Ankle restraints large - ankle cuffs by Spartacus - review by Kkay

Large is the operative word on these cuffs. I'm plus-sized with fairly thick ankles and wrists, and I had to cinch these down to the fourth notch out of five for a comfortable fit. I could see these working easily for anyone on the plus-sized range or for larger men who find that most restraints on the market don't come in the sizes that they need.

After using them, I'd recommend them to most anyone looking for a cuff suitable for long-term wear. The leather is smooth and comfortable against the skin, and when sized properly, they hold in place without chaffing. I've worn them for up to eight hours with no discomfort, and the lack of extra rings means no give-away jingle if you decide to wear them outside of the house.

The thick, solid D-ring and sturdy construction make for a no-nonsense, very usable cuff.

When I first held these cuffs, I was surprised by how sturdy they felt. When I wore them, this impression grew all the stronger. They're not heavy, but they're a very real, steady presence against your ankles. Even when wearing these for longer stretches, I never really forgot that they were there.

The main belt of the cuffs is made of two pieces of finished, butter-soft leather that feels wonderful against the skin. They're firmly stitched together with black thread that perfectly matches the leather, and there are no flaws in the stitching. The actual buckle is held on a second, thinner belt that is riveted to the cuff in ten places: eight around the D-ring, two to the left of the D-ring, and four at the end of the cuff near the buckle. The rivets only pierce through the first layer of leather; the side of the cuff that goes against the skin is smooth.

Sizing might be an issue. The spacing between the five notches is normal for a belt, but I found that distance to be a lot more in practice on an ankle cuff. The difference between too tight and so loose that it twists and turns around your ankle can be only one notch. It's something that you can modify on your own and not something that would keep me from repeating the purchase, but it can be frustrating to find the right fit for you.

On the smaller settings, the leather of the cuff overlaps. On the largest, the edges of it barely touch. Because of the overlap being built into the cuff, I think you could likely size this cuff smaller by adding extra notches into the belt and not have any real issues with fit.

The simple buckle-and-strap closure for these restraints make them easy to get into place and easy to strip off when needed. My partner can undo them one-handed in the dark in just a few seconds, and the lack of fuss is appealing for both of us.

The d-rings are well-situated and sturdy. I didn't feel any give in use, and I think you'd be stressed to manage to break these. The thickness of them can also be a negative, though. Smaller clips would be hard to set around them, and there's really only enough space for one slide of rope through the ring if you prefer to secure cuffs that way.

When we put them in use, I was impressed by how well the cuffs spread out weight and tension when I pulled on them. It was spread evenly across my entire ankle, and I never felt like the cuffs were pinching or coming close to giving out.

For me, I like to tug a little when tied up. It's not that I'm a fighter- I just like to feel the binding and be reminded that it's there. I could comfortably do that with these.

The best way I can put it is that these cuffs are no-fuss enough to feel like an organic extension of our bedroom, instead of something that we have to break out of the moment to put into action.

If you wear them long enough or use them hard enough, sweat (and potentially other body fluids) will end up on these cuffs. Specialty leather cleaners are available, and leather wipes are, as well. With that said, I haven't had a problem with a mess with these in my use of them.

For storing, I personally keep them flat. They don't cinch down enough to really be convenient to store that way.

Packaging is where these cuffs lacked. I didn't really mind it, but I would've liked to have something more than the flimsy plastic equivalent of an umbrella condom. No instructions, no information, nothing but the cuffs.

I think what I like most about these cuffs at the end of the day is their aesthetic. There are a lot of bondage cuffs on the market, but I kept coming back to these for my first pair because they're so simple. No bells or whistles, nothing fancy. They're almost utilitarian.