More...Thicker...Longer
“Make it thicker, harder, last longer! Make your partner gasp at your improved manly appearance!”
You may think it sounds like a really bombastic bit of spam, but since the early part of the last millennium (that’s back near 1200 CE, for those of you with time machines), cock rings have been used by men to enhance their sexual prowess (more!), their penile girth (thicker!), their orgasm delay time (longer!), and even the appearance of their bits and bobs before they get turned on (what a package!).
In fact, the Chinese invented them; initially they were made out of goat’s eye-sockets, with the lashes intact. Thankfully, they’ve come a long way since then, baby – because really, seriously, just – ewwww. But the Chinese knew what they were aiming at – a small, easy-to-use sexual tool with the stupendousness to make every guy feel a bit spiffier (and stiffier), and their partners a little more impressed / satisfied / less likely to ask for a divorce on the grounds of sexual intolerability.
How do they work?
First of all, remember that penises get erect because the body pumps blood into it, filling up its tissues and subsequently hardening it. Now, basic hydraulics tells us that what goes in must come out – but in this case, keeping it around a little longer makes for a lengthier (and girthier) erection. Thus, when properly fitted into a cock ring, the penis will often swell inside it, giving the penis slightly more heft and the skin added sensitivity.
Some men, in fact, find it impossible to ejaculate while wearing cock rings. The pressure that they can put on the cock and balls (yes, most cock rings are suited to wear around both the cock and the base of the scrotum) can keep the orgasm from actually happening.
Thankfully, this is an entirely reversible feature – you can thrust away into your partner’s orifice of choice until you’re driving yourself nuts, then you can take the ring off and finish driving your own nuts off.
So...How Do I Use Them?
Cock rings can be a source of overwhelming frustration for new users. There’s the question of what style to get, how to put it on, how long to leave it on, and how to get it off…not to mention what sorts of bells and whistles that are available!
Let’s start with basic safety – it’s important to know your size. And gentlemen, it is with great sadness with which we must inform you that this is not a time for optimistic up-sizing – fess up and keep it real, especially if you have your heart-on set on a metal, stone, or wooden cock ring which doesn’t have the give that others do. Get yourself fully erect, and measure your diameter or circumference. Two measurements should do it – one at the base of your cock, and one with a tape measure snugly around your cock AND scrotum up at the very base of the whole shebang. With these two measurements, you’ll be able to find a properly fitting ring, regardless of what kind you decide to try out.
And when you get it, try it out for short periods of time at first – and definitely not for longer than 20 minutes of erection time. You know what they say in first-aid classes about a tourniquet? (You do, right? Don’t make us WebMD your ass.) So yeah, don’t cut off the blood supply to your little fella down there without giving him a chance to breathe every so often. Put it on for a five or ten minute masturbation session and you should get an idea of what you can hope for (and what you should watch out for) when you’re in action with a partner.
This is important: remove the cock ring IMMEDIATELY if your cock goes numb, or gets cold – these are signs that it needs a little blood flow, and ASAP.
Fortunately, cock rings are inexpensive enough that you can afford to develop quite a collection – think of them as mood rings for your penis, and pick out styles that will enhance your experience differently each time.
Last but not least, some of you guys who like to use a penis pump to pump it up will want to have a few cock rings on hand to keep your newly-pumped penis in its fully engorged and erect position once you take the pump off!
Hygiene
You’ll want to make sure to clean your cock ring between uses. Even if you use a condom, cock rings can harbor bacteria and some STDs (like herpes and HPV viruses) because of exposure to your partner’s fluids, so a good cleaning every time will keep them comfortable and safe for you and your partner as well. Metal, wood, stone, rubber, silicone, and leather can all be cleaned by a gentle soap and water wash; all but the leather & wood can be immersed in a 10% bleach solution for disinfection.
Leather cock straps can be cleaned with saddle soap or glycerine soap and water, but because of their porosity, they should not be assumed to be totally virus-free after cleaning, so they’re best used with a single partner. Rubber, also, is highly porous, so using them with one partner, and changing them regularly (as rubber degrades over time), are your best bets.
Metal Rings
Let’s start talking about the types of cock rings that are available. The first kind, and one most traditionally sold (and worn), is the all-metal ring. These, for the most part, are meant to encircle both the scrotum and the cock – getting them on can be a little tricky to learn, but once you’re familiar with it, it’s a piece of cake. Metal cake, that is.
Here’s how to get it on (so you can get on with the business of getting it on): Add a little lube to the ring, and then slip one of your balls in, followed by the other (putting them in one at a time keeps them from pushing into each other – an unnecessary bit of pain and suffering we generally don’t recommend to the general public).
Once your scrotum is in, and you’ve adjusted it so that your balls are pulled down away from the ring itself, you can push the head of your cock through the ring (this is where the lube comes in). This isn’t as impossible as it sounds – IF you’re not erect. If you are, take a few deep breaths, think of Old Mother England, and try again when you’re a bit more, ahem, malleable.
Finding the right fit for these is of supreme importance. The best way to do this is to get a pack of three or four rings of various diameters and see what fits best! The Three Piece Ring Set is an inexpensive, basic set of rings ranging in diameter from 1 ¼” to 2”, so you can play with them all and find the perfect fit. They’ll also give you a good idea of what might turn you on even more: do you like it hard and firm, or would something with more give work for you? Do you want more heft? More presence? Something with nubs to please your partner? Use your first cock ring as a guide to finding the ones that can take you every wild place that your brain can conjure (providing said place is legal in your state of residence).
