POV Managing editor Aria can always find something to love in a hard material dildo: Check out her top five.

Sex Toy Show & Tell: Hard as a Rock | By Lustery POV

Sex Toy Show & Tell: Hard as a Rock

When you read the word “dildo” just now, what came to mind first? Was it a phallic slab of silicone, balls and all, with texture to mimic wrinkles and veins? You’ve likely noticed that even more 

 tend to nod to “the real thing,” with their shallow curves and familiar silhouettes.

I’ve got nothing but respect for representational dildos. In fact, they’re the gold standard for strapping, packing, and gender affirmation in general. As a former dong-slinger myself, I’ve seen enough customers skipping out of the shop to know that a good dildo is a sexual gamechanger. I’ve even seen couples deepen their bond before my eyes as they bought their first 

 together. Take it from me, dildos could bring world peace— which is why more of us should know hard materials are just as awesome as silicone.

"...hard material dildos shine by offering unique and intense sensations via distinct physical properties?"

Without the bells and whistles of vibrators, hard material dildos can get overlooked due to their relative simplicity. Otherwise, they get confined to the realm of collectors and aesthetes, as many are handcrafted by artisans. Despite sophisticated designs, hard material dildos can be perceived as off-putting by the uninitiated, and I really do get it. I remember once thinking that the 

But hard material dildos shine by offering unique and intense sensations via distinct physical properties. You can get them in wood, stainless steel, porcelain, gemstone, glass, and surely something I haven’t tried yet, but those five styles made the cut in my own collection. While I do keep some silicone around for strapping, hard materials dildos are the only insertables I pull out for solo sex. They give me more pressure, more control, and 

 much more sensory input than a classic silicone cock, and I’d put more than one on my “desert island” list.

These are my favorite five dildos made from different hard materials.

In a truly inspired blend of style and function, this dil is designed to be inserted at either end, depending on preferences for girth and grip (though sadly not curved enough for anal play). To answer your burning question, 

no, this dildo will not break off inside your body

 While I wouldn’t recommend dropping it on a hardwood floor from counter height, the human body and its orifices are simply not up to the task of destroying a piece of Standard Glass.

“Our dildos are slowly cooled (annealed) over 24 hours in a high end, computer-controlled electric oven,” the brand reassures on 

. “Safety is our number one concern.”

I’m betting their number two concern is pleasure, because 

 Standard Glass feels as striking as it looks, especially at the business end. The rounded ridges are incredibly dynamic, and the dil is weighty enough to apply its own pressure without being too cumbersome. I just wish I’d bought the canary yellow version I’d also been coveting, if only because it would have made for a prettier picture!

If you’ve shopped for sex toys in the past twenty years, you’ve almost certainly seen this toy. You might even remember your first impression; mine was wary intrigue. I’d never even heard of a metal dildo, and couldn’t quite fathom why a person might want to use one. Stainless steel just seemed so clinical and unyielding. And cold! How could it possibly feel 

 inside of me? It turns out, being unyielding is exactly why the Pure Wand from nJoy is so perfect for g-spots and prostates, the interior erogenous zones that many classic dildos don’t quite reach.

Because it’s so dense and firm, 316 stainless steel offers the firm, rhythmic pressure that these 

 love, making it a must for the erotically adventurous who want to try squirting or prostate milking. It’s so iconic that there’s little to add to the ocean of ink— and various bodily fluids— that sex writers have spilled over this toy, except maybe that it’s also great for getting knots out of my neck and shoulders.

By 2021, my sex toy collection had been in a state of equilibrium for quite awhile, and new additions were rare. But once I booked woodworker and dildo sculptor DeAndre’ Towns of 

, I knew exactly what I’d be picking up next. Made in DeAndre’s workshop just an hour away from my town, this is the Rush Wooden Dildo, a small and stylish addition to the Lumberjill lineup. Coated with sealant and much lighter than glass, it’s easy to grip and resists chipping, though I wouldn’t knock on this wood 

This design is an exception to the rule for hard material dildos, taking a quasi-realistic approach while remaining quite stylized. You can really see the care with which each little ridge was carved, and I love feeling connected so intimately with such skilled artistry. Something I should have foreseen was that I’d find this much texture to be a little intense on such a rigid surface. I really wish I’d gone for something smoother, but if you like it a little rough, DeAndre’ can make a 

This artisanal ceramic wand is my daintiest dildo for sure. It’s light as air with a matte porcelain finish, making it look modern and antique all at once. The DALIA, from Canadian design firm Dèsirables, is especially easy to hold with its gently textured surface. I was surprised to fall in love with this thing, mainly because it’s the polar opposite of my beloved Pure Wand in terms of density and shape (DALIA prizes fullness over focused g-spot contact). In fact, I may have overlooked it entirely had I encountered it first on a random sex blog or 

Lucky for me, this one was determined to join my collection, introducing itself via Instagram contest. I barely remembered entering the raffle, so winning was truly a pleasant, and 

, surprise. DALIA has a shape I’ve really come to appreciate from insertables, with its tapered tip and fullness via depth rather than width. I’m not gonna lie, I do live in constant fear of DALIA being knocked on the floor and shattering, but it’s worth it because the thing is that fucking elegant. But don’t take it from me— this product was nominated for Luxury Toy of the Year at the XBIZ Awards in 2017.

Don’t worry y’all, I’ll try not to get too witchy. This is the D.1 from Norwegian toymaker Laid, a firm that makes pleasure products from silicone and stone. Laid has since been absorbed into Standard Innovation, the parent company of Canadian brand We-Vibe (in case you’re wondering why this shape reminds you of the 

, that’s why). The D1 is a hefty, asymmetrical wand with a smooth surface and shallow curve, lending itself well to twisting motions while inserted.

This particular gemstone is known as Black Norwegian Moonstone, or Blue Pearl Larvikite (not granite, a common mistake). It actually comes from ancient igneous rock, and this fuckstick is supposedly carved from a slab of living rock over 300 million years old. Larvikite is said to have powerful protective and grounding capabilities, and is great for working with the root chakra. Don’t forget to charge it beneath the next 