FLESHLIGHT Go Torque Ice Clear Male Masturbator $595 at Amazon Buy Now $595 at Fleshlight Buy Now Butt Plug New to butt stuff? Take things slow by exploring yourself or your partner’s backdoor with a well-lubed finger, or a set of anal training plugs (and more lube). The bottom line for butt plugs is that they can provide a sense of fullness and stimulation that a lot of people love, whether they vibrate or they’re made of temperature play-ready materials such as stainless steel. Just make sure you’re purchasing a toy with a flared plug, such as the Shimmy vibrating plug by Unbound Babes, because your sphincter has naturally powerful suction powers. Not only does this toy have a great handle, but we’re pretty sure Prince would have loved it.
UNBOUND BABES Shimmy Vibrating Plug $61 at Unbound Babes Buy Now ADVERTISEMENT Couples' Sex Toys The better question might be, “What isn’t a couples' sex toy?” Common sense tells us that if you use a toy with a partner, well, then that makes it a couples' toy. That being said, many couples' toys are designed for wearing during sex or for helping partners control the timing of their orgasms, and there are many remote and app-controlled toys by brands including Lovense and We-Vibe that are specifically designed to be enjoyed by couples for a little kinky edging and dom-sub play, such as this Lush 3, which is designed to provide direct G-spot stimulation. LOVENSE Lush 3 App Controlled Rechargeable Love Egg Vibrator $129 at Amazon
Buy Now $1399 at Lovehoney Buy Now Prostate Massager As with their cousin, butt plugs, many prostate massagers will vibrate, but their overall purpose is to bring a little back-door pleasure by stimulating the male prostate gland. “Internal prostate stimulation takes a softer touch,” explains Anna Pulley in the VICE guide to prostate play, “and involves more precise movements and smaller implements, such as fingers or small toys, rather than dildos or penises.” The Hugo is a popular remote-controlled prostate vibe by the luxury sex toy company LELO, and it’s equipped with one motor for the prostate and one in the base for the perineum (read: taint) for providing ~loads~ of pleasure. LELO Hugo Male Prostate Massager $2199 at Amazon Buy Now $219 $1625 at LELO Buy Now Penis Pump Penis pumps ROCK. These toys remind us of those high-powered suction tubes at the bank, and they can temporarily enlarge the penis as well as help folks with erectile dysfunction (ED) to maintain an erection by creating a suction effect around the penis, typically in a plastic tube, courtesy of a battery or hand-powered pump and a band that fits, and increases blood flow to the penis. Edge makes a highly rated, hand-fueled pump in a clear, latex- and phthalate-free tube so that you can see all your… business.
EDGE Tracey Cox Ultimate Performance Stamina Penis Pump $499 at Lovehoney Buy Now ADVERTISEMENT Strap-On Dildos Strap-on dildos are dildos designed to be worn, often with a harness, during sex. “Pegging can totally happen between folks of any and all genders,” explains Archie Bongiovanni in their pegging how-to guide for VICE. “After all, it’s essentially just anal sex with a strap on.” These days, there are even companies such as Fun Factory making harness-free dildos for going down to Peg City, USA, and one-and-done harness and dildo bundles such as this Unisex Strap-On by Lovehoney, so you can smash that order button and know you’re getting everything you need to start pegging.
Urethra TortureLOVEHONEY Advanced Unisex Strap-On Harness Kit with 7 Inch G-Spot Dildo $399 at Lovehoney Buy Now Thrusters These sex toys are often dildos or rabbit vibes that are specifically designed to mimic the thrusting power of a penis, and tend to be on the more expensive side (that kind of engineering costs money!) because they provide even more sensation to the penetrative experience. You know how that animatronic Abe Lincoln was the peak of technology at Disneyland for so many years? That’s thrusters, only for sex toy nerds. This highly rated Fun Factory toy would be a great first-time thruster, because it has a straightforward phallic design and seven speeds that are easy to control with its three buttons.
