Hi - I'm Martha! I'm a journalist and product tester at JoyNights. I love to share my ideas and personal sex life experience so that others can learn from my experiences.
read more
Hi - I'm Doris! I've spent decades working in the adult industry, including at several sex toy manufacturers as well as a large brick & mortar sex shop. I love reviewing read more
Last updated: September 30, 2024
JoyNights is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
When shopping for the best ropes for bondage you should first consider the material. If you’re new to bondage silk, cotton, or nylon is great choice. Enthusiasts may prefer more specialized natural ropes like jute or hemp ones.
There are different types of ropes depending on the type of bondage you fancy: decorative, floor, or suspension.
After reviewing 44 different models, we compiled a list of the 9 best ones for all your rope bondage desires and needs.
More features: fine fibers, 6 mm rope diameter, tight whip finish
Upgrade your BDSM experience with the smoothness of the M.K. Tantus Italian Silk Bondage Rope. The Italian silk is sleek, smooth, exotic, and highly shiny, making it an attractive piece of equipment for sensational bondage play. Also, the rope boasts more elongation and plenty of tooth than many options on the market.
If you love traditional Japanese bondage play and you’re searching for an ideal western rope to perform it, the M.K. Tantus Italian Silk Bondage Rope which is processed and finished by hand in the United States (US) is designed for the occasion.
Why did it make our list?
There’s no doubt about it, the M.K. Tantus Italian Silk Bondage Rope is a premium soft-spun rope and a great upgrade to most products on the market. The rope's exciting quality is quickly noticeable thanks to the sleek, smooth, highly shiny, and exotic Italian silk. We also liked that the product has more elongation than most bondage ropes offer, making it a very valuable addition to any BDSM gear.
What is not ideal about it?
As is common with most premium products, the M.K. Tantus Italian Silk Bondage Rope is quite expensive. While we can’t deny the quality of this rope, we can’t help but think that the price could have been lower. An upgrade option doesn’t need to cost an arm. In our opinion, a cheaper price could make this rope the dream BDSM piece of equipment for most bondage enthusiasts.
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7880 people in the past 30 days
8.9
Customer Feedback
Based on cross-platform reviews
8.8
Brand Reputation
Based on web analytics & content of negative reviews
The Doc Johnson Japanese-Style Bondage Rope is made from extremely soft cotton to minimize chafing. Also, it boasts a woven design that lays flat on the sub’s skin for comfortable play. Additionally, it’s machine-washable for seamless maintenance.
If you’re looking to explore the Shibari bondage play, the Doc Johnson Japanese-Style Bondage Rope is designed for performing elaborate rope art. Furthermore, the rope is long enough to perfect elaborate knots and allow you to use your imagination for more exciting plays thanks to its 32.8-feet length.
What makes it stand out?
The Johnson Japanese-Style Bondage Rope is quite long, no doubt. And that good length allows the rope to be used for elaborate bondage ties—just want you for a perfect Shibari play. Moreover, this product features a woven design that ensures comfort when it contacts the skin. Thanks to the soft finish, the rope is delicate on the skin and minimizes the risk of rope burn. Lastly, we liked that the bondage tool is machine-washable, ensuring easy maintenance.
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
There are a lot of good things about the Johnson Japanese-Style Bondage Rope but it’s not the perfect bondage tool according to our observation. We discovered that the ends of the rope fray white pretty quickly which was disappointing. Also, we couldn’t help but noticed that the rope is not as soft as other ropes made of cotton. In our opinion, the ends of the rope could be better designed to reduce fraying and the rope could be softer.
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2750 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Based on cross-platform reviews
8.9
Brand Reputation
Based on web analytics & content of negative reviews
Satin feels incredible against the skin. It is soft and smooth. These silky satin tie-ups can be looped around the wrists or ankles or used as a blindfold. The loop on one end makes them easy to attach and remove.
They come in three beautiful color options.
What are its best features?
Soft
Easy to use
Made in the USA
What could be improved?
Will not work for many traditional shibari ties
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 3665 people in the past 30 days
9.4
Customer Feedback
Based on cross-platform reviews
9.1
Brand Reputation
Based on web analytics & content of negative reviews
The Bondage Boutique Soft Bondage Rope Restraints’ Set offers 4 different silky ropes of different sizes. And each rope restraint is adjustable in circumference for just the perfect fit. Additionally, each restraint features a sturdy O-ring at its end that can be attached to other restraints with bondage clips.
No doubt, the Bondage Boutique Soft Bondage Rope Restraints’ Set works for self-bondage play. Not only are they comfortable for prolonged wear, but they’re also easy to use. Even if you want to involve your partner, these restraints are perfect for other bondage ties, including a hogtie.
What stands out?
