7 Ways To Find The Right Sex Toy For You Without Overspending

When shopping for sex toys, the first thing you want to do is figure out what it is you want. For instance, are you looking for a device that focuses on the clitoris or the G-spot? Do you want something that has a variety of speeds or strong vibrations? Or do you want a toy that feels like oral sex?

“Once you have a sense of what you'd like, then you can start looking for toys,” Zachary Zane, sex expert and Lovehoney LGBTQ+ activist, tells Bustle.

It’s good to have an idea of what you want to avoid overspending. According to Zane, some products cost more because they have cool features like app connectivity, so your partner can control it from afar.

“If you don't plan on using the app, then don't buy that toy,” Zane says. “There are other toys of the same quality that will be cheaper because they don't have certain features.”

In general, it's a good idea to buy toys that have at least a one-year warranty as many reputable sex toy brands do offer this. “If they don't have a warranty, there's a decent chance the company knows their toys break often,” Zane says. “If they do have one, odds are, they're more likely to be of higher quality.”

Typically, expensive toys are pricey because they’re made with higher quality materials. According to Struyk, higher end toys tend to be made of silicone, glass, medical-grade steel or even specially treated wood. Silicone toys are also more expensive, but tend to last longer.

“Less expensive materials that give a similar, skin-like feel often contain phthalates (a harmful chemical), or can be porous, which means they're never truly clean,” Struyk says. These chemicals can also irritate sensitive skin.

While there are a lot of very low cost sex toys available, going with a reputable brand and buying from a local or a well-known online retailer is a good way to go.

"Find a toy by a brand that has an online presence, that has at least a few reviews by independent sex toy reviewers and that appears to care about quality and customers," Struyk says. "This will go a long way toward finding a toy that is actually designed for your pleasure."

If you’re shopping for sex toys on Amazon, just be cautious and make sure you’re ordering it from a seller who has excellent reviews. According to Struyk, it’s hard to determine whether a product is real or a cheap knockoff. Your best bet is to purchase from a site that specializes in sex toys.

"In terms of choosing a certain type or size of toy, it's best to start with what you know [feels good to you], then branch out from there," Struyk says. "I'd also recommend getting a toy that can be used in a variety of different ways."

For example, Struyk says, if you aren't sure if you prefer internal of external stimulation, you could choose an insertable vibrator, since its vibrations will work just as well outside the body if you find that's what you prefer.

"Good online sex toy retailers also provide specs around the toy's size, so if you're buying something you plan to insert, measure how many fingers you can comfortably (or pleasurably!) insert, and use that as a guide to compare to sex toy measurements," Struyk says.

Another good thing to remember? A toy that's a little smaller than you'd maybe prefer is better than one that's too large to use comfortably, Struyk says.

Yes, friends, when it comes to using sex toys, some pleasure-centered consumer reports from other users are a huge help.

Struyk says that her biggest recommendation is checking out some of the knowledgable sex toy reviewers to see what they have to say about the toys you're interested in.

"They'll lay out the pros and cons of different toys, and provide some insight into who they might be suited for," Struyk says.

"Start with a vibrator that you can put on your finger," Becca Hirsch, M.A., LMFT, who specializes in sex therapy and sexuality education at Center for Mindful Living, tells Bustle.

"Many folks with female genitalia do not orgasm from intercourse alone, and need clitoral stimulation to reach orgasm, which is perfectly normal," Hirsch says. "Since the finger vibrators are small, it makes it less daunting to bring into intercourse or partnered interactions."

Another major perk to the finger vibrators is that you can easily pick one up online, or at any regular store such as Target, Hirsch says. Plus, they’re small, so they’re easy to bring on a date night that might get spicy or for a sexy solo weekend getaway.

Most of all, don't forget to enjoy yourself! Before you know it, you'll be a sex toy pro yourself.