Although we’ve never really paid attention to the famous cuddly BDSM book series, we decided to test the new Fifty Shades of Grey leather handcuffs. I had, however, more or less given up on the idea of testing an accessory linked to the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise. Their first range of products, mixing very soft bondage accessories and cheaply designed sex toys, hadn’t really appealed to me. But recently a new range of BDSM implements signed by the Fifty Shades brand has appeared. And, a pleasant surprise: it’s beautiful. I have to admit, from a brand that had, shortly before, released a bondage necktie (Seriously? Is the next step Christian Grey’s jockstrap to whip with? Or Anastasia’s left-sock gag?), I wasn’t expecting it…
Yet the BDSM accessories from the Red Room collection (at least at first glance, the rest will be determined during this test) are quite classy. In brown leather, they have a genuinely cool look, and don’t look like gadgets. Here is my opinion on the Red Room Fifty Shades of Grey leather handcuffs, which the Espace Libido shop let us discover.
Packaging of the Fifty Shades of Grey leather handcuffs
It’s a good start: the handcuffs are packed in a rather nice canvas bag.
In the bag, there are also two small cards (one with the name of the collection, the other with a quote from the book, as well as a leather rectangle bearing the “Fifty Shades of Grey” logo.
Appearance of the handcuffs
Fairly thick, the handcuffs from the Red Room collection are in brown leather, and close using a strap passing through a gold metal loop. At the end of each strap, you notice the “Fifty Shades of Grey” logo, engraved quite discreetly.
A ring, also gold, is also present on each handcuff. A small removable chain, fitted with a lobster clasp at each of its ends, can be used to attach the handcuffs to each other.
Materials
The handcuffs are made of genuine leather (the good point: it’s sturdy; the bad point: it’s not vegan…), while their loops and the chain are made of copper.
Using the Fifty Shades of Grey handcuffs
The handcuffs from the Fifty Shades “Red Room” collection come in two versions: for wrists, or for ankles. or for ankles. for ankles. The ones we tested are the wrist version, but by setting them to a slightly looser notch, we can slip them on over our ankles without difficulty (anyone of small to medium build should be able to do the same).
We took turns using the handcuffs to tie one another up, in various configurations (note that we stayed within the realm of quite “soft” bondage: we didn’t attempt risky positions such as suspensions: these handcuffs weren’t intended for that, as is shown by the marking “sold as a novelty only” (“sold only as a novelty”) printed on the label as a precaution). The handcuffs are sturdy, and we didn’t hesitate to rough them up, without spotting any sign of weakness.
However, we didn’t really trust the chain, which seemed a bit thin for attaching the handcuffs to each other. For looks, or as a symbolic gesture, it’s fine, but if you start pulling hard on it, it doesn’t look thick enough to last very long… So we used (most of the time, at least) ropes and double carabiners to reinforce the attachment. It’s also a shame that one (or two) double carabiner(s) isn’t (aren’t) included with it, as it’s a key accessory, which often goes hand in hand with handcuffs, and it would have been nice to be able to match the colours all the way to the ends of the carabiners.
Conclusion on the Fifty Shades of Grey leather handcuffs
The good points:
- They are pretty handcuffs, whose look stands out without overdoing it. Brown leather, some gold, but in small doses, the brand managed to resist the temptation of a touch of bling-bling that would have been too much.
- They are of good quality : the finishes are neat, and they are quite sturdy.
The downsides:
- The price : at nearly 120 euros for a pair of handcuffs, it’s expensive even for good quality. At that price, it is clear that you are also paying for the brand (you can find leather handcuffs – plainer, admittedly, but still – for under 30 euros).
In brief: to choose these handcuffs, you need to have liked the books and/or films: if you couldn’t give a damn about Fifty Shades of Grey, you would probably rather turn to handcuffs of equivalent quality at a lower cost. cost. But for anyone who wants to get an item from the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, this won’t be a groupie’s compulsive purchase. Indeed, they are beautiful handcuffs, sturdy and practical. Enough to improvise well beyond the adventures of the two lovebirds played on screen by Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan.
Review score
Pros
- Pretty handcuffs
- Good quality
Cons
- High price
