7 Condom Brands In India That Aren't Durex

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Buying condoms in this country is as nerve wracking as taking off all your clothes and walking down the street naked. Of course we'd attribute this shame to a lack of awareness and conditioning, but I digress.

What I'm trying to say is that it is so looked down upon that we'd go to all lengths to make facial expressions similar to a Bharatnatyam dancer in hopes that the person sitting behind the counter understands what we want. And even when they do, two things happen: It's a 'discreet' paper bag shoved into your hand, or it's the doomed question; "kaunsa Durex chahiye?' (Which Durex do you want?)

You break out in a sweat, mumble, give exact change and run. The take away here is that apart from the weird shame tactics that happen, the most no-brainer condom brand is Durex. Yes, their products are fantastic, tested, and come in many varieties, but they're more condom brands out there, so let me introduce you to the best condom brands, other than Durex. 

Bleü

Blüe is India's first brand to do vegan condoms minus harsh chemicals, with low protein levels, and low latex smell. Founded by Komal Baldwa, they advertise healthy pleasure while being fully transparent in its ingredients which are minus nasties like nitrosamine, spermicides, and benzocaine. They're also sustainably made using ethically-derived recyclable latex from pesticide-free forests. These hypoallergenic condoms do not contain any harsh chemicals in the lubrication liquid nor carcinogenic agents in the rubber, and come in three variants: dotted, ultra-thin, and spiral. They're priced at INR 249 (for 8 units). Apart from this, for each condom sold, they donate 5% of the sale value to the End Aids Foundation to help India win the battle against HIV.

Best known for: Being ethically derived from recyclable latex from pesticide-free forests and for their spiral variant

Average user rating: 4.9/5

Pro-tip: Read more about them here

KamaSutra

Kamasutra

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KamaSutra as a condom brand is one of the leading ones in India, and rightly so. They have everything from thin, flavoured, delay to dotted ones. They've recently come out with the SkinFEEL variant, which claims to be India's thinnest condom, 35% thinner than human hair to be precise. They're easily available everywhere, and as mentioned, there are several options to choose from, including fun flavoured options like vanilla, strawberry, and mango. They also retail lubes of similar flavours that will pair up perfectly. They usually retail for INR 140 for a pack of 12. However, prices depend on the variant you choose. 

Best known for: Being easily available everywhere and for their thin variants

Average user rating: 4.1/5

Skore

A sexual wellness brand based out of Chennai, Skore is all about promoting safe sex. They want to drive the notion that safe sex should and must be the most logical course of action. When it comes to condoms specifically, they have a champion series, which features three variants—zig-zag, climax delay, and ultra-thin; a flavoured series, which has quirky flavours like chocolate, orange, banana, and strawberry.  Their newest edition is the Skore Nothing, which claims to be the thinnest flavoured condoms out there with flavours like chocolate and strawberry for now. They retail for INR 95 for a 10 unit pack and are readily available everywhere. 

Best known for: Flavoured variants 

Average user rating: 4.8/5

Bold Care

Bold Care

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As a wellness brand itself Bold Care is known for their nutritional gummies, hair care, hygiene range, and performance range, which includes sexual wellness products. When it comes to condoms, they have two main categories: Safer Sex, which includes ultra thin condoms with 4.5% benzocaine (an ingredient that desensitises the penis to delay ejaculation), and multi-textured condoms. The other category is 404 By Bold Care, which includes ultra-thin condoms that are flavoured — chocolate and strawberry and super nano thin condoms. Regular multi-textured condoms come at the price of INR 300 for a pack of 10. 

Best known for: Ultra thin long lasting condoms 

Average user rating: 4/5

Okamoto

Okamoto is a Japanese brand known for their long standing reputation of making the most dependable and high quality condoms. Established way back in 1934, after years of research and rebuilding and refining their products, they now boast of Sheerlon which claims to be thinner and stronger with a "silkier, more "bareback" feel without any rubbery latex smell." They have four series (001, 002, 003, and Ok series) where each series includes various variants, including weirder options like Hyaluronic Acid, aloe, cool and even "normal" ones like ribbed, small packs, big boy, real fit, ultra-thin, and the likes. A pack of ultra thin condoms costs INR 599 for 10 units. 

Best known for: Being a Japanese brand with unusual options 

Average user rating: 4.1/5

Manforce

Manforce

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Manforce offers 12 variants for safe and pleasurable sex with years of experience and reliability to hold them up. They're particularly known for their bold and quirky flavoured condoms, you'll find everything from Belgian Chocolate, Strawberry Vanilla, Chocolate to Hazelnut, Apple-Peach, Orange, Raspberry, and Fruit Punch, to name a few. They have textured condoms as well as an ultra thin series called Epic. The 'Overtime' series comes in flavoured and regular options. A pack of dotted chocolate condoms retail for INR 160 for a pack of 10. Other than that, they're easily available at local pharmacies and stores. 

We'd love for the name to change though, as it comes with a fairly troubling association. 

Best known for: Flavoured variants 

Average user rating: 4/5

Skyn

Skyn's condoms come in four main categories that are intense feel (which is dotted,) elite (which is ultra thin and ultra soft,) extra lubricated (which is 40% more long lasting with extra lubrication,) and original (which is a non latex soft material,) All their condoms are latex free and lubricated with non-spermicide silicone oil, are vegan minus any and all animal-derivatived ingredients, as well as they are electronically tested to meet the highest safety standards. A pack of the original costs INR 510 for 20 units. 

Best known for: Super lubricated condoms 

Average user rating: 4.3/5

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opinionated fashion & beauty writer who follows a strict pros & cons framework for her recommendations; writer & editor with 4 years of experience