Spice Up Valentine’s Day With the Best Sexy Gifts for Lovers

One of the first in the now exceedingly popular date night genre, The Adventure Challenge, Couples Edition, has 50 date ideas to keep things interesting. All of the date ideas in the book are covered up by a gray box, with symbols indicating whether the date will be outdoors, if you’ll need transportation or a babysitter, whether it’s a day or night activity, how much time it takes and costs, and more—so you have an idea of what you’re getting into—but the date will still be a surprise. Based on the symbols, you’ll scratch off to reveal the date beneath (like a scratch-off lottery ticket).

One of the first challenges I did was to go to a nearby-ish town that you and your significant other have never been to, eat dinner, and explore, making memories and capturing those with an instant photo. Other dates include an outdoor homemade movie screening, baking blindly only using your partner's instructions, creating a memory box of sentimental items, and tons more. While some of the dates can be a little cheesy, it really is a great way to spend intentional time connecting deeper and doing things together you wouldn’t normally do—it can also be a great jumping off point for other date ideas in the future. Plus, having a ton of cute (or sexy) instant photos of you and your lover is never a bad thing.

When I tried on the sets from this box, my partner was like a cartoon character with heart eyes, going “A-woo-ga, a-woo-ga.” And I have to admit, all of the styles in this V-Day specially curated box matched the sexy holiday’s energy. Like many other subscription boxes, you begin by taking a style quiz, answering personal preferences about styles like full or minimal coverage, unlined, thong, or cheeky underwear, whether you prefer lingerie, sleepwear, bras and panties, or corsets, and what colors or patterns you like best. You’ll also answer questions about sizing—for the Elite Box they carry 30A-46DDD for bras and XS-4X for underwear. After taking the style quiz, Adore Me curates your box and sends three to five matching sets (of tops and bottoms) that range from $40 to $60 per set. Once received, you get seven days to try them on at home and you keep what you love, and return the rest.

In my super-sexy box, I got a silky red hooked-back corset (that was very Pride & Prejudice if they were allowed to have PDA); a tie-up black ruffled corset that made my waist looked snatched; matching panties in thong, mesh, and cheeky styles; a matching pink bra and panty set; a soft, lacy babydoll style nightgown; and a set of three super-soft no-show V-Day-themed thongs. My bra fit surprisingly well for being a DDD, the red corset had enough coverage to be worn as a sexy date night top with jeans, and all of the underwear was able to be mixed and matched with the other lingerie in the box. This is a bit more expensive than others on the list, but I was extremely happy with the varied mix of super sexy lingerie, bra, and panties.

Rather than getting your partner one set of lingerie for Valentine’s Day, why not surprise them monthly with a lingerie subscription box to keep things spicy? My newest go-to for reasonably-priced lingerie that doesn't feel cheap is Aurelia, a small, Canadian-based lingerie retailer that has human-curated lingerie subscription boxes and size-inclusive lingerie. They carry bra sizes A-M and panties XS-4XL, which is one of the most inclusive ranges I've seen in this market. When beginning the lingerie subscription service, you fill out a style quiz that asks you a series of questions about preferences on color, pattern style, and types of lingerie, creating a box curated by a human stylist based on those preferences. My box came with a matching floral PJ set from Papinelle, a super-soft lacy chemise from Fleur’t, and an everyday lace bralette from Montelle. The box also came with a guide on how to measure your cup size, with troubleshooting tips, a measuring tape, and a zippered net case for washing the delicates.

Everything I received was super-nice quality, but most of all, I loved the size inclusivity. As a smaller person who usually wears an F or G cup size, shopping for bras is an actual hellish experience in which I have to cram myself into standard-size cups and live with the fact I'll have permanent side boob spillage (the girls who know, know). I was super pleasantly surprised that they actually carried my size, and this is the only unlined bralette I’ve ever owned that actually provides support and total coverage. I'm obsessed.

Lingerie not so much your (or your partner's) thing? With Underclub, subscribers can choose between a bralette set with a matching top and bottom or two pairs of underwear bottoms delivered each month. When you sign up, you’ll be asked a series of questions about your personal preferences, like color, style, pattern, and size, and a stylist will curate an underwear box for you. I received five pairs of dark and jewel-toned underwear in my box, ranging from silky, lacy hipsters to super sexy mesh tanga thongs, which all fit well and felt luxe. I also received two lace bralettes in slightly different styles—one was corsetlike and the other was an unlined plunging number.