There’s nothing not to like about the versatility offered by the Bondage Boutique Soft Bondage Rope Restraints’ Set. With four silky soft rope restraints, there are several bondage positions to explore for an incredible BDSM experience. Furthermore, each restraint features a sturdy O-ring that’s compatible with other restraint systems for a more exciting experience. Also, these restraints are adjustable for the perfect fit.
What cons did we manage to find?
Despite the versatility of the Bondage Boutique Soft Bondage Rope Restraints set, the product falls short due to the absence of carabiners—metal clips for clipping ropes to anchors. Essentially, the set does not come with any clip to join the straps, which will force you to buy the clips separately. In our opinion, carabiners could have been included to complete the set for seamless bondage play.
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 8923 people in the past 30 days
9.2
Customer Feedback
Based on cross-platform reviews
8.8
Brand Reputation
Based on web analytics & content of negative reviews
The Fifty Shades of Grey Restrain Me Bondage Rope (Twin Pack) features contrasting black and red silky ropes that provide the possibilities of exciting artistic styles. Also, the ropes are twine-twisted with zero stretches for safe, super-strong, and easy restraint. Besides that, the restraints feature a glossy surface that reduces friction against the skin.
Furthermore, the Fifty Shades of Grey Restrain Me Bondage Rope (Twin Pack) is designed for beginners who want to explore tie-up play. The elastic-free weave ensures that beginners never accidentally tie their subs too tightly. Seasoned bondage players can also count on these ropes thanks to the variety of ties they offer.
What do we love it for?
We liked that the Fifty Shades of Grey Restrain Me Bondage Rope (Twin Pack) comes with two ropes that can separately restrain the sub’s ankles and wrists simultaneously. These ropes can also combine to create an attractive and colorful harness. Furthermore, the ropes do not feature any elasticity to ensure safe and super-strong restraint. We also liked the restraints’ glossy surface that helps to reduce friction against the skin.
What were we disappointed with?
Fifty Shades of Grey Restrain Me Bondage Rope (Twin Pack) requires a few improvements. Firstly, the rope features heavy metal ends that can hurt the sub if not careful. These ends do not ensure safe use and we feel they could be better designed to be safer for use. Another issue we found with this beginner bondage rope is that it’s slightly too thin. In our opinion, it could be made thicker to provide better restraint.
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4010 people in the past 30 days
9.0
Customer Feedback
Based on cross-platform reviews
8.5
Brand Reputation
Based on web analytics & content of negative reviews
The Nylon Bondage Rope—as the name suggests—is designed with nylon material for a sturdy hold. But that’s not all the material does; it’s also comfortable and soft against the skin for safe bondage play. Plus, a fray-free solution is used to seal off the ends of the rope. Additionally, the product comes with a one-year warranty to protect you.
If you’re looking for a cheap bondage rope that still gets the job done efficiently, look no further than the Nylon Bondage Rope. Despite its relatively low cost, it offers incredible value for great bondage play.
What makes it stand out?
What did we like? Easy guess; the Nylon Bondage Rope's relative cheapness. The rope provides great results that you won’t normally expect from such a cheap product. Not only is it body-safe, but it is also versatile for multiple uses. Additionally, the rope provides a sturdy hold as well as comfort against the skin to prevent pain. We also liked that the ends of the rope are sealed off to prevent fraying. Finally, the one-year warranty impressed us.
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
The Nylon Bondage Rope has the same major flaw associated with most nylon ropes: It’s not ideal for friction-based ties. So, if you’re a big fan of friction-based ties, sorry for disappointing you, this rope is not an ideal option for you. In our opinion, the rope could be better designed to allow more friction-based ties for more bondage play options.
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 5819 people in the past 30 days
8.9
Customer Feedback
Based on cross-platform reviews
8.7
Brand Reputation
Based on web analytics & content of negative reviews
The Doc Johnson Kink Hemp Bondage Rope —as the product’s name suggests—is made of 100% natural hemp. Hemp is a fantastic material for bondage as it holds knots with ease. This rope offers superior strength to restrain your sub for total submission.
Shibari is a form of artistic Japanese rope bondage. This rope is the perfect option for you if you want to explore artistic rope bondage. It’s also ideal for people who prefer using natural hemp material.
What are its best features?
We liked that this rope is made of a natural material that won’t react harshly. It's skin-friendly and non-toxic. We like that it is made of natural materials. This rope is perfect for the artistic Japanese rope bondage play—Shibari.
What could be improved?
Hemp is not naturally soft. It feels slightly rough on the skin, but this roughness allows it a great deal of strength when tying knots. The feeling of hemp may not be for everyone.
