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Strapless vs. Harness - Which Strap-On Is Better for You?

Strapless vs. Harness - Which Strap-On Is Better for You?

One of the best ways to experiment with something new in the bedroom is by using a strap-on dildo. Bringing such a toy into your sex play means new opportunities, new positions, and new sensations!

Enjoyed by either straight or LGBTQ couples, strap-ons can provide lots of fun and excitement, as well as bring a refreshment if there has been too much routine in your sex life recently.

However, there are many products available on the market nowadays, and it may be hard to decide which option is the right one for you and your partner. The strapless strap on dildo is a new variant with its own set of advantages and disadvantages to consider.

One of the common dilemmas is the strapless vs. harness one - many couples wonder which solution will work best for them and how exactly they are different. Read on to learn more about strapless strap-on pros and cons, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the harness.

What Is a Strapless Strap-On?

A strapless strap-on is quite similar to a double-sided dildo. However, double dildos are usually straight or just a little curved, while strapless strap-ons end at such an angle that the wearer can relatively firmly keep it inside during intercourse.

What’s more, one end of a strapless strap-on is shorter, and a double-sided dildo looks like a standard internal dildo with two rounded ends for both partners to use at the same time or for one person to stimulate the vagina and the anus simultaneously.

As the name suggests, a strapless strap-on has no straps or any other attachment, so both partners need to insert its ends at the same time in order to use it. It can be used in various combinations - in two vaginas, two anuses, or a vagina and an anus. The sky’s the limit!

Strapless Strap-On - Pros and Cons

To make it easier for you to make the right choice, we have gathered all the most important pros and cons of a strapless strap-on for you to consider. Taking all that into account, you will make a more conscious decision when it comes to buying the best sex toy for you and your partner, and in this way, you will reduce the risk of any disappointment.

Strapless Strap-On - Benefits

Here are some of the significant benefits of a strapless strap-on:

Brings Your Bodies Closer

A huge advantage of a strapless strap-on is that it allows you and your partner to be closer without any straps, fabrics, or anything else between your bodies.

It creates a special level of skin-to-skin intimacy, allowing each of you to move as you like and achieve the desired form of penetration, while sharing physical pleasure with your partner at the same time.

Allows for Double Penetration

As previously mentioned, a strapless strap-on resembles a double-sided dildo, making it possible for both partners to be penetrated at the same time and feel mutual physical pleasure.

Watching your partner feel pleasure from the simultaneous penetration can make you more turned on and help you come as well - maybe you will even manage to come at the same time!

Lets You Try Out New Positions

With a strapless strap-on, you can try out a variety of new positions. In this way, it can bring even more variety to your sex life and make every intercourse different and more exciting.

Strapless Strap-On - Flaws

Nothing is perfect, and that includes the strapless strap-on as well. Make sure that none of these flaws is a deal breaker for you before you buy your sex toy:

Dealing With Body Shape Differences May Be Hard

When you and your partner use a strapless strap-on, it needs to fit you both, unlike the harness ones. If your body shapes differ a lot, it can be hard to optimize the position, but among so many products, you are likely to find something that fits you both.

There Can Be Difficulties With Adjusting the Size and the Tempo

Everyone is different, and the specific sexual needs and preferences can vary a lot between partners. You may like different sizes and rhythms, and while using the strapless strap-on together, you need to adjust those qualities somehow. However, the ends of this sex toy differ significantly, so there is a chance you will both find what you like best.

You Both Need to Be Ready

In the case of a harness strap-on, just one of the partners needs to be ready to be penetrated. When it comes to a strapless one, both of you need to be turned on and properly moisturized, as the dildo won’t be held by anything other than you two.

It May Fall Out More Often Than Usual

It is normal that during penetration, sometimes the penis or the dildo falls out. However, when there are two penetrations happening at the same time, it may happen a bit more often than usual, especially at the beginning.

Nevertheless, with time, you will probably learn how to adjust it to your sex play, and the frequency of that happening may reduce. It also helps if you have strong Kegel muscles (which also have excellent benefits for vaginal health!), so it is a great idea to exercise them with Ben Wa balls.

What Is a Harness Strap-On?

A harness strap-on is a sex toy that allows you to attach a dildo to your body and penetrate your partner without having to use your hands.

Most commonly, it is attached to the hips to make the dildo take a position at the front of the pelvis and resemble a real penis. Interestingly, some people also use it to attach a dildo to a piece of furniture for a solo play.

A harness strap-on can be used for both vaginal and anal penetration, as well as role-play, power play, and gender expression. It is enjoyed by people of all genders and sexual orientations alike!

Harness Strap-On - Pros and Cons

So as to facilitate the task of choosing the best sex toy for you and your partner, we collected all the essential harness strap-on pros and cons you should be aware of before placing your order in our online store. Keep them all in mind while making your decision, and think of any benefits or flaws that may be crucial for you and your partner.

Harness Strap-On - Benefits

We have gathered some of the most important benefits that you can get from a harness strap-on. They are as follows:

Makes It Possible to Focus on One Partner’s Pleasure

Some couples prefer to divide the roles between the giver and the receiver and always keep the same division or do it in turns and switch them. In such a case, a harness strap-on is perfect - it lets the giver focus entirely on the receiver when it comes to physical pleasure (while providing the giver with lots of mental satisfaction and excitement from penetrating their partner!).

