Men with penises can use stroker sex toys to masturbate solo or enhance partnered play by stimulating the shaft, glans and sometimes testicles. Many also vibrate, suck or thump, mimicking sensations of a hand or mouth, and some even mimic clitocele or vaginal orgasms. The best male strokers are soft and squishy or firm and hard, with a skinlike texture for intense stimulation. Some are designed with a canal that targets the frenulum, a hot spot of pleasure nerves on the head of the penis. Others are designed with a flexible cuff to fit loose or tight penises and have ridges that hold lubricant for enhanced sensations. These toys can be used by healthy men or people with erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease, which affects the smooth muscle of the penis.
While strokers are great for self-masturbation, they’re especially fun when shared. If you’re comfortable using a male stroker alone, invite a partner to join in the fun, and try stroking or massaging other erogenous zones like the balls, anus, neck or nipples with your partner while the stroker touches the penis. If you’re new to this kind of pleasure, try starting with a small open-cuff stroker that easily fits your sleeve or with one that has a flexible cuff so you can gently adjust it to the size and shape of your penis.
Most male strokers are made from body-safe, medical-grade silicone, so they can be used almost anywhere and often in the shower (if your toy is waterproof) for hands-free pleasure. But be sure to bring a little lube along, as some strokers can dry out fast. A few strokers can be attached to mounts or harnesses for more hands-free stroking action.
Azmi recommends the Fun Factory Manta, which she says is “a very popular choice among those in the know.” She calls it a “super-advanced device” that expertly targets the frenulum with a vibrating plate and ridges for extra sensation. The sleeve is also open at the tip, which makes it easier to insert and accommodates flaccid penises.
Other sleeve-style strokers include the Satisfyer Eggs, which have varying internal textures and come in a pack of six for variety. The TENGA Flip Zero EV is another option, featuring an exclusive sleeve texture voted the most intense in the industry and an internal vibration that stimulates both the shaft and the tip. It’s also battery-free and can be sucked on to create an orgasm that’s as close to a natural blowjob as possible, according to a Reddit user review.
Some strokers can be controlled with an app, but Zachary Zane, a sex journalist and blogger for P.S. Condoms, prefers the simple Handy, which he describes as “the closest to a real hand-job or blowjob machine that you can get without actually having one.” This sleeve-style stroker has an inner tube that vacuums up lubricant for a self-satisfying feel that’s easy to clean. No matter which stroker you choose, be sure to store it properly to keep it safe from bacterial infections. The best way to do that is to use the case that came with it or a similar-sized case that securely closes with velcro or a zipper.
