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Mar 09, 2024

24 Anal Sex Toys 2022: Best Devices, Prep and Aftercare Products

By Gina Vaynshteyn and Lucy Smith So you want to incorporate anal sex toys into solo (or partnered) sex but don’t know where to start? That’s okay! The key is to find anal sex toys that can help you

By Gina Vaynshteyn and Lucy Smith

So you want to incorporate anal sex toys into solo (or partnered) sex but don’t know where to start? That’s okay! The key is to find anal sex toys that can help you prep, pay attention to how your body responds, and go slow and steady. If you want to experiment with anal sex, it’s always a good idea to add some toys to your arsenal to ensure your first time is smooth and fun, and feels good.

“Exploring solo is a great way to start, even if your goal is anal intercourse with a partner,” says Carol Queen, staff sexologist at sex-toy retailer Good Vibrations. “[When you’re] solo, you get to choose your toys and timing, go slow, learn your responses, and familiarise yourself with the sensations of anal insertion.”

When you’re exploring anal pleasure for the first time, it’s important to be as relaxed as possible, make sure you have a ton of personal lubricant, and if you plan on graduating to anal penetration with another person, we cannot stress how important communication is.

Unlike the vagina, the anus doesn’t self-lubricate, so feel free to go a little wild with the slippery stuff. Which lube you should get is based on what material your toys are made from. If you have silicone toys (and a lot of toys are silicone), try not to use silicone-based lube; go for water or gel-based lubes. “Lube is a must and should be applied to the anus, the toy, or the body part you’re using to insert and stimulate, and—if you have a lube shooter—into the rectum itself—more lube is almost always better,” Queen says.

You may want to start with smaller and thinner butt plugs, anal dildos, and vibrators for masturbation or partnered sex—but make sure they have a base so they can’t slip all the way in. Once you’re feeling good, you can always work your way up to larger ones.

If this is your first time experimenting with butt play, you might feel tense and nervous, and that’s totally natural. If you have a vulva, you were probably a little tense and nervous when you first started using penetrative vaginal toys or having partnered vaginal sex. It’s the same with anal sex—and practice makes perfect.

Queen gave our partners at GLAMOUR US some tips, advising that you should “be in a comfortable spot where you feel safe; make sure you are with a person you can trust; take deep breaths; really take your time” and adding, “Beginner anal is not quickie material. When it’s time to play with a partner, they must go slow, and the person being penetrated is in charge—the person with the anus says when they are ready, how deep, how fast, and when it’s time to stop.”

You might be tempted to use a numbing cream so that you feel less discomfort while you insert toys or have sex with your partner, but it’s actually not a good plan. According to anal-toy seller B-Vibe, using numbing creams can increase the chances of your actually hurting yourself. “[Numbing creams] make it easy to keep going even when the lube has run dry or your body tightens up, so it’s a lot more likely that you’ll hurt yourself,” B-Vibe’s blog explains, adding that it’s similar to a visit to the dentist. If you’ve ever been given anaesthetic before getting a filling, then you may have accidentally bitten your cheek, not even knowing you hurt yourself. Hours later, your pain receptors are no longer blocked, and now they’re communicating with your brain that, whatever you did to yourself, it hurts.

Plus, it’s good to know when you’re in pain so you can add more lube, adjust positions, slow down, or just stop entirely. Anal sex shouldn’t hurt; it’s not a BDSM situation for most. With practice, lube, and prioritising relaxation above all else, anal should be pleasurable and awesome. If anal doesn’t feel good, you shouldn’t have to feel like you need to soldier on.

If you feel like you’re ready to add the best anal sex toys and accessories to your cart, here’s where you can start.

After more sex toy content? Checkout our round up of the best Valentines gifts for him, including long distance-friendly vibrators, our curated edit of the best waterproof vibrators and all the best sex toy cleaners, too.

