How To Use A Cock Ring: 

Getting The Most Out Of Your New Friend

Written by: Don Watson | Updated: December 2nd, 2019

The cock ring is a very special sex toy in that its goal isn't replacing a penis or a vagina like a dildo or a male masturbator does. Instead, they serve to increase sexual pleasure and stamina of someone engaging in solo or duo sex. They are most often used in partnered play, but there's nothing wrong with exploiting the benefits of using a cock ring while solo.

A cock ring is any circular band designed for resting around the base of the penis and be at least somewhat tight.

The direct effect of this pressure is that the way sexual stimulation is felt by the penis in question is changed slightly in a way that users (myself included) report creates a sensation that means a lot more work will be required to reach orgasm.

In short, a this particular class of sex toy restricts blood flow to the penis resulting in a net increase in sexual stamina and pleasure.

Cock rings also often come with an included vibrator. The purpose of this vibrator is two-fold: firstly, the person who brought the penis to this rodeo will be able to enjoy the humming sensation of the vibrator directly while their partner can have the vibrator rub up against their clitoris or anus/perineum while the toy is in use. In this way, a penis band is probably the least selfish sex toy out there since everyone gets to enjoy the sensations on offer.

So, let's get down and dirty on how you can use these toys so you can kick things up a notch in your sex life! But first, I'll go into a bit more depth as to why someone would go for a cock ring at all.

Why Use A Cock Ring?

Besides the increases in stamina and pleasure, cock rings are appealing for a variety of reasons, such as:

  • Cock rings aren't very intimidating, even to people apprehensive about their use
  • These toys allow for "normal" penetrative sex to occur without much extra effort/planning
  • They allow for a wider range of stimulation felt by all parties for a more intense experience
  • Cock rings are typically on the inexpensive side, giving them a huge value:price ratio
  • Due to the pressure on the base of the shaft, the erection is often harder & stronger than without the ring
  • Cock rings are extremely safe to use

So with all of that in mind, it's pretty easy to see why these toys have been around forever.

How To Use A Cock Ring Properly

Based on what's out there, there are two main styles of cock ring you will encounter during your travels. The first is the typical design with an average ring with the vibrator placed in such a way that it points towards the ceiling.

These cock rings are meant to stimulate the clitoris whenever the user thrusts deeply into the vagina.

The other type has a much bigger area that houses the vibrator and can be placed in a few different configurations. It can either be used like the style above to stimulate the clitoris, or it can be worn underneath the penis & testicles to provide perineum stimulation.

Some people change the orientation of how they put the cock ring on to better serve one partner or another, but that's advanced level stuff.

Getting The Cock Ring On

Compared to other sex toys, cock rings need very little lube to work properly, if any at all. For this reason, water-based lubes which are compatible with all toy materials and don't have a massive staying power work excellently with rings. In my experience, silicone cock rings tend to feel the best and give the best vibrations.

First, get hard & fully erect, it makes things way simpler. After that, apply a small amount of lubricant to the inner portion of the band. Using one finger on each side, stretch the material out out as you shimmy it down along your shaft. There might be a little bit of a struggle, but that's not a big deal, just keep on going so long as you aren't feeling any legitimate pain.

The first few times you use any particular ring it might seem a bit too tight, don't underestimate a stretchy cock ring's potential for adaptation. With time and a break-in period, this will subside and there will be a much more acceptable level of tightness.

If you are using a model that goes over the testicles as well as the shaft, when the ring is close to the testicles use one hand to stretch the band itself and the other to put the testicles through the hoop one at a time.

I recommend that you inspect the band portion itself heavily before making your purchase. Cheaper rings made of normal plastics get the job done, but there's little finesse to their designs. Toys like the Tor 2 by Lelo are made of a soft & stretchy silicone and obvious time has been taken to design the band itself in a way where the tightness is dispersed over a wide enough area to not create much of an issue.

Also remember that vibrating cock rings can be used even when the battery is dead, much of a cock ring's positive effects on sex intensity come from the pressure being applied.

Using Your Cock Ring

Once the ring is on, using it is fairly straightforward. Any extra features you have are more than likely controlled via a button on top of the device itself. I suggest starting off on the lower vibration settings and then working your way up so you can acclimate to the new sensations being offered, you wouldn't want to lose your composure too early, now would you?

