Knotting 101

This is a guide on knots, what they are, how to use them safely and some general advice I can give to fellow anons

Now that we got the warning out of the way, let's delve into the wonderful world of being knotty!

What is a Knot/Knotting/Getting Knotted?
-A knot is that bulge or sudden increase in girth that certain dildos have towards their base. Knotted dildos are inspired from certain animals in nature that have said knot on their penises that swell with blood when they get erect. This is mostly used to keep the male inside the female when mating so the male can reproduce easier. The first animal that probably comes to mind are dogs and wolves, who have said anatomy to help the male stay inside the female.

What is the Appeal To Knots?
-The main appeal of a knot is for anal/vaginal enjoyment. Some people like to have a 'full' feeling when masturbating/having sex with dildos, and one of the main appeals to a knot is the sudden and/or gradual increase of girth helps even more with that 'full' feeling and sexual stimulation. A knot is larger than the majority of the shaft that's already inserted, and is often the 'final' hurdle when playing with dildo, and when you overcome the hurdle, the knot filling you up really tightly, pressing against so many nerves will often send someone into a REALLY strong and lovely orgasm. This goes double for men. When you finally get a knot inside of you, you can often 'squeeze' your prostate on the knot, and the constant pressure on your prostate will almost always send you overboard, cumming buckets.

-Another appeal to knots is the mental aspect of it. I know when I ride, I will often be trying my best to get the knot in after getting used to the shaft, and slowly but constantly put pressure on the knot, changing different positions, angles, and putting real effort into getting the end goal of a knot pop. And when the knot 'pops' in, often I will have my mind go blank and try to process if the knot really did go in. And when you realize and feel that, yes indeed the knot popped in, I start to feel both accomplished and extremely horny over the fact I got such a large and pleasurable thing inside me. I take pride in getting something so big and good inside of me, and now I get to have the reward of next level prostate and anal stimulation. Other anons have similar feelings, saying that, like anal sex, the mental game is at least, if not more than half of it. If you're not in the mood to ride a dildo, let alone try to conquer a knot, you probably won't enjoy it as much as someone else.

-A final appeal to a Knot is the stretching of the anus/vagina. Some people can use the same dildo over and over again, and be content with it, and there's nothing wrong with that. Some people, however, will need to increase the size of their dildos as time goes on. This is because their body gets used to the size and shape of their dildo, and the dildo isn't pressing against all the nerves that it used to previously. A knot is a great solution to this! While the shaft is almost always accustomed to the adjusted anus after multiple uses, the knot is often bigger than the butthole/vagina of the user, and will take an actual effort to get inside, and when you finally get it in, those previously neglected nerves suddenly get a rush of silicone, thus leading to both the physical and mental reasons of why a knot is so sexually erotic.

Are Knots A "Furry" Thing?
-No, knots are not inherently a "Furry" thing. While the anatomy of the dildo is often based around animals in nature, that's not the main appeal of a knot. A knot is meant to provide pleasure to your anus or vagina with a feeling of fullness and stretching. While some people ARE sexually aroused by furry and breeding fetishes, the dildo and knot itself isn't a "Furry" thing. Knotted dildos come in all shapes and sizes, and a lot of them are designed around fictional entities or characters, so if you cannot get past a "Furry only" mentality, you can explore your options! Some companies I have seen even make a realistic dildo with a knot on it. So no, a knotted dildo isn't a "Furry" thing, but if you can't get past that mindset and think it is, maybe knots aren't for you, and about half of anal play is mentality.

How Do I Pick A Brand/Model That's Best For Me?
-This is a tricky question. This will mostly come down to what you like and what works best for you! However, you need to be realistic with yourself. Don't get a toy realistically won't use due to certain factors. Try to think about this rationally before you start browsing online. Horny shopping has fucked us all over in one way or another. Don't fuck over your wallet, try to save the fucking for yourself when you're horny and ready to fuck/get fucked.

