Listen up, masturbators.
When it comes to pleasure, the sex-positive crowd definitely has the upper hand. Compared to our more puritanical forebears, we live in a very progressive society where conversations about sexual health, pleasure, and intimacy have gone from hushed whispers and secret glances and into mainstream discourse. For guys, that means it's no longer so taboo to talk about the best male sex toys.
Historically, sex toys have mainly been marketed towards people assigned female at birth (AFAB), but there's been a growing recognition (and acceptance) that people with penises, or people assigned male at birth (AMAB), deserve pleasure and a fulfilling sex life too. After all, sex toys help us self-explore, enhance our relationships, and encourage personal growth intimately and emotionally.
"There's recently been a lot of work destigmatizing sex toys for women but not as much for men — but there's no reason men shouldn't have the same right to explore their sexuality and spice up their sex lives," Suzannah Weiss, certified sex educator and resident sexologist for the erotic ethical porn site FrolicMe, tells Mashable. "Toys can make sex more exciting alone or with a partner, help people discover what they like, and even help people with penises gain more control over their erections and orgasms."
The best male sex toys can help you discover new sexual frontiers, and Mashable has put together this guide to the most mind-blowing sex toys for men. All of these toys have been taken for a test drive by someone on the Mashable team or come highly recommended from sexual health experts.
What is the best male sex toy?
When it's time to choose a toy, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Everybody is different, and pleasure is an individual experience. So, while we can't say what'll work for you 100%, we can guide you in the right direction.
The most popular male sex toys fall into the following categories:
Masturbators: Masturbators, also called strokers, imitate the sensations of oral, vaginal, or anal sex. These toys range from handheld devices to more complex autmatic machines. Popular brands include Fleshlight, TENGA, and Hot Octopuss. Despite the name, strokers can be used for masturbation or partnered play.
Prostate massagers: Prostate massagers stimulate the prostate gland, also known as the P-spot. Popular brands include Aneros, LELO, and Nexus.
Penis rings: Penis rings, or cock rings, are designed to enhance an erection through strength and sensitivity. Vibrating cock rings can also provide enhanced pleasure for solo and partnered play. Popular brands include LELO and We-Vibe.
Vibrators: Vibrators aren't solely for individuals AFAB. Several vibrators, like vibrating sleeves, prostate vibrators, and vibrating cock rings, are specifically designed for male pleasure.
Penis pumps: Penis pumps create a vacuum around the penis to increase blood flow and potentially enhance erection size and strength.
This list isn't exhaustive but serves as a solid starting point. In recent years, innovative sex toy makers have also introduced virtual reality sex toys, automatic blowjob machines, and even self-warming sex toys. You may also want to consider popular anal sex toys like butt plugs, which can be used by people of all genders.
Remember, the best male sex toy isn't dependent on what's trendy but on what'll genuinely bring you the most pleasure and satisfaction.
To find the best male sex toys, we asked the experts
We didn't just pull this list out of thin air — we got the lowdown from some real experts in the field.
"When purchasing your first male sex toy, consider your preferences, prioritize body-safe materials, and explore different options," Dolly Ferraiuolo, LCSW and founder of SHARE Transformative Therapy & Wellness, tells Mashable. "Approach your experience with an open mind and a sense of exploration. Experiment with different types of toys to discover what you enjoy most."
Here's a rundown of the folks we talked to:
Dainis Graveris: He's a certified sex educator and relationship coach at SexualAlpha. Graveris gave us the scoop on his favorite male sex toys and why they're worth your attention.
Suzannah Weiss: Weiss is an AASECT-certified sex educator and resident sexologist at the erotic ethical porn site FrolicMe.
Justin Lehmiller, PhD (aka The Sex Dr.): This research fellow from The Kinsey Institute knows his way around human sexuality. He's also the author of Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life.
Zachary Zane: Zane is the author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto and the sex expert for Momentum Intimacy.
Rhiannon John: John is a sexologist at Bedbible. She has a master's degree in sexology from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, where she researched female pornography.
Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW: Kort is a board-certified clinical sexologist, author, and the founding director of The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health.
With this advice in mind and input from experts in the field, we've compiled a list of the best sex toys for men that are body-safe and highly recommended for their pleasure-enhancing features.
Note: For this article, we're looking primarily at toys intended for use by people assigned male at birth (AMAB), which means they're recommended with the same enthusiasm for anyone with a penis/prostate, regardless of gender identity.
