“Start with a less expensive model,” Fleming advises beginners. “Sometimes trying a more affordable model gives you a sense of what a sensation is like and whether you like it.” Of course, if you already know what feeling you like and you need a recommendation for the best sex toy that aligns with that, we’ve got you too.
What should men know when trying new sex toys?
Whip out that new toy when you’re actually turned on (and not as a way to turn yourself on). “Think of it as foreplay,” Fleming says. “If you want to build up reception to a new toy, start off when you’re already highly aroused. The research is clear that people tend to be more open and receptive when already aroused.”
And if you don’t like the sensation of a new toy the very first time you use it, don’t give up on it just yet. “The first time we try anything, we’re doing what we call spectatoring, which is observing ourselves, how it’s going, what we thought, what our partner thought. We’re in our heads and not so much in the experience,” says Fleming. “So try, try again.”
Below, find our experts’ top picks for masturbation sleeves, prostate massagers, cock rings, butt plugs, dildos, and more, from best-selling retailers and brands such as Lovehoney, We-Vibe, Lelo, Hot Octopuss, and Tenga. Just don’t forget to throw good lube in your cart and clean up your toys after.
Best Masturbation Sleeves
Masturbation sleeves (also known as strokers or penis sleeves) are cylindrical sleeves or canal-shaped sex toys that envelop the penis and are either open-ended or closed. “These sleeves work well for solo stimulation, as they’re like giving yourself a hand job, or your partner can stimulate you with it,” Frye-Nekrasova says.
These various strokers can be textured on the inside (like the Tenga Egg, an egg-shaped disposable masturbation sleeve), while others (such as the Fleshlight Pink Lady) mimic human anatomy in look and feel (and are usually closed-ended). “Because of the suction or vibration, there’s an arousing, pleasurable sensation,” Fleming says. “Most men will get erect and it will bring them to orgasm.”
Often made of soft silicone, the sleeves come in both non-vibrating and vibrating models. The vibrating models are known as power strokers or penis stimulators, as they’re powered by a motor that adds a stroking motion. “To really explore a different stimulation that’s not just digital, manual stimulation, go for a power stroker,” Frye-Nekrasova says. “For the majority of your life with a penis, you’ve likely stimulated yourself only by hand, so introducing a new form of stimulation by way of a power stroker is going to do things for you that you probably never expected.”
Best Prostate Massagers
Looking to give anal sex toys a try? Prostate massagers are one way to get started. These toys are shaped and designed to target the prostate gland, which is a walnut-size gland behind the penis, inside the pelvis, and between the bladder and rectum. Similar to the female G-spot, this gland is known as the P-spot, and stimulating it can feel amazing. For those who have never explored the prostate, hand stimulation can be intimidating, Frye-Nekrasova says, which is why a sex toy is helpful: “Using a toy allows for more exploration without having to step out of your comfort zone too much, and I will die on the hill of encouraging everyone with a prostate to stimulate it.”
Best Butt Plugs
Another safe and satisfying way to dip your, er, toe in the anal sex pool? “Butt plugs are great for starting out in anal stimulation so that you can get used to the feeling of something inserted anally,” Frye-Nekrasova says, advising that newbies start small before working their way up to larger anal toys like dildos. Butt plugs come in a range of sizes, textures, and materials. Some vibrate, others are made of heavy metal that provides lots of pressure, while others mimic the sensation of rimming.
Source: SELF
