Shibari ropes
The different kinds of Shibari rope I use in shibari-tantra: the unique qualities, why I use jute or posh, and tips on rope care.
Jute shibari rope
Jute is the traditional rope for Shibari. It has almost no stretch, flows smoothly through the hands, and its natural ‘tooth’ ensures knots and frictions stay secure. For suspensions, I always work with 8mm jute. Compared to posh—which has more of a tendency to stick—jute can always be released easily, no matter how tightly the knot has been tied.
Important when buying jute: always choose JBO-free jute rope. Read why you should avoid JBO (Jute Batching Oil).
Posh shibari rope
Of all synthetic ropes, POSH is the one that feels the most natural and produces the least friction heat. I always use posh in workshops. After each workshop, the ropes go into the washing machine, and after one cycle they come out as good as new.
Hemp shibari rope
Hemp rope is stronger and sturdier than jute, and also more affordable. At first, the rope feels a bit stiff; it usually takes about 5 sessions before it becomes pleasantly supple. The breaking strength is higher than that of jute rope. If you want to do suspensions with 6mm rope, hemp is stronger than jute. Still, I would recommend using 7mm jute. The hemp knot you use for suspension is more difficult to untie compared to jute rope. For this reason, I personally prefer jute of >7mm..
Other ropes
Climbing rope
Do yourself a favor and don't use it for Shibari.
Climbing ropes are very stiff, making it difficult to tie detailed knots.
They can quickly cause rope burn, which can be dangerous for the person being bound.
Additionally, they feel rough on the skin, making the bindings very uncomfortable.
Nylon
Nylon feels softer and smoother than natural fibers.
It is cheaper than POSH and easy to maintain: you can wash it, it dries quickly, and it is resistant to moisture and mold.
Nylon rope has some disadvantages in Shibari.
Due to its smooth surface, it has little grip, causing knots to slip more easily. The material stretches slightly, making it harder to control the tension.
Because nylon is synthetic, it generates friction and heat more quickly, which can cause rope burn during sudden movements.
For suspensions or intensive use, nylon is less suitable unless it is specifically designed for bondage and you are well acquainted with its properties.
Cotton
One of the biggest disadvantages of cotton rope is that it stretches under tension. This makes it harder to control the tension of knots precisely. When the rope is under tension, the knots can become tightly secured or jammed, making them sometimes only removable with scissors.
Additionally, cotton has a lower tensile strength than hemp or synthetic ropes, making it less suitable for suspensions. It is mainly recommended for ground work or static bindings.
Cotton easily absorbs moisture – from sweat, humidity, or other liquids – which can lead to mold growth if not properly dried.
Always make sure that your jute ropes are JBO-free.
- JBO (Jute Batching Oil) is an oil often used in the production of industrial jute to make the fibers more flexible and easier to spin..
- This oil is not intended for skin contact: it may contain chemical residues that can cause irritation or allergic reactions.
- Some JBO oils even fall under the category of PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), substances that can be carcinogenic with prolonged contact.
Caring for Jute Ropes
Cleaning
- Wash only when necessary – Hemp and jute are naturally antimicrobial. I only wash ropes if they have been in contact with body fluids or sweat. Usually, it is enough to simply air them out. I often hang mine outside on a line in the sun.
- Hand wash. – If you do wash jute, place the loose strands in a bucket with cold water and a small amount of mild detergent. Let them soak for 20–30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Never use hot water, as heat shrinks and weakens the fibers.
- Dry under tension – Jute fibers curl and shorten when wet. First hang the rope in loose coils until it stops dripping. Then stretch it fully and fasten both ends to stable points with a bit of tension. Let it dry this way to prevent a thick, shortened rope. You can even hang a small weight (like a bottle of water) in the middle to keep it taut.
Preparing Jute Ropes for Shibari
Jute rope is often delivered untreated from the factory and may contain fuzz.
The ropes I sell in the shop are handmade. Conditioning makes the rope softer, less fuzzy, and more pleasant to work with.
- Cut and knot – I cut the jute to the desired length and tie off the ends, usually finishing with a thistle knot. These are common end knots.
- Ontpluizen – Ik flos het touw een aantal keer door een ijzeren los en laat het over elkaar wrijvem. Daardoor wordt het soepel en komen pluizige draadje naar buiten op het touw. Klaar om af te branden.
- De-fuzz – I run the rope several times through a metal ring and rub it against itself. This softens the rope and raises small fibers to the surface.
