This “handcuff review” is from Mikeintightpants:
I recently had the opportunity to wear and assess the new TuffKuffs, with the aid of my buddy Chris G, who applied the cuffs and acted as photographer.
It has to be said that the cuffs are of extremely good quality, though expensive at around US$90 a pair. They are effective and reasonably “comfortable” when worn in front, though they can be extremely uncomfortable when worn behind the back. However, there is a design fault because although the cuffs can be rotated in one direction only, there is nothing to prevent them being turned more than the 90 degrees demonstrated in the manufacturer’s video, resulting in the hands and arms being held in a position that cannot have been intended by the manufacturer. If the over-rotating is done when the cuffs are applied in front, the result is somewhat akin to having the arms folded and is not uncomfortable — but over-rotate when they’re on behind the back, and they are extremely (and I mean extremely!) uncomfortable.
The first 6 pics show me wearing the TuffKuffs and the final 2, taken during a different assesment session, show the effect of over-rotating, which is clearly demonstrated by another buddy, Chris F, when I was cuffer and photographer.
Incidentally, in the promotional video produced by TuffKuff, they say that you put the cuffs on “the same as every [other] set of cuffs you’ve used.” But in my view, if these cuffs are applied in the conventional way (from the top with the bows locked under the wrists), they don’t work in the way that’s intended — and if this was done when they are behind the back the result can be very painful and no prisoner could be escorted in a cruiser whilst wearing them in that position.
If you can get hold of a pair of TuffKuffs, get somebody to help and try ’em yourself, you’ll see what I mean. It would be good to hear from anybody else who’s already had the chance to assess this latest addition to the restraints market.
Great to have the cuffs in my collection, but I can’t see them catching on for use as a street arrest cuff.
—Mikeintightpants
Thanks, Mike, for the information and pictures!