Here are some (but not all!) things you need to consider before purchasing a dildo with a knot on it:
-What is your size range for dildos you regularly use for anal/vaginal play? Do you use smaller dildos, or do you need a thicker, longer, and meatier dildo to achieve sexual satisfaction?
-What is your body type? Do you think you have a smaller frame with smaller organs, anal ones too, or do you have a larger set? To determine this easier, refer to your "go to" dildos. Do/can you insert bigger dildos with stretching, or can you simply warm up on bigger dongs? Or do you always feel satisfactorily full with a smaller dildo?
-What shaped dildos do I like/work well with me? Some people can use "weirder" models like fantasy dildos, while others can only use realistic dildos.
-How experienced are you with dildos overall? If you are just starting out with dildos, it would be wise to get a small, more appropriately shaped toy that you can actually use. As tempting as it is to try and "fit it" with the Size Queens, you need to focus on yourself and your enjoyment, and get a toy you can actually use, and not just have sit neglected and collecting dust when you finally get it home, try to get it in, and you cannot even get the tip in because you cannot even take a 2 inch diameter shaft in you.
-What firmness of dildos do I like? With knotting, I personally think it is best to go with the softest firmness possible for both inserting and pulling out, but some people really like a firm, hardly moving dildo. If you know you can take a rougher toy without causing issues, go right ahead!
-What brands/companies do you like? When knotting comes to mind, Bad Dragon is the most infamous for knotted and big dildos, but there are many other companies who make dildos! And this of course means better prices and qualities! When the free market competes, the consumer wins!
-What's your budget? Some people have no problem spending over a hundred dollars or even close to two hundred dollars for their specially designed and desired dildo, while others only want to spend the smallest amount possible. With my two sense, I would say it's best to spend the extra money on a good, quality dildo. You don't want a cheap dildo with who knows what material inside your butthole or vagina. This could lead to chemicals leaking into you, and that could lead to a whole host of problems.
-How picky are you with smaller details? Do you HAVE to have no imperfections on your dildo, do you NEED it to be a specific coloring, or do you not mind saving a few bucks buying a "flop" that has a slight flaw in it when it was being made?
-What shapes/sizes do you find particularly exciting for you? Some people REALLY love horse cocks for their fantasy toys, others love a wolf/canine shapes. Others like "weird"/otherworldly shaped toys. This can sort of be tied to the "Are Knots A Furry Thing" concept/mentality. You will likely have a preference over which type of cock you are more attracted to. For instance, if you love futanari porn with the girls having ginormous horse cocks, you're likely going be able to mentally put yourself in WAY more fantasies than if you were to just use a normal sized, properly scaled human cock. I would allow yourself to accept that certain sizes, models and shapes are going to sexually excite you, and allow yourself to purchase said toys for yourself. The toys are made for a reason, and that is to get you off, so allow yourself to buy the horse cock with the knot towards the bottom (or really fat medial ring) , or the beefy canine dildo with the fat knot towards the base.

The Sock Method
-If you can't/won't spend the money on a knotted dildo, one thing you can do to help decide if knotting is right for you is to try the Sock Method. This will require a sock and a condom. What you need to do is stretch the sock over a dildo of your choice, and where you want the knot to be, and ball up an appropriately sized knot for your dildo. Then, you stretch the condom over the sock, and you now have a jury rigged knotted dildo! Feel free to experiment and adjust as needed! This is a great method, especially if you tend to ride smaller dildos often, as you can see if you really can take knots in the first place! And as always, use plenty of lube!

Writer's Personal Recommendations
-Bad Dragon is probably the most infamous fantasy dildo maker, and they make a whole host of different shaped dildos, and they have many different ones with knots designed in them! While rather expensive, they are a reputable company and they have a very loyal fanbase, and for good reason. They deliver what that fanbase wants.
Bad Dragon: https://bad-dragon.com/

-Neotori, is a small, German based company who uses Etsy to sell their products. While they have a smaller selection compared to Bad Dragon, I still would recommend their site! They have a softer silicone for those knot pops, and they of course do have knotted dildos, the Mundir being one of their most popular designs! Not only are their dildos softer, but they are cheaper than Bad Dragon! Even with across the ocean shipping and currency conversion rates, they are still WAY cheaper than Bad Dragon!
Neotori: https://neotori.com/

