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Tenga Deep Throat masturbation cup, $16–$19, at Shag Brooklyn (108 Roebling St at North 6th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-721-3302, weloveshag.com)
“Look, fellas, we’ve all done it—ya know—played ‘just the tip.’ It’s the best game there is, and nothing matches the real thing, unless you’re three sheets to the wind and have a paper clip, two Popsicles and a rubber band. It’s the perfect amount of hard meets soft.”—Jai Lennard, pleasure professional and toy reviewer
Crystal Delight Star Delight Wand, $100, at Shag Brooklyn (108 Roebling St at North 6th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-721-3302, weloveshag.com)
“I like to play with class. This is a glass dildo with a super cute Swarovski crystal embedded in the base, and the best part is that it has nubs all up and down that will rock your world as they go in and out. I really like the feeling of a glass toy—it’s smooth and hard; it can be cooled and warmed; and it’s eco-friendly. For an extra-special sensation, give it a twist!”—Dixon Mason, pleasure professional and toy reviewer
Je Joue Ami toy, $49, at Shag Brooklyn (108 Roebling St at North 6th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-721-3302, weloveshag.com)
“This is a way for women to strengthen their pelvic floors. It is literally a ‘friend’ for women; ‘she’ helps keep things ‘Gucci’ down there. I can notice a difference in my PC muscle strength in a short period of time, which enhances the big O and also gives a little extra pleasure to my male partner. The Ami also helps promote natural lubrication, and that’s always a win in my book.”—Ashley Montgomery, co-owner
Minna Ola customizable vibrator, $165, at Shag Brooklyn (108 Roebling St at North 6th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-721-3302, weloveshag.com)
“It’s very powerful, but has a smooth vibration. It responds instantaneously when the end is squeezed [so that] you get exactly what you want, when you want it! The customizable option gives you an infinite number of choices for patterns, and it remembers whatever you program into it. How awesome is that?”—Sarah F., pleasure professional
Sex & Mischief bondage tape, $12, at Shag Brooklyn (108 Roebling St at North 6th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-721-3302, weloveshag.com)
“Bondage tape is so versatile! It only sticks to itself (not to skin or hair), so you can use it as a blindfold, a gag, restraints, or get creative and do some crazy body wrapping. It’s a must have in every toy box.”—Samantha Bard, co-owner
Oxballs Gym-Boy cock sheath, $70, at Purple Passion (211 W 20th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves; 212-807-0486, purplepassion.com)
“Since our store is in the heart of Chelsea, it’s cool that we have the hottest cock toys around for all the hot men who shop with us. This one is definitely killer hot and a favorite of mine. It gives you a gain of about three inches in length and adds that ‘just-right’ extra [amount] to the girth.”—Keith Gallant, sales associate
Cat Woman latex hood with back zipper, $165, at Purple Passion (211 W 20th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves; 212-807-0486, purplepassion.com)
“I love to dress up all year round, not just for Halloween. This hood is so cute and playful. I also love the anonymity of wearing a hood—nobody knows it’s me!”—Lolita Wolf, store manager
Deer flogger, $135, at Purple Passion (211 W 20th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves; 212-807-0486, purplepassion.com)
“I love this flogger, whether I am giving or getting it. As a bottom, it feels so soft and luscious—I could just be flogged all day long. When I top, I love the heft, and it feels comfortable in my hand. It makes me feel sexy.”—Savannah S., sales associate
Purple Passion leather suspenders, $57–$68, at Purple Passion (211 W 20th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves; 212-807-0486, purplepassion.com)
“I make a lot of the leather items in our store. One of my favorites is the leather suspenders, which come in black, yellow and blue patent leather, as well as black, red, hot pink and silver leather. I use top-of-the-line hardware and a soft garment leather, which is glued and sewn. These can be worn as fetish gear or as streetwear.”—Hilton Flax, production manager
Vampire gloves, $50, at the Pleasure Chest (156 Seventh Ave South at Charles St; 212-242-2158, thepleasurechest.com)
”When I want to add a little kick to my kink, I pull out the vampire gloves. The fingertips are lined with small sharp tacks that, when dragged along sensitive parts of the body, send shivers down your spine. Pair them with a blindfold for extra sensory fun!”—Phillip Wooten, supervisor
