A Complete Beginner's Guide to Strap-On Sex

One of the most popular sex novelty items is the dildo. It is often worn with a harness and they come in a wide variety of styles and materials. Strap-ons are used solo or for mutual masturbation, as well as penetrative anal, oral and vaginal sex.

Harness types vary. The most common is the 2-strap harness, which is basically a G-string. One strap winds around the waist, the other between the wearer’s legs. It’s simple and easily donned but, like G-strings, can be uncomfortable and its design does not permit the attached dildo to be held firmly in place.

The 3-strap version again has a waist strap. Two more straps attach around the thighs. It is more secure than its 2-strap counterpart but there are still comfort issues.

A more elaborate option is the corset, with the dildo built into the garment. Nor all are strap-ons worn around the waist; they can be worn attached to the thigh, arm or chin, allowing for a greater variety of sex positions. They can also be secured to objects such as beds, chairs, tables and inflatable balls.

A Wide Variety of Materials is Available

Strap-on harnesses come in five main materials, all with advantages.

Synthetic materials are cheap, durable and easily cleaned

Leather is more stylish and appealing for fetish wear, but also requires more maintenance

Cloth corsets are comfortable but have cleaning issues

Plastic and vinyl harnesses come in a variety of colours, including transparent. They are easy to clean.

Latex, rubber and PVC harnesses may actually have the dildo built right into their structure

Dildos also come in a variety of materials. Glass dildos are great for temperature play and are hypoallergenic. Steel dildos can also be heated. The most common type, however, is the silicone rubber dildo. Silicone is colourful, has the advantage of being easily molded into a variety of shapes and is easily sterilized.

Buying Strap-ons Online

The best way to learn about the immense variety of strap-ons is through an online retailer. Bricks and mortar retail stores have limited display space and cannot offer the selection of online retailers. You are also able to shop on your own time, without any salespeople hovering – and can investigate the style and materials of the harnesses and dildos you want.

Online sites are open 24/7 of course; so there’s no rushing to get to a store before it closes, or driving or parking issues. In any event, many communities do not have a sex novelty store – or at least one that’s inviting to visit. Online retailers are as close as your computer.

Finally, there is the price point differential. Online retailers have lower overhead and can also offer volume discounts. Many have feature items on sale, as a further inducement for shoppers.

The sex novelty business is a huge and varied one, with offerings as diverse as the sexual tastes of its customers. The internet has allowed the curious to shop at their discretion, and sample the exciting options available.

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Ieva Kubiliute

Psychologist and a Sex and Relationships Advisor at shopgiejo.com

Ieva Kubiliute is a psychologist and a sex and relationships advisor and a freelance writer. She's also a consultant to several health and wellness brands. While Ieva specialises in covering wellness topics ranging from fitness and nutrition, to mental wellbeing, sex and relationships and health conditions, she has written across a diverse range of lifestyle topics, including beauty and travel. Career highlights so far include: luxury spa-hopping in Spain and joining an £18k-a-year London gym. Someone’s got to do it! When she’s not typing away at her desk—or interviewing experts and case studies, Ieva winds down with yoga, a good movie and great skincare (affordable of course, there’s little she doesn’t know about budget beauty). Things that bring her endless joy: digital detoxes, oat milk lattes and long country walks (and sometimes jogs).

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