Your Guide to Strap-Ons

BEING STRAP-ON SAVVY
Have you ever used a strap-on, or seen one in an adult film? They can be used in a lot of different ways, and shopping for one can be a bit daunting to the uninitiated! Who can wear a strap on, and who gets the business side of the strap? What is pegging? What’s the difference between a strapless strap-on and a regular strap on, you ask? Oh, you’ve never even thought to ask that?

Well, strap in (haha), and we’ll go over everything you’ve ever wanted to know (and maybe some things you never even thought to ask!) about strap on sex!

WHAT IS A STRAP-ON? 
A strap-on is any device worn on the body to sexually penetrate a partner. They will often look like a penis, but many are made to be more abstract, or do not resemble a realistic body part at all. They can come in a variety of sizes and can be attached to the body in a number of ways.

A traditional strap on harness is an adjustable belt worn around the waist. Most will have leg loops that attach the front of the belt to the back to keep everything steady during thrusting - you don’t want things sliding around while you’re getting freaky! Some harnesses will instead use elastic straps (and some have no straps at all!) but for the best experience we usually recommend ones that have adjustable straps which tighten for a secure and customizable fit.

WHAT KIND OF STRAP-ONS ARE OUT THERE?

Everyone can enjoy some strap-on play, but not all bodies are exactly alike, so you may need to keep in mind which partner will be wearing the strap on and which partner will be penetrated when you are shopping for toys. I promise that we will get into the nitty-gritty of absolutely EVERYTHING you’ll need to know about what to shop for when we talk about the different types of strap on below.

TRADITIONAL or O-RING STRAP ON HARNESSES

The most common way for a dildo or toy to be attached to your body for strap-on play is with a traditional, or “O-ring” strap-on harness. O-Ring Strap-ons are the most common harnesses, meant to be used by anyone who does not have a penis, but wants to add an attachment that can penetrate their partner.

The “O-Ring” part of the name comes from how the dildo is attached to the wearer’s pelvis. There is a mechanism on the front of the harness where an O- shaped ring is securely held in place. This ring is used to hold the suction cup base or flat base of a dildo in place against the harness-wearer’s body, so that they have control of the dildo during use.

Because these harnesses will mount the dildo directly on the wearer’s public bone, we do not recommend them to be worn by anyone with a penis, as it can press uncomfortably against the genitals. We typically recommend Hollow Strap-Ons (see below) instead. If it is necessary for a penis-having partner to use a traditional harness for one reason or another (hey, we’re not going to assume we know everything about what goes on in your bedroom) we’d probably suggest using a harness with a lot of padding on the front, like this comfort harness.

The great thing about O-Ring harnesses is that you can switch out different sized rings to fit different sizes of dildos and attachments. If you get a really small dildo, you can buy a smaller ring, unsnap the snaps at the front, swap out the ring, and BAM! Everything fits! This is why we love O-ring harnesses so much.

Recommended O-Ring Strap On: 
Pink B.O.B. Strap-On Harness
Basic, easy to use, and fits a wide range of sizes! This is the standard, no frills, no nonsense O-ring harness that we’ve been using for the example pictures in this article for a reason. It comes with extra rings so you can use it with a wide range of dildos and attachments, and the straps adjust to fit up to a 60" waist. You just step into it like a pair of underwear, tighten the straps, and fit your attachment into the O-ring and then it’s time to play.

One of the downsides of a regular harness is that the wearer does not get a lot of stimulation. Some folks will debate me here - the satisfaction from bringing your partner to orgasm is often exciting enough! Or, alternatively, if you are already excited, the friction from the leg straps rubbing the outside of your genitals can stimulate more sensitive people directly to the big O!

For other people who are not as lucky, there is an easy solution - wear a pair of underwear underneath the harness and you can slap a panty vibe in there for a sensual BUZZ while you pound your partner to pleasure town. 

Recommended Harness:
Fetish Elite Universal Heavy-Duty Harness

Non-Ring Strap-On Harnesses
Some Strap-on harnesses do not have an O-ring front, and instead have a solid panel with a fixed-size opening for the flat base or suction cup base of the dildo to fit through. These are often very luxurious harnesses, but you may be stuck with purchasing a second harness if you buy a different-sized dildo that doesn’t fit through the opening. This is why we love O-ring harnesses just a little bit more.

HOLLOW STRAP ONS

Another kind of Strap-on available for use is a Hollow Strap-On. Hollow Strap-Ons are special because, unlike a regular strap-on, they have a hollowed out interior where a flaccid penis can go, which allows a person with a penis to use them more comfortably. These are typically designed as a prosthetic penis for men and people with penises who have issues with Erectile dysfunction, or ED, but they can also be used by those who reach orgasm too quickly and want to keep pleasing their lovers after premature ejaculation or loss of erection. It is important to note that Hollow strap ons are typically not designed to be worn with an erection, and do not usually have enough room inside for the average erect penis.

