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Silicone vs TPE
What is better, silicone or TPE? That is one of the questions we get asked most often. The short answer is, it depends on what you want and what you want to spend. In this article I will be going over the differences between silicone and TPE in order to help you decide what material is best for you.
I am going to start off with cost, because this is arguably the most important factor in deciding what material is right for you. TPE is the more affordable option compared to standard silicone, coming in at almost half the cost.  This price difference is not entirely unwarranted as silicone does have several advantages over TPE. If, however, your budget is your biggest constraint, TPE will be your best option. Do keep in mind that TPE is not really a downgrade from silicone as TPE actually feels more lifelike, but more on that next.Â
We frequently get asked about the difference in feel between silicone and TPE. Silicone has a slightly sticky feel to it (which can be alleviated by the use of baby powder – however, we highly recommend you wear a mask when applying baby powder because of its detrimental effects on peoples’ health). Silicone is also denser so it is more substantial feeling, heavier and also looks more lifelike.
TPE, on the other hand, is lighter, feels closer to skin to the touch and moves more realistically (i.e. boobs and butt jiggle more realistically) and is more elastic - meaning the dolls move easer and can be placed in more positions. Silicone dolls are harder to move and are more limited in the positions they can go in to (although this does depend on the skeleton as well). In terms of how the orifices feel, they are about the same.
Another area worthy of discussion is maintenance. Just like any other luxury item, dolls require some level of maintenance. All dolls require cleaning but, due to the porous nature of TPE, it is a little harder to clean than silicone which is not porous. This also means that TPE dolls are less water resistant than silicone dolls.
Silicone is also more wear resistant than TPE, meaning that over the life of the doll you will spend less time and money on repairs and inspecting the doll for damage. Silicone is also easier to patch and repair if/when it does get damaged. Keep in mind that with vigorous use and time, all dolls will eventually get tears. Some of these tears you may not be able to see, which is why we DO NOT RECOMMEND TAKING YOUR DOLL IN WATER. TPE is porous and will allow water to touch the skeleton which is made of steel and will rust or even mold if not allowed to dry properly. The same thing can happen to your silicone doll if it has tears in it and water gets in through those tears. This is also why we recommend the replaceable vagina option as well when available. We will discuss this and other doll options in another post.
So the TLDR version of this article is silicone is denser, is heavier, is more substantial feeling, looks more lifelike, is significantly more expensive, is more wear resistant, is easier to clean, is more water resistant and is easier to repair. TPE is less expensive, is lighter more realistic to the touch, gives boobs and butt more realistic jiggle, is more prone to wear, is not water resistant, and is harder to repair.Â
Bearing all this in mind, what do I think the best option is when people ask? My personal preference is a TPE doll with silicone gel or hollow breasts or a hybrid doll with a TPE body and a silicone head. This is little more expensive than your standard TPE doll but offers the most life like breasts, butt and face. Always remember, do not take your doll into the bath or pool! This is not just for the longevity of the doll but is a safety issue as well. Dolls are heavy and get slippery when wet. You do not want to get injured playing with your doll in the tub or, worse yet, drown under your doll.
As usual, if you have any questions feel free to send us an email at sales@ederracore.com or give us a call at (307) 439-4770. We are based right here in Evansville, Wyoming, and are always happy to speak with our customers. Also, feel free to send us pics and reviews of your dolls for a chance to win coupons towards dolls and accessories. We look forward to hearing from all of you.
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