LELO, that high-end sex toy brand you probably know about because you lust after their super-sleek products, recently announced that they were revolutionizing the condom. Yeah, those things that you know you should wear to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancy, but that aren’t, you know, something you’re necessarily jumping for joy to put on. They're called HEX condoms, and their design is being branded as “The World’s First Re-Engineered Condom”. The patented HEX structure (there are actually tiny hexagons on the condom) claims to address the three main issues that come along with most condoms: discomfort, slippage, and breakage. 
 
 I was skeptical — but excited by the idea of a breakthrough. Condoms have been around for a long long time, with some folks saying they date back to 11,000 B.C., although we know for sure that by the 1400s A.D. people were using products including animal intestine, oiled silk paper, and animal horns or shells to cover the tip of the penis. Condoms as we know them came into existence in 1839, when a guy named Charles Goodyear made the first rubber one (aka not out of part of an animal). Hence the term “rubber”. But I digress. 
 
 While condoms are not only a great method of birth control and are the primary way humans can get freaky without transmitting STDs, the reality is that people aren’t using them as much as public health folks want us to. For instance, only 60 percent of sexually active teenagers use condoms. Which is, let’s face it, a grade D, if not a D-. And it gets worse — rates of condom use go down the older people get. Somebody do something! 
 
 In 2013, Bill and Melinda Gates, owners of much money, launched a competition to revolutionize the condom, which hadn’t experienced much innovation lately. Their $100,000 award spurred some pretty wild ideas, but none have yet to hit the market. Enter LELO's new HEX condom — could this be the breakthrough we're waiting for? 
 
 My partner and I checked out the HEX condom, and here is what we found. 
 
 LELO HEX Condoms, $20, Amazon 
 
 1. The Packaging Is Easy To Open 
 
 HEX is packaged with what feels like strong paper, as opposed to the usual tin foil or plastic. This makes it easy to rip with your fingers. My partner said he felt like he could open it in the dark, which is I guess relevant to how some people have sex. I liked that it was easy to open with hands already slippery from lube or vaginal juices, which is often the case by the time you are ready to grab a condom. 
 
 2. It’s Easy To Tell Up From Down 
 
 You know how with most condoms you pull it out of the package and then you have to look at it, turn it up and down, to figure out which way is right side up? HEX comes just the slightest bit more unrolled so you can easily tell which direction is correct. Which is a great time-saver for when you’re ready to get it on! 
 
 3. It’s Very Stretchy 
 
 One of the main complaints about condoms is that they constrict the penis, making the person attached to that body part feel less pleasure. This has a lot to do with people wearing condoms that aren’t a good fit for them (and we’ll say that while this was a good fit for my partner, it probably won’t be for everyone because there’s so much variety out there!), but we were both impressed by how stretchy the HEX condom is. Yes, we blew one up to show you just how stretchy we mean. 
 
 4. The Base Isn’t Constrictive 
 
 This is sort of a corollary to the HEX’s stretchiness, but it’s so important for fit that we wanted to separate it out. Most condoms feel like they rely mostly on the base to stay on, which can provide much of the constrictive feeling people don’t like. HEX stayed on without putting so much pressure on this area — at least for him. It also didn’t roll up during the action, which happens with lots of condoms and can be stressful, if you have to constantly pay attention to it. 
 
 5. The Material Is Very Thin 
 
 The challenge of condom engineering is to use a material that basically feels like it’s not there, but that is also durable enough to reliably protect you. HEX felt super thin and strong — I felt the hexagonal pattern ever so slightly in the beginning, but then I, you know, got distracted. (Plus, the pattern had a nice feel while I was noticing it.) My partner said it was the thinnest feeling condom he’d ever tried, but that he wasn’t worried it was going to break as a result. 
 
 6. We Liked The Aesthetic When It Was On, Too 
 
 LELOHEX on YouTube 
 
 Even if you don’t get a colored condom, most condoms on the market still have some sort of color to them, which makes the penis wearing them look a bit alien. HEX was way more transparent than other “clear” condoms we had on hand, and it didn’t have that powdered look latex condoms often have. Since we both like how penises look, it was great to be able to have one all wrapped up and safe but in a way that you can see it! 
 
 The Final Verdict 
 
 We both thoroughly enjoyed our romp with the HEX. My partner said it was the strongest orgasm of his life that he's had wearing a condom (with lots of that attributed to his partner of course!!) and I had a similarly delightful time. Does HEX “revolutionize the world of condoms for good,” as LELO boasts on its website? I think that completely depends on an individual’s personal barriers against condom use. If penis constriction is the main one, HEX might solve that. It did for us. 
 
