Synthetic rope
Rope made from man-made fibers such as nylon, polyester or polypropylene; stronger and washable, but with less grip and more rope-burn risk than natural fiber.
Synthetic rope is made from man-made fibers, chiefly nylon, polyester and polypropylene, and blends of them. Shibari Study’s rope guide sets out the trade-offs: synthetics are significantly stronger than jute or hemp, tolerate water and washing, and are usually hypoallergenic, but many hold frictions poorly and can cause friction burns when pulled quickly across skin. Nylon is singled out as slippery and quick to burn, and synthetics can melt near heat. Two load-rated ropes made to resemble natural fiber, POSH (polyester) and Hempex (polypropylene), are mostly used for uplines rather than body ties; Shay Tiziano of Twisted Windows likewise recommends polyester for support lines. Epic Rope counts multifilament polypropylene (MFP) and nylon among the most popular bondage fibers.