Lelo

Review: Lelo Switch double-ended wand vibrator

Kate Sloan

What is the Lelo Switch?

A few readers were curious about the Switch when I listed it as one of my favorite toys of 2025, despite it being far from perfect – so I thought I’d review it in full today!

Naming it the Switch was an interesting choice, given that it was released the same year as the Nintendo Switch 2, but whatever, you do you, Lelo! Its name refers to the fact that it’s double-ended, with a motor in each end, so you can “switch” back and forth between its wand head and its G-spot-targeting handle.

It’s rechargeable, and is made of silicone and ABS plastic. It’s 8.5″ long, with about 4″ of insertable length on the G-spot side, the widest diameter of which is about 1.3″.

Switch vs. Switch

Things I like about the Lelo Switch:

  • Rumbly vibrations: While the vibration strength leaves something to be desired (of which more below), the timbre/pitch of these vibrations is deliciously rumbly, which most people (myself included) find more pleasurable than surface-level buzzy vibrations. With the Switch, I don’t experience the temporary desensitization that I get from buzzy vibrators, so I can enjoy the toy’s sensations all the way through a session.
  • Wide range of vibration speeds: This has always been one of Lelo’s strong suits. The Switch starts at a very low speed – just a gentle, teasing rumble – and has a whopping 16 intensity levels, which is way more than any wand I’m aware of. If you’ve used wands before and found that they felt too intense or that the big jumps between speeds were too jarring, you’d likely appreciate the subtler gradation offered by the Switch.
  • Color: This shade of teal/turquoise is absolutely stunning, and surprisingly uncommon in sex toys. I still don’t love the weird faux-metal detailing Lelo likes to incorporate, though, because it gets scuffed easily and is cheap-looking compared to the classic Apple-esque Lelo aesthetic of yore. But presumably some people think it looks luxurious and sexy, or they wouldn’t keep making toys that feature it! Right…?!
  • Lightweight: The Switch only weighs 167 grams, or about 0.37 pounds. That’s significantly lighter than other wands of a comparable size, like the We-Vibe Wand 2 (1.5 pounds) and Magic Wand Mini (0.6 pounds). As someone who struggles with chronic pain and muscle weakness, I love having a lightweight wand in my collection that I can grab when other wands feel too tiring to hold.
  • Decent battery life: You get about 2 hours of usage from a 2-hour charge with the Switch, which is comparable with other rechargeable mini wands on the market.
  • Quiet: This is one of the quietest wand vibrators I’ve ever used. Even its highest speed is only 62 decibels (according to the noise-measuring app on my Apple Watch), which is about as loud as a dishwasher. (For reference, the Magic Wand Rechargeable and Waterproof both top out at about 75 db, which is louder than a vacuum cleaner.)
  • Waterproof: The Switch is 100% waterproof, so you can use it in the shower or tub, and can wash it without fear of ruining it. Yay!
  • Inflexible neck: Some people prefer wands with a bendy neck, but I’ve always preferred ones with as little flex as possible, since that allows you to apply more pressure if/when you want to.
  • Travel lock: Like many other Lelo toys, the Switch has a travel lock function, so it won’t start buzzing in your purse/pocket/suitcase if you don’t want it to. Just hold down the “+” and “–” buttons simultaneously for a few seconds to lock or unlock it.

Things I don’t like about the Lelo Switch:

  • Not strong enough: Is the Switch strong, relative to other Lelo vibes? I’d say so! Is it strong relative to other wands? Not exactly. Its highest vibration speed is somewhere in between the first and second speeds of both the Magic Wand Mini and Rechargeable. If power is your priority (as is often the case for wand users), you should just get one of those instead. I’ve also noticed that the Switch’s vibrations feel somewhat buried below the surface of the toy, resulting in orgasms that feel slightly more muted/less satisfying than wand orgasms usually do for me.
  • Double-endedness: [Gretchen Weiners voice] Stop trying to make double-ended toys happen. They’re not going to happen!! …Okay, I’m sort of kidding; some people like ’em, and there are a few double-ended toys I adore, such as the NobEssence Seduction and Njoy Pure Wand – but notably, when I use those toys, I typically only use one side per session. I don’t “switch” back and forth between ends throughout, as the name of Lelo’s wand seems to encourage, because I don’t like the sensory nightmare of getting lube/vaginal fluids all over my hands. I would always prefer that a sex toy just do one thing really well.
  • Not G-spotty enough: The curve of the Switch’s G-spot end is okay – it indeed hits my spot, and can feel good – but ultimately it isn’t as deeply curved as a G-spot vibe should be, IMO. I often find myself angling the toy downward to apply more pressure to my spot, which tires out my arm after a while and shouldn’t be necessary with a well-designed G-spot toy. There are tons of better G-spot vibes out there, from the Swan Wand to the Dame Arc to Lelo’s own Mona 2 – and what they all have in common is that they’re more curved than the Switch’s handle.
  • Confusing controls: The double-endedness would be easier to deal with if I could guarantee that the vibrations would stay in the end of the toy I’m actually using for the entire duration of a session, but that’s trickier to achieve than you’d think. The center button on the control panel allows you to scroll through 10 different vibration modes – 4 that vibrate the wand’s head, 4 that vibrate the G-spot end of the toy, and 2 that utilize both ends (presumably so couples can both use the toy simultaneously?) – but the toy alternates between the two ends as you flip through modes, which is irritating. You can also change the vibration mode with your phone by using the Lelo app, but the app’s interface is confusing and the modes are poorly labeled.
  • Shallow insertion only: When using the G-spot end of the Switch, you can only insert it up to 4 inches before the toy’s buttons start going inside you. Granted, the G-spot itself is located only 2-3 inches inside, so for some users this may not matter, but I usually prefer deeper penetration and it’s annoying that the Switch’s buttons get gunked up with vag juice if I push this toy as deep as I like.
  • 20-minute auto-shutoff: Like the rechargeable Magic Wands, the Switch automatically shuts off after 20 minutes of use to prevent overheating (although you can increase that timespan to 30 minutes in the settings of the Lelo app). I find auto-shutoffs annoying and occasionally orgasm-ruining, but I get around this problem by turning the vibe off and back on again every so often.
  • Vibrations transmit into handle: Even when I’m using the wand side’s motor exclusively, its vibrations still transmit into the other side of the toy, vibrating my hand. I find this bothersome after a while. (Yeesh, it really doesn’t speak well of this toy that I just had to look up synonyms for “annoying” while writing this…)
  • Ridged texture: Fun Factory already tried making a ridgey-headed wand, supposedly because the ridges help the toy cling onto lube better, but I just found those ridges a bit abrasive against my skin. The Switch’s texture isn’t as extreme, but it still feels unnecessary, more of an aesthetic touch than a practical one. Even when I insert the G-spot end, I can barely feel the “ultra-soft sensorial ribs” (to use Lelo’s terminology), so I’m not sure why they’re there.
  • Price: As is par for the course with Lelo, this vibe is too damn expensive for what it is. Its retail price is $200(!!) – although, as of this writing, it’s on sale for $180 at Lovehoney – which makes it one of the priciest wands on the market, up there with the ultra-powerful Doxy Die Cast and Magic Wand Waterproof. It’s a nice vibe, sure, but I don’t think it’s nice enough to be worth $200.
Size comparison; from left to right: Lelo Switch, We-Vibe Wand 2, Magic Wand Mini, and Magic Wand Rechargeable

Final thoughts

When sex toy companies try to create multipurpose toys, too often they end up making something mediocre. For years, I have said that Lelo and other vibrator companies should focus on just making really good vibrators that do their one job very well. The Switch attempts to do two things – external vibration like a wand, and internal vibration like a G-spot vibe – and it’s therefore only so-so at both of them.