FUN FACTORY Stronic Real Rechargeable Realistic Thrusting Vibrator $1699 at Lovehoney Buy Now Anal Beads Definitely one of the more advanced sex toys, anal beads are made up of multiple balls or ribbed, spherical attachments that are designed to be gradually inserted into your anus in order to please and stimulate its many nerves. These toys are usually flexible, and as with any anal toy, will have some kind of handle or stopper at the base. These Sensual Glass Iridescent Anal Beads from Lovehoney are a great starting point—plus, they’re gorgeous.
LOVEHONEY Sensual Glass Iridescent Anal Beads $399 at Lovehoney Buy Now ADVERTISEMENT Palm Vibrators Otherwise known as erogenous zone vibrators, these sex toys consist of a vibrator—usually one that’s rounded or shaped liked a Bintje potato—that can fit in your palm and be applied for direct, rumbly pressure to the clitoris or anywhere else on the body that gives you pleasure. They’re also one of the least-gendered vibes in sex toy design, given that they aren’t phallic, and one of our favorites is this aubergine dream by Dame. Not only is it fully rechargeable and made of super soft silicone, but it’s extremely quiet. DAME Pom External Vibrator $95 at Amazon Buy Now $95 at Dame Buy Now Finger Vibrators As with palm vibrators, finger vibes can be one of the most accessible sex toys for those who may not be able to firmly grip a sex toy, and they’re just as discreet to travel with as a bullet vibrator or a cock ring. They're also popular as couples' toys, since they can be used for focused clitoral stimulation during penetration (or whenever). Just slip this Fin vibe by Dame over your finger, and use it to please you or your partner. But please, don’t stick it up the back door. Remember: No flared base = no entry.
Urethra BeadsDAME Fin Finger Vibrator $765 at Amazon Buy Now $85 at Dame Buy Now Lipstick Vibrator Traditionally, a lipstick vibrator will indeed look like a tube of lipstick, which is cool in a secret agent sort of way. But the best feature of this kind of sex toy, other than the joy of its novelty, is that the flattened tip allows for a little more direct, vibrating surface area to be applied to the clitoris. As always, Dame has a futuristic and far more minimal take on the toy with their svelte design, and we especially dig that the flat portion of the Kip has even more surface area than your average lipstick vibe. DAME Kip Lipstick Vibrator $75 at Dame Buy Now ADVERTISEMENT Kegel & Ben Wa Balls Remember that scene in Fifty Shades of Grey where Dakota Johnson’s character wears silver kegel or “Ben Wa”' balls to a black tie event? Well, those little weighted balls—NOT to be confused with jade eggs, which we shan’t touch—are simply silicone or metal balls designed to be inserted into the vagina to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, or to give a sense of fullness and stimulation.
LOVEHONEY Main Squeeze Heavy Double Kegel Balls $199 at Lovehoney Buy Now Restraints Now that we’ve slung every last dildo over our shoulder like a Kipling fanny pack, we’re ready to get into some tantalizing BDSM (bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism) toys and savoir faire. One of the most common accessories of the kink, amongst beginners and experts alike, are restraints. Typically, beginners may enjoy starting off with Velcro hand-cuffs or cloth ties before moving onto more advanced handcuffs such as the Orion, which not only acts as a pair of belt-adjusted handcuffs, but is also capable of being slung over the door for some extra kinky times. UNBOUND BABES Orion Over the Door Restraint Set $39 at Unbound Babes Buy Now Nipple Clamps We were given nipples for a number of reasons, but our favorite might just be horny clamping. Nipple clamps, such as these bad boys from Bondage Boutique, walk the line between sex toy jewelery and BDSM accessory, because they’re designed to lightly pinch your nips (and sometimes, your clit) and are often secured to a stylish collar or chain that would make you the belle of the ball at any Berlin Diskothek.
