BDSM Gear

October 15, 2009 - 7:36 PM

BDSM Gear, or equipment used for BDSM (Bondage, Domination, Sado-Masochism) play.  Typical equipment includes, but is not limited too; collars, gag balls, ropes, specialized furniture (St. Andrews Cross, Spanking benches) handcuffs, nipple clamps, various sex toys, chastity belts, and leashes.


The various types of gear are broken into several categories: stimulation, furniture, and restraints.

Stimulation contains with it a large variety of different items used to cause pleasure, pain or both. Whips, can be used for pain and pleasure, light gentle whipping of the erogenous zones, or sharper hits along the buttocks can arouse the slave or submissive.

Nipple clamps, while causing a slight bit of pain are generally pleasurably due to the sensitivity of the nipple, Weights can be placed on the chain or the Mistress or Master, may pull and tug on them.

Dildos and vibrators can be employed while the sub is restrained by various methods. Vibrators can be used on the clitoris for example, and can bring her to the point right before climax many times to tease them or conversely used to bring about a forced orgasm.  Forced orgasms are more suited for the female due to the male’s refractory period in which the male cannot maintain an erection immediately after experiencing an orgasm.

Strap-ons can be used on both men and females, used on the former the term is known as ‘pegging’, this can similarly be used for forced orgasms for the recipient and can give the added feeling of being completely dominated.

Furniture is popular in BDSM play, but usually found in a bondage lounge, or a dungeon specifically created for the purpose of BDSM play.  The St. Andrews Cross is an X shaped cross where the sub is restrained in a spread eagle position to each arm of the cross.

A Spanking Bench comes in many different configurations but the idea is that the slave is in bondage with ropes, or straps and can not move. Some are configured so that the sub is in the position of doggy style, except for the arms are fully stretched out, this allows for minimal movement of the subject.
 
Restraints consist of similar objective items; what is used is based on pre-determined choices, and what is available. Handcuffs can be used to attach someone to a pole, bedpost, or simply behind the back, where as a collar can also restrain the person from upper body movement. A leash can be attached to allow for the slave to be led around at the Masters request.

Rope is often used for its creative freedom; an entire sub-genre exists in the Bondage scene where people create intricate designs with rope to restrain someone to some object or just to another body part. More creative uses allow people to use the rope as hoists much like a sex swing which can support the submissive during play. The dominant should be well experienced with knot making to avoid any injury from having knots come undone and the participant falling. For this reason professionals are recommended when getting into technical knot tying, and rope restraint design.