If you’re reading this, chances are you’re the proud owner of a buzzy vibrator — and deservedly so! Vibrators are an excellent complement to solo sessions, partnered play, and multi-partner encounters alike.
But here’s the snag: many pleasure-seekers mistakenly assume that the fun of sex toys begins and ends with that humming companion.
Spoiler: that’s not true — and it becomes even more incorrect when you branch out into toys that are a touch more advanced, like ball gags, chastity devices, and nipple clamps.
To back that up — and to shine a light on frequently overlooked, non-motorized kinky toys — we compiled this list of 28 different types of sex toys (click any product name to shop online!) geared toward the kink-curious and seasoned BDSM fans alike.
Before you use any of the below
In BDSM — bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism — there’s a guiding tenet called RACK, which stands for risk-aware consensual kink, explains Lisa Finn, a sex educator at the toy shop Babeland.
The core idea is that everyone involved in a given activity (often called a “scene”) understands the potential hazards and takes steps to reduce them.
Whether you’re deeply involved in BDSM or just curious to try a kinkier toy, RACK should inform how you play.
Finn adds, “Consent and safety should be central to any sexual interaction, so incorporating RACK is smart practice for all kinds of sex.”
Let this primer introduce you to and teach you a little about kinky tools you might not have encountered yet — but don’t let it be your only source on safe, correct usage.
For deeper learning, pleasure-focused, queer-inclusive educator and sex-positivity advocate Lateef Taylor suggests booking a session with a Dominatrix, watching lots of reputable tutorials, or attending Impact Play workshops at your neighborhood sex shop.
Collars and chokers
Neckwear can serve aesthetic and functional roles — from visually signaling “ownership” in a BDSM dynamic to constraining breathing or movement, there are several styles of neck gear.
Safety pointer: “Neck gear can sit pretty close to the throat, but it should never be overly tight,” Queen advises. “You should be able to slide a finger between the collar and the neck to avoid harmful pressure.”
Collars
“Collars are part of the visual language of BDSM and are worn by a submissive,” Queen says. “They can indicate that a Dominant and submissive have entered a scene.”
For some D/s pairs, collars function similarly to wedding bands — symbolizing commitment.
“For submissives, wearing one can be emotional and even romantic,” she notes.
Interested? Try a Beginner Leash and Collar Set — it uses Velcro so you can remove it quickly if needed.
D/s is shorthand for a relationship where one person leads (the Dominant) and the other follows (the submissive).
The “D” is typically capitalized to acknowledge the Dominant’s authority, while the “s” is usually lowercase.
Posture collars
“A posture collar is longer and more rigid, designed to encircle the neck and further limit movement,” explains Vala Syn, a professional Dominatrix and kink instructor.
Examples include the Strict Leather Locking Posture Collar and the Padded Locking Posture Collar with Leash.
Chokers
In everyday fashion, chokers — like the Holographic Heart Choker — might just read as a trendy necklace.
But in BDSM contexts, Syn says chokers often indicate a Dominant/submissive relationship while producing a distinct physical sensation on the neck — usually snugness.
Unlike collars, chokers aren’t necessarily reserved for committed D/s couples.
Gags
“Gags suit people with oral fixations and anyone turned on by the power exchange that occurs when a partner consensually loses their ability to speak,” Taylor says.
Important: agree on nonverbal safewords before any gag play — it’s essential.
Ball gags
Ball gags consist of a ball placed inside the mouth (behind the teeth) and held in place by a strap around the head.
See the Bondage Boutique Faux Leather Medium Silicone Ball Gag for reference.
Balls come in various diameters — from small (golf-ball size) to large (lacrosse-ball size). Some are hollow (like the DOMINIX Deluxe Silicone O-Ring Gag), allowing mouth breathing while worn.
Whatever you choose, Taylor recommends a material that won’t damage teeth and can be fully sterilized — silicone is a good option.
Mouth spreaders
Unlike ball gags, which occupy the mouth, mouth spreaders keep the mouth forcibly open.
Wearers still can’t speak, but spreaders permit oral penetration by a partner.
Examples:
Clamps
Clamps come in varieties suited to different body parts. In essence, they pinch tissue to limit movement or produce pleasurable pain via pulling, squeezing, or tugging.
Nipple clamps
“The sensation from nipple clamps depends on clamp tightness and placement on the nipple or breast,” Syn says.
