Depending on the situation, I personally use strong ropes made in Italy with tossa, or softer ropes made in Japan (asanawa), and many more. All the ropes I use are available for online sale at Vivere Zen.
Ropes for sale online
Low-quality jute or hemp skeins that are too hard to be used when purchased raw are subjected to a treatment that softens them, making them more pleasant to the touch. The most commonly used process consists of boiling, after which the ropes are spread out to dry, often under tension; then a quick pass over a flame removes the ‘lint’. The last step consists of ointing the string with natural oils or, according to others, coating it with beeswax. This process is useful on very hard ropes but damages those specifically made for bondage.
Some ropes for shibari, manufactured using the Japanese method, are so soft already at the origin that they do not need any treatment; in a few uses they let out all the lint, which can easily be removed with a flame. We advise all those who buy our ropes not to ask for the treatment, which removes part of the lint, but considerably shortens the life of the rope. Better to use the rope and let it gradually soften with use.