 Of course, you still have to put it on before you have sex, an annoyance many cite as a reason why they don’t use condoms. And if the reason why you don’t like condoms is that there’s a physical barrier between you and your partner, while the HEX barrier feels thinner than other condom options currently on the market, it definitely still exists. That said, I think I can safely say these condoms are well worth the price of admission. 
 
 Images: Marley Russell; LELO; Giphy 
 
 FYI, Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article. 

 We rely on tech products daily, and expect constant evolution. Without improved effectiveness and user experience, tech innovations quickly become outdated. Imagine if Apple went a year without an iOS or iPhone upgrade—totally unacceptable, right? 
 
 Yet nearly a century has passed without innovation on the tech product perhaps closest to our bodies: the condom. 
 
 That antiquated trend ended this week, with the new, structurally re-engineered condom LELO Hex. 
 
 Launched by LELO, a Swedish intimacy company dubbed “the Apple of the pleasure product industry,” HEX condoms represent one of the first major advances in condom technology since the reservoir tip was added almost 70 years ago. 
 
 The new design 
 
 The inside of the Lelo Hex condom. Image: LELO 
 
 LELO engineers spent seven years developing their new condom, driven by one crucial discovery: it didn’t require new materials but an upgraded structure. 
 
 “The challenge was to make something radically different with a material already approved for condom use," Filip Sedec, LELO founder and inventor of LELO HEX, told Mashable. "We did this because people need to be having great, safe sex today, not ten years from now.” 
 
 Why hexagons? It turns out this six-sided shape is among the most durable under pressure and seep-resistant, as represented in nature. 
 
 “There’s a reason why honeycombs are the shape they are, and why snake scales move the way they do. It’s because hexagons are strong, symmetrical, and tessellate perfectly," Sedec explained. "They’re one of nature’s go-to shapes for anything needing to be at once lightweight, and incredibly strong. That’s why the structure of Graphene – the thinnest, strongest material we know of today is ... you guessed it, hexagonal.” 
 
 Unlike others on the market, HEX condoms feature a honeycomb hexagonal lattice. Each HEX condom integrates 350 small hexagons through its latex surface, resulting in effective performance. 
 
 The extremely thin hexagonal panels also flex and mold to the wearer. It's more forgiving of friction and stress, preventing the latex from tearing, LELO claims. Even when repeatedly poked with a needle, the taut HEX doesn’t rip—trust me, I tried! 
 
 The hexagonal ridge is on the inside of the condom is a big reason why the condom is less flimsy — it acts like a tire on water, gripping and flexing with the penis. The poked hole stays within the hexagonal cell and doesn’t rip the entire latex condom. 
 
 Why should you care? 
 
 In America, condom use is dropping significantly, while STIs are on the rise. In fact, the largest-ever nationwide study on sexuality in 2010 found that only 1 in 4 acts of vaginal intercourse are protected by condoms in the U.S., according to Indiana University. 
 
 Americans aren’t ditching “no glove, no love” because condoms are hard to find; rather, it's due to physical appeal. A 2007 study surveying hundreds of college students published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that men and women who reported unprotected sex as more pleasurable were less likely to use condoms. 
 
 But 20 million people contract STIs annually in the U.S., though only half are aware. Meanwhile, 49% of U.S. pregnancies were unintended. 
 
 These dangerous realities make condom innovation not only important, but essential. 
 
 Actor Charlie Sheen, who publicly announced that he is HIV-Positive in November 2015, endorsed the product at its launch event, as a part of an effort he says to reduce stigma around condom use and encourage STI education. 
 
 “Announcing my HIV condition gave me a new sense of purpose in speaking actively on sexual health," Sheen said. 
 
 “Announcing my HIV condition gave me a new sense of purpose in speaking actively on sexual health," Sheen said. "That’s why LELO HEX is such an important project for me." 
 
 “We all know condoms are the best defense against STIs, but less and less people want to use them,' he added. "I hope my experiences can remind of their importance, while LELO’s innovation offers a genuine alternative." 
 
 The company, which is currently looking for crowdfunding on Indiegogo, joins a saturated contraception market, but it’s important to remember the Pill, IUD, patch, diaphragm and hormone implants do not protect you from most STIs and STDs as a condom can. 
 
