National Masturbation Month: The history of the vibrator

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, [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.

This stroker is so high-tech, it makes a standard Fleshlight look like a lubed-up toilet paper roll. The Lovense Max offers not only a pleasurably textured interior, but also vibration that surrounds your dick, and rhythmic contractions that squeeze and massage it. If you prefer gentler, pinpointed stimulation, the Lelo Dot may be the best choice for you. The teardrop-shaped Dot looks a bit odd at first glance, but its accessible design offers focused clitoral stimulation. There’s nothing worse than fumbling around with buttons while you’re trying to get in the zone, either alone or with a partner.

Plus, the soft silicone coating and ergonomic design meant it was comfortable to wield, with no hand cramp reported. The sloped tip scored extra points with our panel for its ability to stimulate the G-spot, while the bunny ears are perfectly positioned to target the clitoris. The super-soft silicone also feels great against the skin, making it a pleasure to use and to hold.

“Some like to tap [external vibrators] back and forth on the glans, clitoral shaft, and labia ,” Juliana Hauser, PhD, a Lexington, Kentucky-based marriage and family therapist, previously told Allure. You always want to buy a toy made with body-safe materials like stainless steel, silicone, and borosilicate glass. Silicone toys are the most popular but always remember to pair them with water-based lube to avoid breaking down the material. Few things are more disappointing than receiving a new sex toy only to discover that it doesn’t work for you. One way to reduce the odds of this happening is to buy a vibe that has at least 5 different intensity settings vibrators, so that (hopefully) even if some of them don’t work for you, others will. Some vibrators also have patterns, such as pulsing or wave-like vibrations, which can make the toy even more versatile.

Plus, it can be controlled by buttons on the device or an app-connected smartphone so your partner can pleasure you even from afar. Our testers couldn’t believe how powerful this palm-sized vibrator was, even on the lower speed settings. The vibrations were a bit too intense for some, but if you’re in the market for a small but mighty bullet vibrator, this is a hot contender. Made from soft silicone with a squidgy gel tip, all testers said it was comfortable and easy to use and were impressed with the wide range of settings to explore. Bullet and wand vibrators do the same thing — external stimulation on parts of your body, such as the clitoris. While “bullet” often describes small, bullet-shaped vibrators, Amrich uses that label more broadly to categorize vibrators that focus on clitoral stimulation and aren’t specifically designed to be inserted into the body.

The LELO Gigi 2 is made of super-smooth silicone and is completely waterproof (up to one meter). It does take a while to fully charge — roughly two hours — but it holds its charge for that long, as well. It comes with its own little carrying case, too, which is a small dome cover that pops right on top of the egg dish. I love this because it means that I can keep the vibrator out while it’s charging and no one will be the wiser.

Dr. Jessica Shepherd, an OB-GYN, says vibrators are not harmful to the genital area if used correctly. However, she notes that if they’re used too aggressively or shared between folks without proper cleaning, there is potential for doing harm. It was loud—a lot louder than I remembered it being when I used it alone. Once we actually started getting into it, with the vibrator squished between us, you couldn’t hear it quite as much. Now that I wasn’t so distracted by all that buzzing, I turned my attention to, ya know, orgasming.

The Satisfyer Pro 2 is waterproof and easy to clean, though it is a bit loud before it creates a suction, so you may want to use this toy under some covers. The Satisfyer Pro 2 uses a pulsing sensation that provides the feel of sucking against your clitoris. In fact, it has a little notch that slips over your clitoris and creates a bit of suction, giving you a true-to-life mouth feeling. To help narrow down the best of what’s available, I tested a variety of vibrators all with their own specific use case. There were couple’s vibrators and bullet models, as well as finger-worn vibes and suction models. I’ve also included some insight into the testing methodology I used at the end of this guide.

Just note that the Soraya Wave isn’t as quiet or discreet as the other rabbits in this round-up, and may not be one for beginners due to lack of detailed instructions. They were then asked to rate each toy on its ease of use, design and performance, providing feedback on what they liked, what aspects could be improved and how it made them feel. If for any reason, you’re not completely satisfied with your product or solution from Martin Engineering, we will happily honor our Absolutely No Excuses Guarantee and fully refund your money or provide a better solution for you. Like all our ball vibrators, this pneumatic vibrator is ideal for knocking down material blockages and is built for the toughest conditions.