The Best Sex Toys and Tech for Every Body

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  Photograph: Maude

  Tiny but Powerful

  Maude Drop

  This tiny little vibrator packs a punch. It might be the most intense palm-sized vibrator we've ever tested. It has only three intensity settings, which is fewer than most toys on this list, but for the Maude Drop, it's all about quality over quantity. Each of its levels provides deep stimulating vibrations, but if you're particularly sensitive you may want to be careful with the highest setting. It's rumbly, powerful, and fast, which can be a great way to end a session of solo use. It's a great vibrator if you're looking for something simple, discreet, and approachable.

  Great for travel, solo use, and all genitals

• Photograph: Crave

  Discreet and Stylish 

  Crave Vesper Vibrator

  Sex toys are often relegated to closets, drawers, and hidden places to keep them away from prying eyes. Keep it secret, keep it safe; Gandalf knew what he was talking about. This toy is something different, though. It's a thing you wear, not hide—like the Evenstar. The Vesper, from Crave, is a slender, powerful vibrator that pulls double duty as a bold statement necklace.

  Even if you don't wear it out and about, it's a remarkably capable little vibe. It has just two vibration modes (steady and pulse), but it is shockingly powerful for such a tiny thing, and it is whisper quiet. The pointed shape makes it a good choice for targeted stimulation, and it's powerful enough that you'll feel its vibrations deep in your body. Don't put it in your body though. Vesper is strictly an external-use-only kind of toy. It's bold and discreet, stylish and subtle. But above all, it's a functional addition to anyone's collection.

  Great for a night out, or a night in, or both at once

• Photograph: Dame

  Pocket-Sized and Approachable

  Dame Pom Flexible Vibrator

  Just look at this little thing! It's cute and friendly. Pom is a pocket-sized, waterproof vibrator with five vibration patterns, five intensity settings, and a soft squishy body meant to contour to a wide variety of erogenous zones. The vibrations resonate throughout the toy, but they're concentrated at the tip. So you get targeted and broader stimulation all in one toy. Experimenting with the intensities, vibration modes, and even just how you touch it to your (or someone else's) body can be a lot of fun.

  Pom's intuitive, ergonomic shape also makes it really easy to use in the heat of the moment. The button layout is simple and straightforward. You can easily feel which button is which without looking (a huge plus), so you can rapidly switch between modes and intensities. This is one of my favorites from Dame Products.

  Discreet, and great for all bodies and all body parts

• Photograph: Tenga

  Cute and Cuddly

  Tenga Iroha Kushi

  This thing is so cute. I love a sex toy that can double as adorable home decor. The Iroha+ Kushi is shaped like a little hedgehog and features multiple vibration intensities and patterns (plus a charging base and cover to protect it from dust). It's made from silicone and has a gel underneath, so it's very soft and squishy. The ridges along its back allow for fun and varied sensations regardless of the genitals you're using it with. It's a unique approach to sex toy design, and I'm a big fan. This little guy has a forever home on my nightstand.

  Great for all genitals, nice bedroom decor

• Photograph: Wild Flower

  Versatile and Gender-Inclusive

  Wildflower Enby 2 Vibrator

  As the name suggests, the Enby 2 from Wild Flower is a gender-neutral toy designed to accommodate any and all genitals. Its unusual shape can be a little confusing at first, but this thing is extremely versatile. It's good for solo use, lays flat so you can lay on top of it, and is flexible so you can shape it to your body. For use with partners, it tucks into a harness really nicely. It has a powerful motor, with three speed settings and three vibration patterns. Unlike the first version, the Enby 2 is fully submergible and waterproof. Plus it's a little more flexible and squidgy, a big improvement all around. 

  Gender-neutral, works great solo or with partners (or in a harness)

  $75 at Wild Flower
• Photograph: Mysteryvibe

  App Powered

  MysteryVibe Crescendo Flexible Vibrator + App

  Sex toys are getting more technologically sophisticated every year. Crescendo from MysteryVibe is a smart vibrator with an app you can use to both control the toy and create and customize your own vibration patterns using its six (!) internal motors and 16 (!!) intensity settings. It's also flexible; you can bend it in any direction to create a shape that works for your body or someone else's. Not to mention, it’s waterproof.

  Versatile for lots of different kinds of play, solo or with partners

• Photograph: Unbound

  Flexible Fun 

  Unbound Bender

  The Bender is unique because it's so flexible. You can shape it to fit your body for ideal external stimulation. It's waterproof, and while the vibrations aren't as powerful as a wand-style vibrator, they're buzzy enough to make an impact. It's also super quiet, even at its highest setting.

