Why Companies Are Providing Travel Locks on Sex Toys

As sex toys go high-tech, most now include travel locks. But what are they, and is it worth spending extra to have one?

A suitcase open on the floor mid-packing. You can see sweaters inside the suitcase and a passport and model airplane next to it.

To explain the importance of travel locks on vibrators, I will share a recent (and mortifying) experience of traveling with my latest sex toy purchase.

Picture the scene: it’s early morning in Manchester airport, and I’m queueing for a flight to Naples. The terminal is hot, all of us in the queue are bothered, and we are waiting patiently to have our hand luggage checked. I’m standing with my 100ml cosmetics neatly stored in a plastic bag.

The security guard yelled, “All electrical items out of your bags, ready for inspection.”

At this point, I remember I have a vibrator in my hand luggage.

When packing my bags, I forgot vibrators could count as electrical items. I’m panicking now as the queue gets closer to the security guards and I think, ‘surely they won’t make me get this out in public?’

They absolutely would make me get it out in public.

No amount of pleading with knowing looks about ‘personal items’ worked. The security guard tapped the gray plastic tray, and I had to fish it out and pop it into the tray.

I stood there, casually dying inside, as my bright purple toy slid down in its own special tray. That’s right. He made me put it in a separate tray.

There was only one way this could have been worse: If the toy had switched itself on.

How travel locks on sex toys work

Thankfully, vibrators have gotten more high-tech since I last attempted this.

Many newer—and more expensive—toys have switched to USB chargers. This means there’s less chance of switching on accidentally.

Gone are the days of taking battery-operated toys apart to remove the AA batteries. The crossover between sex toys and tech means that designers have quickly recognized the need for things like locks on toys. A travel lock is almost fitted as a standard now.

The locks are designed to be easy to use. Activating one is as simple as holding down a combination of different buttons to get it to lock or unlock. Each toy will vary and should come with instructions in the accompanying manual or online.

Not all toys are created equal, though. Sadly, a travel lock seems to be a feature on the more expensive toys, and not everyone can afford this.

What to do if your sex toy doesn’t have a travel lock

If your toy doesn’t come with a locking feature, there are other options for getting it through hand luggage.

You could have great fun running down the battery before you travel so that it has no charge to switch on in your suitcase. However, this may slow down proceedings when you get to your destination because you must reach for the charger before using your toy.

Also, if you don’t fancy taking an expensive toy or testing a travel lock out, it is still possible to pick up travel versions of different toys or battery-powered options.

You can dismantle a battery-powered toy into different pieces, which can be stored separately and more discreetly. That said, most locks really do work and if you feel nervous in advance, try a quick test run with it.

Tips for traveling with sex toys

There are other considerations when it comes to traveling with sex toys.

Remembering to pack a travel case is also essential. Even if your device didn’t come with a travel case, it’s worth grabbing a storage bag or a clear plastic bag ahead of time so it stays clean. The gray travel trays of airports are not hygienic, so if you have a bag to put your sex toy in, it can keep it clean and save a red face.

A travel lock can sometimes be the last of your worries when flying with sex toys.

Make sure to check the country you are flying to ahead of time to see if they have any laws about sex toys. For example, taking sex toys into the United Arab Emirates or having them delivered there is illegal.

These laws also matter if you stop over in a country before catching another flight, as you are temporarily under the country's laws. Travel lock or not, it could be worth leaving a toy at home instead of running that risk.

Don’t forget that lubricants count as liquid, so you must keep them in a clear bag and under 100mls.

And finally, one last piece of advice from someone who will be bringing up their recent Naples trip in therapy for years to come:

Don’t forget to laugh about it.

Image source: Vlada Karpovich