Pinwheels: A Tiny Wheel of Spikes and One Hell of a Tease

It's a tiny metal wheel covered in points, and they're holding it up so you can get a good look at it. You know it won't really hurt. You're fairly sure. Then they roll it slowly along the inside of your arm, and every hair on your body stands up. It's like someone's drawing a line of static across your skin.

A sensation pinwheel looks kinky before you've done a bloody thing with it. And for some people, that's a very good start. It's all about the sharp little prickle and the suspense of knowing what's in your partner's hand.

What does it feel like?

Dozens of tiny points touch you, one after the other, each gone before you've quite registered it. It can feel prickly, tingly or electric, depending on the wheel, the pressure and how sensitive you are. A photo can't tell you which of those you'll love.

Then there's the waiting. You know what it looks like, and you're lying there thinking about what it'll feel like, while your partner decides where to start. That pause does a lot of the work, without anyone needing to do anything dramatic. Get used to it with your eyes open, then see our blindfold and sensory play guide when you're ready to add some surprise.

Choose your wheel

Rounded contacts and sharp points feel very different, and so do a single wheel and several wheels side by side. The Sportsheets Signature Wartenberg Wheel has three rolling wheels for a wider, more intense contact. More wheels change the feeling, but they don't make it better sex by default. See our sensory play collection for comparison.

Buy a toy made for this. A craft tool that looks similar isn't a cheeky money-saver, so keep your sewing supplies out of the bedroom.

Start with a light touch

Let both of you see the toy, agree where it's going, and start with very light contact on intact skin. Try forearms, shoulders, the back, the sides of the ribs and the tops of the thighs. Let the weight of the wheel do the work.

Keep it away from eyes, genitals and any broken or irritated skin. It's for exploring sensation, not for puncturing anyone. Don't press harder for a bigger reaction, and stop if it hurts, breaks the skin or just feels wrong. If you've got reduced sensation, fragile skin or a condition that affects healing, get medical advice first.

A few filthy ideas

Roll it in slow lines up the back of their thigh, stop just short and start again on the other side. Follow the wheel with your tongue or a warm hand, so they get prickle, then softness. Alternate it with a feather so that they've got no idea which is coming next. Or tell them not to move while you draw a slow pattern on their back, and make them guess what you wrote.

The kink comes from all that attention and anticipation. It doesn't need anyone gritting their teeth and pretending they're having the best time of their life.

Don't like it? That's fine

You may love how it looks and hate how it feels. Buying something kinky doesn't mean your skin agreed to it. A feather, a massage or your partner's hands may suit you better, and if a steady pinch sounds more interesting, nipple clamps do a very different job.

Look after it

Clean the wheel, the axle and between multiple wheels as well as the handle. Metal parts don't mean you can boil or soak the whole toy. Dry it completely and keep it in a case or a separate secure spot. Don't use anything damaged, rusty or loose.

And don't leave it loose in your drawer with your charging cables. Reaching for your vibrator shouldn't turn into an unplanned sensory session.