-Exotic Erotics is a small dildo shop that has been in operation since 2009. They have a variety of lifelike, animal, fantasy, robotic and more designs of dildos! The shop is fairly simplistic to navigate and you can often find them participating in sales during the holidays to get specific models, colors or already made inventory on sale! Highly recommend them during the holidays due to the price drops you can find, especially if need a fatter and longer toy to satisfy your urges!
Exotic Erotics: https://www.exotic-erotics.com/store/

-Amazon, surprisingly has an actually good set of silicone dildos that you can find. Now, since Amazon is so big, and since they don't specialize in dildos and sex toys, there will be a LOT of sellers of dildos there. You need to be REALLY careful when browsing and looking for possible dildos to buy. A lot of dildos there will be cheap, however this is because the material of the toy won't be silicone. It will be something like Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or some other unknown material, and the seller may not even know or worse, is lying about the material of the toy they are selling. A general rule of thumb is that if the dildo or toy you're using on yourself isn't silicone, stainless steel, or glass, these cheaper, questionable materials could be leaking or rubbing chemicals or substances within you. And who knows what the long term effects of using some toy with a possible toxic material. HOWEVER, Amazon still has reputable sellers and you can get yourself a knotted dildo and other sex toys really easily through them, since they sell so many products. I have never had a dildo or sex toy come from Amazon that had any indication that it was a sex toy. The toys have always come in a normal amazon box, along with other stuff you may have ordered as well!

When ordering toys from Amazon, I would first look at the material on the sellers page. Most of the time (but not always), the seller will list the proper material of the toy. Avoid really sleek and shiny toys that look like they reflect light. Then, I would go to any reviews the toy has, and see what the general consensus is for the toy. I would also only buy a possible toy if it has reviews on it, and they're clearly human. It doesn't need to be a lot, just a dozen or so is a good sign. Avoid the toy if a lot of people mention things like a weird chemically smell, reacting to lube, other toys, or some other external/internal object. If you can find a review saying they did the lighter test and it passed, that is REALLY good! You'd be surprised, but I have found toys from Amazon that do have reviews with the lighter test! The lighter test is a way to help determine if a toy is really silicone or some other weird material.

If these signs are there, then you have really good odds that the toy you're looking at is indeed silicone, and is likely going to be safe! Of course for even better clarity, if you do buy the toy, I would do the lighter test on your own, and see for yourself. Now, despite the risks I have laid out before, Amazon can be a GREAT place to get toys on the cheap. I have bought many HUGE toys for less than 100 bucks. I'm talking toys that rival XL Bad Dragons and other dildo companies that make big boys. And of course, there are even many more sellers of smaller and more normal sized dildos. ESPECIALLY knotted dildos! Amazon as of the past few years has gotten way more varieties and companies selling their own dildos, so I would HIGHLY recommend you to take a look and contemplate getting yourself some cheaper, surprisingly good quality dildos from there. Just keep in mind what I said before and carefully analyze each possible toy you may be interested in.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/
The Lighter Test To Help Determine if A Toy is Silicone or Not: https://dangerouslilly.com/2014/03/deciphering-results-of-flame-test/

Other Recommended Companies
-As I explore, browse and experiment on myself, more companies that get my seal of approval will appear overtime on the guide here. I browse the /analgen/ thread often, so if you also browse and post there, by all means, share a knotted dildo you enjoy and recommend to others! It may inspire me to give the toy/company a whirl myself!

How To Use Knotted Dildos
-Finally, we reach probably the most important part of the guide, how to actually fuck a knot! Now before I go on, I cannot stress this enough:

-Now, when using a knot, you need to be much more aware of what your body is telling you. You need to be aware that with a knot, it is often a sudden increase in size and strain for your butt/snatch. This can not only be a shock to your body, but this could possibly hurt. And it should NOT hurt. You SHOULD NOT experience pain when trying to get a knot to pop in, or experience pain when it pops in. Do not confuse this with the unfamiliar feeling of having a larger girth inside you, you should NOT feel pain, and you should NOT bleed. Not being familiar with the toy and your body getting used to the shape and size is one thing, actual pain is an entirely different thing and you need to avoid that at ALL costs.