They can deliver a sharp, enjoyable sting, intense feeling when twisted or pulled, and a powerful rush when released.
“Removing clamps causes blood to rush back, producing a radiating sensation that can be intense,” Syn explains.
Some clamps, like the Nipple Playful Tassels Nipple Clamp, include screws for adjustable pressure, though these may not suit all nipple shapes.
Others, such as the Unbound Clit & Nipple Clamp and Bondage Boutique Adjustable Tweezer Nipple Clamps, offer slide-to-fit adjustments.
Genital clamps
There are almost as many uses for genital clamps as there are genital shapes and sizes.
On vulva owners, clamps can be placed at the clitoral base (not on the glans) to restrict blood flow then released, or attached along the inner and outer labia — such as with Labia Spreader Straps with Clamps — to splay or tug the labia.
On penis owners, clamps might be used on the scrotum or foreskin.
“Watch skin color closely when using genital clamps,” Syn cautions. “Release them before the area becomes noticeably dark.”
Nose clamps
There are three primary nose clamp styles.
Some resemble clothespins and pinch the nostrils closed to limit breathing — for instance, Speedo’s Competition Nose Clip. “These can be particularly kinky when worn by a submissive giving oral,” Syn says.
“Nose shackles” are inserted into the nostrils to clamp the septum (see Kneel Nose Genitals Kneeling Clamps), often used in predicament bondage: move one way and your nose tugs, move another and your genitals do.
They can be painful, but for some people the psychological edge is intensely arousing.
A third group are “hooks,” like the Collar with Nose Hook. “Nose hooks lift the nostrils, producing a piggy-like look for humiliation play and recalling medical-ward aesthetics,” Syn says. They also stimulate nasal discharge, which can make scenes messier and more humiliating.
Impact toys
Impact play uses striking sensations for erotic enjoyment.
It can involve using a hand or one of the tools below to spank, and each implement produces slightly different sensations — from sensual and massage-like to intensely painful, from sting to thud, Queen says.
Correct technique and awareness of risks are essential for impact play; improper use on less-padded areas can cause serious harm.
“Practice on a pillow countless times before trying it on a partner,” Taylor advises.
Floggers
“A flogger has a handle with multiple tails,” Taylor explains (think of a kinky mop). Some are leather — like this Leather Cord Flogger — while others are chain-based (see Gunmetal Chain Flogger).
More tails equal a thuddier, weightier feel; fewer tails create a sharper sting. P.S. Queen says, “Some people orgasm from flogging alone!”
Paddles
Paddles resemble table-tennis paddles (see The Enforcer Paddle) and strike a larger surface area, delivering significant force.
Taylor notes they’re also easy to discreetly bring to a partner’s place.
Canes
“Impact canes are nothing like walking canes — they’re far thinner,” Taylor says (example: Intense Impact Cane).
Typically wooden, canes deliver narrow, stinging strikes that are highly localized compared with paddles.
Whips
“Whips are the most technical impact toy — they require considerable skill and practice,” Taylor warns.
They produce quick, stinging cuts across the skin and aren’t recommended for novices (see Premium Leather Whip).
Taylor adds, “After a proper whipping, bruises are almost inevitable.”
Restraints
If being held by a lover with arms pinned above your head is hot, imagine that sensation without them needing to hold you — that’s restraints in a nutshell.
“There’s a broad range of restraints people use to limit mobility during sexual activity,” Syn says. Below are four common categories.
Rope
Rope is highly adaptable.
“Rope bondage can be slow and beautiful, involve suspension, and pair with other erotic practices from impact play to intercourse,” Queen explains.
It can alter body position to change sensation and is often a trust-building D/s practice.
Rope material matters — consult a bondage pro before buying. A softer option like this Doc Johnson cotton rope can be gentler on skin.
Then invest time learning knots and techniques — books such as “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage” by Midori are great starters.
Binders
Arm binders — like Full Sleeve Binders — completely immobilize the arms, unlike handcuffs which allow some movement.
There are also leg binders, such as Strict Leather Leg Binders, which prevent knee bending and independent movement.
These aren’t beginner toys, but seasoned kinksters often add them to their collections.
Bondage tape
Bondage tape like Unbound’s Tether can create makeshift cuffs, secure limbs, or be used in many inventive ways.
