The best condoms fit, feel good and get used every time. For most people that means a thin latex Trojan or a non-latex SKYN in the right width. Here's how the condoms we stock compare on material, thickness, fit, lube and texture.
By the Badd Kitty boutique team · Updated October 2026
Key takeaways
- Fit comes first. Men who say their condoms fit poorly report more breakage and slipping, whatever the brand (Crosby et al., 2010).
- Trojan vs SKYN is mostly latex vs polyisoprene. Both standard sizes are 53 mm wide. SKYN is latex-free. Trojan has more sizes and shapes.
- Thin isn't the only way to more feeling. A roomier head, the right width and extra lube often make a bigger difference.
- Match your lube to the material. Water-based or silicone lube works with latex and polyisoprene. Oil doesn't.
- How we chose: manufacturer specs plus what our boutique staff hear from customers. We haven't lab-tested anything, and we say so.
Condom materials compared
Material shapes how a condom feels, which lube you can use and whether it protects against STIs.
| Material | Feel | Safe lubes | Protects against STIs? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latex | Stretchy, snug, most common | Water-based, silicone | Yes | Most people; the widest choice of sizes |
| Polyisoprene | Soft synthetic rubber, no natural latex | Water-based, silicone | Yes | Latex sensitivity, or a softer feel |
| Polyurethane | Thin plastic, less stretch | Most lubes; check the label | Yes | Latex allergy |
| Lambskin | Natural membrane | Any | No, pregnancy only | Pregnancy prevention only, such as tested monogamous partners |
Planned Parenthood confirms that latex and plastic condoms (polyurethane, nitrile and polyisoprene) protect against pregnancy and STIs, while lambskin protects against pregnancy only (Planned Parenthood). WHO's lubricant advisory adds that polyisoprene is just as sensitive to oil-based lubricants as latex (WHO/UNFPA/FHI360).
Trojan vs SKYN: head to head
| Trojan (incl. Magnum) | SKYN | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Latex for every line we stock | Polyisoprene (SKYN calls it SKYNFEEL), latex-free |
| Standard width | 53 mm | 53 mm |
| Wider sizes | Magnum 55 mm, Magnum Raw and Bareskin 57 mm, Magnum XL 58 mm | SKYN makes a 56 mm Large |
| Thinnest option | Trojan Raw, which Trojan calls America's thinnest latex condom | SKYN doesn't publish thickness; we carry SKYN Original online |
| Lube on the condom | Silicone lube on Raw; two different lubes on Double Ecstasy | Silicone-based, non-spermicidal |
| Shapes | Straight, flared at the head, or bulbous | Straight; SKYN Large is wider and longer |
| Badd Kitty price | $7.95 (Magnum XL 3) to $37.95 (Raw 10) | $9.95 (Original 3) |
| Pick it if | You want the most sizes, shapes and textures and latex is fine | You're sensitive to latex or prefer a softer feel |
Specs come from Trojan's size chart (Trojan), SKYN's product pages (SKYN Original, SKYN Large) and the makers' package copy.
So, is Trojan or SKYN better?
Neither wins for everyone. If latex irritates you, the answer is SKYN, or another latex-free condom. If latex is fine, Trojan gives you more ways to get the fit right. A long, average-width penis, a wider girth and a bigger head each have a Trojan option. Buying a 3-pack of each and deciding in bed is the honest way to choose.
Best condoms by what you want
Most sensation, latex is fine
Trojan Raw (10 for $37.95, formerly Bareskin Raw) is a standard-size, straight-walled condom with silicone lube. Trojan markets it as America's thinnest latex condom. For a cheaper everyday thin, Trojan Ultra Thin is $9.95 for three.
Latex-free
SKYN Original ($9.95 for three) is polyisoprene with a 53 mm nominal width and silicone-based lube. It's the one we suggest first for latex sensitivity. Keep oil-based products away from it, just as with latex.
Thin in a bigger size
Trojan Magnum Raw ($13.95 for three) is 57 mm at the base. Trojan calls it the thinnest Magnum. Magnum Bareskin ($9.95 for three) shares the same 57 mm base. If those still feel tight, Magnum XL is 58 mm and $7.95 for three.
Longer, not wider
Kimono Micro Thin Large ($10.95 for three) is 190 mm long but a standard 53 mm wide, at 0.055 mm thick (Mayer Laboratories). It's the fix when a standard condom is short but a Magnum is loose.
More room at the head
Trojan Double Ecstasy ($10.95 for three) keeps a 53 mm base but widens to 73 mm around the head. Trojan puts one lubricant inside and a different one outside. The extra room lets the condom move with you rather than squeezing the most sensitive part.
Texture and oral
Trojan Ribbed Lubricated ($9.95 for three) adds spiral ribbing for extra texture. For oral sex, Trustex Flavored Condoms ($9.95 for three) mask the taste of latex. Keep them for oral: Planned Parenthood advises against flavored products for vaginal or anal sex because they can cause irritation and infections (Planned Parenthood).
What "thin" really means
Most brands don't publish wall thickness. Trojan's size chart, for example, lists only length and width. Mayer Laboratories does publish a figure: 0.055 mm for Kimono Micro Thin. Thin doesn't mean untested: Trojan's package copy says each Trojan condom, thin lines included, is electronically tested.
Thinness is only one part of sensation. If you have only ever worn a standard condom that feels tight, try a roomier width or shape before you chase thinness. It can change more. A drop of lube inside the tip and more outside also helps.
Lube, spermicide and condom care
- Lube: use water-based or silicone lube with latex and polyisoprene. Oil-based lube, coconut oil, baby oil and petroleum jelly weaken them (NHS). Shop water-based lube or silicone lube.
- Spermicide: WHO notes that nonoxynol-9 spermicide has significant irritant effects and does not recommend it in lubricants. Spermicidal condoms say so on the box, so check the label if you want to avoid it.
- Storage: keep condoms cool and dry. Don't leave them in a wallet, car or bathroom for more than a month. Check the date on every wrapper.
- One at a time: never double up. The friction can make both split.
How well condoms work
Used perfectly every time, condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. With real-world use the figure is about 87% (Planned Parenthood). Most of that gap is about how condoms are used, not which brand you buy:
- Check the expiry date and feel for the air bubble in the wrapper.
- Pinch the tip and roll the condom on before any genital contact.
- Roll it all the way down. Some left at the base is fine on a shorter penis.
- Add lube, especially for anal sex.
- Hold the rim when you pull out, then use a new condom for each act.
If a condom breaks or comes off, talk to a pharmacist or clinic about emergency contraception and STI testing.
Find your size first
Not sure if you need a standard or a Magnum? Our condom size chart lists the width and length of every condom we stock, with a step-by-step measuring guide. For lube chemistry and condom compatibility, read our guide to lube types, or start with the best lube for sex.
Everything above ships in plain packaging, with free standard shipping over $75. You can also browse sexual health and flavored and oral products, or ask staff at any of our seven boutiques.
Sources
- Trojan, "Trojan and Magnum Condom Size Charts"
- SKYN, SKYN Original
- SKYN, SKYN Large (56 mm)
- Mayer Laboratories, Kimono large condom comparison
- Planned Parenthood, Condoms (types and lube)
- Planned Parenthood, How effective are condoms?
- NHS, Condoms
- WHO/UNFPA/FHI360, Use and procurement of additional lubricants for male and female condoms (2012)
- Crosby RA et al. Does it fit okay? Problems with condom use as a function of self-reported poor fit. Sex Transm Infect. 2010
