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BDSM Education

Rope Types

Cotton

Cotton is a good choice of rope for those who want a soft feel without the expense of some of the more high end types. Cotton is a good choice for beginners, it’s cheap, easily available and light to carry. It’s easy to work work, feels soft to touch, and has a little stretch.
Cotton is a popular natural fiber used to make the yarn that composes rope. Twisted cotton rope has maintained its popularity due to its strength, flexibility, soft and non-abrasive texture, and easy uptake of colored dye.
It is not the most durable rope however over repeated use, and would not be suitable for suspension. It can be dyed to make a very decorative rope however, and it available in a array of colors and patterns.
Cotton is great for most forms of bondage, just make darn sure to keep those EMT shears handy and be prepared for a bit of swearing and frustration over the knots if it’s a loose braid.

Pros

  • Readily available
  • Inexpensive
  • Holds knots well
  • It’s washable
  • It can be dyed
  • Comes in an array of colors and patterns
  • Reasonably light and easy to carry

Cons

  • Knots compact down because of stretch
  • Difficult to unpick knots
  • In all cases requires safety scissors / EMT shears

If you are looking for something stylish that wears well and photographs well, this is an ideal solution, especially if you don’t want to use synthetic or nylon rope. Be careful about knots becoming tighter over time, if you are a beginner, try not to overdo it and take your time. Always have your safety shears handy.

Jute

Jute is a plant fiber and is used to make rope, twine, fabrics, rugs, Sarees, pillows, bags, baskets, stair runners, place mats, sacks, necklaces and also knots for floggers to name some common uses for this fiber. The making of these items is accomplished by spinning the fiber into a coarse thread. Despite its rough texture and that Jute serves as Hem’s counterpart, the two contrast in almost every way, since Jute fine threads may be used to create imitation silk. Jute is long, soft, shiny yet if spun accordingly can be a coarse, strong thread. Jute is quite strong, yet is the cheapest of natural fibers available today. With excellent insulating properties, Jute has low thermal conductivity and antistatic characteristics. However Jute over time can become brittle and yellow in sunlight, lose its strength when wet, thus vulnerable to infestation with microbes when used in humid climates.

Because high quality Jute rope does start out very firm, it has become a favorite rope among many sadist and masochists who desire to add a bit of edge to their play. And also because of its’ firmness decorative knots hold their shape. In general Jute rope is a photographers dream for its’ natural sheen plays to the camera. Jute fiber weighs next to nothing and thus adds to the rigger process possibilities. Movements are fluid and the weight also assist those who wish to do outdoor bondage since is easy to carry quantities traversing woods, mountains and other landscapes. Jute rope is very durable, yet may be loosely woven thus giving it a short lifespan. Jute however have enough grip to stay in place, yet nowhere near as well as Hemp. Further after washing Jute they must be stretch dried with tension to prevent shrinkage.

Strength of a rope is always a concern especially in suspension bondage, thus a breaking strength must be considered. This strength is generally considered to be at what average weight will a rope break in testing. An approximate and understand that to rely on this approximate is an invite to disaster, it is only an approximate, for no one can truly tell you a breaking strength of a particular rope without actually breaking it first! Plus these approximate do not take into account for wear, conditioning and many other factors that may cause a rope deterioration. Thus a conservative “safe’ working load is often used. Jute breaking strength may be approximately 300lbs. for one strand of 6mm, however its’ “safe” load at 6mm is considered 30 lbs.

This may give the impression that Jute may not be a good choice for suspension purposes however riggers typically double over their rope when doing suspension bondage. This doubles the safe working load and also riggers will run it back and forth several times between points as a rule to distribute the load between the body. Still caution needs to be used when hoisting someone into the air. As a comparison here are other rope “safe” breaking strengths for one strand of 6mm. Hemp would be 40lbs.; 100lbs. for MFP; and 120 lbs. for Nylon.

Another factor of course is diameter and this choice influences maneuverability, handling, safety and comfort. Thicker diameters of 7mm and 8mm often are chosen for superior strength. Yet most riggers will use 6mm and most Jute lovers who are into performance bondage even prefer 5mm for superior handling due to lightness. Also to consider is length if being used in suspension type bondage. Most generally accepted length is 50 feet for body harnesses in rigging.

While Jute and Hemp are similar in that being natural fibers with good grip, they are very different to tie and work with. When new, Jute can be scratchy, the rope may be very fuzzy. It also can have a very strong smell, tends to wear out quickly, thus being replaced within 6 months to a year. Yet many prefer Jute for a couple of reasons. First and foremost is speed. With half the weight of same size ropes, Jute ropes fly. Through the ties, around turns, Jute is like a Grand Prix racing car. And Jute shines!! In bright lights, photo flashes, Jute looks like polished gold. Jute has a look and feel of no other rope!!

