The floor is now open.

So, here I am wondering why not a single person has commented on anything... Oops, had the comments set to only allow registered users.

Now anyone can comment!

So, by all means, please leave any comments you wish about any of the posts I've made so far. I'd really like to hear from you!

So... lonely...

Are you going to Rubbout?

I know I am. In fact, I'm taking time off work so I can enjoy it without interruption.

It's only the longest running gay rubber party in North America! And after last year's overwhelming success, the event's 21st annual incarnation is bound to be bigger and better than last year!

My gear is more practical than his.

The event takes place in Vancouver, Canada, and runs from Thursday April 5th to Sunday April 8th. It's always been a ton of fun. I've attended for several years now, and I'll continue to go. The bewildered bystanders have always been a fun part of going to and from venues. This time, it's actually a part of the event!

Wristbands and dog tags from my Rubbouts.

Also, for those interested and able, there is also a Commercial Dive Excursion on Monday April 9th at Porteau Cove Provincial Park. It's organized by Collector 2, so it will be very rubberman friendly. Come to dive, help out, or just to watch the frogmen!

Beautiful Porteau Cove. And look, divers!

Mmm... rubber aprons.

It's not exactly your standard rubber accessory, I know. I'm not entirely sure what turned me on to rubber aprons, but I can only speculate that it was a number of reasons. This is not your mom's "Kiss the Cook" apron.

A rubber apron is impenetrable and protective, so right away there is a protective gear connection. There is also an implication that, wearing such a piece of gear, you will be engaged in messy activities. Piss, cum, and lube splatter and drip from its thick, shiny, rubbery surface. It's heavy duty gear for heavy duty action. It doesn't say sexy the way a catsuit says sexy. It says sexy by saying "I'm going to work on you. And you're gonna make a mess." Now, that's hardcore.

It also conceals and shields the body, the way other loose fitting gear does. The male form is recognizable, but altered; hidden from the eye, just enough to allow the mind to imagine the straining hard-on within. It is a tease to see the subtle bulge of a cock, stowed away, but ready with a flick of a wrist.

Or, maybe I'm reading too far into it. Rubber aprons are big pieces of wearable rubber, enough said.

My current rubber apron is from Polymorphe, based in Montreal. I bought the apron from the local Priape store, which stocks Polymorphe rubber wear. They are undoubtedly one of my favourite makers of rubber clothing. While their selection isn't as large as many European studios, the quality is excellent. And best of all, they chlorinate the rubber, giving it a silky feel and a natural luster.  I also own a sheath, and sailor front jeans from them. Worth every penny.

The apron is heavy, long, and well made. Chlorinated and unlined, the supple rubber feels like a dream on bare skin or gliding across your tightly suited body.

The bulge.

The grope.

The wank.

From head to cock to toe. Chlorinated rubber heaven.

Rubber is collectable.

It's collectable. Like coins or old comic books.

Sadly, the golden age of rubber products is over, supplanted by polymers and high-tech fabrics. You can see it everywhere. Raincoats are made of PVC or Gore-Tex. Gloves are made of Nitrile or vinyl. Hazmat suits made of Tyvek. Even "rubber boots" are increasingly not-rubber.

I suppose that its inevitable, and understandable. For as much as we love latex and rubber, it just doesn't stand up to the ingenuity of man. Better, faster, stronger. And cheaper.

Look at all the vintage gear from a bygone era that we covet. Avon drysuits. Drager hazmat suits. Black Diamond rain gear, to name a few. These rubber products are obsolete, and will probably never be made again. How many were made, used to destruction, and then discarded? They are increasingly rare, and thus, collectable.

I collect some of that gear when I can, because its the type of heavy gear that makes me horny. Its rarity makes it all the more desirable. But that desire comes at the price of knowing that I may never own another like it. And that other rubbermen like myself, may never experience its pleasures. So, I covet my rare pieces of gear. I try to take care of them, and use them gently. With luck, they will bring years of enjoyment.

I once wrote a story about a rubber drysuit. The drysuit was owned by a rubberman, and it reveled in the attention and care that its owner bestowed upon it. It was happy in the knowledge that it would live out its days safe and appreciated.

That's how I sometimes see gear collecting. We fetishists are the rubber equivalent of an animal rescue shelter. Saving gear from a undignified fate, and giving them a good home.

But there is hope out there beyond just conservation. Aquala still makes arguably the horniest rubber drysuits. Viking and others still make rubber drysuits for commercial and industrial purposes. There are a few makers of rubber raincoats, such as Nat's. And I've even seen an online rubber store making replica rubber hazmat suits for the fetishist in mind (they've since disappeared, but I still applaud them). And many of us have probably seen the surge explosion in the popularity of rubber boots, particularly Hunter wellies.

