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Review of Bound by SansMinds:

40 pairs of linked rubber bands, 10 single rubber bands, less than 6 minutes and $35. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect

Two rubber bands are linked while the spectator is holding them.

Method

A switch. You switch out the two single bands for two pre-linked bands. I do have a small issue with the method. You have them examine two un-linked rubber bands. Then you take them back, switch them, and then give the rubber bands back to the spectator. Not only that, but what's worse is that as soon as you take the rubber bands back, you then use the hand holding the just-examined bands to clean up the rest of the rubber bands off of the table (or your other hand).

The problem I have is that if you needed that hand to clean up the rubber bands, then why did you take the rubber bands back from the spectator in the very hand that you need to clean everything up. To me it's a bit messy. I will say this, however, the switch looks pretty good. I think you'd need some better choreography than what's given in the DVD, however. This concept is basically the same as any linking ring routine. You have people examine un-linked rings; take them back; then switch them with pre-linked ones. It's just a matter of proper choreography and scripting. I just felt the "reason" and "angle" they used here was not as clean as it could be.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy says that the link happens in the spectator's hands. I've got mixed feelings about this claim. Here's why. One could easily infer from the ad copy that the spectator is holding two separate bands as they link together. Of course, that's not the case. You have to take the bands back and switch them and give them back. However, this is one of those fine lines, where it could be argued that they were just protecting the method.

Next, they show three very visual links of two rubber bands. None of this is taught on the DVD. The only thing you learn on the DVD is how to switch the un-linked bands for the linked bands. That's it.

Product Quality

They show a live performance on the DVD that is cut severely. They show the spectator reaching into the magician's hands and grabbing two rubber bands. Then they cut to the link. The leave out the switch in the live performance. So you never (as is ever so typical of SansMinds) see a full actual un-cut presentation from start to finish. The DVD is five minutes and 26 seconds long.

As is typical with SansMinds, the video is simply a "here's-what-comes-with-the-DVD" explanation and nothing more. They go into zero depth on anything. They don't show real performances. They don't give any handling tips . . . nothing.

The rubber bands, on the other hand, are very well made, and look great. The suggest that you give them away. You get 40 linked sets, so giving them away shouldn't be a huge deal. For $35 bucks, however, you should get more than a bag of rubber bands.

They claim that refills are readily available and sustainable but give you no information about how to obtain them.

Final Thoughts

Paul Harris Presents released Souvenir Linking Rubber Bands a few years back. It was the same thing: A bunch of pre-linked rubber bands that you could switch in to secretly replace the single un-linked bands. You could then let the spectator keep them. The DVD that came with it was excellent and had a ton of ideas, handlings, usages, bonuses, etc. It was also $35 bucks. However, the rubber bands looked odd. They were strangely elongated. This version (Bound) has much better rubber bands, but a much worse DVD.

Ideally, you would have the Paul Harris DVD and the SansMinds rubber bands. The method is good (not outstanding). The ad copy is arguably fine as far as the "link-in-the-spectator's-hand" claim goes, but it's not fine when it comes to showing three tricks in the trailer that aren't taught on the DVD. The rubber bands are excellent quality. The DVD and teaching are terrible quality. If you have use for pre-linked top quality rubber bands, then you'll be happy with your purchase. If you're looking to learn how to use such a prop, you'll be very disappointed with your purchase. That's puts us somewhere right in the middle.

After much deliberation and recording of the review video . . .

Final Verdict:
3 Stars with a Stone Status of gem (with a super tiny "g" almost so small that it could be grubble, but not quite).