A strap-on is a great way to add some excitement to your sex life. Whether is it to give penetrative pleasure to your partner, get simultaneous pleasure or simply be hand-free (or all at the same time), the strap-on could be the right toy for you. But, how to choose the right one for yourself? There are many different types of strap-ons, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we'll discuss different types of strap-ons and some things to consider when choosing one.
Pro and Cons of different types of strap-ons
Let’s review the main characteristics of the different kind of strap-ons and in which case they are most adapted
Harness Strap-ons
A harness strap-on is a type of strap-on that consists of a harness that goes around the waist and/or thighs, with an O-ring in the center that holds a dildo in place. The dildo can be made of any material, but most commonly they are made of silicone or latex. There are many different styles of harnesses, from basic leather or nylon straps to more elaborate designs with multiple straps and buckles.
One advantage of harness strap-ons is that they can be used with any type of dildo, so you can change up the size, shape, and material depending on your mood or the situation. Most of the time you can adjust the tightness of the strings, so the same harness can be used by more people and can be adapted to fit different kind of bodies.
In terms of design, it exist a great variety of options, but most of them use leather strings and dark colours, which might be more suitable for those who like BDSM and kinky style.
You can experiment all positions, but depending on how tights the strings are, you might loose some control when moving too much. Definitely preferable to be a bottom or to do long and slow movements. During short and fast movements, in fact, you might move faster than your harness will actually follow and that will loose the strings and leave the dildo in the same position.
On the downside, harness strap-ons can be more difficult to put on than other types, and they may not stay in place as well if you're moving around a lot during sex. They also can be uncomfortable if worn for long periods of time since they put all the pressure on one area (usually your pubic bone). Also the strings might cause bruises if they are too tight, but generally you need to wear it as tight as possible to keep control over the dildo.
Overall, harness strap-on are the most common strap-on because they offer a great variety of options. They are adapted especially if you like BDSM and if you have a thin body and manage to wear the strings comfortably.
Strap-less Strap-ons
Strap-less strap-ons consist of a dildo that has an extremity that can be inserted in the holder vagina. The upside of a strapless strap-ons are multiples. In fact, it is much faster and easier to wear than a harness, since it takes just one gesture and you don’t need to do any adjustment. Moreover, it usually presses your clitoris rather than your pubic bone, which can provide a shared pleasure and not only a one-way experience.
The shapes and sizes are usually limited and all very similar in terms of system, but they might come with different clitoris stimulation textures and vibrating options. In terms of design, they can come in different colours and most commonly they have more abstract shapes than realistic ones.
In term of position, strap-less strap-ons work best when your partner is leaning in the opposite direction and actively press the strap-on towards you body (for exemple if she’s sitting on you giving you her back). That is because the main problem of the strap-less is that you have to hold it with your muscles and that can be very tiring and difficult, so you better be in a position where you get some help and you can prevent the strap-on from slipping away.
On the downside, wearing a strap-less strap-on can be painful for the holder, especially if they suffer from being penetrated. It’s smooth texture also make it very slippery when the holder vagina is wet (which should be the normal), which can cause often disruption in the movements and might force to stop to re-insert it correctly.
Strapless strap-ons are adapted to those who want to share pleasure, that can tollerate penetration and that have a strong pelvic floor to hold it inside. Despite the idea of freedom of movement that they can generate, there are only few position that really work with strap-less
Double Strap-ons
Double strap-ons are a variant of the harness strap-on that has a double sided dildo. They usually work with harnesses but most of the time they can’t be easily changed as regular dildos. They have all the characteristics of harness strap-ons but the fact that the dildo is double sided, can provide both pleasure for the holder and more control, since you are holding it with your vagina.
Like for the strapless, double strap-ons might be not adapted to those who suffer from penetration.
Lingerie or brief strap-on
Lingerie or brief strap-on is a recent variant of the harness. The principle is quite similar, but the main difference is that instead of a string harness, you can use underwear with a O-ring. This option is much more comfortable than a regular harness, it’s way easier and faster to wear and provide more choice in term of style and sizes. Therefore, this option is more adapted to those who are not fan of BDSM harness or that can’t fit comfortably string harnesses.
In terms of downside, the dildo might still be moving around during the use and you can’t really have a comfortable stimulation for the holder, unless you combine it somehow with different toys.
To avoid these two problems, Ma Joie solution provide an innovative system that uses magnets to let easily and firmly attach stimulators both internally and externally, providing better performances and shared pleasure
Lingerie strap-ons are a good alternative for those who prefer being flexible in term of choice of dildo and harness and do not want to compromise on comfort and style.
Conclusion
Strap-ons are great toys that allow you to give your partner deep stimulation hands-free. The are a lot of variants and finding the right one for you really depends on your tastes and preferences in term of design, easiness to use and shared pleasure.
Harnesses are the most common one and are those who provide most flexibility in terms of choice of the dildo, but it’s quite limited in terms of design of the harnesses. It also take a bit long to wear and it might be harmful if used over a long time.
Strap-less are quite easy to use and provide shared pleasure, but are not adapted for those who don’t like to be penetrated.
Lingerie strap-ons are the comfortable variant for the harness, they are easier to use and are more comfortable but might not be the most stable. One interesting option are the Ma Joie strap-ons that uses the strengths of magnets to provide better stability and make it even easier to wear.