The Best Vegan Vibrators for Some Very Specific Needs
Avoiding animal byproducts might not seem like the sexiest way to shop for a vibe… but have you met the Thrusting Rabbit?
If you’re vegan, you probably want to make sure you’re not consuming animal suffering through any of your orifices. While some leather-based props and lambskin condoms are obviously not animal-friendly, at first glance, it seems like most vibrators should be vegan. Unfortunately, it turns out it’s a little more complicated than that.
According to Sienna Halliburton, a vegan Sex Educator and Marketing Manager for the luxury sex toy company Je Joue, glue is the most common material to watch out for when it comes to animal byproducts in vibrators. Luckily, there are many other synthetic options available for companies to use instead, as Je Joue does.
“You also want to make sure that materials and toys are never tested on animals,” Halliburton tells Tenderly. However, that’s also a complicated matter. Denny Alexander, Head of Marketing Communications at We-Vibe, confirmed to me that while their toys are made without animal products and are not tested on animals, they want to be even more transparent and note that “many are made with materials that were created for use in the healthcare industry. To comply with the strict biocompatibility and regulatory standards of the healthcare/medical environment, these raw materials may have been tested on animals.” If only all brands were so forthcoming about the complications of maintaining ethical supply chains.
In other words, a vegan vibrator’s strict veganity seems very difficult to verify. This may be part of the reason there’s no official vegan certification for vibrators — though, as a proud result of this article, Halliburton reached out to Vegan.org to ask them to consider changing this. One of my favorite brands, LELO, only prefers not to claim they are vegan because there is no official vegan certification process, but vegan sex toy shops do carry the brand, and so I’ve included my favorite toy from them here.
It seems vibrators are a little like cars — you can make sure the seats aren’t leather, but there’s still no avoiding the not-vegan tires, or running over insects. It’s also important to note that “vegan” is not always synonymous with “ethical.” “Many ‘animal-friendly’ materials, such as PVC, are one of the most harmful to the environment and in the long run cause a lot of harm to wildlife,” Halliburton notes.
She suggests that as a good rule of clitoris, going for “luxury” vibrators rather than cheap ones will generally help you avoid phthalates, animal glue and testing, and other unethical manufacturing processes. They also tend to be much better toys.
For what it’s worth, all the brands represented here (with the exception I mentioned of LELO), proudly confirm they consider the products listed below vegan. Given all the caveats above, only you can decide what feels right to you.
Whew, are you turned off yet? Allow me to turn this around and make you exhausted in a good way. I’ve tested dozens of vibrators over the years for review (tough life, I know), and these are the ones that have either made it into my regular rotation or are at the top of my list as the best vegan vibrators.
For Clitoral Stimulation During Penetrative Sex
One of the most under-hyped uses for vibrators is for enjoyment during penetrative sex. If someone’s inside you, it feels like a great secondhand high for them too — and if they are worth sleeping with, they will certainly enjoy watching you get more easily turned on (and on).
The NEA 2 by LELO ($99) is small but mighty, fits unobtrusively in your hand, is pretty quiet, easy to clean, and consistently gets the job done for me, both alone and during penetrative sex.
Touch by We-Vibe ($94) is another ergonomically-shaped, softer option that is slightly bigger but still easily fits in your hand in any position where you like to access your clitoris. The brand’s new We-Vibe Sync ($199) gives you hands-free clitoral stimulation during penetrative sex by hooking inside the vagina and resting on the pubic mound while providing both internal and external stimulation. It’s a step up from previous models in that it is more adjustable for different-sized vaginas (in the past, I found the part intended to hit my clitoris was vibrating way past it onto my pubic mound instead. This model allows for much better, if not perfect, adjustment lengthwise). People with penises also seem to get a real direct thrill out of feeling the Sync while inside a vagina, so that’s fun too.
