How to Choose a Vibrator

How to Choose a Vibrator

Decisions, decisions, decisions…
With so many vibrators available to choose from, deciding on just the right one for you can seem like a daunting task. Not to worry – if you take the time to learn a little bit about your body and consider the various vibrator features in this how-to, you will narrow down your options considerably.

What Feels Good?
Before you start shopping around for a vibrator you need to know what feels good. How do certain parts of your body react to stimulation? Explore your body with your fingers first. Some women prefer vaginal stimulation, some prefer clitoral stimulation, some enjoy anal stimulation and some like g-spot stimulation (if you don’t know what the g-spot is or how to find it you can read up on it here). There are those that will also enjoy a combination of vaginal, clitoral, g-spot and anal stimulation. Take the time to learn what feels best to you. Vibrators come in all shapes and sizes and they are designed for specific functions: vaginal or anal insertion, clitoral contact only, g-spot stimulation, or dual-function vibrators that provide vaginal/g-spot and clitoral stimulation simultaneously. We strongly advise against using a dual-function vibrator for simultaneous vaginal/anal stimulation because of the risk of bacterial contamination (never let anything that’s been in your anus touch your vagina!). A large percentage of women cannot orgasm without direct clitoral stimulation. So, even if vaginal insertion feels good, you may not be able to orgasm with that alone. Keep that in mind when choosing a vibrator.

What Are Vibrators Made Of?
Vibrators are made from many different materials, the majority being silicone, latex rubber, jelly rubber or plastic. Each material has a different feel and texture and each has its pros and cons.

Silicone Vibrators
Silicone vibrators are virtually non-porous which means the surface is soft and extremely smooth, so there are no small places for bacteria to hide and they are easy to clean. Silicone is also hypoallergenic, so there is virtually no chance of your body having a negative reaction to the material. Silicone is also a very durable material, which makes for longer-lasting toys. Silicone vibrators may be a bit more expensive but they are worth the extra investment. You cannot use silicone-based lubricants with silicone toys, as the lubricant will slowly degrade the silicone material on the toy. Click here to see silicone vibrators.

Latex rubber Vibrators
Latex rubber is derived from Rubber trees and vibrators made with latex are generally stiff with a soft, velvety texture. They have a consistency somewhere between plastic and jelly. Many realistic vibrators are made with latex rubber because it closely mimics the color of human skin. Some find the odor of latex rubber to be unpleasant. Make sure you do not have an allergic reaction to latex before using a latex vibrator. Click here to see latex vibrators.

Jelly Rubber Vibrators
Jelly rubber is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that has softeners (called phthalates) added to it. There is some concern that phthalates pose a minor health risk, particularly to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is recommended that these toys be used with condoms. Jelly vibrators are soft and have some give, so they feel great. They are generally inexpensive and do not vibrate as intensely as plastic or silicone vibrators due to the soft nature of the rubber. These vibrators are porous and cannot be disinfected; meaning disease can be passed between partners if jelly toys are shared. Click here to see jelly vibrators.

Hard Plastic Vibrators
Hard plastic vibrators are ideal for external stimulation, and as long as they are seamless and have no rough edges or corners, they can also be used for penetration. Because plastic vibrators are made from a harder material the vibrations feel more intense and they do not bend when pressure is applied during use. The texture of plastic is non-porous, so bacteria has no place to hide and makes them easy to clean. Click here to see plastic vibrators.

Cyberskin Vibrators
Cyberskin is a material invented by Topco but it has come to be used as a general term for toys that are made of a very soft, life-like material intended to mimic the feel of real human skin. Cyberskin vibrators are “dual density”, which means they have a soft outside and a firm core, which closely resembles the feel of a real penis. Not everyone wants a vibrator that feels like an actual penis, but if you’re going for realism, Cyberskin is about as close as you can get. Cyberskin tends to tear if subjected to rough use. The material is also very porous, making it susceptible to bacteria and difficult to clean. Click here to see Cyberskin vibrators.

All Shapes And Sizes
Whether you want to stimulate your clitoris, vagina, g-spot or anus somebody out there makes a vibrator that delivers pleasure to one or more of these areas.

Clitoral vibrators tend to have a small form factor because their main function is for external use, although some can be used internally as well. Clitoral vibrators usually come in 3 different forms: Bullets, eggs and pocket rockets.

