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Product Review: Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms

Since condoms were invented people have aspired to make them better. Extra safe. Extra texture. And, of course, extra sensation. Thin condoms often take the market by storm and even I have to admit that Mr. Peaches and I prefer brands that sport a thinner surface.

So, naturally, it was only a matter of time before Durex (a condom-making giant) released their own super thin condom for our screwing pleasure. Described as ‘transparent and gossamer-thin’ by Lovehoney, these condoms trump Durex’s previous thin brand, the Durex Thin Feels, to provide an even slimmer experience. However at £14.99 for a pack of 12 (as opposed to £9.99 for the Thin Feels), are the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms worth the extra money, or is the change in sensation paper thin? Read on to find out.

The Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms

If the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms aim to be one thing it’s unobtrusive. I mean, they’ve been given the title ‘Invisible’ for a reason: Durex want these condoms to feel as if they’re not even there. That being said condom safety is still very important, and a condom is only as good as it is durable. Because of this Durex puts its aims with this new condoms down as being ‘to maximize the sensitivity, while still providing a high level of security and protection’; this is something I think we can all agree is a good thing and, as a condom nutcase connoisseur I couldn’t help but try these new latex puppies out at some point.

To quote Ned Flanders: “Feels like I’m wearing nothing at all!”

In terms of actual thinness, the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms come out at 45 microns. This is about 10 microns thinner than other thin condoms (and with standard condoms coming in at 65-70 microns) but still doesn’t make them the thinnest on the market. The Okamoto Japanese Condoms that Mr. Peaches and I tested, for example, came in at 20 microns. However these condoms felt rather tight for Mr. Peaches and were what we’d both describe as ‘dangerously thin’ in terms of use and psychological assurance. Having sex when you think the condom has broken isn’t sexy. Meanwhile EXS has had 45 micron condoms out for a while (retailing at £5.99 for 12 and £22.99 for a whooping 144). Because of this the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms have quite a lot to prove when it comes to sensation, especially when trying to justify the price.

One thing that definitely works in Durex’s favour is the packaging that they’ve chosen for the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms. A sturdy plastic container, this packaging is great for long-term storage and works really well when travelling too. Mr. Peaches was so enthused about it that he sung its praises to me on more than three separate occasions. Take that as you will. Of course this container won’t be good if you want a slimmer or more discreet form of storage but it definitely has its benefits. You can also store other condoms in it after you’ve run out of your current batch, making it a good long-term investment.

These condoms looks pretty average but more than live up to their goals during use.

The condoms themselves come in conventional Durex wrapping which assures you of their safety and gives all the vital safety info that you need to know. The Durex brand is incredibly popular in the UK and sometimes I wonder if the brand alone inspires people to purchase from them rather than ‘risking’ other condom brands. But I digress.

When opened the foil wrapping of the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms reveals an impressively thin condoms which certainly does live up to expectations. Odor-wise these condoms do have a semi-noticeable latex scent to them but this is hardly detrimental. Being extra-lubricated these condoms do feel a bit slippery but that’s the point. Still, I would recommend using additional water-lubricant too when using these condoms as it should enhance the experience further.

Taste-wise these condoms don’t have an offensive taste to them at all. In fact, if you’re used to latex then you know exactly what to expect. They taste of latex. Rubbery and smooth to the suck but not at all unpleasant and actually rather intoxicating once the association is made between latex and oral delights.

Correctly applying a condom is one of the most crucial stages of use and, personally, we found this to be a bit lacking with the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms.

Because the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms are so thin they have a tendency not to want to roll down and can sometimes even get caught on their own material while being rolled. Personally Mr. Peaches found this to be a real hassle and it often killed the mood for him. Worrying about getting your condom securely down your shaft definitely fits in to the ‘unsexy’ category.

Unrolling these condoms can be a pain, depending on your patience.

However, while I personally can’t deny that the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms takes some effort to roll down properly I personally didn’t see this as a hindrance. In fact I liked to take it as a game—asking him to slowly roll the condom down his shaft (as if it were an order and not a necessity) or taking the time to apply it myself. Because these condoms are objectively difficult to apply this often meant that I’d spend more time squeezing and massaging his shaft, which added to our sexual escapades.

In terms of use neither one of us could fault the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms at all, but I wouldn’t say that they stood out among other ultra-thin or ‘natural’ feeling condoms either, at least to me. While we both agreed that the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms did feel as if they were hardly there at all, I personally felt like I got more sensation and warmth transference from the Trojan’s Naturalamb Condoms or the 10 microns thicker Wingman Condoms. And, while we both agree that the Naturalamb Condoms are a luxury purchase so, too, are the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms to Mr. Peaches’ mind. Put simply the application of them coupled with the price was too much of a deterrent for him to see them as a necessary purchase.

I’m not as down on these condoms, as they certainly did their job in terms of satisfaction, but I do still have to admit that at £14.99 I probably wouldn’t make these condoms my go-to purchase.

As it stands our ultra-thin condoms of choice remain the Wingman Condoms, which come with a built-in applicator that makes putting them on an absolute breeze. The 10 micron difference really isn’t much for us compared to the benefits of quick application.

Final Thoughts

Application and price are the only real faults against the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms, as they basically achieve their goal of being near-invisible with ease. Because of this the decision to purchase will be incredibly personal.

If you want a condom that feels thin while still providing a secure fit and the assurance that it will keep you protected then the Durex Invisible Extra Lubricated Condoms is a great condom, especially if money isn’t a factor for you.