Blue jaguar wrist cuffs by ASLAN Leather - review by Antipova

USE
Maybe you and your partner enjoy restraining one another. Maybe you dabble in power play. Maybe you just like to feel like you've got an extra set of hands. Maybe you enjoy wearing stylish and functional cuffs on the town to showcase your hobby. Or maybe you're masters of bondage, trussing one another up in hogties. Maybe, along with whichever of those proclivities matches you---maybe you don't like black. Whether it conjures up campy images that don't mesh with your idea of fun, whether you're afraid it will intimidate your partner, or whether you're just a pastel person at heart---you've probably noticed it's hard to find quality bondage gear that doesn't remind you of a motorcycle warehouse.

Not anymore! Aslan, one of the premier leatherworkers in North America, has released their ever-popular Jaguar Cuffs in beautiful crystal blue and white leather.

These cuffs are perfect for anyone who cares to invest in them---they are lockable, leashable, and absolutely sturdy enough for the toughest paces you and your partner can put them through. They are comfortable enough to be worn for extended periods of time (though perhaps not comfortable enough to sleep in). Their adjustment is completely intuitive, so even if you're considering these as a first set of cuffs, you'll be able to use them right out of the box.

CONSTRUCTION
Aslan's top-tier cuffs are made in Canada with loving care and devotion---not a stitch is out of place, not a thread hangs where you don't want it, and the nickel-plated steel rivets are sure to hold up for a lifetime. A 2" wide band of finished leather forms the basis of the cuffs, and a smaller band of white leather (finished on top, unfinished underneath) is securely riveted to the blue leather. The white band allows for adjustable buckling (there are five notches, suitable for fitting wrists and petite ankles from 6.5" to 8.5" in circumference), and includes a D ring as an attachment point for your additional restraints, hogties, or anything else you need to shackle your lover to (no suspension, though). The buckle mechanism also has a loop at the end through which a small padlock can be slipped---while these aren't easy to get off even when unlocked, no partner will be able to escape while you're holding the key! Finally, a white swath of vegan leather is stitched to the rivets-exposed blue leather, allowing a comfortable, rivetless experience for your tender skin.

Honestly, these cuffs aren't quite as flexible as I had expected them to be---I assume that comes from having three layers, and perhaps from the nature of vegan leather (which I'm not at all familiar with). I assume vegan leather was chosen because it's easier to keep clean than white leather which would have been in constant contact with the oils from your skin? In any case, while not very flexible, the cuffs are still very comfortable, and I had no problems wearing them all day long. Their two inches make them a bit wider than my usual watchband, but the thickness, the medium weight, and the snug fit felt sort of enveloping and comforting. I definitely enjoy wearing these---both for feel and for their pretty sky-blue style!

CARE
Leather's an amazing material---and part of the joy of ownership (along with the supple feel, the gradual training by which it adapts to your body (me and my bike saddle go way back!), and the delicious scent) is the care which you give your leather. It is occasionally good to treat your leather with a conditioner (I like Huberd's Shoe Grease, and should these cuffs ever get dirty, you can clean them with a small amount of glycerine saddle soap (available at the same link) on a soft cloth, and then (after slowly but thoroughly drying) massaging shoe grease into the leather.

Care for the metal finishings on these cuffs is a simple one-time affair: Aslan suggests you coat them with a layer of clear nail polish to prevent tarnishing. This same coat of nail polish will also protect those with nickel allergies.

Should anything ever go wrong with your Jaguar Cuffs, or with any product from Aslan Leather, you'll be covered by their lifetime guarantee---they'll repair any flaw in craftsmanship that develops for the entire life of the product.

My Jaguar Cuffs shipped with no packaging at all---products I've gotten from Outlaw Leathers have come in a drawstring, breathable velvetish bag, which I appreciate. (Leather needs to be able to breathe, so don't store it in Ziplock.) I will likely seek out a similar bag to keep my first Aslan in.

FINAL THOUGHTS
What's not to love about these cuffs? They're perfect for anyone from beginners to the most experienced, roughest players. Their construction is flawless, they're going to last a lifetime. Finally, the most important consideration for me---they're not all black and menacing! These cuffs let you be yourself---light at heart---even while you're anchored firmly to the bedposts.