Here, we reveal the best vibrators as judged by a panel of over 130 women – from the best rabbit vibrator to the best bullet vibrators, and much more. Shopping for a couples sex toy? We've tested those too. Bullet vibrators: these make a great choice for first-timers because they’re compact, small and quieter than most vibrators. They're ideal for clitoral-targeted pleasure, but can be applied to any external erogenous zone for pinpointed stimulation. Though most people refer to the bean-shaped area at the upper crest of the vulva as the clitoris, Dr. Grover notes that it's actually just the beginning of this sensitive zone. "The external clitoris is located above the urethra and where the bilateral inner labia meet," says Dr. Grover. "The internal part of the clitoris surrounds the vaginal canal through the corpora cavernosa (the same erectile tissue that forms a penis)." She adds that the clit is similar to a penis in terms of sensitivity and has about 8,000 sensory nerve endings. "This is why it is so responsive to stimulation," she says. What to Look for When Shopping for the Best Clitoral Vibrators You might know from experience that even when you’re masturbating, you have to be in the mood, especially if you’re hoping to have an orgasm or two. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to loosen up and get some natural lubrication going.

Like most sex toys, you can use many of these orgasmic, remote-powered gadgets on a variety of erogenous zones, even if they're designed for a specific part of the body, according to O'Reilly. "A clitoral panty vibe can be used against the vulva, along the perineum, around the nipples, across the balls, or up and down the shaft of a penis," she says. With that being said, if a toy is made specifically for external use, don't try to insert it in any of your or your partner's orifices — that could potentially lead to injury and a mood-killing trip to the hospital. Think about the features that are important to you (such as sound, strength, remote control), then shop accordingly,” says Queen. Some questions Howard recommends asking yourself include: Where will you use this toy? Who will you use it with? How important is it that your toy is rechargeable, waterproof, hands-free, and quiet? The highest setting might be too intense for you,” says Howard. “Or it might be fine as long as you work your way up to it. Either way, it’s better to start low and build on your pleasure instead of jumping from zero to five out the gate.”It should seem obvious, but a lot of people forgo proper sex toy care, especially if they’re only using it for masturbation. But it doesn’t matter if you’re the only one using the toy—if it’s going on or in your body, it should be clean. “Not cleaning your sex toy because you’re the only one using it is like eating with the same fork for a month and not washing it,” says Howard. “Sure, it’s only your spit on it, but would you do that? No.” Vibrating panties, on the other hand, have the mini vibrator, bullet vibrator, or stimulation already sewn into the underwear. While most panty vibes and vibrating panties offer clitoral stimulation, there are models on the market that do even more, notes Rae Chen, sex-and-beauty editor of TheNotice.net: “You can find wearable, insertable G-spot vibrators, dual-stimulation toys, and air-pulse toys too.” What are the advantages of a pantry vibrator? Our panel loved the wireless remote control, which added an element of fun and made it easy to switch between the settings during use. It took a little manoeuvring to get in the right position, but once the fit was right, it was smiles all round. Jess O'Reilly, PhD, a Toronto-based sexologist, says remote control vibrators are some of the most versatile sex toys on the market and can be used in endless ways to "facilitate playfulness" for the best sex ever, with or without a partner. "Not only does a remote control vibe allow you to weave eroticism throughout your day, but it often inspires you to flirt, tease, build anticipation and be more creative," she says.

Also called clitoral vibrators, bullets come in all shapes and sizes. It’s one of the most versatile categories of sex toy, with everything from small, discreet options that are no bigger than a finger, to larger wands that double as massagers. Some have tiny “rabbit ears” – a nod to the classic rabbit vibrator – while others are topped with suction heads that use air to gently and safely stimulate the clitoris. How we test An important rule: No matter what, the general consensus among experts is that your toy should be phthalate-free, says Howard. Phthalates are a group of chemical plasticizers typically used to make plastics softer, so you usually spot them in jelly-like toys. Phthalates have come under fire for their potential to affect human health (the scientific jury is still out, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) but in the name of “better safe than sorry,” you can easily find sex toys that are phthalate-free. In fact, some types of phthalates are banned in children’s toys, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 3. Read the instructions. Even if you’re masturbating, condoms are helpful under a variety of circumstances. If you have a difficult-to-clean porous toy, condoms are an easy way to keep things nice and clean every time you use it. It offers a whopping 10 vibration modes and six different speeds, so you can experiment until you find what works for you. Performance-wise, panellists reported powerful clitoral orgasms via the flexible rabbit ears, while the curved shaft scored highly for internal stimulation.

