How do you go about choosing the sex-toy(s) that is right for you and your lover? Before we get into specifics about which toy or toys might be suitable for you, there are a few questions you should ask yourself and/or partner.

• Intended Use: Who will be using the toy?

• Function: What do you want the toy to do for you?

• Styles: What do you want the toy to look like?

• Prices: What you will get for your money?

Intended Use

Who will be using the toy? Is it for you alone, or do you hope to use it with a partner? Is your partner male or female? Are they familiar with adult toys, or are they comfortable with experimenting? Do you anticipate that they might be intimidated?

If you plan to introduce a new sex toy to a partner, but you're unsure how they will react, you might want to look at "Introducing a Sex Toy to Your Partner".

Function

What do you want the sex toy to do for you?

Vibrators can be a good arousal stimulator, helping you achieve orgasm by yourself or with a partner, or simply to massage aching muscles. Do you enjoy deep, hard pressure and penetration? Maybe a dildo would be a good choice. Maybe you would prefer the sensual touch of external stimulation? Then maybe a vibrator would work best. Perhaps you would like a combination of the two. A good guide is to ask yourself what kind of stimulation you enjoy during sex with a partner. For example, do you like light/indirect or moderate/direct stimulation?

Styles

Since sex toys come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and styles, the next question you should ask yourself is what you want your toy to look like.

Do you want your vibrator or dildo to look real? If so, there are several available in the "ultra-realistic" category that look exactly like a real penis. They are often formed from a cast, which was taken of a real penis. They are colored to look like a penis, and include all the veins and ridges a real penis would have. They are usually made from silicone or Cyberskin, which are the most realistic looking and feeling materials available.

On the other side of the spectrum, there are vibrators and dildos that look nothing like a real penis. They may have a phallic shape, but can be brightly colored in all kinds of different shades. Instead of ridges and bumps, they have smooth shafts.

Think about what would turn you on the most. Some people prefer the realistic adult toys, and some do not. It's just a matter of preference.

For Men

There are sex toys available that are specifically designed for men.

Men have traditionally been "left out" when it comes to sex toys, but this seems to be changing. Of course, erection pumps have been available for quite some time, but that was about it. Men can now enjoy sleeves (which are designed to enhance masturbation), cock rings (which help control erection by slipping tightly over the penis), ticklers (which slip over the penis to heighten pleasure for the user and their partner), and extenders (which extend the length of the penis). Dual vibrators are also designed to stimulate a man and his partner during intercourse.

Prices

Do you have an idea of what you'll spend, and what you'll get for your money? Quality can vary greatly, so it is a good idea to know what to expect.

As it is in most industries, some companies focus on manufacturing high volume, lower priced products, and some produce higher quality, longer lasting products. We believe it is in your best interest to buy the highest quality adult toys you can afford. However, if you are unsure of a particular type of toy, you many want to experiment with a lower price model to see if you like it. Just bear in mind you might end up buying it again in a higher quality if you do like it.

It is important to know that different materials perform differently. Generally, sex toys are made out of plastic, silicone, jelly or latex, but there are more "exotic" materials out there such as metal, Cyberskin, acrylic, etc. Each material has different characteristics and different cleaning requirements; see the Toy Materials & Care section for more details.

For even more information, check out our Sex Toy Guide and Sex Toys Reviews sections..

Where to buy?

We recommend that you .