Lube
-When you've finally taken proper precautions, now is where the fun begins! Part of the fun of a knot is that you never really truly know if/when the knot will pop in, and if/when that pop happens will be dependent on you! Here are a few factors you need to be aware of when trying to have some knotty fun!
-Lube. Lube, lube lube. You can NOT have enough lube! What kind of lube you use is also a factor you need to be aware of! With silicone, you shouldn't use silicone lube. When using silicone lube with a silicone toy, it will degrade the toy, often weakening the structure of it, eventually leading it to break or whittle away. Here is proof:
"Silicone Degradation Experiment": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox-Gb9qTCJM
"Silicone Degradation Experiment - Conclusions": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpYtDCYGiu0
-I recommend X-Lube. X-Lube is a great, water based lube that you make! It's extremely economical and of great quality! You can make up to 20 liters of lube with one of their bottles!
X-Lube: https://xlube.com/ (X-Lube used to be available for US shipping on Amazon, but as of late you can't do it, you can get around this by using Canadian or German Amazon links, but I'ts sadly more expensive than it used to be)
-J-Lube is also another common lube choice. It's very similar to X-Lube, but has sugar added to it. I have no experience with J-Lube, as I am still on my first bottle of X-Lube over a year later, but if you like J-Lube, that is also another good option!
J-Lube: https://www.amazon.com/JorVet-J0109-J-Lube-Lubric-Pwd-10Oz/dp/B006G2S17A/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2LKFBAP1KQI1F&keywords=x%2Blube&qid=1653304201&sprefix=x%2Blub%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-2&th=1
-I have also used coconut oil a couple times. It's really good for keeping you lubed up, but you need your body heat to make it slippery. Some people swear by it, some people don't like it, give it a try, and see how you like it. You can buy this from most grocery stores.
-There are other lubes out there, so if you really enjoy a pre-made brand, go right ahead and use it. However if you want the most bang for your buck, going for one of the single character lubes are going to be best, because you can mix the lubes to whatever consistency you want, and you'll be able to make literal gallons of lube per container powdered bottles.

Positioning
-Now, we finally got our dildo, and we got it lubed up. Now it's time to start having some knotty fun. Whatever way you use to get warmed up for anal/vaginal insertion is what you should do to start getting in the mood. Some people like doggy with a suction cup on the wall, some people like squatting, some people like using their hands only, whatever you like the most! Start getting that shaft in you! Whatever you usually do to get a ridin' get to it cowboy!
-If you are having trouble getting used to a knotted toy, a good idea would be to warm up with a slightly longer/girthier toy. This will help your body get accustomed with the feeling of being stretched and filled, and will allow smoother insertions when you actually use your knotted toy.
-Warm up your toy! A warmer toy will be easier to squeeze and mold into the shape and angle you want, and will be easier to insert. Soak your toy in hot water or keep it near the heater for a few minutes. This will allow the silicone (if it is silicone) to be more malleable for your body, and easier for you!
-Keep in mind we are still warming up and getting into the groove of things. This is us getting used to having a good time, we are not at knot fucking et. Start slowly getting yourself riding and inserting your dildo of choice until you can reliably get most of the shaft inside of you near, or down to the knot.
-After getting used to your dildo inside of you, you have finally gotten to the main event, the knot. Now is where all your prep work and efforts are going to either be handsomely rewarded or foiled! You're at the top of the knot! Congratulations! Now, you need to start experimenting! You need to figure out how to get that knot inside you! This will require you to try different tactics, positions, and varying amounts of effort. Here are a few things you can try to see if it helps your knotting escapades:
-Keep constant, but pleasurable pressure on the knot. When you have the knot at the entrance of your ass/vag, a good strategy is to keep constant pressure on the knot. This helps your body get used to its hopefully knotty surprise it will be receiving soon. By keeping yourself constantly pressed on the knot, this can help open up the orifice you want to get knotted, and thus, get knotted.
-Try rotating your orifice on the knot when applying pressure. While keeping constant pressure on the knot, try to shake your hips, ass and wring said orifice on the knot. You can pretend to "dance" on the knot like a Hula Girl as well when sitting on the top of the knot. This can help massage and open up the anus/vagina, letting the knot pop in.
-Try to get an angle or edge inside of you first: Often, knots won't be a perfect design for your specific body type, they will have some sort of bump or edge or some kind of feeling that you can try to help it get in you. By having an edge of the knot inside, this can help "dig" inside you, and when applying constant but pleasurable pressure, this can help get the knot to pop in! This works much better on knots that don't have a gradual increase and are more of a solid, sudden girth that will be much harder to gradually insert yourself into you.
-Relax. Do not force the knot in. That is how you can cause tearing and other nasty damage. You want the knot to pop in as gracefully and smoothly as possible. Now, you can help it along by trying to massage your orifice using your fingers to push it inside you easier, but you should only do this when you know it won't be painful. Knots are going to be an obstacle, that's what they are, and you should help it in when you can, but as I've said many times, you should only do this when you know it won't hurt yourself and you're being careful.
-Try to "push" or "flex" on the knot. When you push on the knot like you are trying to pass a bowel movement or pop out a toy vaginally, your body will open up naturally, like you're trying to go to the restroom, meaning you can have an easier time getting a knot in. Don't strain too hard however, that's how you can get hemorrhoids and other problems.
-Keep your weight on the knot and use gravity towards your advantage! Use your body weight! If you like the squatting position, this will really help! While feeling comfortable and knowing you won't hurt anything, apply your weight onto the knot. This, along with a constant pressure is a wonderful combo! Let gravity do its job and pull you closer to popping in that knot!
-Use a floor or a hard surface. Unless you already know that you can easily insert a knot in and out with no effort, you should use a hard surface as a base when trying to pop a knot in. If you try to use a soft surface like your bed, this will often lead to you bending the dildo into a position that hinders or stops your knot popping progress. If you REALLY want to use your bed to rest your knees on something soft, I recommend using a book, a plate, or something you can sit on without any threat of it bending or contorting. This will help you keep that pressure on the knot you really need!
-Experiment! Try some positions or tactics that you enjoy! You know your body more than I do, so have fun with it! Just remember, you never have enough lube, and if you experience any pain, stop right away.