  Pliable and versatile for external use

  $69 at Urban Outfitters

• Photograph: Lelo

  Slow Build

  Lelo Sila

  Upon first use, the Sila irked me. The gentle vibrations and soft suction were teasing, and not in a good way—or so I thought. I soldiered on, living the tough life of a product reviewer, and eventually was blown away. The toy has eight quiet settings, and even the highest is markedly less intense than what you may be used to—that's intentional. Sila offers a slow buildup with a big payoff. The wide mouth focuses more on surrounding erogenous zones than similar sex toys, leading to a deeper and longer-lasting orgasm. Use it with lube (or in the bath) for solo sex or during foreplay with a partner. The wait will be worthwhile.

  Great for vulvas, provides low-intensity stimulation 

• Photograph: Satisfyer

  Multiplayer, Multifunction

  Satisfyer Curvy 3+

  Satisfyer's Curvy lineup has been a personal favorite for a while, but the latest iteration, the Curvy 3+, is one of the best toys I've tested. It's a dual-use vibrator and air-pulse stimulator. The air-pulse end provides steady, slow, but powerful suction, while the other end is where you'll feel the vibrations most acutely. They're pretty low-intensity even at the highest settings, which can be a good thing. It's best to use this toy with a partner, with a person enjoying each end.

  Affordable, great for solo use or for couples, and good for all genitals

• Photograph: Lora DiCarlo

  Dual Stimulation

  Lora DiCarlo Osé 2 Massager

  You can't talk about the hyped-up future of sex tech without talking about Lora DiCarlo. The startup's flagship product, Osé, was a truly unique sex toy, and its successor irons out some of its kinks.

  It’s designed specifically to give its users a blended orgasm. Which is to say, a clitoral and G-spot orgasm simultaneously. To achieve that feat, it features two methods of stimulation. The internal part of the toy is a flexible G-spot massager that mimics the feel of your (or a partner's) fingers, while the base of the toy uses air pulse stimulation to mimic the feel of a mouth and tongue. It has a steep learning curve, and it's designed for solo use, but we found it more fun with a partner—especially if you both have vulvas. With some creative positioning, you can both use this toy at the same time (the internal massager for the bottom partner, and the air pulse stimulator for the top partner), and it's a lot of fun.

  Designed with vulvas in mind. The internal component may be too big for some people.

  $290 at Lora DiCarlo
• Photograph: Dame

  Flying Solo

  Dame Arc G-Spot Vibrator

  All of the devices on this list can be used with one or more partners, but the Arc from Dame is designed for and excels at solo use. It’s a waterproof G-spot vibrator with five vibration patterns and five intensity levels, and it has a soft, semi-flexible silicone body with a squishy silicone tip. The reason it’s great for solo use is because of its gentle curvature. The Arc is angled so you can easily reach your most sensitive parts with just one hand, and all the buttons are right within reach. The curvature and broad, squishy tip also make it really easy to hit the G-spot.

  Another note about that broad tip—the angle, button placement, larger size, and rumbly vibrations make it a great pick for solo use no matter what genitals you have.

  Best used solo. Excellent G-spot stimulation and broad tip works well on other erogenous zones

• Photograph: Tenga

  Squishy and Stretchy

  Tenga Crysta Leaf

  I'm not a fan of sleeve-type toys. Most of the time they feel weird and awkward to use, even alone. But Tenga's Crysta Leaf changed my mind. This is the first sleeve or stroker toy I actually like. More than that, I found myself eager to use it again and again. It's made of a squishy and incredibly stretchy elastomer material, and when you're using it you can still feel your (or someone else's) hand applying pressure throughout the toy. It's a very tactile experience, and if you've ever been turned off by hard plastic sleeves and strokers in the past, you might want to check this one out. Keep it clean though; it attracts dust and cat hair like nobody's business.

  Great for penises, easy to use, but make sure you get a high-quality water-based lube to go with it.

• Photograph: Tenga

  Twistable Fun 

  Tenga Flex

  This affordable, unobtrusive sleeve has a discreet footprint—there are no obvious oversize fleshlight designs or silicone genitals to deal with. The spiral aesthetic is functional, too; the outer casing is flexible, allowing you to twist it to create an additional sensation. The soft, textured internal sleeve has varying intensity, suction, and noise levels depending on the amount of lube used and how much you cover the air hole at the top. After solo sex, simply remove, invert, and clean the internal sleeve. The case cap doubles as a drying rack.

  Super-soft flexible sleeve. Great for penile stimulation.

