Shopping Tips

Dildos come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours and materials, and there are also many different uses for dildos. Some people like to use a dildo for vaginal play, while others prefer anal play. Some will share their dildo with a partner, while others will be the sole user. Certain materials are better suited for sharing with a partner, and certain shapes are more appropriate for anal play. Each material gives a dildo a certain look and feel, and may have specific cleaning requirements.

You can find out all of the specifics by reading further, but for now it’s good that you know that there ARE different materials, shapes, sizes and colours available, and that these differences may impact the usability of your dildo.

The first thing to determine is how you will be using the dildo. This will help you decide which style and type is best suited for you and/or your partner. Some questions that you need to ask yourself are:

Once you've read these questions, you should have a better understanding of how to choose the right dildo. You will be able to narrow down the options, making the search for the perfect dildo much easier.

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Shopping Tips: Choosing A Dildo

As you probably know dildos come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colours, but not every dildo is right for every person in every situation. Choosing your first dildo can be confusing, but don’t worry, we have some tips that will simplify your choice selection. Choosing a dildo is more fun when you have the proper information that you need to make the best choice. Click on the links below to read the information of your area of interest: Varieties & Uses Styles & Types Materials Cleaning & Care Lubricant Used with Dildos
Varieties & Uses
Dildos come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours and materials, and there are also many different uses for dildos. Some people like to use a dildo for vaginal play, while others prefer anal play. Some will share their dildo with a partner, while others will be the sole user. Certain materials are better suited for sharing with a partner, and certain shapes are more appropriate for anal play. Each material gives a dildo a certain look and feel, and may have specific cleaning requirements. You can find out all of the specifics by reading further, but for now it’s good that you know that there ARE different materials, shapes, sizes and colours available, and that these differences may impact the usability of your dildo. The first thing to determine is how you will be using the dildo. This will help you decide which style and type is best suited for you and/or your partner. Some questions that you need to ask yourself are: Do you plan on using it for vaginal penetration only, or is there a chance you might use it for anal play? Do you plan on sharing your dildo with a partner, or do you anticipate being the only user? Do you think you would like a soft, pliable material or would you be more into a harder and stiffer feel? While you are having vaginal intercourse, have you ever thought of using a dildo in your vagina at the same time to increase the girth? Does the idea of using a realistic toy turn you on, or would you prefer to stick with a smaller, smooth dildo that doesn't resemble a penis? Are you sensitive to certain materials? Check out our Dildo Material Section to help choose the proper material for you. Once you've read these questions, you should have a better understanding of how to choose the right dildo. You will be able to narrow down the options, making the search for the perfect dildo much easier. Back To Top
Styles & Types
If you have a rough idea of what you want a dildo to do for you, or how you would likely use a dildo, then the next step is to apply that knowledge. This section will help you do that. Each category outlines typical uses for those dildos that fall within it. Please keep in mind that you may even find more uses for each type of dildo once you start experimenting on your own - we simply couldn't mention them all. So use the information as a guide, and feel free to use your imagination and creativity. Traditional Dildos Traditional dildos are very popular. They're usually shaped like a penis, although each can vary with regards to how realistic it appears. On one end of the spectrum you have ultra-realistic dildos which are shaped and coloured to look as close to a real penis as possible. In fact, some dildos are actually made from a mold of a real penis. Adult film actors have been lending their names (and their penises) for sex toy molding in recent years. On the other end of the spectrum you'll find brightly coloured dildos that don't look anything like a penis. Traditional dildos fall into a range of around 5 inches up to as much as 18 inches for some of the larger varieties. Popular Traditional