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 8212 people in the past 30 days
8.8
Customer Feedback
Based on cross-platform reviews
8.6
Brand Reputation
Based on web analytics & content of negative reviews
The Kinklab Bondage Rope is 25-ft long for limitless possibilities of bondage ties. Made of nylon, the bondage tool is quite soft and gentle on the bare skin. And it’s available in two colors; black and white, giving you color options to choose from for the perfect bondage play.
Besides, the Kinklab Bondage Rope is designed for experienced BDSM players who want to count a strong rope for their bondage sessions. So, if you and your sub are quite experienced in the art of bondage play, this product is one to strongly consider. It’s also perfect for those looking to explore various rope ties.
Why is it special?
The Kinklab Bondage Rope has many positives about it. One of the positives is its soft design that hardly causes the skin any discomfort. It also has a good length that makes it ideal for several rope ties. Plus, the bondage tool is made strong enough for advanced/serious play. Furthermore, we liked that the rope comes in black and white colors, giving you the luxury of two color options for your kinky sessions.
What are the flaws?
It’s a good thing for a rope to be slick but it’s too much slickness can be a problem as in the case of the Kinklab Bondage Rope. Due to the bondage tool's slickness, the knots slip out sometimes which can be pretty frustrating. If you buy the white variant of the rope, you’ll need to clean the tool after every use but we’re afraid, frequent cleaning may hurt this rope's texture. Surely, the rope could be better designed to minimize knots slipping out.
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2811 people in the past 30 days
8.7
Customer Feedback
Based on cross-platform reviews
8.2
Brand Reputation
Based on web analytics & content of negative reviews
More features: color variation, 0.5 in rope diameter
The Cotton Bondage Rope is another Japanese-style type on our list. It is made of soft cotton which helps to keep the product from rubbing or chafing the skin. Plus, the rope feels sensual and silky to the touch, so you can trust your sub to have no problem being time up with this. Additionally, it’s available in three colors: black, purple, and red.
If you’re a beginner, the Cotton Bondage Rope is one bondage tool you want to get your hands on thanks to its ease of use. Even if you’re more experienced in bondage, you’ll find this product quite useful for your BDSM experience.
Why did it make our list?
We liked that the Cotton Bondage Rope is made of soft cotton which helps to protect the sub's skin. And it feels silky to the touch, making it a trusted material on the skin. Furthermore, the rope boasts finished ends that minimize fraying and keep your bondage tool durable. We also liked that the product comes in three colors for exciting/colorful bandage play. Lastly, the rope's insert comes with illustrations of 6 separate knots to try.
What is not ideal about it?
As is the case with other great ropes, the Cotton Bondage Rope is not perfect. We noticed that the rope gets dirty easily which increases the need to clean it and the risk of wearing the texture out. Also, the rope can stretch over time, weakening the restraint it offers. In our opinion, the bondage tool could have been designed to make the surface more dirt-friendly and the product much stronger to avoid unwanted elasticity.
Things to Consider
At the beginning of this article, we mentioned that the process of choosing the right rope for bondage play is not straightforward. However, it’s not tricky if you know the factors that determine an ideal bondage rope. Below, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive buying guide that will contain every information you need to make the right choice.
How to Use Bondage Ropes
Bondage ropes have a steep learning curve to use but using them safely is fairly easy if you follow a few simple steps we’ll provide below:
Ensure that you know the location of the body’s nerve centers before you begin. You should also ensure that your partner does not have any past injuries that you must consider before going ahead with tying them.
Let the rope be loose enough, to the extent that you can work two fingers between your partner’s skin and the rope. You can ensure this by leaving two fingers between the rope and your partner’s body when tying knots.
Never tie the bondage rope in such a way that restricts breathing.
When tying, ensure that the coils stay side by side; do not cross the rope.
For safety we recommend that you always have a set of Safety Scissors on hand if you’re engaging in rope bondage. It’s easy to accidentally tie a knot that is very difficult to untie. If you accidentally overtighten a knot that impedes your partners blood flow, breathing, or pinches a nerve, you must be able to quickly and safely remove your rope. Don’t play without one!
Safety advice
Below we’ll share some rope bondage safety tips with you:
The development of a safe word or safe gesture to use in case of trouble is the first safety step to take.
Never tie a rope around your partner’s neck. According to researchers Claire Richards and Daniel Wallis in a 2005 study
Trusted SourceAsphyxiation: a reviewThis article reviews traumatic causes of asphyxia, including the syndrome known as traumatic asphyxia, where a crush injury to the thoracoabdominal area gives the striking clinical triad of cervicofacial cyanosis and oedema, subcon junctival haemorrhage and cutaneous petechial haemorrhages of the face, neck and upper chest.
journals.sagepub.com
, strangulation by rope can cause asphyxia—loss of consciousness due to the interruption of breathing.
Never put pressure on joints, major arteries, or knees.
Never tie your partner so tightly that slipping two fingers under the bond is difficult.
