How to Choose Your First Sex Toy

19 November 2009

If you think you want to try a sex toy for the first time but aren't sure where to begin, this guide will help you choose the right first sex toy for you.

You can also contact our friendly Customer Care team, who can help you find the perfect toy. You can send an email any time, and telephone or live chat to an experienced advisor from 8am-10pm Monday-Friday and 8am-4pm Saturday.

Another brilliant place to look for people's advice on sex toys is on the Lovehoney Forum, where our community is on hand 24/7 to give their opinions and tips.

What do you like?

I'm a WOMAN looking for...	Try a...
External clitoral stimulation	Clitoral Vibrator, Bullet Vibrator
Internal vaginal or G-spot stimulation	Non-Vibrating Dildo, Classic Vibrator, G-Spot Vibrator
Both clitoral and vaginal stimulation	Rabbit Vibrator
Lifelike look and feel	Realistic Dildo, Realistic Dildo Vibrator

I'm a MAN looking for...	Try a...
Lifelike look and feel	Realistic Vagina, Fleshlight
Discreet, non-anatomical	Sleeve or Stroker, TENGA Toy
Realistic sex	Inflatable Sex Doll, Lifelike Sex Doll
Prostate stimulation	Prostate Massager

We're a COUPLE looking for...	Try a...
A sex toy to improve sex	Vibrating Cock Ring, Cock Ring
A sex toy to use together on him	Sleeve or Stroker, TENGA Toy
A sex toy to use together on her	Bullet Vibrator, Remote Control Vibrator
Something a bit kinky	Blindfold, Feather Tickler, Pair of Handcuffs

How much do you want to spend?

When you're buying your first sex toy your budget will probably be one of the biggest factors in your choice. Starting with less expensive sex toys is a good way to experiment, but just getting the cheapest thing in the sale may lead to disappointment. Remember to look at customer reviews as well as price. Every single item in the BASIC Sex Toy range is well reviewed and great value. The range of Lovehoney Sex Toys has something for everyone at a reasonable price. Toys by TV Sexpert Tracey Cox are classy, couple-friendly, superb quality and great value too!

Luxury sex toys really are worth the extra spend: they're made from better quality materials, they'll last longer and they're usually rechargeable so you can recoup the cost of batteries. However, it's sensible to know what you like before you splash out on an expensive toy that will be with you for the long haul.

See BASIC Sex Toys | See Lovehoney Sex Toys | See Tracey Cox Sex Toys

How to choose your first sex toy

Check the details

When you've spotted a toy that takes your fancy, be sure to check the details on the product page carefully.

Product Details

How it measures up: Find out just how big that toy is. More important than the overall length is the insertable length, as is the circumference (which is measured at the widest girth of the toy). Will this be a comfortable fit for you?

How it feels: A toy can look rigid in the product picture, when it's actually a flexible friend. Check the nitty gritty of the material specifications here, and also check whether you can take the toy into the bathroom for underwater play - submersible toys are also easier to keep clean.

Power and speed: Check exactly what types of vibration are in store, as well as what type of power the toy takes and what batteries you need for your sex toy.

Watch the videos

The most popular products on Lovehoney have videos that demonstrate how they work. As well as showing you how the sex toy works and what it will do for you, seeing a toy in someone's hands is another great way to check that your first sex toy is the right size for you. You can also get a good sense of how loud a toy is from a video demonstration.

Read the reviews

Lovehoney has over 25,000 reviews written by real people who have bought, used and rated their sex toys. When you view a particular product, you’ll see it has a star rating. This is a quick and easy way to see how good a product is - the more stars it has, the better.

If you fancy researching more, you can scroll down further and read full reviews about the product including details about how easy it is to use, how powerful it is, how noisy it is and what the packaging is like.

Do you need something discreet?

If you share a house or need to be discreet with your sex toy for any other reason, you'll be keen to get something quiet and easy to conceal.

We sell a range of Extra Quiet Vibrators and a variety of Male Masturbators that are small, quiet and inconspicuously packaged.

Remember that when you shop at Lovehoney, everything is delivered in a boring brown box or envelope so the only person getting excited by your delivery is you.

See Lovehoney's Discreet Packaging

See Extra Quiet Vibrators | See Mini Vibrators | See Fleshlights | See Pocket Vaginas

Don't Forget 'The Essentials'

Make sure your first sex toys experience goes smoothly by adding the essentials to your order: lube, sex toy cleaner and batteries should be in your basket.

Lube is a sex toy's best friend. A slick of lubricant makes penetration easier (so great when using Dildos or Anal Sex Toys) and by adding a dab of lube when you use a clitoral vibe there's less friction and so more pleasure to be had. A plentiful amount of lube is essential when using Male Masturbators. For your first lube, a water-based lubricant is the best choice as it is compatible with all sex toys. Tracey Cox Supersex Love Lube (£5.99) is slick without being sticky and has earned its place as our best-rated water-based lube.

"Nice, smooth, does not leave you feeling all sticky after applying and no need to rush to get in the shower after using it. A little bit goes along way. Both me and my OH have used it on each other, we have used it during sex with toys and both feel it better than other products we have tried. Good value for money." Read the full review.

A specially formulated sex toy cleaner like Lovehoney SQWERTY Sex Toy Cleaner (£5.99) will keep everything in tip-top hygienic condition. To keep things nice and discreet, it doesn't say it's a sex toy cleaner on the bottle so you can safely stash it in the bedroom or bathroom.

SQWERTY Sex Toy Cleaner Explained

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Don't forget to add batteries to your basket - that way there won't be any emergency dashes to the corner shop before you can use your brand new toy.

See Batteries for Sex Toys | See Water-Based Lubes | See Sex Toy Cleaners

Still not sure what sex toy to choose?

You can Contact Customer Care, who will be able to help you find the perfect toy. You can send an email any time, and telephone or live chat to an experienced advisor from 8am-10pm Monday-Friday and 8am-4pm Saturday.

The other great place to look for people's advice on sex toys is on the Lovehoney Forum, where our community is on hand 24/7 to give their opinions and tips.

Contact Lovehoney Customer Care | Visit The Lovehoney Forum

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