Njoy Pure Wand, $108, at the Pleasure Chest (156 Seventh Ave South at Charles St; 212-242-2158, thepleasurechest.com)
“Hands-down my favorite toy! The weight of this stainless steel product makes finding and pleasing your prostate or G-spot easy for beginners or advanced users.”—Papí Coxxx, sex specialist
Njoy Pure Plug, $70–$114, at the Pleasure Chest (156 Seventh Ave South at Charles St; 212-242-2158, thepleasurechest.com)
“This is a great stainless steel plug that’s easy to insert and comfortable to wear. I don’t mind admitting that I have worn this while walking around the city before, so the next time you see me smiling on the L train…”—Brandon B., store manager
Sliquid Sea lubricant, $15-$25, at the Pleasure Chest (156 Seventh Ave South at Charles St; 212-242-2158, thepleasurechest.com)
“This is an excellent vegan lubricant, infused with three different types of seaweed. There is no yucky flavor, and it’s long-lasting. Sex-geek fact: It contains carrageen, which is itself a seaweed that is clinically proven to help prevent the transmission of six different strands of HPV.”—Adri A., sex specialist
Neon wand, $150, at the Pleasure Chest (156 Seventh Ave South at Charles St; 212-242-2158, thepleasurechest.com)
“I was initially scared to try electro-play, but now that I have, I’m obsessed! The Neon wand glows as it creates a sexy static-electric crackle along the surface of your skin. You’d be surprised how awesome the sensation can be!”—Adri A., sex specialist
Lelo Luna Beads, $80, at Eve’s Garden (119 W 57th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, suite 1201; 212-757-8651, evesgarden.com)
“Combine pleasure and sexual health! What sounds better than that? Luna Beads are the world’s bestselling Kegel-weights system. Women can strengthen their pelvic floor, as well as enjoying a subtle yet rhythmic motion, while going about daily activities. Buying groceries won’t ever be the same. They come in a set of two; each set includes two 28-gram and two 37-gram beads, which ensure that every woman can find her perfect fit for the most effective pelvic floor workout.”—Kim I., manager
Lelo Boa pleasure ties, $80, Eve’s Garden (119 W 57th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, suite 1201; 212-757-8651, evesgarden.com)
“These very long, pure-silk restraints feel incredibly soft against the skin, and they are so decadent that the ends are filled with freshwater pearls. Looping the ties through the rings, a partner can be held by either ankles or wrists in the ways that excite them most. The pearls serve another purpose as well: when draped over a door that is then closed behind, they are large enough to stop the ties from being pulled through; they can also easily slide between a headboard and mattress if you don’t have bed posts or something to tie them down to, ensuring the most passionate and endless possibilities in bondage play.”—Kim I., manager
Lelo Sensua suede whip, $49, at Eve’s Garden (119 W 57th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, suite 1201; 212-757-8651, evesgarden.com)
“This small whip is truly a beautiful, luxurious tool. The suede tails feel soft and sensual on the skin. The coolest part of the flogger is the acrylic handle, which looks like a beautifully crafted insertable dildo (hint hint). The handle is also capped with a stainless steel collar and a weighty end ball, which will retain temperature and can be ideal for teasing.”—Kim I., manager
Laid-Stone Dildo, $89, at Babeland (94 Rivington St between Ludlow and Orchard Sts (212-375-1701, babeland.com)
"It's made of Norwegian Moonstone. The designers use what would be considered scraps to handcraft each one, so it’s also effectively reusing something that would be wasted otherwise."—Claire Cavanah, cofounder
Incoqnito Droplet Necklace, $109–$125, at Babeland (94 Rivington St between Ludlow and Orchard Sts; 212-375-1701, babeland.com)
"[It's] a beautiful and elegant necklace that is also a pair of vibrating nipple clamps. Wear it for date night and part of the fun is that no one else is in on the secret the two of you share."—Claire Cavanah, co-founder
Sex shop owners and staff sift through their stock to recommend the best sex toys at their New York city stores.
We asked the staff and owners of Shag Brooklyn, Purple Passion, the Pleasure Chest, Eve's Garden and Babeland to recommend their favorite items and the best sex toys they have on the shelves.
RECOMMENDED: See all Sex issue 2012 coverage
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