If you’ve been feeling a bit underconfident about your sexual performance these days, but don’t want to necessarily use an obvious sex toy, you might want to consider C-rings.
While it’s an adult toy, C-rings don’t play a starring role in sex as much as they help make the moment more enjoyable. They’re discreet, easy to carry, and don’t put a hamper on pre-established sexual routines.
What the C-ring essentially does is make your erection harder and supposedly last longer. It can be the one thing missing to take your sexual performance to the next level.
What is a C-Ring?
A C-ring or a cock ring is a ring-shaped adult toy used to restrict blood flow to the penis. You wear the ring at the base, so the blood pools at the shaft. Some people also insert their testicles inside the ring. The main goal is to keep the penis hard and erect, making for more passionate sexual encounters.
The additional pump of blood means your penis also appears larger, with more pronounced veins.
When the wearer does have an orgasm, it’s more intense as the blood comes rushing back.
You can use C-rings alone or with a partner. Due to the nature of the adult toy, the fit should be super comfortable. While the concept of the device may seem simple, there’s a huge variety in the market for you to explore.
You can find weighted penis rings as well as vibrating ones. Some work best with other adult toys like a cock sleeve.
Benefits of Using a C-Ring
The benefits of a C-ring don’t stop at making for an enhanced sexual experience. The ring has some unexpected health benefits too.
1. Confidence Boost and Increased Pleasure
When you’re about to orgasm, your testicles start to move up. But if you’re wearing a C-ring, there is pressure on the testicles. When you orgasm, the release is more ramped up.
Plenty of cock rings also have vibrations, ribs, nubs, and other textures. All of this works towards increasing the pleasure.
Not to mention cock rings can be an instant mental confidence boost. It makes you harder and sex feels better when you’re wearing a C-ring. You feel more confident about your movements and more present.
If your partner is someone with a vagina, you want to last longer for their sake. Ideally, you want to orgasm after them or aim for a shared orgasm.
Some claim C-ring improves stamina and delays orgasm. But there isn’t enough evidence to support the fact. What we know for certain is it helps keep the blood flowing longer in the penis, which might help delay the orgasm.
2. Reduces ED Symptoms
One of the reasons for erectile dysfunction is when there’s a lack of supply of blood to the penis to get an erection started. If you do get one, it can be hard to maintain.
What a cock ring does is apply pressure to the base of the penis and testicles as it fits around it. This stops the blood from leaving the penis, delaying how fast the blood vessels leave.
Naturally, this helps keep the erection longer, alleviating one of the most common symptoms of ED. Some people use penis pumps in addition to C-rings, as both help with the symptoms.
But C-rings aren’t a treatment for ED as much as they’re useful for reducing the symptoms. Usually, for ED, doctors would prescribe you medication. If you get side effects from the medications, doctors would recommend vacuum pumps or ED rings.
3. Individual and Couple Play
Cock rings make for good individual and couple’s toys.
For example, the basic use of cock ring can be like a masturbator. You do the manual work of getting your penis erect but with a slight push from the C-ring. The orgasm you have is ultimately more satisfying.
This same act can be incorporated into a couple’s play, where your partner gives you a handjob while you are wearing the C-ring instead. Not to mention some slip the C-ring over their tongue to offer their partner a truly mind-blowing blow job.
The use of a cock ring doesn’t stop at making you hard either. If you’re wearing a vibrating ring, you can stimulate your partner’s clitoris while wearing one if you engage in penetration.
Some C-rings also have attachments meant to stimulate your partner’s vagina, anus, or clitoris. So, the cock ring is an extension of a butt plug or a dildo like the Fun Factory Bootie Ring.
How to Choose the Right C-Ring
If it’s your first time buying a C-ring, don’t get too ambitious. Start off simple, with a stretchy, flexible material. You can upgrade to harder material once you get used to the sensations.
1. Sizing Your C-Ring
The ideal cock ring doesn’t slip off when the penis is soft, but it’s no trouble to snap it off when the penis is hard.
Soft silicone, rubber, or leather C-rings might have bands or other mechanisms to allow you to adjust the fit. Like the Hunkyjunk Fit C-Ring is stretchy but durable.
C-rings made out of leather straps especially fit beginners since the fit is entirely up to you. It’s like adjusting your belt.
But, metal, hard silicone, or hard plastic C-rings aren’t adjustable. If the fit isn’t right, you can find yourself in a horrifying situation where you are hard, your blood circulation is cut off, but you can’t get the C-ring off.
