5 Sex Toys for Men That Will Completely Change Your Solo Sessions
Most men masturbate the same way they did as teenagers — hand, maybe some lotion, done. It works. But it’s also about as far from the full range of what’s available as you can get.
The market for male pleasure products has developed significantly. There are toys now that provide experiences hand technique alone genuinely cannot replicate — and most men have no idea they exist, let alone what to try first. This is a straightforward guide to five types of sex toys for men: what each one does, who it’s for, and what to expect.
1. Cock rings
The most underrated starting point for men curious about toys. A cock ring sits around the base of the shaft — or just below the head — and restricts blood from leaving the erection. The result is a firmer, more sustained erection and noticeably enhanced sensation. Everything feels more intense, including your usual strokes.
They’re simple, inexpensive, and low-commitment — a good first toy for exactly that reason. A basic set of three rings at different stretch levels gives you options to find what feels right. The main safety note: don’t wear one for longer than 20–30 minutes, and if anything feels uncomfortable, remove it immediately.
From there, vibrating cock rings are a straightforward upgrade. Rechargeable, with variable vibration settings, they can be worn at the base of the shaft or positioned under the head against the frenulum. The Lovense Diamo is worth looking at if you want an app-controlled option that works well for both solo and partnered use.
2. Manual strokers
If you’ve never tried a stroker, this is probably where the biggest immediate upgrade is. A stroker is a soft silicone sleeve — textured with ridges and nodules on the inside — that you insert into rather than using your hand. The sensation is qualitatively different to anything manual technique produces.
The range is enormous. Basic sleeves at low price points are a sensible starting point if you’re new to this — no need to invest heavily before you know what you like. From there the options expand into textured fleshlights, warming strokers, tightening strokers, and shapes ranging from realistic to entirely fantastical. There is, genuinely, something for everyone.
Whatever you choose, use a good quality lube. A water-based lube is the safest option with silicone toys — compatible with all materials and easy to clean. The full lube guide covers all options worth knowing about, including silicone-based for manual use.
Want to upgrade your technique at the same time?
The free guide — 3 Strokes for Men — walks through three specific techniques that work particularly well alongside a stroker. Free, short, and immediately useful.
3. Automatic strokers
The next level up from a manual sleeve — and the category that tends to produce the most “why didn’t I try this sooner” reactions.
An automatic stroker does the physical work for you. Depending on the model, that means thrusting, suction, vibration, or combinations of all three. Some connect to an app for customisable patterns and intensity, others heat up, and the most advanced options are fully hands-free — designed to be mounted to a surface so you can put your hands wherever you like.
The Lovense Solace Pro is one of the strongest options in this category — a hands-free automatic stroker with app control, variable speed, and a sleeve designed to stimulate the glans specifically. It delivers an experience that manual technique genuinely cannot replicate, and it’s the toy most consistently recommended by men who’ve tried it.
4. Penis vibrators
Most men don’t realise how responsive the penis is to vibration. The frenulum — the V-shaped area on the underside just below the glans — is one of the most nerve-dense spots on the male body. A penis vibrator delivers direct, strong vibration to exactly that area, or to the base of the shaft, or wherever you choose to position it.
The sensation is different enough from stroking that it registers as a genuinely new experience — not just an intensified version of what you already know.
It’s also worth noting that vibrators work regardless of erection quality. One man who shared his experience described propping a vibrator on a cushion, placing his soft penis against it, and being able to ejaculate through vibration and nipple stimulation alone — without needing to get hard. For men dealing with erection difficulties, that’s a meaningful option worth knowing about.
The Lovense Gush 2 is worth a specific mention here — a penis massager designed to wrap around the glans and deliver targeted vibration directly to one of the most nerve-dense areas of the body. If you’ve never experienced that kind of focused stimulation, it tends to produce a noticeably different response to anything stroking achieves.
If you want to explore this alongside better technique, the guide to masturbation techniques for men covers the physical side in more detail — including how to combine toys with varied stroke approaches for maximum effect.
5. Prostate toys
The category most men are most curious about and least likely to try first — which is a shame, because it’s also the one with the highest ceiling for genuinely new pleasure.