- Oil treatment – With a linen cloth moistened in a 50/50 mix of jojoba oil and beeswax, I draw the rope through the cloth.
- Heat set in oven – Finally, I place the ropes in the oven for 1 minute at 150°C. This allows the oil to penetrate deeply into the fibers.
Oiling & Ongoing Maintenance
As jute ages, or after frequent washing, the fibers can become brittle. Over time, I re-oil the ropes to restore their suppleness and prolong their lifespan.
All about jute shibari rope
Jute is the most commonly used rope material in the shibari world. It has good strength, little stretch, is lightweight, conforms to the contours of the body, and is a sustainable natural product. The long history of jute in traditional Japanese rope art gives it an authenticity that many practitioners appreciate.
But not all jute ropes are equal. There are five factors that make a difference.
1. Where jute grows
Jute grows best in a consistently warm and dry climate. The largest producers are Bangladesh, India (especially West Bengal), China, Thailand, and Myanmar. Most industrial ropes are made from yarn sourced from India and China, which works well for industrial use.
Bangladesh is known for producing the finest jute yarn in the world, albeit more expensive. The difference in quality is measurable: finer, stronger, and more consistent. The premium jute ropes in my shop are made from Bengali yarn from a small mill that produces to specification.
2. Making good yarn
There are two types of jute plants: White (Corchorus Capsularis) and Tossa (Corchorus Olitorius). Tossa produces stronger, silkier, and softer fiber. The premium ropes are therefore made exclusively from Tossa yarn.
Jute Batch Oil (JBO): Na de oogst wordt jute behandeld met JBO, een petroleumderivaat dat het touw waterbestendig maakt. Voor industrieel gebruik is dat prima, maar voor huidcontact is het een aandachtspunt. Sommige mensen reageren op hoge concentraties JBO met huidirritatie. De premium touwen in mijn shop hebben een maximaal JBO-gehalte van 2%. Als je huid gevoelig is voor JBO, overweeg dan hennep of bamboe als alternatief.
Yarn grading: Jute yarn is graded. Lower grades are darker, with more "bast" content, varying thicknesses, and less strength. Higher grades are shiny, light, uniform in thickness, and stronger.
3. Single ply or double ply (single ply vs double ply)
A debate that many riggers have strong opinions about. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
Single ply:
- Less bulk, knots become more compact and come undone more easily
- More flexible, smoother in hand
- Stronger in a straight pull test
- More photogenic
- More expensive due to extra labor in production
- Less durable: thinner with aging, eventually only suitable for ground work
Double ply:
- More compact, thinner does not wear out as quickly as single ply
- Extra protection against rope burn and friction
- Lasts longer and is more resistant to wear
- Cheaper due to the production process
- Requires less maintenance, good for beginners
- Slightly stiffer and less flexible in hand
4. Van garen naar touw
Twisted (gedraaid): In shibari, almost exclusively 3-strand twisted rope is used. Braided (gevlochten) ropes are smoother and therefore less suitable for shibari knots.
Warning: Some erotic shops sell ropes with metal end caps. This is dangerous. Rope ends can fly around during binding. A metal tip hitting your eye is a real risk. Avoid these ropes.
Tightness: Traditional Japanese ropes are twisted looser: more flexible and quicker to work with, but require more maintenance. Western-made ropes are twisted tighter: they are sturdier and last longer. I sell 7mm premium German rope specifically for suspensions.
Summary
Jute is the most chosen rope material in shibari for good reasons. But the quality varies greatly depending on origin, type of yarn, production method, and treatment. The choice between single ply and double ply, between looser and tighter twisted, is personal. There is no universal "best" rope. There is the rope that best suits you, your experience, and your intention.
Frequently asked questions about shibari rope
Everything you want to know about rope types, materials, maintenance, and safety.
Material & rope types
Juteis the traditional material for Shibari. It has virtually no stretch, slides smoothly through the hands, and the natural grip ensures that knots and friction stay in place. For suspensions, 8mm jute is typically used.
A major advantage over synthetic ropes: jute always releases, no matter how tightly the knot is pulled.
Jute:traditional, smooth, excellent for both floor work and suspensions. Knots easily come undone.
Hemp:stronger and cheaper than jute, but starts off stiffer. After about 5 sessions, it becomes pleasantly supple.
POSH (synthetic):the most natural-feeling synthetic rope. Produces minimal friction heat. Can be washed in the washing machine.
Nylon feels soft and smooth, but has some disadvantages: little grip which can cause knots to slip, slight stretch making tension harder to control, and more friction heat during movement with a risk of rope burn.
