader, less intense sensation.
Wolfcat takes Kitten's shape and stretches it into something longer and more dramatic. The talon traces a wider arc, so where Kitten is like the tip of a fine pen, Wolfcat is more like a drawing stroke: it covers more ground and, with a slightly less sharp point, gives a broader and less intense sensation. If you want more sweep than Kitten with a gentler tip, Wolfcat is one of two places to look, alongside Steampunk. Like Kitten, it comes in all three materials.
Steampunk
The same feel as Wolfcat: longer reach, less sharp, less intense. An ornate, engineered look.
Steampunk shares Wolfcat's long reach and slightly softer point, so on sensation the two are the same: broad, sweeping, and less intense than Kitten. Where it stands apart is the design. It takes the same precision-engineered foundation and works an ornate, industrial look into the profile, so the set reads as constructed and intentional. It is built from thinner sections, so it is not the one we would reach for if you like to play very hard. And it starts at Small, so if you take our Extra Small size, look to Kitten or Wolfcat instead.
Armour
The longest Claw. A less sharp tip gives a broad, less intense sensation.
Armour is the longest style we make, with ridges worked along the back of the talon that give it a covered, gauntlet-like character, more so worn across several fingers. Its point is a little less sharp, so like Wolfcat and Steampunk it reads as broad rather than pinpoint. It is a distinct look rather than a middle option: people who want Armour tend to want it specifically for that structural, protective aesthetic.
Skull
As sharp and short as Kitten, on a closely spaced double fang.
Skull is the most decorative Claw in the range, but do not mistake decorative for soft. It is just as sharp as Kitten. The difference is that the sharpness is split across two fangs per talon, and they sit close enough together that most people feel a single point. Are you sensitive enough to tell the two apart? What you get either way is a short, sharp, precise Claw with a strong visual identity. It suits Victorian, goth and dark wardrobes, and several customers wear it as a statement piece in its own right. There is also a Skull Claw Pendant in metal for wearing the motif outside of play.
Quick comparison
| Style | Length | Sharpness | Sensation | Look | Currently in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitten | Shortest | Sharpest (with Skull) | Pinpoint, most intense | Clean, minimal, versatile | Nylon, Crystal, Metal |
| Wolfcat | Long | A little less sharp | Broad, less intense | Bold, clearly a Claw | Nylon, Crystal, Metal |
| Steampunk | Long | A little less sharp | Broad, less intense (same as Wolfcat) | Ornate, engineered | Nylon (Small and up) |
| Armour | Longest | A little less sharp | Broad, less intense | Structural, armoured | Nylon |
| Skull | Shortest | Sharpest (with Kitten) | Sharp point on a double fang | Gothic, sculptural | Nylon (plus metal pendant) |
How material changes a style
Once you have a style in mind, the collection you choose changes how it feels and looks. The style is the same shape either way. Here is what shifts.
Premium Nylon is our baseline and the reference point for sensation across the range. It is the scratchiest of the materials, which many people want, and it is the collection every style is currently offered in. Nylon sets come with fitting pads and are sold in sets of five.
Crystal is a light-reactive resin built for atmosphere: clear, UV-responsive, and made to catch light and set a scene. Its draw is presence and mood as much as sensation, and its surface is smoother than nylon, so it tends to allow a longer stretch of play before the nerves top out. Crystal can be sterilised for hygienic reuse by wiping down with a hospital-grade disinfectant such as Viraclean or similar, and is currently offered in Kitten and Wolfcat.
Metal is precision additive manufacturing in titanium or aluminium. Its distinctive angles are temperature play and its finish: matte metal sits close to nylon for grip, while polished metal is smoother and glides. Metal Claws are also compatible with violet wand and other electroplay, and can be sterilised for hygienic reuse by autoclaving or boiling. Between them, Crystal and Metal are our two sterilisable collections; nylon is the exception. Metal is currently offered in Kitten and Wolfcat, with the Skull motif available as a pendant.
A note on texture, since it is the axis that matters and the easy one to get wrong: what separates the materials is how scratchy or smooth they draw. Titanium and aluminium are both extremely light, so let surface and look guide the choice, not any assumption about how solid a metal set will feel.
Mixing styles
You do not have to choose just one. Every style uses the same finger cup sizing, and complete sets are made to be combined. Plenty of people wear, say, Kitten on some fingers and Wolfcat or Armour on others, for both the look and the range of sensation across one hand. It is worth thinking about the receiver, too: different people like to receive different sensations, and offering the one someone wants most can improve the experience for everyone. Order the sets that appeal and wear them in whatever combination you like.
A quick word on fit
Sizing works the same way across every style, so once you know your size you can move between styles with confidence. There is a slight difference in finger cup depth from one style to the next, which means fit can vary a touch style to style, but that difference is much smaller than moving up or down a size. Premium Nylon sets include fitting pads to snug up a slightly loose cup. The one exception to remember is that Steampunk starts at Small. Our Sizing and Fit Guide covers measuring in full, and custom sizing is available if you sit outside the standard range.
Still not sure?
A few questions usually settle it.
- Want the most precise, versatile place to start? Kitten. It is as sharp and short as any Claw we make, and it comes in all three materials.
- Want more sweep with a gentler point? Wolfcat or Steampunk. Both are longer than Kitten and a little less sharp.
- Choosing mostly on the look? Gothic and sculptural points to Skull. Ornate and industrial points to Steampunk. Bold and structural points to Armour.
- Want the longest reach and the most dramatic sweep? Armour is the longest style we make.
- Torn between two? Buy both and mix them. Sets combine in any arrangement across hands.
Where to next
We hope that has helped you get a feel for the five styles. Whether or not you have settled on one, two more guides will help with the rest of the decision: the Claw Materials Guide for how each collection feels, and the Sizing and Fit Guide to lock in your size. Still weighing it up? Find Your Claws walks you through it and gives you a shortlist. Everything is designed in-house and made in Melbourne.