Strap on play requires two basic elements: a harness and a strap on dildo. I am going to discuss the harness in this article and the dildos in a second article.

Harness Material
One of the first things to consider when buying your harness is what material do you want your harness to be made out of. Each one will have a different durability, a different ease of cleaning, a different feel, and a different safety.

Leather: Leather is a very tough material and will last a very long time. It cannot get wet though, so you want to keep it dry, and therefore cannot use it in the tub or near water. Leather is porous, so there is some risk if you are using it with multiple partners. Leather has a very unique feel to it and unique smell. It tends to be a bit stiffer than other materials, but you can get very soft leathers.

Nylon and Spandex: This material is similar to what you would find in ordinary clothes. This material can be submerged in water, so if you want to use a harness while wet, then it is a good option. It can be cleaned in a washing machine which makes it easy to care for. Even though it will be slightly porous if you wash it in the washing machine, the heat will kill most bacteria so it is a bit safer than leather if you are sharing with multiple partners. It is a more flexible material so it tends to fit a little better than leather too. Think of underwear actually when thinking of this material. It will be similar.

Vinyl: This material is also porous, so you need to be careful with multiple partners. Vinyl has a very characteristic look. It has a unique aesthetic. It is however waterproof, so you can get this material wet. This material is very flexible so it will fit quite well. The nylon and spandex will fit a bit better though. This material can be a little sticky, so it can rub a bit and be a little irritating.

Silicone: This material is hypoallergenic and a very safe material. It is similar to vinyl in that it can be a bit sticky and tacky. It tends to be a bit stiff too and doesn’t fit quite as well as the other materials. It is non-porous though making it the safest to share with multiple partners. It also retains heat a bit, meaning it can be nice once it warms up to body temperature.

Harness Style
After you have decided on the material of your harness, you need to decide on the style of harness you want. Each style fits differently, will have a different aesthetic, and a different amount of control.

Double Strap: The double strap harness is called a double strap because there are two straps that go around the bum. This harness tends to offer a lot of control while still leaving your genitals quite open. If it is a low rise harness, you won't be able to be penetrated, but if it isn’t, then you can be penetrated with one of these harnesses on. This harness is adjustable with buckles. The G-string harness is the same way.

G-String: This style of harness is similar to the double strap harness, except instead of having two straps that straddle your buttock it has one. Basically it is like a g-string, but at the front of the harness is a place for the dildo. This harness will cover your genitals because the strap goes from between your legs. This harness tends to have moderate amounts of control. It has one less strap so it provides less control than the double strap, but it provides more than the panty harness. This harness does have the advantage of providing stimulation to some women. It can rub against your genitals providing pleasurable sensations.

Panty Harness: The panty harness does not use buckles to buckle up. It just slides on like a pair of underwear. This means it has the least amount of control, because only an elastic and not buckles are holding it in place. But because of this, it is also the most comfortable and has a very different look to it. Because it is a pair of underwear, it also covers your genitals and therefore doesn’t allow penetrative sex while wearing it.

Male Harness: These harnesses are designed for men and most of the time have two holes in them. They allow the penis to go through one hole and allow a dildo to be placed in the other one. This lets you perform double penetration, or if you have erectile dysfunction or are in your refractory period, can use a harness to have sex with.

If you have any questions about buying a harness feel free to ask in the comments.