For many facets of BDSM, the journey (aka the kinky fun) is just as important as the destination (sexual fulfillment or a closer relationship with your partner.)
When it comes to bondage, there are many, many ways to take the journey. From play handcuffs to intricate shibari rope bondage that can take hours of sensuous knot tying, you can opt for quick and dirty or slow and sexy!
A great way to play with bondage is using bondage tape. It doesn’t require a Girl Guide badge in knots (although rest assured, I do have that.) It doesn’t have the skin-damaging quality of duct tape but still has some of the same thrilling and slightly ominous aspects, like that threatening sound of the tape being pulled off the roll or watching your lover rip off a piece with their teeth.
Incorporating bondage tape opens opportunities for a sexy hostage/captor scene where the kidnapped ”victim” must do whatever it takes to be released, but it certainly isn’t limited to that. Bondage tape is an easy way to experiment with all kinds of steamy scenarios.
Of course, just like with any sex activity, but particularly when there is an undercurrent of coercion or implied violence, each partner must be on the same page and have granted consent for the type of play. If you are the one doing the taping, keep an eye on your partner’s extremities. Dark red or purple skin is a danger sign and means you must loosen the reins or risk doing lasting damage.
Being restrained can trigger panic or discomfort, so have an agreed upon “escape route.” Have a safeword or gesture planned to stop or change the scene and make sure you have safety shears available for a quick exit. It is important to understand that your regular old kitchen scissors aren’t sufficient. They may not be sharp enough and a good pair of safety shears, like the ones from Blush, have a blunted end to keep you from stabbing your detainee accidentally. You just really don’t want to be in a position of scaring or hurting your partner unintentionally. It is a super buzzkill and plummets the likelihood of a repeat performance. We are all just aiming for a good time here.
Keep in mind that bondage tape is made to stick only to itself so it shouldn’t pull off hair or hurt your skin. This opens up some fun possibilities like creating a sensory deprivation mask, bondage mittens, or a hobble skirt. Mostly any bondage sex position can be executed using bondage tape for restraints, but to get you started, here are a few of our Kinkly favorites:
What It Is: Let’s start with the basics. This position is not just easy to get into but can be used with all kinds of sex play, from oral sex to penetration. The only downside is that you do need a pretty good headboard to attach your partner to. Just be careful not to bind their arms to far apart. This can be uncomfortable, painful and could even cause dislocation in some people.
How To Get Into It: Easy as pie! Just have the person being restrained lie down on a bed with their hands over their head in a comfortable position. Then take a section of tape and carefully wrap it around their wrists and then attach them to the headboard. Have them then tug and pull hard against the tape to make sure it’s not pinching or causing any numbness.
What It Is: One of the classics, the bondage chair position is another good place to start your taped up adventures, as it doesn’t require the same balance or flexibility as standing or bent over positions. While vaginal or anal sex isn’t an easy option in this position if the receiver is the one tied up, it can be a good position for penetrative sex if it is the giver who is in the chair. Other options would be with a toy held against the tied up partner's sensitive bits, a bit of nipple play or giving and receiving oral sex.
How To Get Into It: Easy-peasy: just have the person being restrained sit in a good, sturdy chair and then use your bondage tape to attach them to it. You can add more tape, of course. You can even mummify them if you're both into it. Just remember you should always be prepared to get them out of whatever you put them into - so keep your emergency scissors handy!
What It Is: Another great beginner’s bondage sex position that leaves the subject wonderfully exposed and available to whatever nefarious plans their partner might have.
Just think of the possibilities: oral, penetrative, some genital clamps, some sex toys, some gentle impact play - let your imagination run wild! (The image here includes a strategically placed wand massager and sexy ball gag!) You can also use bondage tape as a gag, just make sure it doesn't also cover their nose.
How To Get Into It: While the subject is on a bed, have them spread their legs as far as they comfortably can and then put their hands as close as they can without causing any discomfort. Bending your knees will help keep it comfortable: this will give you a great guide to how to restrain them. Next, attach bondage tape to their wrists and then to their ankles or thighs. Use their naturally comfortable position as a guide.
What It Is: A perfect bondage position for anything involving the butt, impact play and rear entry positions. The chair or barstool gives the person being restrained a feeling of stability and security. If you are gagging your sub as pictured with a ball gag, give them something noisy to hold (a set of keys or some coins) to drop or throw as a safety gesture if they decide something needs to change.
