Polyethylene condoms
Polyethylene is a soft resin rather than a rubber. It is latex free and barely stretches, so the condoms made from it sit wide and loose by design.
Polyethylene is the outlier of condom materials. It is a resin, closer to a very soft plastic film than to rubber, and it is rare enough in Australia that most people will never come across it on a shelf.
The reason it exists is feel. With no stretch at all, a polyethylene condom is cut wide and hangs loose rather than gripping, which is a completely different sensation to latex and one that some people much prefer. It is latex free, so a latex allergy is no obstacle, and it protects to the same standard as anything else we list.
Because it does not stretch, the width on the box is the width you get. That makes it worth a look if wider fits suit you and a poor bet if they do not, which the list below will settle in a few seconds.
The right material still has to fit you. A latex-free condom in the wrong width will still slip or pinch, so it's worth knowing your size too.
Find my size
Frequently asked
Do polyethylene condoms protect against STIs?
Yes. It is a full barrier material and meets the same Australian standard as latex. Lambskin is the only material that does not, and we do not list it.
Why do polyethylene condoms feel loose?
That is the design. The material has no stretch, so it is made wide and moves independently rather than gripping, which is the whole point of it.
Is polyethylene the same as polyurethane?
No, they are different plastics. Polyurethane is thin and firm, polyethylene is soft and loose fitting. Both are latex free.