Can’t easily use either component on its own; can’t use with silicone-based lubes

Cons: Can’t easily use either component on its own; can’t use with silicone-based lubes; may not fit all clit sizes; controls are complicated

The aim of this study was to understand and to quantify which morphological features of phallic-shaped sex toys, designed for vaginal insertion during masturbatory and other sexual activity, are the most popular. We did not consider other types of toys, such as full-size sex dolls, but rather only focused on non-personified sexual-technology (as expanded upon by Locatelli, Citation2022). Nor did we consider the emerging popularity of virtual “sex tech,” which often overlaps with online pornography, such as erotic video games, camming streams, and sexual chatbots (Gesselman et al., Citation2022). The majority of non-personified sex toys are phallus-shaped (Döring & Pöschl, Citation2018), and insertable adult sex toys design is understood to be for the “women’s market” (Ronen, Citation2021) and so could be expected to reflect women’s preferences. We also assessed whether users prefer vaginally insertable toys (from those available to them on one website) that resemble real phalluses, or whether they steered away from this simulated morphology. By looking explicitly at the features which are most desirable to consumers we hoped to add context to discussions surrounding the use and design of sex toys, and also further understand user preference.

Azmi recommends so-called open strokers like this one to all men, but especially those who can struggle to get aroused. Because of the open cuff, the pressure on the user is literally and emotionally reduced, according to her. You want bringing sex toys in to the bedroom to be as seamless as possible, she says, and the great thing is that an open penis sleeve accommodates flaccid penises, since it can be adjusted to make it tighter or looser. It has a vibrating plate that expertly targets the frenulum, she says, “a hot spot of nerve endings near the head of the penis.” Procida is a fan this frenulum-targeting device. “It’s a part of the penis that doesn’t get enough love,” he tells us of the frenulum. “Like Scottie Pippen, we know it’s great but not how great.” Procida, who uses it himself, describes it as powerful: “It felt like the world was exploding.” But, he cautions, it requires patience. As you get more turned on diy sex toys for men, “you’re going to want to stroke it,” but don’t — the device is far more effective if you don’t move it around, he says.

Some evolutionary biologists have theorized that, due to the penis being conspicuous in humans, morphology and overall size have been sexually selected (Mautz et al., Citation2013). The few studies that have sought to examine female preference for penis size and morphology, either through self-report (Francken et al., Citation2002) or the use of simplified models (Prause et al., Citation2015), provide supporting evidence, with flaccid penis length contributing to overall male attractiveness (Mautz et al., Citation2013), women showing more interest in girth over length (Francken et al., Citation2002) and preferring slightly larger than average penises for a “one night stand” context. Gallup et al. (Citation2003) also concluded that the shape of the glans of the human penis, and the presence of a coronal ridge, might have evolved to enhance sperm competition in our recent ancestors. However, Bowman (Citation2008) suggested that the circumference of the human penis is simply larger than that of most primates to ensure a good fit within a larger and more flexible vagina, itself evolved to facilitate birthing infants with large cranial diameters. Whatever the mechanism, we would expect to see aspects of female preference, whether that be related to overall dimensions or sensation, reflected in the morphology of the most popular or best-selling penis-shaped cheap sex toys designed for vaginal insertion.

“Smile Makers was started after our founders walked into a sex toys for women shop and found the whole shopping experience, branding and packaging quite vulgar and disrespectful to women,” says Cécile Gasnault, marketing director of the brand and creator of its Vulva Talks. “Even today, you think of a vibrator and the first thing that springs to mind is the big, phallic shape.” Conscious of a huge untapped market – more women in the UK own a vibrator than own a dishwasher – the Smile Makers team got to work on creating a brand that would open up the conversation around female sexuality, make it fun, and challenge the idea that female pleasure should revolve around a male perspective on what it might look like.