This luxe prostate stimulator isn’t like other adult toys on the market. The anal vibrator is motorized at the base and the tip for maximum pleasure, and it comes with a rechargeable remote control for hands-free orgasms. Reviewers love it for the silicone feel and the medium size, which makes it a great transitional toy if you’re moving from beginner to intermediate.

When it comes to the best sex toys, Lelo's - from their rabbit vibrators to their sex toy cleaner - are some of the best. This vibrating prostate massager features a dual motor, 12 vibration patterns and is suitable for solo play, couples play, foreplay and penetrative sex. You name it, the Loki Wave 2 can do it.

This vibrating butt plug’s standout feature is its connection to We-Vibe’s We-Connect app, which lets you and your partner pleasure each other from anywhere. For when you’re using it by yourself, there’s also a simple four-button remote. The toy’s curve makes it especially useful for those with prostates, but its adjustable design, soft waterproof silicone, and powerful vibrations allow it to stimulate the sensitive nerve endings of anyone with an anus.

This silicone beginner's butt plug set is a top pick for buyers looking to prepare for anal penetration and penis and/or strap-on insertion. Providing a retrieval strap for easy removal and multiple stimulating shapes to keep things kinky and fresh, this trio of male sex toys is reasonably priced and includes free delivery. That said, we wouldn't limit their use just to male anatomy - females can enjoy this best selling Satisfyer pick, too.

On the lookout for a strap-on? Be it for role-play or, rather, if you've worked your way up through the anal butt plug training kits and you're ready for the full monty, this realistic harness model will be one of the best sex toys you ever buy. Our one gripe? We just wish it came in a larger range of skin tones for greater inclusivity.

This glass dildo, complete with a realistic dildo design and two ends for varied play, can be heated or chilled for extra sensual sex. It's suitable for vaginal and anal stimulation, and it works with both silicone and water-based lubes. Just make sure to use lots of lube for comfortable backdoor fun from start to finish.

Fans of Doc Johnson products will be familiar with the range's fisting toys, butt plugs and, in this instance, lubricants. This one is a water-based lube, so whatever your fetish or fancy, you'll be able to guarantee easy insertion and plenty of slippery stimulation.

Save money on gags, lingerie and unisex wellness toys with these Lovehoney discounts

The Petite Sensations Bubbles (anal beads, essentially) was built with beginners in mind, coming with three bead sizes that let you choose how big and wide you wanna go. This toy also vibrates and has seven intensity levels. The difference between a butt plug and anal beads is the bumpy sensation, which you might or might not be into. Some find the beads intensely pleasurable (you don’t have to insert the toy all the way, either). Some are happy with the first bead, while others work up to and prefer inserting all three.

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This isn’t a glass butt plug. It’s a lube tube applicator and syringe (or lube shooter) that allows you to easily “inject” lube into your anus, making playtime smoother, more enjoyable, and less messy. You don’t need a lube shooter (you can always apply lube directly to toys, penis, or fingers), but some prefer the precision this gives.

Sliquid Organics gel lube is thicker than normal lube, which makes it ideal for anal play. The ingredients are body-safe and considered natural (its base is made from aloe leaf juice), and it’s infused with botanicals like flax, green tea, and sunflower seeds, which some find to have restorative properties. It’s also hypoallergenic and vegan-friendly.

After you’re done with play, you might want to clean up. This douche is essentially an enema that gently washes out any remaining anal lube or semen that’s up there. Don’t forget to clean this with soap and water or an antibacterial wipe when you’re done (the same goes with all your toys, no matter where they go!).

Queen recommends the Liberator blanket as “a comfy way to stop worry about mess—it’s waterproof and machine-washable.” This isn’t only ideal for anal, it’s actually great for period sex too. Period or not, sex can be messy! But that doesn’t mean you have time to wash your sheets every single time you do it. This blanket is built to absorb any kind of liquids, so you can continuously feel dry and comfy.