Unlike duct tape, bondage tape sticks only to itself, not to skin or hair.
Safety tip: “Be extremely cautious around candles during tape play,” Syn warns. “Some adhesives become overly sticky when heated and can rip skin on removal.”
Shackles
Shackles are metal (or sometimes leather) wrist and ankle restraints such as the Slave Steel Full Body Shackle.
They’re designed to immobilize and, at times, humiliate the wearer.
Spreader bars
If you’ve ever held your legs up or behind your head during sex, spreader bars — like the Adjustable Spreader Bar — do the work for you.
“Spreaders keep ankles apart, exposing the genitals and fixing the legs in place,” Taylor says.
Some models, such as the Black Steel Spreader Bar, can also secure the wrists.
Yokes
Yokes function like combinations of collars and cuffs (for example, a stainless steel option) or shackles and collars (see this leather and chain set).
They link various body parts — neck to ankles, for instance — to enforce prolonged restricted mobility.
Chastity toys
As implied, chastity devices are meant to consensually prevent sexual activity.
“While short-term chastity can be used casually, it’s often part of ongoing D/s dynamics where this control is one aspect of a broader power exchange,” Queen says.
Chastity belts
Chastity belts lock around the pelvic area and require a key to access the genitals, preventing touching or sexual activity unless the keyholder allows it.
The locked aspect makes them an intense tool for power play — “Nothing says ‘you are MINE’ like locking someone’s genitals away,” Queen says.
Syn points out that many belts have built-in stimulation features — plugs, rings, or even vibrating elements.
Examples to explore:
- DOMINIX Deluxe Leather Anal Plug Harness with Cock Ring
- Stainless Steel Cock Entrapment Belt
- Strict Leather Female Chastity Belts
- Full Body Stainless Steel Chastity and Restraint System
Chastity cages
Chastity cages are specifically for enclosing the genitals (often called “cock cages”) and are typically used with penis owners in D/s relationships as a reminder of ownership.
While plastic cages exist, Syn warns they’re porous and hard to clean. Stainless steel is preferable for hygiene and because its weight makes it constantly noticeable.
See options such as the Dominix Deluxe Chastity Cock Cage and the CB-600 Designer Chrome Male Chastity Cage.
Anal hooks
Anal hooks resemble a fusion of classic butt plugs and a curved hook.
Usually stainless steel, they have a ball end that sits inside the anus and a hook that remains external — for instance, the Single Ball Stainless Steel Anal Hook.
Reminder: anything inserted into the anus must have a flared base or secure anchor.
Taylor notes the ball can stimulate the prostate in people who have one, and in some vulva owners it may reach the urethral sponge (often associated with G-spot stimulation).
Anal hooks often include a loop for attaching rope during bondage, especially in predicament scenarios.
Urethral toys
Your mouth, anus, and vagina aren’t the only orifices that can enjoy being filled…
Urethral sounds
Also called cock-stuffing, urethral sounding involves sliding a very thin rod (a sound) with a stopper into the urethra.
Most are stainless steel, though there are some silicone variants like the Bolted Deluxe Silicone Urethral Sounds, which can be trickier to use because silicone lacks the firmness of metal.
“Gently moving a sound in and out can stimulate the nerve-rich penis head while also bumping the prostate from another angle,” Syn explains. Some people even have prostate orgasms from sounding alone.
Be aware that research links urethral sounding to lower urinary tract symptoms in some penised people. Because vulva owners have shorter urethras, they may face higher UTI risk with sounding.
“These toys are much slimmer than typical catheters — many catheters run 5–10 mm wide, while beginner sounds like the Single Rosebud Sounding Rod can be around 3 mm.
As you progress you might explore:
- textured options like the Mortal Coil Beaded Urethral Sound
- vibrating sounds, such as the Vibrating Urethral Sound
- thicker toys like the XL Ribbed Urethral Sound
Urethral plugs
Unlike sounds, urethral plugs (or “penis plugs”) are designed to remain inserted rather than be moved in and out.
Duration depends on the wearer and/or Dominant. Some plugs, like the Titus Stainless Steel Through-Hole Prince’s Wand with Glans Ring and the Libertine Faucet Penis Plug, are hollow so the wearer could, in theory, urinate or ejaculate through them — though Syn cautions this can be highly irritating to the urethra.
Electric wands
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