That being said, there are reasons some people might nonetheless enjoy it – hell, even I do, sometimes! The ideal user for the Switch would be someone who meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • likes rumbly vibration but doesn’t need it to be ultra-powerful
  • enjoys both clitoral & G-spot stimulation, though not necessarily at the same time
  • appreciates a luxurious aesthetic & doesn’t mind spending big bucks on a sex toy
  • needs, for privacy reasons, a vibrator that is both quiet & waterproof
  • travels frequently & wants a travel-friendly, versatile vibrator

…but I’ll level with ya: If you want power, you want a Magic Wand instead. If you want an intense G-spot vibe, you want the Swan Wand or Mona. The Switch has given me plenty of orgasms with its wonderfully rumbly vibrations, but alas, its high price tag, underwhelming power, and confusing controls make it hard to recommend. It’s not as mechanically glitchy as Lelo’s previous attempt at making a wand, the Smart Wand, which is good, I guess – but the wand category is competitive, and plenty of other wands massively outperform the Switch. Better luck next time, Lelo! 🪄

 

This post was not sponsored, but Lelo did send me the product for free. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Best Sex Toys of 2025

Kate Sloan

Yep, it’s that time again… I’m gonna tell you about my favorite sex toys of the year!

2025 has been a total shitshow politically, and was one of the most challenging (and yet also most joyful) years I have personally lived through, what with moving to New York, throwing myself back into improv, getting painfully rejected by a crush, and starting a new long-distance relationship. (Damn, did that all really happen in just one year?!)

But despite all the ups and downs of the year, one thing remained true: My sex toys were always there for me. It’s always calming to know that no matter how many cuties break my heart, and no matter how many fascists try to break my spirit, I can still enjoy the simple pleasures of a tool-assisted wank, and the positive neurochemical effects of an orgasm or three.

So, without further ado, here are the sex toys I adored most in 2025…

Most photos via the toys’ respective manufacturers; some via me

Old favorites

They may not be new, or flashy, or exciting (though some of them are!), but here are the top-drawer faves that I’ve owned longer than a year and still use regularly:

 

My favorite new toys of the year

I’ll be honest with you: There weren’t many new toys I liked enough this year to put on this list! Only a handful, really, but I still think they’re worth shouting out. Here are my picks…

#5: Valm 8-inch realistic dildo ($110 at Valm)

This is just a big ol’ realistic dick. And as regular readers of this blog know, I am a fan of dick!

As a colorful femme who eschews neutral shades, I always prefer a bright-‘n’-bold shade over skin tones, so I was thrilled that Valm custom-made this dildo for me in a delicious orange-to-fuchsia ombré. In use, the toy strikes a satisfying balance between firmness and softness, and its measurements are perfect for when I get into a size-queen-y mood. Big recommend (literally)!

Image via Peepshow

#4: Solina Aura ($50 at Peepshow)

Another silicone dick? Yep. What can I say; I know what I like!

I find this one a little easier to thrust with than some of the previous Solina dildos I’ve tried, because the Aura’s balls and suction-cup base act as a handle. Its 6.1″ of insertable length is ideal for hitting my A-spot. This dildo is also modeled after ‘uncut’ cocks, which I appreciate, as someone who has enjoyed both circumcised and uncircumcised penises in my sexual history but has rarely seen the latter represented in the sex toy industry!

L to R: Lush Mini, Lush 4, and Lush 3

#3: Lovense Lush 4 / Lush Mini ($129 and $129 at SheVibe, respectively)

I once again did a lot of long-distance play this year, and Lovense toys made it more intuitive and connective than ever.

The difference between these two vibes is their size; I find the Lush Mini easier to insert without necessarily being wet/aroused already, while the Lush 4 feels slightly more satisfying during orgasm. These wonderfully rumbly G-spot vibes can almost feel like a partner is fingering me, when controlled by someone with skill and patience!

#2: Lelo Switch ($200 at Lovehoney)

Before I compliment this toy, I gotta roast it. The Switch is a perfect example of why Lelo’s reputation has gone downhill: the Switch is overpriced, and boasts some gimmicky features that never quite work the way you want them to. In this case, they’ve made a mini wand vibrator that has two motors – one in the head of the wand (as you’d expect) and one in the handle, which can be used as a G-spot vibrator when you flip the toy around.

I didn’t like dual-ended toys when Tantus tried it back in 2014 and I still don’t like them now, for the same basic reason as back then: when you’re continually switching back and forth between the toy’s two ends (as the Switch’s name encourages you to do), you end up getting lube and/or bodily fluids all over your hands. I guess some people might be into that, but for me it’s a bit of a sensory nightmare.

