What we used: Luxury Suede Leather Handcuffs in red
From: Bondara
Price: £25.99
Material(s): Cuffs – suede and leather. Fastenings – nickel-plated steel
Read Fifty Shades of Grey and curious about bondage? If so, we hope you enjoy the fourth and final post in our Christian Grey’s playthings series, in which Thomas restrains Lizzie with some very comfortable leather handcuffs and she does a bit of … hanging about.
Important: If you haven’t already, please read the Behind the Chintz Curtain Disclaimer. (It’s not as dry and boring as you might think, so please do take the time to have a look.)
First impressions …
Lizzie
I have a bit of a thing for the colour red, so it was probably a given that I’d like the look of these cuffs. They arrive in generic brown packaging and, I have to say, my first thought when I extract them from their plastic sleeve is that they appear to be very well made; heavier and a lot more substantial than I imagined they would be. I can’t resist giving them a quick sniff – I adore the smell of leather – and am not disappointed by their aroma!
Each red suede cuff is lined with smooth black leather and has a metal buckle, a leather strap with punched holes, and a metal D-ring (to which the accompanying chain can be clipped to secure the cuffs together) on its outer surface. A close inspection reveals that the finishing is excellent: the stitching on the cuff edges is neat and the rivets that attach the D-rings and buckle sections are firmly set. The leather is wonderfully supple and bends easily when I manipulate the cuffs with my hands – a very good sign since having something stiff or hard around the wrists isn’t a great idea if you’re going to get physical. (You don’t want restraints chaffing, cutting into your skin or affecting circulation.)
The chain that connects the two cuffs is 6 inches (15.24 centimetres) long and the two ends are fitted with clips – similar to what you’d find on the end of a leash – so that it can be attached or removed from one or both cuffs, as necessary. I think this is an important feature; if the cuffs were permanently joined together it would restrict, to a certain extent, how they could be used. If, for example, your hands were cuffed in front of you and your partner wanted to re-secure them behind your back, they’d have to take one of the cuffs off to change your hand and arm placement. With these cuffs, they can simply unclip the chain from one of the D-rings, reposition and re-clip. It also means that your partner can unfasten you in a hurry if they need to.
I’m really looking forward to Thomas putting these on me. We’ve used fabric ties and Shibari rope in the past but I suspect these are going to be much more comfortable.
Thomas
I like the look of these cuffs; most of the ones I’ve come across are black so the red makes them a bit different. They’re sturdy and well finished but I did notice the holes in the leather tongue (which the buckle spike goes through) aren’t eyeleted, so if your partner is on the heavier side they may start to tear after a while and loosen up. This is a small criticism, though, and unless you plan lots of suspensions, etc., I am sure these will last just fine.
This style of cuff is my preferred restraint as it is much less harsh on the wearer but as secure as traditional handcuffs (fur lined handcuffs are just naff and don’t really cushion the wrists – avoid!). The D-rings on them give you plenty of options in terms of how you attach and use them – chains, ropes, hooks, spreader bars and padlocks (for those who like the more secure feel) – although just a quick note: ALWAYS have a spare key if you are going to use padlocks (or lockable handcuffs) and don’t use cheap stuff (flimsy gear and keys can break). There is humiliation and then there is humiliation!
Putting them on …
Lizzie
Although we don’t plan to use them straight away, Thomas and I decide to try the cuffs on me so that we can make sure they fit and feel okay before we start playing together. (In my experience, it’s always better to sort the technical details out before you get carried away. Nothing kills the mood faster than gear hitches.) I have quite small wrists so I’m a little bit worried that the cuffs might not fit me very well. However, the ‘one size fits all’ labelling is correct in this case; I have to wear the cuffs on the second-to-last hole but they feel firm and secure, even though we leave a couple of millimetres between my skin and the inner leather lining. I would say that these would be fine for those with wider wrists, too, as their length when laid flat is 10 inches (25.4 centimetres), which gives a pretty decent diameter – approximately 3.25 inches when the cuffs are buckled on the last hole. Thomas has no problems doing the buckles up. It’s a very quick and smooth process: no messing about with knots or keys. Before I know it, I’m secured, although I do note one thing: with my hands cuffed in front of me and the chain at full-length, it’s possible for me to unclip the cuffs and detach them from one another. (I wouldn’t do this while playing, of course (I’m too well behaved!), but the option is there.) That said, securing the D-rings together with the same clip resolves this issue; there’s no way you can separate them with your wrists cuffed that closely together.
Thomas
These are easy to put on. Just make sure they’re wrapped securely but not so tight that they cut off the circulation (there should be a small gap between the cuffs and the wrists). If your partner’s hands go cold, start to look at all blue, begin to tingle, or feel numb, you have them too tight and you should release them immediately.
