From weighted and warming designs to vibrating and glass creations, butt plugs are just one of the many sex toys on the market that are clearly having a moment. But before we take an up-close look at all the different choices you can buy, let’s start with the butt-plug basics, shall we?
What exactly is a butt plug? Butt plugs are penetrative products designed to stimulate the anal region, says Cécile Gasnault, brand director of sex toy and accessories brand Smile Makers. “For male-bodied people, [butt plugs] can help to massage the highly erogenous prostate. For female-bodied people, [butt plugs] can come and titillate nerves that also interact with the clitoral region and can be an indirect way to exert pressure on the G-spot region by pushing against the vagina.” She adds that “some female-bodied people also like to use it as a way to create a tighter feel in the vagina.”
Deciding you want to add a butt plug to your sex routine is the easy part, though. The hard part? Choosing which butt plug to use.
When choosing a butt plug, it’s important to consider the materials it’s made of and its shape and size. “Material-wise, it’s important to make sure that it’s body-safe and that the surface is nonporous to be easy to wash,” Gasnault says. “Glass or silicone toys can both feel great, but beginners might feel more comfortable starting with silicone, which has a very soft touch.”
Likewise, Gasnault recommends that those easing into anal play “start small.” In other words, look for toys that “present a rounded and narrow tip for easier insertion,” she says. “Make sure that your toy also has a flare at the base for safety” (aka, so it doesn’t get stuck).
To give you some options, we’ve rounded up the best butt plugs of 2023, with insight from experts on why they love them. Once you’ve picked out your favorites though, don’t forget to read up on our guide on how to use a butt plug before jumping right into play. You’ll thank us later.
