Years ago—before a major move and other life events upended my more serious exploration in kink—I began casually dabbling in rope. I followed friends’ rope tutorials online, stacked my kit with my favorite hemp from Twisted Monk, and tied basic chest and hip harnesses on myself and my friends for fun.
Then, as it has a tendency to do, life happened. And kept happening. And kept happening. I got so far away from rope—and my rope kit sat in my closet, untouched, for so long—that it felt too far out of reach to return to.
That isn’t the end of the story, though. (This wouldn’t make for a very good rope review if it was.) Somehow, somewhere, amid the pain and isolation of the pandemic, something incredible happened. I began to build community with fellow kinky people for the first time, to intentionally center and prioritize deep, intimate friendships over romantic partnerships. So when one of those friends said, “Hey, I’m learning rope for the first time,” I said, “Want to learn together?”
That was six months ago. In the time since, I’ve felt more connected to my body and its needs, my friends, and my healing than I have in years. I’ve discovered what it’s like to feel strong and set goals to build my strength for more advanced ties in the future. I’ve come further on my journey to body neutrality. And I’ve learned about my own preferences in how I like to tie and be tied—which brings us to why we’re here today.
My first experience with rope was with hemp, but I’d always wanted to try nylon—both are considered excellent industry standards, just with different benefits. (Check out Shay Tiziano’s site for detailed information about various rope materials—you’ll find a list under the Rope for Harnesses section.) I reached out to the lovely folks over at ChromaKnotz and they sent me a few hanks of rope in exchange for a review.
The Rope
ChromaKnotz kindly sent me four pieces of 30 foot rope in their stunning Tantalizing Teal color. Many people love nylon because it is often dyed in electrifyingly vibrant hues, and ChromaKnotz’s offerings are no different!
Unpackaging the rope was a delightful sensory experience. As if being struck by how beautiful it was wasn’t enough, I was stunned by how luxurious the rope felt as I turned it over in my hands. Hemp feels luxurious to me, too, but in a different way—this nylon felt like silk, like butter, making it comfortable on the skin while being tied.
While not everyone wants to feel comfortable while they’re tied up—I, for one, do enjoy the scratchy feeling of hemp—nylon is a fantastic option for many kinds of ties. Additionally, for someone with any kind of skin sensitivity or sensory concerns, nylon can offer a great contrast to hemp’s more abrasive qualities.
For me, four pieces of 30 foot rope was a great starting point in my nylon journey. It’s more than enough for basic ties and is the perfect amount for chest and hip harnesses for someone with a larger body like mine. This kind of “starter pack” also provides a solid foundation to build on for more advanced ties.
Aside from making high-quality rope, ChromaKnotz is just a damn good company to support. One 30 foot piece of rope is $20, a more accessible price point than other materials without sacrificing any of the quality. All of their rope is hand-dyed in small batches, meaning you’re not getting any mass, splotchy dye jobs. When your ChromaKnotz rope arrives at your front door, you know it’s ready to use.
As an educator, I also appreciate ChromaKnotz’s commitment to providing rope education opportunities to customers through kits and books sold alongside the rope itself. With highly-respected rope educators like Shay Tiziano, Lee Harrington, and Evie Vane partnering with the company on rope kits, you can trust you’re getting the best of the best.
The Experience
Getting used to tying and being tied in nylon has been a learning curve, but not in a bad way. Quite the opposite, in fact: learning how my body responds to different kinds of materials and the nuances in skills needed for nylon versus hemp has been empowering.
The first time my rope partner and I used the ChromaKnotz nylon, we definitely exchanged looks—it felt a bit slippery and unwieldy in comparison to the more grippy hemp we were used to. Practice and persistence paid off, though, and we both ended up agreeing that using the ChromaKnotz nylon for fundamental ties like the TK (takate-kote, a foundational chest harness to build on for suspensions and other intermediate-advanced work) made it the most comfortable experience either of us had had with rope.
In addition to variations on the TK, we practiced basic knots, chest harnesses, and arm harnesses, and I practiced self-tied chest and hip harnesses. Each tie was comfortable yet sturdy, and the knots held quite well.
Again, comfort isn’t always the goal for riggers or rope bottoms, but for many people, it is. If you’re a beginner, have sensory sensitivities, working up to more advanced ties, building your stamina, a self-tier, practicing new ties, or are being held in bondage for more extended periods of times, comfort could be a priority for you. It’s certainly a priority for me sometimes—and other times, when I crave a more scratchy feel, I’ll reach into the other side of my rope bag.
I also asked my rope partner to weigh in on his experience using the ChromaKnotz nylon:
“This nylon rope is wonderful for a multitude of reasons. The texture, ease of use, and flexibility all were highlights. But for me, the best thing about this rope is the visual aesthetic. As a shibari enthusiast that loves making someone look and feel beautiful, this rope delivered on many levels on that front. The bright teal specifically was my favorite. This rope is perfect for beginners, experts, and anyone in between.”
I strongly recommend ChromaKnotz for all your nylon rope needs. Whether you’re just starting out in your rope journey, have had experience with other materials like me, or are looking for a new nylon company to support, ChromaKnotz has you covered with accessible, affordable, exquisite rope.
Many thanks to ChromaKnotz for sending me rope in exchange for an unbiased review!