Whether you’re a sex toy novice or pro, the best cock rings do something that no other category of toy can do: improve the strength and longevity of your boner, while feeling good for you and your partner—a true multitasker.
There’s still a lot of stigma about guys using pleasure products, but we’re here to tell you that they can change your life. “We have a belief [in our culture] that men should always, at all times, be sexually charged and ready to go,” says Alysha Malik, founder and CEO of sexual wellness brand Rythm. “We shame men if they aren’t always turned on or need some assistance in the act.”
Cock rings are useful for dealing with erectile dysfunction, but even if your hard-ons aren’t hard-won, you’ll still enjoy the enhanced firmness and sensitivity. Here’s what you need to know about them and the best ones to buy.
The Best Cock Rings, According to Sexologists & Testers
The Best Vibrating Silicone Cock Ring: We-Vibe Pivot
The Sexologist’s Review
Shamyra Howard, a sexologist for Lovehoney, recommends We-Vibe’s Pivot for anyone with a penis that wants increased stimulation in partnered or solo sex. It’s got over 10 vibration modes to toggle between, and a powerful motor backing it. Your partner’s clit or perineum will be stimulated by the vibrations during sex, too, making it a true win-win. We’re also big fans of Maude’s Bend, which at $52 is a great cheaper alternative, but is currently out of stock.
The Best Thicker Vibrating Cock Ring: Maude Band
Why We Like It
One way you can tell this is a great cock ring is that the fact Maude can barely keep it in stock long enough for folks to get their own. It comes recommended by sex educator Elizabeth Ashford, founder of sexual wellness community Beyond the Beez. She likes that it’s got “a little more width and girth” than your typical cock ring, which might make it more comfy for some users than slimmer styles. It offers 5 vibration settings to play around with, and is water-resistant, so you can even use it in the shower.
The Best Penis Ring Combo Kit: Screaming O
Why We Like It
This kit contains a strong, rechargeable bullet vibrator that can be used on its own or tucked into one of the two included attachments, a finger sleeve and (you guessed it) a cock ring. You get a lot of bang for your buck with this multi-use set, especially since the vibe itself has 10 different settings to choose from.
The Best Cock and Balls Ring: Forto F20
Why We Like It
For even more sensation, consider a stretchy cock ring that stimulates your balls and penis at the same time. This one comes highly recommended by Malik for “exploring new sensations and pleasure pathways.” Balls often seem like an afterthought in cock ring design, but this one gently stretches the wearer’s scrotum downwards during use, for a unique and satisfying feeling. It also acts as an enhancer, making your testicles and scrotum look bigger in a way that many people find appealing.
The Best Dual-Motor Cock Ring: Hot Octopuss Atom Plus
Why We Like It
“If you want added pleasure for both you and your partner, a vibrating cock ring can be a fantastic option,” says Dr. Amy Pearlman, a board-certified urologist and surgeon who often recommends cock rings to her patients. This particular one has two motors—one at the top and one at the bottom—which are designed to maximize pleasure for both you and your partner. One motor can rumble pleasantly against your sensitive perineum (otherwise known as the taint), while the other one presses against your partner’s clitoris or taint, depending on anatomy and positioning. Since Hot Octopuss’s motors are legendarily strong and rumbly, this ring is sure to impress.
The Best Luxury Cock Ring: Lelo Tor 3
Why We Like It
“Don’t skimp on price” when it comes to a cock ring, Ashford warns, especially if you want a vibrating one. “Our rule of thumb for any toy is to skip the battery-operated options and always choose a rechargeable toy,” she says. Their motors usually boast more power and a lower-pitched, more pleasing vibration quality that makes them worth the cash. This one, by high-end sex toy company Lelo, is one of the most luxurious options on the market, with its eight vibration modes, Bluetooth compatibility, soft silicone coating, and impressive motor.
The Best Remote-Controllable Cock Ring: Diamo
Why We Like It
I love using this remote-control ring with my long-distance partner, because I can control the vibration they’re feeling, even when I’m hundreds of miles away. Connecting the toy to Lovense’s proprietary app is quick and easy, and the app itself is packed with features, from video and audio calling, to creating your own vibration patterns, to syncing up the vibration to music. The shape of this one sets it apart from many others, too, since part of it protrudes to hit your taint (or your partner’s clit or taint, depending on how you’re using it).
The Best Luxury Rabbit Ears Cock Ring: Fun Factory Nos
Why We Like It
You may have seen cock rings with flimsy “bunny ears” attached. These are modeled after classic rabbit vibes for additional clitoral stimulation. But if you want the best of the best, this ring has thicker, firmer edges to its “ears” than those usually found on this type of ring, which can make contact with your partner’s clit during sex more effectively to transmit vibrations there.
The Best Double-Penetration Cock Ring: Double Dip 2
Why We Like It
If your partner enjoys being penetrated both vaginally and anally, why not give them both at once? This silicone cock ring’s built-in anal toy ensures you can do just that. Since the toy moves in and out at the same pace as your thrusts, it’ll almost feel like you’re penetrating them with two dicks at the same time, so it can be a fun way to explore a threesome fantasy together, or just to overwhelm your partner with sensation.
The Best Cock Ring for Perineum Pleasure: We-Vibe Verge
Why We Like It
The perineum, also known as the taint, is the nerve-packed area between your balls and your anus. Although it’s often overlooked by sex toy makers, stimulating this area can increase your pleasure exponentially during sex and solo play. Thankfully, the bent triangular shape extending from one end of this rechargeable cock ring can vibrate against your taint and balls—or against your partner’s clit if turned around in the opposite direction. Note that customer reviews say it runs a bit small (or fits tightly, depending on how you look at it), so keep that in mind before you buy.
