The first step to tackle in your Shibari journey is buying rope.

This can be a daunting task, there is so much information out there, so many opinions and types of rope. It can get a little confusing.

Worry not. In this guide you will find everything you need to know to choose the best rope for you.

If you want to view this content as a video lessons, check out the "Choosing Rope" section in our Free Shibari 101 course

https://www.shibariacademy.com/pages/the-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-shibari-rope#cotThe first thing you need to know is that there is no right kind of rope for Shibari. 

All rope materials, lengths, and thicknesses have pros and cons and the perfect rope for your session will depend largely on your individual preferences, what you are planning to do, and how sensitive your skin is. 

In this article we will go over the most important characteristics of each type of rope material as well as general considerations regarding rope length and thickness so you can decide what is best for you. 

You will learn about: 

Beginner Rope Kit

Most people are able to perform the majority of Shibari ties using:

  • 2 short ropes 15 ft long 6mm thick
  • 2 long ropes 30 ft long 6mm thick


As you progress in your journey, you will be adding ropes of different lengths, thicknesses, and materials. That said, a 4-rope kit is a good place to start as it will allow you to tie both beginner and advanced ties. 

Check out Shibarirope.com for an affordable, DIY Shibari Hemp Rope Kit, with 100ft of rope. Great for beginners and advanced students alike that want to live the experience of treating their own hemp ropes and avoid the steep price of pre-treated hemp rope kits.

Along with ropes, safety shears are a must-have in your rope kit. Hopefully you will never use them, but it's important to have them close during a Shibari session in case you need to quickly cut the ropes. Remember that even though Shibari is a fun activity anybody can do, it is not without risk. Learning about these risks is the best way to prevent them. Learn more at "Avoiding Injuries and Nerves in Shibari".

Rope Length

Shibari rope lengths range from 10ft all the way to 30ft or more. During a Shibari session, you will probably use a combination of rope lengths depending on what you are tying. 

Remember that you can always extend the rope by attaching multiple lengths, therefore it is better to have multiple shorter ropes than to have a very long rope. Long rope can become problematic because it can get tangled and can get annoying. With long rope, you'll spend most of your session pulling rope through loops and knots.

Here's a more detailed look at different rope lengths: 

Shorter Lengths (3-5 Meters, about 10-16 Feet):

  • Usage: Shorter ropes are useful for simpler ties such as wrist cuffs, ankle ties, or partial body harnesses. They are also handy for adding extensions or finishing off complex ties.

  • Considerations: While convenient for small areas, these ropes limit the complexity of ties that can be achieved without additional extensions, which can interrupt the flow and aesthetics of the pattern.


7-8 Meters (23-32 Feet):

  • Usage: This length is considered the standard in Shibari because it provides enough rope for most traditional patterns without the need for frequent extensions. It's ideal for full-body ties and complex patterns that require more rope.

  • Considerations: Managing this length of rope requires skill, as it can become cumbersome and prone to tangling if not handled correctly. Practitioners need to be adept at rope management to prevent interruptions during the tying process.

Longer Lengths (10+ Meters, 33+ Feet):

  • Usage: Longer ropes are less common but can be beneficial for very intricate or large-scale ties, or when tying multiple partners with a single continuous length.

  • Considerations: Handling such lengths requires significant skill in rope management to avoid tangling and ensure safety. They are typically used by more experienced practitioners who are comfortable managing excess rope during complex patterns.

Rope Thickness

Rope thickness in Shibari ranges from 4mm - 8mm. 

Les than 5mm Ropes

  • Usage: Ideal for detailed work, such as decorative ties or ties involving the fingers, toes, or face. Thinner ropes are more flexible and easier to handle, allowing for intricate designs and knots.

  • Considerations: While they offer precision, thinner ropes can also create more pressure points on the body, which might increase the risk of nerve damage or circulation issues if not monitored carefully.

6mm Ropes

  • Usage: This is a commonly used thickness in Shibari as it provides a balance between functionality and comfort. It's versatile enough for both ground ties and suspensions, making it a good all-rounder for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

  • Considerations: The 6mm rope is generally safe for most types of ties, providing enough surface area to distribute pressure adequately, thereby reducing the risk of cutting off circulation.

7mm - 8mm Ropes

  • Usage: Thicker ropes like these are preferred for suspension and semi-suspension practices because they offer additional support and durability. They are also more comfortable for the person being tied, as they distribute the load more evenly across a larger surface area.

  • Considerations: The primary drawback of thicker ropes is their bulk and weight, which can make complex knots more cumbersome and less precise. They also require strong hands and good technique to manipulate effectively.

