Experimenting with Using a Cock Ring as a Buffer in Penetrative Sex: 

Seeing as neither myself nor my sexual partner are in possession of flesh and blood penises, a non-vibrating cock ring was not an item either of us foresaw purchasing. But, our perspective changed after a few frustrating incidents in which the combination of “dildo” and “strap-on harness” led to bonked cervixes. After that, we thought it might be worth a shot to try and use a cock ring to create a buffer effect during penetrative sex with dildos.  To test out this theory, we purchased the Pleasure Works Ahoy Cock Ring.

Why Not Just Get The OhNut?

A product invented to target this exact problem already exists. The OhNut was specifically designed to create a buffer during insertive sex to make sex more comfortable for the receiving partner. But the OhNut is….expensive. 

If one or both of us had a penis that we regularly used for penetrative sex, the OhNut’s price tag would have been absolutely justified. However, since our sex life only sometimes involves penetration with dildos, we didn’t want to drop $50+. 

Instead, we hoped that the Pleasure Works Ahoy Cock Ring would work as a $10 alternative to create a sufficient buffer effect at a lower price.

Unfortunately, we were wrong and this experiment didn’t work. But, now my cock ring mistake can be your learning experience!

Our Failed Cock Ring Buffer Experiment:

While the Ahoy is certainly a fine cock ring….from what I can tell…I can’t speak for how it would feel on the penis that I do not possess. What I can say is that  it simply doesn’t have what it takes to function as a sufficient buffer. 

My partner said they barely noticed any kind of buffer effect while being penetrated. When it was my turn to be penetrated I didn’t feel like the cock ring made a difference either. 

This whole idea wasn’t just my half-assed scheme, either. 

In the GoodVibrations product description for the Ahoy, it does suggest that you can “wear one or more as a bumper to prevent too-deep thrusting during intercourse.” 

From my experience, though, I can’t recommend it as a solution for limiting penetration depth of a dildo (or a penis) during sex. 

Stats for the Pleasure Works Ahoy Cock Ring:

When slid onto a dildo, the Ahoy provides about ½” of buffer. If you purchased two of them, that would be a whole 1” buffer, which would probably be a lot more beneficial…but by that point, you’re already paying $20, so you may as well just invest in the OhNut. I was hoping this would work well as a cheap alternative to the OhNut, but I knew going in that it would be a gamble, so I’m not terribly disappointed that it didn’t work out. 

The Ahoy is made of 100% silicone and has a gentle ribbed texture that goes all the way around its outer edge. The outer edge also has a seam that runs all the way around it, but this isn’t something I noticed in use. In use, it can stretch up to 2”. 

This cock ring IS a lint magnet, so whether you’re accessorizing your penis or your dildo with the Ahoy, you will wind up with a cute little garnish of cat hair/dust/mystery substance adorning your phallus of choice as well. 

I purchased the Ahoy in blue, but it is also available in black. With the blue one, if you hold it up to a light source, the light will shine through a little bit, which I think is a neat visual effect. The Ahoy also doesn’t really look like an obvious cock ring, in my opinion, so if you’re going for something subtle that can easily be hidden or passed off as “not a sex toy,” the Ahoy is a good choice. 

Sometimes A Cock Ring Buffers ADHD Symptoms Instead:

I sadly can’t recommend the Ahoy as a useful buffer for penetrative sex from my own experience. If you need a reliable penetration buffer, I would suggest saving up for the OhNut instead. 

But, during the process of writing this review, I’ve been periodically taking breaks to hook the Ahoy between two of my fingers and pull them apart. It kind of feels like I’m doing a little strengthening exercise with my hand muscles. Even if I’m not actually strengthening any muscles, it still just feels good to fidget with. 

Even when I pull hard, the Ahoy doesn’t feel flimsy or like it’s at any risk of snapping. While I don’t have a penis, I can still say that the Ahoy is a very nice stim toy to squish around and pull on like a little stress donut. 

Long Term Update and Material Concerns:

I initially wrote this review like…eight months ago, and I’m editing this review right before I’m posting it to draw attention to one very big problem. I bought the Ahoy specifically because it was listed as being 100% silicone. However, I have my doubts as to whether or not this is true.

Most of my sex toys are stored in their own individual plastic bags, mostly to protect them from getting gross and collecting lint, but since I wasn’t actively using the Ahoy for anything, I just tossed it in the box by itself, sans plastic bag. Up until a couple weeks ago, half of my sex toys, including the Ahoy, were being stored in a cardboard gift box from a previous Christmas.

I recently bought some new plastic storage containers to better store my sex toys, and when I was moving my collection out of the gift box and into the new box, I noticed the Ahoy left a very distinct oily ring behind in the cardboard box where it had been stored until now.

Real silicone…is not supposed to do this.

As explained in Dangerous Lilly’s timeless post about melted sex toys, you should be able to store a 100% silicone dildo (or whatever other silicone object of your choice) in a drawer or box indefinitely with no oozing, leaking, secreting…none of that.

The fact that the Ahoy left behind this residue not only grossed me the fuck out, but also left me with deep concerns that the item isn’t actually made of 100% silicone. There’s no denying the oil stain came from the Ahoy, and while it’s now safely contained in a plastic bag and isn’t used anyway, it still bothers me to know that someone else may be purchasing this toy thinking it’s 100% safe silicone, when in reality…that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Final Thoughts on the Pleasure Works Ahoy Cock Ring:

The Pleasure Works Ahoy Cock Ring didn’t serve the purpose I had hoped it would be able to, and I won’t be using it as a sex toy in the future.

Additionally, after observing it over time, I now have reason to doubt that the Ahoy is made of 100% silicone as it was advertised. For this reason, I strongly suggest a “buyer beware” approach to this toy, and personally do not recommend it. Not even as a stim toy!

Disclaimer: I purchased the Pleasure Works Ahoy Cock Ring with my own money .