A dildo is a sex toy that is usually shaped like a penis. Unlike vibrators, it doesn’t have a motor. Dildo’s go back thousands of years and are made from all sorts of materials—archeologists have found dildos made from stone, wood, clay, ivory, wax, jade, and even gold.

Dildo Materials

Modern favourite materials include glass, acrylic, rubber, silicone, wood, plastic, and Cyberskin TM. It is important to know the material from which your dildo is made for proper cleaning & care of your sex toy.

Dildo Shapes

Dildos are meant to be used in the vagina or anus, so most have a cock-like shape.  You can buy dildos that are exact replicas of penises (including your favourite porn stars’) but you can also find fantasy dildos shaped like animals, flowers, people, and in abstract forms—but all of them are designed to be safely inserted.

If you plan on using your dildo for anal insertion, make sure that it flares out enough at the base to avoid an embarrassing trip to the ER.

Double-ended Dildos

These double-headed sex toys can be used by partners or for masturbation. Some v-shaped double dildos may not require a harness (a bonus) and give an angle that is more like that of a naturally erect penis. Many double-ended dildos have a larger and smaller side, to allow for vaginal and/or anal penetration. These are a great way for a woman to enjoy vaginal and clitoral stimulation at the same time that she is exploring her partner’s ass (see bend over boyfriend for first-timer instructions).

G-Spot Dildos

Pick a dildo whose curvature has been designed to hit your G-spot. You can find dildos that are designed to stimulate the clitoris and the G-spot simultaneously.

Dildo Textures

Dildos come in all sorts of textures. Some enjoy smooth surfaces to facilitate sliding across and into sensitive tissues, while others prefer the extra stimulation of ridges, bumps, and other textures. Dildos may also be rigid or soft. The best texture is going to be different for every user.

First Time Buying a Dildo

If this is your first time buying a dildo, you are probably better off with a smaller and smoother dildo. Yes, the big ones may be visually tempting, but bigger doesn’t always mean more stimulation. If you know enough about your sexuality to know that you enjoy lots of clitoral stimulation, consider getting a dildo that has a pronounced head knob or a series of gently raised ridges, as it will give you more clitoral sensation as it goes in and out.

Picking a Dildo for Harness Use

There are four main things to consider when choosing a dildo for harness use:

• The base – it should be flared widely enough that it can be held firmly in place by the harness’s ring.
• Firmness – the dildo should be firm enough that it won’t slip out of the harness or be torn by the pressure. (But rigid materials like glass, metal, and acrylics are not recommended—if you can afford it, silicone is best).
• Length– for harness use, you’ll want a dildo that is 5 inches or longer, unless it’s intended for anal play.
• Thickness – make sure that your dildo isn’t too wide to fit through your harness’s ring.

Dildo Safety

If you are going to be sharing your dildo with a partner or are using it on more than one orifice during the same session, use condoms on the toy and put new ones on as the toy moves from person to person or orifice to orifice. This helps to prevent bacterial and viral sexually transmitted diseases from becoming an issue. Use the proper care and cleaning for the material your toy is made of to ensure that you are using the right cleaning method between uses so as to prevent infection and keep your toy in good shape.