Interestingly, if you prefer a harness sex toy that provides mutual penetration at the same time, there are also double-sided strap-ons available for you to order!

It Holds in Place Firmly

A harness strap-on can be attached firmly to the giver’s body, and, therefore, it most often stays in place during the whole sex play. In this way, the atmosphere won’t be spoiled, and you won’t be distracted by problems with placing a dildo with a flat base in the right place.

Just the Receiver Needs to Be Ready for Penetration

Contrary to a strapless strap-on, a harness one is most commonly used to stimulate just one partner at a time, so only one person needs to be properly moisturized (naturally or with a lubricant). In this way, you can bring the action faster!

The Body Shape Differences Don’t Matter

A harness strap-on can be better for couples with significant body shape differences. As it was previously mentioned, a strapless toy needs to be held inside by both partners at the same time, and here, only one person is penetrated at a given time, so adjusting the position is much easier.

Allows for Simultaneous Vaginal and Anal Penetration

It is worth mentioning that a harness strap-on allows you to reach both a vagina and an anus - even at the same time! Namely, you can purchase a double penetration harness strap-on with two slots. Then, you can either place two dildos or a combination of a dildo and a penis. It creates many possibilities for new sensations during your sexual intercourse!

Helps You to Try Out New Positions

A harness strap-on dildo allows you to try out lots of new positions, no matter what your and your partner’s gender and sexual orientation.

It allows, for example, two women to have doggy-style intercourse or a woman to perform pegging on him, as pegging sex is specifically anal on a male partner. With so many possibilities, this sex toy is bound to make your sex life more exciting and break the routine!

Harness Strap-On - Flaws

Even though harness strap-ons are super fun, they have a few disadvantages, most of which we listed below. Make sure you are okay with them before you buy this product!

You Can Be a Bit Embarrassed to Wear It at the Beginning

It happens that inexperienced people are a bit embarrassed to wear a harness strap-on at the beginning of using it. They may be worried that it looks funny or weird. However, it usually goes away with time, and it helps a lot if the other partner assures the wearer that it’s no shame, but the complete opposite - it is very exciting!

The Straps Can Disturb You

If you choose a harness strap-on over a strapless one, you need to be prepared for the fact that there will be some straps and other elements between your and your partner’s body. But it is something you can easily get used to with time, it doesn’t spoil the intimacy much.

You Need to Handwash the Harness

Hygiene is key, no matter what sex toy we are talking about. However, in this case, you not only have to clean the dildo but also the harness. Take into consideration that it shouldn’t be washed in a washing machine - it’s recommended to handwash it so that it isn’t damaged.

Strapless vs. Harness Strap-On - Pros and Cons Comparison

Here’s a quick recap of the pros and cons of both a strapless strap-on and a harness one:

Strapless Strap-On


Pros

Cons

  • You can have skin-to-skin contact with your partner

  • Both of you can be penetrated at the same time

  • You can try out new positions with simultaneous stimulation

  • Body shape differences can make such sex play a bit harder

  • You and your partner may have different needs and preferences when it comes to the tempo and size

  • You need to wait till both of you are properly moisturized

  • It can fall out more often than a regular dildo


Harness Strap-On


Pros

Cons

  • You can focus on the pleasure of one partner at a time

  • It is more firmly attached to your body

  • You only need the giver to be ready for penetration

  • Body shape differences are not an issue

  • You can try out new positions

  • Inexperienced people may be embarrassed to wear it at the beginning

  • There are always straps between your bodies

  • You need to handwash not only the dildo but also the harness


Strapless vs. Harness Strap-On - Summary

All in all, even though both sex toys can provide lots of excitement and pleasure, there are quite a few differences between a strapless and a harness strap-on, so you need to consider them before you make your choice.

If you are going to use it with your partner, talk it through with them carefully. Be open with expressing what you expect and what you are afraid of, and encourage them to do the same. Then, go over our harness vs. strapless strap-on pros and cons comparison and see how it correlates with what you have established with your lover.

We hope that thanks to a better understanding of all the benefits and flaws of both products, you will find what you are looking for easily. And if it turns out none of them are what you need, don’t worry - we have lots of other sex toys for couples available in our online store as well. Choose your favorite one and have a great time with your partner in bed!




Mayla Green

Mayla Green has been involved in the sex toy industry since 2004. Working behind the motto “Sex TOYS should be FUN”, Mayla provides unique tips & advice amassed from over a decade of hands on experience with adult products. She also coaches clients how to fully enjoy sexual pleasure and can be seen in major publications & magazines online.

Happily married since 2009, she knows firsthand how the sex life eventually becomes repetitive (which truthfully means boring), so if you're looking to spice things up in the bedroom, Mayla's your gal! Her literary pride & joy is covering topics for established couples needing inspiration to keep lovemaking exciting and fun.

Not in a relationship? Her other focus is teaching women how to properly handle the “little person in the canoe” to experience the best orgasms ever, no partner required! Her creative and innovative tips, techniques and advice is on par with a certified sex therapist or Sexologist, but with an extra advantage from her knowledge of the adult toy business.

View all articles published by Mayla Green exclusively for The Adult Toy Shop sex blog and follow me on Instagram.

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