Sportcuffs - velcro handcuffs discontinued by Sportsheets - review by phoenixfire

The Sportcuffs by Sportsheets, available in purple, red, or black, are meant for light to moderate restraint play/BDSM. I bought mine (a black pair) as part of a kit deal Eden offered. My idea was to build a BDSM toy collection from the ground up and these cuffs were a good way to start doing that at only $20.

These cuffs are made of neoprene and fastened with Velcro. They come with an attached key ring and clip, which allows you to fasten both cuffs to each other or to other surfaces like a headboard. The Velcro makes these cuffs highly adjustable. I can alter their size to fit both my wrists and those of my husband with ease. No small feat, considering that there is a 6" height difference between us and something like a 40 pound weight difference.

I really love how comfortable these cuffs are. That said, the best features about them hands down (pun intended) are twofold. First, the neoprene keeps you from feeling sweat. If you like to play rough, your partner can get as hot and bothered as he or she pleases without noticing mood-killing sweat dropping down their arms. Second, the cuffs are easy to escape--but only when you want to. It's the work of a moment to get your restrained partner out of Sportsheets' cuffs after play. During playtime, you have him just where you want him, no matter what.


Neoprene is super easy to care for. Dirt won't get absorbed into the material because of its cellular makeup. All you have to do is wipe these down with a damp cloth when you are done. I would not recommend putting these through a washing machine because that could make the Velcro less grabby over time. Also, the metal clip would not do well in a clothes dryer. I think it is a good idea to store the cuffs closed, rather than leaving the Velcro open to the air. That way, the Velcro doesn't have a chance to attract hair, lint, or fur, and it will last longer.

These cuffs (I hesitate to call them handcuffs, since they could just as easily be used for ankles) arrive in a plastic clam shell package which is surprisingly resilient. I have had my pair for several weeks and I still store them in the original package. The box features a heterosexual couple. The woman of the couple is in the foreground, and she's wearing the cuffs. The man is just behind her. He looks as if he might be biting her shoulder. While there is a lot of skin exposed in the pictures on this package, it's done in a very classy way and you can't see anything that would give it more than a PG rating. The back of the box includes information on the material the cuffs are made from, provided in about 9 languages. It also tells you that they come in three colors, and are made in the US. What's not to love?

I chose to buy these cuffs because they looked both tough and comfortable. I have used metal handcuffs in the past and really hated them, not because I don't enjoy restraint, but because metal handcuffs hurt and left nasty marks after very brief use. Not so with these Sportcuffs. My husband and I have each worn these for more than an hour at a time. At the end of each session, our wrists were not the things that hurt! They felt just as comfortable as when we first put Sportcuffs on. Neither of us left our encounters with any telltale marks. (Some might consider this a downside. My wrists are super tender, so I love this feature.

If there is a downside to these cuffs, it is that the clip that is provided is a little limiting. I would suggest buying these cuffs with the tether that Sportsheets also sells, so that you can restrain your partner or be restrained in a wider variety of positions. These cuffs also won't satisfy you if you absolutely must have leather. That said, I love leather and I wouldn't give up my Sportcuffs for any reason! These are a great option for a vegan couple. I believe they are just what the doctor ordered for both beginners to BDSM and intermediate users.

These cuffs almost earned a five star rating. As it is, they get 4 stars because of the limited positions you can achieve without buying a Sportsheets tether (which I most definitely plan to do).

I still love these. I can't believe they were so affordable. Hubby and I play with them in almost every encounter! The Velcro has not lost its hold yet. That said, I'll be happy to replace these with another pair when and if it does. I would recommend these cuffs to anyone who isn't really attached to the idea of metal restraints. (Pardon the pun. This one was unintended.) I am even considering purchasing other pairs for use with ankles, just as soon as I get that tether I recommended in the original review.