Best Condoms

Best condoms for reliability, comfort

In the U.S., the two mainstream condom brands -- that is, the ones most often available at chain drugstores -- are Trojan and Durex. (Durex condoms were once sold under the Ramses and Sheik brand names.) Each of these brands comes in a bewildering number of varieties, including lubricated, non-lubricated, extra large, ribbed, extended pleasure, etc. However, in reviews, two varieties stand out: Durex Extra Sensitive (*Est. $13 for box of 12) and Trojan Extended Pleasure (*Est. $13 for box of 12) .

Both of these specific condom brands are subjected by one major consumer review organization to a simple, yet effective, test: blowing them up with air until they pop. This may not necessarily be the first attribute that comes to mind when selecting a condom, but the primary purpose of condoms is to guard against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases -- and if a condom breaks during the act, issues of fit and comfort will suddenly ebb in importance. The bottom line is, both Durex Extra Sensitive and Trojan Extended Pleasure rank at the top of the pack in strength, along with five other widely available brands.

Durex Extra Sensitive condoms are about 20% thinner than standard condoms. Besides their proven strength, Durex Extra Sensitive condoms are a top pick of CondomDepot.com, taking second place in this retailer/reviewer's "World's Best Condoms '08" list. For this annual feature, CondomDepot.com recruits couples to try out 40 brands of condoms, then combines the results with sales data and customer feedback. The men on the testing panel rate Durex Extra Sensitive an A plus, and one woman raves that "it was hard to tell he was wearing a condom." Users posting to Amazon.com also praise this condom, although inevitably there are some complaints about breakage.

Other ultra-thin condoms also do well with reviewers, but either aren't praised as much as Durex Extra Sensitive or have other flaws. Kimono Micro Thin (*Est. $13 for box of 12) is about 38% thinner than ordinary condoms. It's picked by reviewers as often as Durex Extra Sensitive; it's one of the top choices of About.com's Guide to Gay Life, and is also a favorite of both Cosmopolitan (in its 1998 roundup) and the condom retailer BuyCondom.com. However, we chose not to include Kimono Micro Thin in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers because it doesn't rate as well in strength tests.

Durex Extra Sensitive has more serious competition in Trojan's ultra-thin condom, the Supra (*Est. $12 for box of 12) . Trojan Supra condoms are made from polyurethane and thus can be used by people who are sensitive or allergic to latex. This condom is the top pick of James Verini at Slate: "Its airy feel -- like a diaphanous tunic -- transported me to an earlier, unjaded time, when sex was new and condoms were fun." It's also the top choice of Men's Health magazine, which describes it as "like wearing nothing." Unfortunately, the Trojan Supra isn't included in Consumer Reports' 2005 strength tests, so we're reluctant to include it in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers.

However, another Trojan variety does get the nod from reviewers: Trojan Extended Pleasure (*Est. $13 for box of 12) . The lubricant for this condom contains Benzocaine (a mild numbing agent meant to prolong the sexual act.) This condom rates well for strength, and is a favorite of both BuyCondom.com (which lists it in the second spot on its most recent Top 10 Condoms list) and users posting to Amazon.com, who praise its ability to help control premature ejaculation. Trojan Extended Pleasure is similar to the Durex Performax (*Est. $13 for box of 12) which takes the top spot on BuyCondom.com's list. The only reason we included Trojan, and not Durex, in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers is because we were able to find more customer reviews of this condom.

Before you buy either Trojan Extended Pleasure or Durex Performax condoms, you should be aware that many online reviewers look dimly on condoms with numbing ingredients (for example, Men's Health and Maxim both pan Trojan Extended Pleasure). Some experts say these condoms amount to a "quick fix" that doesn't address possible underlying concerns, but on the other hand, many users say they work exactly as they're supposed to, to the pleasure of both partners. In any case, the best way to tell if a climax-control condom is right for you is to try one out and judge the results for yourself.

One feature that differentiates Trojan from Durex is that some Trojan lubricated condoms still contain the chemical Nonoxynol-9, which kills sperm or reduces their motility in case the condom breaks or leaks). (Note that the chemical does not protect against AIDS or STDs.) In 2001, the World Health Organization cited Nonoxynol-9 as a possible aggravating factor in AIDS transmission, since it can cause vaginal irritation. Since then, Durex has stopped using Nonoxynol-9 in its lubricated condoms, but Trojan continues to do so. However, you should bear in mind that the amount of Nonoxynol-9 in a lubricated condom is smaller than the doses considered in the WHO report. The five Trojan brands that still use Nonoxynol-9 are clearly marked "Spermicidal Lubricant" on the outside of the box.