A beginners guide to sex toys
Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). We chose not to test the since-discontinued Unbound Squish because it appeared to be very similar to the Minna Limon, which also offers programmable stimulation and squeeze-pressure technology. Our tester who tried Minna’s similar Ola toy (currently unavailable) found this technology to be more gimmicky than innovative.
Luxury sex toy brand Lelo specializes in high-end technological marvels that can get you off, and the F1S V2 is a prime example. The value of quantified thrusting is debatable, but the data’s kinda fun to see. You can manually use the stroker or let it do all the work, and my partner is absolutely chuffed about how great this thing feels. As this is top of the line stuff, you do pay a premium price, as is standard for most Lelo products.
The company took into account feedback from the previous version and made this one quieter, stronger and longer-lasting and included a remote. Pop it into its protective case and no one will know it’s not fancy headphones. It’s understandable that you might not want to buy a toy designed just for balls stimulation, especially if you’re not sure you’ll like it. This little vibrator fits perfectly into the palm of your hand and can feel good on not only the balls and scrotum, but also the perineum and frenulum. You can use it with a partner, too—it fits nicely between bodies during penetrative sex.
For example, we discovered that the Je Joue Mimi worked best on only one setting, and even then it produced uneven vibrations. The Satisfyer Pro 2, which stimulated with suction and seemed like a promising competitor for the Dame Aer, caused our testers occasional discomfort. And owners report that the inexpensive Wahl All Body Powerful Therapeutic Massager breaks easily. The Magic Wand Rechargeable’s control panel is slightly less intuitive and less easy to use than the dual switch of the Original model, but it’s still fairly straightforward. You could accidentally hit the wrong button during play, but switching back to the correct mode is easy enough. Some testers said they disliked the texture of the Original version’s white vinyl head.
The best remote control vibrators can turn a run-of-the-mill romp into mind-blowing sex with the press of a button. Of course, most of the objects we’ll discuss are not just for solo use. And, as with anything that has to do with sex, there is no one size fits all approach. You might be comfortable with some of the methods we’ll discuss and uncomfortable with others, or you might try one out and find that it doesn’t really do it for you. While it does its job and does it well, Le Wand is one of the louder toys on this list.
That’s where The Artist’s squeeze controls comes in — you can change the settings by squeezing the handle, making customizing your experience more seamless and intuitive. This rabbit also allows you to control each end separately, so you can find the right mode for both your G-spot stimulation and your clitoral stimulation, or just focus on one. “It has a super soft , oversized ‘mouth viberator,’ that uses sonic pulses to deliver sensations to both your internal and external clitoris,” says Dr. Mintz. And it doesn’t even have to touch you (but it can if you want it to!). It’s also made of a single piece of silicone, ensuring that it’s fully waterproof for use in the shower or tub. Although people’s preferences for remote control sex toys are as different as the sensations that they prefer, there are a few perennial favorites on Reddit.
Nicoletta Heidegger, a psychotherapist specializing in sexuality and the host/creator of the Sluts & Scholars podcast. If you’re seeking some stimulation in your rear end look no further than the Destructor Plug. If name alone doesn’t convince you the size is no joke, the measurements will.
And having the sex toy be the brainchild of postmenopausal women who talk openly about their experiences developing and using it? SnailVibe snagged the award for Most Innovative Sex Toy of the Year in 2020 from the adult publication XBIZ Europa Awards, and I can see why — it’s truly unique. In my time reviewing sex toys, I haven’t seen anything quite like this. Even other rabbits can look the same after a while, but none resemble escargot.