The SnailVibe is innovative, but left me feeling sluggish
Luckily, I have a few tips and tricks to help you narrow things down. “Lelo’s Nea 3 is the perfect vibrator for someone who wants discreet, powerful, external stimulation,” says sex therapist Leigh Noren. Indeed, it looks more like an objet d’art than a sex toy, and is small enough to fit in pretty much any bag or pocket, so it’s a great pick for those who need discretion. Its gently curved shape allows it to slot neatly between bodies during sex. While it’s designed mainly for clitoral use, you can also try this one on the nipples, labia, balls, taint, or frenulum.
For those who enjoy versatility, this vibrator features one non-vibrating side and one vibrating side — both great for vaginal and anal pleasure. It looks luxurious, and you can play with three vibration patterns and three power levels. “Pleasure and orgasm are really good for you because they release hormones that reduce stress and anxiety,” says Zar. For most women, the clitoris is the gateway to orgasm — and this toy is made specifically for that pleasure part.
In addition to vibrating, clit suckers use air-suction technology to mimic the sensation of oral sex. Womanizer is a go-to brand in the sucker space—and of all the brand’s models, the waterproof Premium 2 is the best, Marla Renee Stewart, a certified sex educator and founder of Velvet Lips Sex Education vibrator, tells SELF. Just five inches long, this budget-friendly vibe packs the intensity of a wand in the petite size of a bullet.
But we do not think this toy is the best pick for solo clitoral play (unless you prefer “riding” or grinding against a vibrator while lying face down, as opposed to holding it in place with your hand). We do think this toy has great potential for use during partnered intercourse, where the person with the vulva is on top. We decided to test the Fun Factory Volta on the recommendation of esteemed sex-toy blogger Epiphora , who gave it a glowing review and selected it as one of the best sex toys of 2018.
We instructed our testers to use each toy themselves and to incorporate these toys into partner play when possible. We’ve also solicited long-term testing feedback from folks who bought their first vibrators based on the advice in this guide. But buying sex toys can be an intimidating experience for newbies and experienced users alike, and not just due to the buyer’s shyness. High-quality sex toys are often expensive and nonreturnable, you have hundreds (if not thousands) of sex-toy models to choose from, and the criteria for what makes a good sex toy can be highly subjective. Determining what toy will work best for you based on reviews can be difficult because every person’s sexual response is different. Nobody wants to spend $100-plus on a toy that turns out to be a dud.
The vibe’s aesthetic weirdness may be a pro or con, depending on your own taste. For me, it just didn’t scream “sexy.” That doesn’t mean you can’t have a delightful, sensual time with it — hell, I know at least one of you has a snail fetish, probably — but it didn’t put me in the mood. While I commend SnailVibe for being an innovative toy among a crowded market, it unfortunately didn’t “wow” me. Combined with its lack of sex appeal (in my opinion), SnailVibe isn’t worth the price for me — but read on to see if it could be a fit for you. Customers have mixed experiences with the massager’s battery life – while some report it lasts a while, others mention that the battery dies and won’t accept a charge. And by “mileage” I mean “anatomy.” Every person’s body is different.
With a little bit of maneuvering, it is possible to use the Pulse II hands-free, which could be a big benefit for some men. The Pulse II can also create a feeling of togetherness and shared pleasure for couples who aren’t able to have intercourse. Neither of us had ever seen a toy that claimed it could be used flaccid or erect, and I had assumed this was a bizarre marketing angle. In reality, the Pulse II’s ability to be used while flaccid ended up being my tester’s favorite feature. I’m obviously not personally experienced in the ways of male masturbation, but my tester shared that the Pulse II did away with that awkward stage of jerking off when you’re trying to get hard enough to do the deed. Instead of that pulling-at-putty type of feeling, you can simply relax and let the Pulse II do all the work.
I consulted with experts in the field about the current product landscape and picked brands that have a reputation for creating high-quality products. If your idea of the best vibrator is a basic vibrator or an entry-level device, buy this. The PlusOne Vibrating Bullet is made of body-safe silicone, it’s rechargeable, waterproof and only costs $10 — which is far less expensive than many battery-operated plastic models you can find. It has 10 vibration settings and more than 1,000 five-star reviews, so it’s a safe bet. Wand vibrators have a handle with a rounded top that vibrates, and they’re available in many different sizes. Twice as nice vibrators are designed to be inserted into the body to stimulate the G-spot and have an appendage that also stimulates the clitoris at the same time.