Art of Transliness

How to Pick your Prosthetic (links NSFW)

As mentioned before in Pros and Cons of Strap-On Sex for Transguys, not all guys feel comfortable using prosthetics during sex. However, for those who do, here’s a short guide on how to pick out the right one for you: 

1. If you can, shop in person. This gives you the chance to actually see what you’re getting and allows you to ask for help from a salesperson who knows what they are doing. However, unless you live in a big city like San Francisco, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to find a good selection of realistic dildos. I know that Early to Bed is based out of Chicago and is very trans-friendly and has a good selection of trans gear. Smitten Kitten has stores in Denver and Minneapolis and is well-known for high-quality, chemical-free products. Babeland is also great and has stores in Seattle and New York.

2. Shopping online isn’t all bad though- it allows you to compare prices, read reviews, and sift through a huge amount of different products. The stores mentioned above have websites with a good variety of products, but Eden Fantasies has similar (or the same) products for usually much cheaper.

3. Most, but not all, guys opt for realistic dildos made of products like cyberskin or vixskin that feel like the “real deal”. These are usually more expensive than jelly or silicon but also higher quality. Silicon is the longest lasting and easiest to clean. Whatever you choose for your individual needs, keep in mind that you pay for what you get. Not all dildos are created equal, and some are more porous, break easier, and are less sturdy than others. Research carefully so you know what you’re getting. 

4. Start small, both literal size-wise and price-wise. If you’re new to strap-on sex, you don’t want to waste a ton of money on a product you may or may not even enjoy using. Start with a “beginners pack” like the Bend over Boyfriend (cheaper on other sites and can be used with male or female partners despite the name). If you’re buying a dildo to use with a partner that’s never had penetrative sex or you don’t have a specific partner in mind try going with something that is average-sized instead of someone on the larger side. There’s no need to over-compensate, go with something small-to-average size like the Slim Jim or the Mustang . The Leo  is a good, slightly-above-average sized dildo that is highly rated on most sites. 

5. If you have a specific, regular partner you plan on using it with, get their input! Ask them what they would be comfortable with or what they find attractive. Maybe your partner thinks it’s important for you to find one that has balls like the goodfella or won’t seriously consider anything under 6 inches. These are things you need to know before buying! 

6. Keep in mind harness compatibility. Dildos designed for the vac-u-lock system will only work with vac-u-lock harnesses, and larger dildos (and some dildos with balls) won’t fit into harnesses with small o-rings. Just a side-note about harnesses, most transguys I know swear by the Spareparts harness. 

7. Pack-and-play or duel prosthetics have not, to my knowledge, been perfected. If you buy something like the Bendy or Silky  keep in mind that you will likely have the look of “packing hard” and that it will likely break after vigorous or long-term use. They are fragile and most sites that sell them offer a disclaimer stating something along those lines. 

8. Finally, high-end prosthetics that are handmade and carefully crafted to match your skin color that can be surgically glued to your body are out there. They are VERY expensive and I don’t know of anyone personally who has had any experience with them. However, they look pretty cool.