Once you’ve got an idea of what you like, you’ll find that there are plenty of other options out there to help you get your heavy metal on. You can go a little heavier with a ring like the Alchemy Metal Band (the thrash-metal of cock rings); or you can devil-horn your way to some death-metal with the Titan ring (at .4 lb); or even the Fury Brushed ring, which gives you a whole pound of metal to adorn your bits (and boy, these feel great when you’re wearing them under your clothing for a night out). If you want to be extra-spiffy (or you suspect that you might be showing it off to folks), you can get a beautifully engraved ring with Celtic, Barbed Wire, or Tribal designs, thus proving your metalness is so great that Metallica is considering suing you for making them look bad.
Please keep in mind that if your bits and pieces get too swollen, the metal rings will be problematic to get off (i.e., you’ll have to immerse your groin in ice water, hope the swelling goes down enough to get it off, or go to the ER and have them use bolt cutters to remove it – not a great way to cap off your lovefest). It’s better to start with a larger ring, and go smaller as needed, than to do the exact opposite. If you do find yourself getting stuck, apply a cold compress (a bag of frozen veggies works great, oddly enough) and relax as much as possible, then use lube to free yourself from your predicament…usually that’s plenty to get the situation under control.
Stone
If metal is not quite your style but you love its firmness, there’s always stone to pick! EdenFantasys features both Agate and Aventurine rings – so you can not only be eco- and body-friendly, you can add a little special crystal magic to your sexay (in fact, agate is known for harmonious relationships, and aventurine for prosperity and creativity – and who wouldn’t want to have those going for you when it comes to your sex life?).
Silicone
Want just a little more give, but still retaining a reassuring firmness? Silicone is a great choice and very easy to clean – not to mention that silicone will last a long time if properly cared for. You can get a silicone version of the Three Ring Set we mentioned in the metals section, which is another great introduction to cock rings – we recommend Pipedream’s three ring clear set, as you can get an idea of your best fit, as well as purchasing a body-friendly, long-lasting toy.
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This cock ring is win-win. With multiple functions for erectile enhancement and longevity, it will surely bring heightened sexual experience, whether solo or with a partner. – ~LaUr3n~ | https://www.edenfantasys.com/sex-toys-for-men/cock-rings/do-ring| Doo ring]
The Beginner Cock Ring and the C-Ring Intermediate from Tantus are also fantastic choices – they have a very sexy look, handle most lubes well (not silicone, though), and warm up to your body temperature very quickly. They also have enough give for easy removal, even if you’re really turned on. For an extra treat on the back end, try out the Silicone Cock Sling – it has a tapered side that rubs your perineum just the right way, giving you extra stimulation the whole time it’s in place.
Expandable Rings
Even more malleable are the stretchy rings made from silicones and jelly materials. These rings are often worn just around the base of the cock, which makes for fun for both you and your partner. The Buckshot silicone rings have nubs along their sides, which means that you get a bit of extra pressure and stimulation at the base of your shaft while you’re fucking; they also work great for receiving a blow job, if you tell your partner to work the rings with their hands while they’re working the rest of you with their mouth.
Another fun stretchy cock ring, this one in rubber, is the Double Helix, which gives you two connected rings – one for your cock, the other for the base of your balls. This little gem even has a quick release, so if you get too swollen or you just want it off so you can, ahem, conclude your transaction - you can do it in a heartbeat.
Slide-Adjustment Cock Rings
There’s also a traditional type of cock ring that’s the easiest to fit – because it’s adjustable! These rings are usually (but not always) called ties or adjustable rings – they consist of a piece of silicone or rubber tubing, and they have a bead or other slide on them so you can adjust them to suit you and your perfect fit. They also release quickly, and are very safe to use, so you can relax and just enjoy the sensations. We especially like the Silicone Penis Ties, as they’re made of a silicone-composite material that is longer-lasting and less potentially irritating than rubber, yet grips nicely and adjusts very easily.
Dual Pleasure
A fun feature of some cock rings is that they’re designed to pleasure your partner as much as they please you – this is what we call a double win! The Raspberry Ring is a great option for dual pleasuring – you get to wear a silicone cock ring; your partner gets to have a raspberry-shaped silicone teaser tickling their tush, taint, or clit! The Vibrating Ergo Ring has the same double-your-pleasure action, but this time with a vibrating bullet that tucks into the ring and lets you buzz all the way to a big time O for both of you!
Cock Straps
Last but definitely not least, we’ve come to the cock strap. These are pieces of leather or other material that fit around the base of the cock and balls, and either Velcro or snap into place, allowing a great deal of room for adjustability. They are wider than the usual cock rings, and feel more natural than metal or silicone. If you’re thinking of purchasing one of these, you’ll want to check the edges for smoothness – a rolled and sewn edge on a leather strap is ideal for your comfort. The Leather Cinch Strap and the 5 Speed Cock Strap are perfect examples – the edges are rolled and sewn for a comfortable, pinch-free finish, and both adjust for a great fit and snap-release. Some guys find that the multi-snap features can be a bit difficult to put on initially, but it’s not hard to get the hang of it (here’s a hint – put a fingertip under the ring so that you don’t have to try to push the snap closed against your cock).
So, whether you’re looking for a fashion accessory, something to enhance your erection, something to get you turned on, or something to delay your orgasm just that little bit longer – or all of the above, there are plenty of fun and fomentative options for you. Give yourself the ultimate sign of (self) love – a ring!