Pick Your Pleasure: 10 Steps to Choosing a Vibrator

So, you've decided to start using sex toys. Good for you! Sex toys are amazing, and along with increasing your own personal pleasure, they can help increase you and your partner's bond. One of the most-used sex toys happens to be the vibrator. That's because vibrators can produce an immense amount of pleasure that's impossible for the human hand to recreate, and they work for girls, guys and everyone in between.

Picking out a vibrator can feel daunting, though. Because it's such a popular toy, thousands and thousands of options exist. Vibrators come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and provide all kinds of different features designed to tickle your fancy.

So, where to start? Here are 10 simple steps to put you on the right track. You can follow them in order or, if you want to skip around, that's your choice too. After all, this is all about your pleasure!

Figure Out the Type of Vibrator You Want

Vibrators come in a wide range of types: rabbit vibrators, bullet vibrators, wireless vibrators, traditional vibrators, G-spot vibrators, and more. If you have something particular in mind, selecting what type of toy you want will help you narrow things down quickly. For example, if you want something that is easy to travel with and easy to hide, a small bullet vibrator, like the remote controlled LELO LYLA might be best.

If you want something that can stimulate two areas at once, you'll probably want a rabbit vibrator, such as the LELO INA.

If you want something that can be controlled with a wireless remote by your partner while you're in public (sounds so fun!), you'll want a remote-controlled vibrator, such as LELO's TIANI 3 or HULA Beads. (Get more hot ideas in 7 Things to Know About Couples' Vibrators.)

Select the Size of Your Vibe

You'd be surprised by how many sizes of vibrators are out there. You can go from a two-inch-long toy all the way to vibrators with more than a foot of powerful vibrating pleasure. They can be less than a half inch in width, or they can even be more than two and a half inches wide! If you have a specific size preference, start looking for a toy in that range. If you don't have a preference, try to find something with an average size: A length between 5 and 7 inches with a width between 0.75 and 1.5 inches. LELO LIV 2 fits right into this range and makes for a great starter vibe. This will give you a good starting point, and you can increase or decrease the size for your next purchase as you figure out what works best for you.

LIV 2's smooth contour and average size makes it a great starter vibe.

Pick Your Power

Toys can be powered by a large variety of different sources. Some are plugged into a wall outlet and run on electricity, some use batteries and some are rechargeable. Toys that plug into wall outlets tend to be the most powerful, but you'll also be tethered by a cord. Rechargeable toys will need to be recharged in-between uses, but they don't require batteries. Batteries are simple and easy to use, but some people don't like the hassle of changing them and keeping them on hand. If you choose to go with a battery-operated toy, keep in mind that battery type is a good indicator of the power that a vibrator provides. For example, a vibrator that runs on C batteries is going to be stronger than one that runs on AAA batteries. That said, rechargeable vibrators are the preferred choice these days. High-quality rechargeables are convenient, are more likely to be waterproof and offer plenty of power too.

Think About Sex Toy Materials

The material from which a vibrator is made can make a huge difference in its performance and your enjoyment of the toy. As a general rule, the harder and less squishy the material is, the better the vibrations will resonate. So, a hard plastic vibrator will translate vibration better than toys made of softer materials.

You also want to think about whether the material contains phthalates. Some people are sensitive to phthalates and suffer reactions when they use these toys. There is also some concern that these toys aren't safe for internal use. Top-quality vibrators are most often coated in high-quality silicone. This material is silky-smooth to the touch, it's body-safe, it's non-porous and it's easy to clean. This is a material that tends to come at a higher cost, but the higher level of quality and safety makes it a good option to consider. (Learn more in Sex Toy Safety: A Guide to Materials.)

A hard plastic vibrator like LELO MIA 2 will translate vibrations more intensely.

Many top-quality vibrators, such the ALIA, above, are coated in body-safe silicone.

Try Out Different Textures

Textures can really enhance your experience with a vibrator, and quite a few vibrators come with varied textured surfaces for your pleasure. There are ripples, bumps, curves, spikes, studs, swirls, veins, bulbs and more. On the other hand, some people prefer a completely smooth surface. You'll have to figure out what texture (or lack thereof) will work best for you.

LELO's IRIS provides ripples and bumps for different sensations.