Handcuffs are heavy. Cops use them for cost effectiveness, and ease. If you are restraining multiple people a day, day in and day out, you are operating under a different paradigm than someone who may one day need to restrain someone. Some states have banned the use of disposable restraints, or restricted their use, due to the increased risk of injury associated with them. Regular handcuffs are much more safe, and when properly applied, have nearly no risk of injury to the person wearing them. They can be hard to properly apply to someone who is resisting, but are easier than disposables to apply in the same situation. I was handcuffed over 100 times, pulled to the ground and drug across the floor by one wrist in a handcuff, put into joint locks while prone, etc, while in the academy, with no injury. It's not comfortable, but someone who is not resisting should have no fear of injury from handcuffs.
The big disposable zip tie type restraints that are like a hug double ended zip tie where the ends fold back into the middle, are much easier to use than 2 big zip ties, which also are more likely to cut the skin. They are what I would recommend for your use. Just make sure you also have a safe and effective way of removing them, and remember they only go one way, and if they get to tight, there is no loosening them except cutting them off and trying again with a new pair. When we use them, we have to document why disposables were used instead of handcuffs, and switch them for handcuffs as soon as possible.
For a complete shtf, where there is no law, and the likelihood of it returning ( the .00000000001% chance scenarios) do whatever. For the more likely scenarios, where rule of law will return, and in situations where it hasn't left, like day to day life, you really need to check the laws of your state. Some states allow a person to detain someone who committed a crime against them. Some allow it if the crime was a felony, but not for a misdemeanor, and others not at all. In states where it is legal it has to be a crime in progress, and the probable cause burden is on you.
The best advice I can give is if you are not in immediate danger, it is best to take pictures of the subject and allow them to leave, and keep sight of them until LE arrives. If you are in danger, do what you have to do to save yourself, but no more. It would suck to handcuff someone to a tree because they were trespassing and when the cops get there he gets a ticket for trespassing, and you go to jail for kidnapping or false imprisonment. Or the guy turns around and sues you and wins. That scenario is possible in some states. In others the cops will show up, and cart the guy off to jail.
