There are many kinds of ropes differing in material and diameters which can be used for bondage. You can buy them nearly everywhere from drugstores to outdoor-shops.If not used, store your ropes in a cool and dry place and after cleaning, dry them properly before putting them together again. Taking care of your ropes is not only a question of aesthetics and practical thoughts, it also prevents the fibers from damage and the rope might be torn during the next use (what might be of fatal result for your partner)
Cotton:
Cotton-ropes tend to unravel at their ends. It's easy to clean them by simply putting them into the washing machine. Use some conditioner to make them a bit softer.Rating: soft ropes, knots can be hard to unfasten because of the materials softness but smooth to the passive's skin
Nylon:
Knots are easy to be unfastened. The ropes ends can be melt and therefore are more stable. Not as soft as cotton ropes and a bit stiffer.
Kevlar (carbon fibers):
Soft ropes. Easy to loosen knots, ends can be melt, quite expensive
Hemp:
Hemp-ropes are cheap to buy, but it's a rough and stiff material. The passive's skin is very likely to be hurt if you do not handle these ropes carefully.
Other Material used for Bondage
Handcuffs:
Handcuffs are quite useful for a quick bondage. But due to the material there are a few problems. The wrists can be cut easily or nerves can be hurt. They are also not suitable for people with allergies, esp. Nickel or Chrome.Handcuffs are not to be used if you want to hang the passive from a hook.Keep your Hands off cheap cuffs as those might be a risk for the lack of safety.Rating: Nice to look at, but not suitable to play with.
Leather and steel cuffs:Cuffs made of leather or steel can be found in many variations, with or without padding. They are easy to lock and open and and they spread the pressure equally since they are quite broad.If you buy them, make sure that the leather is well crafted and not too stiff, leather can cut like a knife. It would be better to spend a bit more money when buying the cuffs than to regret it later.There are special ones for suspension bondage - don't use standard cuffs for that! Rating: Good-looking and suitable to play with, price depends on material and workmanship
Straps and buckles can be bought in most any home improvement store or Outdoor Shop in different sizes. One of their advantages is the universal and easy usability combined with the possibility of quick removal. Rating: High safety, simple usage, not everyone's taste regarding optics
Chains:
Bondages made of chains may look really great, but because of the material's stiffness and hardness there may be some problems. Also for persons with allergies, take care that the chains are well-finished so that the passive does not get cut. Be careful not to fix the chains too tight as it might hurt the passive.Rating: Optically nice but quite stiff.
Transparent Foil
Also known as mummification. Keep in mind that the heat will stay beneath the foil. As a result, the passive may dehydrate if you use the foil for a long period of time. Give the passive plenty of liquids to drink to prevent dehydration, and remember to make sure that your partner does not develop problems with breathing.Rating: Is fun but requires a lot of care.
Do not use the following for bondage
Cable Ties
Cable ties can easily cut your skin because they are quite narrow. Cable ties can easily cut your skin because they are quite narrow. Rating: bad
Duct-tape:
Tape can easily hurt the skin when removed and you won't be able to remove it fast enough in any case of emergency. It can also cause allergic reactions.
Silken scarfs:
Knots in scarves can be very difficult to loosen. Use them to blindfold your partner but not for any kind of bondage. No matter if Sharon Stone did it in "Basic Instinct" or not!
Clothesline
Too stiff, too thin, cuts the skin easily.Rating: very bad.
Knots
There are lots of different knots. It would be quite a big bunch of work to introduce them all and would go far beyond what we intend to demonstrate. A selection of simple, but useful knots can be found below.
The Reef Knot is commonly used to unite two equal sized rope ends. It is easy tied and will not jam, so it is always easy to untie.
Eight-Knot ([Flemish] Eight) A useful "Stop" knot, the knot itself looks like its name. It's used to keep a rope from sliding through an eyelet.
Used for fixing Ropes if there is not too much weight at the fixed end of the rope. Often secured by a second Half Hitch, called "2 Half Hitches".
The Lark's Head knot is used to loosely attach a rope to a spar or ring. The knot is easy to tie and does not jam. It is suitable to fix a rope to a spar if the rope's ends are strained equally.
Simple Noose: An easy to tie sling. Attention: this sling pulls itself tight - so don't ever use is around any parts of your body.
Bowline: A commonly used knot to tie a loop in the end of a rope. It has the advantage of not jamming, if you compare it to some other loop forming knots.
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