• Photograph: Unbound

  For Backdoor Beginners

  Unbound Romp

  Anal play can be intimidating. The Romp is ridiculously affordable and just the right size for beginners—it’s not too big but not too small. The curved base keeps the toy firmly in place without being uncomfortable. The medical-grade silicone exterior is easy to clean, too. Just be absolutely sure to pair it with water-based lube. (We have a recommendation below, but Unbound’s Jelly is another good option.)

  A good starting point if you're curious about trying something new

  $24 at Urban Outfitters
• Photograph: Fun Factory

  External Extravagance

  Fun Factory Laya II Lay-On Vibrator

  Most solo sex toys geared toward those with vaginas are biased toward internal stimulation. If you prefer external stimulation or masturbating on your stomach, this lie-on vibrator might bridge a gap you've previously encountered while searching for sex toys. The waterproof plastic housing is rigid, and the shape is designed to fit perfectly over the pubic bone, so you won't have to readjust it during use. While the Laya II is excellent for stimulation of the clitoris and vulva, it can also be used as a massage tool, between two bodies, or as an oral sex accessory.

  Great for solo use, especially if you like to lie on your stomach while you use it.

  $100 at Amazon

• Photograph: Lelo

  Motion Sensing Fun

  Lelo Hugo Prostate Vibrator + Remote Control

  The Hugo, from Swedish sex tech company Lelo, is a remote-controlled prostate vibrator. If you don’t have a prostate, it still works great, packing two powerful motors with six vibration modes and 12 intensity levels. It’s waterproof, and it comes with a very interesting feature: motion sensitivity. When Hugo is in motion-sensing mode, that means simply tilting or moving the remote control can lower or increase the intensity of the vibration. That makes it a lot of fun to use with partners but also really great for solo use.

  Its moderate size is not too intimidating if you’re new to anal toys. It’s very approachable. The packaging and product materials use a fair bit of gendered language, which is always unfortunate, but the toy itself is excellent for all genders.

  Motion-sensing remote control makes for very exciting partner play and no-fuss solo use

  $219 at Lelo
• Photograph: Rosebud Woman

  Skin Care With a Secret

  Rosebud Woman Honor Lubricating Balm

  Rosebud Woman's sexual wellness lineup is luxurious. It treats sexuality with reverence instead of scorn, feeling more like worship and less like a catcall. The language the company uses on its products is very gendered (not all women have vulvas, and not all people with vulvas are women), but the Honor everyday balm might be my (Louryn) favorite lube of all time.

  The consistency is magical. It's thick, balmy, and melts down to an oil with your body heat, providing intimate lubrication while softening and moisturizing the skin. It makes sense: We rub lotions and creams all over the rest of our body to keep our skin healthy. Why wouldn't we do the same for more intimate areas? You can use the balm for lubrication, as a moisturizer, and for postpartum massage. Honor Balm also doesn't immediately melt, so you get a few seconds to target the application. Nobody likes dealing with slippery lube bottles in the heat of the moment.

  Softens the skin and provides great lubrication all at once

  $90 at Rosebud Woman
• Photograph: Maude

  Rise and Shine

  Maude Shine Organic Water-Based Lube

  Maude makes a lot of great products, but the one that stands above the rest for me is its Shine Organic Lube. It's a simple, unscented, water-based lube that stays slick and slippery without becoming sticky the way some water-based lubes can. It can also be easily rehydrated with a little saliva, so you can get a lot of mileage out of a really small amount.

  Versatile water-based lube for all kinds of play

  $25 at Maude
• Photograph: Getty Images 

  How to Choose the Right Sex Toy

  Shopping Tips

  If you’re new to sex toys, shopping for your first one can be intimidating. There are a lot of not-so-great and flat-out-bad sex toys.

  Ask Yourself Questions; Learn

  Start by asking yourself what you like: How do you like to be touched? What kind of experience are you looking for? Are you interested in trying something new? Do you want something for internal or external use?

  Asking questions is the first and most important step. I also recommend checking out the Wildflower store. It's both a sex shop and sex toy manufacturer and has a robust series of educational articles and a great Q&A section. You can even ask the company questions via Instagram.

  You should also check out Oh Joy Sex Toy, a fantastic web comic by artist Erika Moen. It's an excellent resource for toy reviews and all kinds of sexual education content.

  Take a Trip to a Store (or YouTube)

  Once you have some idea of what you want to try, you should try to find a local (gender-inclusive) sex shop and see if they have the toy you’re curious about. The feel, the texture, the weight, how the vibration feels—these are things that really benefit from some hands-on time.

  Of course, that’s not always an option (especially during a pandemic). Instead, check YouTube for hands-on videos (there are a lot of them). It’s not as good as feeling the toy yourself, but it’s the closest you can get without leaving your home. Good luck!