Rope & Tape

Rope and bondage tape are the two ways of tying someone up without buckles: rope for the craft of it, the knots, the patterns and the slow process, and tape for speed and for people who want the result without the learning. Both hold a body still, which is the point, and both need a little knowledge to be safe. This guide covers what to buy, the few things that matter about material, and the rules that keep rope play from going wrong.

Rope

Bondage rope is sold in lengths of 5 to 10 metres, 6 to 8 millimetres thick, in cotton, jute, hemp or a synthetic. Cotton is soft, cheap and forgiving, the rope to learn with. Jute and hemp are the traditional Japanese ropes: firmer, with more grip so knots hold, and the ones to move to. Synthetics are smooth and slippery, easy to wash, harder to keep tied. A first kit is two or three lengths of 8 metres in cotton.

Tape

Bondage tape sticks only to itself, not to skin or hair, so it goes on fast, comes off without pulling, and can be reused a few times. It is the answer for people who want wrists tied in ten seconds, and it works as a blindfold, a gag and a harness in a pinch. It is also a good way to try restraint before spending on rope or cuffs.

Safety

Never tie around the neck. Keep rope off the front of the wrist where the nerves run close to the skin, off the inside of the elbow and the back of the knee, and never so tight that a finger cannot slide under. Check hands and feet for cold, colour change or tingling every few minutes and untie at the first sign. Keep safety shears, the blunt tipped kind, within reach, and never leave a tied person alone or tie anyone to a fixed point they cannot get out of.

Learning

Start with single column ties, one wrist or ankle, then two columns, then a simple chest harness; the first knots are learned in an evening from a book or a video. Slow down: rope play is as much about the tying as the being tied.

Care

Wash cotton rope in a bag in the machine and dry it hung; jute and hemp are not washed but aired, and conditioned with a little oil now and then. Tape is wiped with a damp cloth and rolled back onto its core.

Frequently asked questions