I started writing 2010 on sexual health. I didn’t think, 16 years later, I had tested more than a thousand sex toys and would still be in this field, yet here I am.

Since I started writing I’ve seen a big change in sex tech. Sex toys were very basic back then. Most were shaped – even if they weren’t necessarily usable internally – made of mystery materials, and required actual batteries. The first sex toy I reviewed was a bullet vibrator that not only required batteries, but its remote control was attached to the toy by a cord no longer than 10 inches. Storing AA and AAA batteries to make your vibrators work was as annoying as it sounds.

Rechargeable sex toys finally started hitting the market around 2012 or 2013. Then, there was a rise in female-owned sex toy companies with toys designed by women for women, e.g Dam And Inbound. Crude-looking dildos weren’t going to cut it in the new world of sex tech, especially when closing the gap between female pleasure and orgasm became a topic of conversation.

Because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate sex toys, a new generation of sex toy manufacturers have taken it upon themselves to produce products made from body-safe materials such as medical-grade silicone, nickel-free stainless steel, premium borosilicate glass, and ABS plastic. As sex tech has evolved, we’ve seen innovations like app-controlled toys that allow partners to stay sexually connected regardless of their distance, intuitive technology that tracks your vibration and pattern preferences, and even toys that heat up to body temperature. I consider myself very fortunate to have witnessed the epic evolution in sexual wellness products. I am also relieved to see that the tide has turned to talk About sex toys

The number of toys I have reviewed is very long. The list of others I have tried is even longer. With all this experience, I’ve narrowed down eight sex toys that I always recommend. Not just because I personally love them, but in a world that feels like there’s no end to sex toy choices, these eight stand out above the rest.