Erotic Toys
Let’s talk toys.
When you’re choosing your toy, consider what you want out of
it. What kinds of sensations? Internal? External? Do you want to
use it alone, with a sweetheart or both? Also consider the aesthetics.
Do you want it to look like a magic
animal buddy? A medical tool? A realistic penis? A purple-swirly
penis? A tube of lipstick? Something from outer space? Your computer
mouse?
How powerful is the vibration? How much noise will it make? Can
you take it with you? What is it made of?
Materials
Silicone is a favorite for sex toys. It conducts
heat and vibration better than any other material, and it’s
firm yet flexible, which makes it ideal for both external/clitoral
stimulation and penetration.
Silicone allergy is very rare, so people with sensitivities to
other substances can use with confidence. It’s completely impermeable,
which means nothing gets in or out of it. This makes it very easy
to keep clean. Non-vibrating silicone toys can be boiled or tossed
in the top rack of your dishwasher. Vibrating ones can just be
wiped down with a soapy washcloth, then carefully rinsed under
running water.
Its premium merit is reflected in the cost. The one downside to
silicone is that it cannot be used with most silicone lubricants.
They don’t
get along, so use water-based instead.
Latex sex toys are rigid on the shelf but become softer and more
flexible with warmth from your body. Latex is less expensive than
silicone and can feel similar to it, but it breaks down quicker. People
with latex allergies should steer clear. Also keep oil based substances
away from latex toys. It can give off a “rubber” odor.
Latex is non-porous and can be cleaned with soap and water.
Cyberskin is a mixture of silicone and PVC, designed to feel “lifelike.” Cyberskin
is a porous material and therefore requires high maintenance to keep
clean and supple. It is recommended to use condoms on cyberskin dildos
to prevent bacteria from housing there. Dusting it with cornstarch
after use and cleaning is essential to keep up its soft, skin-like
feel.
“Jelly” Rubber is actually PVC. It’s soft and cushy
and is often built around a rigid armature to add a friendly texture.
Most inexpensive toys are made of jelly. It is not the most durable,
cleanest, or hypoallergenic material. Because it’s porous and
because some women have adverse reactions to the material, it’s
recommended to use condoms over your jelly toy.
Glass & Acrylic are all the rage. Something a little different,
the smooth feel and great contours attract us to these toys. The miracle
of glass is that you can heat or cool it to experience different sensations.
Our glass products are made from the most durable glass around (they
use it in rockets) however, you still need to be careful. Don’t
toss it around like a rubber ball.
- The types of toys we carry break
down into two basic categories. Here’s the skinny on that:
- - A
vibrator is anything that vibrates. Yep, it's that simple.
Vibration is great for clitoral stimulation because the little
vibe’s
engine oscillates faster than any human body part can. Without
fatigue! Many vibrators are mainly for external, clitoral stimulation.
A little
vibration inside the vagina is also pleasurable, and can hit
the g-spot on some women.
- Dildos are for penetration. They’re often
phallic-shaped, but many that we carry are not. Several feature
curves or texture that
the average human penis does not have. Some dildos vibrate or
have vibrating attachments. Some don’t.
Here are some more specifics on toys:
Wand Vibrators like the famous Hitachi or its stylish sisters the
Wahl and Acuvibe plug into the wall (actually the Acuvibe is cordless
but plugs in to recharge) and are frequently marketed as body massagers.
You can massage whatever you like, of course. Because they’re
powered from an electric socket and are large enough to accommodate
a formidable motor, the vibration (and sometimes the noise) is considerable.
You can always use a washcloth to muffle both. As you may guess from
the appearance, these are for external stimulation only. A g-spot
attachment for the Hitachi Magic
Wand is available, if you crave that
high vibration internally.
Pocket Rockets are also occasionally marketed as smallish,
portable body massagers. Once again, the “massage what you like” standard
applies here. Pocket Rockets are for clitoral stimulation; their hard
plastic texture makes them unappealing for penetration. Some come
with textured jelly sleeves that might make insertion more practical,
but it’s still not the primary use. Pocket rockets are uber-portable
because of their small size (fits in your pocket, get it?), and because
they’re typically powered by just one AA battery, the vibrating
power and noise is low to moderate. One of our favorite is the waterproof
Water Dancer.
Bullet Vibes are great first vibrators because they’re small
(read: easy to hold and visually unintimidating), have adjustable
low-to-high vibrations, and are frequently quite affordable. Bullet
vibes are so named because the vibrating part is often bullet-shaped.
We don’t love the violent imagery, but there you go. The bullet
is attached by a cord to a power pack that houses its batteries and
has a control switch. Price tends to dictate the options you have
concerning the speed and functions of the vibration. The Silver
Bullet is pretty basic. The adorable Honey
Bear has a sliding dial that goes
smoothly from low up to high, and the amazing Pleasure
Commander has
a whopping ten different vibrating functions. We especially love bullet
vibes because their compact size makes them ideal for our silicone
sleeve. By attaching this small sleeve it becomes a great toy for
intercourse (see “ring vibes” below).Women love it and
men love it too.