How they feel …
Lizzie
The handcuffs feel lovely on. As I mentioned earlier, they’re actually quite weighty, especially with the chain in place. I like the fact that a large section of each wrist is covered – the cuffs are 2.25 inches (5.71 centimetres) wide so you definitely feel like you have something substantial restraining you.
The road test …
Lizzie
Thomas waits approximately two days before he brings the cuffs out. He knows I am dying to use them but he makes me wait! Little do I know, he’s been doing a bit of planning. Thomas really likes to catch me off balance – he knows I enjoy sex more when I’m not in control and don’t know what’s going to happen – and he’s obviously been thinking about how to use the cuffs to maximum effect …
He starts off the roadtest by blindfolding me with the Coco de Mer blindfold we used in the first Christian Grey’s playthings post (and I’m pleased to report, he’s now got the knot tying down to a bit of an art). As before, I can see rough shapes through the silk of the blindfold once it’s in place but nothing specific; I’m intrigued when I realise he’s getting me to move away from our bed and towards the far wall in our bedroom. After a few steps he tells me to stop and put my hands in front of me. He moves away briefly and when he comes back I can hear the jangling of metal, which I recognise as coming from the chain on the handcuffs. (Finally!)
Thomas secures one wrist, then the other, and proceeds to take me completely by surprise by telling me to lift my hands over my head. There’s a bit of tugging and I get the feeling he’s attaching the cuff chain to something on the ceiling. Since we don’t have a rack with carabiners dangling in our boudoir – ala Red Room of Pain (it’s not the kind of home improvement I could easily explain to my mother or the local estate agent) I have absolutely no clue what Thomas is securing me to, but a short time later he steps away and I am left hanging by my arms. He leaves enough length from the attachment point that I can support myself on the balls of my feet with my legs apart, but even so I am extremely grateful for the cuffs; I am putting quite a bit of weight on them trying to keep my balance (whatever Thomas has tied me to is pretty solid) but the buckle system means they’re not tightening around my wrists – something that would likely happen if we tried this with rope or fabric ties – so I don’t have to worry about my circulation being cut off. Their width also means that the pressure of my weight isn’t focused on a narrow area. I am completely helpless in this position – there is no way I could unclip the handcuffs secured like this. Thomas can do absolutely anything he likes to me … and does.
I lose track of time during the roadtest but I suspect I am secured for a good fifteen minutes. Thomas checks my wrists periodically to make sure there aren’t any chaffing or circulation issues (all is fine) before finally letting me down and engaging me in other activities.
Thomas
With Lizzie, surprise is always good!
If you are going to put someone in restraints, you need to think about how you’re going to use them; there’s not much point in practicing bondage if the person you’re playing with doesn’t actually feel restricted. It kind of defeats the purpose. I like suspension from above as it means I can put Lizzie in a stressed position from which she has little control (which she will confirm is very exciting for her) but that I can easily adjust to suit her reactions. Restraining on or over a bed, sofa, chair, garden furniture, etc., is generally milder and better if you are just starting out and want to test the water.
You also need to think carefully about what you are going to attach your partner to; although you can just cuff them, it doesn’t have the same effect as fully restricting their freedom by securing them to something (solid). In any case, if you are going to suspend someone using restraints, make sure the support you plan to attach them to is strong enough to support their weight and test it with a similar weight if possible (I drilled a heavy-duty bolt into a structural beam). This is really important, as a trip to A&E in a waspie, cuffs and with a concussion from a piece of your fallen ceiling is unlikely to be a favoured memory.
All that aside, once you have your partner in position, just remember that you are in the driver’s seat and the loss of control is often the most exciting thing for the person who’s being restrained. Do everything at your own pace, don’t rush, and remember that you’re in charge for as long as your partner allows you to be. Make sure you have a safe word in place – and that you both know it – especially if you plan to ‘push the envelope’.
The verdict?
Lizzie
A brilliant set of handcuffs. They’re nice to look at, comfortable, easy to take on and off and really come into their own if you are doing something that puts stress or weight on them as they won’t tighten under pressure. I’m also a fan of the removable chain as it allows for all sorts of possibilities in terms of how your partner secures and positions you. I suspect they’ll be in service in our bedroom for a while to come. I’m now hoping that Thomas will buy me the matching ankle cuffs …
Thomas
A cracking good pair of handcuffs, so a thumbs up from me. The ankle restraints are on the way – you need a matching set after all – along with a spreader bar. (Calm down, Lizzie.)
In summary
Things we liked:
- The finishing. Well-made and lovely to touch and look at.
- The removable linking chain. You can reposition your partner with ease.
- The buckle system. Simple to get the cuffs on and off. It also prevents the cuffs from tightening on the wearer during use.
- The width of the cuffs. Allows pressure to be distributed across a reasonably wide section of the wrist(s).
Things we weren’t so keen on:
- Nothing! These are great value and loads of fun to play with.
