Extra hardness and/or pleasure: Cock rings can double up, serving 1–2 primary purposes. Two big questions rise up😉, too, about how to use a cock ring:
- How do you put it on, first: Does it just go over just the penis, or around penis and scrotum (ballsack)? We have tips so applying a cock ring is easier, but also:
- What sex positions are best to use a cock ring in?
Cock rings enable hands-free clitoral stimulation during sex, but for years I found the ones we tried disappointing. Many failures. But now, I have one favorite cock ring: Soft and made of body-safe silicone that doesn’t degrade (like most drugstore ones do). All our findings in this guide to safe cock rings:
Why use a cock ring?
What is a cock ring? Also called a C-ring or penis ring, this circular loop fits over the penis shaft, and possibly around the scrotum (ballsack).
C-rings are ubiquitous sex toy category—sold in any major drugstore—but it’s easy to wonder, “What’s the point of a cock ring?” When you wear a cock ring, you can achieve any of these ends, depending on which ring you choose:
- Harder erections. Tighter, well-fitting C-rings restrict bloodflow out of the erect penis. This will make it feel harder, and slightly wider too.
- Delays ejaculation. Relatedly, it’s harder to orgasm when bloodflow’s restricted. Firm cock rings make the wearer last longer. They frequently increase the volume of ejaculation when the ring-wearer does cum, too.
- Clitoral stimulation during sex, hands-free. Best with a cock ring with vibration. See Lux Active Triad for softer silicone (fleshier!) or the Noje C1 for firm silicone (to grip the shaft tighter).
- Penis + balls stimulation. Vibration isn’t just for women; many guys and people with penises love a good vibe on their shaft or scrotum, so a vibrating ring delivers that buzzing or rrrrrumbling feel.
- Secret wear + package lift. While non-vibrating cock rings are more discreet vs. any other penis sex toy. Wear an awesome super-soft silicone ring outside the house as your secret. Numerous Oxballs rings also circle under the balls too, and push up the whole package: More bulge!
- Ballsack grip. “Balls rings” are a subset of ball-stretcher, as some models serve to grip the sack, with a nice soft fleshy feel. The best of soft-grip cock rings, next:
Contents
Size & cock rings: Firm vs. Soft Materials Matter
Cock rings fall into two camps: the soft ‘n’ stretchy ones, and the hard ones.
Soft silicone cock rings are functionally nonporous, so they don’t collect bacteria or yeast like cheap-o softened thermoplastic (TPE/TPR) sex toys do. Soft silicone rings we know are awesome for:
- More feeling. My all-time favorite cock ring, the Lux Active Triad, fits over his cock and balls stretchily: And its vibration is the best part. Really awesome, rumbly vibration (via bullet vibrator with remote control), fitting into its soft+squishy silicone that I get to grind my clit on!
- Push your balls up and/or grip ur shaft+balls. Check out the Grip ring for the soft-surrounding grip, while the Neo Angle and Balls-T are classic stretchers; the Fuckler has scrotum ticklers!; and the Juicy ring is best for making your package bulge more.
Firm rings are for restriction: to keep you harder and aroused longer. They may be a firmer silicone blend, or even metal—which is safe if the penis ring is precisely fitted to an individual shaft. Firm silicone rings are somewhat stretchy, but not a lot. It’s best to get a good fit here: easiest to manage with a multi-pack of rings like Perfect Fit.
A third category is the “lasso” style adjustable cock ring, which cinches up to fit much bigger or smaller. Downside: the connector is hard plastic that’ll be less cushy for sensitive shafts.
How to Use a Cock Ring
How to Put on a Cock Ring, Pain-Free
First, if you’ve got bushy pubes: Shave them. A neat trim. This will keep the ring from tugging hairs as you fit it over your lower shaft.
If the ring is not super-soft: See how the fit is. If it feels a tad snug as you stretch it, apply a few drops of water-based or hybrid lubricant all over the penis shaft.
While expanding the ring with both hands, bring it to rest as low down on your shaft as is easily possible.
If you’re putting a ring around your whole package (penis+scrotum), tug the back of the ring to stretch on one side. Expand it to push one ball through gently, and then the other. Last, adjust the loop comfortably at the middle-bottom of the scrotum (where the sack meets the rest of your pelvic floor).
Best Sex Positions for Cock Rings
If you’re using a cock ring for clitoral stimulation, you and your partner’s bodies must be situated so the ring can touch the clitoris consistently. Versus with plain nonvibrating rings—meant for harder erections—where it doesn’t matter how your bodies are facing.
Best sex positions to use a vibrating cock ring in:
- Cowgirl. The best for certain clit stimulation. Here, the clit-having partner is also in control of speed, how high they’re riding up and down, whether to grind their clit forward, and more. In this classic position, I 100% get the most out of him wearing the vibrating C-ring. The ring’s vibrating section rests above his penis (belly side).
