There’s more to the intense love of balloons!

Balloon fetishes, or “looner” fetishes, are relatively common within the spectrum of sexual interests. Many people find balloons appealing for various reasons, including their texture, color, and the sounds they make! Like many fetishes, it can vary widely in how individuals express or engage with it, ranging from aesthetic appreciation to more interactive experiences.

Shapes, Sizes, and Colors!

To understand the balloon fetish, we begin with a straightforward definition: “looners” are individuals who experience sexual attraction to balloons. This attraction can manifest in various ways, whether using balloons as toys or simply enjoying their presence. Some really want to squeak them, others love popping!

The allure of balloons stems from multiple factors, with the material often being the most significant. Aspects like shape, size, color, and texture all play a role in the appeal. Balloons come in a staggering variety of forms—small, medium, large, extra-large, even people-sized and larger! They can be round, heart-shaped, or even shaped like numbers and characters. Some are long, like those used for balloon animals, while others are short and plump. The possibilities for shapes and colors are virtually endless!

Types and their appeal

What makes balloons appealing varies by individual. As mentioned earlier, they can be used as toys, or someone might simply enjoy being around them and feel drawn to their presence. Some prefer a more hands-on approach, engaging physically by sitting or lying on them. Others might rub the balloon, have intimacy next to or on it, while some find excitement in popping it or playing with its tension.

Looners are generally categorized into three groups: Poppers, Nonpoppers, and SemiPoppers.

Poppers

A popper is someone who gets enjoyment or arousal from actually popping a balloon. There are many different ways to do this.

With Poppers, they pop balloons in several different ways:

1.) Bite to pop – This is pretty self-explanatory, the looner bites the inflated balloon until it pops.

2.) Blow to pop – The looner will blow into the balloon until it pops.

3.) Cig pop – The looner pops the balloon by holding a lit cigarette to it or fire.

4.) Heel pop – The looner wears high or spiked heels and steps on the balloon until it pops.

5.) Hug pop – The looner will hug the balloon on their own, with a partner, or use another object until the balloon pops.

6.) Nail pop – The looner uses their nails to pop the balloon.

7.) Pin pop – The looner uses a push pin or needle to pop the balloon.

8.) Pump to pop – Like a blow to pop, the balloon is filled with air using a pump until it eventually pops.

9.) Sit to pop – Looner sits/bounces on the balloon until it pops

10.) Squeeze to pop – very much like the hug to pop. The looner will squeeze the balloon as hard as they can using various parts of their body, another inanimate object, or another person until it pops.

11.) Step to pop – Looner steps on it until it pops. Can be barefoot or with shoes.

semipopper

A SemiPopper is someone who sits squarely in the middle of Poppers and NonPoppers. They’re considered to be a very grey area of the fetish because the areas they cross are so vast. SemiPoppers could enjoy/get aroused by popping balloons occasionally or sometimes they just like watching other people do the popping. SemiPoppers don’t follow a strict set of rules or limitations, they go with the follow whether that means their arousal comes from interacting with the balloon or watching someone else interact with the balloon.

Nonpoppers

Lastly, we have the NonPoppers. NonPoppers do not take part in actually popping balloons, they tend to avoid it at all cost. It could be because they’re afraid of the sound it makes when it pops, possibly they enjoy being in the presence more than they enjoy popping or because they want the balloon to stay unharmed. Typically, NonPoppers find their arousal from being around the balloons, sitting on them, touching them or having sex on them. Sometimes they even have sex -with- the balloons.

Side fetishes

A couple of side fetishes that link in with looners:

Bubblegum looning – instead of actual balloons being used, bubblegum is used instead. There is no classification between Poppers, SemiPoppers, and NonPoppers in this case because the bubble/balloon can be remade repeatedly. Like most of the ones above, this can be a solo activity or done with a party. When practicing this with another partner, a lot of times bubbles will be blown against the looners body or their partners.

Balloons and bubblegum are only two of the kinds of ‘balloons’ a looner will use. Some of the other objects that can bring arousal are rubber gloves (blowing them up), inflatable toys like pool floats, beach balls, etc, and in some cases, garbage or plastic bags can be used.

Looning isn’t a one an only fetish either. A lot of looners will take part in other fetishes along with looning at the same time.

in summary

Like ANY fetish, it’s important to discuss things with your partner BEFOREHAND. Whether it’s learning your limits or theirs. (For advice, check out this blog) Also, if this is something you’re just learning you like, tell your partner! If they like a ball gag, who’s to say you can’t pop a balloon? If you’re just learning about this fetish or you were into this and never knew it was a thing, explore it further!