Tag: pervertables

A woman holding two rabbit vibrators, one pink and one blue. Caption reads: Travel friendly sex toys. Header image for a post about how to bring adult toys on a plane and other travel hacks.

Travel Friendly Sex Toys: Saving Space, Taking Your Toys Through Airport Security, and More

Published on by Amy

As the holidays approach, so does a season of travel for many of us. Whether you’re travelling solo or with your partner or partners, you might want to take some of your sex toys or kink gear along. From wondering whether you can bring adult toys on a plane to dealing with space constrictions, travelling with sex toys takes a little knowledge and planning. Here’s how to do it.

Can You Bring Adult Toys on a Plane?

Yep!

Well, yes with some simple caveats. As a general rule, though, bringing adult toys on a plane is safe, legal, and straightforward.

Additional bag screening at security is many people’s idea of a personal hell if they travel with sex toys. If you’re not prepared to take this risk, you’ll need to keep your toys in your checked bag. However, I’ve had this happen many times at this point (long-distance relationship life amirite?) and the worst that ever happens is that it makes me blush. I’ve never had a security person make a comment on my toys or take them out in view of other passengers.

Airport personnel don’t care what you’re planning to get up to at your destination as long as you’re not a safety or security risk. They’re professionals just trying to do their job, and they’ve seen it all before. Yours probably isn’t even the first vibrator they’ve seen today. I cannot stress this enough: they don’t care.

What you don’t want to do is try to take anything on the plane that could be perceived as a weapon. That hunk of stainless steel the size of your forearm? Leave it at home. You know it’s a dildo, they know it’s a dildo, but they’re probably still not letting it on the plane. As a general precaution, I’d skip metal and glass toys for air travel and stick to plastic or silicone.

Remember that, infuriatingly, some countries and jurisdictions have strict laws against even possessing sex toys. If you have to travel to one of those regions, leave your toys at home. The consequences could be far worse than just losing your favourite vibrator.

Remember that, if your toys have batteries, they must go in your carry-on as batteries are prohibited in the luggage hold.

What About BDSM Gear?

This gets a little trickier.

Some BDSM gear will probably be fine in your hand luggage. Leather cuffs, blindfolds, collars, solid wax candles and so on are unlikely to cause a problem. Some pervertables, such as clothes pegs and wooden spoons, also look completely innocent, so they shouldn’t cause any problems.

As with sex toys, anything that could be perceived as a weapon cannot travel in hand luggage. Paddles, floggers, whips and so on should all be checked. Rope might get past security and it might not. According to forums for climbers (the other people, apart from kinksters, who tend to travel with ropes), some said their ropes got taken away while others were allowed to keep their items.

Anything you wouldn’t want to lose, put it in your checked bag. If you’re taking anything sharp, like needles, be very cautious. Always check local laws and airline rules before travelling with them, even in your checked bag.

And, again, understand the laws and customs of where you’re travelling to and from. You don’t want to run afoul of a law prohibiting the possession of certain items.

How Can I Make Sure My Sex Toys Won’t Turn On While Traveling?

Many sex toys have a travel lock. This allows you to “lock” the motor, preventing it from turning on accidentally. Check the instruction manual or manufacturer’s product page of your favourite toy to find out whether it has one.

Another great option is to choose toys that come in a case. This dramatically reduces the chances of them getting switched on accidentally in transit, especially if you opt for a toy with a hard case like the WooMorePlay I Cum First clitoral vibrator and travel case.

Space-Saving Travel Hacks for Sex Toys and BDSM Gear

Space tends to be at a premium when travelling. Here are a few ways you can maximize space and still take your favourite items along.

