Travelling with sex toys: packing, batteries and travel locks

For most trips, packing a sex toy isn’t any more strange than packing an electric toothbrush. Three things make the difference between a smooth trip and an embarrassing one:

1. The toy shouldn’t be able to turn on by itself. Use the travel lock if it has one, or remove the battery if it’s powered by removable batteries.

2. It should be clean, dry, and protected. A cover, a case, or a bag protects both the toy and the rest of your luggage.

3. You need to keep track of the rules. Airlines have rules for lithium batteries, and countries have different rules for what may be brought in. This isn’t legal guidance—always check the airline’s and your destination’s current rules before you travel.

A travel lock blocks the buttons so the toy can’t turn on if something presses against it in your bag. It’s by far the most important travel feature, and it’s on more toys than you’d think—but it’s activated in different ways by different manufacturers:

Womanizer Liberty 2: press and hold plus and minus at the same time for two seconds. The product pulses twice as confirmation. The same maneuver unlocks it, and the lock is automatically deactivated when the charging cable is connected.

We-Vibe Tango X and We-Vibe Wand 2: press the plus and minus buttons at the same time for two seconds. For Tango X, We-Vibe states that the product pulses twice and that the lock is automatically deactivated when charging.

We-Vibe Nova 2: press the plus and minus buttons for three seconds.

Svakom Echo 2: both buttons pressed in for eight seconds.

Notice the charging detail. Several toys unlock themselves when connected to the charger, so if you charge the toy before the trip, you must activate the lock again afterward. Liberty 2 also has no indicator showing whether the lock is active—check by pressing the plus button and making sure nothing happens.

Not all toys have travel locks, and not all manufacturers publish whether they have them. Satisfyer, for example, does not state that Pro Traveler has a travel lock. Then there are three options: remove the battery if possible, store the toy in a hard case where the buttons can’t be pressed in, or put it in your carry-on where you keep an eye on it. Also remember that a toy that turns on in the bag both makes noise and drains the battery.

Nearly all rechargeable sex toys have a built-in lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery, and in most cases the battery can’t be removed. Manufacturers state this, for example, for Liberty 2, Tango X, and Echo 2. For flights, that means the toy is treated like any other small electronic device with a lithium battery—like an electric toothbrush or a phone.

The rules for lithium batteries in luggage are determined by the airlines based on international rules and can differ between companies and trips. For example, the airline industry association IATA states that spare batteries are not allowed in checked baggage. For devices with a built-in battery, rules for carry-on or checked baggage, shutoff, and protection against accidental activation may apply—check what your airline states before you pack.

Some general advice that makes things easier regardless of the rules: make sure the toy is turned off and locked, pack it so that the buttons can’t be pressed in, and ideally keep it in your carry-on so you can keep an eye on it. If the toy or the remote control is powered by replaceable batteries, such as AAA batteries or button cells, the simplest thing is often to remove them during the trip.

A sex toy shows up on the X-ray like any other electronics, and the security staff have seen it before. If the bag still needs to be checked, it helps if the toy is clean, sits by itself in a bag or case, and doesn’t start when it’s handled—another reason to use the travel lock.

Lubricants and cleaning sprays are considered liquids. The rules for liquids in carry-on luggage differ between airports and countries, so check them before you pack. A small package of lubricant in a clear bag is usually the easiest. Use water-based lubricant for toys made of silicone, since silicone-based lubricant can break down the surface. More about the differences in the guide "which lubricant should you choose.

The view on sex toys and what is allowed to be brought across the border differs a lot between countries. In some places it’s completely straightforward; in others, the import of sex toys may be restricted or prohibited. We don’t write rules for individual countries here, because they change and because incorrect information can have real consequences.

Instead, check the destination country’s customs rules and any rules for transit countries before you travel, via the country’s official customs or authority websites or your own country’s travel information. If you’re unsure, the easiest option is to leave the toy at home or buy one on site where it’s legal.

What damages toys during trips is rarely the trip itself, but what they’re packed together with: dust, textile fibers, other toys, and heat. A few things to keep in mind:

Lids over openings. Air-pressure toys have a chamber that collects dust in a bag. Liberty 2 and Satisfyer Pro Traveler It has magnetic lids that cover the chamber, and Satisfyer Secret Kiss has a hygienic lid over the opening. Don’t put the lid on until the toy has dried.

Case or bag. We-Vibe Sync Gois delivered with a hard travel case, and Tango X and Nova 2 with a storage pouch. Store silicone toys separately—more in the guide so you store sex toys.

The charging cable. Most toys are charged with a product-specific magnetic cable that no regular USB cable replaces. If you forget it, the toy can’t be charged during the trip. Secret Kiss is an exception with regular USB-C. Power adapters are rarely included—We-Vibe, for example, states for Tango X that any USB power adapter with 5 volts and 0.75 ampere works.

Heat. Don’t leave the toy in a hot car or in direct sunlight. We-Vibe and Womanizer state that the product and the battery must not be exposed to temperatures above 45 degrees. Svakom indicates storage between −10 and +50 degrees for Echo 2, and Satisfyer between −5 and +60 degrees.

Clean the toy before and after every use, including when you’re traveling. An IPX7-rated toy can be submerged one meter for 30 minutes according to the standard IEC 60529, so it can be rinsed under the tap with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap. All toys in this guide are IPX7 according to the manufacturers.

Let the toy air-dry completely before packing it away, preferably on a clean towel. A damp toy in a closed bag or under a lid is exactly the environment you want to avoid. Never charge a toy while it’s wet—Svakom states this explicitly for Echo 2. The full walkthrough is in the guide so you clean sex toys.

If you take the toy apart, use a condom or clean it between uses. Only use a toy anally if the manufacturer says it’s made for that—anal toys need a flared base. Stop if there’s pain, and contact healthcare if the discomfort doesn’t go away.

If you’re staying at a hotel, hostel, or with someone else, it’s worth thinking about two things. The first is sound: no vibrator is completely silent, and a toy that sits on a hard bedside table makes more noise because the tabletop amplifies the vibrations. Put it on a soft surface. The second is storage: don’t leave the toy out where cleaning staff or others could come in—put it back in its bag or case after cleaning. More about sound levels in the guide silent vibrators.

Travel locks aren’t just for small toys. It’s the larger toys—like massage wands and rabbit vibrators—that are the ones most easily pressed against something in a packed bag. Wand 2 is 270 millimeters long and has a travel lock, as does Nova 2. For longer trips, or if you’re traveling together, it may be worth bringing one of them rather than several smaller ones.

If you want something smaller to travel with, there are more options in the comparison of mini vibrators and clitoral stimulators, and the entire range in the category vibrators. If you travel separately, an app-controlled toy is a way to see each other from a distance—see the guide sex toys for long-distance relationships.

1. Charge the toy—and activate the travel lock after charging.

2. Clean it and let it dry completely.

3. Put on the cap, or place it in a case or bag.

4. Pack the charging cable, and any spare batteries for the remote control according to the airline’s rules.

5. Pack lubricant according to the liquid rules if it’s going in your carry-on.

6. Check the airline’s rules for lithium batteries and the destination’s customs rules.