Latex and Rubber Fetish Glossary

This page is a work-in-progress.

Welcome to my comprehensive glossary of rubber, kink, and latex fetish terms—a gateway to understanding the intriguing lexicon of this captivating subculture. Delve into a world where sensuality meets artistry, and explore the language that defines desires, styles, and experiences unlike any other. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this guide is your key to unlocking the terms of the world of rubber, kink, and latex fetish.

In this guide, I'll reference a few of the latex and rubber fetish-related terms and their definitions. If you're new to the kink world, there can be a ton of confusing lingo. Hopefully this guide will help!

Table of Contents

Click on the letter to jump to the section you want to read.

B

  • BDSM
  • Bisexual
  • Bondage
  • Breath play

C

  • Chastity
  • Chlorination
  • Corset

D

  • Dronification

F

  • Fetish
  • Fetishist

G

  • Gay

H

  • Heterosexual
  • Hood

K

  • Kink
  • Kinkster

L

  • Latex
  • Latex Allergy
  • Latex Dressing Aid
  • Latex Fetish
  • Latex Shiner
  • Latex Suit

P

  • PVC Fetish

R

  • Rubber
  • Rubberist
  • Rubbermen
  • Rubber Fetish

S

  • Suspension
  • Switch

V

  • Vacuum Bed
  • Vacuum Cube

B

BDSM

An acronym standing for Bondage, Discipline/Dominance, Sadism/Submission, and Masochism.

Bisexual

Someone who is attracted to people of more than one sex or gender. This doesn’t necessarily mean that someone who is bisexual is attracted to different sexes in the same way or to the same degree.

Bondage

Generally speaking, bondage occurs when someone is bound or physically restrained as a means of sexual gratification.

Breath play

Breath play, also called erotic asphyxiation, involves depriving oxygen to someone or yourself. In latex fetishism, this is often accomplished using gas masks, rebreather bags, rebreather hoods, vacbeds, and other items.

C

Chastity

This refers to abstinence from sexual activity, usually through the use of equipment like cages to restrict access to genitals.

Chlorination

Chlorination is the process of chlorinating latex clothing to make it easier to put on and take off. Chlorinated latex doesn't require the use of lube or dressing aids. However, it also loses most of its shine.

Corset

Much like the traditional corsets of days old, a latex/rubber corset is a garment that covers the wearer's torso to create an hourglass body figure.

D

Dronification

The process where someone transforms into a drone, or an object often without identity that performs machine-like functions. The drone look generally comprises full body coverings like full latex with gas masks and can sometimes appear futuristic or cyberpunk. 

Not everyone with a latex or rubber fetish or those who like dressing in total enclosure rubber are partaking in dronification. They are two very different ideas, even if the wearer might look similar.

F

Fetish

A fetish is a form of sexual desire or lifestyle where you derive pleasure and/or gratification from a particular object or body part. This term is sometimes used interchangeably with “kink.”

There are many types of fetishes, including, but not limited to:

  • Latex and rubber
  • PVC
  • Feet
  • Bondage
  • Leather
  • Shoes
  • Diapers

Fetishist

Someone who’s aroused by objects or traditionally nonsexual body parts, such as latex, leather, feet, etc.

G

Gay

A term for someone who is attracted to someone of the same sex or gender. It’s often used to refer more to males attracted to other males, but it isn’t exclusive.

H

Heterosexual

Someone who is attracted to someone of a different sex or gender.

Hood

A rubber hood is a head covering made for latex or rubber. There are many different types of hoods available for fetish wear, including micro-perforated hoods that allow the wearer to see and breath, yet appear anonymous. There are also breathplay hoods that restrict the flow of oxygen.

K

Kink

Simply put, kink is a deviation from "normal" sexual behavior or interests (read: not vanilla). This can vary significantly, as there's a kink for almost everything.

Kinkster

Someone who engages in kink activity. Those who don’t want to explicitly define their identities by their role might use this term. You can also use it to refer to a group of people with different roles and kinks.

