You're standing in front of a wall of boxes, or scrolling a page of near-identical product names, trying to work out which condom is actually worth buying. Ribbed, thin, XL, non-latex, delay, vegan - the labels pile up fast, and most of them don't tell you what you actually need to know.
So instead of another generic "best for X" list, here's the best condoms UK shoppers are genuinely buying and rating on condoms.uk, ranked by real sales order and review volume rather than marketing copy. Fit and material make more difference to how a condom performs than the brand name on the box, and that's reflected in how varied this list is.
In this article
- 1. Pasante Regular Condoms
- 2. MY.SIZE Pro 64mm Condoms
- 3. Durex Thin Feel Condoms
- 4. Durex Pleasure Me Ribbed and Dotted Condoms
- 5. Pasante King Size Condoms
- 6. EXS Air Thin Condoms
- 7. SKYN Elite Non-Latex Condoms
- 8. Glyde Ultra Condoms
- 9. Lelo Hex Respect XL Condoms
- 10. EXS Delay Endurance Condoms
- FAQ
1. Pasante Regular Condoms
Pasante Regular carries more reviews than any other condom on condoms.uk, 29 at last count, and that volume is the whole story here. When something this unglamorous racks up that many reviews, it's because it does the basic job without complaint.
This is a standard-fit latex condom at £7.99, no gimmicks, no texture, no flavour. It's the condom you buy when you're not solving for a specific problem, you just want something reliable that fits most people comfortably. If you've never really compared brands and just want the one everyone else seems happy with, this is the sensible starting point.
Full details and sizing are on the Pasante Regular Condoms page, and the wider range sits in the condoms collection.
Best for: first-time buyers or anyone who wants the proven default. Skip if: you already know you need a specific fit, texture or material and want to go straight there.
2. MY.SIZE Pro 64mm Condoms
Most complaints about condoms slipping, feeling tight, or breaking come down to one thing: the wrong size. MY.SIZE built its whole range around fixing that, and the 64mm is the top seller on condoms.uk for a reason.
MY.SIZE measures fit by nominal width rather than vague sizing like "large" or "snug". The 64mm is aimed at those who find standard condoms restrictive or prone to slipping down, giving a fit that stays put without pinching. Getting the width right does more for comfort and confidence than any texture or coating ever will. At £11.99, it's priced above the standard range, which reflects the more specific sizing engineering rather than a premium brand markup.
See the full spec on the MY.SIZE Pro 64mm Condoms page, or browse the wider large condoms collection.
If a bigger fit has been an ongoing issue, start here rather than guessing your way through a standard range.
3. Durex Thin Feel Condoms
There's a persistent assumption that thin condoms trade away protection for sensation. They don't. Thin condoms go through the same testing standards as any other condom sold in the UK, they're just engineered with a finer wall.
Durex Thin Feel is the recognisable, mainstream version of that idea: a well-known brand, a genuinely thinner feel than a standard condom, and a price point (£9.99) that doesn't ask you to pay a specialist premium for it. It's a solid choice for anyone who wants more sensation but isn't ready to move to a niche brand.
Product details are on the Durex Thin Feel Condoms page, and there's a full range in the thin feel condoms collection.
The verdict: if you want a name you already trust with a genuine step up in sensation, this is it. For the thinnest option available regardless of brand, see EXS Air Thin below.
4. Durex Pleasure Me Ribbed and Dotted Condoms
Thinness isn't the only way to change how a condom feels. Texture does something different: raised ribbing and dotting increase friction and stimulation along the shaft rather than just reducing the barrier between skin, which makes it a mutual choice rather than a one-sided one.
Durex Pleasure Me combines both textures in one condom, designed to increase sensation for both partners rather than just the wearer. At £9.99 with 12 reviews, it sits at a similar price to Durex Thin Feel above, but the goal is different: more sensation through texture, not less material.
Full details are on the Durex Pleasure Me Ribbed and Dotted Condoms page, with more options in the ribbed and dotted condoms collection.
Compared with Durex Thin Feel, this is the pick if the goal is more sensation for both partners rather than a finer wall for one.
5. Pasante King Size Condoms
25 reviews puts Pasante King Size second only to Pasante Regular for review volume on condoms.uk, and it's the large-fit option for anyone who wants Pasante's straightforward standard range rather than MY.SIZE's precision sizing approach.
Priced at £7.99, the same as Pasante Regular, it just has a roomier fit built in. It's latex, no texture, no flavour, the same "does the job" philosophy as the Regular, scaled up. That combination of proven review volume and a lower price than MY.SIZE Pro 64mm makes it worth trying first if budget matters as much as fit.
See the Pasante King Size Condoms page, or browse the full large condoms collection.
Against MY.SIZE Pro 64mm above: MY.SIZE offers more granular sizing, Pasante King Size offers a lower price with a strong review history behind it.
6. EXS Air Thin Condoms
Cheaper doesn't have to mean a worse condom, and EXS Air Thin is the clearest example of that on this list. It's the least expensive product in this Top 10 at £6.99, and it's still a genuine ultra-thin, not a budget compromise built on a standard-fit shape.
It's a bestseller with 10 reviews, made from latex, and built for buyers who want the sensation benefits of a thin condom without paying the price premium some thin ranges carry. The wall thickness is comparable to pricier thin condoms on this list, the difference is in the brand overhead, not the product itself. If cost is a real factor in how often you're buying, this is where to start.
