Wednesday afternoon, leaving my house to go to class, I stopped to check the mail knowing full well that the pink KinkLab ankle cuffs will be waiting for me inside that mailbox. I open the mailbox and before even driving away I have ripped the packaging off and retrieved my treasure.

“Let the testing begin!” I giggled to myself.

The packaging is a clear plastic cylinder that has black caps on either side. There is a paper insert that just says the name of the product (pink bondage basics cuffs) and the name of the manufacturer (KinkLab) and some very basic information; self-keeping device, sizing capability, and that this tube contains 2 cuffs. The insert can be removed which I like because it has now turned into a stash place for condoms and mini-lubes.

The cuffs are a little darker than what is commonly considered “baby pink.” I would call them truly pink as opposed to a shade of pink. The exterior is pebbled leather and the inside is soft, not suede exactly but much softer than the exterior. I’m a big fan of leather so the first thing I did was pull the cuffs up to my nose and give them a sniff. They smell nice, not an overwhelming leather scent but enough so I didn’t question whether they were genuine or not.

The cuffs have ten notches (slits for adjustable sizing), one metal rivet to hold the thin leather strip in place, one loop through which the thin leather strip is woven first that is held by two rivets, and one loop that is what will go through the notch and will serve as the second “belt loop” when you pull the leather strip through. That loop is part of a square piece of hardware that is attached to the strap with 4 rivets. Nowhere on the packaging or on any website I have been to does it say whether the hardware is hypoallergenic (nickel-free). I seriously doubt it, but as someone with metal allergies I can say that even after many hours of wearing these cuffs I had no skin reaction.

The cuffs are designed to fit ankles that are anywhere from 7.5 to 12 inches around. At this point I'd like to mention that if you happen to have larger wrists, these work great as wrist cuffs too. The main problem I have with the design is that the cuffs will NOT work on the smallest notch setting. If you slide the loop through the notch that would set the cuffs at their smallest circumference, the excess strap covers the "belt buckle" loop that the thin leather strip needs to go through. So why include it? I have no idea.

I put them on my ankles and strapped them on. I had been a little concerned that the self-locking buckle might throw me for a loop (I’m not mechanically inclined by any stretch of the imagination) but getting them on was pretty self-explanatory. Start by putting the end of the strap that has a loop on it against your skin, and fold over the notched side of the leather until you find a comfortably tight place. Now, slide the notch over the buckle and lay it down. Take the thin strip of leather and pull it through both metal loops like you would a belt through belt loops. HA! You are now restrained.

As I have mentioned, these are leather so they are not fantastic for sharing between partners. Leather is porous so any blood, sweat, or tears that get into that leather should be your own. Leather care. Leather is water resistant, not waterproof. DO NOT THROW THESE IN THE WASHER!!! They can take a spot cleaning with a damp, not wet, cloth. If they start to get dry or really cruddy you can order saddle soap and follow the care instructions on the bar of soap. Leather really likes conditioning and moisturizing so look into a leather conditioner. I like and use Chelsea's Leather Food and Leather CPR on my stuff.

I drove to school and a friend’s home, had dinner, went to class and drove home all while wearing these cuffs. I found them to be very comfortable while doing mundane things. Then came the fun part! Trying these cuffs out during sex and play was a blast! All in the name of science, of course...

The metal loops only give you about a third of an inch clearance, so unless you have restraint clips (sometimes called carabiners or snap hooks) that are thin you are going to have to get a little inventive. I used rope... well, that is to say my Owner used rope. Pulling the rope through a loop on each cuff we were able to do all kinds of inventive things. You can be tied to the bed in this way or you can just make a great handle for doggy-style sex. Lots of options. Plus, if you are just into bondage like I am, these restraints feel fantastic for extended wear. Being that they are pink and kind of cutesy I found them to be "passable" bondage wear that you can get away with wearing without raising too many eyebrows. My biggest problem with these cuffs, just one actually, is that one of them would not stay closed. The thin leather strip kept coming out and before I knew it my cuff was falling off. At first it only happened after an hour or two, but after a couple days it became every 5 to 10 minutes. It's a problem, but it only seems to happen when I am up and walking around. It did not occur during a two hour play session.