Stranger

June 8th, 2009

Stranger

Stranger
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product.

I was really excited to receive not one but two Fun Factory vibes in one week. The first one blew my mind with its size, power, and flexibility, and the second amazed me with its softness. I mean, when I first withdrew the Stranger from Fun Factory’s signature packaging, I was amazed. I had played with a few silicone toys, all quite stiff and firm, sometimes painfully so. I didn’t even know they made silicone that soft and it was a welcome surprise. Of course, the thinner tip of this vibe is the softest, and it becomes firmer as it becomes thicker, but there’s a fair amount of give the whole way through.

Of course, that’s not the only benefit of using silicone. Fun Factory presents us with another non-porous toy that can be sterilized by wiping down with an alcohol solution. For my purposes, I simply clean with soap and water or toy cleaner, but I like to covet my toys. Who says you have to share?

Like other Fun Factory toys, the Stranger exudes quality. It has a reassuring heft but isn’t bulky in any way. The soft violet silicone has more friction than other materials but is smoother than some silicone I’ve felt. The silicone is molded with ribs on one side, reminiscent of a snake or the tail of some mythical dragon. There is a slight forward lean of the tip of this toy, but I need a more drastic curve to reach my G-spot. There are 2 etched lines on the back of the toy, in roughly a “V” shape but do not meet at a vertex; otherwise, the back of the toy is smooth except for a small Fun Factory logo right above the base.

The base, made of hard plastic in several shades of grey, houses 2 AA batteries which give this vibrator a substantial amount of power but not as much as the Boss. The battery cover pops off by pinching 2 slightly indented points on either side of the toy. Squeezing hard enough causes the cover to pop right off by itself with a click. It took a little practice for me to find the easiest way to do this as I have small hands. The best placement for my fingers is closer to the base than the tip of the toy. The cap goes back on with another click and feels very secure.

My Stranger comes equipped with the old style of Fun Factory controls – a dial decorated with flower-star hybrid. It’s a very unique style of dial, however. Turning either way turns on the lowest setting of vibrations and continued turning increases the vibration. Although not the quietest toy I have, the Stranger isn’t the loudest, either. It’s an appropriate hum. At the highest setting, there is a small “click”. From this setting, turn either way to turn the vibration down or off. There is another slight click when the vibrations are off. It seems to be important to turn the dial slowly, otherwise it skips over most of the vibration settings. I went a little too fast when I was first testing it. I think this makes the toy ideal for those who like to work their way up to the highest setting.

But I’m not really that type of person. I like to go for it right away so I turned it up high, applied some water-based lube and went to work. Well, sort of. I’m just not super sensitive to textures so the ribbing on the Stranger, while pleasing to the eye, made little different to my pussy. The size was also a little lacking and I think this is probably the smaller insertable vibe I have. The Stranger has a circumference of 4 1/2″ and a length of 6 3/4″, 5 3/4″ which is insertable. I like something a little more, at least girth-wise. And, because the Stranger doesn’t have any clitoral nubs or anything, there wasn’t much else it could do. I also found the silicone to be too soft for the pressure I need during clitoral stimulation.

So, I pulled out the Boss and let him finish the job, a little disappointed in the Stranger. While I think it’s a quality toy, far better than some I have used, it’s just not the right size for me. I may break it out from time to time but it won’t get as much use as some of my other Fun Factory toys. This might be for the better, too. It’s a bit more difficult to clean the Stranger because of its crevices and it also collects lint and hair like crazy. God thing it’s splash proof because I think frequent use would require quite heavy washing. It’s also safe for the shower, too, but not for full immersion.

All in all, the Stranger just isn’t my cup of tea. The lack of size overshadowed the high quality of this toy and its decent vibrations. For someone who likes their sex toys a little smaller, however, the Stranger would be perfect.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Sensual Curve

June 5th, 2009

Sensual Curve

Sensual Curve
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product.

All in all, the Sensual Curve was wholly forgettable which probably explains why, every time I sat down to write this review, I just couldn’t think of anything to say. I couldn’t remember if it led me to orgasm or even made me feel good. I couldn’t remember if the insertable portion stimulated my G-spot. I couldn’t remember if the vibrations were easily felt on all parts or even how I felt about the material.

