The Ultimate Sex Toy Guide
For Men & Women
Written by: Angela Watson | Updated: July 18th 2018
If you've stumbled upon this article, you're likely interested in learning more about all the different types of sex toys available on the market right now. Both myself, and my husband Don have experimented with a plethora of different toys over the years. Companies have gotten very creative when thinking about the size and shape of their new toys.
Sex toys come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and it's understandable that most people likely don't know exactly what they all are or what they're used for.
In this article we're going to be going over all of the different types of sex toys that we've tried, and I'm pleased to say we're been happy with at least one toy of each type. This list is expansive and not confined to one gender, we'll go through everything that can tickle your vagina, rump, or penis.
What Are The Different Types Of Sex Toys?
Bullet Vibrators
We'll start with one of the smallest of the bunch, bullet vibrators.
These types of vibrators characterized by their small appearance but I assure you they can pack a punch.
They usually are only a couple of inches long with few being over 4 inches, the name of the game with bullet vibrators is clitoral stimulation.
How Are They Beneficial?
They are incredibly versatile and they're great for precise external stimulation, they also provide shallow penetration if needed but they really shine when pressed against the clitoris. They're a good choice for those just getting into vibrators and want something that isn't intimidating and that usually comes at a reasonable price.
Who Should Use Them?
They are designed from the ground up to be perfect for stimulating the clitoris, labia, and general outer area of the vagina. They are quite small and usually are sloped to deliver both wide stimulation as well as pinpoint stimulation depending on how pressure is applied to the toy. They can be used the same way you'd tease a partner with a feather as well, just with some extra features you can't pluck off a bird.
A classic of college pranks and female nightstands across the world, this type of toy is ideal for those who prefer something that leans most towards the real thing.
Since there's no mechanical internals necessary, the dildo is free to be as flexible and squishy as you'd prefer and comes in just about every shape and size. Dildos tend to include fake testicles where most vibrators do not, so that's another way to differentiate the two.
If you'd like to learn more about picking the perfect dildo for you, we've written an in-depth dildo buyers guide.
How Are They Beneficial?
The dildo is the go-to toy for women just starting to explore whether or not they're going to dive into the world of sex toys. Exceedingly simple to purchase and use, the dildo is versatile in that it comes in just about every shape and color imaginable and probably even some more that aren't.
Who Should Use Them?
If you are looking for a toy with as few bells and whistles as possible and just want some straight up penetrative sensation without having to worry about battery life or noise, the dildo is perfect for you. It's the back to basics choice that'll serve everyone nicely. Because of their simplicity they are one of the most mass produced sex toys available, so they are usually on the cheaper end of the scale.
Now we're going to look at vibrators, a timeless classic in the repertoire of any woman's sex toy collection. At this point they've been made in just about every size, shape, and material imaginable so its just a matter of dedication when it comes to finding the right one.
Some are just straight tubed while others are curved to hit the G-spot or provide mind numbingly intense sensations to parts of the vagina that usually go under-serviced.
Pictured to the left is the Nora by Lovense, which is one of my personal favorites, I honestly can't get enough of the thing. It's a rabbit vibrator which is a subclass of the normal vibrator as it has an added arm for touching the clitoris.
How Are They Beneficial?
A lot of women want to replicate the feeling offered from penetrative sex, which is why the vibrator is one of the most widespread sex toys. Vibrators add strong, powerful vibrations to the mix and are excellent at tickling all of the nerve endings found inside and outside of the vagina. Not only that, the shapes and sizes of vibrators are so varied that no matter what your personal preferences are you're more than likely to be able to find one that's a perfect fit for you.
Who Should Use Them?
A woman who's seeking an upgrade over the typical dildo experience is well served by a vibrator. The added vibrations can travel through the bodily tissues in the female reproductive system very efficiently for an added dimension compared to the average vibrator.