***egg vibes have similar attributes to bullet vibes but they are
shaped like an egg.
Multi-Action Vibes, ie: THE RABBIT are designed
to stimulate several pleasure spots at once: the penetrating shaft
stimulates the vagina
while the separately controlled clit tickler keeps you covered
up-front. Frequently, the shaft itself will have some tricks, too.
Some, like
the Rabbit Pearl, have rotating
pearls at the base of the shaft to massage the entrance to the vagina,
which is the most sensitive part
of the vagina. Others, like the Nubby
Twister have a strong torque
rotation in the head for g-spotting. The Charmer and the Mermaid
have both of these shaft features, plus they’re pretty! The
Mermaid’s clit-flicking tail has five different rhythmic functions.
These vibes are designed for women. Although not explicitly designed
for couple play, they’re tons o’ fun and can augment any
lovemaking session with features no human can expect to evolve for
millennia to come.
***Remember to use condoms on your vibrator if more than one person
is using it.
Ring Vibes, on the other hand, are perfect for couples to rock out
with. Our favorite is the
Pleasure Commander bullet and silicone jelly Sleeve. The vibrator
itself comes in blue, red, or silver, and has TEN different vibration
settings. Low-med-high are in there, of course, but there are another
seven functions that pulsate, surge, escalate and de-escalate .
. . the list goes on. It’s fabulous for beginners and vibe experts
alike. The bullet itself is a great vibrator already, but paired with
the silicone sleeve ring, it’s unstoppable. The sleeve not only
adds some nice texture for clit-rubbing, but the attached super-stretchy
ring can be worn at the base of your man’s penis. Like a traditional
cock ring, it ever-so-slightly constricts blood flow in and out of
the penis, making it stay harder for longer. In certain face-to-face
positions, the vibrator will make contact with your clitoris during
intercourse! Hands free, people! This is a great toy for you to use
by yourself, him to use by himself, and for you all to use happily
together! (You can also put it over a dildo, y’know.)
G-spot Toys come in a variety of sizes and styles, but the recurring
motif common to all of their design is that they are curved at the
front end so that they can exert pressure through the vaginal wall
to that magical place known as your g-spot. The
Slender G is like
a skinny smoothie with a little extra “oomph” at the tip.
The Worm is a great silicone g-spotting toy. Its girth, texture, and
ribs make it extra fun for the rest of your vagina, too. The g-spot
wand is also nice. It has pulsating functions and a flexible wand
that’s great for searching. The Beehive vibrates and has a rotating
action similar to some of the dual-action toys. The non-vibrating
Magic Banana is fabulous for g-spot stimulation, vaginal strengthening,
and overall self-revelation.
Finger Vibrators don’t look like fingers, but they’re
designed to fit over one, so that the vibration seems to come directly
from your fingertips. Their ergonomic design and gentle vibration
once again makes them great beginner’s toys. They’re also
a good way to gently introduce your honey into the world of sex
toys. The Fukuoku Finger Tingler is available in a variety of colors
and
comes with its own bizarre belt-loop carrying case and textured
sleeves.
Smoothie vibes are cute, cheap, and versatile. They’re not
quite perfect for external or internal stimulation, but they’ll
do for either, and they’re a great way to inexpensively try
out some new sensations if you’re not yet sure what you’re
into. They are cylindrical, made of smooth, hard plastic, and they
vary in length from about 2 up to 8 inches. We like the Temptress
Leopard one because it’s so good-looking!
Butt Toys also come
in a variety of shapes, sizes, vibrations, and lack thereof. A
tiny, non-vibrating silicone butt plug like the Little
Flirt can provide ample anal stimulation for the uninitiated, while
those with a little more guts may want to try the vibrating, rotating
Adventurer. The main things to remember when dealing with your
booty or anyone else’s: go slowly, use lots of thick lube, and
always make sure your toy has a flared base.
Care and Feeding
Always thoroughly clean and dry your toys after use. Even though
they’ll only be harboring your germs, those germs can multiply
if left damp and dark in your drawer. Non-waterproof vibes
can be cleaned by wiping them down with a soapy cloth or alcohol
solution.
Unplug any electric toy before you wash it.
Put condoms on toys used by more than one person or those that go
from vagina to anus.
To get the most life out of your vibrator and its batteries, store
the batteries outside the vibe when you’re not using it.
To prevent the engine parts from deteriorating, don’t ever
immerse a vibrator in water (except the waterproof ones, of course).
Don’t ever pull on a vibrator’s cord, especially to remove
it from your vagina or anus. Remember, it doesn’t belong in
your anus unless it has a flared base.
Don’t fall asleep with your vibe still running.
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