Men's Sex Toys: A Real Buyer's Guide for First-Timers

Buying Guides

Men's sex toys are devices built to boost solo or partnered pleasure, and the three most popular kinds are strokers (also called male masturbators), cock rings, and prostate massagers. Which one fits you comes down to what you want more of: sensation, stamina, or a whole new kind of orgasm. I spent years behind the counter of an intimacy shop, so I'll walk you through this the way I did for real customers.

The thing I told every nervous guy who came in looking over his shoulder was simple: there's nothing weird about any of this. Some of my most loyal regulars were married men shopping alongside their wives, and plenty were first-timers who just wanted to feel something new on a quiet night. Let's get you the right thing.

What counts as a men's sex toy

Broadly, it's anything designed to stimulate the penis, the perineum, or the prostate. That covers a lot of ground, and honestly that's why the category trips people up. Here are the families you'll actually run into:

• Strokers and sleeves: soft, textured tubes you slide over the penis. This is the heart of the male masturbators shelf, from discreet open-ended sleeves to fuller enclosed models.
• Cock rings: a stretchy or adjustable ring worn at the base that helps you stay firmer, longer. Simple, cheap, and one of the best-selling things I ever stocked.
• Prostate massagers: curved toys that reach the prostate, which is the source of a deeper, full-body orgasm a lot of guys have never felt.
• Penis pumps: a cylinder and pump that draws blood in for a temporary size and firmness boost, and a favorite for men working on erection confidence.
• Couples gear: rings, remote toys, and strokers built to bring into partnered play.

The main types, and who each one is for

Here's the quick cheat sheet I wish every customer had before they walked in. Match the row to what you want more of, and you're most of the way there.

How to choose your first one

The question customers asked me most was "where do I even start?" My answer never changed: figure out the feeling you're after, then match the toy to it.

• Want a better solo session? A textured stroker from the male masturbators range is the classic entry point.
• Want to last longer or feel firmer? A cock ring is cheap, simple, and genuinely effective.
• Curious about a deeper orgasm? A beginner-friendly toy from our prostate and anal toys is worth the leap. Go slow and use plenty of lube.
• Working on erection confidence? A penis pump gives a temporary boost and doubles as a confidence tool.

Budget-wise, you don't need to spend a fortune to start. Some of the happiest first-timers I ever sold to walked out with a $25 stroker and a good bottle of lube, and that was plenty.

Materials and body safety, the part I never skipped

This was the one thing I refused to let a customer leave without hearing. Your skin absorbs more than you'd think, and cheap materials can trap bacteria or cause irritation.

• Body-safe silicone: nonporous, easy to clean, and my top pick for rings and prostate toys. It warms to your body and lasts for years.
• TPE and TPR: the soft, stretchy, skin-like feel most strokers use. It feels incredible, but it's porous, so clean it well and dry it fully.
• Skip anything vague: if the package won't say what it's made of, or it reeks of chemicals out of the box, that's your answer right there.

Lube matters here too. Use water-based lube with pretty much everything, since silicone lube can degrade some silicone toys and oils break down others. When you're not sure, water-based is the safe call.

Cleaning and care, honestly

Nobody's favorite part, I know. But a two-minute habit keeps your toys safe and makes them last. Here's the routine I handed people:

• Rinse with warm water and a mild toy cleaner or unscented soap right after use.
• For textured strokers, turn the sleeve inside out if the design allows and rinse the ridges.
• Let everything air dry completely before storing. Trapped moisture is how toys go bad.
• A little renewing powder (cornstarch based) keeps soft TPE sleeves from getting tacky over time.
• Store toys separately in a pouch, not in a pile, so different materials don't react with each other.

Common mistakes I saw at the counter

• Buying the biggest, buzziest thing first. The guys who did this usually came back overwhelmed. Start moderate.
• Going dry. Almost every stroker feels ten times better with lube, and a lot of the complaints I heard came down to skipping it.
• Wearing a cock ring too long. Twenty minutes is a good ceiling. If it feels uncomfortable, take it off, no debate.
• Forgetting to clean. A skipped rinse is the fastest way to ruin a good toy.
• Shopping in shame. This one's emotional, not practical, but it's real. The customers who relaxed and got curious had the best time.

FAQ

Are men's sex toys only for single guys?
Not at all. Plenty of my customers were couples using toys together, from a ring during sex to remote toys and strokers as foreplay. They tend to make partnered sex better, not replace it.

What's the best men's sex toy for a beginner?
For most first-timers I'd point to a simple textured stroker or a stretchy cock ring. Both are affordable, easy to use, and hard to get wrong. Add water-based lube and you're set.

Are men's sex toys safe to use?
Yes, when you choose body-safe materials like silicone or well-made TPE and keep them clean. The real risks come from porous, unlabeled materials and skipped cleaning. Follow the care steps and you're fine.

Do cock rings actually work?
They do for a lot of men. By gently slowing blood flow out of the penis, a ring can make an erection feel firmer and last a bit longer. Start with a stretchy adjustable one, and never wear it more than about twenty minutes.

How do I clean a male masturbator?
Rinse it with warm water and a mild toy cleaner right after use, get into the textured grooves, then let it air dry completely before storing. A little renewing powder keeps soft TPE sleeves from getting sticky.

Will my partner be offended if I buy one?
In my experience, far less often than guys fear. Framing it as something to explore together usually goes over well. Toys are an add-on to intimacy, not a critique of it.

Written by Emily Roth, who spent years working the floor of a sexual-wellness shop and now writes honestly for real people. Updated September 2026.

If you take one thing from me, it's this: start with what you're actually curious about, not with whatever looks most intense. When you're ready to browse, the male masturbators collection is the friendliest place to begin. Take your time, and have fun with it.