Our vibrator buying guide for beginners: How to choose a sex toy
While it’s a similar size as many bullet vibrators, at 3.5 inches long, it also has the amped-up power of a wand. I love the sunshine yellow color and discreet charging case—you could almost mistake it for a pair of sunglasses in your bag. The design means that no matter which one you choose, insertion is made easy by the tapered shape and soft, sleek silicone.
Movies were invented in 1890, and by 1891, pornography was being filmed. During the 1920s, vibrators began showing up in stag films, which stripped the devices of their disguise and quickly made them socially unacceptable. Vibrator advertisements disappeared from the consumer media, and vibrators were hard to find well into the 1970s. That changed when feminism emerged right around the time that Hitachi introduced its Magic Wand, still the world’s most popular vibrator.
“Bullet vibes are small and discreet and as such, perfect for traveling,” says Rebecca Alvarez Story, a sexologist and the CEO and co-founder of Bloomi. For people with vaginas, rabbit vibes are versatile, dual-stimulation toys that combine the external pleasures of a clitoral vibrator with the internal satisfaction of a vibrating dildo, adding additional G-spot satisfaction. Feel good and do good with this eco-friendly tool from ‘It’ sex toy brand Love Not War, which is made from locally sourced sustainable materials in a green-powered factory. It’s surprisingly dinky for a wand, so you can take it on holiday, yet it still has plenty of ‘oomph’, delivering deep, rumbling vibrations thanks to four intensity levels and vibration patterns.
“It’s really a great option because it has Smart Silence, so when it’s touching your body, it turns on and then when you pull it away from your body, it turns off,” says Amrich. The best wand vibrators can be used for solo or partnered time and deliver deep, rumbling sensations that can feel seriously mind-blowing on external body parts. They’re really popular for using on the clitoris, but you can also try them on nipples, penises, butts, or anywhere else you want to feel a nice buzz. And BTW, you may see some wand vibes labeled as “personal massagers,” but not all massage devices are the same—a percussive one (like the Theragun) shouldn’t be used everywhere. “Discovering what helps you orgasm contributes to your sexual confidence and boosts your sexual desire, which is great for yourself as well as sex with your partner,” says sex and relationship expert Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, Ph.D. When choosing a sex toy for solo play, she says to try to get toys that offer various types of stimulation.
At the very least, a smaller and more compact vibe can be better for use during intercourse. Maybe, neither of these options sound all that appealing to you as you’re looking so some solo g-spot stimulation, in which case you’ll want to opt for something longer meant to be used internally, like a rabbit vibe. The Lovehoney Ignite 20 Function Finger Vibrator is designed for discreet, on-the-go stimulation, making it perfect for solo play, foreplay, or enhancing intimacy with a partner. Featuring 3 powerful speeds and 17 exciting vibration patterns, this silicone vibrator ensures a customizable experience with easy control at your fingertips.
This type of vibrator can be more ergonomic for people who may find it challenging to grip the base of a toy like a dildo or a wand. But in partner lovemaking, vibrators don’t replace men any more than power tools replace carpenters. On the contrary, as the studies just mentioned demonstrate, vibes add new dimensions of pleasure and satisfaction to partner lovemaking. Vibrators don’t hug, kiss, converse, tell jokes, take women out , or whisper, “I love you.” They do just one thing, deliver more intense sensation than fingers or tongues can provide.
And that’s a wonderful thing, because everyone deserves the chance to explore their body in as many ways as they see fit. “But really, this tiny body-safe ABS plastic clitoral vibe packs an vibrator, [in my opinion], unmatched punch when it comes to power, and the angled tip delivers pinpoint vibration right where you want it.” For someone who prefers more traditional vibrations over suction, the Pro 2 delivers. Its shape is perfect for maneuvering and finding the perfect spot, which I struggled with trying more “blobby” suckers like LELO’s Sona 2. Not only did I have more fun with the Pro 2, but it’s nearly half the cost of the Sona 2 — and the second-cheapest vibe on this list — at $49.95. For me, sex toys are never embarrassing, so I don’t have such a high interest in aesthetics — I want a vibrator that’s going to get the job done.