Now, you need to find the right size for the C-ring depending on how you plan to use it. Do you want it to only cover the base of the penis? Or do you want it to be able to fit your testicle when you’re semi-erect?
Get a piece of string and wrap it behind your balls and over your penis. Make sure to get hard before you do. C-rings are meant to be wrapped around an erect penis, so make it at least get semi-hard before you take measurements.
Use a pen or marker to mark where the end of the string aligns with the other part of the string. The string should make for a comfortable snug fit. If you are measuring it while soft, you should be able to insert a finger between the string and your penis.
Now, straighten out the string and measure it against a ruler or tape.
The end of the string should be at the 0 mark of the ruler. The distance between the end of the string and the marked area at the middle of the string is your girth.
If the C-ring manufacturer uses circumference sizing, finding the perfect fit should be easy. But if they’re using diameter sizing, you need to know how to calculate it.
To find the diameter, divide the girth measurement by 3.14.
So, a penis with 5 inches of girth should fit a 1.6 inches cock ring. Similarly, one with a girth of 6.25 inches, would have a ring diameter of 2 inches.
2. Material Available
Cock rings are made out of both flexible and firm materials. Silicone, rubber, and leather usually make for a stretchable C-ring.
Meanwhile, metal and neoprene tend to be quite firm.
For first-time users, a soft silicone ring such as the Zero Tolerance Bell Ringer makes more sense. Silicone is easier to remove as well as easier to adjust around your penis.
Not to mention in case of absolute emergencies, you can cut off the silicone ring.
3. Type of C-Rings
C-rings are generally designed to be used on their own. But some are meant to be used in pairs, like with a penis pump or a cock sleeve.
Depending on the type, you can find a range of uses for it. For example, a weighted C-ring feels heavier and cuts off circulation faster. It can make for a quick, intense session.
Vibrating cock rings are the ones with a motor. You can adjust the vibration speeds and if you go for penetration, you can stimulate your partner as well. While having sex, the C-ring comes in contact with your partner’s clitoris as you’re wearing it.
If you opt for something like the Screaming O My Secret Bullet and Ring, you will also have access to a remote control for a hands-free experience.
Some C-rings have a second loop for the testicle, so you don’t have to exactly fit or stretch the main part of the ring. The Zero Tolerance Bullseye is perfect for this.
Some have ribs or dotted structures on the ring, so in addition to having your blood flow cut off, you also feel this harsh brush of textures. Screaming O Charged OWow is the one for you if you are looking to explore new sensations.
Common Mistakes While Wearing C-Rings and How to Avoid Them
If you wear the C-ring for too long, it might end up restricting blood flow to the penis completely. You’re not supposed to wear it for more than 30 minutes. In fact, as a beginner, start with 20 minutes and work your way up if you don’t face any complications.
Your first sign you have been wearing the ring longer than necessary is if you experience:
- Pain or discomfort
- Cold or numb
- Rapid swelling
- Discoloration.
The C-ring should only feel pleasurable. Any other sensation, you take the ring off immediately.
If the ring is too tight and you can’t get it off, you can try a couple of methods based on the material.
For a C-ring made of silicone or leather, you can use scissors to cut it off. To avoid scratching your skin in the process, doctors recommend sliding a piece of paper or a tissue inside the ring.
Use lube to soften the tightness and slide off the ring if it’s made of inflexible material. The slipperiness of oil or silicone lube would be suitable here. But, remember to not use oil lube with a leather ring and silicone lube with a silicone ring. You don’t want to set off a chemical reaction due to the brush of the same material.
If it’s a metal ring, it might be wise to take a trip to the ER instead of trying to fight the ring off for too long.
To avoid an embarrassing situation like this, try to get the correct size by following our sizing instructions.
Doctors also suggest not getting a C-ring if you suspect you have erectile dysfunction. Because C-rings enhance sexual performance, ED can be difficult to diagnose.
Final Thoughts
Make sure to wash your C-ring before and after use. If you’re not using a vibrating one, you can dip the ring in a bucket of dish soap and water. For vibrating rings, we recommend wiping it with a washcloth.
Do not be stingy with the lube either. Apply water-based or silicone-based lube depending on the material. Pour a satisfying amount on your penis as well to make the glide smoother.
If you want to add a new adult toy to your collection, take a look at our wide range of cock rings.