So I had to force myself to give it another go ’round, hoping it would spark some memories. It did but, really, I don’t feel like I have much to say about this toy. I mean, like so many other dual stimulators, it fails as doing either very well but, for some reason, I just don’t feel like it’s a big loss.

So here’s what you need to know:

This dual stimulation vibrator is made of pink rubber (the colour it sort of strange; it looks faded) and is not waterproof. It definitely has that skunky, rubber smell and is stronger than some toys I’ve had but isn’t the worst. The vibrations stem from the bottom of the toy, which also acts as a bit of a handle but I find that annoying because my hand absorbs most of the vibrations. The vibrations are better felt in the clitoral stimulator, which looks like two short tentacles (and even has sucker like bumps on the inside) and curves slightly toward the body, than the smooth insertable portion which tapers and ends in a bulb (which exists to stimulate the G-spot, I imagine). This makes insertion extremely easy and only a little water-based lube was needed. The whole thing is run on 2 AA batteries and operates by dial control. While I usually don’t like dial controls because they’re either too touchy or not touchy enough, this one actually worked really well and because the dial is grooved, it’s also less slippery to use than others.

Unfortunately, the level of vibrations provided by this toy just weren’t mind blowing and I felt it best in my hand. Even on high, I thought this toy works better for teasing or warm up and I don’t do much of either so it might be better in the collection of something who likes lighter vibrations than I do. The rubber is stiffer than some other materials I’ve tried (silicone, jelly, TPR, TPE) and the clitoral stimulator doesn’t really vibrate loosely like a lot of clitoral attachments do on softer toys. The stiffness also felt a little uncomfortable or painful at times. Combine this with the fact that the prongs seemed to have a tendency to curve back toward my vag, and away from my clit during use (and since they’re stiff, I can’t really adjust them much), and the external part wasn’t that great.

Occasionally, the vibrations did hit a sweet spot internally but this wasn’t consistent, either. Sometimes the sex toy seemed to brush my G-spot but it wasn’t moving any mountains and it was difficult to maneuver, given the stiffness of the material, and have both places adequately stimulated. I also felt that the cord was unusually short at just under 22″ – even my crappy Venus Penus has a 3-” cord – and while it works okay for masturbation, partner use make find this problematic.

One of the things I really like to do with dual sitmulation toys is to grind against it and push it tightly against my pubic bone. Grinding was out because of the clitoral attachment but even when I tried, it jsut felt uncomfortable and too hard. I also couldn’t get enough pressure on my clit which is something I get from rabbit-style vibe with larger bullets. The shape of the little prongs just didn’t allow for pressure at all.

While the Sensual Curve may seem a steal at arond $20, it doesn’t do anything really well. The pourous, foul smelling rubber was too stiff. The vibrations were weak and misplaced. The toy didn’t find my G-spot consistently and the cord was freakishly short. Yet, you can bet I’m not done trying similar toys!

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

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I Love My Boss

May 26th, 2009

The Boss Naked
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued toy.

..and you can be sure I’ve never had reason to say that before, until now. Unfortunately, the Boss vibrator has some of the same issues as real bosses. Like, there are a couple of different versions, which leads to some confusion. Which is the real boss? Who do I actually report to? I mean, there’s the new Boss Lady in town with her pink power suit. But there are also a couple more bosses who demand your attention. The original boss, even though his position seems to have been liquidated, can still be found stuck in his old-fashioned ways. He seems to be making his presence known, complete with dial-style controls. Finally, some folks like myself are familiar with a sort of transitional Boss. You could say that while he looks more like the old Boss (colour), he acts more like the new one (control type). While some people prefer the old boss, he has been giving his pink slip and the Boss Lady is here to stay.

Like any employer, sometimes the Boss just doesn’t mesh with some folks. There seem to be a lot of issues revolving around opening the battery compartment on both styles. The battery cap pops off from the boss with sort of a partial twist which can be confusing. Furthermore, there have been reports of the Boss not completing all his duties fully or at all. He has failed to vibrate and/or pulsate for some unless they fidget with the battery pack or controls (and sometimes that doesn’t even help) but I think a boss should just do his job. Luckily for me, mine did.