People skip this step all the time but shouldn’t! Chances are, your vibrator will come with a little booklet, including instructions for use and other important safety and maintenance information. In the very least, reading the instructions will give you a rundown of the controls. Believe me, you want to know before you play with it how to turn your vibrator on and off, as well as how to change between the various vibration patterns, if that’s something your toy has. 4. Don’t forget foreplay—even if you’re going solo. As most vibrators are app-controlled, it's easy to give your partner the ability to control them remotely—an excellent way to add new thrills to any long-distance relationship. As Carol Queen, sex educator and staff at Good Vibrations says, panty vibes can also be a smart assistive device for anyone who doesn't have great hand strength or motor control. Nicely, panty vibrators work as external vibrators sans underwear, too, with various vibration patterns and strengths. What should you look for when shopping for panty vibrators? Every bullet vibrator on this list has been tested by our trusted Good Housekeeping Institute panel of more than 120 women, spanning all ages. They put each product to the test to make sure they met our high standards.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, no, you won’t damage your nerve endings, no matter how intense of vibrations you use. That said, it’s possible to temporarily overstimulate yourself, which might mean you lose some feeling short-term. But don’t worry about any lasting damage. 8. Put a barrier between you and the vibrator if needed. Classic vibrators: when most people think of vibrators, this is what springs to mind. Designed to be inserted as well as used externally, these are longer phallic-shaped toys that often have a tapered tip for ease of use. Looking to enhance your sex life and revolutionise your self-care routine? Look no further than the best vibrators. From reduced stress and improved mood to better sleep, higher self-esteem and increased energy levels, there are a whole host of benefits that come with masturbation, according to Hot Octopuss sex expert Kelly Gordon. Wands are usually characterized by strong motors and big, tennis ball–shaped heads. Their size and shape deliver external sensation through deep vibrations, which can be downright mind-blowing for clitoral stimulation, in particular. (If you’re looking for G-spot stimulation, you might enjoy rabbit vibrators and dildos, just FYI.) Because of their wide heads, which cover a lot of surface area, wand vibrators are easy to use during masturbation or with a partner. You can also run them all over the body, including on the nipples, penises, butt, and beyond. What should you look for in a wand vibrator? Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges. She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.If you've never heard of panty vibrators, you're in for a treat. The best panty vibrators (and vibrating panties) slide inside underwear or are built-in, making for delicious, hands-free partner play. We spoke to sex experts and sex educators to answer the biggest questions about these sex toys and break down the very best panty vibes for your (uniquely private) pleasure. What are panty vibrators and vibrating panties? Thanks to the ergonomic design, it was comfortable to hold and easy to manoeuvre into different positions. As a bonus, it’s completely waterproof (not just water resistant) so you can happily take it into the tub and it’s easy to clean. One of the biggest benefits of panty vibrators is their discretion and versatility. Because the toys are worn inside your undies, you can use them pretty much anywhere—on a date night and beyond—without a soul knowing. “From the couch to the grocery store to the movie theater, there are endless options for discreet indoor or outdoor play sessions,” says G Stone, certified clinical sexologist and founder of Straight But Not Narrow Ladies. But shopping for sex toys can be intimidating, and with more products on the market than ever before, finding a device that suits your needs can be no easy feat. That’s where the Good Housekeeping Institute comes in. Unlike some rabbits, which can take a while to get to grips with, everyone found this a cinch to use from the get-go. The ergonomic design meant it was comfortable to grip for lengthy periods and the buttons were responsive and easy to reach during use.