Never tie your partner in such a way that you can’t quickly untie them.
Be attentive and never ignore the safe word or gesture.
Always have scissors around to cut off the rope in an emergency.
In case of self-bondage, keep your phone around to reach out for help if there’s a need to do so.
How to Pick the Best Ropes for Bondage
You can choose bondage rope by any feature – color, softness and material
You can’t make an informed choice for bondage rope if you don’t know where to look. Below, we’ll discuss some important factors you should consider to identify the best ropes for bondage:
Material
The material a bondage rope is made of is arguably the most important factor to consider. The material typically determines how the rope feels on the body. While there are synthetic ropes such as polyester and nylon, there are natural ropes such as jute, hemp, linen, sisal, manila, and silk.
Besides, the choice of rope is usually down to preference. If you’re new to bondage, a cotton rope or a nylon rope such as the Ouch! Japanese Rope can be a great choice. However, as you advance, you’ll fancy more specialized natural ropes such as a jute rope or a hemp rope like the Shibari Natural Hemp Bondage Rope.
Type
There are different types of bondage play, including decorative bondage, floor bondage, and suspension bondage. The different types require specific ropes. For example, decorative bondage requires restraining your partner for aesthetic purposes, making the Doc Johnson Japanese-Style Bondage Rope an ideal choice.
If it’s floor bondage, a light rope such as the Nylon Bondage Rope will work just fine. You’ll need a strong bondage rope such as the Kinklab Bondage Rope for suspension bondage—one where the sub is tied and hung. So, you should make a choice based on the type of bondage play you fancy.
Thickness and length
The thickness and length of a bondage rope are also very important factors to consider. The thickness determines maneuverability, safety, and comfort while length determines how far the rope can go around your partner’s body. For suspension bondage, you’ll want to go for a thick rope but a relatively thin rope such as the Fifty Shades of Grey Restrain Me Bondage Rope will do for light bondage.
The grip of a bondage rope is another factor you want to keep your eyes on. The grip is about the rope’s ‘tooth’ or ability to grab onto itself and keep the knots in place. The greater the rope’s tooth, the better the hold. The M.K. Tantus Italian Bondage Rope which features plenty of foot seems like a good choice in terms of grip. The Nylon Bondage Rope is another option that does well in this regard.
Feel
Never tie the rope too tightly – even the softest materials can harm the skin
You cannot fail to consider the feel of a bondage rope. It’s bondage play—not torture, so it’s important to prioritize comfort here. Jute and hemp seem to be rougher materials that can cause rope burns. On the other hand, nylon and cotton ropes are softer bondage ropes. A nylon rope such as the Kinklab Bondage Rope or a cotton rope such as the Cotton Bondage Rope is a smart choice.
Durability
Finally, we can’t talk about buying a product without talking about durability. You don’t want to buy a bondage rope that won’t last more than two or three uses. You should be sure that you choose a rope that doesn’t fray. The Nylon Bondage Rope and Cotton Bondage Rope with finished ends are some good choices in terms of durability.
Different ropes have different cleaning methods. For example, most synthetic ropes such as nylon ropes can be easily cleaning using a wet wipe or a damp cloth. Also, silk and cotton ropes can be hand-washed in cold water or a delicate machine wash. Additionally, jute ropes can be washed in a dishwasher while hemp ropes cab be popped in a pillowcase for deep cleaning in a washer.
Our Verdict
Writing for Vice Magazine, journalist Tracey Anne Duncan described rope bondage as therapeutic
Trusted SourceI Tried Rope Bondage as a Coping Mechanism for My AnxietyIt felt like yoga—a steady, reliable movement from discomfort to comfort and I was in control of the pace.
www.vice.com
. It’s hard to disagree with her because bondage play is reputed to have helped several couples. However, it’s best to use the right bondage rope. As we promised at the beginning of this article, we’ve reviewed the top 9 products on the market and the Ouch! Japanese Rope emerged as our editor’s choice thanks to its soft nylon material that makes it feel smooth on the skin and its durable hold.
Breathing down this Japanese rope’s neck is the M.K. Tantus Italian Silk Bondage Rope—our upgrade pick—which is made of sleek, smooth, and exotic Italian silk. And there’s also our value pick—the Nylon Bondage Rope—which is made of nylon, offers a sturdy hold and is soft against the skin. No doubt, our list boasts the best ropes for bondage and you can find the ideal option for your bondage play among them.
References
1.
Asphyxiation: a review
This article reviews traumatic causes of asphyxia, including the syndrome known as traumatic asphyxia, where a crush injury to the thoracoabdominal area gives the striking clinical triad of cervicofacial cyanosis and oedema, subcon junctival haemorrhage and cutaneous petechial haemorrhages of the face, neck and upper chest.