May is National Masturbation Month, and we're celebrating with Feeling Yourself, a series exploring the finer points of self-pleasure.
Your sex life can always use a little spicing up, even if the only person involved is, well, you.
Yes, even masturbation is something that sometimes needs a little something extra so you don't grow so bored of the same routine.
Luckily, just as it was with DVDs and the internet, the sex industry is at the forefront of the evolution of gadget technology. And that means some ingenious tools for making masturbation fun again.
1. Pornhub's Virtual Blowbot Stroker(opens in a new tab)
Leave it to Pornhub, the most popular adult entertainment site on the world wide web, to not only have its own toy line but to have a device with the great name "Blowbot." This device for men can sync up with certain, compatible videos on the site to simulate the action you see on screen. And you can use the Feel Connect app(opens in a new tab) to pair your Blowbot with a wide range of other toys for a mutual experience with a partner.
Price: $118 at PornhubToys.com(opens in a new tab)
2. blueMotion NEX|1 vibrator and app(opens in a new tab)
Speaking of remote play, the blueMotion NEX|1 vibrator allows for just that, letting whomever you connect to the app to control the settings for this small, silicone, Bluetooth-enabled vibrator. Whether that's a partner or just yourself is up to you, but the size and shape of the device allow you to be discreet in your enjoyment.
Price: $129 at Lovelife(opens in a new tab)
3. iGasm Spinning Stimulator(opens in a new tab)
The key to any good sex toy is versatility, and the iGasm Spinning Simulator accommodates certain self-pleasure needs for both men and women, depending on the fold-out attachment. It's a simple tool with multiple uses even when you're alone.
Price: $77.25 at Kinky Toy Store(opens in a new tab)
4. Smart Doll World's AI sex doll(opens in a new tab)
AI is the wave of the future and that applies to sex dolls, too. Take, for instance, the above doll, named Alison, which is said to include "responsive artificial intelligence, interactive voice communications, facial movement, body temperature control, and touch sensors." That's a pretty impressive list, which probably explains the steep price. But, for you, it may be worth it.
Price: $3,689 at Smart Doll World(opens in a new tab)
5. Hush Vibrating Butt Plug(opens in a new tab)
Like a lot of items on this list, this particular butt plug, advertised as "The World’s First Teledildonic Butt Plug," allows remote access to the controls for yourself or a partner via an app. But there are other features that make it worth a look, like the option to sync to music or to activate via sounds. It also comes in two different sizes for your comfort.
Price: $119 at Lovesense(opens in a new tab)
6. Pornhub's Virtual Rabbit(opens in a new tab)
The partner to the Blowbot, Pornhub's Virtual Rabbit is a vibrator that has a lot of the same features, including video syncing and pairing via Feel Connect. Equipped for both clitoral and G-spot stimulation, the Virtual Rabbit has multiple functions and vibration patterns for all your self-pleasure needs.
Price: $102 at Pornhub Toys(opens in a new tab)
7. Hot Octopuss Pulse III Solo Guybrator(opens in a new tab)
What's a guybrator? A vibrator for men, of course. In case you can't tell how it works from the photo, the Guybrator is a "revolutionary male stimulator that uses oscillation movement to stimulate a man." It's a brand new world for guys looking for something a little different.
Price: $119 at Hot Octopuss(opens in a new tab)
8. Lovesense VR Toys(opens in a new tab)
Take your solo flights one step further with the Max (for him) and the Nora (for her), self-love toys that sync up with VR porn clips and enable you to really feel like you're in the film. Compatible with Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear, and Google Cardboard, among other VR options, it's not hard to, uh, get hard yourself.
Price: Max - $119 at Lovesense(opens in a new tab); Nora - $119 at Lovesense(opens in a new tab)
9. The Autoblow(opens in a new tab)
OK, this one should be pretty self-explanatory. But this sex simulation tube has a few tricks in its skin sleeve to make it feel more realistic than most.
Price: $159.95 at Robotic Blow Job(opens in a new tab)
10. Dame Product's Pom(opens in a new tab)
The Pom is a popular, flexible vibrator that's also waterproof and has five different settings. The product comes from Dame, the toy company founded by Alexandra Fine and Janet Lieberman. Mashable chatted with Fine for a story on women in sex tech back in 2018, which you can check out here.
Price: $95 at Pom(opens in a new tab)
11. LaunchPAD(opens in a new tab)
This is for the prudent masturbator. Set up your iPad, insert penis, and thrust to completion. No fuss, no muss. Though it might take a bit of coordination so you can thrust and yet still see whatever video is playing on the iPad.
Price: $19.46 at Fleshlight(opens in a new tab)
12. SVAKOM Siime Eye Wireless Camera Vibrator(opens in a new tab)
If you really want to take the mutual self-love thing one step beyond just an app, how about this vibrator that doubles as a camera? You can send video right to a partner's phone, giving them the pleasure of watching you pleasure yourself. It even has an "intelligent mode" that "simulates vibration frequency during the whole process of sex from beginning to orgasm," guaranteeing some fun regardless of whether or not you've got that camera on.
