New York Toy Collective Review: Finally, a Toy Brand That Gets Bodies Are Different

New York Toy Collective is a queer-owned, NYC-based company that makes silicone dildos and prosthetics. They've been around since the early 2010s, which makes them relatively young in the sex toy world but old enough to have refined their products through multiple iterations. The founding ethos was simple: the market lacked quality prosthetics designed by and for trans and nonbinary people, so they built their own.

That origin matters for understanding what NYTC makes and why. This isn't a mainstream dildo company that added a "gender-affirming" tab to their website in 2022 because it was trending. The entire product line was designed from the ground up for bodies that most manufacturers either ignore or treat as an afterthought. Every design decision, from the sizing range to the pack-and-play functionality to the harness compatibility, comes back to that core mission.

I want to be clear about my perspective here: I'm a cis woman reviewing products that weren't primarily designed for me. I can evaluate the silicone quality, the craftsmanship, the design, and how things perform in a strap-on harness. What I can't speak to with firsthand authority is how well a pack-and-play prosthetic feels for someone wearing it as part of their daily gender expression. I've read extensively, talked to people who use these products that way, and I'll share what I've learned. But the lived experience isn't mine, and I'm not going to pretend it is.

Note

Pack-and-play means the product is designed to function as both a packer (worn in underwear for a natural-looking bulge) and a functional dildo for sex. Most packers are too soft for penetration and most dildos are too rigid for comfortable all-day packing. Dual-purpose designs split the difference.

The company operates on a smaller scale than the big names in the dildo world. No massive factory. No Amazon storefront with twelve thousand SKUs. They produce in limited runs, which means popular models sell out and restocks aren't instant. That's the trade-off for a small, mission-driven brand. You get products designed with intention, but you might have to wait for the one you want.

The Shilo is NYTC's flagship pack-and-play, and it's the product that made me pay attention to this brand in the first place. The idea is one piece that goes under clothing and is still firm enough for penetrative sex. Dual-density silicone: a softer outer layer over a firmer internal core, all platinum-cured, with a bendable center that holds whatever angle you set it to. NYTC lists it at $149.99 in four skin tones and a Midnight Purple.

The numbers on the listing are 6.25 inches insertable and 1.5 inches wide, on a 3-inch base with a removable suction cup. That's average territory rather than compact, and for penetration it's a comfortable middle that most people won't have to work up to. Packing is where the length costs you something. Six and a quarter inches plus a 3-inch base is a lot of silicone to carry in a pouch all day, so if daily wear is the main job, the 5-inch Archer below is the better buy, and the Shilo makes the most sense when sex matters at least as much as the bulge.

The flagship

Shilo

Dual-density, platinum-cured silicone with a bendable center that holds its angle.

• 1.5 inwide
• 3 inbase, removable suction cup
• 6.25 ininsertable
• $149.99four skin tones and a Midnight Purple

• Carter · $169.99 on sale
• Archer · $39.99 on sale
• Shilo + leather harness · $249.99

Visit New York Toy CollectiveDirect link

The dual-density construction is where the quality shows. The outer silicone has a real squish to it. You can press a thumb into the shaft and feel it give before hitting the firmer core underneath. It's not at Vixen Creations VixSkin levels of realism (nothing is), but it's in the same conversation. The surface has a matte, skin-like finish that doesn't collect lint the way some ultra-soft silicones do, which matters a lot for something you're wearing against your body all day.

I tested the Shilo in a harness for penetration and it performed well. The firm core provides enough rigidity to thrust without buckling, and the soft exterior means the receiving partner feels something that approximates skin rather than a rigid silicone rod. Pop the suction cup off and the base goes into a standard O-ring harness. If you don't own a harness yet, NYTC sells the Shilo bundled with a leather one for $249.99, about $30 less than the two bought separately.

The Archer is NYTC's realistic silicone packer, listed at 5 inches for $39.99 on sale ($59.99 list), or $49.99 for the hand-painted version, with two magnetic packer pouches in the box, and it sits in a slightly different category than the Shilo. Where the Shilo is a pack-and-play designed for versatility, the Archer leans more toward the prosthetic side: it's meant to be worn as an extension of the body, with a shape and weight that feel natural when it's in place.

The key difference is the base design. The Archer has a broader, flatter base that sits against the pelvis and distributes weight more evenly than a typical dildo base. For someone wearing this in a harness or packing underwear as part of their daily presentation, that broader contact area means less shifting, less bunching, and a more stable fit throughout the day. It's a small design detail that matters a lot in practice.

