Buying a Sex Toy

An Informational Guide to Buying a Sex Toy
Sex toys are great for some private self-pleasuring or for stimulating your partner during sex or foreplay. For the novice buyer, the huge variety of toys available can be intimidating, and making a choice can sometimes be too overwhelming for many.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of different sex toys available for sale at the sex shops. If visiting a sex shop is not your cup of tea, then shop online for that privacy you need. With the Internet, you can browse for your toys at the comfort of your bedroom, and avoid the embarrassing tactics that sales clerks generally like to use. At the click of the mouse you can access dozens of makes and models.

One way of determining which toy to buy is to read the reviews of existing customers. But be wary of products that have reviews that are exaggerated, vague, and offer little information. Be cautious of “testimonials” which are printed alongside these toys as these are often techniques used to promote the products.

If you are buying a toy as a gift or something to surprise your partner, get something that has a wide acceptance level. Generally, if you are in a new relationship, you may want to steer clear of extreme activities such as bondage and torture unless you are certain that these are what you and your partner wants. For the man, a toy would usually involve a penis ring (to help prolong erection), an anal plug (for prostrate stimulation), or a masturbator (for penetrative or self-pleasuring fun). Although there are many masturbators or masturbating cups in the market, we recommend the Tenga cups for obvious reasons. To select the toy that best meets your needs, use these guidelines:

SIZE – Choose a size that can accomodate you and your partner easily. The last thing you want is to buy a toy that’s uncomfortably large or too small to be satisfying.

COLOUR AND SCENTS – Contrary to popular belief, colours matters almost as much as scents when it comes to a sex toy because you are going to use the toy on some very personal parts of your body. You may want to steer clear of toys with bright neon colours (which can be disconcerting), while flesh-coloured dildos that closely resembled disembodied penises can also be a little disturbing for some.

TEXTURE – Depending on the toy, texture really matters. Dildos made of hard plastic can be uncomfortable. Select materials that suit you - for instance, make sure that the masturbator cups and the accompanying lotions are made of dermatological-safe materials.

DISCREETNESS – Really, you do not want friends or prying family members to go through you stack of sex toys? Keep them out of easy reach. Of course it will greatly help if the masturbator cups are discreetly shaped so you can easily disguise or put them away.

EASY TO CLEAN (OR DISPOSE OF) – Ensure that the toys can be properly cleaned and sterilized. Most Tenga cups are disposable so that eliminates the need to wash and dry. Alternatively, get the Tenga ‘Flip Hole’ which can re-useable but is otherwise more expensive.

DONT BE CHEAP – There are many shoddily-made toys and imitations that either don’t work properly or poses some danger to the user so be wary. In addition, check that the toy does not contain small parts that can come apart. You really do not want small bits and pieces to get stuck in an orifice – either yours or partner’s. An exciting sexual fantasy or rendezvous can easily become an embarrassing nightmare.

One final word of advice: always read the fine print and understand how to use the toy for maximum pleasure and fun for you and your partner. Using the toys properly as intended will ensure that all your surprises are only pleasant ones.