 Ultimately, whether hexagonally super-powered or not, condoms aren’t for everyone. But whether you love with a glove or not, LELO’s call for safe sex rings true. Always ask your partners if they’ve contracted any STIs or STDs before engaging sexually, and have your sexual health checked by a doctor regularly—you, and your partners, won’t regret it. 
 
 And for the skeptics out there, don’t be wary: We tried the HEX personally and can report top-notch pleasure. 
 
 Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. 

 LELO 
 
 The condom that's hard to break has shattered its crowdfunding goal. 
 
 The HEX condom, made by the Swedish company LELO, raised over $1 million from 30,000 backers through crowdfunding on Indiegogo and its website. 
 
 The first time I saw the HEX, I was sitting in a conference room across from LELO founder Filip Sedic. The condom, an eggshell-colored piece of latex, looked pretty ordinary. 
 
 Sedic then punched his hand inside the condom and fanned his fingers, revealing a faint, hexagonal pattern etched into the material. The latex clung around his fingernails, but didn't break. He grabbed a pen from the table and tried to puncture it again. 
 
 "People say, 'I don't use it because it might break.' Give me a break," Sedic said. "But people will still use that as an excuse. We have to make sure to eliminate all of these excuses." 
 
 Melia Robinson/Business Insider 
 
 There's a correlation between disliking condoms and leaving them in the nightstand. In the largest nationwide study on sexuality, in 2010, 45% of men and 63% of women reported not using a condom in their most recent sexual encounter with a "new acquaintance," according to Indiana University. Such negligence can invite a host of complications, including disease. 
 
 Eight years ago, LELO — which has been awarded for its upscale line of sex toys and vibrators — set out to make a condom that men would actually want to use. Or, at the very least, tolerate. 
 
 LELO reengineered the mold used to make rubbers, creating a honeycomb latticelike pattern inside the condom that makes it less likely to slip or tear, according to Sedic. 
 
 Sedic said that when pressure is applied at any point to the HEX condom, it stretches in six directions. This flexibility makes it more forgiving of tension. If you poke a hole in it, the damage stays contained in the single cell; it doesn't rip like traditional condoms. 
 
 I pulled a HEX condom over a drinking glass to test its strength. Melia Robinson/Business Insider 
 
 According to a company spokesperson, 73% of backers across the crowdfunding campaigns were male and 27% were female. 
 
 It's also worth noting nearly 70% of backers were millennials, which you might chalk up to the fact that crowdfunding campaigns are especially popular among younger internet users. However, their enthusiasm might be indicative of something more: LELO made the condom sexy with its redesign. 
 
 The condom's all-white packaging wouldn't look out of place on shelves in an Apple store. And the marketing video that introduced it has helped. Electronic music plays over animations of the condom. It has the intensity of a trailer scored by Hans Zimmer. 
 
 The HEX sells online for $19.90 for a 12-pack or $34.90 for a 36-pack. A LELO spokesperson told Business Insider the company will soon start selling in retail stores around the world. 
 
 Whatever their reason for buying, more young people wearing condoms can only be a good thing. 

 These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites.
– What would a condom that successfully imparted "a new feeling of intimacy and comfort never felt in condoms before" be worth? Seven figures, apparently. The Swedish company LELO, which has enjoyed a pleasurable ride selling millions of award-winning sex toys worldwide, recently announced that it has managed to raise more than $1 million from 30,000 backers for its HEX condom. Nearly $400,000 poured in via its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, an amount that is 3246% of the original goal. The rest came via website orders for what LELO is calling "the first major condom innovation in 70 years." The HEX has been eight years in the making, with the goal being to address three key complaints users (or non-users, in many dissatisfied cases) have: discomfort, slippage, and breakage. One of HEX's differentiators is visible: a honeycomb lattice pattern. Inspired by graphene's "hexagonal molecular structure," LELO incorporated such a structure into the HEX, which it says is less likely to slip or tear and "maximize[s] sensitivity." And if it does tear, Melia Robinson writes for Business Insider that puncture is contained within the affected cell. She watched LELO founder Filip Sedic try and fail to break a HEX with his fingernails and a pen: Mashable tried to pierce one with a needle and couldn't. One writer for Bustle gave the condom, which starts at $19.90 for a 12-pack, a go with her partner and found it easy to open; easy to tell up from down; incredibly stretchy; both super thin and strong; and pleasingly transparent. Her man called it the "strongest" orgasm he's ever had wearing a condom. (HEX has a celebrity spokesman.)