Dildos: Crystal Jellies 8” Dong Crystal Jellies 10” Dong Jel-lee Majestic Dong Doc Johnson 6” Ballsy Cock Balls Balls fall into the category of dildos if they are not attached to a motor. Unlike vibrating balls, the non-motorized versions do not require batteries and are not attached to an electric cord. One of the choices in this category are the Small Gold Balls. A set of Small Gold Balls consists of two smooth ball bearings and are intended to be used by inserting them into the vagina. They work by stimulating internal areas when they rub or knock up against each other. If you're considering a set of Small Gold Balls, you should consider whether you would find these subtle sensations pleasurable. Another type of ball is the Sue Johanson Royal Balls. Sue Johanson Royal Balls are ball bearings that are encased inside a larger silicone sphere. The two spheres are connected by a silicone cord, which is used for easy retrieval. Sue Johanson Royal Balls work much the same way as Small Gold Balls, but the sensations are much more intense because the inner ball bearings of the Sue Johanson Royal Balls have room to move, so they knock against the outer casing, or each other with more force. Sue Johanson Royal Balls can be used by either placing both balls inside the vagina, or by placing one inside and letting the other ball hang out. Popular Balls: Small Gold Balls Sue Johanson Royal Balls Smart Balls Beads Beads appeal to a wide variety of people and are a popular choice for anal play. Beads consist of a series of silicone, jelly or plastic spheres attached together by a cord. They are inserted one by one into the vagina or anus, and then slowly removed creating pleasurable sensations. Popular Beads: Jumbo Thai Beads New Jelly Thai Beads Dragonz Tale Beaded Cord Oriental Jelly Butt Beads Tantus Silicone Beads Anal Dildos Anal Dildos are specifically designed for anal use. They are distinguished from all other dildos because they have a flared base so they don't get lost in the anus. If you plan on using a dildo anally, we would recommend checking out our selection of Anal Butt Plugs and Products in the Anal Information Section. Popular Anal Dildos: Blush 6” Anal Starter Rump Rocker Tantus Silk Double-Sided Dildos Double-Sided Dildos are dildos that can be used from both ends. This is a common choice for people who want to use a dildo on themselves and with a partner simultaneously. Some people even like to curve the double-sided dildo to use for double penetration (in their vagina and anus at the same time). These dildos, like most other dildos, are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Popular Double-Sided Dildos: Classic 18” Double Header Classic 12” Jr. Double Header Phallix Glass Double Dong Crystal Sensations Double Dong Realistic Dildos Realistic Dildos are designed to look like a real penis. Depending on the material that they're made out of, they can also feel very realistic. Cyberskin are UR3 the most popular choice. Popular Realistic Dildos: Cyberskin Cyber Cock Cyberskin Cyber Cock Slimline Doc Johnson 8” Blush UR3 Dong Strap-On Dildos Dildos used in strap-ons are designed so that can be attached, if desired, to a harness. Harnesses usually require that the dildo have a flat or flared base to stay attached during use. The dildo is inserted through a hole or ring in the harness, and the harness is then strapped to the user. The exception to this rule is the Vac-u-lock harness system. This harness is specially designed with a plug that you can interchange different attachments from the Vac-u-lock line to add different variety. The vacuum created when the plug is inserted into the hole in the base of the attachment is enough to keep the dildo in place. Popular Strap-On Dildos: UR3 Vac-u-lock Cock Tantus Acute Tantus Faerie Tantus Ripple Tantus Silk Back To Top
Dildo Materials
Rubber Rubber is a popular choice for dildos. The material is composed of different compounds that add softness to the material so that it is flexible and molds to your shape. Cleaning is easy - all you have to do is use a wet washcloth with mild soap, or some sex toy cleaner. Popular Rubber Dildos: Classic 8” Dong Classic Butt Plug Small Classic Butt Plug Medium Classic 12” Double Dong Classic 18” Double Dong Silicone Silicone tends to quickly absorb body heat and it retains the heat well, which adds to its realistic feel. It is a high quality material and is very easy to clean. All you need is soap and hot water. Silicone is such a high quality material that silicone toys can actually be cleaned by wither boiling it (for about 5-10 minutes) or running it through the dishwasher! Another benefit to silicone is its non-porous nature. It is less likely than latex and jelly to allow bacteria to grow, which means that since you can disinfect silicone, it is less likely to spread germs between users. We recommend using a condom when you share a dildo, but