Ultimate Sex Toys Guide

Curious about sex toys? This ultimate sex toys guide covers the main types, the best materials, and how to care for your first toy. A sex toy is any product made for sexual pleasure. You can use one solo or with a partner.

So how do you pick? Start with two simple questions. What kind of sensation are you curious about? And what material fits your life best? Once you know those, the fun details like shape, color, and settings fall into place.

Toys offer a few main kinds of stimulation. Some vibrate against the outside of the body. Some are made to go inside. Some are worn, and some do two things at once. Knowing which sounds good helps narrow your options. Not sure yet? That's normal. A simple toy is a great first step.

Material matters because it decides how you clean a toy and which lube you can use. Silicone is body-safe, smooth, and easy to keep clean. TPE is softer and stretchier, and it's often more budget-friendly. Each material has its own simple care routine, covered below and in Brown University's BWell Health Promotion guidance on sex toys.

Plenty of adults already use toys. In US surveys published in 2009, about 52.5% of women ages 18 to 60 reported using a vibrator. About 44.8% of men in the same age range reported using one during sex.

Start with the sensation you already enjoy. If you like external stimulation, try a vibrator and start on a gentle setting. If you like the feeling of fullness, try a dildo. It lets you control depth and angle. Want both? Plenty of toys do both - consider shopping for rabbit vibes or multi-stimulators.

Choose a material you'll love. Silicone is body-safe, wipes clean easily, and lasts a long time. TPE feels softer and stretchier, and it's often more budget-friendly. Both make great first picks.

Go smaller than you think. A modest size is easier to relax with, easier to use longer, and easier to store. You can always size up once you know what you like. Taking your time matters more for comfort than any measurement on the box.

Add lube to your cart. Water-based lube is the safe default because it works with almost every toy material, including silicone and TPE. BWell notes that silicone lube breaks down silicone toys over time. Silicone lube lasts longer and still pairs well with hard plastic or glass toys. Want to try a few shapes without a big spend? A sex toy kit lets you sample several at once.

Most sex toys fall into a handful of families. Here's what each one does.

• Vibrators: Motorized toys for external use, internal use, or both.
• Couples vibrators: Worn or held between partners, so you share one toy instead of taking turns.
• Dildos: Made for internal play, in a wide range of shapes and sizes. You control the depth and pace.
• Anal toys: Designed with a flared base that keeps them securely in place.
• Butt plugs: Shaped to stay comfortably in place.
• Prostate toys: Curved to reach the prostate.
• Masturbators: Sleeve-style toys for a penis, often made from soft, stretchy TPE.
• Penis rings: Worn to restrict blood flow, enhancing erections and sensation.
• Penis pumps: Vacuum devices used with a cylinder. Read the instructions closely before you try one.
• Ben wa balls: Weighted balls you insert and wear, usually joined by a cord or retrieval loop.
• Sensory play: Blindfolds, feathers, Wartenberg wheels, and more. It's a fun way for couples to build trust and explore new sensations together.

Shopping for toys designed for a penis? Browse them all in men's sex toys.

Why anal toys have a flared base: A wide, flared base keeps the toy comfortably in place, so you can relax and enjoy the sensation. Planned Parenthood calls a flared base very important for any toy used anally. Butt plugs and prostate toys are both designed with this in mind.

Before you buy any toy, check three things:

• What it's made of
• Whether it has a flared base, if you'll use it anally
• Which lube it works with

Talk first. Agree on what you're both up for, and check in along the way. "Let's stop" is always a complete sentence. A quick chat up front makes everything easier.

Go slower than you think you need to, especially with a new toy. Use plenty of lube anytime you're exploring something new. If something hurts, stop and listen to your body.

Wash your toys before and after every use. The right method depends on the material, according to Brown's BWell guidance:

• Silicone: Wash with warm water and antibacterial soap, or use a toy cleaner.
• TPE: Wash with warm water and mild soap or a toy cleaner, then let it air dry.
• Hard plastic: Wash with warm water and antibacterial soap, or use a toy cleaner.
• Cyberskin and vinyl: Use warm water only, then let the toy air dry.
• Glass: Wash with warm water and soap.
• Anything motorized: Wipe it down rather than soaking it, unless the product information says it's waterproof.

Sharing a toy? Soap alone doesn't reliably remove STI bacteria or viruses, according to BWell. Cover the toy with a condom, and use a fresh one for each person. The same goes for switching body parts. A toy used anally needs a thorough wash or a new condom before it goes anywhere else.

Here's the short version. Pick the kind of stimulation you're curious about. Choose a material that fits your needs. Start a little smaller than you think. Keep water-based lube on hand. You'll learn what you like from there.

When you're ready to look, shop sex toys at Adam & Eve and begin in the category that matches the kind of stimulation you chose. Adding a water-based lubricant and a toy cleaner to the same order so you're set from day one.