Anal beads and balls heighten then repeatedly stimulate the nerves around the anus. Suitable for solo or couple's use, they are best removed just before orgasm to heighten already intense sensations.

Anal beads are a row of spheres on a cord or shaft that start can small and gradually get bigger, or remain a uniform size. The shaft can be flexible or rigid and offer vibration for added stimulation.

Anal balls are similar to anal beads but the toy comprises fewer spheres. Both anal balls and beads should feature a retrieval cord or flared base for safety.

Some Kegel Exercisers can work as anal balls, or beads – just look out for nooks and crevices that can gather matter, and go for something with a flared handle to prevent losing anything inside of yourself if you decide to go there. 

An Anal Douche is a device for irrigating the colon and cleansing it in preparation for penetration. These often consist of a bulb that’s filled with water, and a wand nozzle that allows the water to be squirted into the rectum. There are also syringe-like options, and shower wands for dedicated anal afficionados.

For more on douching and enemas, check out our guide on How to use an anal douche in 10 easy steps! 

Anuses are like opinions, everyone has one, and increasingly, everyone’s playing with them. Anal toys are designed to stimulate the nerves at the anus, they’re really unisex in application although some, like prostate massagers, work better for men. Others are best used in a couple, like strap-ons.

While people with penises to have the additional option of anal and perineal prostate play, and there are some anal vibrators designed for double vagina and anal penetration, we expect to see more unisex toy designs going forward. 

Arousal Gels are available for women and men, and aren't meant for full body massage. Instead, they're intended for concentrated use on sensitive parts of the body, such as the nipples, genitals, inner thighs and other erogenous zones. Most are flavoured. The arousal gel will tingle when first applied, then often acts as a warming agent as it is stimulated, changing from a tingling sensation to a warming sensation, though some people experience tingling for a little longer.

We recommend starting slowly with a small amount of whatever gel you're using, until you figure out exactly how powerful the effect on you or your partner is! Some people are more sensitive than others, and a small amount can send them reeling with sensation! 

Restricting sight heightens other senses, creating anticipation as your wonder what your lover will do to you. They are great when paired with bondage rope or cuffs and restraints as part of power exchange play.

An ideal beginner's bondage toy, blindfolds can be made from a range of materials, including satin, leather and silicone, and feature tie-up closure, an elasticised band or buckle to help them stay firmly in place.

Hoods can go a step further than blindfolds, with some restricting hearing as well as sight. Many leave the mouth open for kissing and penetration. 

BDSM is an inclusive acronym that covers a broad range of fetishes and kink play, usually explained as Bondage, Discipline, Domination, Submission, Sadism and Masochism

Bondage is the practice of using cuffs or restraints on another person or persons, most often for sexual pleasure, sensation play or titillation.

Discipline is the practice of incorporating punishment into sexual play. This can be impact play, chastity and orgasm denial, bondage, or more psychological punishments.

Domination and Submission are terms for power exchange play where partners agree to take control or cede control of play and what activities happen during sexual play within predefined boundaries.

Sadism and Masochism are the enjoyment of receiving and inflicting pain, or more specifically the find line between pleasure and pain. At the milder end they’re more about sensation play and stimulating blood flow to the skin and heightening the sensation of touch. At the more extreme end, heavy impact play still does this – just with more hitting within predetermined boundaries of safety and consent.

Sensation play within BDSM can mean using candles to drip hot wax onto the skin, using bondage rope or a tickler to tease your partner’s body, or nipple stimulators like clamps or pumps all the way up to whips, paddles and floggers.

BDSM has a long association with various kink and leather communities and there’s a large range of fetish wear associated with it. The Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, although not necessarily showcasing best practice, brought BDSM into the mainstream, western consciousness, and to this day there are entire ranges of Fifty Shades of Grey inspired sex toys.

For more on BDSM check out our guide to BDSM Basics.  

Shibari, Kinbaku or simply rope bondage is a practice that comes to us from Japan. Natural rope was used to secure prisoners, and there are martial arts built around rope subdual, but it is now practiced as an art form, for sexual pleasure, or both. Bondage rope is traditionally made from natural fibres like jute, hemp, or linen, but synthetic rope with a load rating is increasingly popular as people experiment with suspension play.

