Your new harness guide: materials and car

There is a huge variety of styles, materials and price ranges for harnesses. The best ones are made of leather. And that's just because they'll last longer and are more comfortable. For men who are adept at BDSM and bondage, the smell of leather in the bedroom is also very exciting. The other most commonly found materials for harnesses are synthetic leather, neoprene, rubber, fabric, latex and metal.

Leather Harness

This is definitely the most durable material when choosing your harness. Leather harness lasts a long time, regardless of the type of use. As a material, leather is very durable and, when cared for, leather products can easily last for many years. The surface of the skin changes over the years, which gives the leather harness a very personal touch. Furthermore, leather is a breathable and adaptable material.

Neoprene harness

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber. The smooth surface of neoprene is the thinnest choice of harnesses and this material forms a surface that sits against the skin. Neoprene is warm and soft against the skin. It's also very flexible, so if you're not sure about the correct size, this is a good choice for the material for your new harness.

Rubber harness

Rubber is a solid, tight material that offers some flexibility but doesn't breathe as much as leather and neoprene. Unlike leather, it is waterproof. The rubber harness has a relatively short life, but proper maintenance and storage can maximize the life of these products.

Rubber is very porous, so it's a sort of magnet for bacteria. For this reason, you will need to clean the rubber harness thoroughly with mild soap, water and a soft cloth after each use.

The chemical makeup of the rubber harness can give it a strong odor. On the other hand, you might be interested in these smells as well as the smell of leather. Simple rubber contains latex, so a rubber harness that contains this material can irritate people with allergies.

Fabric Harness

Fabric harness can be made from nylon, spandex, elastic and other fabrics. These types of harnesses have been gaining strength in recent years as they are comfortable and hygienic. Fabric harnesses are great for playing in the water because (if) they don't have any metal or leather parts, they can be washed in the washing machine or by hand. They are also vegan, usually.

If you travel a lot, fabric harnesses are an ideal choice because they are very light and don't trigger any metal detectors.

Synthetic Leather Harness

The artificial leather harness, also called synthetic leather, is a material designed to replace leather. Artificial leather is marketed under several names, including synthetic leather, vegan leather, PU leather and pleather. Be careful when buying.

Harness made from faux leather are cheaper and, in many cases, also have a look that looks “cheap”. However, it's also a worthwhile purchase if you're not sure if you like the harness and just want to try it out. Harnesses made from artificial leather are also suitable for vegans.

How to take care of my harness

Taking care of a leather harness is very easy, just hang it on a wooden crosspiece or upholstery in a cool, dry place, away from heat and sunlight. Never store leather in plastic bags or containers because leather needs to breathe. Before storing the leather, clean it with a clean, damp cloth, but pay attention to the areas around buckles, rings and rivets. Never clean the leather with soap, solvent, silicone, wax or other aggressive chemicals.

Leather is skin and, like your skin, it needs to be cleaned when it's dirty. And even more importantly, unlike your skin, it is no longer producing its own oils continuously and is no longer self-hydrating. Every time you wash it, or even just use it, it loses a little or a lot of moisture and oils. So you need to add it back with a leather conditioner.

For neoprene and fabric, cleaning is easy. Just wash it in the washing machine or by hand with mild soap and warm water. Outdoor drying is ideal. For rubber ones, a soft cloth and a toy disinfectant will suffice. Remember to let it dry completely before putting it away.

Synthetic leather also requires more specific care. Cleaning should be done with a slightly damp cloth and then wipe with a soft dry cloth. Let it dry before storing and if you prefer, you can use specific products for synthetic leather to maintain its shine and quality.