How to choose a sex toy? After testing sex toys for a while, we end up seeing quite a number of them. And, after seeing quite a number of them, we eventually note and remember a few points, a few tips…
So, without going as far as a full guide, I’d like to offer a few points to consider, whether obvious or not, when buying a sex toy:
Choosing a Sex Toy: The Material
Flexible Materials
Silicone
For a classic vibrator, I recommend choosing a silicone sex toy. Especially if you are looking for something rather soft or flexible.
The We Vibe Touch, a soft silicone toy.
It’s a very pleasant material to touch, odourless and safe for health. While they are often more expensive than low-end erotic toys, you can still find affordable silicone vibrators.
Silicone comes in many forms, with a wide variety of textures. You can find very flexible silicone, but also rigid silicone.
The We Vibe Tango, a hard silicone toy.
Be careful though, some sex toys sold as “silicone” are not made of pure silicone. These objects contain enough of a percentage of silicone for the manufacturer to be allowed to say they are silicone (?), but this tells us absolutely nothing about the rest of their composition.
To be sure of what you’re buying, check that it is clearly indicated somewhere “medical grade silicone” or “100% silicone”.
Jelly: To Avoid
“Jelly” sex toys are to be avoided, for several reasons.
First of all, there’s the issue of phthalates, toxic substances present in many plastic materials, particularly in some jelly sex toys.
And even when they are phthalate-free, jelly sex toys can still contain some compounds that are more or less harmful to health. Nothing catastrophic, we also have nasty stuff in our food, our paints, the air in our cities, etc… But if we have a choice and, what’s more, silicone is very soft, very pleasant, why choose them?
Furthermore, “jelly” is often a porous material, which can release somewhat random gases, potentially allergenic. And potentially malodorous (a strong plastic smell).
To top it all off, over time, jelly sex toys deteriorate: they yellow, melt, fragment, etc… All of this due to chemical reactions that occur within their material or in contact with other objects.
Two aged jelly sex toys: they’ve seen better days.
If, however, you intend to choose a jelly sex toy for budget reasons, for example, or if you already own a jelly sex toy that you are too attached to give up, consider covering it with a condom to limit these inconveniences. And to clean it with soap and water before each use: the dirt contained in the material gradually rises and accumulates on the surface between uses. Cleaning it will help remove some of it.
Latex
Latex was for a long time one of the most used components in sex toy manufacturing, and even though it has been dethroned by silicone, you can still find many latex accessories in sex shops.
It has several drawbacks:
- Latex is a porous material, so it cannot be perfectly disinfected. Furthermore, it stains easily, and once stained, it’s impossible to fix the damage.
- Latex allergies are common.
- Latex sex toys are not very “slippery”, and friction can cause irritation.
Like “silicone” sex toys, “latex” sex toys are not always made of pure latex.
Rigid Materials
Alternatively, for more rigid sex toys, there are materials that we think of less often but are quite simple and healthy: wood, ceramic, glass, metal,…
Wood
Among wooden sex toys, many are handcrafted. They are polished and coated with a hypoallergenic varnish, which makes them waterproof.
Wooden dildos: Nobessence Fling, Orchidée Double by Idée du Désir, Nobessence Seduction and Orchidée by Idée du Désir.
Wood treated in this way requires little maintenance. A wooden sex toy can be kept for a very long time: it will not deteriorate – provided, however, that it is protected from shocks and scratches. Even if it is not afraid of chemical reactions, it is not advisable to leave a wooden sex toy lying around loose in a drawer, but a simple fabric case will be enough to protect it.
The veins of the wood create patterns that make each wooden sex toy unique, differentiating it from other examples of the same model.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel sex toys offer many advantages:
- The metal they are made of makes them almost unbreakable.
- They are not likely to react chemically in contact with other materials. Therefore, they are compatible with any lubricant and are easy to clean.
- They are hypoallergenic and safe for the body.
- As steel is a good thermal conductor, they are particularly suitable for temperature play.
Steel sex toys: Njoy Fun Wand and Pure Plug, Pipedream Mr Smooth and Rosebuds Cristal.