There is inherent risk in using bondage rope, so if this is something that’s of interest, stick with loose ties, or find your local rope bondage enthusiasts and have them teach you some ties you can incorporate into your play experience. 

Butt plugs are a unisex anal toy designed to stimulate the nerve endings in and around the anus. Vibrating butt plugs are becoming increasingly common, many being listed as Anal Stimulators.

Also known as female pumps or pussy pumps, clitoral pumps create a vacuum over the labia and/or clitoris, and send blood to the area so it temporarily swells and becomes more sensitive, enhancing pleasure from every touch or vibration whether alone or with a partner.

Clitoral pumps can also offer vibrations or tickling textures for even more dimensions of sensation. They’re also enjoyed by trans men to help make their clitorises larger and more visible. 

Typically considered part of BDSM play, a cock cage locks around a man’s penis, preventing erection and orgasm while allowing for urination. Essentially, denying him a major source of sexual stimulation and pleasure until his dom allows, cock cages are a type of fetish wear that hit a lot of kinks, from domination and submission to discipline, bondage and cuckoldry.

If you like it, put a ring on it! Cock rings are designed to restrict blood flow to the penis for harder, longer lasting erections.

They come in a range of materials – we suggest trying a stretchy option for first timers. Rigid materials are best purchased once you know what size you need!

Highly versatile, cock rings can be used during solo or couple's play and for a real boost, those with pleasurable textures or vibrations can offer added or mutual stimulation.

Some cock rings have extra features, such as anal penetrators or ball stretchers for another dimension of sensation.

Some cock rings, often called Couples’ Rings, have additional features and vibrations designed to stimulate a penetrated partner. They’re still great as solo toys, but if you’re looking for something with additional versatility, they can be an exceptional choice.

Toys and novelties designed for couples can help add some spice into your sex life, and help you discover new levels of intimacy and pleasure with your lover.

Couple's toys can be designed to stimulate one or both partners, encourage role play, or open the possibility of exciting new sex positions.

From naughty games to bondage play, couple's toys can make vanilla sex become as kinky as you both desire. 

Designed for use with a partner, couples' vibrators can increase intimacy and mutual pleasure as well as make single and multiple orgasms more likely, especially for those who require more stimulation than penetration alone.

These vibrators are available in a wide range of styles and materials and can be used or worn by either or both partners depending on the design. From the C-shaped vibrator for penetrative vaginal sex, to vibrating strap-ons and couples' rings, there’s no end to the inventive uses for this range of toys. 

Wrist Cuffs or hand cuffs are popular for use during bondage and restraint play. While metal hand cuffs are always popular, especially for fantasies involving certain authority figures, wrist cuffs are often gentler on the hands, less painful and more fun to pull against. They’re also equally useful as ankle cuffs and often have D-rings allowing you to combine them with other restraints, slings and sex swings. 

Perhaps the most quintessential sex toy, dildos and dongs have come a long way since polished rocks and the vegetable drawer. Made from a dizzying array of material, from real feel thermoplastics, to silicone, to metal and glass, dildos and dongs simulate penetration by a penis.

Usable by anybody, dildos are distinct from dongs in having a base, which makes them safe for anal use. Colloquially, the term ‘dildo’ is often used for both, and with many vibrating phallic toys being called dildos, you’ll often find this term being used to describe realistic looking vibrators as well. 

Workouts aren’t just for the gym! Kegel exercisers are designed to help tone the pelvic floor muscles, which are important for strong orgasms for both men and women.

Kegel toy designs vary widely from single or multiple balls with fixed or removeable holders to oval-shaped eggs. They can be weighted or vibrating and come with or without a retrieval cord.

In general, it's best to start with larger and lighter Kegel exercisers and progress to smaller and heavier ones with experience.

For more information check out our guide to Kegels. 