That being said… This is a strong, rumbly, waterproof, and very quiet wand with a wide range of vibration settings. It’s also visually stunning, as Lelo toys often are. And it seems to have fewer mechanical issues than Lelo’s previous attempt in this category, the Smart Wand. It’s one of the better things Lelo has put out in years, which admittedly isn’t saying much – and yet, it has definitely earned its 2nd-place spot on this list with the amount of orgasms it’s given me.

#1: Magic Wand Waterproof ($190 at Peepshow)

I mean, let’s face it: nothing was ever gonna top this one. The launch of the long-awaited Magic Wand Waterproof was the most exciting news in the sex toy industry all year, if you ask me. (And yeah, I might be slightly biased, given that I spent a year of my life interviewing people about the Magic Wand and creating a podcast miniseries about it, but I still think I’m right!)

As if it wasn’t astonishing enough that they managed to engineer a waterproof version of this decades-old classic, Vibratex also gave this toy more power than any of their previous wands, making this the strongest rechargeable/non-electric wand I’ve ever tried. It actually ended up being a little too strong for me, so I still reach for my Magic Wand Rechargeable more often – but I’m soooo glad the Waterproof exists, especially for those of you who like your vibes jackhammer-strong.

 

What were your favorite sex toys this year, dear readers? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

I’m Surprised By How Much I Love This Little Lelo Vibe

Kate Sloan
Please excuse any pinkish stains you may see on the toy in these photos; they are not the toy’s fault, I just let it ride around in a makeup bag that had some red lipstick remnants inside it and I am notorious for liking longwear lipsticks that are difficult to remove, haha.

My very first “luxury” sex toy purchase, back when I was a teenager, was the Lelo Nea. I saved up for it for months and was wildly excited when I finally got to take it home from my local feminist sex shop.

Still to this day, the shape of Nea – which is the exact same shape as some of Lelo’s other clitoral vibes, including the Lily – is one of my favorites for clitoral stimulation. I love the way its tip is narrower than its body but not so narrow as to be pointy or uncomfortable. I love the way it curves over my mons and down onto my clit, seeming to fit seamlessly against my vulva whether I’m using it solo or during penetrative sex. I love that it’s small enough to be thrown into my toiletries bag when I travel but not so small that I’m likely to lose it.

But the original Nea didn’t really deliver in terms of vibration strength or rumbliness, which is why I was so excited to be offered the Lelo Lily 3. It’s everything I loved about the Nea, but with a noticeably better motor. And as I’ve written before, the motor matters more than any other trait of a vibrator, so this makes a huge difference.

When I’m at home and I want to get off, I almost always use the Eroscillator or a wand vibe like the Magic Wand Rechargeable or Fun Factory Vim. All of these are strong and dependable, both in the sense of “being dependably able to make me come” and in the sense of “dependably not dying mid-use” – the Eroscillator plugs into an electrical outlet, the Vim has an impressively long battery life before needing to be recharged, and the MWR can be used while it’s charging, should it come to that.

Now, comparatively, the Lily 3 isn’t that great – it has a battery life of about 2 hours – but I bring this up only to say that it’s hard for me to find a rechargeable, travel-friendly vibe that I trust enough to bring with me on a trip, especially a trip where suitcase space is limited. The We-Vibe Tango X is my favorite one in this category, for many reasons, but the Lily 3 has worked its way onto my list of acceptable options, which is hard to do. In fact, at this point I’ve brought it with me as my only vibe for many overnight stays (e.g. when I go over to my parents’ house to visit them and anticipate having phone sex with my spouse when I go to bed), and it has never once disappointed me or made me wish I’d brought a different vibe.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that it’s super-powerful. If you’re used to wands or similar, this almost certainly won’t be enough for you. But what I find enjoyable is its rumbliness, which it maintains throughout its 10 vibration intensities. The smooth ABS plastic translates the vibrations well, which helps, too. I think another thing that makes this vibe so successful for me is one of the few things Lelo has always excelled at: this toy starts at a very low intensity and works its way up to a much higher one. This ultimately results in less desensitization over the course of a session, so that I don’t require as much power to get off and can feel the orgasm more vividly when it does happen. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference.

