A strap on, sometimes call a sex strap, works by allowing you to "wear" a toy and penetrate your partner with it. A strap on is usually worn around the waist; although, specialty harnesses can be worn on the thigh and even the forehead or chin!
Strap on harnesses are available in a variety of styles, so you can find one that meets your comfort and style needs.
- Lingerie/underwear pulls up like undies and work well for beginners.
- Three-strap/jock loops around the waist and each of the thighs
- Two-strap/G-string go around the waist and between the legs
Lingerie strap on harnesses come in sizes, but most stroppy styles are adjustable. It takes a little practice to get the straps in place and secure. A well-fitting harness doesn't cut into your skin or chafe, but it's important that you have enough control with the strap on. Otherwise, you'll find it hard to work up a rhythm with your strap on.
Some materials are easier to clean. Underwear strap on harnesses can often be tossed in the washing machine.
Your opinion might also be swayed by perks, like a slot where you can insert a dildo for your own pleasure while you penetrate your partner or a pocket for a small vibrator. Sometimes a strap on includes a hole or has a hollow dildo so a man can use it with his female partner.
Using a Toy and Strap On
The strap on usually consists of two parts: a harness and toy. However, strap on harnesses and dildos may be permanently attached. If a toy isn't permanently attached, you secure it to the harness by slipping the base through an O-ring. An O-ring lets you attach many toys with flared bases to your harness.
Some strap on harnesses even let you swap out the O-ring for one of a different size, meaning you can use pretty much any dildo or vibrating toy with a flat base that you'd like! O-rings can be elastic or rigid and should be snug enough to keep the dildo in place as you penetrate your partner.
Some companies make strap on harnesses with propriety technology. For example, Doc Johnson makes Vac-U-Lock harnesses, which only work with compatible dildos. So your toy options are much more limited.
Strapless Strap Ons
You might see some toys listed as strapless. You don't need a harness to use the strap on. Instead, one end fits into the wearer's vagina, and they use their muscles to keep it in place and control the motion. Unlike a double or dual dildo, these toys are pretty firm and bent or curved/
A strapless strap on may sound good, but it can be tricky to use and might not work out as well as a traditional strap on.