Your Cuffing Season Survival Guide
Stephen Hopper
What Is Cuffing Season?
Cuffing season is the stretch from fall into winter when people pair up. The nights get longer, the holidays get closer, and a cozy night in beats going out in the cold.
Whether you just met someone or you have been together for years, the right supplies make those nights in a lot more fun.
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Start With a Lube You Both Like
Every couple needs one go-to bottle on the nightstand. Here is how to pick it.
Water-based is the easy all-rounder. It is safe with condoms and toys, feels natural and washes off without a trace. Try Sliquid Naturals H2O or Swiss Navy Water Based.
Silicone lasts the longest. It stays slick without reapplying and works in the shower or bath. Try Wet Platinum. Skip it with silicone toys, and see our Silicone-Based Lube Guide for more.
Not sure which one to get? Buy a small bottle of each and let your partner vote.
Turn Up the Heat With Warming Lube
Warming lube adds a gentle heat that is made for cold nights. It warms up with touch or a soft breath.
Good places to start are ID Sensation Warming and JO H2O Warming. Test a small amount on your skin first, since some people feel warming more strongly than others. Our Warming, Cooling and Tingling Lubes guide covers how to try them the right way.
Make It a Massage Night
A massage is the best way to slow down after a long day. It is also the best warm-up there is.
- Kama Sutra Massage Indulgence Kit: five bottles, so you can try a new scent every night.
- Sliquid Massage Oils: natural nut and seed blends that soak in without feeling greasy.
- Smack Warming & Lickable Massage Oil: warms up as you rub it in, and it tastes good too.
- ID 3Some: a warming, lickable massage gel that also works as lube.
Massage oils are oil-based, so they can break down latex condoms. Our Condom-Safe Lube guide explains what to use instead.
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Add Some Flavor
Flavored lube makes oral sex smoother and a lot more fun. Pick a flavor you both like, or try a few.
- JO Gelato for dessert flavors like salted caramel and crème brûlée.
- Sliquid Swirl if you want a sugar-free, glycerin-free formula.
- SMACK Tarts for sweet-and-sour candy flavors.
Shop: Flavored Lubricants
Try Something New Together
Long winter nights are a good time to try something new.
Bath night. Slube turns a regular bath into a tub full of slippery gel. Add it to warm water and climb in together.
A starter kit. The Kama Sutra Vibe Weekender Kit packs a mini bullet vibe, a warming body topping, lube packets and position cards into one travel tin.
Toys for two. Browse Couples Sex Toys for vibes and rings made to be shared. Check our Toy-Safe Lube guide to pick a lube that will not damage them.
Your Cozy Night In Checklist
- A go-to lube on the nightstand, and a travel size for the weekend away.
- Massage oil and a towel you do not mind getting oily.
- One thing you have never tried, like warming lube, a flavor or a bath.
- Blankets, snacks and your phone on silent.
Quick Recap
- Pick one lube you both like: water-based for everything, silicone for long sessions.
- Warming lube and massage oils are made for cold nights.
- Oil-based massage products are not safe with latex condoms.
- Use the long nights to try something new together.
Cuffing season only comes once a year. Stock up, stay in and make the most of it.