  • Prioritise small and compact toys. Bullet vibrators, pebble vibrators, and finger vibrators are an ideal choice here.
  • Take multi-purpose toys. A vibrating dildo that can double as a clitoral vibrator, a vaginal toy that’s also anal-safe, or a toy you and your partner both enjoy using? All great space-efficient travel sex toys.
  • Repurpose travel essentials for kinky purposes. That sleep mask could easily double as a blindfold.
  • Think very carefully about what you want to take, and prioritize accordingly. Consider what’s non-negotiable vs. what’s a nice-to-have if you have the space.
  • A bonus tip for those who travel a lot for long-distance relationships: consider getting duplicates of your favourite toys and keeping one set in each place. Trust me, it’s worth the investment.

Don’t Forget About Lube

Wait, can I bring lube on a plane? Yes you can!

Lube is a non-negotiable for me when it comes to safer and more pleasurable sex. However, remember that lube is a liquid according to air travel regulations. This means you’ll likely be subject to strict limits on how much you can take. Some airports limit passengers to 100ml liquid maximum per container, while others allow amounts as high as two litres. Check before you fly. If in doubt, stick to lube containers under 100ml.

Large bottles of lube can be heavy. I recommend either individual sachets or small bottles of lube. I always put mine in a little plastic bag to protect my clothes and other items in case of a lube leakage. Choose lube that’s compatible with your sex toys; if in doubt, water-based lube is a versatile option for travel.

Thanks to WooMorePlay for sponsoring this post! All writing and views, as always, are mine.

An electric toothbrush, header image for a post on how to make your own sex toy

How to Make Your Own Sex Toy: Should You?

Published on by Amy

I’m a big fan of pervertables for kink. That is, ordinary items that can be misappropriated for sexy purposes. Think wooden spoon spankings, clothes pegs on nipples, makeup brushes for clitoral teasing or sensation play, and so on. But when it comes to things to use on your genitals, how to make your own sex toy – and even deciding whether or not this is a good idea – is not quite so straightforward.

I understand the temptation of making your own sex toy. Toys can be expensive. If you live with family, have little privacy, or live in a place with strict laws, they can also be difficult to get hold of. That’s why I’m not going to tell you not to do it. Instead, I’m going to give you some quick safety facts and show you some ways you can go about making or improvising a sex toy while minimising your risk of harm.

Making Your Own Sex Toy: Safety Considerations

Overall, most people have a very poor level of understanding when it comes to the things that are and are not safe to use on their genitals. This is for two main reasons:

  1. Sex education sucks almost universally. So unless you were lucky enough to have very switched on parents or go to an incredibly progressive school, you almost certainly weren’t taught this stuff.
  2. The sex toy industry is almost entirely unregulated. This means that manufacturers can lie, both about what materials they’re using and about the safety profile of those materials, and there is little recourse to call them on it when they do.

So with that in mind, be very very cautious about what you use as a sex toy. All kinds of items and materials can harm your body. This can run the gamut from physical injuries (for example, from using items with sharp edges) through to infection (from using items that aren’t properly sterile or are made of porous materials which can harbour bacteria.)

Quick Safety Tips

Follow these tips to keep yourself as safe as possible if you’re going to experiment with homemade sex toys:

  • Only use items that are smooth and free from sharp edges
  • Never use anything sharp, pointy, or that may have splinters
  • Never use anything breakable (such as glass items)
  • Avoid porous materials
  • Put a condom over anything you are going to insert into your body
  • If you are doing anal play, always always always make sure your item has a flared base or a large handle so you can retrieve it easily
  • Don’t use anything electrical in the bath, shower, or near water
  • Do not use items that have already been used for other purposes (such as used electric toothbrushes) and keep the item for sexual purposes only – or retire it – once you’ve used it as a sex toy
  • Please don’t use food items such as fruits and vegetables. But if you really must, do not eat them afterwards. Throw them away instead.
  • Only ever use your own items as sex toys, never something belonging to someone else

How to Make Your Own Sex Toy: 3 Ways

Cast Your (or Your Partner’s) Genitals

Making your own sex toy at home is relatively affordable thanks to the invention of genital casting kits such as Clone-a-Willy and Clone-a-Pussy. These kits typically cost under $50 and allow you to make a replica of your or your partner’s penis or vulva. The finished toy will be made of silicone, so it will be body-safe and should last for many years with the right care.

