I like to do my research before I try something new with my partner. It’s all great reading reviews and you can certainly take some tips away. But it’s so much better when you can speak to someone who really knows the subject and has first-hand experience. I caught up with Jelle Plantenga from Velv’Or an experienced cock ring designer and Jay, boldpleasures’ sex toy tester and longstanding kinkster, who kindly answered some of my need-to-know questions.
How a Cock Ring Works
If you look up cock rings, Wikipedia will bring up a very formal explanation along the lines of…
Cock rings are designed to encircle the penis, usually at the base of the shaft, testicles or both. The primary purpose of wearing a cock ring is to restrict the flow of blood from the erect penis. This produces a stronger erection, or maintains an erection for a longer period of time.
I’ve heard cock rings described as a selfish toy. But seriously: a harder penis, longer lasting sex, that is fun for both parties, right? The sight of your partner’s aroused penis in a cock ring alone can be very arousing, especially if you’ve helped to put it on.
Not happy with the clinical Wikipedia sum up, I asked Jelle, how do they actually make you feel when you wear them.
“Cock rings come in many different shapes and sizes. As a creator of very exclusive cock rings, wearing one I actually created, I feel more self-confident and more alpha male.”
Why Are Cock Rings so Much Fun?
Just wearing a foreign object on their penis is quite arousing to many men. And for your partner, the sight of you wearing equally so. Experimenting and exploring together is always an opportunity to build intimacy with your partner, and what is not fun about that?
A cock rings is relatively cheap to buy for starters. Unlike pills or sprays which are designed to help you last longer and stay harder, they are completely natural. For beginners this is an added bonus, there’s nothing worse than forking out some serious money on bedroom equipment, only to later find out it’s not for you!
I asked Jelle to give us the low-down on what his favourite aspects of wearing cock rings are and his answer adds another dimension to the humble toy:
“When you are wearing a cock ring in a day-to-day environment the secrecy of nobody knowing gives you an extra kinky feeling. Plus, you are very conscious of being a male all day long.
Having sex with a cock ring gives you a whole other dimension to the enjoyment. The pressure on the perineum/first chakra gets you on top of the world and generates a very powerful ejaculation.”
But, just like all sex toys, they’re not for everyone. We took a look at this recent study which claimed 72% of men said they did not find cock rings appealing. Whether that’s because they didn’t use great cock rings or they are really an acquired taste, we will never know.
After hearing a recent story about a guy that got stopped at airport security wearing one, and was asked to take it off for closer inspection. Just be careful where you wear yours!
How Do You Put on a Cock Ring?
Depending on your experience level, there are a few ways you can wear and rock a cock ring!
1Around the Penis
The best place to start for newbies looking to spice up their usual routine. A silicone or rubber (stretchy) ring is a good entry model.
Simply apply the cock ring to the base of a semi-hard penis. If you’re opting for anything that is rigid, like steel, stone, wood etc the ring needs to be applied with a flacid penis.
You can do so yourself or with the help of your partner, but just make sure it feels comfortable and isn’t pinching. So applied, the cock ring holds blood inside and stops it flowing out again too quickly, helping you to stay hard.
2Around the Testis
Once you’ve mastered #1 you might feel like kicking it up a notch. Try using a cock ring to encircle not just your penis but your testicles too. The principle is the same as in #1 but some people claim to have stronger orgasms.
I asked boldpleasures sextoy expert and long-standing kinkster Jay about his personal preference:
Jay’s Tip: Wearing a cock ring also around your testis also makes blowjobs much more enjoyable.
Fitting Advice: About Cock Ring Sizes
Getting the right cock ring size makes all the difference.
Measure the circumference around the base of your penis and right behind your testicles. Make sure you measure it exactly with a bit of rope or a flexible measuring tape.Then divide the circumference by 3.14 and the result is the approximate diameter of the cock ring you want.
So, for example: 6in / 3.14 = 1.9in diameter. (Or in metric: 17 cm / 3.14 = 5.4 cm diameter.)
Keep in mind you want a slightly smaller diameter for your cock ring as it needs to restrict the blood flow when you are erect.This also goes for rings on the shaft, most cock ring manufacturers (any that have good stuff) will have size guides.
Jelle recommends:“The most important step is to be patient. You can better start with a cock ring that is too loose compared to one that is too tight. Over the years, if cock rings are for you, you will learn to wear tighter ones.ive your body time to adjust to the feeling. If you are impatient, I would always recommend to start with a penis only ring.”
Are Cock Rings Dangerous?
Cock rings should fit snugly and not pinch, if your body starts feeling uncomfortable take it off, no matter how long you are wearing it. Cock rings vary in quality and safety, so make sure you get a safe one. There is a rule of thumb especially for beginners, to not wear a penis ring longer than 30 minutes.
Jay says: The 30 minute rule is a general safety guideline. I’ve had rings that didn’t stay on for ten minutes. Others I have worn or hours. Really, you should listen to your body: Your penis should remain warm while wearing it and you should keep feeling it. If any of those above fail, take it off, no matter the time.
I asked Jelle, what he does not enjoy about wearing a cock ring and I must say the answer was both unexpected and did crack me up::
“It is probably the feeling that one ball slips out when you wear a slightly too loose cock ring during cold weather. Most of the time you will be able to reach into your pants and push your ball back and pull your sack out but sometimes the moment just doesn’t let you and this can be a moment of feeling unpleasant.”
However, ambient “temperature” does seem to play an integral part when wearing a cock ring and should be taken into your health & safety consideration 😉 Because when I asked about his biggest mishap, Jelle shared:
“I was wearing a cock ring that was too tight during a too hot moment. Even though slightly painful, a great feeling for me personally: very manly and hard. But it did scare my partner to see my penis in this stage. And the uncomfortable feeling of my partner in turn then made me uncomfortable.
Lesson learned: Build it up together and communicate. And like with every sex toy you’re trying for the first time, take it easy and play it safe. You have the rest of your life to crank things up.
Be sure to stay in touch, coming soon our top rated cock rings. Here’s what Jay thinks about Jelle’s Velv’Or JNaja cock ring.
