One question at a time: which product fits, how to choose and how to look after it. Every article draws on the same research as the reviews and links on to them.
10 articles
Guide · For couples
The best sex toy for couples is the one that fits what you want to do together: a couple vibrator or a vibrating penis ring for intercourse, an app-controlled toy for playing at a distance, and a strap-on or massage wand if you want to switch roles or start slowly. Here are the types, the differences, and the models that are easiest to start with.
Guide · Strap-on
A strap-on is a dildo that’s worn at the pelvis—either in a harness where the dildo’s base is held in place by an O-ring, or as a strapless model where one end is inserted and held in place by the pelvic floor. The choice between the two determines what you need to buy and which measurements you should check.
Guide · Dildos
A good first dildo is made of silicone or glass, is moderate in size – check the insertable length and diameter, not the total length – and has a base that fits what you want to do. Here are the ten things that determine your choice, plus some models where the manufacturer lists the measurements.
Guide · Beginners
The best first sex toy is small, easy to control, and made of body-friendly silicone. For the clitoris, it’s usually a small vibrator or an air pressure stimulator; for the penis, a masturbator or a vibrating penis ring. Here are the types and what you should check before you buy.
Guide · Vibrators
A clitoral stimulator is a collective name for toys that stimulate the clitoris. An air-pressure vibrator is a type of toy that creates pressure waves in a small chamber above the clitoris without vibrating against the skin, while a regular vibrator vibrates through direct contact. The technology determines how you use them and what they’re suitable for.
Guide · Dildo or vibrator
A dildo is a form without a motor that provides fullness and pressure, while a vibrator has a motor that creates vibrations. Between them there are vibrating dildos, rabbit vibrators, and G-spot vibrators that combine both—and which one you should choose depends on whether you’re looking for the feeling of fullness, vibration against the clitoris, or both.
Guide · Anal plug
As a beginner, you should choose a small plug with a clear, flared base, a narrow neck, and a non-porous material such as silicone or glass—and use it with plenty of lubricant, slowly, and without pain. The base is the most important safety measurement; you can always go up in size later.
Guide · Lubricants
Water-based lubricant is the safest all-purpose choice: it works with all condoms and all sex toys and is washed off with water. Silicone-based lasts longer and works well for anal use and in water, but it can damage silicone sex toys. Oil-based should never be used with latex or polyisoprene condoms.
Guide · Care
Most sex toys are cleaned with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap or a sex-toy cleaner, before and after each use, and then allowed to dry completely. The material determines the rest: non-porous silicone, glass, and metal can be made completely clean; porous materials like TPE can only be cleaned on the surface; and toys with a motor can only be rinsed if the enclosure rating allows it.
Guide · Sex toys for men
The three most common sex toys for men do completely different things: a masturbator replaces the hand, a penis ring slows down blood flow out of the penis and is often used during sex with a partner, and a prostate vibrator stimulates the prostate from the inside. Start with the one that matches what you want to experience—most often, a masturbator is the easiest first purchase.