The silicone is platinum-cured and body-safe like the Shilo, but the construction is different: the Archer is solid, soft silicone throughout. It is a packer, not a penetrative toy, and that matters. The softness that makes it comfortable against the body all day is exactly what makes it unsuited for penetration. If you want one product that does both, that is the Shilo's job, not the Archer's. The softness pays off in daily wear: it compresses naturally and moves with you instead of announcing itself every time you sit down.

The Archer comes in a range of skin tones, which sounds basic but is worth mentioning because a lot of prosthetic products still only come in two or three shades. NYTC offers enough variation that most people can find a reasonable match. Perfect color matching isn't possible with mass-produced silicone (even in small batches), but the range is better than most competitors.

One limitation: the Archer is specifically designed, and it's not a general-purpose dildo. If you're a cis person looking for a strap-on dildo without the packing functionality, the Archer's broader base and softer density aren't advantages. You'd be better served by the Shilo, the Carter (below) or a Vixen Creations model. The Archer is purpose-built, and that purpose is gender-affirming everyday wear. If that's what you need, it's one of the best options available. If it's not, other NYTC models are a better fit.

The Mason has been dropped from NYTC's catalog. I used mine with a standard fabric harness and a leather harness, and the fit was good with both, but if you've seen it recommended somewhere, that advice is out of date, and the dildo-first slot in the lineup now belongs to the Carter.

The Carter is the big one: 7.25 inches by 2 inches, $169.99 on sale ($219.99 list), and the most expensive dildo NYTC sells. Half an inch of extra width over the Shilo is a lot more than it sounds, so this is the upgrade for someone who already knows the Shilo is too slim, and a strange choice for a first dildo.

Most of the cheap end of the catalog is wearable gear. Next to the $39.99 Archer sit the uncut Pierre packer at $49.99 and the Sam STP 3-in-1 at $49.99 on sale ($64.99 list; STP is stand-to-pee), which is the kind of product you won't find at most dildo makers. The exceptions are a bendable starter dildo with a suction cup, $19.99 on clearance, and a small bullet vibe ($29.99 on sale) that fits the pocket on NYTC's neoprene harness.

Tantus is cheaper again. Its O2 line is dual-density too: the Flurry O2 is 7 x 1.5 inches for $63, the same width as the Shilo at well under half the price, and the Cush O2 is 7 x 1.75 for $73. What NYTC has over both is the pack-and-play design, and that's the thing you're paying for.

Tip

Choosing between an NYTC dildo and a VixSkin comes down to what the toy is for. If one piece has to pack and play, that's the Shilo's reason to exist. If it only ever goes in a harness or a hand, a VixSkin of similar size costs less and feels softer.

Every NYTC dildo and packer is platinum-cured silicone. That's the gold standard for body-safe materials: non-porous, hypoallergenic, free of phthalates and latex, and sterilizable by boiling. You can share it between partners after sanitizing, use it indefinitely without material degradation, and clean it with soap and water or a 10% bleach solution for full sterilization.

The dual-density construction uses two layers of silicone with different shore hardness ratings. The core is a firmer silicone that provides structural rigidity. The outer layer is a softer silicone that compresses under pressure and returns to shape. Both layers are platinum-cured and bonded during manufacturing so they don't separate. This is the same basic approach that Vixen Creations uses with VixSkin, though the specific silicone formulations are different.

Surface finish varies by model. The Shilo and Archer have a matte, slightly tacky surface that mimics skin texture, and both attract less lint than VixSkin's ultra-soft surface, which is a practical advantage for products that might be worn against clothing all day. I've packed the Shilo under jeans for an afternoon and it didn't come out looking like it had been through a lint trap.

Lube compatibility: water-based only, same as all silicone toys. Silicone-based lube can bond with the surface and cause degradation over time. Some people swear they've used silicone lube on silicone toys without issues, and they might be right for single-density products, but with dual-density silicone where the outer layer is softer, I wouldn't risk it. Water-based lube works fine. You'll reapply more often, but you won't damage a $149.99 toy.

Storage: keep silicone toys separated from other silicone products. The silicone-on-silicone contact issue is real. Over time, two silicone surfaces pressed together can bond or degrade each other's finish. NYTC products come in individual bags. Use them, or wrap each toy in a clean cloth. A shared drawer is fine as long as nothing is touching.

