HOW TO PLEASURE
8 Tips for Choosing a Butt Plug
Published: AUGUST 21, 2018
| Updated: AUGUST 17, 2021
If exploring anal play is on your list of interests, it's hard to go wrong with starting your experimentation with butt plugs.
Do you know that the anal area consists of a ton of pleasurable nerve endings? Maybe that explains why so many people love the sensation of anal sex and other types of anal play. If exploring this erotic region is on your list of interests, it's hard to go wrong with starting your experimentation with butt plugs. They are one of the most common anal toy types available. Manufacturers create butt plugs with both beginners and advanced users in mind.
Even if you're sure you want to try anal pleasure, you may be worried about purchasing a butt plug. What should you be looking for? Are there certain things that a beginner should avoid? I want your first time purchasing a butt plug to be as worry-free as possible. So, before you start thinking about purchasing a butt plug, check out these eight tips for choosing a butt plug. Skim the entire article or go step-by-step to help you narrow down your potential butt plug choices. Enjoy!
Make Sure It's Safe for Anal Play
Unfortunately, this has to be said. Some manufacturers produce "butt plugs" that aren't actually safe for use in the butt. Make sure any anal toy you want to use has a wide base that's wider than the width of the toy itself and provides a good "stopping point." The base of the plug is supposed to stay outside of the body for easy removal. So, if it looks like the toy may slip entirely inside the body, you may want to consider a different type of butt plug. (Learn more about the risks of anal play in Why You Shouldn't Have Anal Sex.)
Consider the Size of the Butt Plug
The biggest rule of thumb is to go smaller in size rather than larger. You can always purchase a larger plug after enjoying your time with a smaller plug. However, you might find it hard to enjoy your sessions with a plug that's too large for you. Before purchasing a toy, you may want to try anal pleasure with fingers and purchase a toy that's similar in size to what you enjoy with your hand. As a rule of thumb, many beginners can easily enjoy toys in the 0.75" to 1.25" diameter range. Going much larger than that may be larger than some first-time explorers may like.
Contemplate Where You'd Like to Wear It
Where you would like to enjoy your butt plug makes a huge difference in what you might like to buy. If you want to wear your plug out and about, you'll want to find something that is especially designed for long-term wear. Certain butt plug designs (especially those that are very slender without much of a curve or a varying thickness to them) may slip out particularly easily. To try and help your plug stay in, if you foresee this being a problem, a pair of comfortably tight underwear or a butt plug harness may be a good addition to your purchase.
Read the Reviews
This goes hand-in-hand with the above-mentioned tip. You need to read the reviews for your potential butt plug. Some butt plugs will stay in better than others. If you're going to enjoy your plug while lying in the bed with your partner, it may not be an issue. If you're hoping to wear it out to get groceries, make sure that the reviewers agree that it stays in pretty well. Some people have been using various butt plugs for years; take advantage of their knowledge before purchasing one to ensure it's right for you.
Think About the Material
Materials for butt plugs vary widely. While I will always recommend that you avoid any toy made with phthalates, that still leaves quite a few material options for you. Phthalate-free butt plugs can be made from wood, glass, silicone, plastic, rubber, jelly and other materials. You'll want to think about the clean-up, too. If you plan on sharing your plug with another person (like your partner), definitely consider a non-porous material, such as silicone, that can be sterilized.
Include Rigidity in Your Material Concerns
While you're considering the material, think about the rigidity you'd enjoy. Especially if you're going to be wearing it out and about, you may want a plug that's made from a flexible material that bends with your movement. More rigid materials may work great for stationary play and prostate play, and some people just generally enjoy the sensation of a toy that doesn't bend or give. However, if you are going to wear the butt plug long term during the day, you may find that you need something that bends with your body to increase your comfort and pleasure.