If you have a more compact package, you may be able to use a hollow strap on over an erection to add more size, but typically they are meant to be worn after the loss of an erection, and may be uncomfortable to wear with an erection. They are, generally speaking, more firm than a regular dildo because they need to be able to “stay up” and not collapse during penetration while still being hollow. The wearer of the Hollow Strap-On will not get much feeling from using the toy, but some Hollow Strap-ons do offer vibration, which the wearer can feel - though this may not provide much stimulation. Generally speaking, these devices are used so that a couple can still engage in penetration play even if the partner with a penis who is used to doing the penetrating is not able to get erect.

Recommended Hollow Strap-On
Everlaster Stud Harness
Picking out a hollow strap on can be tricky. Many couples who are looking for these items can be in an older age range where intimate tissues are more sensitive, and the firm, heavily textured feel of a lot of the hollow toys out there may not be the best choice. The Everlaster Stud is softer than most other options on the market, and is a more average size. The harness is adjustable and fits a wide range of bodies (up to a 69” waist). Additionally, many of the hollow strap ons on the market have elastic harnesses that are attached to the dildo, which means that you can only use the toy and harness as one fixed set. The Everlaster Stud comes with a detachable hollow dildo, so you could remove the included hollow dildo and use it as a traditional harness as well!

 STRAPLESS STRAP-ONS

Strapless Strap-ons are a bit confusing to look at, but can be lots of fun to use! You’ll notice that there isn’t any harness or straps - hence the name! They consist mainly of two parts. The long, phallic portion is the “dildo” which penetrates the “receiving” partner, and the “bulb” end which is held in place by the wearer, or “giver’s” vaginal muscles - no straps needed!

 These Strapless strap ons are meant to be worn and used vaginally, and they are best used on a partner with a vagina as well (I’ll explain that more soon). They often have a bit of texture on the front of the dildo portion, so the wearer can enjoy some clitoral friction while they thrust. The combined sensation of vaginal stimulation from the bulb and clitoral friction can bring serious orgasms for the wearer - a big step up from feeling very little in a standard harness! Many of them will vibrate as well, which offers additional stimulation for both the wearer and the person being penetrated.

Some adventurous couples have certainly experimented with inserting the “bulb” anally instead of vaginally, but this may move the dildo portion too far back on the wearer’s body, and you may not have enough dildo length left over for the recipient to really enjoy much of the shaft for penetration.

Additionally, I have heard of some couples trying to use a strapless strap-on held in the vagina to penetrate their partner anally. This sounds like a fun idea in theory, but in practice, anal muscles are simply stronger than vaginal muscles (even if you are on your grind with your Kegel exersizes daily!) and you will not be able to keep the toy in place with your vaginal muscles alone while penetrating your partner’s rear end. It can still be fun to enjoy some anal penetration without a harness between you, so I have heard of couples using these toys for anal penetration anyway, but with a hand in place to guide the dildo where it needs to go. This is not necessarily how Strapless Strap ons were designed to be used, but who are we to tell you how to enjoy a great toy in bed with your partner? If you both have fun, have at it! It may just take a little bit more time and effort to get used to it.

Recommended Strapless Strap-On:
Ultimate Silicone Strapless Strap-on - Comes With A Wireless Remote!

This Silicone Strapless Strap-on has a powerful, removable bullet and textured clitoral nubs to add sensation for both the giver and recipient so everyone is happy. This is a high quality toy and it feels luxurious for both partners. 

WHAT ARE STRAP ONS GOOD FOR? 

Now that you know about the different types of strap-on, you may be asking yourself what they are good for, or why you would want one. Being on the receiving end of a strap-on can be an amazing feeling for anyone who enjoys penetration! And, if you've never tried being penetrated before, it might be something worth looking into! Vaginal penetration can help lead to incredibly explosive G-spot orgasms, while anal penetration can stimulate the prostate gland for more powerful orgasms as well. 

 Additionally, being the person WEARING the strap-on can be quite a rush! One thing to keep in mind for first-time strap-on wearers is that you cannot feel what the strap is doing. Unlike a penis or other sex organ, which gives tactile feedback, you are going to be a little less aware of what your dildo or toy is doing, so you have to keep your partner's comfort in mind as you play. As always, use plenty of lube, and check in with your partner frequently as you play.

Have You Used A Strap-On?
Share With Us