We've seen a lot of articles recently about sex toys specifically for men, or women, for solo use, but couples have been somewhat under-represented; this is a shame as there are some amazing products out there designed to unobtrusively add an extra dimension to your play. In this article we'll be exploring some of the tried and tested best couples products on the market, along with a couple of innovative new toys that you might want to get your hands on before everybody hears about them!

I have to say that my favourite overall product is the Vibrating Cock Ring - a clever little toy which enables you to turn your cock into a vibrator. These have been about for ages, and you can get hundreds of different styles - cheap, single use rings to slip into your pocket for a night on the town, or lovingly designed couples enhancers with special clitoral stimulators attached.

The cock ring may look like a laughably simple piece of equipment at first sight, but it performs a variety of functions – the ring itself, usually made from a stretchy silicone jelly, fits snugly at the base of the penis or over the testicles, and restricts blood flow back from the penis – this can keep your erection hard up to four times as long as usual! It also sensitises the head, so that any stimulation feels supercharged. The vibration itself adds a distinct advantage, and most rings are designed with a special vibrating head situated in the right place to stimulate your partner's clitoris with every stroke. As a lot of women find it hard to orgasm with just simple penetration, this one little gadget can make a huge difference to your sex life – trust us, we've tried them!

If your partner is closer to hand, you might be more interested in a pair of vibrating knickers from the Berman Centre, an American research centre which specialises in women's sexual health, which have a small hand held remote that can operate up to twenty feet away – which gives you plenty of scope for naughty fun in public if you're that way inclined! You might also be interested in their vibrating egg, a velvet-touch insertable bullet.

The newest couples toy I've seen, and one of the most innovative, has to be the G-Pilot. Most women have a g-spot, but it's not always easy to stimulate it during penetrative sex, and a lot of women have to resort to a vibrator to push their buttons – what a pity when your boyfriend is ready and willing to help! The G-pilot is a soft plastic scoop-shaped toy which guides the penis to hit the right spot, helping to train you both to get into position for toe-curling orgasms.

A last honourable mention should go to Spank Ties for those who like a little kink with their partners – twist and turn quickly to restrain or release ankles or wrists, or bend in half for a satisfying spanking rod which will not break the skin or leave marks! We've found these perfect to slip into a suitcase for a naughty weekend, with the added bonus that if you leave them lying around, nobody will be able to guess what you've been using them for!