This kind of full enclosure bondage is not for hot temperatures
The first heat wave of the summer was one of the major topics the past days. It was so hot that several pride marches, inluding major ones like in Paris for example, were cancelled due to health and safety concerns for the participants. The sentiment that this will be the coolest summer for the rest of our life is still echoing. So it is no wonder that I have gotten several questions about gear like chastity cages and collars which some subs would like to wear 24/7 and their heat suitability.
(Confinment)Play & Chemsex
While I have gotten your attention, a quick word of general advice when it comes to play: The hot weather puts extreme stress on your circulation. Avoid play which adds stress like stress or suspension bondage, especially when the body is not upright. Putting people into body bondage gear like strait jackets and sleep sacks or hoods limits the evaporation of sweat and thus its cooling function. Even when the bondage gear feels cools to the touch, the temperatures inside can be dangerous already. Please also limit the usage of substances like poppers which puts additional stress to the circulation system or other chems which in addition can fuck with you thermo regulation. Please be safe & sensible! The summer is long and there will be cold, rainy days where intense play can help pass the time.
Freely Dangling Metal Bits like this Horse Shoe Piercing can become incredibly hot
Collars
Let’s start with collars since this is probably the most often piece of gear in the kink community. The collar covers the neck and thus the main blood vessels leading to the brain and also the vagus nerve which is influential in the thermo regulation of our body. Putting these critical systems under additional heat stress is not a good idea. Because of this I would not recommend rubber collars. Rubber heats up quickly, especially under sun light and can lead to heat burns. In addition, the silicone oil which makes it shiny focuses the sun light which can increase the likelihood of sun burns on the edges. Since rubber is destroyed by natural and fats oils, the protective oil film sun screen creates, should not touch the rubber. In addition to sun screen, UV light also is not good for rubber. So all things considered, do not wear rubber collars in the current weather, especially when it is exposed to (direct) sunlight.
The next big fetish material collars are made out of, is leather. Except accumulated heat, UV radiation bleaching out the leather and black leather getting very hot, there is technically no reason not to wear a leather collar. However, leather requires special care in the heat. The night temperatures and the salt in your sweat will dry out the leather. So I recommend a daily wash with saddle soap to the sweat and grim out of the leather and condition it with leather fat afterwards to keep is nice and flexible.
The probably most uncritical collar material is neoprene. It can withstand UV radiation, sun screen and heat to some extent. When it has gotten sweaty, simple was with dish soap, rinse and let dry. If you are going to wear a collar 24/7 in this heat, make it a neoprene one.
All leather collars but especially posture collars are not ideal for heavy heat
Like neoprene, steel chain collars do not mind heat, radiation or sun screen. They are cleaned even more easily and dry more quickly. But metal can store a lot of heat so they can get incredibly hot. While the connection to the body cools the chain, it can lead to heat burns. Their shiny surface can also reflect the light sun back onto the skin, increasing the UV dosage on around the collar so apply extra sun screen.
Other metal accessories like aluminum or stainless steel dog tags which dangle freely, cannot transfer warmth to the body so they can heat up a lot. When they then accidentally touch the skin, it can leads to burns.
A recent trend is incorporating NFCs into 3D printed dog tags to easily share social media info by tapping. Under extended exposure to sunlight the circuits inside the tag can melt, especially when the tag is black. So don’t wonder if it does not work anymore after a long pride march in the blistering sun.
Chastity Cages
So, if metal collars can be potentially dangerous gear in the summer blaze, what about metal chastity cages? Well, that depends on the cage type. Critical are the belt or brief style cages, for example a Lawtowski, Behind Barz or Carrara.Warmer weather bloats our body. So a metal cage which usually fits perfectly can start chafing on the hips. If that gets too uncomfortable or even creates small wounds, give your skin a bit of rest and switch to a cuffed style cage. There is another good reason for that, especially when you are sun bathing in your brief belt.
Our testicles are very delicate organs. In order to produce sperm, they need the right temperature. One of the measures to ensure that your balls do not get too hot is making your balls hang lower. This increases the surface area and thus creates more space for sweat to evaporate. In a completely encased cage, the increased area does not create more evaporation because everything is enclosed. Since metal traps heat, your balls can get too hot. This is even worse when you just wear your cage in the bright sun as an underwear replacement. You basically have put your balls in a camping pot which can lead to lasting damages.
A different Ring Size can Work Wonders when your Body Changes due to the Heat
These lower, looser balls are also the reason why in warm weather, even with a well-fitting base ring, you balls start might slip through it. If that is an issue for you, try a slightly smaller ring for wearing during the dog days of summer. A very soft TPR cockring around the balls can work is you have really loose balls but in the sweaty nether regions this can lead to pinching if you wear it 24/7. The increase of body volume in combination with more sweat and warmth can lead to pinching and chafing at your taint or dick. A rich milking grease ointment with calendula or aloe extracts protects these areas well even if a thick and heavy lotion does not feel nice in hot weather.
If you prefer a more closed or open Chastity Cage is a personal preference. Both have advantages & disadvantages
Another popular question was, are more closed or more open cages better in the heat. Well, that depends. More open cages like the Kink3D Cobra are better ventilated. So your dick cools more easily. But the effect that increases your body volume also affects your dick. So the tissue can uncomfortably press against the bars. Also, your underwear can uncomfortably stick against your skin. This is of course not the case with more closed off cages like the Kink3D Viper where your dick simmers in its own juice a bit. In the end, it is up to personal taste. Personally I prefer the more closed style since I do not like the feeling of my briefs sticking to my foreskin. But the downside of the more closed cages is that cleaning is a bit more difficult – not that some of us pigs care.
Concluding, the essence of this article is like every article with heat advice: Take care of your circulation and don’t stress it more than necessary. Listen to your body and if something does not feel got, stop it. But I know that our sexual organs can sometimes be louder than our critical thinking. Horniness replaces reason, especially when the heat if already dampening our trail of thought. For many of us play opportunities do not come as often as we would like which makes us inclined to not rain check even when the circumstances are not optimal. So this article should serve as a reminder that sometimes even when horniness is pressing, also in kink patience is a virtue. Instead of getting down & dirty, use the scheduled time to eat ice cream with your play partner or sit in the shade and talk about your dreams and desires, connecting in a different way and maybe laying the foundation for even more intense play.
