5 Best Nipple Clamps

Nipple clamps aren’t only for those who indulge in BDSM and enjoy pain. They can be used by anyone with nipples and an interest in nipple stimulation. It doesn’t always have to be painful.

That being said, everyone’s nipples are unique and nipple sensitivity varies greatly from person to person and at different times, for example during menstruation. Some lucky people can even orgasm from nipple stimulation alone.

Nipple clamps stimulate the area by providing a feeling of pressure or pinching during use. They also restrict the blood flow to the nipple. When the clamp is removed, the blood rushes back causing increased sensation in the moment and for some time after, making your nipples extra sensitive to any other stimulation.

The nipples and surrounding areolas are jam-packed with nerve endings, making this a hot spot for stimulation of all types, and stimulation even releases ‘the love hormone’ oxytocin. Nipple clamps are just one of many ways to put all those nerve endings to good use.
And while not all nipple clamping is for the purpose of pain, that can definitely be one of the main attractions. Pain and pleasure activate similar pathways in the brain and the feel-good context of love, sex and intimacy can make this an oh so delicious pairing, something along the lines of salty and sweet.

Nipple clamps can be used during foreplay, penetrative sex, and alone or with a partner. You can even wear inconspicuous ones under your clothes as a naughty secret while you go about your everyday activities to get yourself in the mood.

If you choose a nipple clamp with a thin or small tip it will focus the pressure in one spot, making the sensations more intense on that one spot. The same amount of pressure will feel less intense if you choose a bigger or wider tip for your nipple clamp.

There is no real formula to choosing the correct nipple clamp depending on your nipple size. But it can be a good idea to take it into consideration. For example, if you have very small nipples, you will need clamps that can be tightened to get enough grip around your nipples.

Stimulation is a broad term and your nipples may have a preference for a particular type of touch. You can experiment with ice, pinching, tickling, biting, licking, vibrations, and more to find out what gets your love buds going.

If you have tried gentle nipple play before but it didn’t quite tickle your pickle, the more intense pressure of nipple clamps might be just what your nips desire. Each time you apply and remove the nipple clamps, the blood flowing back into the nipple increases the sensitivity.

Start with clamps made for beginners and build on this by increasing the tightness of your clamps. Over time, you may notice your nipple sensitivity increase as well as the strength of the clamp you enjoy.

Nipple suckers are also a great way to increase sensitivity. Unlike nipple clamps, they don’t restrict the blood flow first but go straight to increasing the blood flow to your nipples and upping their sensitivity. These teeny tiny vacuums can turn nipple play from a disappointing oh to an exciting oooh!

As well as toys, there is a whole world of gels and creams to give your nips a helping hand with some tingling sensation. Any lube that is advertised as stimulating, cooling, tingling, warming can add some extra sensitivity to your nipples. While ingredients vary, they commonly include things like mint or menthol to get that tasty tingle.

Tweezer clamps are great for beginners as they can easily be adjusted, and have a soft rubber, vinyl, or silicone coating over the tips for comfort.

Mainly used by those with more experience, the crocodile nipple clamps usually have a soft coating over the bite and clamp similarly to a clothespin. Some can be adjusted (but not as easily as a tweezer clamp) but generally have a stronger pinch. An alligator clamp is usually considered a BDSM nipple clamp, that provide harder pinches.

For those who love intense and painful pinches, and that industrial look for hardcore BDSM sessions. These are not adjustable and clamp hard down on the nipple without mercy! The clamps are attached to a dangling chain that is great for pulling and tugging since the clamps are so tight and secure.

Magnetic nipple clamps are a style of clamp for those that can handle, and enjoy pain; there are usually two separate metal pieces, which sit on either side of the nipple. The magnetic force between them then squeezes the nipple. These are also non-adjustable and reserved for more intense play.

Think, hanging out your washing but without the clothes- literally! The clothespin clamp is designed to look exactly like a clothespin and simply encloses the nipple between the tips. Be careful, these can’t be adjusted either!

Nipple lasso clamps (or string clamps) are just what they sound like – little lassos that are tightened around your nipples. Your nipple sits at one end of the lasso and the bead in the middle of it can be moved up or down depending on the pressure you desire. Fully adjustable and super easy to use.

Vibrating nipple clamps helps you enjoy that lovely pinch while also experiencing some delightful vibes around the nipple!

Probably the most common type of nipple clamp available, alligator (or crocodile) clamps adjust with a single screw that loosens or tightens the clamp’s grip.

When you adjust the screw, you are adjusting how tight the clamp will be once you’re wearing it. You will still be able to open the clamp to put it on by squeezing the handles at the bottom.

Another type of adjustable nipple clamp that uses screws is called the 4-point clamp, sometimes also known as nipple grips.

These have four separate screws that you can adjust, and your nipple sits in the middle of them. This allows for a more personalized fit, but can be a bit more fiddly to put on than an alligator-style clamp.

I often recommend tweezer-style clamps for beginners because they’re incredible easy to use and adjust.

Tweezer clamps have a small metal slider or loop that can be moved up or down to adjust how close the tweezer arms are to each other.

Sometimes you are just looking for something lightweight, soft, and cute, if that’s the case then there are some adjustable nipple clamps made out of string or elastic.

Often styled as ‘nipple jewellery’, these adjustable nipple clamps have loops of string or elastic that go around the nipple. You then tighten or loosen them by moving the bead up or down to make the loop bigger or smaller.

And, finally, we have some slightly less common varieties of adjustable nipple clamps.

Some clamps have mechanisms that allow you to adjust them by twisting the clamp itself or by pulling on the chain attached to it. You can see a pair of the former kind in the image, and an example of the latter kind is clover (or butterfly) clamps.

Apply the clamp during foreplay, intercourse or masturbation and enjoy the pinch and pressure as you play. When you are on the edge of orgasming, release and remove the clamp, allowing the blood to rush back into the nipple. This technique can lead to a more powerful orgasm that echoes through the body.

The aim of this game is to slowly increase the pushing the power of your nipple clamps. This is great if you have adjustable clamps and want to test the limits of the pleasure you can get from nipple clamping. Just remember to listen to your body and only continue if its the hurts so good kind of pain.

By placing and removing your nipple clamps focus on and off, you can experience pleasure and pain over and over again. This also makes your nips super sensitive to any licks, sucks and flicks that are lavished on them as blood flow increases. Using tweezer clamps for this is recommended as they are quicker to apply and take off again.

This took less than a minute to put together. All you need is two chopsticks and two elastic bands (or four of each if you want to make a set). Wrap the elastic bands around both of the chopsticks at either end and you are done! The nipple sits in the middle (where the finger is in the photo). You can adjust you DIY nipple clamp by tightening or loosening the elastic bands.

There isn’t much ‘do’ in this DIY simple find a couple of pegs, this can be the clothespin type or the smaller ones you can find in craft shops and you have some ready to go nipple clamps. It’s a clean clothes, dirty mind kind of situation! Some even have soft rubber on the inside to protect your clothes (and nips!). These a definitely the best option for bigger nipples.

Perfect for an office fantasy! Again, these don’t require too much effort and can be adjusted by squeezing the metal closer together. Just be careful of the sharp edges!

These little pins aren’t only for losing all over your house and holding up your hair. If you bend them open slightly, you can use them in way similar to tweezer clamps. Once in position, you can press the two pins together to give your nips a satisfying squeeze. This option is better for smaller nipples.