How to Pick a Dildo That'll Rock Your World

Along with providing a different type of pleasure than your own hands can offer, if used with a partner, the use of dildos in your intimate play can open up a whole new world of intimate adventures that can bring you and your partner(s) closer together. After all, who doesn't want to experience more effortless and varied orgasms? We bet you do!

They say the classics never go out of style… and they’re right. Dildos are considered to be the world’s very first sex toy. In fact, bewildered archaeologists have dug up ancient toys thought to be almost 40,000+ years old. This means humans have been coming up with creative methods of pleasure-seeking since before we even learned the basics of agriculture.

Dildos come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, and can be made from a variety of materials.

Some dildos are designed to be worn with a strap-on harness to enable one partner to penetrate another hands-free.

Other dildos are designed to be manipulated by hand. Still, others are designed with a suction cup-type base to enable hands-free solo penetration.

Finally, there are uniquely shaped double-ended dildos that can be worn by one partner while penetrating another.

Figuring out which dildo may be right for you is the focus of the next section.

🤔 How to Choose a Dildo with the Right Size For Your Sexual Journey?

When you say "size", think of both girth and length! One of the most important factors when considering a dildo is overall size. If you are buying the dildo for yourself, think about what girth and length would be most comfortable and pleasurable for your body, and always consider your real-life experience boundaries. If you are buying a dildo to use with a partner, it would be good to talk to that person about what size would be best for their body and their own means. If you think you've chosen the right silicone dildo for yourselves, feel free to share its visuals with your partner so you can both make an informed decision. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work!

If you are unsure about what size might be appropriate, consider how many fingers you can comfortably insert into yourself or your partner during play. For introductory anal play, for example, a single finger might be the limit - in that case, look for a toy that is similar in girth to your finger.

When you're picking a dildo, length is also an important consideration - a toy that is too long can be controlled somewhat by not inserting it all the way, but too much length can be tricky when wearing a strap-on harness if the thrusting becomes hot and heavy. A toy that is too short can cause frustration if it slips out during strap-on play, or if it is not quite hitting your hot spots just nicely!

💯 There Are So Many Materials Out There. What's the Best Material For a Dildo?

Dildos can be made from various materials, including pure silicone, borosilicate glass, stainless steel, finished wood, ABS plastics, and many kinds of soft plastics such as jelly and rubber. Each material has its own features, characteristics, qualities, and pros/cons that can affect your experience like the ease of cleaning you dildo.

🎁 Choosing a Dildo Made of Pure Silicone, Medical Silicone, and Platinum-Cured Silicone

Generally speaking, pure silicone, food-grade silicone, medical silicone, and platinum-cured silicone is non-porous, hypoallergenic, body-safe, easy to clean, and sterilize, and very durable. Variety is the spice of life when it comes to pure silicone; it can be cast in varying degrees of firmness; you can find very firm silicone toys as well as very soft ones. As we always advise, please take note and know that dildos made from pure silicone should be kept away from silicone-based lubricants as they compromise the structural integrity of silicone.

💎 Picking a Dildo Made of Borosilicate Glass or Stainless Steel

Shatter-resistant borosilicate glass and stainless steel are both very smooth and firm materials that require only a small amount of lubrication. Both love the environment and are recyclable. Borosilicate glass can be warmed or cooled easily by placing a toy in the water at the desired temperature.

Toys made of stainless steel can be quite weighty. Both materials are non-porous and clean in a jiffy.

🌲 Choosing a Dildo Made of Finished Wood

Finished wood is a firm material that is fully renewable and earth-friendly. Wood toys offer the firmness of glass and metal without the weight factor. Most wood dildos are finished with a water-based sealant that makes them non-porous and easy to clean - The Dildo Hub does not sell dildos made of finished wood, however, in case you're buying elsewhere, be sure to clarify the ins and the outs about the specific wood toys you may be considering.

😐 Choosing a Dildo Made of Plastics, Rubber, or Jelly Rubber. Are There Any Concerns?

Various types of plastic and rubber dildos are widely available and supply both soft, firm, and hard consistency. The advantage of plastic and rubber toys is that they can often be quite inexpensive. The disadvantage of some types of these toys, especially soft toys, is that they can be difficult to clean, are often not very durable, and can sometimes contain questionable or toxic ingredients.

In general, ABS plastic toys are easier to clean and more durable than soft toys. Soft plastic toys can be made of many materials - PVC, latex, rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, Cyberskin, Softskin, jelly rubber, or other unique trade names. These names usually do not fully describe the toy's ingredients - though some companies might list if certain ingredients are not used in the toy, such a latex (to which some people are allergic) or phthalates (chemicals used to soften plastics that have been linked to possible health issues).