How To Get Into It: For this one you need a good, stable chair or stool that’s not just sturdy but also has a back that’s at a comfortable height for your partner to bend over. It might take some looking to find the right one but when you do it will quickly become a staple of your bondage play sessions. Getting into the position is simple: just have the person being restrained stand with their ankles on either side, attaching them to the chair with your tape. After they have bent over the back of the chair, do the same for their wrists, body and the backs of the their legs.
What It Is: If you have a pole in your house, I hope you are using it for sexy things. And one of the sexiest is restraining your partner to it. If you are wanting unfettered access to their breasts and genitals, tape their wrists behind them (with a few extra loops for good measure around their waist, thighs, even ankles if they can still balance well.) If floggings and spankings are on the agenda, flip them around and tape them to the pole with their wrists in front.
How To Get Into It: Let’s be fair, this one might be a tad challenging when it comes to doing it safely, which is the only way to do bondage, as you need an extremely sturdy pole in a room at least as large as the height of anyone being tied to it.
The actual tying is pretty simple: just have the bottom stand with their back - or front - against the pole and then use your tape to first restrain their arms (by the side is best as people can black out from having their hands over their heads for too long) and then work your way down.
What it is: While it can be achieved with rope bondage, as pictured above, the Frogtie Bondage Position is great with bondage tape when you want to get to a different part of the action sooner. Binding ankles to thighs allows easy genital access, while having the arms restrained immobilizes your sub in a way that still allows some squirming and wiggle room. If you and your partner are into edging, this is a very good position for it.
How to Get Into It: You can start from standing if you like, securing your partner's arms behind their back. If your partner has breasts, looping the tape just beneath them can thrust those ta-tas up and out a bit to make their breasts a more prominent locus for your attention.
Help your sub sit down and draw their feet close to their bum and tape them firmly, winding a loop around the ankles first for good measure. If you intend to have them seated for the duration, a wall to lean their back against or a pillow to prop them up is a good idea. If you want them to lay down (on their back or tummy) ensure there is a clear path for their airway and enough room to stop them from smacking their head on anything.
What it is: The Jackknife Bondage Sex Position ups the ante a bit. You are going to use a lot of tape in this position, so bear in mind that if you remove the bondage tape carefully after use, you can stick it back on the roll to use again...so feel free to apply liberally! The bent over and prone posture of this this position is great for anal access or vaginal penetration and impact play.
How to Get Into It: The plethora of restraint points in the Jackknife position means it will take a while to get your sub properly bound. Take your time and make it sexy. You may want to start at the top and work your way down. Gag them, then tape loops across the rib cage (not tight enough to inhibit breathing!) and stomach. Instruct them to hold their hands out so you can bind their wrists. Tape their thighs together then knees.
Have them lay on their side (a little spanking might be the encouragement they need) and reach towards their feet. Some bodies will only be able to bend so far, or need to bend their knees in order to get their hands close to their ankles. That's okay...you have plenty of tape! Loop the tape around the wrist restraints, then circle the ankles with the other end before moving on to the next stage of your plan.
What it is: While not necessarily the best position for sex, the ball tie position is a great one for enjoying tape bondage and a little rough handling. The neat package you will be folded into means your Dom can roll you from side to side or leave you in a helpless turtle position on your back according to their will. If you get off on getting humiliated, this position is going to be right up your alley. If you are going to be gagged, make sure you have a gesture or way to indicate that you need to stop or change something. If you are the one doing the taping, know that this position can restrict breathing, so you must keep a watchful eye out.
How to Get Into It: If you're a Dom that likes a challenge, try this one using a single strip of tape (which, bonus, also makes it easier to reuse later.) Have your sub sit and draw their knees to their chest. If they can't clasp their hands over their legs, no worries, just loop the tape in a wide figure eight shape. Once the wrists are bound, wind the tape several times around the ankles, then over the legs and across the small of their back. On the final loop across the back, rather than returning to the ankles, take the tape higher and cross it over the knees, securing behind the shoulders.
Bondage tape is inexpensive, reusable, and as pain free as you want it to be. We like:
Sportsheets Black Bondage Tape
If you are playing with bondage, tape or otherwise, safety shears are a must. Use:
Up the excitement with a few toys out of the tickle trunk, like:
Even though we feel these are eight awesome positions, feel free to experiment on your own. Almost any bondage position can be modified for bondage tape. Just be sure to listen to your partner, negotiate fully, get clear consent and have your emergency kit at the ready. Because, really, there are a whole lot of awesome sex positions that could be better with a little bondage - and bondage tape!
PRESENTED BY
Aurora loves good sex and writing about what it takes to do it. She writes travel and lifestyle for a variety of publications under a different name, with a decidedly more PG bent.
