Male Toys and Their Problems

Hi everyone,

I have been a regular customer of Lovehoney for many years now. Both when single, and now in a relationship. So I have tried toys both for myself and for partners along the way.

The thing that always seems to confuse me, is the gap in the market for male sex toys in comparison to female ones. Don’t get me wrong, there have been ‘some’ improvements. The release of rechargeable, vibrating toys is becoming more common now. However their form and function still seem to be lacking in comparison to female toys that have been on the market and even on shop shelves now, for decades.

Take the clitoral stimulator. Probably (and understandably) now the most popular toy women are adding to their bedside draw alongside rabbits and wands. As a man it’s almost enviable that women can achieve pleasure so effectively haha. But I think it’s amazing that the options are there for women to explore and enjoy. :slight_smile:

However, where is the male option? And at what price point? For £99 you can get a stimulator for women that creates suction across the most sensitive point of their body, and as the product’s description states can “change their life”. Whereas the male equivalent product is £375, is a large box of a contraption, and has been experienced by barely anyone to leave reviews due to the price.

Companies have come along like Fun Factory for example, who make male toys that look modern and gadgety, and recharge in cool MacBook magnetic like ways… but they still not wonderful as a toy at the end of the day. With vibration in all the wrong places, internal shapes that don’t really hold you at the head end, and are usually far more expensive than they deserve to be. You get more fun and a better climax out of a £15 stroker than most male rechargeable toys. And some of these said £79+ gadgets still take AA batteries!

There must be a far more affordable, accessible way for men to have the same quality of sex toy that achieves the same purpose? It surely isn’t that difficult? We aren’t the most complex of beings in that department compared to women after all.

If Lovehoney could create a new section in the market that ticked this box, and could create an affordable (approx £79-99) male sex toy that was the equivalent of the clitoral stimulator (whether it be a head suction vibration device, or an overall blowjob like device, perhaps with vibrating/stroking rings inside… similar to the rotating bearings some rabbits have for example) and it actually work effectively, rather than just look cool… then it would be the life changing toy men have wanted for a long time… and would sell incredibly well I’m sure!

Let’s make male sex toys as ambitious, as affordable, and as accessible as women are fortunate enough to have experienced now for some time. And let’s enjoy that pleasure together! :slight_smile:

(If Lovehoney were to want testers and people to help them come up with such a category, I’m sure I’d be far from the only member on here to put their hand up to help out! Haha!)

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The air pulse toy for penises is £170. It has a fair few reviews here and across the internet.

The problem with penis toys will always be size. Sleeves can be stretchy so will accommodate a lot of different girths. However, when it comes to motorised toys, they have to be more rigid and therefore won’t accommodate a larger size range and so get bad reviews.

The market is getting better, and if you have specific suggestions I’m sure Lovehoney would be interested in hearing them. Although under £100 might be pushing it for a brand new concept.

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As a tester I’ve been able to try a number of toys designed for males. Some have been prototypes and some have been in production. Some have vibrated, some have sucked (literally) some have thumped. Most worked well enough and brought me to orgasm but, as you say, they tend to be much pricier than their equivalents designed for female use. I guess it’s due to the different architecture required by the male and female genitals.
Even though I still have these toys in my bedside drawers my go-to stimulator is a Fleshlight Quickshot.

My use of the terms male and female here are in no way meant to be discriminatory against anyone who identifies as anything other than these. I am simply using the terms to differentiate between the two major groups of toys available.

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There are also alot of toys out there, like wands, pebble vibes and bullets, that tend to be marketed at women, but are actually good for anyone.

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I think the problem is generally outside of the Fleshlight male toys are largely an emerging market and less ubiquitous than female toys… But I get the impression things are slowly changing on this front, just from what is being developed and marketed for men.

I’m thinking largely of the Blowmotion products and more specifically the Arcwave Ion, which is made from the same company behind the popular womanizer. I would guess given the hype behind this product we may get other variants.

Yes it would.be much better if male toy where and there market was more developed when it came.the price and chooses like female toys

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I’d like to see more sizes available for sex toys to be used on the penis… Dildos and vibrators are available in almost any shape or size you could ever possibly imagine. Why is it so difficult to find sex toys for penises with different sized openings or canals? Every penis is unique, just as every vagina or anus is. We need a wider (or tighter!) variety of sizes!!