Most soft toys (excluding 100% silicone toys as mentioned above) are porous, meaning that dirt and bacteria will become trapped on their surface and not easily washed away. Cleaning wipes and antibacterial soaps are not fully effective in cleaning non-silicone soft toys, so if porous toys are shared between people, it is best to use a condom before each use to avoid passing any possible infection or STIs from one user to another. Similarly, if a toy is used anally and then used on another orifice (vagina, mouth, or a partner's anus), it is best to place a new condom over the toy before each use.

❤️ Your Health, Safety, and Wellbeing is Our #1 Priority

When choosing a soft toy, always check what's made of. As previously reiterated, some toy companies use the word "silicone" in their marketing when their toys are actually made of other porous materials that are not able to be sterilized. Many toy companies refuse to state what their toys are made of - for your health, safety, and wellbeing, at The Dildo Hub, we source our adult novelties, pleasure products, and sexual wellness items from reputable domestic and international sex toy manufacturers and individual creators. When in doubt, assess any risk factors and use a condom as needed for safety.

The vast majority of the dildos you see on The Dildo Hub are made exclusively from pure silicone, medical silicone, or platinum-grade silicone, due to its body-safe and hygienic qualities, as well as their durability. If you've chosen a dildo that is made of 100% pure silicone, medical silicone, or platinum-grade silicone (without any electronic parts), please note that it can be boiled for 2-3 minutes in water to fully disinfect, or placed on the top rack of a dishwasher for a quick hassle-free spin.

Although we're not fans of bleaching your dildos, your faithful bedtime silicone companions can also be disinfected using a 10% bleach solution (provided they are carefully washed and rinsed afterward). While 100% silicone toys may cost a bit more than jelly rubber or other soft toys, they are body-safe, skin-safe, waterproof, hypoallergenic, and very durable.

🍑 How to Pick a Dildo with the Right Shape and Appearance?

Choosing the best dildo can be an intimidating experience for some. If you ever wandered into a sex shop and saw rows and shelves of cock-shaped, veiny dildos, the overwhelming image of silicone dicks might be what you immediately think of when you think “dildo” - but there’s actually a lot more variety out there. In fact, a lot of dildos aren’t even penis-shaped at all. Some are smooth and sleek, like a vibrator (without the vibrations), others are textured with bumps and grooves, and plenty can come curved. Others are straight out of this world such as fantasy dildos, dragon dildos, animal dildos, and many more.

Dildos come in many shapes, so, picking a dildo with the right shape and appearance can be a time-consuming task and may depend on your personal whims and desires - some are very smooth while some have ridges, bumps, or swirls. Some are quite straight while others have curves. Sometimes curves are built-in for a specific purpose - to help aim the dildo straight at your P-Spot or G-Spot. Yummm yea!

For some people, finding a dildo that looks and feels like a penis is very important! The glans, the corona, the ridge, the veins, the thick or elongated shaft, the set of bulging big balls. Who wouldn't want one? Others prefer their dildos to be as unanatomical as possible from the penis in design, texture, and feel. Fortunately, there are many different dildo designs and colors to choose from.

🍆 Should I Choose a Realistic Design For My Dildo?

F yes, especially if you like the real deal! The biggest consideration when purchasing a dildo is whether you want it to look like a real penis. Some people love the idea of a life-like visual, but others aren't so fond of it. If you're shopping for your first toy and are hoping to use it with a male partner around, it might be best to choose a non-phallic toy like a ribbed glass dildo.

If the phallic dildo design is what you're going for, though, there are plenty of options here as well. Realistic dildos come in all kinds of shapes and different sizes. You can get them small-sized, medium-sized, large-sized, or extreme. You can get them with balls or without. You can get them curved or straight. If the visual appeal of a phallic shape appeals to you, think about what you like and then go looking for it. Chances are, you will find it, and we put our faith in you!

🛒 Choosing Your Dildo is Just a Few Clicks Away!

Dildos have come a long way since the early incarnations of the phallic-shaped sex toy saw ancient civilizations use unripe bananas or camel dung dipped in resin to satisfy sexual desires. Now you can find dildos that inflate, deflate, strap on, glow in the dark, stick to the shower wall… the list is endless and the choice is wonderfully expansive. They remain one of the most popular sex toys out there.

Now that you are aware of the crucial factors behind the purchase of a dildo, we've selected some of the best dildos on the market to help you make an informed decision. Choosing the right dildo for your sexual journey is just a few clicks away!

The Dildo Hub is the Shangri'la of phallic sex toys, adult novelties, and sexual wellness pleasure products – there are endless exciting choices and one can browse for hours and hours. For an authentic experience, realistic dildos come complete with lifelike veins and other sought-after realistic textures. For added sensations, opt-in for vibrating dildos, or if you’re into temperature play, you can even pick up dildos made of shatter-resistant borosilicate glass.

For those of you who are into otherworldly experiences, we offer a myriad of fantasy dildos, dragon dildos, alien dildos, animal dildos, etc. We even offer monster dildos and extreme dildos for those of you that want that extra strong punch-packing action.