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The best strap-ons to shop now, from harnesses, to dildos, and strapless sex toys
Strap in for pegging, power play and double penetration sex toy recs

Since humans learned the difference between rocks and food, we’ve been using dildos of various persuasions to get our kicks. (No, seriously, the earliest dildos — made of anything from rocks, bananas, or leather — trace back to Ancient Egypt and Greece.)
So it makes sense that we’ve since created ways to reap the benefits of dildos without even having to hold them. Enter: the strap-on. While well-known as a lesbian sex essential, strap-on and strapless dildos have a breathtaking (we mean it) array of usages, and can be enjoyed by LGBT+ and heterosexual couples alike.
Whether you’re in a WLW (women who love women — get to know) relationship, looking to explore pegging, or simply want to unleash your dominant side, these body-braced sex toys are the ideal choice for hands-free, and sometimes mutual, penetration.
From double-ended jockstraps to dainty lace pegs, we share expert tips on how to choose the ideal dildo and harness for your pleasure. Keep scrolling for our pick of the best strap-on sex toys for any and every sexual scenario.
The best strap-ons at a glance
What is a strap-on?
In its simplest form, a strap-on sex toy is a makeshift penis designed to be worn during sex. “Traditional strap-ons are options that allow one user to penetrate a partner during sex,” explains Glenise Kinard-Moore, founder and creator of thevdom.com.
Fashioned from all manner of materials over the millennia including stone, wood, and even elephant tusk, you’ll be pleased to hear that 21st century sex tech has raised the bar since the discovery of silicone. These days dildos come in every imaginable shape, size, colour, and density, including vibrating, double-ended, and strapless.
Harnesses have also had a reboot and you can choose from leather, nylon, lace, and even discreet briefs designed to comfortably hold your shlong in place.
Is strap-on sex for you?
Strap-ons sex toys can work wonders in any number of sexual scenarios, including power play, double penetration, or switching up traditional gender roles. But misconceptions about who uses them could discourage people, says Kinard-Moore. “The truth is, strap-ons are used by anyone who has a need or is simply interested,” she explains. “The benefit of using a strap-on is that you are able to add an option to the bedroom no matter how you identify sexually.”
Some heterosexual couples experiment with strap-on sex because they enjoy pegging — when a cisgender woman anally penetrates her cis male partner. Or perhaps you’re in a lesbian or queer relationship and don’t have a penis but still enjoy the feeling of penetration. Or maybe you have a penis but struggle with erectile dysfunction and still want to pleasure your lover. Or you might simply appreciate some additional girth, fancy exploring multiple orifices all at once, or maybe you’re just curious! Whatever gets you off, irrespective of your sexuality, you are all invited to the strap party.
Strap-on terminology to know
- Dildo: The phallic-shaped portion of the strap-on that is used for penetration. These sometimes imitate an erect penis, and sometimes are more obscure-looking. There are endless types of dildo, from anal to glass, double-ended, beaded, realistic, and vibrating — in a range of sizes.
- O ring: An O-shaped ring, usually placed directly over your mons pubis/ clitoral area, to loop a dildo through. Harnesses either come with these attached, or with multiple options so you can attach multiple dildos as you like.
- Harness: An underwear-shaped sling, that literally provides the strap in ‘strap-on’ for the dildo. These come in a range of colours, sizes, and fabrics and can be classed as jockstraps, thongs, or underwear.
- Strapless strap-on: A dildo that doesn't need to be attached using a harness, but instead sits inside the wearer using a ‘pony’ (usually a shorter insertable dildo that goes into the giver's vagina). Top tip: if you're going to use these, do your kegels...
- Pony: Used describe the end of the strapless strap-on that goes inside the wearer (ie. not the main dildo end that is used to penetrate the receiver).
16 best strap-on sex toys to shop now
Now that we've covered the basics of strap-ons, you're ready to get shopping. To save you confusion and time scrolling, our sex writer compiles a list of the best strap-ons, strapless strap ons, and harnesses to buy now.
For a more bespoke experience, we'd recommend shopping for your harness and dildo separately, but beginner kits that include both are a great place to start. Keep scrolling for our pick of the best strap-on kits to suit every scenario.

Rhalou is a senior digital editor specialising in health and wellness with over eighteen years’ online and print publishing experience. Rhalou has worked for various health platforms including Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Runner’s World, Netdoctor, Women’s Running, Men’s Running, The Running Bug and Women’s Fitness. Covering everything from sexual health to fitness, parenting, marathon running and self-care, Rhalou loves creating fun and accessible lifestyle content and feels strongly about demystifying complex medical jargon and empowering people to better understand their health. Previously, Rhalou was a freelance social media specialist for several major sporting events and race listings including The London Marathon, Breca Swimrun, Findarace, The Westminster Mile and Prudential Ride 100. She has also been a reporter on a local newspaper in remote Scotland, penning breaking news stories about killer otters, cats stuck up trees and the Scottish hill racing scene. Over the years, Rhalou has been lucky enough to run 15 marathons and even a few ultra-marathons. She is still a passionate runner, but these days she can mostly be found at her local parkrun or chasing after her young son.
Lois Shearing is Cosmoplitan's Former Senior Sex and Relationship Writer. They have been writing about sex, sexuality, gender, politics, and relationships for almost ten years. Their writing on these topics has appeared in Mashable, The Independent, Metro, The Advocate, and Byline Times, among others. In 2021, they published their first book, Bi the Way with JKP. They are currently working on two other books, set to be published in 2024. In a previous life, they worked as a content marketer and content writer for various tech start-ups. They continue to be interested in the tech sector and its impact on our lives, relationships, and work, with particular regard to the ways AI will shape our relationships in the future. Outside of work, they are deeply passionate about queer community organising, and run the only support resource for bisexual survivors of sexual violence in the UK: the Bi Survivors Network. You can find them on Instagram and X.
Honey is the Senior Sex and Relationships E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health and Men’s Health. She covers shopping guides and reviews of the best sex toys; deals events — including Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday; and sex, dating, and LGBTQ+ trends.
Her journalism career started in 2020 when she started Sextras, a podcast and digital magazine about sex and relationships. Find Sextras on Spotify or Substack, where she writes and chats about everything from positive masculinity and how to practise sex magic, to why the latest kink or porn category is blowing up.
She has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London, and previously reported for HR magazine. Her features also appear in Glamour, Refinery29, The Independent, and more.
When she's not asking everyone she meets invasive questions about their sex and dating lives, you'll find Honey singing around her flat, teaching herself a new craft, or working her way through a new '90s/'00s box set with her flatmate.

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