Full details are on the EXS Air Thin Condoms page, alongside more options in the thin feel condoms collection.
Best for: anyone prioritising value without giving up a thin feel. Skip if: brand recognition matters more to you than price, in which case Durex Thin Feel above is the safer-feeling choice.
7. SKYN Elite Non-Latex Condoms
A latex allergy shouldn't mean fewer choices, and neither should simply disliking how latex feels or smells. SKYN Elite is made from polyisoprene, a synthetic material that behaves close to latex in terms of stretch and strength, without the proteins that trigger latex allergies.
Lubricant compatibility varies by material, so it's worth checking the compatible lube types listed on the product page rather than assuming every lube behaves the same way across latex and non-latex condoms. Priced at £9.99 with 7 reviews, SKYN Elite sits in line with the mainstream Durex options rather than as a specialist premium product.
See the SKYN Elite Non-Latex Condoms page, or the wider non-latex condoms collection.
If latex has ever been the reason you avoided condoms altogether, this is the condom to try first.
8. Glyde Ultra Condoms
Most latex condoms use casein, a milk protein, somewhere in their manufacturing process, which means most "standard" condoms aren't actually vegan even when nothing on the box suggests otherwise.
Glyde Ultra is vegan-certified, meaning that process is verified rather than assumed. At £11.99, it's one of the higher-priced products on this list, reflecting that certification and the more specialised manufacturing behind it, and it's a bestseller in its own right.
Full details are on the Glyde Ultra Condoms page, and more vegan-certified options sit in the vegan condoms collection.
The verdict: worth the extra cost if certified vegan manufacturing genuinely matters to you. If it isn't a priority, most other products on this list will suit general use just as well.
9. Lelo Hex Respect XL Condoms
A standard condom is a smooth latex tube. Lelo Hex is built differently: a hexagonal grid structure across the surface, designed to grip more evenly and flex with movement rather than stretching uniformly like a plain-walled condom.
The XL version extends that structure to a roomier fit, at £11.90 with 9 reviews. It's a premium pick on this list, priced closer to MY.SIZE and Glyde Ultra than the Pasante or EXS ranges, and it suits buyers who want a genuinely different construction rather than a variation on the standard shape.
See the full spec on the Lelo Hex Respect XL Condoms page, or browse the extra large condoms collection.
Best for: buyers who want a structurally different condom, not just a bigger standard one. Skip if: you'd rather stick with a familiar smooth-walled design, in which case MY.SIZE Pro 64mm above is the more conventional large-fit choice.
10. EXS Delay Endurance Condoms
Lasting longer during sex is one of the most common concerns people have and one of the least discussed openly. EXS Delay Endurance addresses it directly, through the product itself rather than technique alone.
It's built with a mild desensitising gel on the inside of the condom, which takes the edge off sensitivity just enough to help delay climax, without numbing things for your partner. That's a meaningfully different approach to a thicker standard condom, which only reduces sensation and doesn't actually target the cause. At £6.99 with 9 reviews, it's priced the same as EXS Air Thin, and it's latex. For anyone who'd rather manage this separately from the condom itself, condoms.uk also stocks a dedicated delay spray collection.
Full details are on the EXS Delay Endurance Condoms page.
If lasting longer is the goal, start with this rather than assuming a thicker standard condom will do the same job. It won't.
FAQ
What are the best condoms for sensitivity?
Thin condoms like Durex Thin Feel or EXS Air Thin are built specifically to maximise sensation while still meeting the same UK safety testing standards as standard condoms. Texture-based options like Durex Pleasure Me add stimulation through ribbing and dotting rather than a thinner wall, which suits some people better than thinness alone.
What size condom should I buy?
Size is measured by nominal width in millimetres, roughly 47-49mm for a snug fit, 52-56mm for standard, and 57mm or above for large and XL. A condom that's too loose can slip, and one that's too tight is more likely to split, so getting this right matters more than brand choice. MY.SIZE Pro and Lelo Hex Respect XL are built around precise, larger sizing if standard-fit condoms haven't worked well.
Are non-latex condoms as safe as latex?
Yes. Non-latex materials like the polyisoprene used in SKYN Elite meet the same BS EN ISO 4074 testing standards as latex condoms sold in the UK. They're a genuine option for latex allergies or for anyone who prefers the feel, not a lower-protection compromise.
How effective are condoms at preventing pregnancy?
Used correctly and consistently, condoms are around 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Typical use effectiveness is lower, closer to 82-87%, and that gap comes down to fit and application errors far more often than the condom itself. See the NHS guide to condoms for full guidance.
Can I use any lubricant with any condom?
No. Oil-based lubricant weakens latex and increases the risk of breakage, so only water-based or silicone-based lubricant should be used with latex condoms. Non-latex materials vary in oil tolerance, so it's worth checking the specific product page before assuming compatibility.
How long do condoms last before they expire?
Most condoms have a shelf life of three to five years unopened, provided they're stored away from heat, sharp objects and direct sunlight. A wallet or glovebox isn't a safe long-term storage spot, even though it's a common one. Always check the expiry date printed on the individual wrapper before use.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. For personal guidance on contraception or sexual health, speak to a healthcare professional or visit NHS.uk.