Bonus: it’s a fun and surprisingly hilarious date night activity.

If You Want to Make Your Own Sex Toy, Learn How to Work With Body-Safe Materials

If you want to make your own sex toy, you can always turn it into a project or a new hobby by learning how to actually work with body-safe sex toy materials and how to make things to a good standard.

For example, you might learn how to mix and pour silicone and make your own toy moulds. Or you could take up woodturning and make beautiful wooden sex toys (don’t forget to glaze and seal them properly with a body-safe finish!) on your lathe at home.

Repurpose Safe(r) Items

Fortunately, there are several household items you can use as a makeshift sex toy that are unlikely to cause you any harm. The following are likely to be okay with some basic safety precautions:

  • A new, clean electric toothbrush (use the back of the head, i.e. the non-bristled end)
  • A vibrating back massager
  • An electric showerhead
  • Smooth handles of items like hairbrushes (as long as they are clean and covered with a condom)

Let the Professionals Handle It

If you want something designed perfectly for you, it’s time to hand things over to the professionals. Yes, there are companies out there who will make you your very own personalized sex toy based on the specifications that you request.

The ones I recommend are:

  • Nothosaur, a company that offers custom sex toys in an array of fantastical designs from tentacles to dragons to Zodiac-themed designs and many more. You can choose from a range of sizes, firmness levels, custom colourways, and extras such as vac-u-lock attachments. Use code COFFEE for 10% off your order!
  • Mr Hankey’s Toys, a company offering both realistic and fantasy toys including oversized options. Choose your shape then customise the size, firmness, colours, and extras.
  • Uncover Creations, a company specialising in fantasy aesthetics and selling toys including dildos, grinders, and made-to-measure penis extenders. Dildos, grinders, and other toys are available in an array of colours and firmness levels, and upgrades such as straps, a hole for a vibrating bullet, and UC’s “Silky Smooth” silicone additive. Extenders are available in four skin tones and five styles, with custom sizing and firmness levels as well as optional extras such as dual density silicone.

These retailers’ custom platinum silicone toys are of the highest quality and made using 100% body-friendly materials. So you’ll know you’re getting value for your money as well as a safe toy that you can use with complete peace of mind.

This post was sponsored by a company that is no longer in business. All views, as always, are mine.

Several wooden spoons. For a post about pervertables and doing BDSM on a budget with household items

5 Pervertables You Probably Have in Your House Right Now

Published on by Amy1 Comment

Quality BDSM gear can be expensive. Sex shops sell some stuff, of course, though its quality is highly variable. A custom flogger or handmade paddle can cost anything from tens to hundreds of dollars. Many people simply don’t have that type of money and want to enjoy BDSM on a budget instead. Enter: pervertables.

What Are Pervertables?

Pervertables are innocuous everyday household items, reimagined and repurposed for kink. They are ideal for kinksters looking to do BDSM on a budget, anyone who is new to BDSM or wants to try a new type of sensation without blowing a lot of cash, or for those occasions when you find yourself somewhere without your toybag and want to have some fun.

And, of course, some pervertables can be sexy for their own sake. A lot of people fetishise, for example, the feeling and aesthetic of being spanked with a hairbrush.

Doing BDSM on a Budget? You Probably Have These 5 Pervertables in Your House Right Now

When it comes to using pervertables for BDSM and bondage at home, you’re limited only by your imagination and basic safety precautions. Here are five ideas for items you might have to hand right now that can have a kinky use.

Clothes Pegs

Clothes pegs are an amazing alternative to clamps and such an underrated kink toy! Choose the plastic ones with soft pads on the teeth if you’re after something less vicious. The wooden ones are often more pinchy. This can vary, though, so test them out on your finger before you apply them to anywhere more sensitive.

