Picture this: it’s Christmas morning and your family is gathered around your Christmas tree (or menorah, or Kinara, or the table for Eid). Your family gleefully begins unwrapping presents — but not you — no, you’re waiting for them to open the gifts that you picked out for them.First, your younger brother, the fastest to unwrap his gifts, he jumps for joy when he sees the porn DVDs that you got him. Then you spot your sister, at first she looks confused, but then holds up her waterproof vibrating bullet with an exuberant smile of gratitude. Next it’s your father, who squeals with delight as he discovers the shiny black prostate massager you picked out for him. And finally you see your mother share a look of excitement with your father as she shows him your gift to her, a rabbit vibrator with a strap-on harness.
Sex toys can make great holiday gifts. They are fun, functional, personal and they are truly a gift that keeps on giving — at least until the motor breaks down.
However, I understand that as a student on a budget, sometimes it’s hard for you to figure out which toys are the best value for your hard earned money. That is why I hit our local Stag Shop to check out what toys will give you the best "bang" for your buck.
There are a lot of options out there to fulfill your sex toy needs: in fact, there are so many that sometimes things can get a little confusing. Here's where I come in.
Chosing a vibe can be really confusing when you don't know what they do:
Bullet vibes and mini vibes have virtually the same purpose; they are usually used for clitoral stimulation and sometimes for nipple or anal stimulation. They are both easy to manipulate and come in both the waterproof and non-waterproofed varieties. However, a bullet can be harder to hold because it’s rounded and the whole thing vibrates, whereas a mini vibe has a grip. A bullet is designed for insertions, or dipping, while mini vibes are not always meant for that. On the other hand, there’s no real difference if it’s only going to be used as a clit stimulator. When it comes to choosing between a mini vibe, like the Pocket Rocket and a bullet vibe, you have to think about what you or the person you’re buying for would prefer.
A standard vibrator is larger and is meant for some insertion, along with external stimulation. And while hard plastic vibrators are usually cheaper, the more expensive silicone vibrators are generally more comfortable to use. Silicone toys are also usually hypoallergenic, this could be the perfect gift idea for your favourite latex-allergic roommate.
Rabbit vibes are expensive. In case you’ve never heard of them, these vibrators are called "rabbit" because they consist of a longer phallic shaft, with a small clit stimulator — which is often shaped like a rabbit — mounted near the base. Generally the shaft vibrates and rotates, while the clit stimulator vibrates. Things get expensive when the toy includes things like rotating beads in the shaft, bi-directional rotation of the shaft and multi-speed vibrations. While a rabbit vibe might be out of your price range this year, it’s something to keep in mind for that special someone someday.
Cock rings can make excellent stocking stuffers; they are small, not too expensive and come in a variety of materials and styles. However, for a beginner, I suggest a softer ring, like the silicone ring mentioned in my table. Using a softer ring will still be stimulating, but there is less risk of compression injuries and it’s easier to find the perfect fit.
Buying a masturbator for your little brother, might seem a little weird at first, but think about it: you’re providing him with hand-held safe sex — minus the relationship. Masturbators are pretty simple — the price generally has to do with the material and the detail. You'll want to look for one made with U3, a good quality sex toy material that is super soft and smooshy.
Perhaps an anal stimulator isn’t something you would want to give to everyone on your holiday shopping list, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind. The most important thing when shopping for an anal toy is to get something with a flared base or something else that will ensure that your favourite aunt doesn’t lose her new butt plug inside of her. When you're picking out anal beads, get ones that have a big ring at the end that one can use to help pull the beads out. The Aneros is a more expensive toy, but it is an excellent male prostate massager.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for a lover, a roommate, a favourite sibling or just a little something for yourself, sex toys can make a great "I didn’t know what to get you" gift, or a “hey, let’s have sex” gift, or even a “here’s something to help you chill out” gift. Just picture the happy look on your Secret Santa’s face when they unwrap the beautiful anal beads that you picked out just for them.