if you don't, silicone might be the least likely to trap and spread germs. Due to the cost of silicone, these toys are generally more expensive than latex or jelly toys, but it is a higher quality material that generally will last longer. If you're looking for a high quality, versatile dildo, you may want to consider silicone. Popular Silicone Dildos: Tantus Acute Tantus Faerie Tantus Silk Smart Balls Jelly Jelly is a great material for people who want the realistic feel of a silicone dildo but don't want to pay the higher price for silicone. Jelly can be described as a soft, flexible and pliable material that feels smooth to the touch yet retains some stiffness. Jelly is more porous than silicone - so it isn't wise to share a jelly dildo unless you use a condom. The best way to clean jelly dildos is with warm water or sex toy cleaner. Never use rubbing alcohol to clean jelly, and always use water based lubrication - jelly will degrade if it is exposed to a non-water based lubricant or rubbing alcohol. If you decide on a jelly dildo, it might be a good idea to pick up some toy cleaner specifically designed for sex toys. The porous nature of jelly makes it harder to remove germs from the surface, but a good sex toy cleaner will kill any bacteria and leave a clean. A bit of soap and water will also work, but will not sterilize the surface. Popular Jelly Dildos: Crystal Jellies 8” Jelly Dong Crystal Jellies 10” Jelly Dong Vac-U-Lock Crystal Jelly Pink Dong Crystal Jellies Butt Plug Small Latex Latex is a low cost alternative to silicone and jelly. There are less companies that are using latex in their ingredients because of allergies and other sensitivities, however you still may find a limited variety available. We do not focus on carrying a wide selection of these toys due to their unpopularity. Latex is soft, but is still a bit less flexible than silicone and jelly. Latex is sometimes a choice for people experimenting with different shapes and sizes due to its low cost. However latex does not last as long as silicone or jelly, and is quite porous and therefore not as easy to clean. If you plan on sharing a latex dildo, be sure to use a condom. Soap and warm water or toy cleaner is the preferred way to clean a latex toy. If is also worth mentioning that some people have an allergic reaction to latex. If you or your partner is allergic to latex condoms, you might want to try a toy made of silicone or jelly. Popular Latex Dildos: Gemini Double Dong Glass Glass dildos are a popular choice because they are beautiful and erotic. We recommend Phallix brand glass, which in our opinion, is the premium of glass dildos on the market today. Phallix stands behind their product to be high quality, medical grade Pyrex glass that is 100% safe, hypoallergenic and often recommend by doctors. All Phallix glass dildos are tempered for high durability and should last a lifetime. Colours shouldn’t fade or bleed on their glass dildos and they are dishwasher safe. Pyrex glass is an extremely strong, scratch and chip-resistant material. Heat-treated and examined with high tech equipment for scratches, cracks and other flaws. Glass dildos are completely safe for intimate use. These works of art are more expensive than most other dildos, but they are extremely beautiful and highly functional. If you would like a glass dong in a lower price range, we carry the Simple and True Glass brand as well as the Phallix line. Popular Phallix Glass Dildos: Phallix Dichroic Wrapped Baton Phallix Butt Plug Phallix Frosted Glass Dong Phallix Vivid Vixen Series G-Spot Cyberskin Cyberskin is a technological advancement in sex toy materials. This material is considered to be the closest thing to the look and feel of real skin. It is smooth, soft, flexible, and feels very realistic. Cyberskin warms to the body’s touch and retains the heat and forms and contours to your body. It is porous like latex and jelly, so it must be cleaned carefully with anti-bacterial soap and warm water, sex toy cleaner or with a Cyberskin cleaning solution and then dust it with corn starch (don’t use talc powder) so that it maintains it’s realistic feel. Store the Cyberskin separately from other toys. Condoms are also recommended for a fast and easy clean up. Popular Cyberskin Dildos: Cyberskin Cyber Cock Cyberskin Cyber Cock Slimline Dong UR3 UR3 is also a material similar to cyberskin, that is realistic looking and feeling and has a remarkable flesh like texture. Out of all the realistic materials UR3 is probably the easiest to clean and care for. It appears to be the most durable and therefore a bit easier to maintain. UR3 warms to the body’s touch and retains the heat and forms and contours to your body. UR3 must be cleaned carefully with anti-bacterial soap and warm water, sex toy cleaner and then dust it with corn starch (don’t use talc powder) so that it maintains it’s realistic feel. Store the UR3 