Butt Plugs
Ah, the infamous butt plug. Contrary to popular belief, both men and women can get immense satisfaction from using a butt plug. Women tend to think they are used solely within the realm of gay sex, but thousands of women use butt plugs to apply pressure to the back wall of their vagina during masturbation or sex as well as to experience a feeling of fullness.
In men, a butt plug can tickle the prostate and provide a feeling that's relatively novel but entirely worth it.
How Are They Beneficial?
After years of fairly normal sexual encounters, many people will then choose to experiment with anal play. Butt plugs are a safe way to satisfy these desires without the risk of losing a foreign object up your bum, let's just say that makes for an embarrassing trip to the ER. Some men seek out butt plugs for the feeling they bring and the opportunity to orgasm via prostate, while many women also seek them out for their ability to change sensation in the vagina because the vagina and the anus share the same wall of tissue in women.
Who Should Use Them?
Anyone who wants to spice up their sex life with some anal play should look into butt plugs. They require being comfortable with yourself as well as careful insertion and removal so you don't cause any damage to yourself. If you're a woman who wants the feeling of double penetration without having to include someone else into your monogamous relationship, a butt plug is a healthy alternative.
Male masturbators come in many shapes and sizes and you might recognize them by the moniker of pocket pussy. They're meant to be fake vaginas that a man inserts his erect penis into and then move up and down along the shaft until satisfied.
The most iconic brand of male masturbators is none other than Fleshlight, who are practically a household name at this point. Pictured to the right is the masturbator favored by Don himself, the Fleshlight STU.
There are many different types of Fleshlights available and by this point they've released a Fleshlight for every kind of man and every kind of masturbation experience one would want.
How Are They Beneficial?
Fleshlights are mainly selected because they provide a much more intense kind of stimulation than that offered by just the hand. But, they have the added benefit of being able to undo the effect of over-eager masturbation or what's known as Death Grip. Using a male masturbator can also increase the stamina and longevity of a man in the bedroom because the stimulation offered can be much more intense than that offered by the hand or even at times a real vagina.
Who should use them?
Men who'd like to upgrade their masturbation sessions to something a lot more memorable and pleasurable should consider picking up a male masturbator. Also, if you are worried about the effects of the dreaded Death Grip on your member, these toys are a fantastic way to take things down a notch and back into healthy territory.
One of the simplest but under-appreciated sex toys is none other than the cock ring.
The cock ring is a stretchy ring that is meant to sit at the base of the shaft. They are tight and constrict blood flow slightly as well as have a vibrating motor on top to deliver some added contentedness for both parties in a sexual encounter.
How Are They Beneficial?
Cock rings can be a simple fix for premature ejaculation as applying pressure to the base of the penis typically results in more time required before the male can ejaculate. Not only are they perfect for bringing a more satisfying orgasm to a male, many with included vibrations are perfect for stimulating the clitoris of the female participant. Those in homosexual relationships also like the added feeling provided by the vibrations, so there's really something for everybody once you include a cock ring.
Who Should Use Them?
This toy is well suited for males who are looking for a longer sexual encounter to increase the chances they'll be able to fully satisfy their partner, as well as couples who understand that the female requires some clitoral stimulation to have the most satisfying orgasm possible.
A prostate massager is a toy intended to be inserted up the rectum of a male (they typically work as functional butt plugs for women as well) and provide delight to the user by tickling the prostate. I've said it once and I'll say it again, the prostate is commonly referred to as the male G-spot and a large majority of men don't even know what they're missing out on. They are one of the more popular styles of anal toys available on the market.
Once you get past the initial apprehension of having a foreign object inserted up the anus, you'll be placed right into a new world of arousal.
How Are They Beneficial?
Prostate stimulation is incredibly pleasurable but most men are too afraid to give them the attention they deserve. A man can be brought to orgasm solely through manipulation of the prostate and the resulting orgasm is at least an order of magnitude more intense than the orgasm afforded by just using the hands. Years of built up sexual tension can effectively be relieved with a single prostate session.
Who Should Use Them?
