Electrostim 101: Yes, People Voluntarily Shock Themselves
Electrostim toys are exactly what they sound like: devices that send electrical pulses through your body for pleasure. This e-stim guide covers what it actually feels like, what's safe, and why a surprisingly large number of people are into this.
Before you click away: electrostim is not what you think. Nobody is wiring themselves to a car battery. Modern e-stim toys deliver carefully controlled, low-current electrical pulses that create tingling, pulsing, and muscle-contracting sensations. Think of it like a TENS unit from your physiotherapist, except the electrodes go in more... creative locations. It's niche, it's weird, and people who try it tend to become converts.
What Does Electrostim Feel Like?
At low settings, e-stim feels like a gentle tingling or buzzing -- similar to when your foot falls asleep, but pleasant. As you increase intensity, you feel pulsing sensations and involuntary muscle contractions. At higher settings, it creates a rhythmic clenching sensation that people describe as "a vibrator, but from the inside." The muscles contract and release in time with the electrical pulses, which creates stimulation that no motor-driven toy can replicate.
The key difference from vibration: vibrators stimulate nerve endings on the surface. E-stim stimulates the muscle tissue directly. It's a fundamentally different sensation, which is why e-stim enthusiasts tend to be evangelical about it.
Best Electrostim Toys for Beginners
1. Mystim Pure Vibes - Best Starter E-Stim
The Mystim Pure Vibes ($119) is a dedicated e-stim power box that works with any Mystim electrode or toy. It has fine-tuned controls so you can start at "barely there" and work up gradually. Two independent channels let you connect two accessories at once. It's the best entry point for someone who wants to try e-stim without buying an all-in-one toy they might not like.
2. Mystim Sultry Sub - Best Wearable E-Stim
The Mystim Sultry Sub ($59) is a wireless e-stim receiver -- it connects to a separate transmitter held by a partner. Your partner controls the intensity and patterns from across the room. It's the e-stim version of a remote-control vibrator. Great for couples exploring BDSM dynamics with a technological twist.
3. Mystim Tension Lover 2 - Best Intermediate
The Mystim Tension Lover 2 ($159) is the upgraded power box with more patterns, more intensity levels, and a digital display. If you tried the Pure Vibes and want more control, this is the step up. Multiple wave forms (continuous, pulsing, random) create wildly different sensations from the same electrodes.
Advanced Electrostim Toys
4. Mystim Cluster Buster - E-Stim + Vibration
The Mystim Cluster Buster ($179) combines traditional vibration WITH electrostim in one toy. It's a vibrator that also sends e-stim pulses through its surface. Dual stimulation in a completely different sense. The combination of vibration stimulating nerve endings while e-stim contracts the underlying muscles is... a lot. In a good way.
5. Mystim Electric Eric - E-Stim Prostate
The Mystim Electric Eric ($139) is a prostate stimulator with e-stim. The prostate is a muscle, and e-stim causes it to contract rhythmically. People who've tried this describe the sensation as unlike anything else they've experienced. It's not for e-stim first-timers -- try external e-stim first, then graduate to this.
6. Mystim Sizzling Simon - E-Stim Vibrator
The Mystim Sizzling Simon ($139) is an e-stim vibrator that works with the Pure Vibes or Tension Lover power box. The conductive silicone surface delivers pulses along its entire length. Used internally, the e-stim creates contractions that feel completely different from vibration alone.
E-Stim Safety: The Non-Negotiables
- NEVER above the waist. E-stim near the heart is genuinely dangerous. Only use on areas below the waist.
- NEVER with a pacemaker. Electrical pulses + pacemaker = emergency room. Non-negotiable.
- Start at the lowest setting. Always. Increase gradually. You can always go up; getting zapped unexpectedly at high intensity is not fun.
- Only use purpose-built e-stim toys. Don't DIY this. Don't use a TENS unit not designed for intimate use. The current must be controlled and the electrodes must be body-safe.
- Water conducts electricity. E-stim in the bath is extremely dangerous. Keep it dry.
- Not for pregnant individuals. Electrical stimulation can trigger contractions.
E-stim is one of the most unique sensation categories in the sex toy world. It's not for everyone, but the people who are into it are really into it. Start with the Pure Vibes and a surface electrode, see how you feel, and go from there.
Curious about other advanced play? Check our BDSM beginner's guide or the 2026 best-of list for the full spectrum.