The Best Double Cock Ring: Lovehoney Bed Ringer
Why We Like It
This is essentially two cock rings in one, for double the pleasure and double the constriction. One of the rings goes around your shaft, the other around the base of your balls, amplifying the Bed Ringer’s boner-boosting effects. Plus, it features vibration and a textured “stimulation pad” that your partner might enjoy grinding against during sex.
The Best Stainless Steel Cock Ring: Dominix Deluxe
Why We Like It
If you’ve already got plenty of cock ring experience under your belt (so to speak) and want to level up, consider a stainless steel model. This one isn’t for beginners: There’s no forgiving silicone stretch, which means it’s one-size and harder to put on—and much harder to get off (particularly if something wild happens and you’re headed to the emergency room). But for a cool-to-the-touch feel, discreet look, and tight squeeze, it’s certainly worth a try.
The Best “Thuddy” Vibrating Cock Ring: Je Joue Mio
Why We Like It
We’ve found that Je Joue motors feel unlike any other. Their vibrations are “ultra-low frequency,” according to the brand—which feels, in practice, less like the annoying buzzing found in some vibrators, and more like a low-pitched, super-fast tapping. “Rumbly” or “thuddy” vibrators like these are better for stimulating tissues that go deeper than surface-level, for a more intense and full-bodied sensation. This ring provides those deep vibrations for both you and your partner, with five speeds and seven patterns to choose from.
The Best Adjustable Vibrating Cock Ring: Satisfyer Bullseye
Why We Like It
It’s rare to see a vibrating cock ring that’s adjustable to fit different-sized shafts, but that’s exactly what this toy is. It’d be a good pick if you want to introduce some vibration into penetrative sex but your penis is on either the thicker or slimmer end of the bellcurve, in which case the other vibrating rings on this list may not fit quite right. You can control this adjustable cock ring wirelessly via the Satisfyer app, too, and can even invite a long-distance partner to control it online.
The Best Basic Cock Ring
Why We Like It
This ring is about as simple as they come, making it a good pick for newbies. “The Bandit is a silicone non-vibrating cock ring that is sure to please,” Ashford says. “For only $13, Unbound offers a trusty ring that is body-safe and great for beginners.” Just lube it up, slide it on, and you’re good to go.
The Best Smart Cock Ring
Why We Like It
Ever wanted a FitBit for your dick? Here it is! Connect the FirmTech Tech Ring to its accompanying app on your phone, then wear it to bed, and it’ll track the quantity and quality of your nocturnal erections, which can be a predictor of heart health. It also has many of the benefits of regular cock rings when worn during sex or masturbation, including intensifying erections and orgasms, but the data-tracking aspect of it is what I’ve enjoyed most when my partner and I have used it together, since we’re both nerds about sexuality. Dr. Pearlman, who sits on the scientific advisory board for FirmTech, told me it’s also a great option for people who want to monitor the dick-related effects of medical treatments they’re on, such as testosterone therapy—”plus, it’s the only ring that’s safe for overnight wear, which sets it apart from others that typically have a 20- to 30-minute time limit” for safety reasons.
The Best Cock Ring for Beginners
Why We Like It
“This is a great ring for beginners,” says Gigi Engle, a sex and relationships psychotherapist and resident intimacy expert at 3Fun. It’s got two adjustable sliders, so you can get the perfect fit around both the base of your penis and your balls. “It’s very intuitive to use,” Engle says. Not to mention, ultra-cheap, which makes it a good pick for anyone who’s not sure about cock rings but wants to give them a shot.
The Best Cock Ring Duo Set
Why We Like It
If you and your partner each want your own cock ring to wear during sex/masturbation, this cock ring set is the cheapest way to pick up two We-Vibe Bond rings at once. “The set showcases cutting-edge technology, as both cock rings are app-controlled and come with 10 built-in vibrational settings,” Ashford explains. They’re super quiet and waterproof, too—and their size is even adjustable, using the included Custom Fit link, so this duo should work for both you and your partner, even if you both are different sizes.
What Does a Cock Ring Do?
First and foremost, they make your boners better. “They can help a lot with erectile dysfunction, as strong erections are heavily based on good blood flow to the penis during arousal,” Engle explains. Cock rings provide some constriction around the base of the penis, which allows blood to flow in, but keeps it from flowing back out, resulting in stronger erections and delayed ejaculation for more intense orgasms.
Whether you’ve got a medically diagnosed case of ED or just a bit of performance anxiety, cock rings can help a lot to improve your sex life. “I talk about them with almost every patient I see, because the benefits are undeniable, yet many men have never even considered them,” says Dr. Pearlman.
Even if your erections are in good working order, though, cock rings can be a source of pleasure—not just for you, but for your partner(s), too. “For vulva-owners, certain cock rings come with a raised base (often one that vibrates) which can help with getting that much-needed clitoral stimulation that the vast majority of vulva owners need in order to experience orgasm,” Engle says.
And by the way, incase you’re wondering: “You can use a cock ring with a condom,” says Dr. Michelle Forcier, a clinician at FOLX Health, so even if you’re practicing safer sex, you still have the option to boost your pleasure (and your erection quality) with a cock ring.
