For couples: material, hygiene, and how the 0–10 ratings are set

This is how sex toys for couples are assessed.

The rating is a weighted average of five criteria with the same weight, on a 0–10 scale with one decimal place. Below 6.0, no product is recommended, regardless of price. In this category, the criteria are weighted based on the fact that the product is used by two people at the same time: it should be possible to clean it completely between uses, stay in place without needing to be adjusted all the time, and be controllable without anyone having to look at it. Ratings can be compared between two sex toys for couples, but never against a product in a different category.

Each product is assessed using the same basis: the manufacturer’s published specifications and product manual, comparison against direct competitors in the same price range, and the current price at all Swedish shops that sell the item. No manufacturer is allowed to read the text in advance, and no shop can pay for placement. Where the manufacturer does not publish a value, it explicitly states instead of an estimate. The full basis is in that’s how I make the assessment.

Material and hygiene

Medical-grade silicone is non-porous, phthalate-free, and can handle 60-degree water, which weighs extra heavily when a product is used by more than one person. Softened PVC and jelly rubber have a porous surface that cannot be disinfected and don’t belong in the category. Combinations of silicone and hard plastic are perfectly fine, but the seam where the materials meet must be accessible — that’s where dirt collects. Products whose declaration only says “body-friendly material” are not included in the test, because the claim can’t be verified.