This Kink Sucks! Latex Vacbed Bondage Explained

People who love latex often really love it. For those who've found that this material rules their kinky world, the ultimate experience probably has to be a trip in a latex vacbed. MadameZ explains how these kinktastic contraptions work, and includes some vital safety tips.

Vacuum bondage is pretty much what it sounds like – someone gets into a latex vacbed and a pump (often a standard household vacuum cleaner) is used to suction all the air out.

The latex is drawn tightly around the body, effectively immobilizing the person. Then, as a couple of vacbed bondage enthusiasts gleefully informed me, ‘you can do whatever you want to them and they can’t get away!'

Furthermore, the level of tight enclosure you get with a latex vacbed is probably the most comprehensive form of restraint bondage around, which makes it particularly appealing to people who find comfort, safety and a state of bliss in being firmly restrained.

Sucking it up in a latex vacbed

For all the gleeful sadists out there, it’s also the case that every touch, tickle or strike of an implement is intensified when your sub is effectively shrink-wrapped through a latex vacbed.
 

Objectification is a large part of the pleasure some tops and bottoms take in this kink. Pictures of people in vacuum bondage certainly transform any body into a glistening work of kinky, slightly unsettling art: anonymous, not-quite-human, frozen in a moment of eerie perfection.

How much does a latex vacbed cost?

A latex vacbed usually consists of a sack made of reasonably thick latex, with a zip on one side, and a frame, along with a connector for your vacuum. There is a certain amount of ongoing discussion online among vacbed users as to the best type of Hoover or pump: apparently, a lot of vacbed bondage play is likely to trash some models of Hoovers if you're not careful.

For a straightforward latex vacbed, you’re generally looking at £250-£300 (€290-350 / $320-380). You can get smaller ones, which will really only hold one person, but there are larger models available if you’re in the mood for a full-blown vacbed bondage orgy. OK, you won’t be able to move, but being pressed so tightly against the body of another brings in a whole new element to this kind of play. 

Getting started with vacuum bed bondage

If the idea of trying out vacbed bondage is a real turn-on but you're new to them, some when pre-planning and learning can be a big help in trying to understand this kink – especially when it comes to the aspect of staying safe. We list some safety measures below, but if you're new to vacuum beds, it could be well worth your while to invest in the Introduction to Vacuum Bed Play course over at the fetish.com BDSM Training School.
 

Led by seasoned fetish expert Vicky Caves of Bondatrix, this five-chapter video course is a perfect introduction if you're curious about trying out vacbed bondage – as a top or a bottom. As well as learning how to set one up properly and watch someone try it out, Vicky will explain plenty of kinky activities you can try out with a partner.

Our online course also features essential info about how to care and maintain your vacbed, plus, there's also a section explaining how to make your own – perfect for all you kinky crafters out there! 

Latex vacbeds and breath play

However, if you already have some experience with this kink, an optional aspect of vacbed bondage is breath play. Some latex vacbeds are fitted with breathing holes, which can be used with extra tubes or other devices.

Other vacuum cubes and beds are designed to form a seal around the neck so that the submissive’s head and face remain free. With these, gas masks can be added in – whether that’s purely for functional purposes or you want to boost the visual appeal for the dominant or any other observer.

“An optional aspect of vacbed bondage kink is breath play: some latex vacbeds are fitted with breathing holes, which can be used with extra tubes or other devices.”

There are different designs of latex hoods and masks with various types of airways and degrees of face covering. This can be helpful if someone longs for total rubber enclosure but baulks at actual breath control – or shouldn’t engage in breath play because of specific health issues.

Some manufacturers include an additional hole or port to allow the dominant partner access to the victim’s naughty bits, but if yours doesn’t, there are other erotic options. You could, for instance, insert a vibrating buttplug prior to enclosing someone in vacuum bondage.

Latex vacbed tips and tricks

• No sharps! Whoever’s going in to the vacuum bed should make sure they don’t have any sharp edges about themselves. Remove jewellery, wristwatches or high heels. Many devotees like to go in naked, but this may not be welcome or advisable if the vacbed is in use at a club or a party or otherwise going to be enjoyed by a succession of players.
   
• This is absolutely not a kink for the solo player You can’t control the vacuum from inside the bed, and you can’t get out by yourself. Furthermore, no one should ever be left unattended in vacuum bondage. Especially if the mouth and nose are covered and a breathing tube is in use.
   
• Health risks If someone has existing ear problems, they should be very careful about trying latex vacbed bondage. There have been a few reported cases of ear damage from this kink. It’s also probably best avoided – or approached with a lot of extra care and full disclosure to your partner – if you have known respiratory issues.
   
• Time your play. Most enthusiasts seem to think that it’s not a great idea to stay in your latex vacbed for too long. An attack of cramp is the most usual reason for wanting to be released in a hurry, rather than anything more serious. There are also a few reports of bruising occurring on people who have overdone it, particularly with heavier grades of latex.

As always with kink, vacbed bondage isn’t an activity that’s going to do it for everyone. Some people simply don’t care for latex and others dislike or can’t cope with physical restraint.

It is, however, one of the more adaptable and unusual fetishes. Putting someone in a latex vacbed can be done playfully and tenderly – or, for the hardcore player, be part of a deliciously terrifying scene featuring power, cruelty, dehumanization, and control. •

Using a latex vacbed and vacuum bondage requires a lot of prep and knowledge beforehand. If you’ve got some tips or questions you want to share, slide on over to the forums and let everyone know.

Main image Stewartpalmer at English Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons