Shore hardness explained: 00-10, 00-20, 00-30 and 00-50 silicone
October 31, 2026
When you order a custom sleeve, you’ll see numbers like 00-30, 00-20 and 00-10. They describe how soft the silicone is. This guide explains what they mean, how each one feels, and how to choose.
What is Shore hardness?
Shore hardness is a standard way to measure how firm a soft material is. For very soft materials such as body-safe silicone, the Shore 00 scale is used. The rule is simple: the lower the number, the softer the silicone. So 00-10 is softer than 00-20, 00-20 is softer than 00-30, and 00-50 is firmer than all three.
From extra soft to firm
| Shore | Feel | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 00-10 Extra soft | Extra squishy and very flexible | Maximum softness |
| 00-20 Soft | Gentle and flexible, with a noticeable squish | A softer feel that still keeps its shape |
| 00-30 Balanced | Moderate feel, not too soft or squishy | Our standard, and the most durable of our options |
| 00-50 Firm | Noticeably firmer, with little squish and a lot of structure | For comparison: not one of the options in our shop |
We make our sleeves in 00-30, 00-20 and 00-10. Firmer silicone such as 00-50 holds its shape more rigidly, but for a sleeve worn on the body most people prefer the softer, more lifelike feel of 00-30 and below.
Softness vs. durability
Softer silicone feels more lifelike, but it is also less resistant to wear than firmer silicone. That’s why we cast our sleeves in 00-30 as standard: it balances comfort and durability, which suits most people.
Softer silicone also naturally feels a little more tacky. Our process keeps this to a minimum. If you’d like a smoother, velvety surface on any softness, the LustTouch Finish reduces the tackiness.
One softness, or two?
You have three ways to choose the feel of your sleeve:
- Standard: the whole sleeve in 00-30.
- Custom Single Density: the whole sleeve in softer 00-20 or 00-10.
- Dual Density & Color: one softness for the shaft and another for the head. For example, a softer head with a firmer shaft, or the other way around. It also gives you the option of a slightly lighter, reddish head for a more realistic look.
Custom Single Density and Dual Density can’t be combined. You choose either one softness for the whole sleeve, or two different ones.
The most popular combination
Of the customers who choose Dual Density, about 7 in 10 pick 00-30 for the shaft and 00-10 for the head. It combines a durable, stable shaft with a realistic, soft feel at the head. If you’re unsure, it’s a great place to start.
Which one should I choose?
- You want a sleeve that lasts, with a natural, balanced feel: stay with the standard 00-30.
- You want a softer feel overall: choose Custom Single Density in 00-20, or 00-10 for maximum softness.
- You want the most realistic feel: choose Dual Density with a softer head, for example 00-30 shaft and 00-10 head.
Softness is personal, and there’s no wrong answer. If you can’t decide, send us a message and tell us what you’re looking for.
Where to choose
You choose the softness on every sleeve page, in the Add-ons section. Haven’t measured yet? Start with our guide on how to measure for a penis sleeve, so your sleeve fits as well as it feels.