Vibrator Sex Toy Basics

Vibrator Basics

When most people hear the word vibrator the first thing that comes to mind is a 6-inch piece of plastic that makes a loud buzzing sound. But that doesn't even come close to telling the whole story, so we've prepared a quick and dirty introduction for you to cover same basic vibrator knowledge.

Vibrator Size

The average size for a vibrator is between 5 and 7 inches long and 1 to 1.5 inches wide. There are, however, quite a few exceptions to this rule. For example, bullet and egg vibrators are usually 2 to 4 inches long, while some realistic vibrators weigh in at 12 inches or more!

Vibrator Shapes

Most vibrators are basically shaped like a cylinder like the cardboard roll inside a roll of paper towels for easy penetration. However as vibrator sex toys become more popular the shapes have changed. Some vibrators are realistic and lookd like a penis while others are more "organic" in shape and are formed for specific types of stimulation; prostate and g spot vibrators are examples. There are also discreet vibrators that are shaped like rubber ducks, lipsticks or ladybugs.

Vibrator Power

Vibrators today run on either batteries or electricity – a huge improvement over early models which burned coal to power small steam engines. Battery-powered vibrators use all different sizes from small watch batteries to large C- or D-cell batteries while electrical vibrators simply plug into a standard household electrical outlet. Battery-operated vibrators do tend to be more popular because of their somewhat lower cost, wider range of options, and their easy convenience.

There are very few electrical vibrators to choose from, most of which are shaped like a wand or ice-cream cone. While these electrical models are slightly more expensive, they are far more durable and have a longer life-span than their battery-operated counterparts. Some electrical vibrators even include warranties.

Vibrator Materials

What a vibrator is made from determines everything from its price to how long it will last – making it one of the most important factors to consider when you start shopping for your ideal vibrator. We explain the pros and cons of different materials in our vibrator material guide.

Vibrator Stimulation

While there a few all-around vibrators, most models are designed to specifically stimulate a certain body part or erogenous zone. For instance, anal vibrators tend to be short and thin for easier anal penetration, while prostate vibrators also feature an enlarged tip to make it simpler for the user to find and stimulate the prostate. Rabbit vibrators are meant primarily for clitoral stimulation, but many of them also feature specialized shafts for vaginal and even G-Spot stimulation as well.

Vibrator Controls

There are three basic controls for vibrators. The first two are the most common, while the third is the controller of choice for many rabbit vibrators, G-Spot vibrators, and multi-function vibrators

1. Rotating Dial – The simplest type of controller, these small dials are located at the base of the vibrator near the battery compartment. The user rotates the dial one way to turn the vibrator on and to increase its speed or power. Rotating the dial the opposite direction decreases the power until the vibrator turns off.

2. Push Button – These vibrators feature a single button near the battery compartment that turns the vibrator on and off in its most basic form. More complicated push-button controllers allow the user to change the speed by pushing the button again or select something the vibrator industry calls a "pre-set pulsation." These pulsations not only change the speed from low to high on their own, but they are also programmed to turn the vibrator on and off automatically.

3. Control Panel – These are the most complicated of the three controllers and are reserved for vibrators that offer multiple functions such as rabbit vibrators and some G-Spot vibrators. These control panels are set near the battery compartment and use multiple buttons to control individual functions.

Take a rabbit vibrator controller as an example. One portion of the controller could feature two buttons that either increase or decrease the power of the vibrating rabbit ears. A second portion of the control panel might do something similar for the vibrator inside the shaft. While the buttons on a third portion could control how fast the shaft rotates. On top of all that, some rabbit vibrators even have a button that changes the direction the shaft rotates in from clockwise to counter-clockwise.

4. Remote Control - Remote controls are essentially a control panel that's not attached to the vibrator. Remote controls are usually attached with a to the vibrator with a cord though some of the new models have wireless remote controls.

Don’t worry if you’re feeling a little confused now, it’s a lot more complicated to explain than to use!

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