Crave wrist restraints - cuffs by Spartacus - review by FieryRed

The Crave Wrist Restraints are part of the Crave collection from Spartacus. They are designed for wrists, but would also fit very small ankles (not mine, though). This set is simple and comfortable enough for those just beginning their bondage experimentation to enjoy, but they also have the quality, durability, and serious-bondage-accessory appearance that more experienced people crave.

Design & Craftsmanship
I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the materials, design, and construction, given the reasonable price at which this set is offered. The design is, essentially, a long rectangle of leather with four slits cut in it near one end. A leather strap is then woven through these slits, with a D-ring in the center. This creates two "beltloops" for the strap, and each loop is then double-riveted onto the strap. One end of the strap is then fitted with a roller buckle and rectangular keeper (did you know that the metal loop that holds the strap-end down is called a "keeper"? I didn't, until researching it for this review!), folded under, and double-riveted as well.



Finally, a low-pile faux fur lining is sewn (and glued) onto the opposite side of the long rectangle, covering any roughness from the backside of the rivets and leather with soft smoothness.



A nice detail is the way each of the four corners of the rectangular cuffs is beveled. Also, the end of the strap is cut into a rounded point, and the buckle, keeper, and D-ring have a nice matte-black finish, giving them the look of wrought iron. My only real quibble is that the rivets don't have this same finish--they're a dark metal, but actually have a semi-shiny, almost antiqued or distressed look. One of the buckle rollers was also stuck to the buckle, apparently due to the coating process, but it came loose when I applied pressure, and seems to be fine now.

Materials
The majority of this set is made of a 1/8"-thick leather, dyed a lovely shade of dusty plum. The color is slightly more on the reddish side than the product photos show--more toward plum than violet. Still, it's a nice change from the many bright purples found in the BDSM accessory market, and isn't so decidedly feminine that a masculine person couldn't wear it without feeling girly.

The black faux-fur lining is very soft and somewhat silky, but not very fluffy at all. It's just enough to smooth out and lightly pad the parts of the cuff that touch the wearer's skin, and it can barely be seen when these are worn. There's no information on the content of this faux fur, but my educated guess would be polyester.



Sizing & Fit
The main body of each cuff, the long rectangle, measures 9" in length and 2" in width. The buckling strap is 11.5" long, 1" wide, and contains eight fastening holes. These holes begin 2" from the strap's end, and are about 0.5" apart. Buckling a cuff on its last setting will line it up near-perfectly, so that the ends of the wide portion of the cuff are almost touching, and this gives you close to 8.5" of inner circumference. My wrists are slightly over 6" around, and the third hole from the end fits me comfortably, while the fourth hole gives me a snug fit. The tightest setting can be used to roll and wrap your cuffs up tightly for storage or travel.

These cuffs are strong and comfortable, and although they don't lock, they would be quite difficult to escape from, unless you can reach the snap-hook which will presumably be attached to the D-ring (rope or cording could be used to tie the D-ring to something, as well). They should work for most wrist sizes, and can be used on ankles smaller than 8.5", too. My ankles are 9" around, so I'd have to punch another hole in the leather strap for them to fit--and even then, there'd be a gap between the ends of the cuff-portion.



Theoretically, because these cuffs can be curled up so small, one could be used as a cock-ring. It'd be a very bulky one, though. In an emergency, you could use an open cuff as a slapper.

You'll want to care for these cuffs the same way you'd care for any natural leather item. Keep them dry; store them either flat or curled up (not folded) in a cool, dark place; spot-clean with a damp cloth and/or leather cleaner; and consider getting a leather-protecting product to keep them supple.

This cuff set comes in a nicer clamshell-type box--clear plastic, hinged on the side, embossed with Spartacus' logo, and containing an attractively-designed paper insert.





If desired, you could use the package for storage after removing the insert; it isn't overly bulky, and is easily opened and closed. I recommend something opaque for the long term, though, to protect your cuffs from sunlight.

I'm very pleased with these cuffs. Their color coordinates well with my Lelo Tantra Feather Teaser, as a well as a leather flogger I own. And of course, it's a perfect match for the other pieces in the Crave line, particularly the blindfold, although I'm sad to see that EdenFantasys does not currently carry the ankle restraints or collar.

During play, we started with the cuffs snugly fitted to my wrists on the fourth setting. After a few minutes, though, the pressure where the D-ring sits was making my wrists ache, so we moved to the third setting, which was still secure enough to keep my wrists trapped, but much more comfortable. I like to be bound and restrained, teased and tormented, and at my partner's mercy...but not in literal, non-sexy pain from too much pressure. Aside from that issue, though, these are fantastic. They looked sexy and somewhat hardcore on me, while retaining comfort and aesthetic appeal. They're less noisy than some forms of restraint, as well, in case you have concerns about what your neighbors will hear. I'd say the only reason not to choose this set is if you aren't a fan of the color.