Choosing a strap-on: hollow or solid, harness, size and material
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
Buying a strap-on often goes wrong with the harness rather than the model. This buying guide explains what hollow and dense mean, how to read sizes, and which lubricant suits which material.
A strap-on is returned more often because of the harness than because of the model. The strap pinches, the attachment slips, or the size on paper turns out to be something completely different in hand. That's a shame, because the differences between the designs are easy to explain. Below is what to look for when buying: the construction, the sizes, the harness, the material, and the maintenance.
Hollow or solid: the difference that determines the rest
The first question is not what size, but whether the model is hollow or solid. That determines who it is intended for.
A hollow strap-on is open on the inside, so it goes over one's own body like a sleeve. This makes the model suitable for wearers who want something around it; some versions can be used both with and without this function. The Damian Hollow Strap-on of 16 cm (€14.95) is the simplest variant of this.
A solid model is full on the inside. For the Afrodyta Strap-on of 16.5 cm (€29.95), this is explicitly stated in the product information: the model is solid on the inside and therefore cannot be used as a sleeve. Such a version is intended for wearers who work exclusively with the harness.
So always check that one sentence before ordering. Hollow and solid often look identical in photos.
Reading sizes: length, diameter, and what's left
Strap-ons usually have two or three numbers in the description, and they don't mean the same thing.
Length is usually the usable part. The models in this range are around 16 to 16.5 cm.
Total length includes the base. For the Hollow Strap-on Super Hero (16.5 cm), for example, a total length of 24.5 cm is stated: that's the whole piece, not the usable part.
Diameter is more important than length for most people. A difference of half a centimeter in diameter feels larger than three extra centimeters in length.
Specifically: the Afrodyta has a stated outer diameter of 3.5 cm, the Adrian Vibrating Strap-on of 16 cm (€19.95) mentions 4.2 and 2.5 cm for the thickest and thinnest points, and the Super Hero has a diameter of 4.5 cm. First-time buyers are advised to start at the bottom of that range.
For hollow models, it sometimes also states what the model adds. The Super Hero, for example, indicates that it lengthens by 4.5 cm and thickens by 0.5 cm. These are the numbers that matter if you already have something in the sleeve.
The harness: where it usually goes wrong
The harness is the part you feel all the time and the part about which there is the least information in the photo. There are roughly three solutions.
Panties with attachment. The Afrodyta comes with adjustable panties with a separate attachment for the model. Advantage: pressure is distributed over a wide area and there is little to adjust. Disadvantage: you are stuck with the sizing of those panties.
An elastic waistband. For the Super Hero, this is an elastic band with Velcro closure, according to the manufacturer up to a maximum circumference of 105 cm, with straps attached with snap fasteners. Measure your waist or hip circumference before ordering; it's the only size where a strap-on really won't fit.
A supplied set of straps without adjustment options. This is mainly found in cheaper sets. Works fine if you fall within the standard size, but there is little leeway.
Two more practical points. Velcro wears out and pills; close it after use so that no dust and hair get stuck in it. And a strap that you have to pull tight to keep something stable is usually the wrong size — stability should come from the fit, not from the tension.
Material and the associated lubricant
In this range, you will encounter two descriptions: silicone and cyberskin (sometimes called Loveclonex). Silicone is smooth, dense in structure and easy to clean. Cyberskin is softer and more porous in nature; this material feels different, but requires a little more care when cleaning and drying.
For lubricant, there is one rule of thumb you'll see everywhere: use water-based lubricant with silicone. Silicone-based lubricant can damage the surface of silicone items, and this cannot be reversed. Water-based lubricant can never go wrong, regardless of the material.
Let everything dry completely before storing it. Moisture in a closed box is the most common cause of musty odor.
Store separately from other items. Different types of soft plastic can react to each other with prolonged contact and become sticky. A cotton bag or a separate box solves this.
Replace if there are tears, permanent stickiness, or a surface that no longer becomes smooth after cleaning. Damaged material can no longer be properly cleaned.
The harness itself deserves the same attention: textiles and elastic go into the wash according to the label, and you free Velcro from hairs and lint.
The four models side by side
Model
Construction
Size
Price
Damian Hollow Strap-on
Hollow
16 cm
€14.95
Adrian Vibrating Strap-on
With vibration
16 cm, ø 4.2–2.5 cm
€19.95
Afrodyta Strap-on
Solid, with panties
16.5 cm, ø 3.5 cm
€29.95
Hollow Strap-on Super Hero
Hollow, silicone
16.5 cm, ø 4.5 cm
€34.95
If you're buying for the first time, a model with a smaller diameter and an adjustable harness is the safest start. If it works, you'll know exactly which two numbers to look for next time you buy.
Further looking and asking questions
The models in this article and similar versions can be found in Dildo and Sex toys for couples. The associated maintenance can be found in Lubricant and Toy cleaners. All orders are shipped in neutral packaging. If you have any doubts about the size, material, or circumference of a harness, please email info@verpakkingdeals.nl — we will look up the specified details for you before you order.
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