The Massage Wand, Magic Wand or Wand Massager is credited as being one of the first sex toys of the modern era. Allegedly designed for use on sore muscles, modern massage wands absolutely can be used for actual muscular massage.

These wonderful, unisex vibrators are amazing for all your external stimulation needs, and are great for partnered pleasure. Plus, with most of them shifting to cordless, rechargeable designs, they’re more convenient than ever. 

Indulge in incredible new sensations with masturbators.

These men's toys generally have an entry, whether oral, vaginal, anal or neutral, to slide the shaft into and experience a range of possible sensations, such as variable tightness, pleasurable textures. What separates them from strokers is that they also feature vibration and other powered functions.

Masturabtors work in different ways - they can be handheld or hands-free, involve stroking or thrusting, or operate automatically.

Many simulate the feeling of real skin and/or sex.

Adding another level of realism, some masturbators talk while others can involve virtual reality for an immersive, visually stimuating experience.

Nipples are a sensitive areas for many men and women, and stimulating them with suction, pinching, squeezing or vibration can make nipples super-sensitive in a way that is both pleasurable and painful.

Nipple stimulators, such as suckers and vibrators are good beginner's options while clips, clamps and weighted varieties deliver more intense sensations.

Materials commonly used for nipple stimulators include ABS plastic, silicone, rubber and metal. For a luxe touch, look out for feather and jewel accents. 

Nipple suction cups can also be used by trans men as clitoral stimulators, as the larger cup size often fits better over the head of the clitoris than a clitoral pump, especially for those men who are undergoing hormone therapy.

Sometimes known as male pumps, a penis pump works by drawing blood into the penis for increased length and girth, harder erections, and improved sexual performance.

They comprise a cylinder with a seal that fits around the base of the penis to create a vacuum around the shaft.

Also known as 'penis pumps', these toys can be pneumatic or hydraulic, and automatic or require manual pumping with a bulb, trigger or pistol grip handle.

More than a pleasure product, male pumps can help those with erectile dysfunction and be used with a cock ring to further support erections. 

Forget jelqing. Add some inches, girth or change the texture of your penis in moments. Penis sleeves and extensions are worn over the shaft, providing complete or partial coverage, and sometimes have a ball strap to help keep them in place.

Sleeves and extensions are designed to increase penis length and/or girth while worn, and can be smooth, feature internal or external textures, and vibrate for added wearer or partner stimulation. Note that these are distinct from masturbatory strokers, which are sometimes called penis sleeves, and are intended to be a masturbation toy, whether you’re using your hand or your body to provide the motion and friction. 

Probably the premier anal stimulation toy for men, prostate massagers feature a flared base and a curved head designed to seek out and press up against the prostate, providing thrilling, rumbling pleasure.Typically made from silicone, abs plastic or metal, many have ridges or secondary motors for external perineal stimulation, and some feature built in cock rings for additional pleasure and play options. Perfect for solo play, prostate massagers can also be used in partnered play, either in preparation for anal penetration, or for additional stimulation when penetrating a partner.

Limited movement, courtesy of restraints, is at the heart of many bondage scenes and while the submissive partner appears to have less power than the dominant one, they are in control of when to stop the action.

How restrained do you want to be? Both wrists joined by cuffs made from metal, faux fur, leather or soft fabric, or one hand fixed to a chair or bedpost?

How about further limiting your movement with hogties holding your wrists and ankles together or a full-body restraint? Whether you’re looking at rope, tape, or an over the door or underbed restraint system, there’s plenty of options, up to and including dedicated sex furniture. 

Also called love dolls, sex dolls are toys designed to closely resemble the human body, and they range from inflatable options, through partial sculpts to realistic, life-sized models designed to satisfy all your needs.

Female, male, or possessing characteristics of both sexes, sex dolls are realistic models of partners for users to penetrate or be penetrated by. Whether complete or partial bodies, they can feature oral, vaginal and anal entries, breasts, and a dildo.

Sex dolls can range from static yet flexible to posable with bendable joints for the ultimate fantasy session. 

This is housekeeping you won't want to skip. Makeover your bedroom or pleasure den with sex furniture for solo adventures or partnered play.

