This $30 Strap-On Kit Gives You Everything You Need for Anal Play (2025)

We spoke to sex educators and Glamour toy testers to narrow down a list of strap-on dildos and harnesses. We evaluated each option based on the following criteria in order to award them superlatives:

• Ease of use: How intuitive the harness was to wear and adjust; how simple it was to swap dildos in and out; how well the strapless strap-ons stayed put
• Design: How adjustable and inclusive the harness's size was; how thoughtful its features were, such as the ability to add bullet vibrators to the harness
• Performance: How comfortable the harness was to wear for long periods; if it vibrated, how strong and varied were its patterns and intensities?
• Value: Was this a set that included a dildo, harness, and any other additional accessories like O-rings (differently-sized rings that attach to the front of the harness and that hold the dildo in place)—and if so, was the amount of included products a worthy deal for the price? If it was a singular product, how high-quality was its make?

There are two ways to go about your search: looking for a strap-on set, or searching for a dildo and a harness separately. Choosing a kit is typically the less intimidating route if you’re a total newbie. That said, “The best way to play with strap-ons might be to choose the harness you love, and separately, the dildo you or your partner loves,” explains Carol Queen, PhD, an expert at sex-toy store Good Vibes. Buying them independently allows you to cater more to your own personal preferences. If you're going the separate route, here's what to know about picking a harness.

• Figure out what type of harness you want to use. There are several varieties of harnesses, most of which fasten around the waist in some fashion. There are jock-style harnesses (which leave your butt exposed); underwear harnesses (which look like regular briefs or panties); and corset-style harnesses (similar to jockstraps but with more lacing). A less common option is a two-hole harness, which can be used with two dildos or a single dildo and a penis for double penetrative sex. If you’d rather skip the harness thing entirely, strapless dildos are wearable and can be inserted into the vagina and held in place hands-free, kind of like the ultimate Kegel exercise.
• Materials should also factor into your decision. Webbing and fabric are the most basic materials, but you can also opt for leather. While the latter is sturdy, it’s also more porous and harder to clean; fabric is generally more comfortable and usually machine-washable. There are harnesses that come in plain or muted colors, fun laces and patterns, or that are even BDSM-inspired with studs and leather.
• Take sizing into account. Especially if you're looking for a waist harness, as not all are accommodating of plus sizing. If you’re not sure of the right size or you’ll be sharing your pick with a partner, adjustable harnesses can be resized as needed—and certain options can even accommodate packers, bullet vibrators, or panty vibrators. Most harnesses also feature stabilizers or O-rings (the mechanism that keeps strap-on sex toys in place); just make sure it’s the correct size for the one you're using. Dildos with flared bases (think suction-cup dildos) are often also harness-compatible.

• Start small. If you're new to anal sex, it’s best to work your way up to the bigger stuff when selecting. Look for a dildo with an insertable length on the shorter, slimmer side (think five to six inches) before slowly increasing the size.
• Consider where you’ll be inserting the strap-on. Usually the wearer will insert the dildo into their partner’s anus or vagina. You don’t have to go huge to get the most pleasure from strapping. There’s an option for everyone along the spectrum of length and girth. (If you have a penis, you can also wear a hollow strap-on over your member to add length and girth.)
• Shape is another important factor. Plenty of dildos are meant to be extremely realistic, with lifelike molding and dual-density designs that mimic the feeling of real penises. That could turn you and your partner on, especially if you don’t have a penis of your own—but if you’d rather keep your bedroom penis-free, plenty of dildos are more abstract. Look for designs that curve up, which will allow you to hit your partner’s prostate or provide G-spot stimulation with ease.
• Silicone, silicone, silicone. Stick with silicone dildos, as anything too hard can be dangerous (and almost no glass dildo can work with a strap-on). “Avoid super-hard dildo materials when you are strapping on,” Dr. Queen says. “A wonky thrust can hurt someone if the dildo is glass, metal, stone, and so on.”
• Lube up. Whether you’re using a dildo to penetrate vaginally or for anal play, lubricant makes things a lot more fun and frictionless. Anal lube is especially important, as the anus doesn’t naturally lubricate itself—and make sure you’re using water-based lube, since silicone-based formulas can actually cause silicone sex toys to start breaking down.

You have a dildo, the harness, and your favorite water-based lube—so, what’s next? Well, strapping it on, of course! Naturally, if you’ve never wielded a dildo or anything phallic between your legs before, you might feel a bit strange, but don’t let that become your only feeling. Instead, embrace this new look, have a chuckle with your partner if you think it will lighten the mood, and lean into the fact that sometimes sexual exploration looks a little funny.

Once you and your partner get that step out of the way, it’s time to penetrate. With a well-lubed dildo, penetrate your partner slowly (assuming you're the one wearing the toy). This isn’t a race, so there’s no need to rush it. Maintain an open dialogue with them to ensure that you’re both on the same page and enjoying the experience. While eventually you’ll be able to take things up a notch and won’t have to coddle your strap-on scenario so much, it really is ideal—and we can’t stress this enough—to take it slow and gentle the very first time. With enough practice, you’ll be thrusting—and/or receiving dildo penetration—with the best of them.

• Carol Queen, PhD, a staff expert at online sex-toy shop Good Vibes
• Amanda Chatel, a Glamour sex writer who has tested over a thousand toys
• Suzannah Weiss, MA, MPS, a certified sex educator, Glamour toy tester, and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject