Innovation Station: Next Stop—Sex Toys!

by Alicia Guinn

In the past 15 years, women-friendly businesses like Babeland have had a wonderful impact on mainstream sex toy manufacturers. Working together with these manufacturers as well as smaller entrepreneurs, we’ve found a market for safer materials, practical and attractive designs that work well with women’s bodies, and improved manufacturing standards.

In the past several months, we’ve seen amazing advances in sex toy technology in the areas of materials, technology, and clever undercover vibes. Welcome to a whole new world of sex toys!

Fabulous New Sex Toy Materials

Elastomer

Vibratex, the pioneering sex toy company that produces the world-famous Rabbit Habit vibrator, is keeping up its trailblazing reputation by introducing a new material to the sex toy market — elastomer.

Elastomer tops other soft materials like jelly rubber and soft vinyl because it doesn’t contain phthalates, common industrial chemicals used as plastic softeners, that can cause irritation. Elastomer is also latex-free, making it a great alternative for the increasing number of people who have a latex sensitivity or allergy.

In addition to creating an elastomer version of the class Rabbit, Vibratex launches their new male masturbation sleeve, the Maverick, which also features quality elastomer construction.

VixSkin

With the creation of VixSkin, silicone dildo manufacture Vixen Creations has merged the popular look and feel of Cyberskin toys with the superior hygienic qualities of silicone.

While Cyberskin is a fragile, high-maintenance material, until now it’s been the only option for folks who want a super-realistic dildo. VixSkin toys like Tex have the same luxurious, silky feeling of Cyberskin, but they can also be disinfected, which means that VixSkin toys are resilient and  hypoallegenic. And they can be shared with multiple partners.

Innovations in Technology

SaSi

Inspired by foreplay itself, it's the sex toy equivalent of an Al Green tune and easily one of the most innovative vibrators we've ever seen. Easier to program to your tastes than your iPod, the groundbreaking SaSi lets you customize movement, speed and vibrating sequences into long ‘grooves’ that carry you from arousal to orgasm. Great for massage, partner and solo play. This toy will be available in April 2008, but you can pre-order yours now so you can be on the leading edge of sex toy technology!

Nea Vibe

While generations of women have fallen in love with the Hitachi Magic Wand and the Wahl 7-in-1, electric vibes are too large and unwieldy for some folks. Luckily, technology has recently improved in the world of electric vibes, bringing us the sleek, tiny Nea.

Nea  boasts a fusion of the most popular vibrator features. It’s small, rechargeable, ultraquiet, and has variable speeds.

Also Recommended

• The Cone
• Emotional Bliss vibrators