The properties of a vibrator
In addition to the question ‘which type of vibrator suits me’, there’s the question “what do I have to keep in mind when buying a vibrator”. This question deserves an explanation as well. Will you decide on cheap? Battery powered? Waterproof? Made of silicone, rubber, glass or metal? A powerful vibration, or a little less? And how do you know if the toy is quiet? Perhaps this information can help you make a decision.
1. Batteries or rechargeable?
Sex toys are available with and without batteries (rechargeable). Which type suits you is a personal matter. Here are a few pros and cons to consider.
Pros and cons of a battery-powered vibrator. They are:
+ Cheaper to purchase.
+ More user friendly. (if the battery is empty, you can just replace it and continue).
+ More discrete (you don’t have to charge it somewhere and be afraid someone, like your children, will see).
+ Water repellent, for cleaning.
– Not waterproof.
– Less environmentally friendly.
Pros and cons of rechargeable vibrators. They are:
+ Quieter.
+ More powerful.
+ Cheaper in use (you don’t have to keep buying batteries).
+ Powered by electricity (less damaging to the environment than batteries).
– A little less user friendly in terms of power: empty means empty. If you have almost reached climax and the vibrator runs out of juice, you can’t just quickly change the batteries.
2. Which materials are safe?
Vibrators are made of various materials. Below you’ll find an overview of the materials and how safe they are for your health.
Silicone
Toys made of silicone are of the best quality and safe in use. Silicone as a material is very flexible and impeccable when it comes to hygiene. It is not porous, free of latex, hypoallergenic, scentless and flavourless. In short: a wonderful material with the highest safety degree. Often these toys are a little more expensive than those made of rubber or plastic.
★★★★★★★★★★ Score: 10/10
Glass
Most glass sex toys are made of borosilicate glass. It is a heat-resistant type of glass with a long life span. It is shatterproof, resistant against chemical damage, is not porous, is not affected by temperature fluctuations and is easy to clean. This material also has the highest safety degree.
★★★★★★★★★★ Score: 10/10
Plastic
If we say plastic in combination with sex toys, we usually mean hard plastic. Positive aspects of hard plastic are: it is not porous, easy to clean, available in many different colours, can conduct vibrations well and is cheap. However, the safety score is a little lower than glass and silicone.
★★★★★★★★☆☆Score: 8/10
Thermoplastic rubber (TPR)
TPR is a lightweight material. This type of rubber can have a very subtle scent and/or flavour. TPR does not contain latex, but is porous. If you use sex toys made of TPR we recommend that you use a condom if you and your partner are sharing the toy. The safety score is lower than that of plastic.
★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆Score: 5/10
PVC
PVC is a soft, rubbery material and is often made of PVC or polyurethane in combination with several other chemical substances. There is no standard list of substances and materials for PVC, which means that the material is somewhat dubious. The latest versions of PVC don’t use controversial substances and are therefore safe to use as sex toys. Pay close attention to which type of PVC has been used for your toy. The safety score is low.
★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆Score: 2/10
Skin Like
This plastic is made to mimic the look and feel of the human body. It has to feel like real skin or real flesh. A big downside of this material is that it is often porous and soft. It is difficult to clean, for this toy we also recommend: use a condom if you share your toy! The safety score is low.
★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆Score: 2/10
3. Measure of vibration: powerful or soft?
The current generation of vibrators have various vibration settings from which you can choose. Choose the measure of vibration you like. This is really very personal. The top quality vibrators often also have a variation on the type of vibration, namely: vibrate, pulsate, turn, waving or thrusting movement, etc.
In a vibrator the measure of vibration is often not as important; it’s the type of vibration that makes the difference. In a stimulator (external use) the measure of vibration is very important, however. Keep this in mind. We recommend a rechargeable (often more powerful) and somewhat more expensive model for the best result. A good all-rounder is the massager.
This device actually has three functions:
- Greatly alleviates muscle aches
- Perfect for a relaxing massage
- Powerful vibrator/stimulator
4. A lot of noise? No thanks!
If you buy a vibrator you will of course want it to be as noiseless as possible. No one wants to hear a droning or a humming sound. Sadly, no vibrator or stimulator is completely silent. You can always hear something. However, there’s a big difference between the various vibrators.
How do you know if a vibrator is quiet? Check the indication of the amount of decibel in the product’s specifications. If it says less than 50dB on the package, the manufacturer means that the toy is whisper quiet. All other toys will be noisier.
5. Waterproof? Great during a bath or shower
Take a nice and relaxing bath, enjoy yourself and get some pleasure. Too bad, though… you’re going to have to use your fingers, because Tarzan can’t take the water! That’s a thing of the past. Almost every brand has at least one waterproof vibrator in their collection, to use in the bath or under the shower.
Want a waterproof vibrator? Here are a couple of tips:
- Use a silicone-based lubricant with this toy instead of a water-based lubricant, unless the toy is made of silicone. In the bathtub or under the shower the water-based lubricant immediately dissolves, which means using your vibrator will be a little less pleasant.
- Make sure your vibrator is completely closed before you get into the bath or shower. Not closed properly? Your pleasure will be over rather quickly…
- If you submerge your toy, be advised that the toy makes a lot more noise under water than above it. The sound also echoes even more because of the bathtub.
- If you use the vibrator under the shower, there’s less noise to worry about.
6. Which size?
Size does matter! In choosing the right vibrator as well, and a mistake is easily made. Always check the size in the product specifications, especially if you order one online. If the size is not stated, we recommend you don’t buy it.
Buying a vibrator for the first time? An outside diameter of 2.5 – 3.5 cm is probably fine for you. Are you a frequent user? You can handle a larger size.
Use the filters in the menu to the left. For outside diameter you can choose from smaller than 1,5 cm, 1,5-2 cm,2-2,5 cm, 2,5-3 cm, 3-4 cm, 4-5 cm and more than 5 cm. The vibrator’s length is important as well. In ‘shaft length’ you can choose from less than 10 cm, 10-15 cm, 15-20 cm, 20-25 cm, 25-30 cm and more than 30 cm.
7. Cheap vibrator or a somewhat more expensive one?
If you buy a sex toy for the first time, it may be best not to immediately get an expensive one, as you’re not sure yet whether you like it or not. And if it doesn’t make you happy, that would be a waste of money. Prevent a financial drain and start out with some reasonably priced toys. You can use the price filter in the menu to the left. You can select vibrators for less than 15,- pound or vibrators of more than 85,- pound, and everything in between.
With the cheaper versions, pay attention to quality, such as the material and how they work. If you buy a toy that’s too cheap, you run the risk that it doesn’t live up to your expectations and you run possible health risks. And you wouldn’t want that! What are the possible risks? The cons of a cheap vibrator are:
- Makes a lot of noise
- You don’t feel much
- Breaks quickly sometimes
- Contains poisonous plasticizers
What’s a good, inexpensive vibrator?
There are good vibrators available for less than 20 euros. Interested? Use the price filter in the menu to the left (click on less than 15,- pound) and you can see all inexpensive vibrators. If you’re sure that you want to use your vibrator more often, or you want a vibrator with a different function (other type of stimulation) you can always purchase a more expensive device.
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