BDSM harnesses: chest, body and leather harnesses explained

For a first BDSM harness, men usually do best with a leather chest harness in their measured size, and women with a light vegan leather or elastic harness that frames the bust. If you want to use the harness in play and not only wear it, choose one with metal O-rings or D-rings, because that is where a leash or wrist cuffs clip on. Measure before you order: fit decides more than style.

Below you find the best models by situation, a comparison table, materials, sizing and how to use a harness as a restraint anchor. Most models are in our body harnesses section; restraint harnesses sit with cuffs and restraints and strappy fashion pieces under fetish lingerie.

What a BDSM harness is for

• Look. Straps frame chest, shoulders and waist and turn bare skin into fetish wear.
• Grip. Straps across back and shoulders give a partner something to hold and steer by.
• Anchor. Metal rings take a leash, wrist cuffs or rope, so the harness becomes part of a restraint.

The best BDSM harnesses by situation

• Best first leather chest harness for men: Red Leather Bulldog Harness S/M. Vegetable-tanned cowhide, 2 mm thick, with 4 cm straps and metal fasteners, for a chest of 98 to 102 cm.
• Best leather harness with rings: Red Leather Premium Harness L/XL. Cowhide straps of 3.5 cm that each adjust on their own and D-rings at front and back, for a chest of 102 to 112 cm.
• Most attachment points: Ouch Scottish Harness L/XL. Leather with heavy-duty buckles and four O-rings, two at the front and two at the back.
• Best vegan leather for a broad chest: XR Brands Bulldog Harness. Nickel-free buckles, D-rings at front and back and a fit from 103 to 135 cm; made with puppy play in mind.
• Best one-size harness for men: Male Power Virgo Harness. Stretchy PU leather with criss-cross zips and adjustable snaps.
• Best body harness for men: XR Brands STRICT Male Body Harness. PU leather straps run from the chest to two rings at the groin, for shaft and balls together or separately.
• Best body harness for women: XR Brands Female Body Harness. PU leather that frames the breasts and leaves them open, with three nickel-free O-rings.
• Best light chest harness for women: Bijoux Indiscrets Cross Chest Harness. A crossover design in vegan leather of 75 g, 125 cm with 25 cm extenders.
• Best elastic harness: Le Désir Luxe Open Harness. Super stretchy fabric of 61 g with gold-tone details and matching nipple pads, one size for S to XL.
• Best glow in the dark: Ouch Full-Coverage Glow Harness S/M. A full body harness in PU leather with fluorescent green straps that glow after charging in sunlight; also in L/XL.
• Best restraint harness: Ouch BDSM Harness Restraint. Adjustable straps over the shoulders and around the upper body give the dominant partner handholds across back and chest.
• Best for arms held to the body: Red Leather Arm, Wrist and Chest Harness. A 10 cm cowhide chest band with upper arm straps and wrist cuffs attached.
• Best thigh harness: Ouch Body Harness with Thigh and Hand Cuffs. PU leather with padded cuffs, a thigh strap that draws the knees towards the chest and lockable buckles.

BDSM harnesses compared

Figures are the makers' own; where something is not stated, check the product page.

Chest, body or thigh harness

Chest harness. Straps around the chest and over the shoulders, often meeting at a ring. The bulldog is the classic men's style, framing chest and shoulders in clean lines. It is the easiest to put on, works over a T-shirt and is the best first buy.

Body harness. Continues from the chest to the waist, hips or groin. Versions for women usually frame bust and waist; versions for men can end in rings for shaft and balls. More impact, but more straps to adjust.

Thigh and leg harness. Straps around the thighs, often linked to a waist belt or cuffs. In BDSM these are mostly restraints that keep the knees drawn up or tie thighs to wrists.

Strap-on harnesses are a different product that holds a dildo at the hips; you find them under strap-ons.

Materials

Leather. Genuine leather such as vegetable-tanned cowhide is the strongest and most comfortable once broken in: it softens, moulds to your body and deepens in colour with wear.

Vegan leather (PU). Lighter, wipes clean and needs no conditioner. Keep it away from petroleum-based products.

Neoprene. The wetsuit material: soft, slightly stretchy and easy to wash, popular for padded cuffs and collars.

Elastic. Stretch harnesses are the lightest and fit a wide size range, but they are made for the look, not for pulling or anchoring.

Glow in the dark. PU leather with fluorescent straps: leave it in daylight before the evening and it glows once the lights go down.

Sizing: measure first

Measure around the fullest part of your chest with a soft tape while breathing normally; for a body harness, measure your waist too. Then compare:

• Red Leather: S/M for a chest of 98 to 102 cm, L/XL for 102 to 112 cm.
• XR Brands Bulldog: adjustable from 103 to 135 cm.
• Le Désir Luxe: one size from S to XL thanks to the stretch.
• Red Leather Arm, Wrist and Chest: upper arms of 39 to 52 cm, wrists of 20 to 30 cm.

Leather hardly stretches, so if you sit right at the border, the larger size leaves room for a T-shirt underneath. A good fit does not slide, leaves room for two fingers under every strap and lets you breathe deeply and raise your arms.

Using a harness as a restraint anchor

Clip wrist cuffs to the side or back rings with a snap hook to hold the hands at the hips or behind the back, or clip a leash from our collars and leashes to the front ring to lead your partner. Ground rules:

• Only metal rings riveted or sewn into the straps are attachment points; decorative rings and elastic are not.
• Never use the rings to suspend someone or to carry body weight.
• Never pull suddenly near the neck, and keep any neck strap loose enough to breathe and swallow easily.
• Hands behind the back strain the shoulders, so start with the hands in front.
• Someone whose arms are held to the body cannot break a fall: keep them sitting, kneeling or lying down.
• Agree on a safeword and a non-verbal signal, check hands for tingling and cold, keep safety scissors and any key within reach and never leave a restrained partner alone.

Our handcuffs and restraints guide explains how to choose and fit cuffs.

Care per material

• Leather: wipe with a slightly damp cloth, dry naturally away from heat and treat with leather conditioner now and then. Never soak it.
• PU and vegan leather: wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap, dry and store flat or hanging.
• Neoprene and elastic: hand wash in lukewarm water with mild soap and dry flat.
• Metal parts: dry after cleaning and check rivets, buckles and snaps before every use.

Related guides

Just starting out? Read BDSM gear for beginners first. For pup play, a bulldog harness is part of the classic look with a hood and collar; see puppy play and pet play gear.

Frequently asked questions