When it comes to sex toys for men, we’re living in a golden age. Gone are the days of the ridiculous blow-up dolls and in their place is a whole new breed of high-tech masturbation sleeves and sophisticated toys that elevate intimacy with your partner (fun fact: Orgasms release oxytocin, an immune-boosting hormone). And it seems like every week there’s some groundbreaking technological advancement in male sex tech being made by companies like LELO, Hismith, Kiiroo, Fleshlight, and more.
But while these sex tools are exciting, they’re also often quite expensive, with many men feeling intimidated or nervous about using them. So we asked some experts to weigh in on whether or not sex machines are actually worth the price tag and, if so, how to find the best one for you.
Male sex toys technically encompass anything that stimulates the penis—which means there’s an entire universe of options to choose from, including strokers, vibrators, and even a few that mimic the feeling of climax. Some of the most popular models are shaped to perfectly fit the male anatomy and feature customizable controls. For example, the LM2 from Hismith is a stroker that you can program to do just about anything you can imagine with the push of a button. You can set the intensity, use a custom vibration mode, and even have it connect to your phone to enable remote control with your partner.
And if all that’s not enough, you can buy compatible accessories to customize the experience and make it even more unique. Hismith, for example, has a line of masturbation accessories that use its proprietary Kliclok system, which consists of a small 8-sided screw and female socket that lock in and out with ease. These accessories can be used on their own or in tandem with a compatible masturbator sleeve for two-handed exploration.
But no matter what the toy does or how it’s shaped, you need to be prepared to put in a little effort when it comes to maintenance and cleaning. For example, some sleeves have a reusable insert that needs to be cleaned regularly and may require special lubrication. You’ll also want to make sure you’re keeping the pleasure tool away from kids, pets, and nosey neighbors if you’re going to be storing it in the closet. And as a general rule, you’ll want to have plenty of lube on hand just in case things get messy.