L

Latex

Latex is a natural substance, also known as natural latex rubber. It comes from the extracted sap of the rubber tree found in Brazil. Today, rubber trees are grown and harvested in places like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Latex is used in many everyday household options and industrial supplies, such as gloves, condoms, car tires, and more. It is also used to create rubber clothing thanks to its elasticity, durability, and ability to be shined.

Latex Allergy

A latex allergy is a type of allergy associated with contact with latex or rubber. One such latex allergy is an allergy to the proteins found in rubber tree sap. The other type of latex allergy is where someone is allergic to the chemicals used when creating synthetic latex.

Some people are born with a latex allergy, while many others can develop one later in life. 

Many latex clothing manufacturers will leach their latex of harmful proteins and chemicals, though there is still a chance of having a reaction.

Latex Dressing Aid

While similar to shiner or lube, latex dressing aids are specially designed for use with getting in and out of latex clothing. This is generally water or silicon-based oil, but some people use talcum powder.

Latex Fetish

See Rubber Fetish

Latex Shiner

A latex shiner, sometimes referred to as lube, is an oil (usually water or silicon-based) that's used to make latex shiny and slick. Without shiner, latex is generally matte and rough. Some of the most popular latex shines are Pjur and ViviShine.

Latex Suit

A latex suit is a clothing item made of natural rubber latex. There are many different variations to latex and rubber suits, which we will briefly explain.

A full suit is a latex clothing item that generally covers the wearers upper body, arms, and legs. It can have attached gloves and socks, but most don't. Some also have attached hoods. There are a few different entry options for latex suits, including shoulder-zip, back zip, front zip, neck entry, and face entry.

Latex suits come in a variety of colors, thicknesses, and transparency.

P

PVC Fetish

Similar to latex and rubber fetishes, a PVC fetish involves the attraction to clothing made of plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

R

Rubber

A broad term for a category of elastic polymers, such as natural rubber latex.

Rubberist

A term for anyone who enjoys rubber or latex clothing, either worn by them or someone else.

Rubbermen

A term generally used to refer to gay men who are interested in latex and rubber.

Rubber Fetish

The sexual attraction to rubber, especially rubber clothing, and/or those clothed in latex and rubber. This can vary significantly. 

For example, many rubber fetishists love rubber in all forms, including wearing it and seeing others wear it. Some only enjoy rubber when they personally wear it, and others only like it worn on other people. Fetishes can be very nuanced. Many people with a rubber fetish enjoy the material due to the look, smell, sensation, or the idea of a second skin. This is closely related with latex fetishism (often the same), PVC fetishism, and other kinks.

Contrary to public perception, many rubber fetishes are a lifestyle and not an unhealthy obsession. 

S

Suspension

A type of bondage where someone is suspended, usually from the ceiling or rigging, using ropes or other types of restraint. In latex fetishism, they are often fully clothed in a rubber outfit.

Switch

Someone who can switch between being dominant and submissive and can take the opposite role in BDSM activities.

V

Vacuum Bed

A latex vacuum bed, also called a Vacbed, is a bed made of latex, rubber, PVC for the purpose of bondage play or kinky sex. A vacbed involves someone sliding into an envelope made of the aforementioned materials, generally on a rigid frame, such as PVC pipe. The air is sucked out of the sealed envelope to create a tight vacuum seal. 

This effectively immobilizes the person inside with no chance of escape. This leaves them completely at the mercy of someone on the outside.

There are many different ways a vacbed allows for the person inside to breathe. Some feature a tube or a hole for breathing, while others are made so the head is outside. Others can have attached gas masks or other breathing apparatus. 

However, there are safety risks involved with using a vacuum bed. With improper use, the person inside could be at risk of pain, injury, or death. 

You should avoid using a vacbed if you have any ear-related health conditions, as the suction can worsen ear issues or damage your eardrums. Additionally, you should never use a vacbed alone. Even when using devices such as a remote control for the vacuum or a timer, these devices can fail, leaving you trapped. 

Vacuum Cube

A latex vacuum cube, or vac cube, is similar to a vacuum bed. Instead of someone sliding into a latex, rubber, or PVC envelope, the vac cube is shaped like a cube.

Other guides

Latex and Rubber Fetish Glossary

Rubber/Latex Clothing Vendors List