Anal Dildos & Probes

An anal dildo is built for the rectum rather than the vagina: slimmer, longer in the taper, smoother, and always with a base that cannot be drawn inside. A probe is the slimmest version, often with a gentle wave or ripple along the shaft, made for the feeling of movement rather than fullness. Together they are the step after a plug for people who want thrusting rather than wearing, and this guide explains what separates a good one from a plug with a handle.

The base, again

Everything used anally needs a base wider than the widest part of the shaft, or a handle that cannot pass the entrance. The rectum draws inward and a toy without one can be lost, which ends in a hospital. Every dildo and probe on this page has one; that is the first thing to check anywhere else.

Shape

Anal dildos are slim at the tip and widen slowly, because the entrance is the part that needs the most patience. A smooth shaft with a gentle curve suits thrusting; a rippled or beaded shaft gives the feeling of each ridge passing the entrance, which is the point of a probe. A bulbed head adds pressure on the prostate or the front wall. Avoid sharp ridges and big flared heads for a first anal dildo; they catch on the way out.

Size

A first anal dildo is slimmer than a first vaginal one: around 12 to 15 centimetres insertable and a girth of 10 to 12 centimetres at the widest usable point. Probes start slimmer still, at two centimetres across, and are the right beginning for anyone new to anal play. Length past 18 centimetres is for people who know they want it; the sigmoid bend is where most bodies stop.

Firmness

A flexible shaft follows the curve of the rectum and is more comfortable for thrusting; a firm one presses harder on the prostate and is easier to aim. Medium silicone or a flexible probe with a firm core is the sensible middle. Very soft toys fold at the entrance and are hard to insert; very firm ones need more care.

Material

Platinum silicone for anything that goes inside the rectum and comes out again: non porous, boilable, and available in a range of firmness. Glass and steel anal dildos are heavy, very smooth and hold temperature, for experienced users. Nothing porous belongs here; TPE and jelly anal toys are the ones people throw away after a month.

Vibrating probes

A slim probe with a motor is one of the gentlest ways into anal play: vibration at the entrance relaxes the muscle and makes insertion easier. Look for a rumbly motor, a flared base holding the control, and full waterproofing. A remote is useful because the base is hard to reach in use.

Lubricant and use

Thick water based lubricant, more than seems necessary, and more again during use. Warm up with a finger or a small plug, insert slowly with the curve following the body, and stop at any sharp pain. Slow strokes at the entrance do more than deep ones; the nerves are in the first few centimetres.

Care

Wash with warm water and soap after every use, with attention to ripples and the base. Boil silicone, glass and steel; wash motorised toys by hand. Dry fully and store apart from other silicone. Anything shared between people or between anal and vaginal use gets a condom or a wash between.

Frequently asked questions