An inflatable dildo goes in at a modest size and grows as you squeeze a bulb. The change in girth happens after the body has already accepted the toy, which some people find easier than inserting a large static shaft.

Pumps fail. Valves hiss. Cheap vinyl balloons can burst. Look for a thick wall and a lock on the valve so a kneel does not dump all the air at once. Deflate before removal unless you enjoy a sudden stretch on the way out, which you should decide on purpose.

These toys are often porous. A condom over the shaft solves sanitation if the material is suspect. Do not overfill past the maker’s mark. A toy that looks shiny-tight is already asking too much of the seam.

Pump manners

• Add air in short bursts and check in with the body each time.
• Keep the bulb clean; it is handled with lube-slick fingers.
• Store with a little air so walls do not weld together, unless the manual says otherwise.
• Retire at the first pinhole leak.