Once you’ve settled on the type, focus on the material. Since there are no federal regulations on sex toys, be sure you’re going with a body-safe silicone or ABS plastic, which won’t trap bacteria or moisture inside, says Amber Mallery, MPH, a certified sexuality educator and community manager at Bijoux Indiscrets. Stainless steel, and high-quality glass are also safe, but avoid rubber, warns Carol Queen, PhD, a sex educator and staff sexologist at Good Vibrations.
USB-rechargeable vs. battery-operated vibrators: A USB option is convenient because all you’ll need is one of the 200 cords you have hanging around, and you’re good to go. If the vibrator comes with its own AC adapter or charger, you’ll run the risk of misplacing it. And as for batteries, there’s no greater killjoy than realizing you don’t have any on hand when your vibe runs out of juice. However one of my faves, the Babeland Babe Bullet, is battery operated, and it’s so amazing that we’re willing to make exceptions, so don’t rule anything out.
Our pick: USB-rechargeable
Cost: What you spend should be what you can afford. You can get a great budget-friendly sex toy for $17 or splurge on a diamond-encrusted luxury sex toy. But more money doesn’t mean better. In fact, bullet vibrators always pack a punch and are budget-friendly.
Our pick: Quality over price tag
Warranty: Although nothing lasts forever, if you’re spending a pretty penny on a vibrator, make sure it has a warranty, because you can’t usually return them. For example, Womanizer has a five-year warranty on all their products and Lelo has a two-year warranty. These are important things to look for because you never know if your vibe is going to malfunction—and not because you overused it.