(POP!)
-After trying and having so much prep work, you bouncing, riding and wiggling on your toy. After enough effort and sexual drive, you will feel that distinctive POP. You'll suddenly shudder in sexual pleasure, you got that knotty, knotty knot inside! That knot is finally locked in, and your body is going to get an utter RUSH of endorphins. From here on out, it's up to you on how you enjoy playing with yourself, and I hope you enjoy it! Trust me, you will. If you ever watch other knotting videos where they finally get the knot to pop in, most of the riders will have that rush of emotions and start moaning in utter surprise and pleasure, and now, you finally get to enjoy that! Trust me, when you finally get that knot in, you will know exactly what I mean.

Miscellaneous Info

-Be wary of gaping and extreme stretching. While some people really, really enjoy gaping and stretching to larger and larger limits, I personally think you need to be careful of this. While none of us really don't know the long term effects of anal, we do know that humans shouldn't put things in their asses in the first place. The ass doesn't lubricate enough for sexual exploits, and while it feels really good, we really don't know if there are any short or long term negative consequences of anal play. This goes double for knotting, and triple for stretching and gaping. Knotting feels REALLY REALLY great. It truly does, but you need to be careful. If you think there is a limit on what you or the human body can realistically shove into its rectum, and if you exceed that, damage could happen, maybe it's best you draw the line at what you think is not safe anymore. Me personally, 3.5 inches to 4 I think is the limit one should push it to, but that's me personally. I have a large frame and am very tall, so I probably can insert larger things easier, but this can and will vary for each reader. Be safe, please.
-This is kinda obvious, but you should be 'clean' before any anal escapades. You should pass a bowel movement at the very least. If you like enemas and they work for you, use them as well. I also take psyllium husk everyday to help keep my stool mostly intact, so there isn't any 'residue' when enjoying anal.
-Try different ways to orgasm with the knot in you! Some people like knot fucking, where they either grind the base of their dildo with the knot inside them, some people like to push it in and out, and others like to keep the knot in for that constant feeling of pressure n' pleasure! When I get my knots in, I will often have that mental rush of "Oh shit, I finally got it in...." and will then flex my prostate on the knot. I will then raise my toushie in the air and start squeezing harder and harder on the knot while masturbating. This will often lead to a huge and messy orgasm everywhere.
-Give your anus a day or two to heal up. As mentioned with the first tip, we aren't meant to shove things into our ass, and when we do, we could cause some tearing and damage, even if we don't feel anything. Small tears in the anus can happen, and you need to be aware of that. It's a good rule of thumb to give yourself a day or two to rest by not going into more anal adventures. If you feel up to having multiple sessions a day or having them for the next couple of days, make sure you let your anus and butthole recover. You don't wanna damage your asshole.
-Incorporate other fetishes to help you get that knot in! For me, I love watching other porn videos of actors popping knots in. It makes me feel confident and sexually charged to have me get my knot in. Whatever similar insertion/anal fetishes and preferences you like, try to incorporate them as well, it'll help distract you trying to pop a knot in, thus leading to easier pops!