For Outdoor Adventures
Another fun way to incorporate more good vibrations into your life is to channel your inner exhibitionist. While I am not usually a fan of bullet-style vibrators, the Crave Vesper Necklace ($69) is not just surprisingly powerful and quiet, but also a pretty cool-looking conversation-starter for those in the know. (Since it’s also silver, you’re safe here from any glue/silicone issues.) Put this necklace on and it’s a great way to signal to the boo that you mean business later — or wear it while on the prowl and feel like Inspector Gadget, never without your toolbox. Even better, it comes with a free and very subtle custom engraving, so it makes a great gift. Might I suggest: “Eat Pussy, Not Animals.”
If you want to be even more adventurous, you can try wearing a remote-controlled toy for the night. The Moxie by We-Vibe is fun for those of us in the majority who need clitoral stimulation to orgasm and lays relatively flat and quiet in your underwear, affixed with a magnet no less. A partner can use a remote in their pocket to turn it on, off, up, down, or adjust the many pulsation settings. They can even control it using We-Vibes’s app, making this an excellent toy for long-distance loves. If you prefer your fun mostly internal, you can also try We-Vibe’s Jive, which has the same Bluetooth capabilities as Moxie. It’s shaped similarly to the Sync and stays put inside you while still providing some light clitoral stimulation.
For Orgasms That Make Your Eyes Cross
Toys that suck on you really, really don’t suck. The brand that started it all, The Womanizer, remains my favorite in this genre. While The Womanizer Duo ($219) is exciting in that it gives you suction combined with penetration, having tried all of their newest models, I still like the somewhat retro Womanizer 2-GO ($69) best. It’s so much cheaper and more compact, and while it’s an old enough model that it’s not even sold on Womanizer’s website anymore, it remains in my top rotation. Either way, this brand lives up to its rather unfortunate name and confirms both models are vegan.
For Preventing Regrettable Decisions
I’ve found that having a seriously experiential toy around is excellent insurance against making less-than-wise decisions. In other words, it can be useful to invest in a toy that straight up properly f*cks you.
The Rabbit has come a long way since it came to fame on Sex and The City — it’s now waterproof, USB-chargeable, and yes — vegan. Which, given its name, I should certainly hope so! The Thrusting Rabbit ($219) is pricey but mimics the sensation of human thrusting to an almost eerie degree. You can pick your speed and strength of thrusting, and the head, softness, shape, and weight of the toy are very lifelike. There are so many different types of vibration patterns to choose from it’s almost silly. This toy can’t cuddle and kiss you, but it will mess your hair up and make you feel tossed around a bit, that’s for sure. No moving of the wrist required. Also fun is using this with a partner while they go down on you, mixing their tongue with the sensation of the vibrating flexible ears. (Yes, they get in the way a little, but in a good way. This works very well for those who enjoy oral but might have difficulty coming from a tongue alone.)
One of my newest favorites is The Beaded Backdoor Rabbit ($220), which is a little louder because of its rotating beads at its base and twisting motion, not to mention your likely involuntary screaming. Instead of thrusting, this one does you like a Vitamix — powerfully blended. While it’s designed as a prostate massager, I’ve found it works just dandy inside the vagina. (You can also turn it over so the ears are on your anus instead of your clit for some very light tickling or penetration. Do this while a partner goes down on you, or combine it with another toy/hand on your clit for light DP-like fun. Just never, ever turn the ears back around without sterilizing them first. UTIs!) The Rabbit Company’s S & M Bondage Set ($249) includes this toy — plus a vegan whip, blindfold, cuffs, and more, making it well worth the extra $30.
Finally, if you want a rabbit-style vibrator that’s a little more low-key, quieter, and smaller, I recommend Je Joue’s Fifi Rabbit Vibrator ($119), which is vegan, extremely well-made, and has a lower price point as well. I also keep Je Joue’s Uma G-Spot vibrator ($99) in my regular penetrative rotation. It’s a humble and quiet toy, well-designed to hit the spot and to be unobtrusive for a partner to scoop you out just right while they perform oral.
Happy vibrating, and may you use these toys to restore your energy to liberate all bodies — starting with your own.
