Male sex toys
Cock rings: the size is the entire decision
There is very little to choose between brands here. There is a great deal to choose between sizes, and almost nobody measures first.
A cock ring restricts the outflow of blood from an erection while allowing the inflow. The result is a firmer and longer-lasting erection, and for many people a stronger sensation at orgasm. That is the whole mechanism, and it is why the fit is not a comfort preference but the function itself.
Too loose and nothing happens at all. Too tight and you have a constriction device with no release, which is the one way this inexpensive toy causes real harm.
The materials, and what each one trades
- Silicone. Stretches, forgives a sizing error, and comes off easily. The right default for a first ring and for anyone using one alone.
- TPE and jelly. Cheaper and stretchier still, and porous, so it cannot be properly cleaned. Fine as a disposable item, not as something kept.
- Metal. Steel or aluminum, no stretch at all. Heavier sensation, no give, and it must be sized exactly because it cannot be cut off in an emergency without tools. Experienced users only.
- Leather or fabric with snaps. Adjustable and removable instantly, which is the safest option of all. Less constriction for the same nominal size.
- Adjustable lasso. A cord with a sliding bead. Fits anyone, and the sliding mechanism is also what makes it easy to accidentally tighten too far.
Ring sizes as manufacturers state them
| Inner diameter | Circumference | Usually sold as |
|---|---|---|
| 1.25 in / 32 mm | About 3.9 in / 100 mm | Small. Shaft only, and snug. |
| 1.5 in / 38 mm | About 4.7 in / 120 mm | Medium. The most common single size sold. |
| 1.75 in / 44 mm | About 5.5 in / 140 mm | Large. Common for shaft and scrotum together. |
| 2 in / 51 mm | About 6.3 in / 160 mm | Extra large, or a double ring worn at the base. |
| Stretch silicone, any size | Varies | Forgives roughly one size either way. Metal forgives none. |
Measuring for one
Measure erect, not soft
Wrap a strip of paper or a tape around the base where the ring will sit, and mark it. That circumference is the number that matters.
Take off about a quarter
The ring should be slightly smaller than the measured circumference, because it works by restriction. Roughly three quarters of the measurement is the usual starting point.
Decide what it goes around
Shaft only, or shaft and scrotum together. The second needs a noticeably larger ring, and it is the configuration most beginners find more comfortable.
Start with stretch silicone
It forgives a sizing error, which you will probably make on the first attempt, and it comes off without ceremony.
Questions people ask
- How do I get it on?
- Soft or partially erect, with a little lubricant, scrotum first if it is going around both. Putting a correctly sized ring on while fully erect is difficult by design.
- Will it make me bigger?
- It makes an erection firmer and sometimes slightly fuller while it is on. It has no lasting effect on size, and anything sold on that claim is selling something else.
- Can I use one with a condom?
- Yes, worn at the base over the condom, as long as it does not interfere with the condom staying in place. Silicone lubricant is fine with latex; oil is not.
- Is a vibrating one better?
- It is a different product: the ring does the same job and the motor sits where a partner feels it. If the point is the erection, the vibration is incidental.
Related guides
- Vibrating
A vibrating ring is two products in one, and they serve different people. Where the motor should sit, what rechargeable changes, and the sizing rule.
- How to use a cock ring
Putting one on flaccid, the twenty-minute rule, the signs that mean remove it now, and what to do if a rigid ring will not come off.