- Missionary. Good for a rest (for me!) *if* his strokes are short. Pulling longer in-and-out means the ring is over my clitoris less—decreasing the overall intensity, making the vibration more inconsistent, like an on-off-on-off pattern of vibration.
- Backwards cowgirl. For perineum stimulation: A vibrating ring can work for taint massage too, and vibrating the anus if the ring is long enough. For clit stimulation: Flip the ring around, so the vibrating side is resting over his ballsack. I’m not a big fan of this orientation, but it’ll be G-spot stimulating if your partner’s erection curves downward naturally.
- Any position, *if* scrotum vibration is your goal. He can wear the Lux Active Triad with the vibrator flipped under his balls, so it gives more sensation and pressure there. “More buildup,” like edging, he says.
For clit stimulating penis rings, how far the cock ring extends matters. Different people have different “clitoris to vagina distance” — the length varies individually. Folks with a naturally longer distance will find it difficult to locate a longer vibrating ring, unfortunately. I strongly recommend a finger-loop vibrator (how the Max. Bullet’s ring-loop works) vs. a cock ring to them.
And if you love doggy style, try a great vibrating wand rather than a vibrating cock ring!
A longer-extension ring can be for grinding on too, as you ride cowgirl. For super-soft (nonvibrating) texture it’s fun to grind clitorally on, see the Tentacle Grinder ring.
Cock Ring Safety: 30 minutes only?
How long is it safe to wear a cock ring for?
30 minutes is a standard guideline. It’s reasonable for tight-gripping cock rings that are meant to restrict bloodflow from the penis.
When learning how to use a cock ring, know that some extra redness is normal. BUT:
If you see your dick turning purple, or ever changing colors dramatically, then remove the cock ring immediately. It is better to be safe than sorry here, as poorly fitted and too-tight rings can damage the penis and diminish sensation after too-long wear.
But, if instead you’re wearing a super-soft silicone ring—one that stretches easily and doesn’t feel restrictive—then long-term wear is fine. The push-up Oxballs rings and ballstretcher rings are made with the idea that they will be worn outside the house for hours, even all day or all night!
Cock Rings for Large Penis
Standard, restrictive cock rings—the ones that’re meant to keep you harder, longer—are made for the average penis size. They’re typically 1.25″ inner diameter, to be barely snug on a median dick, 4.6 inches circumference / about 1.5 inch diameter.
So, if your penis is substantially thicker—over 5.75 inches circumference, especially— you will struggle to find an erection-maintaining ring that doesn’t strangle your dick. Super-soft silicone rings will expand enough to fit even the largest shafts, they just don’t keep you harder.
Once years ago, my ex (who sports a ≈2-inch-diameter shaft, over the 98th percentile for girth) got us a We-Vibe Pivot vibrating C-ring. After removing the “erection enhancer” out of its package, I considered it. I then looked at him; wondered, wtf was he thinking; and just laughed. There was no way that penis ring could fit that man, without damage. He shrugged and started joking about having to call the fire department if he got it on.
How I Enjoy a Cock Ring during Masturbation, too
Cock rings aren’t just for couples to use together. You can also put any vibrating ring on a dildo, to add some grrr as you thrust and stroke with it.
So, how do you use a cock ring for masturbatory purposes?
With a dildo, you can put the vibrating cock ring anywhere on its shaft—at whatever depth works for your body. You can shorten the shaft length this way, too.
Best-ever setup here for me is: vibrating squishy silicone C-ring + my favorite most realistic dildo + my Hismith Premium machine with 3.5″ stainless steel suction cup attachment. OMFG. Seriously looooove the sex machine + dildo alone, but bring them together and… amazing next-level orgasmic. I like standing over the machine, putting my weight down onto the Lux Active Triad’s silicone clit-grinder area — after I’ve set the Premium for its minimum stroke-distance.
How to Clean a Cock Ring
Body-safe materials are easy to keep clean and hygienic. They’re not porous like jelly materials, which actually mold over time if they’re left damp.
This means silicone primarily (with ABS plastic, in vibrating silicone rings).
To clean:
- Wash with any soap under running water! Scrub the surface of the silicone.
- If the cock ring has a removable bullet vibrator, take that out of its loop, and wash it separately.
- Then let each cock ring component air-dry.
Metal rings are super-simple to clean (but difficult to fit!). Properly fitted ones are said to be a wearable ring for the penis, like a ring around your finger, worn long-term; and sell for premium prices. We would advise extra-super-duper caution here as things can go terribly wrong. We will not test or use metal cock rings, to err on the side of caution.