A man who's comfortable with his body and his sexuality should consider adding a prostate massager to his collection. Any man who wants to understand fully what his body is capable of and how it responds to different kind of stimuli is sure to be blown away by the raw power of a prostate orgasm. In short, fortune favors the bold.
Sex Toy Q & A
Q: First of all, why do you think a lot of people are shy or scared of the thought of using sex toys?
A: There's still a lot of taboos surrounding sex toys, but they are slowly eroding away. Some people think that when a man buys a sex toy it's because he is unable to find a real life partner when in reality there are a multitude of different reasons why a man might choose a sex toy over his hand. Also before the Internet you were forced to be seen walking into sex shops which have a less than reputable reputation. Currently, sexual education focuses largely on abstinence education or tip-toeing around the fact that people do have sexual needs. There's little public conversation on the topic of sex toys and who uses them. The reality is a large subset of the population use sex toys either alone or with a partner and they are just as likely to be high functioning and sexually healthy as anyone else. This stigma has become much less strong in recent years, a trend I am happy to witness firsthand.
Q: How important is it for women to include sex toys into their routine?
A: I wouldn't go as far to say that sex toys are necessary or essential to a woman's sexual health, but they do provide some benefits. They allow women to be more in tune with their bodies and fully explore how touching certain parts of their body effect them and their mental state. Masturbation in females is known to have a stress-relieving effect and sex toys can help facilitate that process. Depending on what sex toy you get, women are able to reach orgasm in a much more intense fashion and with less time.
Q: What’s the number one toy for women on the shelves?
A: My personal favorite vibrator is the Lush by Lovense. It’s a pretty exciting toy and is the modern take on wearable stimulation. The Lush is inserted into the vagina and then controlled through an app for hands-free stimulation. It is extremely powerful and doesn't get any negative points from me for not being able to move around.
My husband gets pretty creative with this toy as he can hook his phone up to it while it's inside of me and he loves to watch me squirm. It's pretty much what vibrating panties wish they could be.
Overall, the Lush has given me more than a few hours of enjoyment since I've received it.
Q: How can a woman bring the topic of using a sex toy up with her partner if they’ve never discussed or tried it before?
A: I've been asked this anywhere from hundreds to thousands of times before and have developed a plan for helping to guide couples towards having a straight up discussion about including sex toys with as little embarrassment as possible. It involves what's referred to as the Yes/No/Maybe method. With this strategy, you make a list of the sex toys you'd be comfortable using on yourself as well as on your partner. Each partner writes their own list and then the results are shared and discussed. This list should serve as the boundaries that you and your partner will respect between one another. It should be kept in mind that things .may change over time so you should revisit the list periodically. No matter what the results are of your list making, you'll have had a mature and reasonable conversation with your partner about the topic of sex toys and you'll have a much greater understanding of each other's sexual needs.
Going along with your partner to a sex toy shop is another method I suggest. Whether or not you buy anything, sex toy shops are at the very least entertaining to be in what with all of the funny niche products on display, but hopefully you find something one or both of you will like. The Internet is a good substitute and has its benefits over a possibly sketchy sex shop because there is a much wider range of products and there are now manufacturers that cater to people with very high standards.
Hopefully you’ve found this article to be informative and entertaining. Be sure to read more of our sex toy reviews!
- Lovense Gravity Review - September 21, 2023
- Lovense Gemini Review - September 16, 2023
- Lovense Hush 2 Review - July 14, 2023
- Lovense Flexer Review - July 14, 2023
- Lovense Hyphy Review - July 12, 2023
- Lovense Lush 3 Review: Is This Vibrator ACTUALLY Worth It? - June 29, 2023
- Maude Vibrator Review - November 29, 2021
- Does CBD Work For Improving Sex? - October 26, 2021
- How To Avoid Getting a UTI From Your Favorite Sex Toy - September 13, 2021
- Nu Sensuelle Vibrator Review - August 17, 2021
