Starting with bondage: what should you buy first and what should you look out for?
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
Rope, Tape, or Cuffs? A no-nonsense beginner's guide to materials, sizing, pre-negotiation, and maintenance — including a sample kit for just over 40 euros.
Most people new to bondage buy too much and the wrong things. A set of five items where three end up gathering dust, cuffs that chafe wrists after two uses, or rope so stiff you can't untie a knot. That's a waste of money and counterproductive: uncomfortable items won't be used again.
This guide covers the practical side. What materials are there, where do quality differences lie, what's a smart first purchase, and how do you keep everything clean and intact? For anyone aged 18 and over who is exploring.
Start with agreements, not with items
Everything below only works if the basics are solid. Agree beforehand on what is and isn't allowed, agree on a safe word, and agree on what happens if someone can't speak. The latter is more important than it sounds: once a gag or a tight blindfold is involved, speech is no longer a reliable signal. The common solution is an object that someone holds and can drop, or a pre-agreed number of finger snaps.
Two practical rules you'll see everywhere: keep a blunt pair of scissors (the rounded-tip kind, like those found in a first-aid kit) within reach when working with rope or tape, and never leave someone tied up alone in a room. Periodically check that hands and fingers remain warm and keep their color; if a hand becomes cold, white, or tingly, something is too tight and needs to be loosened. Avoid anything that goes around the neck.
Rope, tape or cuffs: three methods with different thresholds
Rope is the cheapest and most versatile, but requires the most practice. Cotton is soft, doesn't slip much, and is easy to wash; jute and hemp are rougher, smell of natural fiber, and are popular with those who like the classic look, but they shed lint and can't just be thrown in the washing machine. For a first roll, 5 meters is a logical start: enough for wrists or ankles, short enough to manage. The Kinky Rope, 5 meters of cotton bondage rope costs €7.95. If you want to try out what color and thickness you prefer cheaply, the individual 5-meter rolls like the Fantazje purple bondage rope or the pink bondage rope are available for €3.00. Those who have been at it longer and want more length can look at a larger roll: colored rope of 25 meters x 10 mm costs €12.00, the jute rope duo pack €9.95.
Bondage tape is the easiest step for beginners. It only sticks to itself, not to skin or hair, and you cut it loose instead of having to figure out knots. A 15-meter roll, like the bondage tape in black or in red, costs €14.99 and lasts a good number of times. Downside: it's a single-use material, you throw away what you cut off.
Cuffs are the quickest and clearest to use. Pay particular attention to the width of the strap: the narrower it is, the more pressure on one spot. Wrist cuffs 3 to 4 centimeters wide distribute pressure better than a thin strap. Metal cuffs with a chain, like the Love Cuffs at €12.99, are sturdy but hard; check if a double key is included and store that key in one fixed place. Leather or faux leather versions such as the studded handcuffs (€19.95) or the 4 cm wrist cuffs (€19.95) are softer and adjustable. For stores and rentals, there's also a mix box with 24 furry handcuffs in 4 colors for €54.00.
The rest of the starter kit
A blindfold often does more than an expensive item and costs almost nothing: the satin eye mask costs €2.95 and can also be used as a sleep mask. If you want something to hold that adds sound and sensation, a light paddle is more manageable than a whip: the 32 cm paddle costs €14.95, while a 44 cm whip with hair (€24.95) requires more space and technique. Gags are clearly a step further: the bone-shaped silicone gag (€19.95) and the metal ring gag in 3 sizes (€29.95) have an adjustable strap; when in doubt, choose the smaller size and keep it short.
Cotton rope: in a laundry net on a low program, then dry flat. Not in the dryer, as it will shrink.
Jute and hemp: do not get wet. Brush off and store dry; rope stored damp will smell musty.
Leather and faux leather: wipe with a lightly damp cloth, never soak. Store with buckles open so the material doesn't stay creased.
Metal and silicone: warm water and soap or a toy cleaner, then allow to dry completely before storing.
Everything: store dry and dark, and separate materials that can stick together (silicone, PVC) in a bag.
Before each use, check for weak spots: the stitching of a strap, the clasp of a cuff, the end of a rope. If a rope frays or a stitch comes loose, it's done. Replacing it is cheaper than an unwelcome surprise at the wrong moment.
What you'll find here
Looking for materials to start with? Check out the bondage rope and tape collection for rope and tape, handcuffs for cuffs with different strap widths, whips and paddles, and toy cleaners for maintenance. The complete assortment can be found in the BDSM collection. If you're unsure about a size, a material, or the strap width of a cuff, feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl — we're happy to help, and all orders are shipped in neutral packaging.
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