What Is a Vacuum Bed?
A vacuum bed is a genius piece of fetish-minded engineering where latex sheets merge with vacuum technology for full-body bondage and restraint.
How Does a Vacuum Bed Work?
Basically, there are squares or rectangles of latex that form an envelope around you. Suction devices remove the air inside the envelope to create the ultimate in restriction and bondage.
The bed may be a simple envelope of blanketing or sheets, or it might be connected with pipes and pipe joints. Some are cubes or rectangles that are designed for kneeling or standing instead.
The dominant lover has control over the vacuum bed and the bondage and BDSM.
Read: 10 BDSM Furniture Ideas for Your Home Dungeon
How Do You Breathe in a Vacuum Bed?
Different manufacturers tackle the breathing issue differently. Full body vacuum beds cover and bind you head to toe. There is an air pipe, something along the lines of a snorkeling tube, that the bound person holds in their mouth.
While this version is the most complete in bondage, it is also the most dangerous. If a problem arises, it may be difficult to talk, act, or correct the air situation in a timely manner.
Read: Most Extreme Kinks and Dangerous Fetishes
Other vacuum beds do not cover the head. These are much safer. Since the appeal of the vacuum bed for some BDSM lovers is total bondage, total restriction, total dependence, or total depersonalization, this option may not be preferred.
Many kinky people use a tight latex hood for the sensation of complete envelopment and bondage. BDSM hoods have mouth holes. Some are designed with porous and breathable fabric. Using a hood with the vacuum bed is versatile option.
Read: The Kinky Fun of Blinding Hoods, Muzzles, and Face Masks
The Allure of Vacuum Beds
Total Restriction and Bondage
It’s one thing to be handcuffed to the bed or locked into a kneeling position. It’s another altogether to abandon control and movement of every part of your body. Total restriction in a vacuum bed can be extremely fulfilling sexually and psychologically for submission and surrender.
And while a vacuum bed is definitely not kink lite, not everyone who enjoys them is necessarily submissive or masochistic. Others also receive intense psychological pleasure from completely abandoning control over movement. It can be extremely relaxing, comforting, or meditative to experience the total restriction of a vacuum bed.
Think about other products that are created to serve other purposes. There are weighted blankets designed to comfort dogs who experience pain and terror during a storm. There are also heavy and all-encompassing blankets that are designed for neurodivergent children to help them relax.
Read: Why BDSM Submission is So Satisfying
Complete Vulnerability
For some, the allure of vacuum beds is the complete vulnerability inherent in handing over control of your whole body to another. While vulnerability within a power exchange relationship can be achieved in many kinds of sexual and psychological BDSM scenarios, there are few that offer so complete a dependence.
Mummification play, suspension bondage, and needle play might have similar effects for some. The vacuum bed does not even give you space or air of your own, making it an even more intense but related enclosure practice to mummification bondage.
Sensory Deprivation
Sensory deprivation can be a submission and bondage pursuit, part of humiliation and depersonalization. Using hoods and isolation can achieve some sensory deprivation. But the vacuum bed is really a complete experience, removing all control over the senses.
It bears mention here, too, that although most people who benefit from vacuum beds are into BDSM and fetish play, not everyone who enjoys sensory deprivation is kinky.
You may have heard of floatation spas for deep relaxation or spiritual events that offer total silence and darkness. It’s worth noticing that whenever a particular BDSM practice seems unusual or extreme, there are usually wide parallels and similarities to various human behaviors and needs.
Read: Sensory Deprivation Kink: Tips for Couples
Latex Fetishism
While most vacuum bed users are really into bondage or dominance and submission, there are some who simply have a latex fetish. The vacuum bed offers a rare chance to surround yourself completely in latex!
Read: Latex BDSM: 10 Ways BDSM Lovers Play with Latex
Vacuum Bed Tips and Warnings
Never Use a Vacuum Bed Alone
It is very important to never use a vacuum bed by yourself. These devices can be dangerous and require constant supervision and a responsible person to make sure nothing goes wrong and monitor whether the person in bondage is safe and breathing.
Of course choking or not being able to breathe is the primary danger and risk.
There can also be too much pressure against the carotid artery and cause brain damage or death.
Being enclosed in the vacuum bed too tightly for too long can cause oxygen deprivation of your skin, just like mummification can or dressing head to toe in Saran wrap!
Another risk is called positional asphyxia, when you are stuck in one position for too long that may block an artery.
Read: Solo Kinks: 12 Kinky Things People Do Alone
Play with Someone You Trust
While you want someone present, you don’t want to be at the mercy of just anyone. Make sure you are playing with someone you trust, who is experienced and responsible.
Read: How to Build Trust in Your Kinky Relationships
Wear Ear Plugs
Many vacuum beds are incredibly noisy. You can wear ear plugs to minimize the sounds.
Stop If You’re Uncomfortable
We can expand our kinky experiences through exploration, experimentation, and adventure, but if we don’t like the way something feels, we can pull back and change gears. You might want to use the vacuum bed outside of a scene to get used to the feeling, or approach it at another time.
Needless to say, some people do not experience complete restriction or sensory deprivation in a fulfilling or pleasurable way. If you are that person and are experimenting because your lover is ultra dominant or loves latex, good for you for being open and adventurous.
It’s fine to take some time to adjust, or to have rules and boundaries in place that protect your needs as well.
BDSM Limits and Boundaries to Discuss
Have a Safety Signal
Safe words and gestures are very tricky when you are completely restricted and cannot speak or move. A noise might be possible although the vacuum is quite loud.
Using vacbeds that don’t restrain the head are safer, as noted above, and double blinking of both eyes could be a signal if you don’t have on a hood. A hood with mouth holes would allow speaking or screaming as a safety signal.
Do you fantasize about vacuum beds? Have you tried one? Please share!
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