The bra sizes range from XS to 2XL, 30 to 42 inches in band size, and A-DD. I generally wear a 34DDD/F or G, so finding a bra that fits a small band with a large cup size is difficult—especially in bralettes that don’t provide a ton of support. The bralettes pleasantly surprised me—there was a bit of side boob spillage, but the adjustable straps and solid coverage made up for it, and I still looked sexy as hell.

The Magic Wand Mini is iconic for a reason. This handheld vibrating wand provides powerful stimulation over a large surface area. It gets around three hours of battery life, not that your giftee will be using it for that long in one go (maybe!). The Mini is easier to hold and use compared to the original, larger Magic Wand, and its buttons are convenient to reach. —Eric Ravenscraft

Naming your sex toy the “Satisfyer” is a bold move, but it's a moniker that the Satisfyer Pro 2 Gen 3 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) earns. It's a suction toy, which means it uses a little mouth to produce the suction and tapping sensation provided during oral sex. It's a very different kind of sex toy than the traditional vibrator.

It has an easy-to-grip handle and convenient buttons along the back for simple control. The Gen 3 is covered in silicone, which is much nicer than the ABS plastic of previous models. It also comes with attachments for either suction sensation or a more typical vibration pattern. It's whisper-quiet and safe to use in the bath, so you (or your gift recipient) can get that me-time in. —Eric Ravenscraft

The Dame Pom vibrator (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a mainstay in our Best Vibrators guide and it has earned its spot. This little handheld vibe isn’t just powerful, it’s gorgeous and intuitively designed. It has the power you’d expect from a bullet vibe, but the added silicone body diffuses the vibrations through a broad area for a unique experience. Not only is it easy to hold and operate one-handed, but it also fits neatly in the palm of most hands. All the buttons are right where your fingers land naturally. —Eric Ravenscraft

Lelo's Sona 2 Cruise is “the Cadillac of suction toys,” according to our Best Clitoral Suction Toys guide. It's small, discreet, and can be as gentle or as intense as you like. It has an elegant, curvy body with chrome accents that make it stylish enough to look good on your nightstand. The Cruise part of the name refers to Lelo's Cruise Control technology—which makes the toy ramp up intensity when you press it hard against your body. —Eric Ravenscraft

Vibrators can provide a lot of fulfilling stimulation, but one thing most of them lack is thrust. This vibrator from Lovense straddles the line between vibrator and sex machine (which is why it earns a spot in our Best Sex Machines guide), with a motor for automated thrust as well as vibration. It can achieve around 100 to 130 thrusts per minute, varying slightly by how much resistance it meets. It also comes with a suction-cup mount, so your giftee can provide resistance by placing it on a wall or surface.

Like many of Lovense’s products, it can also be controlled through the company’s robust mobile app for easier remote control or to customize thrust and vibration patterns. —Eric Ravenscraft

MysteryVibe’s Crescendo is a fundamentally unique contraption. It's a flexible, bendable vibrator with six separate motors, all of which can be customized and controlled from its included app. But what sets it apart is its semi-rigid jointed body. You can straighten it out to use for more direct penetration, or curl it up, similar to how one might bend their fingers. It won't lock into position so some resistance can bend it right back, but it's handy for hitting some of those more hard-to-reach spots on and in your body. —Eric Ravenscraft

There are few greater aphrodisiacs than feeling safe and comfortable with your partner. To that end, a good condom can help reduce the risk of spreading STIs, prevent pregnancy, and, as a result, lead to better sex. We've tested a bunch of condoms, and the Lelo Hex was our top pick. The same company that makes some of our favorite sex toys also makes very sturdy condoms. They have a stylish hexagonal pattern that Lelo claims makes the condoms sturdier, and they didn't break as easily as others in our tests. It's also one of the most comfortable condoms I've worn, with the hexagon pattern helping to add a bit of grip to prevent slippage.

★ Alternative: The One Flex condoms ($10) are the first condoms I've tested that employ graphene bonded with latex to make them stronger and thinner. In my testing, these condoms were sturdier than most others, while still being so thin that I could feel the sharpness of my own fingernail through the condom—without breaking it! There's unfortunately only one size option for the One Flex, but the company also has a custom fit option for non-graphene condoms if you want to make sure you always have a condom that fits you well. —Eric Ravenscraft

If Lelo keeps showing up in our guides, it's because its products are that good. The company's water-based lube tops our Best Lubes guide. It's a bit pricier per ounce than others, but it's worth it. Many lubes get sticky or thick pretty quickly, but Lelo's manages to stay fluid and smooth throughout playtime. It's also paraben- and glycerine-free, which is great for people with skin sensitivities. —Eric Ravenscraft