Make room in the rubber scene for us big boys
Story by: Charlie E
Photography by: Saul Morgan
October 18, 2020
The first fetish item I bought was a rubber singlet. I wore it for hours as I looked at myself in the mirror, and decided then that I wanted to really fill in the rubber so that it stretched and molded around my body. It was that desire that inspired my interest in bodybuilding. Personally, I find that rubber lends itself to showing off and enhancing a muscular body more so than, say, leather.
I seemed to be the odd man out, though. The first rubber event I went to was on a Friday night at the Backstreet, London. I recall being pretty nervous as it was also the first time I’d frequented the infamous club. I was about 30 at the time. It was a mixed crowd, but I noticed that most guys weren’t particularly beefy. In fact, up until five years ago, there weren’t many big boys in rubber at most events, or even online. The scene seemed to be for those who fit a thin, young mold, which became more apparent to me after I turned 40.
I wanted to change that.
I decided to start the group, RubberMuscle, in 2015 with my mate Paddy, who’s a big guy too. Within a few days, he had created the RubberMuscle Facebook group, with its mission statement, “RubberMuscle wants built guys to wear rubber and rubbermen to be built.” Word spread quickly, and today, RubberMuscle has grown into a diverse group of like-minded men from across the globe with members gaining decent muscular growth along the way. Members are encouraged to share pics and experiences, and to attend unofficial public and private meetings for mutual pleasure and brotherhood. Today, we have more than 350 members.
In 2019, RubberMuscle hosted its first official in-person social at Bar KESS during Easter Berlin. A group of around 20 men attended the event. It was fantastic being surrounded by like-minded rubbermen and it was great to finally meet some people for the first time. I’d been chatting with some men since 2015 but hadn’t managed to meet in person. It really felt like a celebration.
I have become more experimental with my rubber through talking to RubberMuscle members and seeing the outfits that they’ve made. For example, I was inspired to buy myself a blue rubber, see-through front-zip vest and matching sailor-front jeans from Invincible Rubber. It is just revealing enough. Add in a high-shine spray and lots of lube, and rubber definitely highlights and accentuates muscular bulges!
For the RubberMuscle social events during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has organized online catch-ups over Zoom. Lockdown was hard on everyone and I have to admit I struggled with my mental health during that period. It was great to have the Zoom social just to have a laugh with everyone, take my mind off the situation, and enjoy the company of the group.
The Zoom parties also mean that more members from across the world can attend. Not everyone could make the Berlin event, which makes virtual events a more inclusive way of socializing. And of course, you don’t have to worry about social distancing.
RubberMuscle has created a space for bigger guys who are into rubber, which is not dictated by sexual interests. It proves the point that rubber can stretch to fit all sizes and is very accommodating. It’s important that all body types feel welcome and accepted in the rubber scene, including beefy musclemen. After all, there’s nothing quite like seeing a muscular guy packed into skin-tight, shiny rubber.
