Materials Guide
Material is the first thing to check and the thing most people ignore. It determines what is safe, what lasts, what you can clean properly, and what lube you can use.
Silicone — the default, and usually the right answer
Non-porous, body-safe, and durable. It holds temperature, feels warm rather than clinical, and can be sterilised in boiling water or a dishwasher. Nothing lives inside it, because there is nowhere to live.
The one rule: silicone toys and silicone lube can bond and degrade the surface. Use water-based lube with silicone toys, or patch-test on the base first. This is the mistake that quietly ruins good toys.
TPE / TPR — soft, realistic, and porous
Squishier and cheaper than silicone, and the material behind most realistic-feeling strokers. The trade-off: it is porous. Microscopic channels mean it cannot be fully sterilised, so it has a lifespan and should not be shared without a condom over it.
Not a reason to avoid it — it does something silicone cannot. Just replace it periodically and clean it after every use.
Glass — firm, heavy, temperature play
Borosilicate glass is non-porous, body-safe, and completely rigid, which is exactly the point: no give, precise pressure. It takes temperature beautifully — run it under warm or cool water first.
Works with any lube. Check for chips before every use; a chipped toy is done.
Stainless steel — weight as a feature
Heavy, unyielding, and thermally dramatic. The weight is what people come for. Fully sterilisable, indestructible, compatible with everything.
ABS plastic — hard, light, cheap
Common for bullet vibrators and vibrator handles. Non-porous and easy to clean. Firm rather than pleasant to the touch, but it transmits vibration efficiently, which is why it is still used.
The short version
- Body-safe and non-porous: silicone, glass, steel, ABS
- Porous, replace over time: TPE / TPR, jelly, rubber
- Water-based lube is safe with literally everything. If you only own one bottle, own that.