• Bullet vibrators are cylindrically shaped and around 2-3 inches long. The typical bullet has 1 to 3 speeds. They are usually made from either hard plastic or silicone. Bullets can be used alone or a woman can hold it in place during intercourse and double her pleasure while allowing her the freedom to maneuver or shut it on and off at will. Click here to see bullet vibrators.

• Egg vibrators are orb shaped and also around 2-3 inches long and are controlled either by a wired or wireless controller. Eggs can either have multiple distinct settings or dials with varying, indistinct speeds. Eggs are made from hard plastic but many have silicone or cyberskin sheaths that cover them for those that like the added friction and texture. Because some eggs are wired or come with a tethered cord, they can be used internally. Click here to see egg vibrators.

• Pocket rockets are the size of a lipstick tube, easy to hide, require just one battery, are very powerful and are usually made of plastic. Just like the bullets and eggs, a pocket rocket can be held in place during intercourse. These are perfect for long road trips or a discreet quickie. Click here to see pocket rocket vibrators.

There are clitoral vibrators that don’t fall into any of the above categories. These include small vibrators that can be strapped to a finger or the tongue and rechargeable vibrators that are uniquely shaped such as the Nea and the Lily from Lelo.

There is a very wide selection of vibrators for vaginal use from which to choose. Some are smooth and look like long bullets and some are designed to look and feel like a real penis. There are far too many designs to cover in this article but suffice it to say all of them are phallic-shaped for their intended purpose. They are also made of every conceivable material. If you want a vibrator for vaginal use but are intimidated by the varying selection, start by deciding which material you think would feel best and then decide on a shape. Once you get to that point you can narrow the selection further by deciding how much you are willing to spend. Click here to see vaginal vibrators.

G-spot vibrators usually have a curved tip in order to stimulate what is known as the Gräfenberg Spot. Because of the position of the g-spot and the amount of pressure it takes to stimulate the area, g-spot vibrators are made from firmer materials such as silicone or plastic. Manufacturers have come up with inventive ways to stimulate the g-spot, resulting in some very intriguing shapes – you’ll have to see them to know what we’re talking about here. Click here to see g-spot vibrators.

The market for vibrating anal toys is much smaller than traditional vibrators and the selection of vibrators made specifically for anal use reflects this. Technically, you can use just about any traditional vibrator or egg for anal play; but there are a few vibrators made which you may find more suitable. Anal vibrators tend to either be smaller in size or graduated, which means the vibrator is larger, or flared, towards the base. On the smaller end of the scale you will find vibrating anal beads. They are usually made from silicone and/or hard plastic. Be sure to choose an anal vibrator that has no visible seams on the surface. The soft tissue of the anus is quite sensitive and can be easily scratched if the toy you’re using has seams. Seams also create areas where bacteria can hide. Click here to see anal vibrators.

Multi-function, or rabbit vibrators as they’ve come to be known, are made to stimulate the clitoris and vagina simultaneously. Because most multi-function vibrators oscillate, twirl and/or undulate they’re made from pliable materials such as silicone, latex or rubber. A multi-function vibe consists of a shaft and a small vibrator that branches out near the base of the shaft. All multi-function vibrators have a shaft with an optional vibrating function while some include various types of motion for added pleasure. The function of the smaller branching vibrator is usually limited to vibration only and often times takes the form of an animal such as a rabbit – hence the term “rabbit” vibe. These vibrators will also usually include different vibration speed and pulsation settings. Click here to see multi-function vibrators.

The last feature left to decide on when choosing a vibrator is whether you want it to be rechargeable or battery-operated. Rechargeable vibrators tend be more expensive but you may find that the cost of frequently replacing batteries negates the savings in the long run.

Some final words of wisdom - the saying, “You get what you pay for” holds true for vibrators. Paying a little extra for a durable, quality toy may also save you money in the long run. And just because it looks pretty doesn’t mean it will do the job you want it to do. Remember – Function over Form.

Clean Your Sex Toys
Make sure to use a toy cleaner that fights bacteria with ingredients like Triclosan, an anti-bacterial that helps guard against infection and has an intensive antimicrobial effect against bacteria, fungal infections, and viruses such as Hepatitis B and HIV.