The Lily 3 is also very quiet, and is waterproof, meaning it’s ideal for surreptitious/discreet play or masturbating in the bath or shower, and is even the kind of thing I’d bring with me to my local sex club if I hoped to get up to some shenanigans in the swimming pool there.

The button layout is easy to understand, a relic from a simpler time in the sex toy industry: the button on the right turns up the vibration intensity if you press or hold it, and the one on the left turns it down. You can switch between its 10 vibration patterns by quickly double-pressing the right-side button, and you can adjust the intensity of any pattern, which is a great feature that always makes me way more likely to actually use patterns instead of just sticking with the steady vibration mode like I normally do. The patterns are good, as far as patterns go – some are too slow for my tastes, but many are steadily rhythmic and can feel really good.

Lelo has made a lot of missteps in their time, and one of them is that they tend to overcomplicate things, making vibrators that have a bunch of unnecessary bells and whistles that no one asked for. (I have been trying, and failing, to enjoy the new Lelo Dot Cruise, for example, in large part because of its “Cruise” function which is still inconsistent and terrible, despite the fact that the toy costs fucking $200.)

But the Lelo Lily 3 only costs $76, and it bucks that trend. It’s what Lelo does best: a simple, elegant, ergonomic vibrator with a wide array of settings, a respectable motor, and a luxurious “it factor” that makes you feel fancy and deliciously self-indulgent just for using it. It’s my favorite thing Lelo has put out since the Sila, their wide-mouthed pressure-wave toy that I adore.

It’s not earthshatteringly powerful or terribly unique. It doesn’t attempt to innovate or defy expectations. The Lelo Lily 3 is just a damn good clitoral vibrator, and writing this review has made me want to use it again, which is a good sign in and of itself.

 

Lelo didn’t pay me to write this review, they just sent me the product and I liked it. You know the drill: as always, all writing and opinions are my own.

The Lelo Sila is My Favorite Clit Pulsator Toy; the Lelo Sila Cruise is Not

Kate Sloan

I’m enamored with the Lelo Sila. It bears the label of “my favorite clit pulsator toy,” which is a tough label to earn. It’s also earned a spot in the top drawer of my nightstand. I mentioned it in an interview just today, actually, when someone asked me what toys I’ve been loving lately. This luxe stimulator is top-tier, as far as I’m concerned.

But Lelo is a company known for their terrible, gimmicky “innovations,” and in keeping with that, they recently introduced a new version of the Sila called the Sila Cruise. I dislike it so much that I’m not even gonna link to it. Buy the original Sila instead.

What’s so great about the Lelo Sila?

Most clit pulsators – think Womanizers and Satisfyers – focus predominantly on the tip of the clit. The Sila is the only one I’ve found that stimulates my entire external clit: the tip, the shaft, and the hood. This makes it an especially good pick for folks with larger clits and/or transmasculine folks with bottom growth, or just folks who like a roomier fit.

The Sila’s wide, flat “lips” help create a better seal around the clit than almost any other pressure-wave stimulator I’ve tried. They also conduct the Sila’s sensations through the skin and into the buried “legs” of the internal clit.

As a result of all this, the Sila provides more full-bodied clitoral sensations than any other toy I’ve tried of this type. It is a toy that puts all of its focus – and it has a lot of focus – on the clit. So, as a big fan of clitoral stimulation – especially the kinds that go past just the sensitive tip of my clit – I love this toy.

It also has a “rumblier” feel than many other pressure-wave toys, meaning each little airwave feels lower-pitched and more impactful. This significantly reduces any numbness or desensitization I might experience from using a clitoral toy for a while. Its stimulation is so rumbly, and yet so indirect, that I can have multiple orgasms with this toy – not something I’m usually capable of, at least not this easily.

