Written for GFH by Luna Matatas

If you’re thinking about getting started with rope bondage, you might have already started browsing for your rope bondage gear! It can be confusing and intimidating to shop for rope bondage equipment as a beginner. Equipment can vary from inexpensive to very expensive. But it doesn't need to be so confusing and intimidating with a little bit of help.

What type of rope bondage are you into?

Rope bondage can range from decorative to intentionally restricting movement and even to suspending bodies using rope. The function of rope bondage is just as important as the intention of rope bondage. 

Get curious about what turns you on about rope by asking yourself and your partner:

• What's sexy about rope bondage? What turns you on about it?
• Do you enjoy being tied up, doing the tying, or both?
• How do you want to feel while you’re being tied up/doing the tying?
• Is rope bondage the main activity in your scene or is it an accessory to another kinky or sexy activity? For example, are you tying up someone’s hands because they are your “captive” in a roleplay or are you tying up someone’s hands as a display of “ erotic possession” in a consensual power exchange?
• Do you want to do bondage with erotic power exchange of dominance and submission or do you want to do bondage as givers and receivers with no power exchange?
• Is there a texture or type of rope that turns you on? For example, a fantasy of being kidnapped and tied up in the woods might feel hot with natural fibre rope like jute. 
• Do you want to do shibari?
• Do you want to do suspensions?
• Are you interested in bedroom bondage or is rope the main function of the scene?
• Is rope hot or is the bondage hot, or both? If rope is a tool for bondage, consider your other options that don’t require you to learn knots. 
• Do you want the bondage to be very tight or more flexible? If you’re planning on tying your partner up and moving them around to have sex, you need rope that is more flexible. If you’re into intricate designs with rope bondage, you’ll need rope that is less flexible and holds patterns better. 

Shopping for Rope Bondage Safety

Like any kinky activity, if you engage in rope bondage you must learn about potential risks for injury. Here are some suggestions for learning about rope bondage safety:

• Understand the differences between natural and synthetic fibre types of rope and decide which you’d like to start with: Cotton rope is awesome for beginners, since it’s flexible and soft, usually inexpensive, and can be put in the washing machine. 
• Learn basic rope safety that includes how to tie without cinching the skin: One of the biggest risks in rope bondage play is risk of cutting off circulation, so research how to minimize this risk with techniques. 
• Learn rope bondage anatomy: Get familiar with what areas of the body are unsafe to tie and how to bind to avoid rope burns. 
• Buy safety scissors: Blunt-end or surgical safety scissors are important for any rope scene, so keep them nearby in case you need to quickly cut off the rope. 
• Learn basic techniques: Pick up a rope bondage book or take a class to learn how to set up a rope scene, practice communication, give and receive aftercare, and pick up some ideas for erotic creativity with rope. 

Shopping for Rope Bondage Accessories

Rope isn’t the only tool you’ll need for a sexy rope bondage scene. What are you going to do when someone is tied up? How are you continuing to tease, deepen sensations, explore pleasure, and roleplay? Here are some other BDSM tools that might enhance your rope bondage experience:

• Blindfolds
• Feather ticklers
• Erotic Wax Candles for temperature play
• Vibrators
• Nipple clamps
• Buy a Rope Bondage Kit, and take the guesswork out of the experience. Purchase a rope bondage kit put together by a Sex Educator. 

It’s easy to get frustrated as a beginner when focusing on the technical aspects of rope bondage, but don't forget to relax, breathe, and enjoy yourself. Consider keeping bondage tape nearby so you can easily switch to a form of bondage that doesn’t require knots. Bondage tape can also be used as blindfolds and mouth gags. It takes practice to build confidence, and practicing your techniques requires muscle memory.  Focus your explorations on safely having fun, and don’t worry too much if you don’t feel super sophisticated the first few times you’re giving or receiving rope bondage.