Air-Pulse Toys: Like Having Your Clit Sucked by Something That Never Stops

You've held it against your clit and thought, "Is that it?" Then you moved it about a millimetre to the left. Your thighs snapped shut and your eyes rolled back, and you heard yourself say something rude to an empty room.

Air-pulse toys are fussy, but they're worth it. Instead of shaking against you, they send pulses of air into a soft little opening that sits over your clit. It feels a lot like being sucked by a mouth that doesn't need to come up for air. And once you've found the spot, you can come embarrassingly fast.

How it feels

A vibrator shakes against your body. An air-pulse toy creates waves of pressure inside its opening, so nothing's rubbing and your clit gets a deep, sucking throb. You'll see them sold as clitoral suction toys, but you shouldn't feel like your clit's been clamped in place.

Some people get hooked straight away. Others prefer a vibrator they can press and rub exactly where they want it, and your old favourite doesn't become shit just because you've bought something new. Our air-pulse vs vibration guide compares them.

Finding the spot

Lie back and get comfortable. Part your lips with your fingers, set the opening over your clit with gentle pressure, then turn it on low. The rim should sit against your skin, with your clit inside the opening. A little water-based lube on the rim helps it seal and slide. The Fun Factory MEA is a cheap, palm-sized way to find out if it's for you.

If you can hear it working but can't feel much, change the angle or shift it slightly. Small moves work far better than cranking the power and hoping for a bloody miracle. And don't squash it into yourself. If the rim digs in, ease off. When you've found the spot, stay there. Constantly moving it makes it harder to work out what you like.

Leave the setting alone when it feels good

There's a strong urge to hit the plus button because it's there. Don't. Those deep pulses build, and a low setting that seems like nothing at first can have you gripping the sheets a few minutes later. Turn it down, move it away or stop if it gets too much. You haven't failed to appreciate your purchase because your favourite setting's near the bottom. They aren't automatically gentler than vibration, either.

Get your partner involved

Your partner's picked it up and is looking terribly keen. Great. Show them where it goes before all that enthusiasm turns into a clit-finding exercise. Guide their hand, and tell them to hold it still: "There. Fucking keep it there." Then you get to lie back while they watch your face, or take the toy yourself while they kiss you and play with your nipples.

It's fantastic during oral foreplay, too, or just while they're inside you, if you can find a position that doesn't keep knocking it away. If you can't, save it for before or after. You don't need to make every toy work in every shag.

Choosing one

Look at the opening as well as the overall size. A comfortable rim and buttons you can reach matter more than a glamorous photo of it floating beside a flower. Think about where your hand will sit, too, because a sore wrist will ruin an exciting purchase. The Satisfyer Traveler is small, whisper-quiet and has a magnetic cap, so it comes with you anywhere. Browse our air-pulse toys for other shapes.

Afterwards, clean around the opening carefully and let it dry. Our toy cleaner vs soap guide covers the details. Having trouble? Try our air-pulse toy fixes. Then put it somewhere easy to find, because now you know where it belongs.