Welcome to the world of dildos! If you can imagine a color and a shape, it probably exists somewhere out there.
As someone who’s worked in the space for years, I’ve learned a thing or two about our rubbery (and other material) friends. Although I primarily make vibrators for my day job (and yes, it is a pretty great job), I think dildos are highly underrated because there are so many different kinds out there that offer a variety of experiences.
With a few pointers, I can help find you the perfect dildo of your dreams! First, let’s start with the basics.
What is the difference between a dildo and a vibrator?
For all intents and purposes, if the dong vibrates, it isn’t a dildo. It’s a vibrator. If you think this is already obvious, a lot more people than you might think mix these two terms up. If you didn’t know before, it’s ok, that’s why you’re here reading this!
If you’re looking for a vibrating thing this guide can still be helpful for you, but there are some other considerations you’d want to think about for finding a vibrator. After reading this guide you can go over here to get some tips and advice for buying a vibrator.
Vibrators come in all shapes and sizes, and some are intended for external stimulation only. There are also many types of dildos. They tend to be more often than not shaped to be used primarily for vaginal or anal penetration. Some are designed so they can be used with a strap on harnesses so they can be used for sex, pegging, or for getting a desirable appearance. Some of these also have vibration or vibration add-ons, in which case...sometimes those toys are vibrators, sometimes not. There are also a few that have a suction cup so you can mount it to the wall or floor! As said, the world of dildos is vast, and there are a lot of possible experiences out there for everyone.
What should I be looking for when I buy a dildo?
Shape and materials are important here. Shape will determine the texture and feel of what you (and/or your partner) are seeing and experiencing. There are a whole bunch of shapes out there, from realistic dildos that are very phallic (basically, looks like a penis) to abstract (not-a-penis) to somewhere in between (maybe-phallic-like-but-not)...to also spirals and nifty textures and yes, even animals and Star Wars accessories and other different shapes. But we’ll get to that later.
If you get something that is too big, too small, too girthy (or not enough), or shaped in a certain way you don’t care for, that could make or break the experience. For instance, if you consider yourself a size queen (you prefer larger shapes for penetration), you might feel lackluster if you get a tiny thing-a-ma-bob. The worst thing is having a sex toy that becomes a sex paperweight, abandoned in the back of the drawer, never to be seen again. 😞 So try and find something you like the appearance of and works for your needs!
Materialsare also important. If you’re looking for something that feels more rubbery or skin-like, body safe, medical grade silicone is the safest route to go, since it’s the cleanest and not porous (and stay away from those phthalates!). The vagina and anus can absorb a lot that might not be obvious. If you get something that is cheap and are uncertain whether the materials are actually what they might be, imagine that your body will be absorbing all the bad materials into your body...because it is. It’s kind of like eating Hostess snacks vs. prime steak (or tofu for you vegans out there). You might save some money, but you might also get some unwanted chemicals in your system too. Choose wisely.
Looking for other textures to experience? Dildos also come in other fun, non-rubber, nonporous materials such as stainless steel, glass, and even wood (yes, smoothed and finished with body safe materials)! These different materials have different sensations, durometers, and different abilities to maintain heat and cold. You can crack open that old physics book and learn more about what materials would be perfection for temperature, plush, hardness, texture, and more.
Finally, while not essential for physical sensation, color is another consideration. After all, there are a bunch of pink, purple, and black dildos out there, but maybe you want a different color. Or maybe you want pattern or a crazy, cool, custom color job? There are a lot of choices out there for any of the above. The patterned/colorful ones tend to be handmade more often than not, and sometimes you can request the color/pattern of your dreams. Support your local dildo artisan!
What are some dildos you’d dil-DO? Where can I get a good one?
I’m glad you asked! I’ve come across a number of amazing dildos over the years and I’d love to spread the dildo-love. I’ve rounded up some I’ve come across that are all special in their own ways.
Tantus
Tantus is a classic brand to go to when it comes to high quality (100% Ultra-Premium Silicone) dildos and other toys. They have all sorts of shapes and sizes and many of them can also be used as strap-on toys.
Doc Johnson
Doc Johnson is another mainstay with everything sex toys—and that includes dildos. They have every single size, shape, style, and color you could think of. What’s more, if you’re interested in strap ons they have a vac-u-lock, open crotch harness system that makes it extremely fast and simple to insert and switch out different toys for seamless play! The dildo above is compatible, along with a bunch of other designs and styles.