The quality of the orgasms is much improved for me as well, because this toy stimulates much more of my clit than any other pressure-wave toy. Other toys of this type have sometimes given me ruined half-orgasms, or have stimulated me so intensely during orgasm that the experience was more painful than pleasurable; not so with this toy. The Lelo Sila gives me deep, intense, long-lasting, and often quite sudden orgasms that leave me speechless and panting.

What’s the difference between the Sila and the Sila Cruise?

So far as I can tell, the only addition to the Cruise is a “feature” known as Cruise Control. Lelo says that Cruise Control “reserves 20% of SILA™ Cruise’s full power during normal use, so that when SILA™ Cruise is pressed hard against the body and the motor begins to drop power, that extra 20% is unleashed so that there’s no reduction of intensity” before and during your orgasm.

There are… multiple issues with this. One is that I have never personally experienced my Sila slowing down or fading in power from the amount of pressure I’ve applied to it. It’s just not an issue I’ve encountered. So it’s kind of confusing that Lelo went to the trouble of launching a new version of their own toy, to solve a problem that (in my experience, anyway) the toy doesn’t even have.

Another issue is that not everyone wants maximal power right before or during their orgasm, and it’s weird to assume that they would. One of the beautiful things about Lelo toys is that they always have at least 8 different speeds, so they can satisfy a broad range of users, from super-sensitive folks to those who need more stimulation to get them off. The freedom to adjust sex toys to my own preferred intensity at any given moment is key to my pleasure. In fact, I would say it’s a mandatory feature of any vibe I’ll enjoy, and certainly a standard feature to expect on any toy that costs more than $15. Lelo has taken that freedom away from me with the Cruise – as they say, “it’s not a setting, it’s completely automatic,” so I can’t even turn it off and use the Sila Cruise normally without Cruise Control.

The third and most pressing issue I have with Cruise Control is that it doesn’t even do what it’s supposed to do. The boost in intensity doesn’t kick in when I press the toy harder against my body. No, instead it kicks in… whenever the hell it wants to. Often at a moment in my arousal process when I really, really wish my clit stimulator would stay at the exact same intensity so that I can, y’know, continue to feel good and build toward an orgasm, rather than having said orgasm be thwarted by an inconsistent toy.

It’s really a boner-killer when this happens, because the intensity that Cruise Control brings to the table is aggressive, especially if you’re accustomed to a lower speed – so my clit can get overstimulated to the point that a bruisey, ouchy sensation will linger for several minutes afterward. This is antithetical to the gentle, slow build that I appreciated about the original Sila.

The Sila Cruise is $189, whereas the original Lelo Sila is $169. They’re both definitely in the “luxury sex toy” price range, but the Sila Cruise is absolutely not worth that amount of money, because you can’t even control the damn intensity of it. It just jumps around randomly. It might as well be a poorly-wired $6.99 body massager from the Walmart bargain bin for how unreliable it is. I truly have no idea what on earth made Lelo think it was a good idea to not only make this toy but also to charge twenty extra dollars for it.

Final words

If you want full-bodied clitoral sensations that encompass your entire external clit and even stimulate some of the inner portions, you want the Lelo Sila. But you do not want the Lelo Sila Cruise, because you, presumably, do not want your orgasms ruined or your clit pummelled.

The Sila Cruise is not a “new and improved” version of the Sila. If anything, it is a “new and worsened” version of the Sila. It is “new and useless.” It is “new and painful.” It is “new and what the actual fuck.” But it is certainly not “new and improved.”

 

Thanks to Lelo for sending me these products to try! I really do mean it when I say that I love the original Sila and highly recommend it. But don’t get the Cruise. Just don’t.

12 Days of Girly Juice 2021: 9 Best New Sex Toys

Kate Sloan

Well, it’s that time again: today I’m going to tell you about my favorite 9 sex toys I acquired this year! In reverse order, here we go…

 

Image via SheVibe

9. Chakrubs The Original Heart rose quartz dildo

Available at SheVibe ($159.99)

I was sent this toy by the good folks at SheVibe as part of my research for an article I wrote for them on dildo materials other than silicone. In perusing their site, I realized that I’d tried almost all of these materials – glass, metal, ceramic – but had yet to try one of these crystal dildos, which are beloved by the Goop crowd, among others. This one is made of rose quartz, which is believed (by people who believe in such things) to help cultivate self-love and self-compassion, something I could definitely use some help with from time to time.