BONDAGE BOUTIQUE Adjustable Nipple Clamps with Double Chain $199 at Lovehoney Buy Now ADVERTISEMENT Gags Gags can take on many forms in BDSM play, but most commonly as a cloth gag around the mouth, or as a gag with a bar or a ball gag. Typically, the sphere or bar will be made of a body-safe silicone, as other materials might damage those pearly whites of yours. This gag is great for beginners, as it has a few extra holes in the ball for extra breathability. ZHEXU Beginner's Ball Gag $52 at Amazon Buy Now Paddles & Riding Crops Who doesn’t like a little spanking, now and again? Whether your dom is using a 16-inch bamboo paddle, riding crop, or a spanker that looks like it was made out of Furbies, these are great sex toys for a little kinky foreplay, or even a game of shuttlecock. This silver paddle has a 7-star rating on Lovehoney because it’s great for seasoned spankers and beginners alike; one side is made out of a padded satin and the other is a firmer faux leather.
Dame Arc G-Spot Vibrator All of the devices on this list can be used with one or more partners, but the Arc from Dame is designed for—and excels at—solo use. It’s a waterproof G-spot vibrator with five vibration patterns and five intensity levels, and it has a soft, semi-flexible silicone body with a squishy silicone tip. The Arc’s gentle curvature is angled so you can easily reach your most sensitive parts with just one hand, and all the buttons are right within reach. The curvature and broad, squishy tip also make it really easy to hit the G-spot. Those factors make it fun to use, no matter what genitals you have. Excellent G-spot stimulation, and broad tip works well on other erogenous zones $115 AT AMAZON $115 AT DAME Most Popular GEAR The 12 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride ADRIENNE SO
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Tenga Flex This affordable, unobtrusive sleeve has a discreet footprint—there are no obvious oversize fleshlight designs or silicone genitals to deal with. The spiral aesthetic is functional, too; the outer casing is flexible, allowing you to twist it to create an additional sensation. The soft, textured internal sleeve has varying intensity, suction, and noise levels, depending on the amount of lube used and how much you cover the air hole at the top. After solo sex, simply remove, invert, and clean the internal sleeve. The case cap doubles as a drying rack. Great for phallic stimulation $35 AT AMAZON $39 AT TENGA Image may contain Oars PHOTOGRAPH: UNBOUND For Backdoor Beginners Unbound Nudge Anal play can be intimidating. The Romp is ridiculously affordable and just the right size for beginners—it’s not too big but not too small. The curved base keeps the toy firmly in place without being uncomfortable. The medical-grade silicone exterior is easy to clean, too. Just be absolutely sure to pair it with water-based lube. (We have other recommendations below, but Unbound’s Jelly is another good option.) $25 AT URBAN OUTFITTERS $25 AT UNBOUND PHOTOGRAPH: LELO Motion-Sensing Fun
Lelo Hugo Prostate Vibrator + Remote Control The Hugo, from Swedish sex tech company Lelo, is a remote-controlled prostate vibrator. If you don’t have a prostate, it still works great, packing two powerful motors with six vibration modes and 12 intensity levels. It’s waterproof, and it comes with a very interesting feature: motion sensitivity. When Hugo is in motion-sensing mode, simply tilting or moving the remote control can lower or increase the intensity of the vibration. That makes it a lot of fun to use with partners but also really great for solo use. If you’re new to anal toys, its moderate size is not intimidating. While the packaging and product materials use gendered language, the toy itself is excellent for all genders. Good for P-spot stimulation $164 AT AMAZON $181 AT LELO Most Popular
Short TorsoGEAR The 12 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride ADRIENNE SO GEAR The Best Laptop Backpacks for Work (and Life) MEDEA GIORDANO GEAR The Best Fitness Trackers and Watches for Everyone ADRIENNE SO Sony Xperia 1 IV phones GEAR Sony’s Xperia 1 IV Is a Nice Android Phone With an Absurd Price ADAM SPEIGHT
PHOTOGRAPH: MAUDE Best Lube Maude Shine Organic Water-Based Lube Maude makes a lot of great products, but the one that stands above the rest for me is its Shine Organic Lube. It's a simple, unscented, water-based lube that stays slick and slippery without becoming sticky the way some water-based lubes can. It can also be easily rehydrated with a little saliva, so you can get a lot of mileage out of a really small amount. $25 AT SEPHORA $25 AT MAUDE PHOTOGRAPH: COCONU A Spa-Quality Lube Coconu Water-Based Lubricant Most water-based lubes these days are made using aloe vera gel. They provide a very effective viscous slipperiness, but they can leave your fingers feeling sticky afterward. If you're looking for a cleaner finish or are allergic to aloe, Coconu's coconut-water-based lube is a good alternative. It's every bit as slippery-slidey as aloe-based lubes, but it leaves your skin a bit less tacky after use, and a bit more moisturized. Plus, it comes in an adorable little bottle that makes it look like an expensive spa-grade hand lotion.
