Men's fetish wear: jockstraps, harnesses and leather explained

New to fetish wear? Start with two pieces: a jockstrap in your waist size and a black leather bulldog harness in your measured chest size. Together they are the classic look for a leather bar, a fetish party or play at home. Add a cock ring jock, a body harness or an open back neoprene jock once you know what you like.

Below: the best pieces by situation, a comparison table, sizing, care and how harness and cock ring combine. Everything sits in our fetish wear section, split into jockstraps, briefs and thongs, harnesses and leather wear.

Jockstrap, brief or thong: what is the difference

Jockstrap. A pouch at the front, a waistband and two straps that run under the cheeks, so the back stays open. Once sports support, now the best known piece of gay fetish wear: it shows off the rear and gives easy access.

Brief. Full coverage front and back with the same tight fit, the safer choice for a long night out in jeans or chaps.

Thong. A shaped pouch with a narrow strip or V at the back. The most minimal cut, popular on the dance floor; most of ours are by Male Power.

The best fetish wear for men by situation

• Best everyday jockstrap: TitanMen Low Rise Jockstrap. Soft cotton with four-way stretch for a second-skin fit and a lower rise than a classic jock.
• Best jock for dancing and moving: Prowler Jock Black/White. Thick straps at the back keep the support in place while you move.
• Best neoprene jock for pup play: Ouch Neoprene Jockstrap S/M. Neoprene with an open back from the Ouch puppy play range, S/M for a waist of 71 to 81 cm; there is also an L/XL for 86 to 91 cm.
• Best leather look jock: Ouch Plain Front Jock with Zip. PU leather that clings to the body, an elastic waistband and a working zip along the pouch.
• Best cock ring jock: Male Power Cock Ring Jock L/XL. A snap off pouch hides a plush elastic C-ring, so you wear it covered or snap the pouch away and let the ring do its work.
• Best thong: Male Power Lo Rise Thong S/M. Sits low on the waist with a lined pouch for shape at the front and a thong back that leaves the rest on show.
• Best brief: Prowler Brief. Polyester and spandex with a two-tone waistband and an all-white back.
• Best first leather harness: 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, with D-rings at front and back, for a chest of 102 to 112 cm.
• Best harness for bondage play: Ouch Z Series Scottish Harness. Leather with stainless steel zip details, heavy-duty buckles and four O-rings, two at the front and two at the back.
• Best one-size harness: Male Power Virgo Harness. A stretchy, zipped criss-cross harness in imitation leather with snap straps at shoulders and chest.
• Best body harness with cock rings: XR Brands STRICT Male Body Harness. PU leather straps run from the chest down to two cock rings, one for the whole package and one for the shaft alone.
• Best harness for the club: Ouch Glow in the Dark Bulldog Harness L/XL. PU leather and steel with fluorescent green details that glow once charged in sunlight; adjustable and splashproof.
• Best vegan harness for pups: XR Brands Bulldog Harness. Vegan leather that wipes clean, nickel-free buckles and two D-rings for a leash, for a chest of about 103 to 134 cm.

Fetish wear compared

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

Chest harness or body harness

Chest harness. Straps around the chest and over the shoulders, usually meeting at a ring or plate in the middle. The bulldog is the classic men's style and the easiest first buy.

Body harness. Carries on from the chest down to the waist or groin. Men's versions often end in one or two cock rings, so the harness pulls everything forward.

Leather, imitation leather, neoprene and rubber. Real cowhide is the heaviest and moulds to you over time. PU and vegan leather are lighter and wipe clean. Neoprene is soft, slightly stretchy and the pup scene favourite. Rubber and stretchy imitation leather fit more sizes but give less structure.

How to measure

• Chest: a soft tape around the fullest part of your chest, under the arms, while breathing normally.
• Waist: around the point where the waistband of your jock will sit, usually just above the hip bones.

Then compare with the sizes above. Leather hardly stretches, so if you are on the border and want a T-shirt underneath, take the larger size. A good fit does not slide, leaves room for a finger under every strap and lets you breathe deeply and raise your arms.

Styles for the bar, the club and play

• Leather bar: black leather bulldog harness, jockstrap, jeans or chaps and boots. Add a hanky in the back pocket if you want to say what you are into; our hanky code guide explains the colours.
• Club and party: a lighter harness, a thong or a glow in the dark piece that comes alive when the lights go down.
• Play at home: a harness with metal rings for a leash or cuffs and an open back or zip jock for easy access.

Curious where the look comes from? Read Tom of Finland and the leather scene.

Harness and cock ring together

Three ways to combine them:

• A body harness with built-in rings, like the XR Brands STRICT, where the straps pull the rings forward.
• A cock ring jock under a chest harness, so the ring sits in or behind the pouch.
• A separate ring from our silicone and rubber rings under any jock.

Start with a stretchy ring, put it on soft and take it off if it hurts, tingles or the skin turns cold or dark. More in our cock ring guide.

Safety with harnesses in play

Only riveted or sewn metal rings are attachment points, never for body weight. If you clip cuffs to a harness, agree on a safeword and a signal without words, check hands for tingling and never leave a restrained partner alone. Pup gear for a full scene is under puppy play.

Care per material

• Leather: wipe with a slightly damp cloth, let it dry naturally away from heat and treat it with leather conditioner now and then. Never soak or machine wash it.
• PU and vegan leather: wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap, dry and store flat or hanging.
• Neoprene: hand wash in cold water with a mild detergent, no machine and no bleach, and dry flat on a towel out of the sun.
• Rubber and imitation leather: the Virgo must not be washed; wipe it clean.
• Cotton and stretch jocks: follow the label; the TitanMen jock is a hand wash at 30 degrees.
• Rings and cock rings: clean with our toy cleaners and let them dry.

Frequently asked questions