Review: The A273 in Stainless Steel

To start with what I can call an A273 (a name that seems common for this gadget, even if my specific unit wasn’t labeled as such on Amazon), I have bought one. As promised, here is my first look.

The Device

I went with the 45mm ring size. Since these rings are circular and need to be larger for CB cages, this made sense. Previously, I used a smaller ring with ergonomic styles on my Nub knockoff (which was 50mm). For this new one, I chose 45mm because the cage doesn’t pass entirely through the ring, so I subtracted the space needed from the previous size. Based on past CB experience, I didn’t expect it to fit, but it actually does.

The Shipping Shipping was a bit quicker than normal, bringing the total cost to about $40. It arrived just a few days after ordering, which is much better than waiting for items shipped directly from China via sites like DHGate (where I previously got my CB6KS). I marked it as a ‘gift’ on Amazon because I think they pack things more discreetly that way. The item came in a small box that jingled loosely when shaken, with the product name printed on it. That box was inside one of those familiar 9x12 white and blue padded envelopes used by Amazon shoppers. The return label showed the company name (FeiGu), but since they sell just about everything online, there wasn’t much to give away that way. It wasn’t perfectly hidden—it could have been more discreet—but it certainly hadn’t been ripped open, so handlers wouldn’t guess what was inside easily. Phew!

The Review I’ve worn this off and on for roughly 3-4 hours total, with the longest stretch being 2.5 hours yesterday. Here is what I like:

What I Like… The device feels heavy in your hands, likely because steel isn’t something you are used to holding around often. However, it doesn’t feel weighty once worn. Putting it on was fairly straightforward; I just had to tug my scrotum a bit to loosen things up so both testicles could slide through. A hinged ring might improve this process slightly, but it is easy enough as is. The cage snaps into the ring with two holes on each side of the coupler for alignment, and there is plenty of room in the coupler itself to forgive minor placement errors. Once locked, it stays put well.

I was initially worried that the front bars would cause pain during erections if my urethra got caught against them, especially since my penis naturally bends slightly to one side. This actually happened on the first wear, but I didn’t realize it until I pulled down my pants for the toilet and thought, “Hey, this has been pressing there all along without hurting at all.”

The cage is wide enough not to squeeze my penis from the sides, which makes urinating much easier compared to my Nub knockoff. The extra length (about an inch) probably helps too. Even with more room inside, it looks more discreet than my previous one. While there is space for the penis to drift out of alignment, the wide openings in the bars make it simple to guide it back into place.

What I Dislike… I have four dislikes and one main problem regarding this cage. Starting with the issue: the included lock was poor quality and barely functioned. Fortunately, I had a spare from my Nub knockoff, so I won’t penalize the device for that. Now for the dislikes…

First is the material: it is metal. This seems obvious given what I bought, but non-metal might offer better security in certain situations (like passing through a metal detector). Second, the coupler placement could be improved. As shown in the pictures, it protrudes upward and outward. If it sat flatter, aligned with the cage body, it would be less visible under clothes. Additionally, the coupler is too small to fully enclose the lock top; you can see this in the images. This causes the top of the lock to stick out at a sharp angle. Unless your pants’ thicker zipper area aligns perfectly with that point, the lock will poke through the looser fabric near the zipper line, creating a very noticeable bump. It isn’t difficult to keep it aligned, but over time it could shift if you aren’t checking constantly, leaving you walking around with a pointed crotch. Third, there is no guard at the tip of the penis right where it enters the urethra opening. When getting slightly erect, the urethra pushes out (similar to a prolapse) and rubs against underwear in this sensitive area. It creates significant discomfort. My Nub knockoff has a ridge inside its tip hole that protects against clothing contact even when protrusion occurs; I barely noticed it with that device. With this cage, however, the rubbing is almost immediate and constant, which feels unpleasant. Fourth and finally, the connections between the cage and ring (the coupler and posts) are quite loose, allowing considerable play. Under certain conditions—which happen often enough—you can hear metal jingling against metal from your crotch. This looseness occurs where the cage posts meet the ring holes and at the locking coupler itself. Even when fully locked, there is back-and-forth and up-down movement at the coupler. I think this dislike might be one of the easiest to fix—perhaps by wrapping electrical tape around the cage posts for a tighter fit in the ring holes, plus something similar inside the coupler—but it would have been better if they were fitted correctly from the start.

Final Thoughts All in all, this is an acceptable cage. However, due to the tip discomfort, I likely won’t use it long-term and will probably resume searching for my perfect device. Thanks for reading! DM

I'm sorry to hear about the negative points with your A273. With many products from China, I believe quality control and standardization can be a bit hit or miss.

Your review resonates with me. I own the same cage from DHGate and it seems to match in quality. I find it comfortable for several days of wear, removing only for showers. Regarding the part of the lock that sticks up: be careful because its sharpness can damage clothing. My solution is applying a small piece of electrical tape—about half the size of a stamp—over the lock area. This shields any fabric touching it. Electrical tape adds nice thickness, is inexpensive, and comes in various colors. Hope you enjoy your cage.

> Homebody wrote: ↑Sat Apr 03, 2021 7:03 am > I agree with your review. I have the same cage from DHGate and it sounds like the same quality. I do find it comfortable to wear for several days. I take it off for showers. Could you tell me if you experience similar tip issues regarding your urethra? If so, how did you resolve them or prevent it? > As far as the part of the lock that sticks up from the cage: watch out because it is sharp enough to damage clothes. What I do is take a small piece of electrical tape, like half the size of a stamp, and place it over the lock. It protects any material that come into contact with it. Electrical tape has a nice thickness to it and is cheap and comes in many colors. Thank you for this advice. I hadn't considered the potential clothing damage, but now that you mention it, it makes sense. If I manage to solve the urethra issue and start wearing it more frequently, I will definitely protect it.

> locked4her55 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:43 pm > Sorry to hear you have these negative issues with your A273. Like with many things coming out of China I believe it's hit or miss with regards to any kind of standardization and quality control. No need for apologies; not your fault!:P I just wish I could manage the urethra tip issue, because then I might still consider wearing this while searching for a better option—even if I have to make other adjustments to tighten up the coupling.

I haven't encountered any irritation at the tip. Sorry, I'm not sure what to suggest in that case.

Carefully squeeze the gap together. Now my top gap is down to 4mm and it feels more comfortable.