Use clothes pegs on nipples, labia, clits, cocks, or most sensitive fleshy areas. Keep them away from the face and neck. After a more intense or painful experience? Try putting a line of clothes pegs along your masochist’s back, tying them all together with string or twine, and pulling them all of at once. (Don’t surprise someone with this the first time you do it; it’s not for everyone, so always get consent first.)

Pro tip: the longer you leave clamps or pegs on, the more they’ll hurt when they come off.

Chopsticks

Chopsticks are another option for makeshift clamps. Simply squeeze a nipple (or other sensitive area) between two chopsticks and secure the ends with small elastic bands or hair ties. For a tighter squeeze, secure closer to the centre. To loosen them off, move the bands outwards.

Wooden Spoon

Arguably the ultimate household spanking implement, wooden spoons can deliver a surprisingly sharp and stingy sensation. Much like canes, their pain comes in waves – the initial sting when the blow hits, and then a second or two moments later as all the nerves fully register the impact.

Pervertables like wooden spoons are pretty safe when used on fleshy places like butts, but you should always start slowly and gently, checking in with your partner along the way. You’d be surprised how much they can hurt!

Hairbrush

Traditionally associated with over-the-knee spanking, hairbrushes remain enduringly popular impact implements. Different sizes, shapes and materials can feel very different, so make no assumptions, build up slowly, and communicate with your partner as you go about how it feels.

Ice

Ice is brilliant. You can use it on its own or alongside something like wax play for a fun temperature-based scene. You can run ice over your partner’s body for a cold tease, press it to a nipple or clit, or trail icy droplets all over them.

Ice play doesn’t have to be painful and can be purely sensual, but it definitely can be painful if that’s what you want. Typically, ice in sensitive places will become painful quite quickly. Keep the ice moving (i.e. don’t rest it on one spot for too long) and make sure that the bottom gets dried off and warmed up as quickly as possible after play.

…And 5 Things You Shouldn’t Use as Pervertables

All the pervertables and activities I’ve suggested here are relatively low risk as long as you communicate with your partner, practice risk-aware consensual kink (RACK), and observe some basic safety precautions such as understanding no-hit zones.

But there are also some things you absolutely should not use as pervertables. Here are a few of them:

Cable Ties

Cable ties (also known as zip ties) are not a safe way to restrain someone. They can tighten easily, cutting off circulation or causing nerve damage. They’re also thin bands of rough plastic, meaning there’s a high risk of them cutting or chafing the skin.

Household Candles

There are different schools of thought on this. Some people say that basic, unscented paraffin wax candles are okay. My stance, though, is it’s not worth the risk. Different wax blends and quality levels burn at different temperatures and it can be hard to know what you’re getting. Instead, choose wax play candles from a reputable maker or supplier.

Fruits and Vegetables

Please don’t insert fruits and veggies into your body. They can carry harmful bacteria, pesticides, or other contaminants which can lead to irritation or infection. They can also have rough or sharp areas which can cut you. It is particularly dangerous to insert anything without a flared base anally, as it could become stuck (leading to an embarrassing emergency room visit if not a serious injury.)

This applies to virtually any household items you might be tempted to insert, by the way. There are safe(r) ways to repurpose other items or make your own sex toy, but when you can get a basic silicone dildo for under $20, it’s just not worth taking risks with unsafe items.

Bamboo Garden Canes

Tempted to reach for one of those cheap bamboo gardening canes and repurpose it as a BDSM implement? Please, please don’t. Here’s why: when bamboo breaks, it splits horizontally along the shaft. This can result in razor-sharp long edges, putting the recieving partner at risk of a deep and dangerous cut.

Scarves

Scarves, particularly those made of slippery materials like silk, are popular “beginner bondage” materials for those wanting to practice BDSM on a budget. Unfortunately, they’re also far more dangerous than you think. They can easily tighten unintentionally, cutting off circulation, causing nerve damage, or making them difficult to undo quickly. Grab some basic jute or hemp rope and learn how to do some fundamental ties instead. You’ll be much safer.

FYI: affiliate links appear in this post.