If you’re considering the Boss to get the job done, you’ll notice he comes well-dressed for the job. With his clean lines, defined head and velvety matte texture (which might mean using an extra drop or two of water-based lube), it’s hard to not be drawn to the boss. The Boss has a gentle curve and substantial girth (1-3/5”) so heads up, size queens. With an insertable length of just under 7″, the Boss knows how to dress for success and his overall appearance lured me into cooperation.

But it was his performance that got the best review! Although not the largest toy I own, The Boss feels incredibly filling, even bigger than he is. The silicone is firm enough for thrusting but soft enough that he feels as though he’s conforming to me especially. One of the last toys I tried, while large, never felt filling. If there is one area in which the Boss excels, this is it! Were I to search for the perfect size and shape of cock, I would walk down the line up of cock with The Boss in my hand, comparing, and I cannot help but wonder if anything or anything will compare. I definitely think the texture and shape of the Boss give the impression of a toy bigger than the Boss is but, hey, sometimes you have to know when to fool people into thinking you’re more than you are.

Billed as the perfect G-spot vibe, I didn’t find that he quite hit mine right during solo play but don’t doubt his firmness would make him the right man for the job if someone could intervene for me (damn my short arms). Yet, the Boss isn’t a man so hard you need to be afraid – he has a sensitive side. The Boss is definitely soft and flexible. The top half of the shaft is pure, flexible silicone, while the motor is located toward the middle of the shaft, on the bottom half.

Using the Boss’s flexibility to my advantage has turned this into the perfect dual-stimulation toy. I know he doesn’t look like much of a double-tasker, but being able to bend him upward so that the little clitoral nub makes contact is amazing. Otherwise, I don’t think that little clitoral nub will do much of anything; in fact, that was even the thought I had about it right out of the package. While I’ve used the Boss to get off with the head on my clit, bending him has definitely provided the best orgasms. I find that I can sometimes get into such a rhythm that thrusting him provides stimulation against both my G-spot (the thrusting causes the vibe to curve back in a way it otherwise wouldn’t) and clit, in sequence.

I’m glad, for once, that The Boss proved me wrong. He has proved to be a much harder worker and easier to work with than I would have originally guessed. For instance, I thought he had some control issues, in the beginning. It was difficult to push his buttons to access the multiple levels of vibration and pulsation. My small hands struggled. However, because my grip on the toy was actually reversed when in use, I found the buttons easier to use this way and was soon provided with 7 or so pleasing levels of vibration (provided by 4 AAA batteries). While not the strongest toy in my collection (that pleasure goes to the Miracle Massager), the boss was not disappointing, either, and his 3 levels of pulsation were not the wimpy kind – I definitely felt them deep within. All the while, the Boss used only a suitable indoor voice and you’d never know he was just a room over. I would have to say, however, that the Boss does not perform consistently. The vibes were much stronger near the clitoral bump than the head of the shaft.

Of course, I’m a critical person and I couldn’t help but notice a specific area where the Boss’s traits were over-exaggerated a bit. Rumors about the Boss say that he is good at giving an extra boost to get the job done when it’s really getting down to the line. I was not impressed by the turbo boost button at the end of the vibe. Essentially, it seems like an extra level of steady vibration, which you can press when orgasm is near, to set you over the edge. I didn’t find the boost to be that powerful, and the fact that you need to hold it down also hampers the effect. It would make more sense if, say, I could press the boost button once and get a few seconds of extra power without needing to hold it.

Nevertheless, there are a few understated qualities of the boss that make him a pleasure to work with. He’s not afraid to get his hands wet, which makes him perfect for use in the shower and easy to clean.

If you can’t tell yet, I’ve really gotten used to working with the Boss and I look forward to our teamwork in the future.

11 Comments

Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Venus Penis

May 16th, 2009

Venus Penis
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product. You can buy this similar product, but I’m not sure why you’d want to.

Dear California Exotic Novelties,

Size matters. I’m not sure if you missed the memo or if you’re so sure of yourself that you think the rules don’t apply to you but they do. Let me repeat it: size matters. No, it’s not the only thing that matters. So do quality, forethought, creativity and function, all of which you utterly failed to bring to the table when you decided to make yet another pitiful “hands free” vibrator: the Venus Penis. I know that out of the hundreds or thousands of sex toys you will make, some of them are destined to succeed but is that good enough reason for the rest of them to be so horrid? In short, California Exotic, your toy sucks. You suck.