Warning

Dual-density silicone is more sensitive to improper storage than single-density. The softer outer layer can develop surface tackiness or discoloration if stored pressed against other silicone toys. Keep them in individual cloth or satin bags. It takes ten seconds and saves you from replacing a $149.99 Shilo.

"Inclusive sizing" gets thrown around a lot in marketing copy without meaning much. At NYTC it means proportions based on real anatomy rather than porn dimensions, and in 2026 it shows up more in what they make (packers, an STP, pieces built to pack and play) than in how small their dildos go.

The average erect penis is around 5.1-5.5 inches, depending on which study you trust. But average is just the middle of a bell curve. A significant portion of people are smaller than that, and for trans men and nonbinary folks who want a prosthetic that matches their desired anatomy, the compact end matters. NYTC's two main dildos don't go there: the Shilo is 6.25 inches insertable and the Carter 7.25. The small end of the catalog is packers, the 5-inch Archer and the 4.5-inch hand-painted Pierre. For a compact dildo you'll have to shop elsewhere for now; NYTC's $19.99 starter dildo doesn't even list a length. Vixen's Spur is 4¾ x 1¼ inches for $96, and Mr Hankey's Beefcake XS is 5.5 inches insertable for $65.95.

This matters for two reasons beyond gender affirmation. First, smaller dildos are more comfortable for a lot of people, cis or otherwise. Not everyone wants 7 inches. Some people want 4, and being told that 5.5 is the "small" option is irritating. Second, for packing, size directly affects wearability. A compact packer sits naturally under clothing. A larger one shifts, creates visible lines, and requires specific underwear to manage. The 5-inch Archer covers the packing half of that argument. The dildo half is where the current lineup falls short.

Girth is where you get an actual choice: the Shilo is 1.5 inches wide and the Carter 2. A slimmer piece is easier to pack and easier on a lot of bodies during penetration, and NYTC made its flagship the slim one, which tells you where its priorities sit.

Where that leaves NYTC sizing in October 2026: average-to-large dildos, compact packers, and proportions modeled on real bodies. A compact dildo is the gap I'd most like them to fill.

The idea of pack-and-play is simple: one product that works as a packer for daily wear and as a dildo for sex. The reality is more complicated, because the physical requirements for those two functions are almost opposite. Packing needs softness, compressibility, and a shape that sits flat against the body. Penetration needs firmness, rigidity, and enough structure to thrust without folding over. Dual-density silicone is the compromise that makes both possible, and NYTC's execution is among the best I've seen.

For all-day packing, the Archer is the one built for the job: 5 inches of soft silicone meant to sit in the front of briefs or boxer briefs. The softer silicone compresses when you sit down and doesn't create the rigid lump that a standard dildo would. Walking, sitting, bending over: the shape adjusts. It's not perfectly invisible under thin fabric (nothing silicone-based is), but under jeans or chinos, you wouldn't know it's there unless you were looking. The Shilo can pack as well; at 6.25 inches on a 3-inch base it's simply more to carry.

Comfort during extended wear depends heavily on your underwear choice. Compression briefs or packing-specific underwear with a front pouch work best. Boxers don't provide enough support and the packer shifts. Regular briefs work if they're snug enough. NYTC puts two magnetic packer pouches in every Archer box and sells a packing strap, but doesn't sell underwear, which is a missed opportunity. Brands like RodeoH and Paxsies make packing underwear that pairs well with NYTC products, and someone should just make a bundle deal already.

Transitioning from packing to sex is where the dual-density earns its keep. You don't need to swap products. Pull the packer out of your underwear, put it in a harness (or compatible underwear with an O-ring), and it's ready. The firm core that was unnoticeable during packing becomes the structural backbone for penetration. I tested this transition with Daniel and the process was seamless. No digging through a drawer for a different toy, no mood interruption. That continuity matters more than specs on a page suggest.

The limitation is realistic: pack-and-play products are a compromise. A dedicated packer from a company like Emisil will feel softer and more natural for all-day wear. A dedicated dildo from Vixen Creations will feel more realistic during sex. NYTC's pack-and-play models are roughly 80% as good at each function as a dedicated product. For someone who wants one product that does both, that's an excellent trade-off. For someone who only packs or only uses dildos, a purpose-built option will serve better.

