Introduction to Bondage: Why do people do it?Bondage is also known by the acronym BDSM. It is typically split up by three major areas:
1. Bondage and Discipline
2. Domination and Submission
3. Sadism and Masochism
There’s a huge range of BDSM activities that many people find erotic and sexually fulfilling. These include:
Experimenting with power play (submission and dominance).
Broadening sexual and sensual horizons.
Exploring fetish and role play.
Increasing sexual repertoire and techniques.
Revolutionising and optimising sexual happiness.
Bondage can bring you closer to your partner in ways that you never thought possible - both physically and emotionally. Setting boundaries for play and allowing yourself to be vulnerable with one another can really help to increase trust in a relationship.
However you choose to do it, BDSM play is fundamentally about understanding both your own desires and the desires of your partner, achieving mutual satisfaction, and strengthening your connection in the process.
So now you know the why, let’s take a look at the what...
What is bondage equipment used for?Bondage sex toys include any type of equipment used in the act of BDSM (bondage & discipline, and sadomasochism).
BDSM equipment can be categorised by the type of bondage play it’s used for. This includes:
· Light bondage: Basic bondage play with beginner-level equipment. Blindfolds and handcuffs are considered to be light bondage sex toys.
· Sensory play: Deprivation and enhancement of the senses to heighten arousal. This includes equipment such as hoods, gags and nipple clamps.
· Impact play: Striking a partner for mutual enjoyment. Toys such as spanking paddles, whips and floggers typically fall under this category.
· Hardcore bondage: Advanced play with more complex equipment such as rope, furniture or electric devices.
First timers may want to stick to light bondage toys before moving up the ranks, but there’s no strict rule to this - as long as both you and your partner are comfortable.
It’s important to note that everyone explores bondage at their own pace, and what you find enjoyable will differ from the next person.
In the next section, we’ve listed popular types of BDSM sex toys and exciting ways to experiment with bondage for beginner-level play. Get ready to expand your horizons in this complete beginners’ bondage sex guide:
Different types of bondage equipmentHandcuffs and restraintsWhen people think of bondage, handcuffs and restraints are usually the first items that spring to mind. Restraint play is a good introduction to bondage, as you can start off simple and move on to more complex restraint techniques as you progress.
Handcuffs
Handcuffs are the most popular form of wrist restraint. They are traditionally used to secure the hands behind the wearer's back but can also be used to secure the wrists around an object, fixture or fitting to prevent the wearer from moving from the position they are placed in.
Wrist & Ankle Restraints
These restraints are designed to restrict movement further, and are often used in addition to other restraint equipment. In this category, you'll find a wide range of body restraints in all sorts of combinations - for example neck-to-wrist, wrist-to-thigh, ankle-to-wrist.
Bondage Rope & Tape
Bondage rope is any length of rope sold with the express intention of being used to tie up a person. Similarly, bondage tape is a form of tape designed specifically to use on a person to bind them or to create clothing. It is self-adhesive, offering a skin-safe alternative to other tapes.
Bondage rope is especially designed for tying people up and should not be substituted with ropes found in DIY stores and similar, which are often harder on the skin and too inflexible to tie intricate knots.
Collars & Leads
When used together, a collar and leash form a bondage device that can be used to control the wearer by moving them using the lead. The collar when worn alone is often a symbol of ownership, but can also correct posture or be worn for decorative purposes.
Some collars feature lockable buckles which prevent removal by the wearer to accentuate the feeling of helplessness or being owned. Many collars are fitted with a frontal O-ring to allow leads, harnesses and bondage equipment to be connected to them.Blindfolds, Masks and GagsBlindfolds, Masks & Gags are all about deprivation - of the senses, of the voice, and even your own identity - to create both a physical and psychological thrill. These items are ideal if you’re after beginner-friendly bondage fun, as they can easily be incorporated into sex play.
Blindfolds & Masks
A blindfold prevents the wearer from seeing anything. They can be styled in a classic sleep mask style or as a scarf that requires tying. By restricting eyesight, the wearer's other senses are sharpened. This can increase sensitivity to touch, taste, smell and sound. The blindfolded lover is likely to feel less self conscious about experimentation, which is useful for beginners.
Masks are more of a decorative facial accessory designed to transform the appearance or conceal the true identity of the wearer. They’re commonly worn at fetish and swingers parties, but masks can also be used in role play between partners to create a new image.
Bondage Hoods
Sometimes confused with blindfolds, a bondage hood covers either half of the head and face or all of it. They come in many different guises, some without mouth, nose or eye holes and some with completely open faces.
Bondage hoods are used to change the appearance and for sensory deprivation. There are some functional hoods which incorporate gags and restraints. Hoods are a step up from a blindfold in this regard.