Cotton is soft but has significant limitations: stretch under tension, knots can become so tight that they can only be removed with scissors, lower tensile strength than hemp, and it absorbs moisture which can lead to mold. Cotton is recommended for floor work, not for suspension work.
Do yourself a favor and don't use it. Climbing ropes are very stiff, can quickly cause rope burn, and are rough on the skin making bindings very uncomfortable.
For beginners,6mm POSH or juteis a popular choice for floor bindings. For suspensions, 7-8mm jute or 6mm hemp is recommended due to the higher safety margins.
Maintenance & care
Only wash jute when absolutely necessary. Jute and hemp are naturally antimicrobial. Hang it outside on a line in the sun.
If you do wash it: place the loose strands in a bucket withcold waterand a small amount of mild detergent. Let it soak for 20-30 minutes and rinse thoroughly afterward. Never use hot water.
Always dryunder tension.. Jute fiber curls and shortens when wet. First, hang the rope in loose loops until it stops dripping. Then stretch it out completely and secure both ends to stable points with light tension.
Factory jute is often untreated and may contain fuzzy fibers. Conditioning makes the rope softer: cutting and knotting, de-fuzzing with an iron ring, oil treatment with a 50/50 mix of jojoba oil and beeswax, and 1 minute in the oven at 150 degrees.
As jute ages or after frequent washing, the fibers can become more brittle. Regularly re-treat the ropes with the jojoba oil/beeswax mix to restore flexibility and extend their lifespan.
Store ropesdry, dark, and ventilated. Avoid plastic bags or airtight containers, as moisture can cause mold. Loosely roll the ropes up or hang them in a breezy space.
Regularly check your rope for tears or damaged fibers, strong discoloration or strange odors, brittleness under light tension, and visible wear or thin spots. Replace the rope if in doubt, especially for suspension work.
Safety
JBO (Jute Batching Oil)is an industrial oil not intended for skin contact. It may contain chemical residues that can cause irritation. Some JBO oils contain PAHs that can be carcinogenic with prolonged contact. Always ensure that your jute ropeJBO-freeis.
For suspensions,8mm juteorhempis recommended. Jute has the advantage that knots can always be untied.
Rope burn occurs when a rope rubs quickly against the skin. Use ropes with sufficient grip (jute, hemp, POSH), work slowly and mindfully when tightening knots, and avoid abrupt movements.
Always keep asafety scissors (EMT scissors)within reach during any binding. These are blunt scissors specifically designed to safely cut ropes without damaging the skin.
Vulnerable zones:wrists and ankles(blood circulation),inner elbow and knee pit(nerves and blood vessels),neck(never without advanced training), andforearms(radial nerve). Take at least one live shibari course on safety.
Purchase & choice
In workshops,6mm POSHis used. This synthetic rope feels the most natural, generates minimal friction heat, and can simply be washed in the washing machine after each workshop.
A good starter kit consists of4 to 6 ropes of each 8 meters. This is sufficient for most floor bindings. For suspensions, I usually use ropes of 10m. An extra rope of 4m is useful for finishing small pieces.
The most commonly used lengths are7-8 metersper piece. Some riggers also work with 10 meters. Shorter ropes (4-5m) are handy as extras for finishing.
Je kan 6mm POSH shibari touw vinden in de shop op shibari-tantra.be. Let bij aankoop altijd op: JBO-vrij voor jute, specifiek voor bondage of Shibari ontworpen, en correcte dikte.
Not necessarily, but quality matters. Cheap rope can be untreated, too stiff, or harmful (JBO residues). It's better to invest in rope from a reliable source that is specifically made for Shibari.
Use & practice
De basisknopen leer je in een workshop van een dag. Het echt beheersen van Shibari — met oog voor veiligheid, comfort en esthetiek — is een voortdurende oefening.
Ja, voor vloerbindingen kan je thuis oefenen op objecten of een kussen. Suspensies oefen je nooit alleen — hierbij is altijd een ervaren persoon aanwezig.
Hemp naturally has a sturdier fiber than jute. The rope does become more flexible afterabout 5 sessions.
Yes, but hygiene is important. POSH can easily go in the washing machine. Jute should only be washed manually with cold water. Some riggers keep separate ropes for each person.
Shibari is een Japanse kunstvorm van touwbinding met aandacht voor esthetiek, ritueel, verbinding en meditatie. De patronen zijn doordacht, de posities bewust gekozen en de hele beleving staat centraal.