I used a condom for all my early sex because I wasn't on birth control yet. Most of it ranged from "meh, didn't hurt" to "I think I might have gotten close?" The guys I was with were quite a bit older, so you'd think they would have been better, but I was also inexperienced and pretty nervous, so who knows.
When I got my first serious bf, we used condoms for most of the first year until I went on the pill. At that point, neither of us had ever had unprotected sex, so we figured it was safe to just go for it without getting tested. It turned out alright, although we probably should have gotten tested just in case. We were very sexually compatible, and I enjoyed myself with and without the condom, although without is definitely better.
When I met my (now ex) husband, we tried using a condom at first. The very first time, we ended up literally fucking all night. I remember being bent over the couch watching the sun rise and thinking "This is awesome! And ridiculous! I think I might die..." To be fair, we had been drinking, so that probably wasn't helping in terms of him cumming. We eventually gave up, took a nap, and then went for pancakes. Later there was testing and we abandoned the condoms. It went WAY better for both of us after that.
During the course of our open marriage, there were a few times that I skipped condom use (usually due to excessive drinking) and really should not have. It was always with people whose histories I knew, and nothing bad happened, but I immediately regretted it every time. I do NOT recommend subjecting yourself to that level of guilt and fear.
In my current primary relationship, we are fluid monogamous, meaning that there is a small group of people that we fuck without condoms, and everyone in the group has been tested and uses protection with anyone outside the group. We were smart enough to get tested before fucking for the first time, so we never had to use protection. I'll be honest - I would probably cry if I had to use a condom with this guy because going without is soooooo fucking good.
Personally, I'd say always have backup birth control (condoms fail) and get tested even if you're married and both virgins. STDs can come from all sorts of things, sometimes people lie about their past, and you just never know. Better to put your minds at ease first and then happily enjoy the glorious feeling of bareback sex.
As far as condom brands, I'm a fan of Skyn. They are latex-free, seem super duper thin, and appear to fit well. I haven't heard any complaints from partners. It isn't the same as going condom-free, but I don't think we usually have that luxury in the modern world anymore.