And of course, there's always latex. Fetish rubber is more accessible than ever. Should we thank society for opening their minds? Or the Wachowski brothers for The Matrix? Whatever the reason, rubber fetish gear is here to stay.

But please, treat your rubber as a companion, and take care of it.

Suiting up in my vintage hazmat suit.

When I say rubber...

So, this is a blog primarily about rubber, and rubber gear. Now, when I say 'rubber' what I really mean, of course, is 'rubber fetish'. But what does that really mean?

Now, I'm going to assume you know what a rubber fetish is... and if you don't, you can Wikipedia it. What is it, in a more philosophical manner? I guess what I really mean, what does my rubber fetish mean to me?

Any serious rubberist has pondered this question before. Should a person arrive at an answer, it is a unique and personal understanding of one's sexuality.

What is my rubber fetish to me?

It is what defines my sexuality. Sexually, I'm a rubber fetishist, above all else. I have other fetishes that affect me, strongly, but rubber is the big one. Rubber, in nearly all its wearable forms, stirs within me a potent sexual desire. I sometimes wonder if a non-fetishist can truly appreciate the pure sexual attraction that is triggered within me.

I wonder, because I've know no other attraction. From my earliest sexual memories, rubber has been in my thoughts. Rubber boots on the playground. Rubber gloves in the kitchen sink. My memories of my first sexual acts of self-discovery have me staring at the rubber boots of classmates as I pleasured myself discreetly.

So, one can see why my rubber fetish means so much to me. It has been with me almost all my life. It is sometimes a hard companion to have, but it never fails to satisfy. As a teenager, I felt shame in my strange attraction. Being different and not conforming to the expectations of society and my parents. Compound upon this the realization that I considered myself gay. It seems a recipe for disaster, but I think I got off easy, to be honest.

Being attracted to rubber and accepting my attraction to men in rubber was eased by the knowledge that there were others around the world that shared my feelings. And as guy friends got girlfriends, I delved deeper into the fetish world available to me via the internet. I learned of catsuits, wetsuits, drysuits, hazmat suits, a smorgasbord of hot rubbery gear. It all looked so good, and it felt right for me.

Again, I think I got off easy. I was a nerd in high school, so it was a foregone conclusion that I wouldn't have a girlfriend. And here is where the potency of my rubber fetish became apparent. I wanted a boyfriend. But not only did no prospective gay males present themselves, I came to realize that to be sexually attracted to them, they had to be wearing rubber. Even the most sexually virile porn-star was a mere shade compared to a hairy, overweight, middle-aged rubberman. Although the same man, out of rubber wasn't particularly appealing, neither was the strapping young lad. Unless they were wearing rubber gear. Unfortunately, similarly aged rubberboys were not in high abundance. How much easier it would be to be attracted to a regular guy. The absurdity of wishing I was a regular homo, didn't change the fact that my boyfriend, lover, would have to be a rubberman like me.

So, here I am now, years later. And my rubber fetish is still going as strong as ever. I don't wish I was normal anymore. Not even a normal gay guy. I am what I am, and I accept, love, and celebrate that. Rubber brings me a happiness and fulfillment. To deny it, to circumvent it, is to ignore a defining part of me. I am a rubberman.

I hope you are too.

Tactical gear and rubber. A favourite!

Test. Test... Is this thing on?

Ahem.

Welcome to my blog!

Well, first let me warn you/scare you off and tell you that this is my first real attempt at a blog.

That probably thinned out the crowd. Hopefully not too much. Now, let me tell you what this blog is about.

The Rubber Barracks is a place to read about rubber gear. Rubber fetish gear. Gay rubber fetish gear.

Gay.
Rubber.
Fetish.
Gear.

Or, as I like to pronounce it: "grefug". Okay, maybe not. Nevertheless, that is what this blog is (going) to be about. So, if you're okay with that, or heaven forbid, like that kind of thing, this is the place for you. That said, I don't plan for this blog to be exclusively rubber-based content, so you'll be seeing other things, as well.

For obvious reasons, this blog will be a reflection of my interests, but I don't want it to be about every waking moment of my life, or every errant thought that pops into my head. That's what twitter is for! And no, I don't have a twitter account.

My interests are as varied as the next guy. So, you may see any number of things that I think will be of mutual interest. That said, my interests include:

Rubber.
Other fetishes like Sport Bikers, SWAT gear...
Gaming.
Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Military stuff.
Writing.
Politics.

So, if these interest you, please stick around!