Ball Gags
A ball gag is designed to muffle the voice of the wearer or prevent them from speaking. They do not usually impede breathing. Usually strapped around or over the head with a rubber ball that sits inside the wearer’s lips and teeth, a gag is used to instil a sense of submission.
Because the wearer can't talk, they have to become more creative with communication, and their partner better at understanding their lover’s requirements during play. Other types of gag, including bits, hooks, rings and ratchets, can also be found under this category.Spankers and TicklersSpankers and ticklers are impact and sensory play A-listers. In this category, you’ll find all kinds of equipment used for inflicting different sensations on your lover’s skin to heighten arousal. Items in this section are all about erotic sensory stimulation.
Feather Ticklers
A feather tickler is made either entirely or partially from feathers used to tickle and tease the skin. The feeling of a feather running over the skin excites the nerve endings and causes you to get goosebumps, making you more sensitive to touch temporarily.
Feather ticklers are often used during foreplay to enhance erotic sensation and anticipation for sexual contact which heightens both mental and physical arousal. They are a good toy to use as an introduction to bondage play before moving on to other techniques.
Floggers
A flogger has several surfaces which all hit the skin at roughly the same time. As floggers spread the force of the hit over a larger surface area, the pain felt is
often less than is caused by a whip.
Floggers are brilliant during foreplay - just tease your lover by running the fronds up and down their skin to set their heart pumping.
Spanking Paddles
A flat device, usually with a handle, that is used in the same way as a hand is to spank another person or oneself. They come in varied textures to cause different sensations which either amplify or absorb force to make the impact harder or softer.
Most paddles are made from leather, which is much softer against the skin than wood and provides an audible ‘thwack’ that accentuates the experience of being paddled or spanked for both partners. Spankers are often used as part of sensory play to accentuate touch by awakening the nerve endings and induce an adrenaline rush in the spankee.
Whips, Crops & Canes
Whips have a singular surface with which one can hit another person to inflict pain. Similar items include riding crops and canes. They all tend to provide a sharper sting than paddles and floggers.
We’d recommend that beginners start with milder sensory toys before moving up to impact play equipment.
Nipple and Clitoral ToysDesigned to stimulate erogenous zones, nipple and clitoral toys really are the perfect bondage accessory. When applied there can be some discomfort, but the removal of the devices can lead to a rush of intense pleasure.
Clamps
Clit clamps can be worn either over or on the clitoris, and can provide a numbing sensation to the clitoris to accentuate sexual frustration along with a slight pain that can be arousing. They can also help to enlarge the clitoris, which assists with clitoral contact during sex.
Nipple clamps have a similar function - they are designed to increase sensitivity or size, cause pain to the area, or provide pleasurable sensations. They’re also ideal for unisex play. Most clamps are adjustable to allow you to control the pressure exerted on the nipple.
Suckers
If you’re after some softer stimulation, you can also try a pussy pump or nipple sucker devices. These are also designed to enlarge your clit and nipples, and these sensory suction sensations can be used to tease and please your lover for the ultimate erotic experience.
Bedroom Bondage KitsOften marketed for beginners, bedroom bondage kits are all-in-one solutions for bondage scenarios. They feature a wide variety of toys, allowing you to try lots of different things. These kits offer a varied introduction to bondage - typically including a pair of ankle cuffs, a pair of wrist cuffs, a blindfold and some form of whip, flogger or paddle.
Some other bondage kits include ball gags, ticklers, collars and leads, ropes, bondage tape, spreader bars, and more elaborate restraints.
Kits are a wonderful way of building up your collection of bondage gear, and tend to work out cheaper than buying all the items separately. There’s endless fun to be had, and you’ll never be short of S&M bedroom ideas with these gratifying gifts.Chastity Belts and DevicesYep - you guessed it. The equipment in this section is all about chastity and restriction. Used in power play and orgasm denial, a chastity device refers to anything fitted to or over the genitalia to prohibit sexual function or access. Cock cages and chastity belts are prime examples.
Some of these are worn for a visual effect (such as in a role play scenario), but many found in this category will permit long-term wear by the user, allowing other bodily functions but preventing sexual contact with others and themselves. Sex Swings and MachinesThe final items on our list of bondage sex toys are showstopping sex swings and machines: equipment designed to simulate or enhance penetrative sex.
Sex Machines
Sex machines, which are usually electrical, create thrusting movements and have different settings depending on how powerful you like it. They can often be more physically gratifying for the user than sex with a partner, and are popular for use in fantasies of ‘forced orgasm’ (often also involving bondage).
Sex Swings
These secure and adjustable harnesses are excellent for experimenting with new and exciting positions. Sex swings incorporate restraint play with finding perfect alignment to enhance penetrative sex between you and your partner.
While using a sex swing or machine may seem very far from the basic bondage techniques you had in mind, this equipment can be used once you’re comfortable with other types of toys. Starting off with some simple position enhancing furniture may be more suitable for beginners.