Hemp

Hemp is the premium rope option and the favored choice among seasoned Shibari practitioners across the globe. 

It is made from natural fibers and hence has the following benefits:

  1.  Its rough texture enables you to create knots that are tightened by friction. In other words, the rope will not slide as easily and your knots will hold better.

  2. ts lack of elasticity ensures the rope will not be deformed under tension and that the tightness of your knots can be controlled with your hands. In other words, the knots will not become impossibly tight under tension.

  3. Rope width can be really thin, which is great for aesthetically pleasing knots. Typical rope width is 6mm.

With its exceptional strength, comfort, grip, and sustainable nature, hemp remains the preferred choice for the best Shibari rope material. 

However, pre-treated hemp rope kits are expensive which is why most beginners opt for more accessible materials for their first rope kit.

That said, if you treat the ropes yourself they can become quite affordable. Learn how to treat your own Shibari hemp ropes at shibarirope.com

Jute

Like hemp, jute is one of the go-to materials in modern Shibari. It is visually almost identical to hemp.

It provides all the benefits afforded by hemp rope with the added perk of being significantly less expensive. 

However, this dip in price comes at a high cost. 

Unlike hemp, jute fibers are rough and can become quite uncomfortable for the person being tied. Also, jute is a lot less flexible than hemp, making it harder to tie and resulting in bulkier knots. 

As a warning, when you search for hemp rope kits on marketplaces such as Amazon, Ebay, or Etsy, vendors usually use jute and hemp interchangeably so it's almost impossible to tell the difference until you use the ropes. As a general rule of thumb, if the ropes seem really cheap, then they're most likely made of jute.

Cotton

Cotton is also a relatively common Shibari rope material, more so amongst beginners due to its low price.

The pros of choosing cotton are:

  1. It’s cheap. A complete rope bondage kit can get really expensive and if you are just beginning and are not entirely sure if you want to pursue Shibari seriously, this is a great alternative that will allow you to explore Shibari without taking an economic hit.

  2. It is softer than hemp which means it is more comfortable for the person being tied.

  3. It is great for beginners because it takes a lot of speed or pressure to cause rope burn.

    It takes time to fully master the art of tying and untying and unfortunately, rope burns can happen especially with inexperienced riggers. Using cotton reduces the likelihood of these kinds of accidents.

  4. It becomes even softer when you wash it.

  5. It is very easy to dye, so you can color it any way you want.

    This is great if you want to customize your rope kit and infuse it with your personality.

  6.  It is also very light, which means that you can carry lots of rope around with ease.


On the down side:

  1. Unlike hemp, it is elastic which means that it stretches under tension. This makes it difficult to control the tightness of the knots and make these knots difficult to untie. It can get a little frustrating and dangerous so make sure you have your shears close by.

  2. Cotton does not absorb lubricating oil and when it’s dry, the rope can feel coarse and there is not much you can do about that.

  3.  It can get dirty and fuzzy easily which makes your ropes look a bit gross.

Nylon

Nylon is commonly used in Europe and America.

It is not a material that's traditionally used for Shibari, but it has recently gained popularity for it's bright colors, easy maintenance, and low price.

On the plus side: 

  1. it is cheap, smooth and very flexible.

  2. It takes a lot of tension and pressure for it to cause rope burn.

  3. It is very easy to clean and maintain. Just stick them in the washer and let them dry on their own.

That said, because nylon ropes are smoother than ropes made with natural fibers (like hemp, jute, and cotton) they do not hold knots very well and different techniques are needed for knots to stay tied. (We will not be going over these techniques in our tutorials.)

Climbing Rope

Do yourself a favor and don't use them for Shibari.

  1. Climbing rope is very stiff which can make it difficult to tie detailed knots

  2. They are quick to cause rope burn which makes them dangerous for the person being tied.

  3. They feel very rough on the skin which makes ties extremely uncomfortable.

On the plus side, it is sure to hold a lot of tension.

Posh

Posh is made from synthetic material but visually blends with hemp rope.

Due to Posh being synthetic, it affords a several benefits over natural fiber ropes: 

  1. It's considerably cheaper than hemp.

  2. They are a lot more durable than natural fibers.

That said, posh is more stiff than hemp, so detailed knots can be more difficult to make and end up looking bulky. Also, it is very difficult to find. Only a few specialty stores have it in stock. 

There are lots of different ropes, we recommend you explore a bit to figure out which one is best for you. I personally use hemp because it has the right balance between flexibility, tension management, friction, and softness to the touch.