If you’ve spent long enough on our site you will know that dildos come in all shapes, sizes and styles, but what about all the different materials? There’s so much choice, and without specialist knowledge it can be hard to know which is the one for you.
For most people, picking the right dildo material is a personal preferences, but we’ve noted the most common types below with an explanation to help point you in the right direction.
PVC
PVC is one of the oldest modern sex toy materials. It’s extremely versatile, meaning you can find it in dildos, vibrators butt plugs and of course fetish wear clothing. Dildos of varying levels of firmness can be made using PVC which is why it has always been popular. You will read a lot of stuff online to point you away from PVC sex toys due to their potential to contain phthalates (which we will explain more later), however the adult industry has worked hard over the last decade to replace phthalates with other softeners which give the dildo that sort lifelike feeling. Due to EU regulation REACH, we only supply PVC dildos that are phthalate free, and this will never change.
LATEX
Latex is a naturally forming liquid that can be extracted from trees and used in manufacturing to make a range of goods. You may be familiar with latex clothes, fetish wear and condoms. As well, latex is also used to make dildos, although they’re not too common these days.
Before using a latex dildo, make sure you don’t suffer from any latex allergies. Although we know they’re completely body safe, it is still a common problem and brings out rashes and sores in some people. If you use a latex dildo or any other latex sex toy and experience any unpleasant sensations, stop using the toy immediately and consult a doctor.
TPE/TPR (THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER OR THERMOPLASTIC RUBBER)
Easily one of the best dildo materials on the market, TPE/TPR dildos will be very realistic, flexible and comfortable. They’re completely body safe as they do not require any phthalates or softeners to make them real feel. The majority of our dildos are made from this material. It also has the advantage of being fairly cheap, so you can get ultra-lifelike dildos for very little.
ABS
This is a firm plastic material with almost no flexibility. It’s great for hitting specific spots that other toys may struggle with such as a g-spot or p-spot. ABS plastic sex toys are completely body-safe and will last the test of tine thanks to the tough material. They’re also super easy to clean with some warm, soapy water.
SILICONE
Silicone sex toys are generally considered to be the top sex toy material. Technically medical-grade silicone should take this spot, as it’s possible to make dildos using only 10% silicone and you can still say they’re silicone dildos. Medical-grade silicone dildos must use a much higher amount of silicone, at least 70% or more.
Regardless, these toys are super soft and luxurious, but you will also have to pay more for this material. Great for most sex toys, they’re sleek, smooth and very comfortable to use.
Additionally, silicone dildos are extremely body safe as they’re completely nonporous, and super easy to clean using warm, soapy water. Once cleaned leave to air dry.
PU-COATING
Polyurethane coating (PU-Coating) is a process that involves spraying liquid PU over the base of a dildo. The dildo base is usually made of a rigid material such as ABS. The PU coat makes the toy softer and more comfortable to use.
GLASS
Most glass dildos are made from borosilicate glass, which is a super tough, shatter proof material, perfect for dildos, butt plugs and Pyrex jugs! Sex toys made from this material are safe because borosilicate glass doesn’t shatter or break easily. It is possible, for example of you dropped it from a height onto a hard surface, but you will find it doesn’t shatter and instead large chunks will break off. If this does happen never attempt to use your glass dildo again.
But this is very rare and typically glass dildos will be one of the longest lasting sex toys you will ever own. They’re awesome to look at, easy to lubricate and clean and can even be used for temperature play by heating it up or cooling it down.
METAL
Pretty simply to understand, metal dildos are tough, heavy and uncompromising. Don’t expect a metal dildo to bend to your will. They’re easily one of the easiest dildo materials to clean and you will have no problems with them breaking down overtime. A metal dildo is for life!
WOOD
Although these are very rare to come by, it is possible to purchase wooden dildos. These will usually set you back a little more since they cannot be mass produced easily, but if you’d prefer something more bespoke these may be for you. You don’t need to worry about any splinters as they’re carefully smoothed then finished in a coat that makes them nonporous. They’re super safe to use because they’re nonporous, meaning it isn’t possible for any bacteria to grow if it isn’t cleaning. This being said, you should still clean all dildos after use, and these are also easy to use, clean and use again.
CERAMIC
Although very rare to come across, you can purchase bespoke hand-crafted pottery dildos – or ceramic dildos! Expect to pay more for this material as they’re currently not in mass production. Ceramic dildos are heavier than a typical dildo and you need to be careful not to drop one. They’re very rigid but easy to lubricate, and will easily glide when performing penetration thanks to the smooth finish.
NOTE: PHTHALATES
When sex toys first started getting mass produced it was common to find phthalates in the dildos as a way to make them softer and more lifelike. Over time and with further study, it became clear that using phthalates in many products was not safe, and so through regulation it was banned from being used in the manufacturing process.
Over the last decade, sex toy manufacturers have found alternative softeners to create the same lifelike feeling whilst keeping the toy body safe.
STORAGE
It’s easy to overlook the correct ways to store your sex toys. We understand it, it’s a whole experience just shopping and purchasing your new dildo, then there’s all the excitement of receiving it, and then of course the climax of actually using it! When all that’s said and done, you should clean your dildo in warm, soapy water and then leave it to air dry.
But what next???
You want to make sure your new favourite toy doesn’t break or get damaged right?
Well, you need to ensure all your sex toys are stored separately, preferably in a storage bag. They certainly should not be left touching each other as this can cause the materials to react. Not cool! For best results, store all dildos separately in a cool, dry and dark place, ready for use the next time you get a craving.