How To Increase In Knot Sizes
-If you're like a lot of people, after using the same dildo over a repeated time period will start to leave you not feeling as good as you once felt. Your body will get increasingly used to the feeling, each insertion gets easier, and less fulfilling. This is because your body is getting used to the size and model of your toy, and this will more often than not, leave you craving that sexual thrill you had the first time you properly inserted your toy. And here, this is where we will learn how to increase our dildos and their respective knots' sizes.
-To begin, the same rules apply with safety. You need to be careful when stretching and going deeper, fatter and rougher. Do not force things, do not tolerate pain, bleeding and stop when you start having those. It sounds obvious here now, reading this, however when you are horny and hopped up with wanting to orgasm, you will often contemplate wanting to push a little further than you really should due to wanting to cum. DO NOT do this.
-Now, the secret to increasing your knot sizes along with larger dildos, is to use even longer and fatter dildos than the knotted dildo you wish to use. Using knotted dildos to try and stretch yourself is extremely inefficient, and can be very costly. I myself have purchased about 6 dildos that are still way too large for me, thinking I could insert the knot by just sitting on it. The problem with this is, is that the "infrastructure" to take those said dildos aren't there for me. That is because I didn't properly stretch myself with a longer and fatter toy in the first place.
-This sounds counterintuitive, however I speak from experience with this. I would be able to take 3 inch diameter knots like it was nothing. I didn't need to stretch, flex or do anything. I literally could stop whatever I was doing in my life, lube up that 3 inch knotted toy, pop it in like I was tying my shoes or tightening a belt. However I couldn't get for the life of me, a 3.5 inch diameter knot in me. And only after buying even larger dildos that didn't have a knot, and using them for a decent while over a few sessions, only did this properly stretch and expand my insides to where I could actually insert my knots that were about 3.5 inches.
-Now, to determine what size you need to use, you need to have a rough idea of what your "average" toys lengths, girths and shapes are, and get a toy that is a bit larger than that. For example, For me, I could bonce on 3 inch diameter toys like it was nothing. Even after not pleasing myself with a dildo for MONTHS, I could just pick up after that long period of time and satisfy myself. So I went larger. I looked at toys that were a few inches longer than what I could take comfortably, and toys that were a bit beefier with girth. I would use toys that had a girth between 3.5-3.75 inches of girth, and I would use the toys over the course of a few sexual sessions.
-Now I know porn and the sexual thrill you have with knotting wants you to be like the other "cool kids" and sit on that fatter knot, however you need to realize that the porn actors you see have done the same thing I have done. They gradually stretched themselves out both lengthwise, and girthwise. They will insert and play with themselves using those toys for however long it took for them to finally be stretched and properly accommodated.
-This may be a little disheartening, however I find that once I start bouncing and riding on my next bigger and badder toy, those feelings wash away, and I start to enjoy myself grinding and bouncing, and let the good feelings take me away. I would just try to get a little deeper and fatter in each time you feel you can do. Just keep in mind to avoid pain. No sexual enjoyment is worth horribly hurting yourself. Go slow, and enjoy the ride. And soon enough, you'll eventually be ready to try to use your next knotted toy. Repeat the steps you did when trying to insert your knot, and get ready to enjoy that full, amazing rush of a fat fucking knot lodged deep within you and won't let go until you orgasm and have to slide it out while struggling to keep your eyes from rolling in the back of your head.