Which Lube to Choose?

by Cara Bruce

When I was in high school, I had a friend who swore by Crisco—as a lube, not a baking ingredient. Since then, I've heard about its amazing lubricating powers, but nothing about safety, not causing yeast infections, or sperm shooting qualities.

The only other lubricants that I ever heard of back then were Vaseline and KY Jelly.

Astroglide, Liquid Silk, Maximus, Elbow Grease, Slippery Stuff, Probe... the names are great, but which lube is right for you? We took the time to try out each one of these and find out the ups and downs and ins and outs of each.

Before getting into all of that, we do want to alert you to this option to do your own lube test: the Lube Sampler Pack and Whole Kit and Kaboodle Pack, each contain a variety of lubes. Things to look for, besides the fancy names and cool packaging: consistency, taste, smell, and allergies...

Below are some general guidelines for choosing and using lube:

Use only water-based or silicone-based lubricants with latex products. Oil of any kind, Vaseline and hand lotion included, destroys latex. Steer clear of so-called "water-soluble" lubes, which frequently contain oil.

Some studies have shown that nonoxynol-9 actually increases the chances of bacterial infection or contracting a virus from your partner. You are probably better off avoiding it and making sure to just use condoms instead.

Speaking of condoms, definitely add lubricant when using a condom during intercourse to reduce friction and the chance of breakage. Even thought most condoms come lubricated, it might not be enough, or you might not like the way the condom a la lube tastes. Try an unlubricated brand and add your own. Flavored gel or lubes might do the trick.

When deciding between squeeze bottle or pump, remember that with a squeeze bottle there is the possibility of some lube coming out and then being sucked back in to the bottle, bring nasty bacterias with it. Whenever we have the choice, we're pump chumps all the way. All of that said... here are our opinions on various lubes you can choose.

	Astroglide Available almost anywhere on earth, it's no wonder this lube is so popular. It's thinner than other lubes yet still resists evaporation so less is needed per application. Astroglide has no smell and a faintly sweet taste. We'll use it without a second thought..
	Liquid Silk This lube gets two thumbs up. It contains no glycerin and never gets sticky, better yet it's odorless and although the taste is a bit bitter, it's very, very faint. Not as thick as others but not as stringy as some, we'll stick this in the good to grease group.
	Maximus We love this lube! Maximus is so thick it's almost like a lotion. The thickness allows it to last longer and is great for anal play. Also glycerin-free, it also has virtually no taste or smell. It's also available in a pump for super safe bacteria-free play. This one goes in the group we're going to grab!
	Elbow Grease The name should be enough to convince you that this lube can get whatever job it is done. But watch out! Elbow Grease comes in two flavors: Hot, which is a touch of menthol, and Light. Hot had one of our reviewers’ boyfriend running to the bathroom holding his nuts. It had the same reviewer cursing the day she was born. There, we warned you. But, we will add that unlike most menthol-enhanced lubes, this one is actually less "hot" and doesn't numb the genitals (which can lead to doing things you can't feel, which can lead to serious damage). It's nonoxynol-9 free and thick enough to be great for anal play (as the name suggests) and also latex compatible.
	Slippery Stuff Slippery Stuff is stringier than other lubes and needs to be applied more often than Maximus or Elbow Grease. But here's a fun fact: this lube was originally designed to make it easier to slip in and out of rubber diving suits. Now it's designed to make it easier to slip in and out of better places! This lube is slick, odorless, taste-free, and is offered in a handy pump. We like it, but its' not our favorite.
	Probe Like some other lubes this one is vegan. Unlike other lubes, it uses grapefruit seed extract as a natural preservative—perfect for that hippie animal lover in your life. This lube is super slippery and extra gentle. With no taste or smell, and offered as "Probe Classic" or "Probe Silky Light" this is the lube of choice for those with extra sensitive lovers.