Oh yes, self-bondage. I can tell a few tales about that. From getting caught to thinking that this time I'm not going to make it. Which brings to the first point: You need a 100% idiot-proof way to get out. Imagine your house burning down, because an asteroid crashed into your bathroom. I usually have a phone in reach. This way you have quite a bit of flexibility in terms of emergencies. Your neighbor, the fire department, the police all at your fingertips. But your fingers can go numb, so you really can't have enough backup plans. In the instance I mentioned above, three "fail-safe" methods failed.
That said, self-bondage can be a really unique feeling. Totally different from regular bondage. Of course the risk is a factor. But also just the fact that no-one is in control. So you're really in your own world. And all factors go out the window. Like a meditation almost. Actually I think the psychology behind it is very similar to extreme sports.
Sports. The next keyword. Lying around can't be very strenuous, can it? Well, not if you are spread-eagled in your bed, but a hogtie on hard ground will be total hell after even a few minutes. Speaking from experience, after two hours, your joints will hurt like you never knew they could, your wrists will feel like they've been cut off with an axe. Certain muscles in your legs, back and neck will have had countless nasty cramps... My suggestion would be, before you really tie yourself up, spend ten minutes in the position you plan for your tie and see how that goes. And never forget an hour can be an e...ter...ni...ty.
Now, how do you do it? There's basically two styles: DIY-style relies on clever knots and household items. And techno-style relies on equipment and keys.
In the end it all comes down to the release mechanism:
Key in ice: The all time king. Very reliable if you set it up right. My setup is put ice in a sock and put a very loose hook around it and put tons of weight on the hook besides the key until you are sure there is no way the hook could possibly stay up there when the ice is gone. You can even store the setup as is (after it's dry of course) and have it ready to go in seconds with fresh ice cubes from the freezer. As always with ice: timing isn't very precise. Expect and prepare to be one hour off at times. But as I view it's even better if you don't know the exact duration your session is going to be.
But what to use the key for? Two things usually: Either handcuffs or a padlock. That's what I would recommend for beginners, Tie everything up the way you want, then tie two short ropes around each of your wrists. (If you find it too easy to get to the knots later on, you can use superglue on them.) And finally secure them together with a padlock. This way, if you do mess up you have a pretty good chance of getting out *somehow*. With handcuffs in a hogtie, your release mechanism fails, you are royally *f-ed*.
MEObond Also extremely safe. And very cheap. No, not the original, but take two empty cans and you can easily build one. I'll write a tutorial sometime. It's probably even safer than the ice cubes. What I don't like about it is that you get wet as the water drips out, the thing is extremely cold and you can influence the release time with your body heat. Someone else might see these things as positive, but for me, well. I'd use this method for high-risk ties where I need the reliability.
Far-away key: Good way to turn your session into an adventure. Put the key in your living room and crawl all the way. Put the key in the woods and run in the early morning, praying no-one will see you. Also rather safe, because if you can move that much, you should be able to get help somehow.
Partner: Most people use this as a backup, I like to use it as a primary sometimes. But I'd never do it without informing the other person. If he/she doesn't show up... you have to have *some* alternative. Imagine the tragic news article: Women died in car crash, bound husband found dead three weeks later. Ok, not very likely, but you never know.
One more thing - Self-Bondage in nature: Don't do it. I love to do bondage in nature, but if you are alone, everything that can, will go wrong. Those kids from next door *will* turn up, shut down your release mechanism and take a few pictures *just in case*, of course only after setting up camp next to you and inviting the whole city for a party. And every animal, proportional to how annoying it is will suddenly take an interest in you. Ants will come miles just to piss you off and it will rain, even if you are in the Kalahari desert and the weather forecast said with 100% certainty that it won't. Don't do it. Ever. Maaaybe in your garden, but only if you're already experienced.
Enough for one day. I'll write more when the next person asks.
