◉ Anal Toys

How We Test Anal Toys

Safety screening comes before anything else. No flared base, no review. Porous material, no review. Those two rules eliminate about 60% of what's sold on Amazon before I even open the packaging. For products that pass, I evaluate taper angle (how gradually the widest point arrives), base comfort for extended wear, and surface finish quality. A seam line running down a silicone plug is a manufacturing shortcut that creates drag where you don't want it.

Plugs get worn for increasing durations across multiple sessions. Training sets get tested in sequence to verify that the size jumps between pieces actually make sense. Some brands jump from tiny to enormous with nothing in between, which defeats the purpose of a "training" set. Prostate massagers get assessed for angle accuracy and whether vibration patterns add real value or just drain the battery. Scores weight safety (35%), comfort and sensation (30%), build quality (20%), and value (15%). Full methodology on my testing page.

Types of Anal Toys

How to Choose the Right Anal Toy

Start with the two non-negotiable rules. Flared base or retrieval cord. Body-safe material: silicone, stainless steel, or glass. No exceptions. The rectum absorbs chemicals faster than almost any other body part, so material safety is a health issue, not a preference.

For a first purchase, a small silicone plug around 1 inch in diameter with a tapered tip. The b-Vibe Snug Plug 1 or Tantus Perfect Plug both fit this description and cost $20 to $30. Don't buy a prostate massager as your first anal toy. Get comfortable with basic insertion first. The prostate will still be there when you're ready.

Lube selection matters more in this category than any other. The rectum produces zero natural lubrication. Thick water-based gel formulas like Sliquid Sassy stay in place longer than thin liquid lubes. Apply to the toy and to yourself. Reapply the moment friction increases. Running out of lube during anal play is how microtears happen. My lube guide covers specific products.

Budget: $20 to $35 gets you a quality silicone plug from Tantus or b-Vibe. $45 to $60 gets you a prostate massager with vibration. $40 to $80 gets you stainless steel from Njoy that lasts forever. The $20 Tantus plug is a perfectly good starting point. Save the premium spending for after you know what kind of anal stimulation you enjoy.

What to Avoid

• Any anal toy without a flared base or retrieval mechanism. The rectum creates suction. Objects without a flare get pulled in and require medical extraction. This is the only absolute rule in sex toys, and it applies every single time.
• Porous materials: jelly, rubber, TPE, PVC, "realistic skin." The rectal lining absorbs chemicals directly. Porous materials also harbor bacteria that can never be fully cleaned out. Silicone, steel, or glass only. My body-safe materials guide explains why.
• Numbing lubes or desensitizing creams. Pain is your body's signal that something is wrong. Masking it with lidocaine or benzocaine means you won't know when you're causing damage. If it hurts, slow down, add more lube, or use a smaller toy. The answer is never to make yourself unable to feel the warning signs.
• Cheap anal bead sets with cotton string between plastic balls. The string can't be sterilized, the plastic is usually porous, and the retrieval mechanism is unreliable. Get silicone beads molded onto a silicone cord with a proper ring handle.
• Jumping sizes too fast in a training set. Comfort at the current size should feel easy and relaxed before you move up. Forcing the next size causes microtears that set your progress back further than patience would have cost. My beginner anal guide covers pacing.

What should my first anal toy be?

A small silicone plug with a flared base. The b-Vibe Snug Plug 1 or Tantus Perfect Plug are both excellent starting points. Around 1 inch diameter or less at the widest, tapered tip for easy insertion, and a base wide enough that there's zero chance of it going anywhere. Start small. Your body needs time to learn to relax those muscles, and a good first experience matters more than an ambitious one.

Why does the flared base matter?

Because the rectum creates suction, and a toy without a flared base can get pulled in and require medical extraction. This happens more often than you'd think, and ER staff have seen it all. No flared base, no insertion. This isn't a preference or a tip, it's a safety requirement. Retrieval cords (like on anal beads) also work, but a wide flared base is the safest option.

What lube should I use for anal play?

Thicker water-based gel lubes work best because they stay in place and don't dry out as fast as thin formulas. Sliquid Sassy is formulated specifically for anal use: thicker consistency, same body-safe ingredients. Apply generously and reapply whenever things feel less smooth. The rectum doesn't self-lubricate, so running out of lube during anal play means friction, discomfort, and potential tearing. My lube guide has a full breakdown.

Can I wear a butt plug for extended periods?

Short periods are fine, around an hour or so. The b-Vibe Snug Plug line is specifically designed for extended wear with a comfortable T-bar base. Don't sleep with one in. Don't wear one all day. Start with 20-30 minutes and build up. If you feel any discomfort beyond the initial "something is there" sensation, take it out. Your body will let you know when it's had enough.

How do I clean anal toys properly?

More thoroughly than other toys. Warm water and antibacterial soap after every use, minimum. Silicone plugs can be boiled for 3-5 minutes for full sterilization, which I'd recommend doing regularly, not just when sharing with a partner. Stainless steel (like Njoy plugs) can also be boiled or run through a dishwasher. Never share an anal toy without sterilizing it between users. Details in my cleaning guide.

Is anal play supposed to hurt?

No. Never. Discomfort from fullness or the unfamiliar sensation of relaxing your sphincter is normal and fades quickly. Actual pain means something is wrong: not enough lube, going too fast, or a toy that's too large for where you are right now. Size down, lube up, slow down. If pain persists, stop entirely. Anal play done right should feel good from the start, even if it feels weird at first.

Anal beads or butt plug: which is better for a beginner?

A plug. Beads require pulling them out for the main sensation, which means you need to be comfortable with insertion and removal from the start. A plug stays in place and lets you focus on getting used to the feeling of fullness. Once you're comfortable with a plug, beads add a different dimension of sensation with the gradual in-and-out movement. My anal beginner guide compares both in detail.

Can I use anal toys to train for anal sex?

Yes, and that's one of the most common reasons people buy them. A training kit (like the b-Vibe Snug Plug set in sizes 1 through 3) lets you gradually increase size over weeks. Use each size until it feels completely comfortable, then move up. The goal is to teach your sphincter to relax on command, which makes the transition to partnered anal sex much smoother. Patience is the whole strategy.