Pink candy jaguar cuffs by ASLAN Leather - review by ellejay

Are you looking to spruce up your BDSM collection with some color, or merely looking to start said collection? If so, then you'd be wise to have a look at Aslan Leather's Pink Candy Jaguar cuffs. These cuffs will adapt to many different types of use for many different types of users. For beginners, they can serve as a high quality set of leather cuffs in non-traditional colors. For more advanced users, they can be used for heavier restraint that is virtually impossible to escape. Since the cuffs are not connected, they can either be attached to another bondage system (e.g. restraint straps, spreader bars) or attached to one another using anything from rope to luggage locks to anything that will fit between the cuffs' solid D-rings. These can even be used to restrain smaller ankles. Overall, these cuffs are wonderful in that they appeal to a wide range of experience levels in a comfortable and stylish way.

Material, Design, & Craftsmanship

What can I say about this company that hasn't already been said? Aslan consistently churns out amazing products with quality and comfort in mind. Both the white strap and the pink cuff are made of high quality leather. While I wouldn't have known this without some research, the white layer that lies against the skin is actually made of vegan "leather." While it is not fluffy or outrageously cushioned, the vegan leather lining is soft against the skin and does not cause chafing with extended wear. The pink leather and white vegan leather are impeccably stitched together with white thread that looks lovely against the pink cuff. The white leather strap is connected to the pink cuff with a series of rivets.

As far as the metal hardware goes, the D-ring, rivets, and buckle are all made out of nickel-plated steel. While most will not have a problem with this, those with nickel sensitivity should take this into account before purchasing. The buckle itself is the locking kind, meaning that more advanced players can use a luggage lock to ensure a secure and inescapable restraint. Those who do not wish to lock the cuffs can choose to treat it as a normal buckle. The D-ring is thick and sturdy, so it will hold up to heavier bondage, but not suspension. You have just about an inch through which to link rope, locks, clips, or any other such thing. The rivets are securely attached and hidden - at least on the side facing the skin - and shouldn't be disturbed by rough play.

Fit

These cuffs measure in at 2" wide and 12" long. Excluding the D-ring area, they are approximately 1/4" thick. The area where the D-ring is housed is about 1/2" thick, so these do look somewhat bulky when fastened. There are six adjustment notches with 1/4" gap between each notch.


Shows bulkiness when cuff is on wrist

According to Aslan, the cuffs will accommodate wrists ranging from 6" to 9" in circumference. I found that they held my 5.5" wrists snugly and securely at the second to last notch, so don't let the lower measurement scare you away if you have a small frame! That said, the second to last notch feels a bit too snug at first, but the leather is quick to warm up and soften to a comfortable fit. The smallest setting is difficult to reach, but will accommodate a 4.5" wrist. It's not really possible to make a smaller notch.


Cuff on its smallest setting

For users on the larger end of the recommended measurements, the cuffs do fit up to the 9" circumference. If you need them slightly larger, there is just enough space for another notch, but there will be a gap in the cuffs at the closure. If your ankles fit in the 4.5" to 9" range, you can also grab a pair of these for ankle restraints. The fit and fastening of these are made tricky by the leather's stiffness, as I've detailed in the performance section.


Cuff on its largest setting. Note the gap between the pink ends.

When I receive new restraint toys, something goes a little crazy in my head and I immediately start pulling and pinching and struggling in an effort to get them on my body. Sometimes I'm surprised by how easily I can cuff myself, and other times it takes some considerable time and frustration. For these cuffs, I'd say it started off easy but ended up on the other side of the spectrum. While it was simple enough to fold the cuffs over and put the strap through the buckle, I had an incredibly difficult time pulling the strap to the hole I needed. Granted, this is to be expected when you're a crazy woman trying to cuff herself. When my other half gave it a shot, he had a considerably easier time with it. That said, it still took a few tries to get the buckle to reach the desired notch. While I can't make a definite statement, I honestly think this will become a non-issue once we break the cuffs in with more use.

One thing I do want to note is that in my crazed cuffing, I bit down on the white strap to try to tug it in place. Though this has never left a mark on my other (black and more supple) leather products, it did leave a couple shallow indents in the strap. This shouldn't be an issue for most people, but the white leather does seem more sensitive than most.

Once the cuffs are on, they perform beautifully. They keep your wrists secure while also limiting the potentially harmful force that pulling, thrashing, and struggling can have on your wrists. They held up to moderate to heavy struggling of my own as well as the grip and pull of my male partner. We've used these multiple times and neither the leather nor the hardware is showing any wear. Additionally, these cuffs didn't chafe or overheat my wrists.

Given that the white leather is sensitive to both nicks and stains, I recommend that you keep the cuffs in a plastic bag to protect them from the elements. If you need to clean them, you should use a damp cloth and a little soap or leather cleaner. Be sure to immediately dry the cuffs and store them in a cool, dry, and dark place. Aslan recommends that you apply clear nail polish to the metal parts to prevent tarnishing. If you find that your cuffs are getting dry, you can run some leather conditioner over them.

The cuffs came in an unsealed plastic bag which was just big enough to fit their length. While it's not ideal for storage, I do keep the cuffs inside the bag to protect the white leather. While the bag was normal enough, I did find it odd that the cuffs came connected to one another. They were fastened at both ends with the white undersides touching. I've never bought cuffs from Aslan before, so though it seemed strange to me, this may just be how they do their cuffs. Regardless, their interconnectedness did not seem to harm them in any way.


Shows how cuffs came connected, though this was taken after I tested them. The curve has been accentuated by repeated wear.

If it isn't already obvious, I'm in love with these cuffs. I adore the colors as well as the expected Aslan quality. Not only that, but they also come in a matching set including two harnesses and a collar. As of the date of this review, EdenFantasys currently has a promotion going if you wish to purchase all three types of toys. If pink and white isn't your cup of tea, you also have a beautiful baby blue and white option. If you enjoy the color options, then I really don't see how you could go wrong with these cuffs as well as the rest of the collection.

If I were rating the cuffs based on what I expect from Aslan, I would probably want to give them 4.5 stars due to the stiffness. However, given that the leather will soften with use and last for as long as I take care of it, I really can't fault the product or the company. As far as leather cuffs go, these are absolutely a 5 star product that will only get better with time.