NYTC vs. Vixen Creations: Vixen is the benchmark for dual-density silicone dildos, and for pure realism in a dildo, they still win. VixSkin's outer layer is softer, squishier, and more skin-like than NYTC's silicone. Vixen's catalog is built around dildos, with a VixSkin packer, the Mr. Right (4¼ x 1¼ inches, $72), on the side. If you need one piece built for both jobs, NYTC is where to look. If you're just buying a dildo for harness play or solo use and realism is the priority, Vixen's Mustang or Maverick will feel better, and Vixen is no longer the expensive choice: VixSkin dildos run $96 to $224, while the Shilo is $149.99 and the Carter $169.99 on sale ($219.99 list).

NYTC vs. Tantus: Tantus makes excellent body-safe silicone toys for less money, with dildos from $31, and its O2 line is dual-density too (the Flurry O2 is $63, the Mark O2 $94). Tantus even sells a Pack 'n Play No.2 for $84, so NYTC doesn't own the packing idea outright. If your budget is tight and you want a good silicone dildo for penetration only, Tantus is hard to beat. The Silk is still one of the best starter dildos at any price. NYTC's edge is focus: its whole catalog is built around packing and trans bodies, where for Tantus that's one corner of a much bigger range.

NYTC vs. Mr Hankey's: Completely different universes. Mr Hankey's is about range, with realistic sculpts in up to six sizes and four firmness levels, from $65.95 for an XS to $327.95 for the biggest Goliath. Their smallest pieces aren't huge (the Beefcake XS is 5.5 inches insertable, shorter than the Shilo), and the top end goes to dimensions I wouldn't attempt without serious warmup: the 4XL Goliath is 12 inches insertable with a 15.25-inch mid-shaft circumference. If you want variety, sizing and firmness choice, Mr Hankey's delivers. But they don't make anything for packing, and that's the whole reason NYTC exists.

NYTC vs. Emisil and Reelmagik: These are the direct competitors in the prosthetics space. Both make high-end prosthetics that are more realistic than NYTC's products, with paint-matched skin tones, hand-applied details, and price tags to match. If you need a prosthetic with maximum realism for daily wear and are willing to invest, Emisil and Reelmagik are the top tier. NYTC offers a middle ground: better than generic packers, more affordable than premium prosthetics, with the added pack-and-play versatility that the ultra-realistic brands often lack because their products are too soft for penetration.

NYTC's competitive position has shifted. On dildo price alone it no longer sits in the middle, because Tantus's O2 pieces cost less and so do VixSkin models of similar size. What you pay NYTC for is the pack-and-play design and a catalog built around trans and nonbinary bodies, which is why it keeps a spot in my realistic dildo ranking despite the price. If that design is what you need, $149.99 for a Shilo is fair. For a dildo that only ever needs to be a dildo, the brands above do the job for less.

Toys run from a $19.99 clearance starter dildo to the Carter at $169.99, on sale from $219.99. The Archer packer is $39.99 on sale ($59.99 list) or $49.99 hand-painted, the uncut Pierre packer $49.99, the Sam STP 3-in-1 $49.99 on sale ($64.99 list), and the Shilo $149.99. The Shilo with a leather harness comes to $249.99.

The cheap end is a good deal: a realistic silicone packer for $39.99 is hard to argue with. The dildos are a different story. VixSkin runs $96 to $224, and the Colt (5¾ x 1½ inches) is $125 against $149.99 for the 6.25 x 1.5 Shilo, so NYTC is now the pricier dual-density option at similar sizes, and Tantus's dual-density Flurry O2 is lower again at $63. You're paying for the pack-and-play design and the brand behind it, which is worth it if you'll use both functions and a stretch if you won't.

Next to the high-end prosthetic makers like Emisil and Reelmagik, the $39.99 Archer is the cheap way in. You sacrifice some realism, particularly in visual detail, but the silicone quality and structural functionality are solid.

Where the pricing stings: if you want to try more than one piece, the costs add up fast. A Shilo and a Carter together come to $319.98. NYTC doesn't have a sample or trial program (the hygiene concerns make that impossible for this product category), so you're committing based on measurements and descriptions. Their size guides are detailed, but buying silicone sight-unseen always carries a small risk of "this isn't what I pictured."

Stock comes and goes with the small batches. On September 23, 2026 every product on NYTC's site showed as sold out, and by October 1, 2026 the Shilo, the Carter and most of the packers were back, so if the shade you want is gone, pick your model and check back for a restock. Sales happen on their own site and at stocked retailers like SheVibe, and on October 1 the Carter, the Archer and the Sam STP were all marked down.