Beginner's silk rope kit - rope discontinued by Sportsheets - review by Gracefire

Let me just say right off the bat that I am a huge fan of rope. For versatility, feel and price, it truly cannot be beat. Whether you are tying them to the bed, binding hands or ankles, or using it to lightly flog their skin, this is really just the beginning of all the amazing things you can do with rope. Silk especially is soft and feels great - a lovely way to pamper your lover a bit. And for those who may just want to experiment with some light, basic tying, this is a good value, as silk rope can be very expensive and hard to come by. So, for introduction, this is really great.

However, I also come from a perspective of some one who does serious shibari. Although it is rated as a "Top 10 Suspension kit" pick, 6 feet is not even remotely long enough to use for suspension, nor even for any real ties. Rope should always be doubled to avoid putting too much strain on any one point on the body, which would reduce this to a mere three feet of rope. 10 feet is the minimum you are going to want if you want to do any real ties. This is also somewhat thick, and may have trouble holding a secure knot.

As far as care, silk rope does require some special care. Rope should be washed between each use, as bodily fluids transfer should always be a concern, and oils from your skin can harm the rope. Silk rope should always, always, ALWAYS be hand washed with mild detergent and hung to dry. If for any reason you cannot hand wash, place the rope in a lingerie/mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase knotted shut and wash on the slowest, most delicate cycle possible. It should NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES be put in the dryer. Really, though, hand washing is strongly recommended.