Contents of a basic rope suspension kit
Building a rope kit for suspension can be daunting, and it’s certainly an investment. Many options are available, and it can be hard to know what is essential, what is worth a splurge, and what safety considerations are most important. This guide is intended as a starting point for assembling a functional, reliable kit with an emphasis on safety, durability, and practicality for rope suspension.
Here are some supply fundamentals:
A cutting tool (or two)
We recommend high-quality safety shears.
Practice using them!
I recommend a minimum of 4 to 6 “full lengths” (generally around 30 feet or 8-10 meters) and 4 “half lengths” (generally around 15 feet). For thickness, most folks use 6mm rope.
If you don’t own any rope, we recommend the following:
Twisted Monk for hemp – use code “TWISTEDWINDOWS” for 10% off.
Chromaknotz for nylon – this kit was put together to meet the supply requirements of my self-suspension classes and even includes the book Tying & Flying! Use code “Twisted_Windows” for a discount.
This page gives more information on different rope materials and the trade-offs involved.
We recommend at least two 30-foot support lines. We highly recommend 6mm POSH, available from Twisted Monk.
Any relevant medical supplies (inhaler if you have asthma, glucose tablets if you have diabetes, and so on)
Four to six locking, suspension-worthy carabiners
It’s often best to go to a climbing store and get your hands on them, as it can be challenging to judge the size and other properties by looking at online listings.
Look for roomy pear or oval shapes.
See this page for more details on what to look for and avoid.
A suspension ring or plate
While optional, having a ring or rigging plate is extremely useful for separating and organizing your uplines. They reduce crowding at connection points, helping prevent jams. They also offer other benefits, including improved load orientation and force paths, more predictable movement, and cleaner aesthetics.
I highly recommend SubSpace Designs – contact me for a discount code!
Make sure your equipment is load-rated/tested and purchased from a reputable manufacturer or supplier. Some low-quality imitation rings have failed and broken under use, causing serious injury.
You can also consider a climbing-rated rigging plate.
A few supplies that are nice to have, but optional or not relevant in all cases:
A rated nylon sling (2 – 4′ long) or similar to hang your hard point. This is needed if you work with beam-based points, such as “swingset” frames or truss, or at venues where you need to lower the hardpoint.
A swivel. Helpful if you like to spin…not so helpful if you don’t! Ensure the swivel (and all your rigging supplies) are climbing-rated.
A bag to store your rope and supplies. We recommend a MonkSak!
A yoga mat or other padded surface (some folks prefer a rug).
A marlinspike – useful for untying jammed knots and also fun as a sensation play implement.
Additional supplies for being in rope
Clothing: options include nudity or snug-fitting garments without embellishments such as buttons, zippers, jewels, underwires, fringe, and so on. Shay likes leggings and sports bras.
Something to drink (water, Gatorade, Pedialyte, coconut water)
A blanket or a robe
Band-Aids. These are helpful from both a tying and being-tied perspective—Shay commonly catches hangnails on her rope and finds herself bleeding while tying.
A light snack, such as a banana or a cereal bar.
If you wish to try tying over shoes, consider ankle-height, hard-soled shoes with a distinct heel (it doesn’t need to be high).
