It’s pretty much impossible not to notice the uptick in ads for ED medications in recent years. Companies like Ro, Hims, Cake, and Blue Chew are pushing products that claim to help you get hard and stay hard. But these pills aren’t meant for old guys having trouble getting it up. Sniffies Experts say they’re seeing young guys without traditionally diagnosed erectile dysfunction take these pills recreationally. “Who doesn’t want to be a little harder and hornier?” asks one Sniffies Expert.
According to our hard and horny Sniffies Experts, taking these pills isn’t strictly about issues getting a boner in the bedroom. “So much of getting hard is psychological,” they say, so getting a little nervous at a party, or while cruising, or at your first group can make it harder to focus enough to get and stay hard. That’s where a little help from your preferred boner pill can come in handy. It should go without saying that you shouldn’t take any of these medications without speaking to your doctor—make sure they’re safe for you. But in such a crowded market, which boner pill is the best option? Our Sniffies Experts did the hard work—and we mean really hard—of finding out.
Our Favorite: Hims Hard Mints
With a mix of Tadalafil and Verdenafil, Hims mints swept the top spot for our Sniffies Experts. The Vardenafil in the mix—a newer ED medication on the market—works fast. Like within 15 minutes, fast if that’s what you need. You can take it up to an hour before you’re planning on needing to be hard, though, and it should give you up to five hours of peak boner performance. The Tadalafil in the mix is longer lasting—it can stay active for 24 to 36 hours. It’s that mix of fast acting and long last that our Sniffies Experts said put Hims Hard Mints on the top of the heap.
Sniffies Experts also said Hims Hard Mints were one of the better tasting options on the market—actually minty. One mint works as a whole dose of ED meds, and in a matter of minutes you should be ready to get hard. Hims Hard Mints have a few different formulations, some of which don’t contain Vardenafil. The formulations are based on how the company evaluates your needs so be sure to choose the right combination of medications for your situation.
The Runner Up: Ro Sparks
Sniffies Experts also had good things to say about Ro Sparks, the little red pill that combines Tadalafil and Sildenafil, more commonly known as the active ingredients in Cialis and Viagra, respectively. Instead of chewing and swallowing like you would a Hims Hard Mints, Ro Sparks dissolve under your tongue under your tongue in about ten minutes. This is meant to introduce the medications to your bloodstream more quickly, but all in all it usually takes at least a half an hour for any effect—just slightly slower than our first place medication, but still fast acting. On the up side, Ro Sparks come in single serving packages which means they’re easy to take cruising.
Our Experts didn’t love the syrupy cherry flavor they had to endure while the pill dissolved. Still, the medications are effective, relatively fast, and conveniently packaged, so Ro Sparks makes a solid runner up.
Others We Tested
- Sildenafil: Good old fashioned Viagra. There’s nothing wrong with a classic, and this is usually the cheapest option on the market, won’t have any fun packaging, and is generally best for in the moment usage vs. long lasting. We found that combinations seems to work best.
- Cake Dissolvable Chews: Messy packaging and a downright unpleasant taste disqualified Cake Chews for our Experts.
- Maximus Blood Flow Protocol: Although it’s not strictly for sexual performance—the company also claims these pills benefit blood flow and performance in the gym—our testers weren’t a fan.
- Tadalafil: This is the active ingredient in Cialis, and one component of both of our winning mixes. Testers liked that it was long lasting, but it works best when combined with a quick acting medication.
- Blue Chew: Blue Chew prescribes Sildenafil, Vardenafil, or Tadalafil separately—no combinations allowed. Plus, it turns your tongue blue which isn’t super sexy.