Glass
It goes without saying that glass is fragile and can therefore break in case of impact. But a properly designed glass sex toy is strong enough not to risk breaking inside you, regardless of the strength of your muscle contractions during orgasm.
As long as no one drops it on the floor, a glass sex toy is extremely durable. Indeed, it does not wear out and does not undergo chemical reactions. Like stainless steel, it is a healthy material for the body, which can be sterilized if needed.
A glass sex toy: the Glassvibrations Teufelszunge
Choosing a Sex Toy: Vibrations
For vaginal use, this will not always be the most important point.
For clitoral use on the other hand, it becomes more crucial, and the advice is simple: look for the most powerful vibrations.
Unfortunately, unicorns don’t exist, and some compromises come with the most powerful vibrations: the noise will often be louder, the power source sometimes bulkier/longer-lasting, etc…
There’s also no point hoping for monster vibrations in a discreet and miniature sex toy: it doesn’t really exist. But some still do quite well for their size and discretion.
“Luxury” Sex Toys
Of course, in general, so-called “luxury” sex toys are often better in many respects: better quality, included accessories, etc… However, you should be careful when buying because not all of them are at the same level of “luxury”, despite appearances and high prices.
Moreover, since I’m talking about “Luxury” sex toys, here are two very practical advantages that you often find with them:
The Bag / Box
It sounds silly, but what will you do with your sex toy if it doesn’t have anything to store it in? Especially if it is made of a material not compatible with all plastics!
The LELO MIA 2, its box and case
Some sex toys come with a small storage pouch, others with a box, and sometimes you even get both. It’s very practical, stylish, and you don’t have to worry about where to put it.
Otherwise, if no storage is provided, you can buy a case specifically designed to house a sex toy, or a fabric pouch, or a satin or cotton bag.
If you’re not concerned about the look, or for a temporary solution, even a clean sock can do the trick! Just be careful to avoid plastic materials that were not designed for this, which could react chemically with the sex toy and damage it instead of protecting it.
Choosing a Sex Toy: Power Source
Again, it may sound silly, but it plays a big role in long-term comfort of use.
Battery-Powered Sex Toys
Battery-powered sex toys are great, but especially if you have rechargeable batteries, a good charger, and you already use a lot of battery-powered things. Without that, it can quickly become a hassle: no battery left, changing batteries very often, lots of dead batteries to throw away, etc… And that’s not even talking about ecology!
The Love to Love Sexy Bunny 2, battery-powered rabbit vibrator
Rechargeable Sex Toys
Rechargeable sex toys are the best for this in our opinion. No more worrying about battery “logistics”.
Pay attention to this point when choosing a sex toy! Some batteries take a long time to charge, others don’t hold their charge for very long. When you want an orgasm, right here, right now, and you realize that the vibrator you were planning to use is dead and you’ll have to wait an hour or two before you can use it, it’s frustrating!
On this criterion, there are big differences from one brand to another. And you don’t necessarily guess them at first glance.
Another detail: one day, their battery will die, and so will the sex toy. But in general, expect at least two years before it starts to show weakness. This is a generality with batteries. Anyway, if you invest €100 in a sex toy, if it lasts 3 or 4 years, that’s pretty good, right? Cheaper anyway than a €400 high-tech gadget renewed every two years… (who’s talking about iphones?)
The We Vibe 4 and its charger
Wired Sex Toys
Many ultra-powerful vibrators are mains-powered.
Among the disadvantages of this power mode: you have to stay close to a power outlet, which makes the device less portable, can limit movement if the cable is short, and requires avoiding any trace of water nearby.
But an undeniable advantage: unless there’s a power cut, a wired vibrator never lets you down. Furthermore, they are often the most powerful vibrators.
The Fairy Black Exceed and Turbo, two powerful clitoral vibrators that plug into the mains
Otherwise, there are all the non-vibrating sex toys. I will spare you unnecessary explanations, but I wanted to emphasize these. We sometimes forget them, and yet, vibrations don’t always go hand in hand with a good sex toy.