Polypropylene

Polypropylene comes in a couple common types, one with a webbing and inner core while the other common one is a solid braid. The webbing style is not my favorite and while it is one of the two common types I personally would not recommend it. The solid braid style is what I use for many ties and the type I will refer to mainly here as I do like it and would recommend it to others. They are fairly inexpensive, easily available and pretty light weight. This type of rope is also a smooth style so not very abrasive on the skin as far as rope burns go making it a fast rope for ties. I have personally used this type of rope in the solid braid for suspension and some other ties and have been happy with the results. It holds up well, comes in a variety of sizes and can be quite comfortable against the skin.

Diameters, types and lengths

When choosing rope try to keep in mind that there is not a one size fits all type, size or length. Different ropes will work better for certain people and ties than others. For instance hemp may feel amazing to you in a leg tie but not for suspension. The feel of the rope against your skin, the flex or stretch of it during different uses, the color even can all be factors. Lengths will also vary depending on your skill level, the type of rope (smaller diameter rope may need more wraps for example) and the tie involved. A smoother rope may need more knots to keep it from shifting on the body versus a more abrasive rope, and the diameter of the rope can be a huge factor depending on the desired outcome of the tie. Smaller diameter rope may work better for more intricate ties or detailed knots yet will need more wraps to provide the same support. Larger diameter rope can be great for supporting weight comfortably but can be more difficult to tie as it is more bulky. Most people go with lengths between 12’ and 40’, adding in more pieces as needed. 
Diameters are usually 6mm to 8mm for most rope work although again this is a personal choice. For CBT many prefer 4mm for example.

Pros

  • The cost is relatively low
  • It’s easy to find
  • Soft and smooth
  • Clearly marked weight limits
  • Many diameters available
  • Easy to tie with

Cons

  • Bulky
  • Limited colors
  • The inner core style is tougher to tie

For a synthetic rope this one is one of my favorites for many ties. It is smooth, soft, comfortable and thick enough to offer great support for suspension yet easy to do leg ties, hip harnesses and chest harnesses with. It can be semi bulky so tying intricate knots like some shibari or CBT this may not be the appropriate choice. Plus aesthetically due to the limited colors it may not look the best. But overall if I head out hiking and plan for a bit of outdoor bondage I grab some of this rope every time. Definitely go with the solid braid though, it is much easier to work with than the webbing style with the inner core. Enjoy!

Hemp

Natural hemp has been in use for thousands of years as one of the first fibers to be spun into useable material by humans. Hemp (cannabis sativa) is a part of the cannabaceae plant family and is often confused with cannabis/marijuana. Although they are from the same family, they are different in chemical composition. Hemp fibers have been used by humans for many different purposes such as for clothing, food, building materials, and yes rope.

The benefits of using hemp rope in bondage

Besides being the classic or traditional material used for shibari and bondage, hemp rope is softer and more pliable than jute fiber rope, and therefore easier to work with. The more you use the hemp rope, the softer and more pliable it becomes. Hemp rope will also compress tighter than most other ropes without compromising the strength.

As mentioned, hemp rope is very strong and depending on the conditioning process, can be as rough or smooth as one chooses. In both it’s forms, hemp rope is notable for holding knots and rigging very well compared to other rope material. Hemp rope has the traditional natural or organic look and feel to it compared with synthetic ropes if that is what one is going for. It photographs very well when going for that natural look or style.

The drawbacks of using hemp rope in bondage

Hemp rope like most natural fiber ropes require maintenance and conditioning to keep the rope in good condition and to stay strong. Hemp rope will rot if it gets wet without proper conditioning. Even if the outside of the rope is dry, the inner cores will probably still be wet and therefore rot from the inside out, weakening the rope and possibly failing at an inopportune time.

Hemp rope is fairly expensive when compared to synthetic rope, it also sheds its fibers from use and can be a bit messy depending on the application. Hemp rope can easily cause rope burns because of its strength, fibers, and it is not as smooth as synthetic or cotton ropes.

Like most things, there are pros and cons to them and hemp rope is no different. Whatever rope you choose, ensure it is rated well above the weight or breaking strength you plan to use it for. You should choose the type of rope for your personal taste, skill level, feel, and that is aesthetically pleasing to you. To me personally, hemp rope has the look and feel of the more traditional style of rope bondage, and is overall a very strong rope. I am going back to it as my primary bondage rope as it helps me make that personal, traditional connection. I hope you all enjoy the freedom of bondage as it suits you, thank you for reading, and stay kinky!

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