separately from other toys. Condoms are also recommended for a fast and easy clean up. Popular UR3 Dildos: Doc Johnson 8” Blush UR3 Dong Vac-u-lock UR3 Cock Plastic Plastic is the material for toys like the Duotone balls, which plastic is the outer coating of the sphere. Plastic sex toys generally have hard, smooth exteriors and are inflexible. Cleaning is easy – use a washcloth or toy cleaner. Metal Metal dildos are similar to plastic ones, in that they have a hard, generally smooth exterior and are easy to clean. We recommend the metal dildo’s by Phallix, which are precision made and polished chrome alloy and stainless steel. Acrylic Acrylic is a form of plastic and is considered a "specialty" material. Acrylic dildos are often very beautiful, since the visual properties of acrylic is similar to glass. They are durable, easy to clean, and are generally difficult to damage. These toys often last a lifetime. Popular Acrylic Dildos: Vivid’s Acrylic Pleasure Wand Back To Top
Cleaning & Care
It is recommended that you clean your sex toys after each use. It is also a good idea to consider the care and maintenance required of each type of dildo before choosing one. Dildos can be cleaned easily by wiping them with a damp, soapy washcloth, or by rinsing them with soap and water or a good sex toy cleaner. Different materials have different cleaning requirements. For more information on how to clean each type of material, see our Dildo Materials Section above, or check out the quick reference cleaning guide for different cleaning methods. Silicone – soap and water, boiling water, sex toy cleaner (Tantus even recommends bleach for their products) Jelly – anti-bacterial mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner Rubber – anti-bacterial mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner Latex – anti-bacterial mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner Cyberskin – anti-bacterial mild soap and water, Cyberskin cleaning solution, sex toy cleaner UR3 – anti-bacterial mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner Glass – soap and water, rubbing alcohol, sex toy cleaner Plastic – soap and water, rubbing alcohol, sex toy cleaner Metal – soap and water, rubbing alcohol, sex toy cleaner Acrylic – soap and water, rubbing alcohol, sex toy cleaner Back To Top
Dildo Lubrication
Whether you're having sex with a partner or by yourself, lubrication is an important and safe consideration when selecting a dildo. You want to be sure the lubrication you use is compatible with the material your dildo is made of. Since some types of lubrication can damage certain dildo materials, it is good to know the basics before you start shopping. Lubrication is also a good aid to add extra fluid to make your experience of using a dildo most realistic and natural feeling. For those of you who experience vaginal dryness or discomfort, this will allow you to have added comfort and longer lasting playtime with your toys. Water-Based Lubrication This is the most common form of lubrication used today. Containing mostly water, water-based lubes should not stain your clothes or sheets, are safe with all sex toys, and are often pleasant tasting. Available in both flavored and non-flavored varieties, these lubes are long lasting and easy to clean. Silicone-Based Lubrication Silicone-based lubes are a high-tech version of water-based lube. All the ingredients are the same, except that silicone lubes do not contain any water and are completely waterproof. They also don't dry out like water-based lubes do so they tend to last longer. Silicone lubricant is safe to use with all sex toys except those made of silicone. If you have a silicone toy, you must use a different type of lubrication. System JO Silicone Lubricant is compatible with Tantus Silicone Toys because of the high quality of both products. Oil-Based Lubrcation Oil-based lubes consist of common oils such as vegetable oil and is not recommended for use with sex toys. Oil-based lubes are OK for masturbation and generally considered safe for consumption, but they often leave an oily residue, can be difficult to wash off your body parts, may stain clothing and have been known to cause infection if allowed to stay in the vagina. Oil-based lubes are not compatible with latex based sex toys, condoms and some latex-based birth control devices. Petroleum-Based Lubrication Petroleum-based lubes are made with mineral oil or petroleum jelly. As their name implies, petroleum-based lubes contain primarily petroleum products. While they are commonly used for masturbation and anal play, petroleum-based lubes tend to stain sheets and clothing and are not easy to wash off hands and other body parts. Petroleum-based lubes include Vaseline and baby oil. It is important to know that Petroleum will dissolve latex, and should not be used with latex toys. Back To Top Click here to return to the Stag Shop home page.