If you are into humping, rubbing and grinding, then boy, oh boy, do I have a toy for you. Grinders are textured toys you can rub and rock against your body for external pleasure. These toys are all about the grind! You can explore the angle, pressure, and pace of rubbing to get it just right. Grinders focus on pressure rather than penetration. Although, as you’ll see, some ride-on grinders offer a side of penetration too.

What is a grinder sex toy?

The basic idea of a grinder is that it's an external toy that you move against rather than a toy that focuses on insertion or thrusting. For someone with a vulva, that can mean stimulation of the clitoris and surrounding tissue.

The clitoris is very sensitive, and using a grinder often feels a lot like manual masturbation with your hand or grinding against the bed or pillow. Or grinding against someone else's body, of course. This makes it a good stepping stone for folks who are new to sex toys or just want something different from vibration or pulsation.

But grinders aren’t just for vulvas! They can be used for stimulation of the perineum and booty too, making them great for people of all genders. 

Types of grinder sex toys

Not all grinders look and feel the same. Some are flat, some are contoured, and some have a saddle-like shape for riding. Yehaw! Here’s a few of the main types of grinding sex toys. 

Handheld grinders

These are grinders that are held in your hand and used to manually rub against the genitals for pleasure. This type of toy tends to be made from soft and squishy silicone that will move and mould to your body. This type of grinder also tends to be highly textured, more so than the other styles, to get as much sensation as possible.

Wild Bountiful Clamshell Vibrating Fantasy Grinder$86.95Shop Now

Saddle/ ride-on grinders

Saddle style grinders tend to look more simplistic than handheld ones, with a flatter, yet still contoured shape which makes them ideal for sitting on. The idea is that these are ride-on grinders. Pop them on a seat or bed and go to town! Lots of ride-on grinders will vibrate too, basically turning them into mini sex machines.

If you have your eye on a sex machine like the Cowgirl, trying one of these first is a great way to test the waters and check if you like the sensation before you take the plunge and invest in a bigger (and more expensive) machine.

Techno Trap Grinder Vibrator$109.95Shop NowRuby Glow 10$59.95Shop Now

Insertable grinders

I know I said that grinders are more about pressure than penetration, but some of these toys do both, and I’m totally here for it. Insertable grinders still have a nice wide base for you to grind on, but they up the ante by introducing a penetrative shaft as well.

In some cases, these will be small and soft and designed to stimulate only the entrance to the vagina or anus, while others will be larger and firmer to resemble a classic dildo.

Wild Mysterious Merfolk Fantasy Grinder$52.95Shop NowGrinders Sublime Vibrator$129.95Shop Now 

How to choose a grinder sex toy?

Now that you know the main types of grinding sex toys, here are the other things to consider before you make a purchase.

• Contact surface: Consider whether you want a smoother surface or a more pronounced, fun texture. How wide do you want the surface to be? Is it going to be a handheld toy or something you can ride on?

• Material: For grinders, silicone is your friend. It’s body-safe, non-porous and able to be sterilised (all the good stuff you want in a sex toy), and it can also be soft and squishy or smooth and firm depending on the formula.

• Vibration: Do you want the grinder to vibrate? Most ride-on ones do, and even some of the handheld ones have motors or bullet vibes that can be inserted into the toy to add some lovely vibration.

• Maintenance: Choose a design you can clean thoroughly. Some grinders are incredibly textured and will take a bit more than a quick dunk in water to clean. So, get something that matches your cleaning energy to stay safe.