I’ve always got my eyes peeled for beginner-friendly anal toys.  So many people are interested in experimenting with butt play yet so many of the toys that are marketed to beginners are either too large, poorly designed or unsafe.  So when I find a toy that is genuinely suited for backdoor newbies, I am excited to share it.

The Anal Fantasy Plug from Pipedream is ideal if you’re interested in trying an anal toy but aren’t sure where to begin.  The feature that drew me to this toy is the size. It’s only 9cm long and the girth at the widest point is 4cm.  This is a perfectly manageable size for most virgin backsides.  I generally recommend starting out exploring with a gloved finger, then graduating to two fingers and then maybe a toy.  This toy is about the thickness of two fingers, so it’s the ideal step up if you’ve already enjoyed touching your anus with your hands.

The tapered shape makes this plug really easy to insert.  The tip is narrow enough to ease in gently, and the body widens very gradually to the girthiest point. This gives your backside plenty of time to relax and acclimatise before you try to insert the biggest part of the toy.  The narrow neck means that the plug stays in place nicely once inserted, as your anus can close around it comfortably.

The Anal Fantasy Plug is made from beautiful velvety silicone.  I prefer this finish to shiny silicone for anal toys because the softer silicone tends to grab and your lube is more likely to stay in place.  Lube tends to slide off glossier toys, which is the opposite of what you want when you’re putting something in your butt.  Anal play calls for even, long lasting lubrication.  The toy is a medium/hard firmness which means that it offers plenty of sensation without being too rigid to wear comfortably.

If you want a plug that you can wear for an extended period of time, the base is one of the most important features to look at.  Rounded or square bases tend to put pressure on the skin around the anus and become uncomfortable more quickly.  The Anal Fantasy Plug has a rectangular base that squashes inwards like an hourglass.  I like this design for two reasons.  Firstly, the dents in the base follow the curves of your butt cheeks, so the plug stays comfortably in position.  Secondly, they act as handy finger grips when the time comes to remove the plug.  This is one of my favourite toys for longer wear, because it stays in place easily and it’s super comfortable.

Aside from the shape and size of this plug, the other reason that I recommend this one for newbies is the price.  The Anal Fantasy Plug from Pipedream is priced at around $25, which is perfect if you’re just starting out.  It’s a great quality toy that won’t leave you out of pocket if you wind up not enjoying anal play.  And if you do like it, Pipedream make three more sizes in this range that you can try if you’re craving something larger.

The Anal Fantasy Plug comes with a few handy items to make your butt play more comfortable, including a little tube of water-based lubricant and a small bottle of toy cleaner.  Additionally, the box also contained a tube of Anal-Eze, a numbing agent intended to be used before inserting the plug.  I become absolutely livid when I see toy companies including numbing lubes with anal toys.  Firstly, anal play does not hurt if you do it correctly.  If you numb your anus before play, you might miss out on an important pain signal telling you to slow down, add more lube, try a smaller toy or stop altogether.  Secondly, if you use a numbing agent, you won’t be able to feel pleasure OR pain.  So any pleasurable sensations you might have enjoyed will be dulled.  Including numbing lubes with anal toys plays into a lot of fear that people have around anal play, and actually makes it less likely that they’ll enjoy their experience.

If you’re interested in trying a butt plug, I definitely recommend the Anal Fantasy Plug from Pipedream.  The size, shape and material make it easy to use and comfortable to wear.  It’s an inexpensive way to dip your toe into the vast sea of anal play.  If you do buy one, just do yourself a favour: bin the Anal-Eze and treat yourself to a generous bottle of good quality lube to make your butt play enjoyable and smooth.