$27 AT AMAZON $25 AT COCONU Image may contain Cosmetics PHOTOGRAPH: ROSEBUD WOMAN Skin Care With a Secret Rosebud Woman Honor Lubricating Balm Rosebud Woman’s sexual wellness lineup is luxurious. It treats sexuality with reverence instead of scorn, feeling more like worship and less like a catcall. The language the company uses on its products is very gendered (not all women have vulvas, and not all people with vulvas are women), but the Honor everyday balm might be my (Louryn) favorite lube of all time. The consistency is magical. It’s thick, balmy, and melts down to an oil with your body heat, providing intimate lubrication while softening and moisturizing the skin. It makes sense: We rub lotions and creams all over the rest of our body to keep our skin healthy. Why wouldn’t we do the same for more intimate areas? You can use the balm for lubrication, as a moisturizer, and for postpartum massage. Honor Balm also doesn’t immediately melt, so you get a few seconds to target the application. Nobody likes dealing with slippery lube bottles in the heat of the moment. $90 AT ROSEBUD WOMAN Most Popular GEAR The 12 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride ADRIENNE SO
Sex WhipGEAR The Best Laptop Backpacks for Work (and Life) MEDEA GIORDANO GEAR The Best Fitness Trackers and Watches for Everyone ADRIENNE SO Sony Xperia 1 IV phones GEAR Sony’s Xperia 1 IV Is a Nice Android Phone With an Absurd Price ADAM SPEIGHT PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY IMAGES How to Choose the Right Sex Toy
Shopping Tips If you’re new to sex toys, shopping for your first one can be intimidating. There are a lot of not-so-great and flat-out-bad sex toys. Ask Yourself Questions How do you like to be touched? What kind of experience are you looking for? Are you interested in trying something new? Do you want something for internal or external use? One of our favorite resources is Wild Flower. It’s both a sex shop and a sex toy manufacturer. The site has a robust series of educational articles and a great Q&A section. You can even ask the company questions via Instagram. You should also check out Oh Joy Sex Toy, a fantastic webcomic by artist Erika Moen. It’s an excellent resource for toy reviews and all kinds of sexual education content. Take a Trip to a Store (or YouTube) Once you have some idea of what you want to try, you should try to find a local (gender-inclusive) sex shop and see if they have the toy you’re curious about. The feel, the texture, the weight, how the vibration feels—these are things that really benefit from some hands-on time. Of course, that’s not always an option, especially during a pandemic. YouTube has a lot of hands-on videos. It’s not as good as feeling the toy yourself, but it’s the closest you can get without leaving your home. Good luck! With the use of sex toys being less taboo than ever before, people of all ages and genders are discovering new ways to feel pleasure in the bedroom. But despite the surge in the sex toy market (with sexual wellness searches up by 123% across the globe last year), purchasing your first toy as a beginner can feel somewhat intimidating. Don't know your bullets from your g-spot stimulators? Don't panic. We asked Laura Wood, Sales Executive and Expert at So Divine to give us her top tips for sex toy newbies, as well as her top picks for beginners.
Which type of toy is best for a beginner? If you’re new to the world of sex toys then choosing a toy can seem pretty daunting. Sex toys offer a whole variety of different sensations and there’s plenty to choose from depending on what you are looking for! See below for some of our top toys we would recommend for beginners. Bullet Vibrators Bullet vibrators are perfect for any sex toy newbie. They’re discreet, easy-to-use and make a gentle intro for newcomers. They can be used to stimulate all of your erogenous zones using the tapered tip. Our Afternoon Delight bullet is a great choice for beginner looking to purchase their first toy.