Having read through an article in The
Times on "10 things to know before buying a vibrator" I was unimpressed
to see hardly any of it was actually advice. Most was just a history of
the vibrator, which is not really the same thing. The history of the
motor car won’t necessarily help you buy the right car now, and thus I
decided to write something myself that gives a brief overview of what
things are helpful to look out for when buying the infamous Vibrator!
Size
This typically applies to penis shaped, or phallic vibrators, as opposed to bullet or egg vibrators.
Making sure your vibrator isn’t too big or too small can be very
important, though mainly for penetrative reasons. If you are only using
it for its vibrating function to stimulate without penetration, size is
less important. You may need to experiment to find the right size,
though buying vibrator after vibrator can be a real pain. Perhaps try
using something within the household to gauge how it would feel (I will
leave what you could use up to you, but don’t put it back in the fridge
after)
Design
This
comes down to knowing yourself and what gets you off? Are you someone
who finds pleasure in penetration? Or do you prefer clitoral
stimulation? Perhaps you like both, or have other specific places you
like stimulated? If you enjoy penetration do you want anal penetration?
There
are many different designs of vibrators from the traditional phallic
shape (typical for penetration) to egg vibrators and bullet vibrators
(designed with clitoral stimulation in mind) to the rabbit vibrators
which are designed to do both. You may find a more realistic penis vibrator
to be better for anal penetration, whereas a smooth plastic vibrator
may feel better against your skin, or stimulating your nipples.
Materials
Know
what your vibrator is made of. Why? Well first off feel can make a
great deal of difference. You may prefer a harder, smoother surface, or
a nubby rubber feel, or a more lifelike silicone material.
Secondly
what a vibrator is made of can affect the lubricant you may need to
use. Some lubricants may work fine with one material, but actually
damage another.
Third thing to remember; is it waterproof? You don’t
want to ruin your new vibrator by getting it wet and finding out it
isn’t a waterproof vibrator whilst in the bath. Water proof applies to immersing in water, not from getting wet during orgasm or stimulation.
Functions
Yes
they all vibrate no big surprises there. However many do more than
that, some have variable vibrating speed settings, some have thrusting
actions and others have vibrating "ears" (the rabbit vibrators) to give
clitoral stimulation during penetration.
With egg and bullet
vibrators these have no penis like qualities at all, instead they go
for a discreet look and aim to be better suited for sensually massaging
and stimulating body areas, however these often have a separate
controller to adjust speeds and pulse frequencies whilst using the sex toy or to allow a partner control of your pleasure.
Lubrication
Normally
only important for penetrative vibrators, lube can actually aid the
feel of those that concentrate more on stimulation as many lubricants
can add sensitivity to the skin and sexual organs. However as stated
before make sure you get the right lube for your sex toy (this should
be conveyed in the product description or on the packaging). Some
lubricants can damage a vibrator, but are fine for other applications
or even vibrators made from different materials.
Examples of lubrications include ID Glide lube, ID Millennium lube, ID Juicy lube and ID Sensation lube.
Price
Some
vibrators can seem very expensive, others very cheap. There is no real
way to be certain which is best for you, so try not to let cost sway
you in any direction. Look for what you think will be best for your
needs, after all you probably won’t be buying a new vibrator
every week, so you’ll probably become very attached to your new sex
toy, so make sure your purchase is based on what you want, not on going
for the cheapest (or most expensive).
Noise
Try
to find out how noisy the vibrator is. Most egg and bullet vibrators
are fairly quite, to allow discreet use. Other vibrators such as
rabbits and thrusting vibrators
can be noisier as they are normally only going to be used in the
confines of the bedroom or bathroom. So see if a vibrator has a product
description or review which mentions how loud it is, and whether you’ll
have to make sure no one else is home before using it.
Brand
There
are many, many different brands of vibrators out so it can be a bit of
a minefield, expensive doesn’t necessarily mean good and cheap doesn’t
necessarily mean bad. Looking for a brand name can help ease these
worries as you can be assured they have been doing this for some time
and have a good understanding of what makes a sex toy. A few known
brands include ABS and the Berman Centre, which are a range of sex toys designed by a woman, Dr Laura Berman.
Brand is not the be-all and end-all of vibrator quality, but they can be a good place to start.
Appearance
Many
vibrators are fairly indiscreet when it comes to their appearance, but
then again it can be hard to make a replica penis look like anything
else. Added to this they can be rather brightly coloured, which can
make it even more embarrassing when someone finds one you’ve left
around.
There are companies that try to go for a more simplistic,
discreet or stylish look, with some vibrators not looking anything like
the stereotypical product. Of course vibrating eggs, clit stimulators and bullet vibrators can look very unassuming, making them good choices for those of nervous dispositions.
Making
sure the vibrator you choose looks good can be as important as how it
feels to many women, though more than enough only care about the
pleasure and care little what it looks like. The good news is there is
something out there for everyone’s tastes when it comes to appearance.
And for the Guys
Yep
guys can and do use vibrators as well. Some like the sensation of the
vibrations against skin or genitals; others enjoy the feeling given by
penetrations due to the prostate gland being located in the anus, as a
matter of fact there are several anal vibrators on the market designed for prostate and g-spot stimulation specifically.
Vibrators
aren’t only just for gay men either. Many straight guys use vibrators
with their partners to both share in giving them pleasure, exploring
new avenues and as previously mentioned because of the prostate being a
pleasure spot for men.
All the above tips are as important to men as
it is for women, though is worth mentioning that if for any reason you
plan to share a vibrator with a partner (male or female) make sure you
use a condom and are practising hygienic sex.
So
if you are looking for something new, perhaps considering something to
tickle your anus but not sure what toys are out there. We may have the
answer. The rabbit vibrator has gained popularity in recent years, but
for the girl who already has one what is the next step.