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This, exactly this! It is almost depressing seeing how much fun a woman can have even with a £5 vibrator, but this just comes down to biology unfortunately.

I’ve recently bought a toy with an RRP of £250 and it leaves a lot to be desired.

They might discover a technique some day that sends us wild. We do have other areas to explore, but I’ve not found the sweet spot as of yet up there.

I also recently tried a balm on the head of my penis and that was rather great (some of the best feelings I’ve had), so that might be another option Lovehoney Bliss Orgasm Balm 20g - Lovehoney UK

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The simple explanation for the difference between toys in terms of construction and cost is anatomy.

Think of the physical construction demands required to manufacture something that you insert a penis into as opposed to something that is inserted into you. It’s far simpler to create and design something that vibrates, pulses, warms or changes shape when it doesn’t need to be hollow - it’s simple physics. For toys that have a ‘sucking’ sensation facility how large does it need to be to cater for a clitoris as opposed to a 5-9" penis?

The physical dimensions and added complications of building components and mechanisms into a larger device will add to cost and require a more complex construction, as well as affecting the power source. So there’s a logical reason why there are both fewer and more expensive toys out there for men.

Things are changing. I have a blomotion toy that’s great (bar a slight size issue detailed in the review I left). And I got it at a bargain price too when on offer.

One thing I’d suggest is don’t just focus on the penis! There’s a wide range of toys aimed at men that don’t go near it, particularly prostate stimulators. And many toys are unisex and can be used by anyone. Think outside the box and you can discover a world of fun. :wink:

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The prostate point is a good one, as I’ve explored toys I’ve started to move away from the stroker type toys (though have returned!) and started checking out massagers and then the dildos which has given a chance to experience the sheer variety open to women.

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:joy_cat::joy_cat::joy_cat: yes! I’m so jealous near limitless amounts of pleasure to be explored, and for men it’s basically whacking until you get somewhere :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes::stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes::stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes::man_facepalming:

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I think the thrusting/stroking/moving toys are also limited by having to have all the mechanisms contained in the unit. I’ve been wondering if I could mount my Fleshlight and a couple of bullets to a remote controlled car, and have that about groin height on the dining room table. :slightly_smiling_face:

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Just don’t accidentally stick it in forward instead of alternating between forward and reverse.

You might pull yourself off in a manner not intended…:joy::joy::joy::joy::joy:

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There are thrusting machines for penetrating play, usually with a dildo on the end. See no reason a fleshlight adapter couldn’t be designed and 3d printed? (Or taped on…)

I think I remember one with a Stroker feature? I’ll see if I can dig out a photo.

It’s not the one I was thinking of, but I found this: :slightly_smiling_face: (sadly discontinued)

Fetish Fantasy Thrusting and Stroking Sex Machine


Nope. On further inspection the Stroker movement is handled internally, so not a great example. I’ll keep looking.

Here it is: :+1:

Robo Fuk Adjustable Unisex Thrusting Sex Machine

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It’s almost the right idea though. I guess the other option could be to have a strap on harness attachment for a fleshlight. Would be bulky and unwieldy, but could give the motion (but also require a second human).

I have the Lovehoney version of the same toy you linked to, and I agree (so far) that style is the most effect penis stimulation a man can own. But I’m sure some company out there could develop something that’s far more affordable than these £300/400 toys which are designed as mini suitcases to cause suction/movement around it.

This is the way forward in terms of a thrusting machine I guess yes. If you could channel suction into a design like this perhaps then you’d be onto a winner. However of course this is still the more expensive end of the same, albeit one to improve upon as an option.

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I think one issue with the uptake and variation on male sex toys is still to do with the stigma of them. For whatever reason, a woman owning a dildo/vibrator is a lot more socially accepted than a man owning a fleshlight (because men should be able to just get some whenever they please or that “by hand” is less icky than using a toy? or whatever else?).

I think something like the fleshlight and the shower holder attachment is a pretty good combo, hands free and you can still thrust at it.

If vibrations are your thing, there seems to be more options than even just a few years ago

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To be fair it is easier to throw a few tissues in the bin or a sock in the wash than getting all the gunk out a fleshlight and then drying it discretely.

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