Suspension Bondage Is Dangerous

We love suspension bondage and we’re excited to share it with you. We want to be very clear, however, about the risks involved.

1. Suspension bondage involves unavoidable risk. Like rock climbing, suspension is a risky activity. Good preparation and training can reduce your risk, but even if you do everything right there is still a chance that you may be injured or killed, or that you may injure or kill another person.

2. We don’t have all the answers. Unlike rock climbing, suspension bondage has no professional standards bodies and no expert consensus about best practices. This book is based on years of study, practice, and consultation with outside experts. Nonetheless, you should be aware that suspension is still a developing field, and our understanding of the best way to do things is still evolving.

3. You can’t learn suspension from a book. The only safe way to learn suspension is to work with a qualified instructor or mentor. This book is a valuable adjunct to expert instruction, but not a substitute for it. Without a skilled teacher to guide and evaluate you, you cannot learn suspension without placing your partner in tremendous danger.

4. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Suspension is fun and exciting, and you will likely be tempted to rush ahead and try activities that you aren’t yet ready for. We can’t stress enough the importance of proceeding slowly and methodically, and always working within your skill level.

5. Always use good judgment. Your best defense against mishap is your own common sense and good judgment. Always be mindful of what you’re doing, and err on the side of caution.

Your partner is placing tremendous faith in your competence and judgment. If you are careless or overly ambitious, they are likely to pay a heavy price for your foolishness. Make sure that you are worthy of their trust.

Suspended Animation accepts no responsibility for any injury or death which may occur as a result of the activities described in this book. By reading this book, you agree to take full responsibility for your actions and their consequences.

Gear

Maintenance

Most suspension gear requires little ongoing maintenance. It’s important, however, that you regularly inspect your gear and make sure that it’s all in good repair.

Always err on the side of safety: when in doubt about the condition of an item, replace it or have it inspected by an expert.

Marking your gear

A carabiner marked with a stripe of nail polish.

Many people have similar equipment. You can increase the odds that your gear will stay with you by marking it in some unique way. Nail polish is a good choice: it’s cheap, comes in an almost infinite number of colors, and is very durable.

Finishing rope ends

The easiest way to finish your rope ends is to tape them before cutting them.

When you buy commercial bondage rope, the ends will already be finished to keep them from fraying. You may, however, find that you need to cut and finish your own synthetic rope.

The easiest way to do this is to wrap a piece of duct tape or athletic tape around your rope and cut right through the tape. Leave the tape in place to prevent fraying.

If you’re feeling ambitious, you may want to whipstitch your own rope.

Washing Rope

The question of washing natural fiber ropes is somewhat controversial. Some people believe that rope is weakened by washing, and some believe that it is not. The very limited quantitative data that we have access to suggests that occasional washing does not significantly weaken hemp rope. Be aware that this question is not yet settled, and use care when washing your rope.

How to wash your rope

Washing may cause colored ropes to fade. Synthetic ropes are generally much more tolerant of washing.

Hand washing is the gentlest way to clean your rope, but you can also use a washing machine. To avoid tangling your rope and potentially damaging the machine, place the rope inside a lingerie bag or pillowcase. Rope should never go in a tumble dryer: just hang it up and let it air dry. In addition to damaging your rope, putting hemp rope in a dryer can start a fire.

Hemp rope can shrink during the washing and drying process, so some people like to dry it under tension or stretch it after it’s completely dry. We usually don’t bother.

Synthetic rope can be used as soon as it’s dry. Hemp rope, however, needs to be oiled to keep it soft and flexible. We like mineral oil because it never goes rancid and is unlikely to provoke an allergic reaction. Pour a very small amount into your hands and run the rope through them, being sure to spread it evenly across the whole rope. Don’t go overboard: a very little goes a long way. It’s much easier to add more oil than to remove excess from your rope.

Hemp and other natural fibers are highly susceptible to rotting damage. If hemp rope is stored while damp, it is very likely to rot. Although the rot may not be visible, it will greatly weaken the rope. Always make certain that your rope is completely dry before storage, and discard any rope whose condition is suspect.

Retiring your gear

Even the best-made gear won’t last forever. You should inspect your gear regularly, and immediately retire any pieces that show signs of significant damage or wear. Use your best judgment, and always err on the side of caution.

Regardless of its apparent condition, you should retire your gear when it reaches its maximum service life. Manufacturers’ guidelines vary widely, but the following general guidelines will help you judge when your gear needs to be retired.

Natural fiber ropes

Assuming that you treat your rope well, it should be safe for suspension for a maximum of three years of light use. Natural fiber ropes weaken continuously with use and with washing—as they age, they will become softer, more comfortable, and less safe. Once your rope is no longer safe for suspension, it is still excellent for other kinds of bondage.

If you use hemp rope for your critical vertical lines, consider replacing your vertical lines more frequently than the rest of your rope. One reasonable option is to buy new vertical lines every year, using the old vertical lines for harnesses for another year or two.

Synthetic ropes

Most synthetic ropes have a rated service life of three to ten years of light duty.

Climbing slings

Climbing slings often don’t have a rated service life, but three to five years of light duty is a good guideline.

Carabiners

Most carabiners have a rated service life of ten years. It’s normal for carabiners to lose some paint over time, but any carabiner that shows significant metal damage must be replaced. Remember that while small nicks may not meaningfully weaken a carabiner, they may endanger any slings or rope that pass through it. Contrary to popular myth, climbing carabiners do not suffer from invisible microscopic fractures when dropped from normal heights.