So you want to get kinky with your partner, and you want to try bondage restraints and add it to your couples’ sex toy collection? Great! Before you shop, it’s important to have a conversation with your significant other about what you want, what you expect, and what you don’t want.
Once you do, it’s time to pick out your new bondage toy together!
Ease of Use
How easy do you want your bondage fun to be? There is no right or wrong answer other than to be careful not to get over your head too soon. Rope can create beautiful ties and knots and give a nice squeeze, but it requires practice and skill. Bondage tape is a great workaround if you want to be tie up a partner and create a gorgeous bound look.
Bed restraints and cuffs are the easiest type of bondage gear to use. The restraint straps usually go under the mattress or on the headboard and footboard of your bed. You (or your partner) can be held in place with clips that secure to O-rings or velcro. No skill is required, and it’s quick and simple.
Type of Material
For some people, bondage is a power and control experience. They want to be immobilized, tied up (or down), and only allowed a limited range of motion. For others, it’s about the sensation of being bound. They want to feel the squeeze of something on their skin. And still, for others, it’s a combination of the two.
The type of material you choose determines the comfort level of your bondage play. Vinyl or faux leather is affordable but sometimes feel scratchy on the skin while leather tends to feel soft. Rope material impacts how it will feel, as well. Jute and hemp rope tend to be scratchy while nylon and some cotton ropes are very soft.
How It Fits
There are bondage options for bodies of all sizes. Everyone can get into the kinky fun of things. But sizing definitely needs to be a consideration when the two of you start shopping for restraints.
- Check the size of the cuffs before you buy to make sure they’re comfortable
- Know the length of bed restraints, both for your bed and for the available stretch offered for your partner
- Understand how much bondage tape or rope you’ll need to create the look and experience you want.
Restraints that are too tight can cut off circulation and pose real safety hazards for the bound partner.
Storage Needs
Bondage gear and restraint kits don’t take up a lot of space, but if you lack serious privacy or room, it’s something to consider. Rope starts out as a small bundle until you really get into it, and then you may end up with dozens of bundles. Cuffs seem small, but you don’t want to crush them, so they need a place where they can be stored to maintain their shape. Bed restraints can usually hide “in plain sight” under your bed or mattress, but that can be difficult when you have small children who play on your bed.
This doesn’t mean you can’t own and collect bondage gear, but storage needs to be part of the conversation. You want your restraints to be easily accessible when you want to play. You also need them to be safely stored so they last as long as possible.
How You Want to Play
Buying bondage restraints as a couple isn’t just about the mechanics of the gear you choose. It also needs to fit into your kinky fun. If all you want is to tie your partner to the bed, you don’t have to get too complex. Go with an under-the-bed restraint kit. But if you have fantasies of Shibari rope scenes or predicament bondage, you’ll need some rope.
There are other ways to play with bondage. Want to hogtie your partner? Cuffs and a hogtie connector are all you need. Only want to bind your partner’s legs? A spreader bar could be perfect. How you want to play with bondage determines what you buy. It’s definitely an important part of the conversation.
Conclusion
There’s no right restraint system to choose from as a couple. It’s all about your preferences, needs, desires, and kinky fantasies. Finding what works for you both is part of the journey and the fun. As you go further into your bondage fun, try new things, and experiment with different restraint systems. You’ll keep things fun and exciting between the two of you!
Prefer to watch and listen? Check out the video version on YouTube: What to Look For In Bondage Gear
Have you tried bondage with your partner? What kinds of toys did you use? Is it something you do regularly? Share with us in the comments below!
