Although Twisted Monk is known as a hemp house, we have long prided ourselves on seeking other unique, ethically-sourced rope fibers to inspire original rope play experiences. Different fibers can communicate different intentions between the caster and receiver of rope. A silky soft bamboo tied with gentle care is a very different experience than coconut rope cinched with gusto.
To help illustrate the spectrum of sensation, we’ve come up with our “Oooh to Ouch!” rope sensation play scale.
Although sensation play is multidimensional, this linear scale helps in visualizing how fibers compare to each other.
The Twisted Monk crew loves getting the chance to take home the fibers we find for testing and experimentation, and we would like to share some of our sensational rope fiber adventures with you!
Although it’s not my favorite fiber to tie with, I see bamboo as one of the most valuable ropes in my kit because I know I can use it to fulfill a specific set of tying intentions that people I tie with frequently want. Bamboo rope is an ideal tool for a scene centered on gentle intimacy. Its lightweight nature makes it perfect for feather-soft rope caresses. I love the shiver of pleasure I can elicit from those I tie with as smooth bamboo slides over bare skin.
Additionally, because my tying style is often focused on the visual art of combining model and rope to create an image, my rope receivers are often people who want to focus more on looking and feeling beautiful, rather than feeling the intensity of being tightly or roughly bound. Bamboo – with its delicate flexibility, silky shine and bold colors – is perfect for this.
Bamboo rope is an ideal tool for a scene centered on gentle intimacy. Its lightweight nature makes it perfect for feather-soft rope caresses.
I have also found bamboo to be an excellent choice for people who are interested in being bound but are apprehensive about intense sensations. The tender touch of bamboo is a great way to introduce someone to being bound without the sensation multiplier of rougher fibers.
The satiny luxury of bamboo is squarely on the “Oooh” end of the scale.
Rosy on POSH in water
Some of my favorite rope scenes have been in hot tubs. Steamy water, crisp air, and wet rope slithering across the skin make a sensation combination like no other. Most natural fibers lock up when wet, becoming impossible to untie, and degrade quickly when exposed to water and sun. POSH rope, designed as a replacement for natural fiber ropes in a nautical setting, does not have these problems, making it perfect to rig ships on the high seas… or people in hot tubs!
I asked one of my rope receivers, who is also a rope whipper for Twisted Monk, Lila, about her perspective on our hot tub scenes. She said wet POSH “felt very soft on [her] skin,” and she marveled at how the water pressure and lack of gravity kept ties in place, reduced chaffing, and changed how rope constriction felt.
As a rope caster, I really enjoy the weight of wet POSH gliding through my hands. I find it fun to give my ends a quick tug to elicit a playful splash. Letting wet rope sit out for a minute and get cold for some temperature play also fuels my sadistic soul.
As a rope caster, I really enjoy the weight of wet POSH gliding through my hands. I find it fun to give my ends a quick tug to elicit a playful splash.
Although wet POSH is soft and slick, its more robust spin opens it up for an increase in sensation intensity, sliding it down the scale with a potential for a bit of “Ouch!”
Monk and Anonymous Production Manager on hemp
Of course, Monk, the hemp mogul himself, wanted to talk hemp rope. He says, “Hemp is unlike any fiber I’ve ever used in my 20 years of tying. Hemp is an extension of my desire. Most rope fibers sit on the body. Hemp touches me back, creating a warmth and connection with my partner. We can talk all day about the durability and longevity of hemp, but the way my partner sinks into my rope? Priceless.”
“Hemp is an extension of my desire. Most rope fibers sit on the body. Hemp touches me back, creating a warmth and connection with my partner.”
The man in charge of keeping our hemp production on track wanted to remain anonymous, but he also had some things he wanted to say about hemp – and this guy has tens of thousands of feet of rope pass through his hands a month, so he really knows what he’s talking about. “Hemp is a total sensory experience. The smell, the feel of it going through your fingers, the consistency of it… I like processed hemp because I can control the sensations I inflict. Whether I’m playing with someone new to kink or a seasoned masochist, I can customize the experience.”
With these appraisals of hemp in mind, it’s safe to say that hemp can cover a large spectrum of our scale depending on how it’s wielded. Hemp is one of the most delightfully versatile tools in one’s kinky tool box.
Twisted Monk’s head of customer service was first introduced to coconut rope while we were experimenting with processing it in-house, and was immediately enamored. Doris says coconut rope is downright “magical”. “Coconut rope feels like tiny electrical impulses dancing across your skin as you're wrapped in it. It’s perfect for scratching that little masochistic itch we all crave from time to time. Honestly, my favorite days are the ones where I get to package up all the coconut. It’s a joy to handle and even more fun to share.” I even had the pleasure of watching Doris’s first scene with coconut rope at a rope jam, and I can confirm, she was overwhelmed with sensation and blissed out to the max!
“Coconut rope feels like tiny electrical impulses dancing across your skin as you're wrapped in it. It’s perfect for scratching that little masochistic itch we all crave from time to time.”
With its raw, prickly nature, coconut rope presses into flesh with an organic aggression that sets it firmly on the “Ouch!” end of our scale.
Final feelings
At Twisted Monk, we aim to inspire people to pursue their pleasure, whether that pleasure looks like tender loving care, sexy sadism, or anything in between. The human body offers an infinite wonderland of sensations to explore, and rope is such a delicious way to embrace that thrilling spectrum of possibilities.
