Rope & Bondage Tape

What is bondage rope and bondage tape?

Bondage rope is rope chosen for tying a person rather than a boat: softer, more flexible and sold in lengths that suit wrists, ankles and simple body ties. Bondage tape is a stretchy ribbon that clings to itself but not to skin or hair, so you can wrap a wrist, a pair of ankles or a whole torso without a single knot and unwind it in seconds. Together they are the entry point into restraints: adjustable, forgiving and, with practice, more intimate than any buckle.

Types of bondage rope and tape

Cotton and silky rope

Soft cotton from In A Bag and Doc Johnson's Japanese-style line, and silky rope from WhipSmart, Fetish Fantasy Series, Sex and Mischief and Fifty Shades of Grey, is the beginner's choice. It is gentle on skin, holds a simple knot and washes easily.

Hemp and jute rope

Merci's Bind and Tie hemp and Master Series' Tied Up jute are natural-fibre ropes with the texture, grip and look that traditional Japanese-style tying is known for. They hold tension well and feel rougher against skin.

Nylon rope

Ouch!, Sinful and Lux Fetish offer nylon in bright colours: smooth, strong and inexpensive, though slicker than cotton, so knots need more care.

Rope kits and multi-strand sets

Twin packs, the Sex and Mischief Silky Rope Kit and the Ouch! multi-string sets give you several lengths at once, which most multi-limb ties need. WhipSmart bundles rope with a mask, drip candles or nipple clips for a ready-made scene.

Satin ties and sashes

Ouch!'s satin bondage tie and silky ribbon, Sex and Mischief's silky sash restraints and the Orange Is the New Black tie-ups are wide, soft bands that knot loosely around wrists or double as a blindfold.

Bondage tape

Scandal, Creative Conceptions, Boundless, Temptasia and Hott Products make tape that wraps and sticks to itself. It is the fastest, most forgiving option and needs no knot-tying at all.

How to choose bondage rope or tape

Match the material to your experience and to how much time you want to spend learning.

• Material: cotton, silky rope and satin for comfort; hemp or jute for grip and traditional looks; nylon for colour; tape for speed and zero knots.
• Length: a shorter length suits wrists or ankles; multi-packs are needed for ties involving more than one limb.
• Thickness: a thicker rope spreads pressure and is kinder for longer ties; very thin cord bites.
• Who ties: if the person tying is also new, tape or a satin sash removes most of the technique; handcuffs and cuffs are the no-knot alternative.

How to use and care for bondage rope and tape

Rope bondage is safe when the person tying stays attentive and is always able to release quickly.

• Keep safety scissors within reach of the person tying, every time, and agree a check-in word before the first wrap.
• Never tie around the neck, and keep wraps off the front of the elbows, wrists and knees where nerves run close to the surface.
• Leave room for a finger or two under every wrap, check hands and feet for cold or tingling, and release at once if anything hurts or goes numb.
• Do not leave a tied partner alone, and keep sessions short at first.
• Hand-wash cotton and nylon rope and air dry; brush natural rope rather than soaking it; wipe tape clean and re-roll it.

Rope and tape for beginners, couples and experienced riggers

If you are starting out, a roll of tape or a soft silky rope, perhaps alongside a beginner bondage kit, is the gentlest route. Couples who already use cuffs tend to add rope for the ritual of tying and untying; see our bondage kits and spreader bars for what pairs with it. Experienced riggers will want the hemp and jute, with a lubricant close by for whatever comes after the knots.