From inconspicuous ramps and wedges to swings, seats and benches, sex furniture can be is about enhancing pleasure and performance.

Sex machines that simulate intercourse also fall under the sex furniture category and are ideal for non-stop, powerful action alone or with a partner.

There’s so much more to sex than missionary…

Break out of old routines with toys that help you explore different sex positions. Sex position toys include ramps, wedges, slings, swings, spreaders, cuffs and other restraints, and go all the way to dedicated pieces of sex furniture.

Ramps and wedges are especially useful in opening up more options for couples with a significant height difference. A diverse category, sex position toys can be made from a range of materials from soft, flexible fabrics to rigid plastics and metals. 

A diverse category, sex position toys can be made from a range of materials from soft, flexible fabrics to rigid plastics and metals.

Lift off into new, free-floating positions with sex swings and slings. These amazing pieces of kit are moving out of the BDSM play spaces and into people’s houses as people start looking at dedicated sex rooms. Slings and swings allow for extra movement and access while retaining the comfort of support. They can be hung from a hard point on a ceiling, over a door, or from a dedicated, freestanding frame.

Slings are usually made of soft fabrics and are placed around various body parts to stretch, spread or hold you in certain positions, allowing for varying levels of movement depending on the design. 

Strap-ons are a type of dildo or vibrator designed for coupled play, and are designed to provide additional options for penetrating a partner. Most commonly used by people with vulvas and connected to a harness worn at the groin, strap-ons can also be used just about anywhere – tied around a thigh, or to another strap to create a double-ended dong.

There are versions that are inserted into the vagina, providing additional stimulation, and options for penis owners that simulate double penetration without the need for an additional play partner. 

Excite sensitive nerve endings at the head of the penis with urethral toys.

This style of play involves dilating the urethra by inserting a shorter 'plug' or longer 'sound', either of which can be made from flexible or rigid, smooth or noduled, materials.

Urethral plugs target the tip of the penis and can have a hole for urination and ejaculation without having to remove the toy.

Some urethral plugs are suitable for extended wear. For those ready to explore deeper nerve endings, urethral sounds are ideal.

They can be used to stimulate the bladder and prostate or intensify arousal though vibration or gentle electric currents.

Remote controlled anal toys add convenience and increased play options to solo and couple's time.

As the name suggests, these anal toys are operated by a wired or wireless control leaving hands free for other action.

A vibrator is a sex toy that, you guessed it, vibrates. They’ve exploded in popularity and diversity as just about any toy can become a vibrator with the addition of a little motor. From classic vibrators, to rabbit vibrators, g-spot vibrators, clitoral vibrators, bullet vibrators to the aforementioned couples' vibrators, vibrating cock rings, prostate massagers, and massage wands, the varieties are endless.

What they have in common is delivering vibrational stimulation for an easier, stronger orgasm, and even several in a row. If you’re looking for an in depth look at vibrators, check out our comprehensive guide on How To Use a Vibrator, or check out our latest vibrator buying guide. 

Wartenberg Wheels are part of BDSM play, and are designed to stimulate nerves in the skin. To use them, run them lightly over whatever part of the body feels good. They’re great when used with blindfolds or hoods, or restraints for additional control.

Despite their pointy appearance, wartenberg wheels should not be pushed hard into the skin. They are designed to stimulate, not to draw blood. 

Tickling, spanking and whipping represent increasing levels of impact play that tests the line between pleasure and pain, and is sometimes part of BDSM play.

Make your partner giggle and squirm with ticklers made from feathers, delicate strands of chain, or even just bondage rope drawn over the body.

Ready to up the ante? Use a paddle or crop to spank a bare bottom. They can have a flat or textured surface for different sensations, and some are multi-purpose with insertable dildo handles!

Whips and floggers increase the intensity of spanking thanks to tails that deliver a sharper sensation with more bite and sting, but can equally be used for soft, gentle, tickling sensations – remember, the smaller and more delicate the tails of the flogger are, the better they’re going to be at gentle, more sensual stimulation.