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The Liberator Wedge gives you extra support when you’re having partnered sex, both vaginal and anal. Some first-time anal sex havers like the ergonomic design of this pillow, which can make certain sex positions that hit the G-spot, P-spot, or A-spot easier. Especially for that last one, the Liberator wedge takes some of the pressure off your wrists and knees when you’re in doggy-style position.

These glamorous butt plugs come in three sizes, so if you’re new to anal play, you can start with the smallest and work your way up. They’re easy to warm up or cool down under running water for temperature play, and the body-safe polished aluminum works with any kind of lube. Plus, they’ve got sparkly pink gems at the base.

This double-ended dildo has different-size bulbs at each end—1 inch and 1.5 inches in diameter—so you can experiment with different levels of fullness. The stainless steel creates a 1.5-pound weight for powerful thrusts, and the long, curved body makes it easy to hold and move.

This toy allows you to be pleasured in three different ways at the same time: While a partner is pegging you with a penis or dildo, the rabbit cock ring goes around it and flickers over your clit for clitoral stimulation, and the ridged dildo attached to it can penetrate you anally. Both attachments vibrate, creating heightened sensation for you and your partner alike.

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This simple silicone butt plug is slim and soft, making it ideal for first-time anal play. The tapered shape, flared base, and 3.5-inch insertable length make it easy to both get in and get out. It’s also made from high-quality, waterproof material, free from phthalates and latex, and comes with a cute little canvas bag so you can conceal it (but if you don’t want to, that’s cool too; it looks kind of like a little lava lamp).

This water-based anal lube is thick and long-lasting, and it offers a warming sensation, which some people prefer. Definitely rub some lubricant on a small area of skin on your hand first so that you can be sure it’s not irritating for you.

Queen recommends that anal beginners invest in a trainer kit like the one B-Vibe has curated. This comes with a small silicone butt plug, a medium vibrating butt plug, a large weighted butt plug, a lubricant applicator, an anal enema, a zippered travel bag for convenience, and as a bonus, B-Vibe’s “Complete Guide to Anal Play,” in case you have any questions in the moment.

If you’re ready to graduate from the regular ol’ butt plugs you already have, this smart rimming plug comes with all kinds of neat features you can play with. B-Vibe’s rimming plug emulates the feeling of, well, rimming (which is essentially oral anal sex). It has a flared base with rotating anal beads that are designed to give you an extra intense sensation and stimulate the sphincter. The tip also vibrates, and you or your partner can control the vibration levels (there are six) using a wireless remote, which works up to 30 feet away.

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If you’re ready to take things to the next level but aren’t ready to graduate in size yet, the petite B-Vibe vibrating rimming butt plug is the perfect solution. Totally beginner friendly, this petite-version of the brand’s larger rimming plug also comes with a remote control that allows you or your partner to add vibrations to the mix.

This is like a bullet vibrator, but it’s specifically for your anus (it features a “tail” with a flat end, so there’s no way you could slip the whole thing inside), and it’s meant to be paired with the Ella app. After downloading the app to your phone, connect via Bluetooth and start using the various modes it offers. We also love that the bullet is waterproof and ribbed for extra feel-good sensations.

The soft silicone surface, slim shape, and flexibility of this toy make it a good choice for beginners, though it also comes in large and medium sizes for more advanced anal adventurers. It’s waterproof and can stay in when you’re walking around, so you can wear it throughout the day if that appeals to you. In addition, if you wear it during intercourse, it pushes the penis or dildo toward your G-spot for extra pleasure.

Through the famous Lovense app, a partner can control the vibrations of this butt plug from a distance, or the pulses can be customized or synched to music or other sounds, with endless patterns to choose from. It comes in two sizes: small (1.5-inch diameter) for beginners and medium (1.75 inch) for intermediate users, with spirals around the neck for easy removal and a shape that ensures it stays in place.

By Gina Vaynshteyn

By Sophie Cockett

By Sophie Cockett

By Sophie Cockett