Spend more time tying than shopping.
DISCOVER
Bondage ropes
How to choose the right ropes for Kinbaku and Shibari
Buying your first ropes can be surprisingly confusing. Jute or hemp? Five or six millimetres? Ready to use or raw? Should you wash them? What is JBO?
This guide brings together the questions we hear most often from beginners. Rather than recommending the most expensive equipment, we explain what really matters and what does not.
Choosing your first ropes
Which material should I choose?
JUTE
Jute is the material most commonly used for Kinbaku and the one we recommend to most practitioners. Jute ropes are available in many different qualities, diameters and finishes. Natural, uncoloured jute offers an excellent balance between strength, handling and feel on the skin, making it our preferred choice for both learning and long term practice. Jute does have one disadvantage. The fibres shrink and lose strength when exposed to water, making it difficult to restore the rope to its original condition. For this reason, we do not recommend washing jute ropes.
HEMP
Hemp is another popular natural fibre used for Kinbaku. It is stronger than jute and retains its strength better after washing. Raw hemp, however, is quite stiff and has a characteristic smell. Many practitioners therefore wash or boil hemp before using it. This softens the rope, although in our experience it also reduces some of its natural firmness. Hemp is an excellent alternative for those who prefer its particular feel and handling.
Rice, coconut and sisal
These ropes are mainly used to create particular visual or tactile effects. Rice rope is often chosen for photography because of its traditional appearance. Coconut and sisal provide a rougher texture that creates a distinctive sensation on the skin. While they can be used for tying on the body, we do not recommend them for suspension lines.
Cotton
Cotton ropes are more commonly associated with Western bondage traditions. They are relatively elastic, causing knots to tighten under load and making them more difficult to untie after use.
Synthetic ropes
Synthetic ropes are occasionally used for specialised situations, for example in wet environments. Because they can generate friction burns if moved quickly across the skin, they require particular care and are generally not recommended for beginners.
Does rope quality matter?
Especially with jute, rope quality varies considerably.
Different manufacturers produce ropes with different twists, softness, density and construction. Finding your preferred rope usually takes time and experience.
For beginners, our advice is simple: trust the recommendation of your teacher rather than trying to find the “perfect” rope.
Rope dimensions
What diameter should I buy?
We recommend ropes between 5 and 6 mm in diameter. Thinner ropes tend to dig painfully into the body, while thicker ropes produce bulky knots and become more difficult to handle.
How long should my ropes be?
The standard length for Kinbaku ropes is 7 to 8 metres.
This length offers enough flexibility for most ties while remaining comfortable to handle when doubled.
How many ropes do I need?
If you are just beginning, four ropes are enough.
As your practice develops, your collection will naturally grow.
. Beginners: 4 ropes
. Intermediate practice: 8 ropes
. Semenawa and suspension work: 10–12 ropes
Buying your first ropes
Where should I buy them?
The easiest way is to buy your first set from your local Kinbaku community or from the teachers with whom you attend your first workshop. Four good quality ropes are all you need to begin. For the sake of the person in ropes, we recommend avoiding inexpensive ropes from garden centres or general online marketplaces. They are rarely produced with Kinbaku in mind and their quality can vary considerably.
Ready to use or raw ropes?
As your practice develops, you will usually choose between two approaches.
You can buy ropes that have already been prepared and are ready to use immediately, or you can purchase untreated ropes and prepare them yourself.
Ready to use ropes are convenient but more expensive.
Preparing your own ropes is inexpensive and enjoyable for many practitioners, although it requires time, patience and a tolerance for loose fibres and soot around the house.
Neither choice is better. It simply depends on what you enjoy.
Preparing new ropes
Should I treat new jute ropes?
Yes. Industrial jute ropes are generally too stiff and fuzzy to be used immediately on the body. At a minimum, the loose fibres should be removed and the remaining fuzz carefully burned away with a clean flame. This process is usually repeated several times until the rope becomes smoother. Some practitioners additionally oil or wax their ropes before use.
Should I wash jute ropes?
Our answer is no.
While washing is common practice with hemp ropes, we do not recommend washing jute.
Water weakens the fibres, causes shrinkage and makes it difficult for the rope to return to its original shape unless dried under tension.
What is JBO?
JBO refers to processing oils used during the manufacture of jute yarn.
These residues often give new ropes their characteristic chemical smell and, for some people, may cause skin irritation.
We recommend allowing new ropes to air before use rather than washing or baking them. More recently, some manufacturers have introduced JBO free production methods.
How we prepare our ropes
At Discover Kinbaku we use untreated jute rope produced by OGAWA in Japan.
Our preparation method is intentionally simple.
Cut the ropes to the desired length.
Place them in a pillowcase and tumble dry for approximately one hour.
Burn away the remaining loose fibres using a clean gas flame.
Repeat the process a second time.
Freshly prepared ropes are first used for functional ties and suspension lines. With regular practice they gradually become softer and smoother until they are ready for direct work on the body.
We do not wash, oil or wax our jute ropes.
Caring for your ropes
As a general rule, people should spend more time working with the rope than on the rope.
With regular use, ropes naturally become softer and more pleasant to handle. When they become fuzzy again, the loose fibres can simply be burned away with a clean flame.
Inspect your ropes regularly for signs of wear or damage and replace them when necessary.
Store ropes hanging whenever possible, or loosely coiled during transport.
Our philosophy
A good rope is a pleasure to work with.
But no rope, however expensive, will replace careful attention, communication and experience.
An invitation
Choosing your first ropes is only the beginning.
Whether you already have a set of ropes or are still deciding which ones to buy, we would be delighted to guide you through your first knots in one of our beginner workshops or private coaching sessions.