Ergonomic Sex Toys: Why They're a Thing (Or Should Be)

Some words that just makes sense to describe sex. Sexy words, sensual words, erotic words, words like voluptuous, curvy, ergonomic … wait, what?! That's right, I said ergonomic. It might not be the first (or 50th) word to come to mind when you think of sex stuff (if you're like me it probably makes you think of office chairs) but when we get talking about sex toy design, it should 100% be on the list. Why? Because sex toys should meet our physical needs, not just our orgasmic ones.

What Ergonomics Means

So, what does ergonomic mean? Well, according to Merriam-Webster, it refers to “the design characteristics of an object resulting especially from the application of the science of ergonomics." Since that is not entirely helpful, let's take a look at what "the science of ergonomics" involves. Once again, according to Merriam-Webster, ergonomics is “concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely”. Tl;dr? Something that is ergonomic is designed for efficient and safe use.

What Ergonomics Means When It Comes to Sex Toys

Now, what does this have to do with sex toys? A lot, actually. From size to shape to weight to button placement and beyond, there are a lot of factors that go into making a sex toy that is usable by as many people as possible and ergonomics should be one of them. After all, whether you have physical issues or just get off often, pain is the last thing you want out of a sex toy.

So now that we've cleared that up, lets take a look at some of the things that go into making an ergonomic sex toy!

Handles to Hold

How do you hold a sex toy when you are using it? For many of us this isn’t even a concern - we just hold it the way that makes it work for us. However, for folks with arthritis, any kind of issue that affects grip strength, or folks for whom reaching down to their genitals is difficult, the kind of handle a toy has (and that it has one at all) are a pretty big deal. Lots of toys are straight or short or straight and short and this requires some angling to get the toy into place. Additionally, in the case of things like dildos, toys sometimes require an awkward, claw-like grip for use. These factors are not ideal for some people. In such cases, toys with longer handles can be far more comfortable.

Tantus, for example, makes some of their dildos (like the Echo) with handles on the bases, making them a bit easier to hold for extended periods. Additionally, wand-style massagers can be good choices because, generally, they have longer handles than the standard vibrator. Handle shape also matters as a handle that isn’t straight can help cut down on the need to twist the arm, bend the wrist, or otherwise maneuver the toy into place. The O-Wand, for example, is designed to be ergonomic and therefor super user-friendly.

The O-Wand's curved handle makes it so easy to hold.

Button Placement

How you have to hold a vibrating toy becomes a moot point if you can’t turn it on. So, look at where buttons are placed. Are they easy to reach? Comfortable? One of my favorite design choices in recent years was made on the Mystic Wand Rechargeable by Vibratex. The small, light curved wand had buttons placed in multiple locations (the front and back of the handle and down near its base) making it easy to find a button regardless of your hand placement. Another way to make sure you don’t get tripped up by buttons is to look for a toy with a remote control. Toys of all different styles have them these days and they enable the user to control the toy without having to mess with one’s grip during use. When you're considering a toy, look at how it's designed to be held, how you think you would hold it, and whether the button placement makes sense for you.

Weight

I spoke earlier about wand-style massages and how their long handles can make them a more accessible choice and that is true; however, many wands fail the ergonomics test based on their weight. For some users, a heavier toy is just not comfortable to hold. It’s hard to enjoy yourself when the simple act of holding your toy up is causing discomfort. This where lightweight toys can be super-helpful. The new Le Wand Petite Rechargeable Massager weighs in at 0.47 lbs (7.52 oz), making it one of the lightest wands and a great accessible option.