The prostate — sometimes called the male G-spot — is a walnut-sized gland located inside the rectum, accessible via the perineum externally or rectally internally. Stimulating it produces a full-body, deep sensation that is qualitatively different from anything available through penile stimulation alone. Men who’ve experienced prostate orgasms consistently describe them as more intense and more whole-body than anything they’d had before.
Prostate play isn’t just for the super adventurous. It’s becoming increasingly mainstream among men who simply want to explore how deep the experience of pleasure can actually go.
If you’re curious, the entry points are a butt plug or anal beads — low-cost, minimal commitment, a good way to get comfortable with the sensation before moving to something more specifically targeted. From there, a dedicated prostate massager like the Lovense Edge 2 is designed to reach the prostate directly and provides vibration both internally and to the perineum simultaneously. The Lovense Hush 2 is a wearable butt plug with app control — a good option if you want something that can be used during other activity. The Lovense Ridge adds thrusting to the mix for a more intense hands-free experience.
The rules for prostate play are simple: use plenty of lube, start with the smallest option, go slowly, and stop if anything is uncomfortable. The full guide to prostate orgasms covers technique in detail if you want to know what to do once you’re comfortable with the basics.
A note on lube
Whatever toy you try, lube is non-negotiable — and the type matters. Water-based is the most versatile: safe with all silicone toys, easy to clean, suitable for all body parts. Silicone-based lasts longer and requires less reapplication but can’t be used with silicone toys. Never use lotion or body cream — they dry out quickly, contain fragrance that isn’t suited to sensitive skin, and degrade certain toy materials. The lube comparison guide covers everything worth knowing.
Where to start if you’re new to all of this
If none of this is familiar territory, a cock ring or basic manual stroker is the lowest-risk entry point — inexpensive, easy to use, no learning curve. From there, an automatic stroker like the Solace Pro is the single biggest jump in available experience. Prostate play is its own category and worth approaching when you’re ready, starting small and building gradually.
Your pleasure matters. These aren’t frivolous purchases — they’re tools that expand what’s available to you, both solo and with a partner. What you learn about your own body through solo exploration translates directly to better partnered sex. Sexual confidence starts in private.
Want to go deeper?
Riding Solo is a complete course covering 17 strokes, 12 pleasure boosters, toys, prostate play, edging, self-massage, kink, erotica, and more — everything needed to genuinely transform solo play. $27, one-off, start tonight.
Frequently asked questions
Are sex toys for men worth it?
Yes — specifically because they provide experiences that manual technique alone cannot replicate. An automatic stroker, a penis vibrator, or a prostate massager each deliver a qualitatively different sensation that most men have genuinely never experienced. The investment is modest relative to what’s on offer.
What’s the best sex toy for men who have never tried one?
A cock ring or basic manual stroker is the easiest starting point — low cost, no learning curve, immediately noticeable difference. If you’re ready to invest in something more significant, the Lovense Solace Pro automatic stroker is the toy most consistently described as a game-changer by men who try it.
Is prostate play safe?
Yes, when done correctly. The key rules are: use plenty of lube, start with the smallest toy available, go slowly, and stop immediately if anything feels uncomfortable or painful. Never use a toy without a flared base anally — it needs to be retrievable. The full guide to prostate stimulation covers safe technique in detail.
What lube should I use with sex toys?
Water-based lube is the safest all-round choice — compatible with all silicone toys and easy to clean. Silicone-based lasts longer but degrades silicone toy materials, so avoid it with silicone sleeves or prostate toys. Never use lotion, coconut oil, or body moisturiser with toys. The lube guide covers all options.
Can sex toys help with erection difficulties?
In some cases, yes. A cock ring can help maintain an erection by restricting blood flow out of the penis. A penis vibrator can be used with a soft penis and still produce pleasurable sensation and orgasm — the vibration works independently of erection quality. For men dealing with erectile dysfunction, these options are worth exploring.
Can toys be used with a partner?
Absolutely. A vibrating cock ring like the Diamo adds sensation for both partners during sex. A prostate massager can be worn during partnered play. The Domi 2 wand vibrator — designed primarily for clitoral stimulation — is one of the most consistently recommended toys for closing the orgasm gap in partnered sex. Everything learned solo translates directly to more confident, more varied partnered play.
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