To my surprise, I ended up really enjoying this toy. The smooth shape of it makes it feel luxurious and gentle when well-lubed, even if I’m not super turned on yet. The slim end can nudge my A-spot on every thrust. The girth is satisfying but not overpowering. And the cool, smooth feeling of the rose quartz is soothing and calming, as you would hope a dildo oriented toward spiritual self-love would be.

There’s some debate in the sex toy community about whether crystal dildos are actually any good (it has been posited that they are porous and also bad for the environment). I don’t know enough about the material and its harvesting process to make a fair assessment of that, but I know I haven’t had any vaginal issues from using my Chakrubs toy. It’s definitely not something I reach for every week or even every month, but when I’m craving a woo-woo experience that’s focused on self-adoration, this is the toy for the job.

 

Image via Lovense

8. Lovense Max 2 stroker

Available at Lovense ($99.00)

I had heard about Lovense for years because of their toys’ proliferation in the webcam performer community, but this year I finally got to try some for myself, as research for various articles on long-distance toys.

The Max 2 is their vibrating stroker, and it does some wild stuff. It pairs a textured sleeve with powerful vibrations, and on top of that, it can also mimic vaginal contractions by rhythmically squeezing your dick while it’s in there.

Best of all, it can be used with Lovense’s robust and reliable Bluetooth technology, so I can control a long-distance partner’s pleasure from far away. My spouse and I used this toy a lot this year while we were separated by distance, but also sometimes when we weren’t, because the interface on Lovense’s app allows me to stroke their cock the way I want to without actually using my hands – something I appreciate as a person who deals with pain and strength issues in my hands at times.

My partner often has super intense orgasms with this toy. We’ve found the Max 2 particularly fun to use as part of chastity play – it’s a wonderful way to give them the release they’ve earned after a week or more in chastity. But it’s also just a fantastic stroker for day-to-day usage. Well done, Lovense!

 

7. Balldo

Available at SheVibe ($79.00)

As I noted in my review, the Balldo really surprised me. I mean, it’s a silicone apparatus that slips over your balls and turns them into a dildo you can fuck someone with. How good could it really be?

Pretty good, it turns out. And certainly unique. While getting it on is a struggle, and it’s prone to slipping out once you actually get it into somebody, it works so well for us when it’s working. My partner’s able to achieve the “ballgasms” promised by the toy, and I’m able to enjoy the utter weirdness of the whole situation, alongside the hotness of seeing/hearing/feeling my partner experiencing a whole new type of pleasure.

If you’re dating/fucking someone who is open to adventure and has a good sense of humor, I think this could be a good gift for them. Or at least a gift they won’t soon forget.

 

Image via SheVibe

6. Dee Lee Doo Boa wenge hardwood dildo

Available at SheVibe ($139.00)

This is a newer acquisition for me, and I’m loving it so far. There just aren’t that many companies out there making body-safe wooden sex toys (NobEssence is the most notable one), so I’m always glad to see new makers popping up on the scene.

I picked this toy over another Dee Lee Doo toy (the G-spot-focused Habu) because I thought it’d be able to hit my A-spot, and I was right. The length and shape of this toy are absolutely perfect for hitting that spot, whether I’m handling it myself or giving control over to a partner.

I like that wood is such a lightweight material, because it’s still easy for me to manipulate when I’m having a flare-up of pain or fatigue. It’s also hard without being overwhelmingly hard like metal and glass can be, making it an especially good pick for hitting a spot that simultaneously craves firm pressure and needs some gentleness. I hope to see more from this company in the new year!

 

Image via the London Tanners

5. The London Tanners Domestic Discipline Strap

Available at the London Tanners (€119.00 or about $134 USD)

My partner bought me this gorgeous leather strap as a gift after we saw spanking aficionado Princess Kelley May rave about it in a video. I don’t think I’d ever been spanked with a strap before, and it’s been wonderful getting to know that new sensation!

This is such a stunning product, “hand-crafted from beginning to end” by expert leatherworkers. I love the way it feels, both in my hand and on my ass.

