Getting started with rope

Rope comes in many different flavors. Hemp, cotton, jute, nylon, silk, and various blends exist. Selecting rope is a very personal preference; each type has benefits and disadvantages. If you ask a dozen rope people to tell you what the best type of rope is, you're likely to get at least 13 different answers.

Good bondage rope will run around $1.00 per foot, sometimes more. If you're just getting started and you don't want to invest a lot of money, here's a good, inexpensive way to begin:

• Buy 100' of cotton sash/clothesline cord. It usually comes in white, but any color will do. Try to find cord that's about 1/4" or 6mm (#6) in diameter. You'll probably pay between $10 and $20 for 100' of cotton rope. Home Depot doesn't seem to carry cotton rope anymore, but other hardware stores often will. You can also buy cotton sash cord online. If you can't find cotton cord, nylon or polypropelene will do.
• Cut the rope into two 30' sections and two 15' sections.
• Seal the ends with a little bit of duct tape.

You should also invest in a pair of EMT shears. These shears can cut through rope if you need to get someone unbound quickly, and the ends are blunt so they cannot accidentally cut or stab. You can find these shears at most drug stores in the first aid section - a pair should cost you less than $10.00.

This is good enough to get you started, but please remember NOT to try hang or suspend anyone with cotton rope! Cotton rope isn't meant to hold the weight of a human body, and suspension is a very risky activity that should only be attempted by someone who's been taught the skill required to do it safely.

There a list of good places to buy bondage rope on the rope resources page.