How To Engage in Self Suspension Bondage

I was recently asked how to do self suspension release mechanisms by another fetlife member and here is my reply so that you all don't have to wait much longer for my thoughts to collect. Mind you it's just a start and I'll be expanding upon each of these methods in more detail as time goes on.

These days I rely on two methods... I usually have a platform (stool/chair/ladder) that I stand on while I tie the rig, then push the stand away from reach. I have an ottoman that has rolling wheels that makes it easy to kick away. To get it back I rig a rope to the stand and have that attached to a hook above my head but out of reach. When my timer releases (usually ice) the rope falls near my reach and I can pull the ottoman back under my feet.

My second trust worthy approach is a door hook. I have specially made nylon webbing straps that have a D-hook on one end and a rubber bar on the other. The rubber bar goes on the top of the door outside my bedroom and the D-hook hangs on the inside. When the door is shut the strap is stable and I can rig myself up. When I open the door it's only a drop of about a foot, so I can just catch myself. I don't use any leg bonds when using this method.

I use those the most because they are easy to work with and I have consistently set them up so I know they work. Other options I've used in the past, but have less trust in are as follows...

When using large braided rope as a main line I would often make what's called a slipped figure eight or slipped half hitch. A basic knot, but not pulled all the way through. So you'd have a loop of rope called the drawloop sticking out one end. The tension of the rope would prevent any slippage and when I wanted out I simply pulled the knot lose by jerking the drawloop back out. In the same way most Chinese food restaurants tie the plastic bags on to-go orders. Again, a small suspension height was required.

Another method I'm trying to perfect is having a rope tied to a dinner napkin sized piece of nylon cloth. I pass the nylon cloth through a small metal ring that is attached at the top of my suspension mount. Then I add a golf ball shaped ice cube to the inside of the cloth and pull the slack back through the metal ring until the ice wedges against the ring. This will create a secure line until the ice melts enough that it either slips through or cracks. Either way your main rope and nylon sack will fall through and you're released.

I've also used a pit in the ground as my suspension point and the edge nearby as my release point, getting in was as easy as jumping in and getting out required me to swing back to the edge.
I have used a zipline approach where you have a cable attached between two trees and your main suspension line is on a pulley that can move across the top wire. This requires a lot of tension though otherwise the top wire will just dip so much that you can't get back to the edge of the line where your stand is.

You could also use a ratcheting rope device, either hand made - Special Ring Device or purchased RopeRatchet from a place like home depot. The trick with these is to use a high strength nylon string, with several wraps around your mount point and the ratchet device. When you want to get down you simply cut through the nylon string (only one wrap needs to be cut) with a pair of safety shears and you'll fall from the rig.

And the last one I can think of off the top of my head is to tie your self with no slack in a standing position, then use a locking mechanism to tie your feet up to your thighs or waist. To release yourself you simply unlock the bind between your ankles and waist and you'll be able to stand right up and remove the main suspension line. Something like a keyed lock to hold an ankle bind to a belt around your waist would work.

Again, these are all very dangerous methods regardless of how comfortable I've become with them. Always test your rigs from inches off the ground, never bind your hands until you're fully confident in your work. And I really suggest you don't do inverted suspension unsupervised. And always try to keep your sessions as short as you can. The ice method is still a work in progress for me because it's so hard to time the release, not because I can't get it to work. If you pass out while in a suspended state you can easily cut off circulation to any limb including your brain without any way of recovering.

Enjoy!