Besides that, the device is more so a passive upgrade to the penis than an actively used toy. Simply have sex the way you normally would, just be cognizant of the fact that the more skin-to-skin contact the vibrator makes, the more pleasure will be felt by yourself and your partner. Deliberately long and deep strokes to ensure that the vibrator has some time with the clitoris pays dividends in the world of penis bands.

You should be noticing that sex has been changed slightly, actually getting over the hump into ejaculation territory shouldn't be as easy as it was previously, while the sensations themselves are still pretty strong. This is one of the most endearing benefits to the cock ring, paradoxically pleasure is increased but so is overall time having sex.

After Sex Procedures

Once you've had your share of fun, immediately remove your toy so you don't accidentally fall asleep with it on. You probably won't suffer any permanent damage from falling asleep with it on once, but the strain on your circulatory system is far from ideal. By taking off the toy immediately, you eliminate the chance of damaging your blood vessels or waking up with weird lines on your penis that are somewhat uncomfortable to deal with.

Your cock ring should be washed thoroughly after being used, silicone rings are ideal for this since they wash easily in warm water wild a mild soap and dry nearly instantaneously. Giving a stretchy cock ring a few tugs to loosen it up the first few times before you put it away can also help shorten the break-in period.

Cock Rings I'd Recommend

My favorite cock rings include:

I've also written a full post about the best cock rings I've tried if you'd like to learn more.

Final Cock Ring Tips

Here are a few things to keep in mind that I feel deserve their own section:

A cock ring should be worn for about 30 minutes at a time, with an hour being the absolute upper limit. If at any point you notice strange discoloration, a tingling feeling (or lack of feeling at all), a strong sense of discomfort, or any sensation that just doesn't make sense you should take off the cock ring immediately, as those are all symptoms of the band being too tight. No amount of sex is worth permanent damage to the blood vessels in the penis.

Next, if the penis in question is particularly well-endowed, it is possible to move the cock ring up slightly to ensure that the vibrating portion hits the clitoris of the other partner. It should be noted that the further up the move it the cock ring's ability to delay ejaculation is hampered, so there will be a slight trade off at that point, plus the risk of discomfort is slightly higher in this configuration. Still, it isn't completely out of the question.

You don't need to have a penis to enjoy a cock band, either. You can either place it on a vibrator/dildo to get the extra intense vibrating power or you can even use it as a handheld vibrator for targeted stimulation of the vagina and clitoris. In this way, you can get the benefits of a cock ring without having to worry about actually putting it on anyone's cock. My wife and I have used it in such a way where I can grasp the ring in my hand while I use it to stimulate her clitoris while I have sex with her normally. Vibrating cock rings can be extremely versatile if you have the imagination for it. Don't underestimate their power when it comes to accessory work.

If having sex with a condom, the condom should be placed on the penis first. The ring itself can actually function to keep the condom in place if you are tactical enough in it's placement.

As stated earlier, if there are any toys you are going to get away with skimping on lube, it is definitely the cock ring. However, a little bit of lube helps put it on and for some people completely deals with any discomfort while still giving them the ejaculation delay they wish from using their ring. Applying too much lubricant is unlikely to result in the ring sliding off as the tension should keep it more or less in place.

Conclusion

There you have it, cock rings aren't space-age technology by any means, they are quite straightforward in their intended use and how beneficial they can be. Of course, so long as you are mindful of what your body is telling you when using them (IE discomfort) and don't wear them for longer than an hour, there are no possible health risks. I heavily subscribe to the idea that a quality cock band is a must have item for any even slightly adventurous couple. When used properly, cock rings are all benefit and no downside unless you discover they simply aren't for you.

So don't worry, there's very little chance for error here. Once placed along the base of the penis, they aren't hard to wear whatsoever. I believe in you!

About Don Watson

My name is Don Watson and I love to support my wife Angela's passion for human sexuality. It pays dividends for me personally and I enjoy writing about the topic as I'm a sexual person by nature. I concern myself with everything on the website that has to do with the male reproductive system to compliment my wife's female-oriented content. Have any questions? You can contact me via email.

Leave a Reply 0 comments

Leave a Reply: