First, make yourself well-acquainted with basics. At the Beginning of All Shibari Journeys There is a Basic Kit With which to Start Your Practice:a 15 feet jute rope, curled in a tight bundle measuring 3 inches in diameter, two short ropes, made of a 6 millimeter, 15 foot hemprope and two long ones of the same diameter reaching 30 feet. This useful device can be used with almost any restraint, from handcuffs to full-body harnesses. Pro Tip: if you want to avoid the high cost of pre-treated hemp, try making your own kit. Whilst this might be a cheaper alternative, keep in mind that raw hemp needs to be conditioned (much like breaking in a new pair of leather boots) before it can be used with optimal results.
Most importantly, keep a pair of EMT shears easily accessible to you, as even the most experienced handler may need a quick and safe escape plan.
Researching the Material: What Works (and What Doesn’t)
Hemp rope is widely celebrated as a gold standard in bondage rope. The natural fibers are a joy to hold, with tactile feel not unlike a vigorous handshake, they grip knots tightly yet soften and bloom beautiful with use - perfect for capturing the details and beauty in complex patterns and designs. There's a catch, though: You'd have to pay for these pre-treated kits, which are usually between $80 and $150 each. You can also source raw hemp and condition it yourself (see this guide for more info).
Hemp rope If you're concerned about the price of hemp rope, I suggest jute Since hemp is somewhat more abrasive than the smoother jute rope, most folks may prefer using jute for the very first time. Consequently, paradoxical knots become harder to transfer and to manipulate since material has an inherent stiffness. Be aware as most online sellers mislabel jute as hemp. A useful shorthand is this: if it’s under thirty dollars for a hundred feet, your best bet is that it’s jute.
Cotton rope has proven to be a friendlier option for beginners, as it’s softer, more affordable (full kits are available for $20 to $40) and gentler on sensitive skin. This kind of rope is very suitable for beginners to learn rope trick. But there's a compromise: Sometimes even knots under tension are too tight to untie, which is why the precaution of always having safety shears close at hand is such an important one.
They're typically made from nylon or other syntethics which means they're with bright colors and cheap to replace something you'll have to get replaced on a regular basis anyway.Tumble down smaller floors perfectly, and they're machine wa-sheabuhle too, perfect for casual play. It should be noted however, that tying with these materials tends to cause the knots made with them to slip, which may not be desired or may make it difficult to progress to more advanced ties or techniques. So, you wouldn't want to use these materials for anything other than just getting them down and dirty at SPECIAL play-time.
What to avoid Climbing Rope: Stay away from climbing rope—it’s infamously “boney,” abrasive, and likely to give you rope burns. Having bondage using climbing rope is like hugging someone with barbed wire – something you should try to do anything you can to avoid. Posh Rope, a fantastic artificial fiber that looks somewhat hemp-like, as it has the texture of hard cardboard (so fuck looking for the stuff).
Advice From the Experts to Help You Make Better Decisions
Thickness Body: When choosing your ropes, be sure to take thickness into consideration. For delicate parts of the body (Finger, toe, ornament and so on), a 4-5 mm in diameter is suitable. The 6mm diameter is the sweet spot; it's versatile enough to be used as ground ties as well as for suspension. The new-comers might feel that 7-8mm diameter is too thick (for it is), but for hanging on some serious suspensions, it’s absolutely right.
Length must be significant if nothing else is. For a short rope from ten to sixteen feet, yes, I find them very useful for making knots and wraps in a hurry. Standard 23- to 32-foot ropes are perfect for both our full-body harnesses and traditional patterns. Longer lengths such as 33 feet and above should only be used by experienced riggers as tangling is near on guaranteed.
Last Words of Advice
Start simple: if you’re learning how to control tension and learning how to master knot tying, then you may want to try cotton or nylon ropes. Start slow and then when you gain some experience go with hemp. Hemp will be more durable and last longer in the long run. Most importantly safety first: you need to know the neural pathways and circulatory hazards when it comes to bondage play”.