Njoy
Want to play with a completely different sensation? Njoy creates stainless steel dildos that feel hard, weighty, and adapt really nicely to different temperatures for warm/cold play. They are well known for their Pure Wand (above), which many have cited for its great ability to provide g-spot stimulation because of its curvature and weight can provide some amazing sensations.
Chakrubs
If you’re into crystals (like on the hippie/meta level... or you’re like me and just think rocks and minerals are cool), check out Chakrubs. Beyond being pretty and made of natural materials, you can leave these out in your room and people who come over will just think you really like minerals (oh little do THEY know…).
Bad Dragon
This one may be a little tougher to hide than the crystal dildos, but some people have actually made them great coffee table pieces. Bad Dragon is home to the original dragon dildo (and a bunch of other animals like the tentacles above). Fun fact about Bad Dragon is that they have an extremely wide range of sizes, colors, and durometers for each of their designs, and you can customize all of that on the website when you order a product. You can even order silicone samples beforehand so you can get just the right feeling for your dream dildo.
Crystal Delights
While Bad Dragon is known for their dragon dongs, Crystal Delights is the original creator of the glass butt plugs with swarovski crystals at the base. They also make some really unique dildos (like the one above) and dilators that make for unique sensations that few others can provide. Like stainless steel, glass is also great for temperature play, but it’s much lighter. They also use high quality glass and finishings (like with silicone, the lower end stuff can sometimes be made of questionable materials), so you can rest assured that you’re getting something that’s good for your body and will be a lot of fun. Plus, swarovski!
Also: Did you know that their first product was a swarovski butt plug on Second Life before becoming a real life product? I wasn’t kidding when I said these products are fascinating!
NobEssence
Glass or stainless steel not your thing, but you still want a different feel? Try wood! NobEssence is as much as a sculpture as it is a dildo. While some folks might think you’d get a splinter from these products, that is not the case. They’ve made all of their products extremely smooth using a sealant that is both waterproof and body safe. If you’re looking for something beautiful and different as well as hard and lightweight, give one of these a try.
Funkit Toys
Funkit Toys is the brainchild of Kenton, who hand makes each and every dildo in the shop. Many of his pieces are made with beautiful, mesmerizing patterns of colorful silicone encased with clearer silicone. Many of them can be used with strap ons. And, of course, you can request custom pieces to get your dream dildo. If you love color and design, check out his wares and support your local sex toy artisan!
BS Atelier
Looking for patterns? Look no further than BS Atelier! They’re based in Spain and hand pour silicone into patterns such as stripes or even paint splatter a la Jackson Pollock, but for sex toys. Like many of the silicone products here, they can be used with strap ons, too.
SimplyElegantGlass
After my local glass dildo artisans went out of business (RIP Fucking Sculptures, you will be missed 😞), I’ve been on the lookout for glass products that are similar to their work. And then came Colorado-based SimplyElegantGlass. They use deep, jewel tones to hand make their glass dildos. They also make seasonal dildos...Candy corn butt plug? They have it!
Geeky Sex Toys
Is Star Wars, The Who, or Sailor Moon more your cup of tea? What about a dildo LED sword that actually lights up?! Australian-based Geeky Sex Toys will soon become your home for all things sexy. They also have holiday products and even a Bitcoin butt plug (I mean, who doesn’t need that?), so they’re pretty fun to browse even just to see what fun things they’ve come up with next.
That’s all for now. If you have other great dildos that you love, comment or shoot me a message. Hopefully this introduction can help you on your way to becoming the Dildo connoisseur you want to be. Go forth, pleasure seeker, and play!
Honorable Mention / Obligatory Plug : The Lioness
Last but not least, I have to give an honorable mention to my own product the Lioness. Yes, it can vibrate, but did you know that you can also use it with the vibration off and effectively use it as a dildo (or even a butt plug)? Since the Lioness is equipped with sensors that enable you to literally see, track, and improve your pleasure, you can use it to learn what kinds of movements you like with or without vibration, try it with/without a partner, try it with different stimulants...the list goes on. Think of it as your sexy playground for experimentation. 😉
