Jelly is, simply put, not very body-safe. It usually contains pthalates that some people are sensitive to and become irritated by. A toy leaking pthalates tends to have a greasy, sticky feel that many people find unpleasant. Jelly is also very porous it's likely to harbor bacteria no matter how well you clean it. Using condoms on jelly toys can protect the user from pthalates and help cut down on bacterial growth, but the average jelly toy should not be kept for more than a year regardless of condom use. Jelly breaks down very quickly - sometimes it will only last a few months, sometimes it will last a little longer. Once it starts to break down, it needs to be thrown away.

Silicone, on the other hand, is one of the safest materials there is. It's completely non-porous, so no bacteria can hide anywhere under the surface, and it can be boiled for super-sanitation. It doesn't contain any harmful chemicals that can cause irritation or infections, so it won't ever feel greasy (sometimes just a wee bit sticky, but that's rare), and with minimal care it can last a lifetime. As for softness, that all depends on who's making it and how it's being made. Some silicone toys are very firm, while others are super-duper squishy, with most falling somewhere in between. The only real downside is that silicone lubricants and silicone toys may react with one another, so a patch test is a must.

And just a related note: Always be cautious when storing toys. Glass, metal, and plastic are all inert and won't react with anything, so they can touch other materials without harming them. Pure silicone can be kept with pure silicone. Beyond that, it's advisable to keep your toys from touching each other, just to be safe - ziplock bags are great for this. Hope this was helpful.

Another point with the jelly is that the jelly toys generally just don't last as long. And even if they do last, after a while they will need to be replaced since you can't get them super clean.

And, another storage idea that I read on here a LONG time ago and still use - you can safely store your toys in tube socks in lieu of a fancy, drawstring toy pouch. It works great!

For us the reasons are exactly what has been said: hygiene/safety and longevity. I have to admit that I would love it if a company ever created a vibrator out of silicone that was as soft as a jelly toy, but I always feel the need to use a condom with jelly toys so they're just not worth it to me.

~M

I've seen lots of reviews of jelly toys that say "its great just use a condom with it!"

Ugh. I hate condoms. They are a necessary annoyance when dealing with untested or non-monogamous partners. But, the best part about masturbating is I don't have to worry about safe sex. I don't buy any toys that have that requirement.

I personally don't care that it rates so low in safety cause I love my Cyberskins and wouldn't give them up no matter what.
But I refuse to use anything with phthalates in it and jelly stinks! I also refuse to throw away money on condoms when I can go straight for a great quality toy that won't cause me issues.

I don't like Jelly as much as plastic, silicone, or safer materials. I had one toy, and it got gunky and nasty even though I cleaned it. It collected lint, and it had a weird smell/taste. It ended up sitting in a box in my closet, untouched. I don't like to use it, even with a condom. The pro isn't good enough for the cons.