As Kelley May points out in the video linked above, this strap is initially somewhat firm and inflexible but will soften with use. Right now, mine is still in the firm stage, so it feels more like a leather paddle – stingy with a side of thud. I’m looking forward to feeling what it feels like when it’s softened up a bit.

 

Image via Lovense

4. Lovense Edge 2 prostate massager

Available at Lovense ($99.00)

Another Lovense toy?! Yep, they really are that good.

This is another one that gets used exclusively on my partner and not on me – but I love using it on them! It’s a vibrating butt plug with two motors: one for the prostate and one for the perineum. Like the Max 2 above, it can be controlled from a distance using Lovense’s excellent app. Notably, you can control each of the motors separately, which makes it great for (as its name would suggest) edging.

This one is tons of fun to use when my partner is in chastity, because I can give them prostate orgasms even while their cock is in a chastity cage, and even when I’m 500 miles away. Truly amazing.

 

Image via the Pleasure Tailor

3. Easy A dildo

Available from the Pleasure Tailor ($125.00)

What, you thought I wasn’t gonna include the dildo I designed on this list?! Not a chance.

Obviously I love the Easy A because it was designed to meet my needs, as someone who adores deep penetration and also has hand strength issues that benefit from ergonomic sex toy bases. But I really think a lot of people would like this toy. The squishiness of the triple-density silicone is delightful, the bright blue color is swoonworthy, and the shape! Oh, the shape! It’s just exactly what I want an A-spot toy to be shaped like.

I remember the jubilation I felt when I discovered that the deep spot that reliably made me come had a name – and, more importantly, that there were sex toys out there (albeit not very many of them) that could target it efficiently and pleasurably. I’m so glad to have partnered with the folks at the Pleasure Tailor to create an addition to the scant-but-growing selection of A-spot toys on the market!

 

Image via SheVibe

2. We-Vibe Tango X bullet vibrator

Available at SheVibe ($75.05), Peepshow Toys ($79.00), and Come As You Are ($99.00 CAD / about $78 USD)

I get excited every time We-Vibe comes out with a new product, because they are truly one of the best companies in this industry right now. Their toys are well-made, aesthetically pleasing, and (best and most importantly of all) have legendarily good motors.

I was especially excited that they decided to update their classic bullet vibe, the Tango, of which I’d been a long-time fan. This new version, the Tango X, is a massive improvement. It has more speeds, easier charging, a travel lock, a silicone finger grip, and just overall feels like a nicer, better toy than the original Tango.

Since it’s pleasantly rumbly and relatively affordable for a rechargeable vibe of its caliber, this is one of my top recommendations for beginners who are curious about vibrators but don’t know where to start. If you like clitoral/external stimulation, you’d probably like this toy. I certainly do!

 

Image via SheVibe

1. Lelo Sila

Available at SheVibe ($169.00) and Peepshow Toys ($169.99)

When I first received this toy, I did not expect that it would end up becoming one of my favorite toys of the year, and possibly my favorite pressure-wave toy of all time. Lelo is a company known for doing shocking things, often in a bad way – but this toy shocked me in a very good way.

As far as oral sex simulators go, this is the only one I’ve found that encases not just the tip of my clit but also my entire clitoral shaft, an oft-ignored part of clitoral anatomy. It’s like the difference between a tongue swirling around the head of a dick and a full-on deepthroat blowjob. (For that reason, it’s also potentially great for trans men and other transmasculine folks, aside from the twee/feminine-leaning color scheme.)

This toy sets itself apart from other pressure-wave products with its soft aesthetic and thoughtful design (especially those flat “lips,” which help the toy create a good seal around my clit). It’s elegant and well-made. It’s waterproof, so I can take it in the tub for a relaxing wank, featuring oral sex fantasies galore. It’s the one pressure-wave toy I would take with me on a desert island, if for some reason I had to do that. It’s just really damn good and I’m glad I own one.

 

What sex toys did you love most this year?

 

P.S.: Thanks for buying through my affiliate links! When you do so, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s basically like tipping me for providing such excellent recommendations 😉