For starters – and let’s kick it off with the big one – I only chose the Venus Penis after having such a disappointing time with my first (and last, until now) strap on vibrator because it has a penis. At least, I thought it did. Your pictures and packaging make it seem mysteriously larger than it actually is. It almost looks like a nice, meaty cock will well defined head. What it actually is, is a finger which has mutated with the head of a cock. It might be a meaty finger, but it’s not much when it comes to insertion. If any of you have vaginas, stick your thumb in it. Wow! See what that does?

Absolutely nothing!

On the topic of size, I have a bone to pick with toy manufacturers who assume that the vagina, clit and anus are all within some 3″ diameter. They’re not. Really. Add an inch or 2 or, hell, even 4 for good measure and then the “erotic clitoral” stimulator and “superior anal” stimulator might reach their target. I mean, come on, can you really call something that doesn’t touch anything superior? I think not.

On a semi-related note, I guess you don’t like fleshy girls. My mons and labia are pretty prominent, which means if I even want clit stimulation, I have to push my lips aside and hold the toy against me. So much for hands-free, huh? Really, all you need to do is make the clit stimulator longer and soft enough so I can adjust it to where I need it.

And while we’re on the subject of inferiority (we are, aren’t we?), let’s talk about the material. Jelly? Really? It smells out of the box and, you’re lucky, because many folks won’t even touch the stuff anymore, but I’m not so picky. And, I’m not sure how you did it, but the jelly is actually rather stiff. The wings kept poking my poor thighs uncomfortably. What gives? (Haha! Nothing, because if the toy had give, it wouldn’t hurt). And the straps? Cheap elastic, which, while soft and shouldn’t hurt, began to chafe after a while.

So where were we? Creativity? Check – I mean, not really. I liked the idea of overall external stimulation combined with internal vibration so I think you tried to do something a little more original, here, but failed. That’s because you lack my next point:  forethought. I probably think more than most people and it doesn’t always do me any good but your lack of thought, period, does me no good. I mean why put the penis in the middle of the butterfly’s tummy when the toy is designed to sit forward, not really under you? This means the already-crappy penis is inserted at an awkward, yes even painful, angle. Maybe that’s why you made it so short? You knew we’d be feeling it but did you count on us saying “Ouch!”?

It also doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the thigh and waist strap set up just doesn’t work. The entire time I had this thing on (although I must commend you for making this wearable by a large variety of sizes), the toy pulled up and to the front instead of where I wanted it to sit, y’know, against my clit! I think that straps which mimic the shape of a bikini or even like a G-string would make more sense. Plus, the placement made sitting uncomfortable. I’m pretty sure the position the woman is, on the package, is the only feasible position and, even doing that, the anal stimulator kept stabbing at my perineum.

Furthermore, when is someone going to make detachable straps so we can toss them in the washer? Oh, wait, the customer would never know how to put them back on and it’s not our fault. It’s because the setup is ridiculously complicated (remember when I suggested you mimic a well-known set up like panties? That might come in handy, now). I mean, if we could take off the straps without fearing we’d never get them back on correctly, we might use the toy a lot more because cleaning would be so much easier.

Well, maybe. Except for the part where a wire comes out of the toy through a hole in the belly, near the front. I understand it needs to connect to the control pack somehow (standard, CE dial-style controls), but not only does it make cleaning harder than it should be (and you can certainly rule out waterproof capabilities) but it’s kind of weird for the wire to come out from between my lips.

What we’re left with here is function. I would expect strong vibes from a toy powered by 2AA batteries. This wasn’t really the case. However, I did find that I was left with a pleasant tingle and, with a lot of holding the toy and grinding against it, I did get off. Still, I have toys that can do this better, easier, and faster, like my Laya Spot, and if that was all I wanted from this toy, I wouldn’t have purchased it. I got absolutely nothing from the penis on this toy at best, when it wasn’t being painfully mediocre, literally.

You might be wondering now if there was anything I did like. Yes, I liked the colour of this. It’s a neat dark fuchsia. It’s just too bad the shape of the toy isn’t aesthetically appealing; otherwise, I might just consider not throwing it away.

Also, the awkward pose of the “model” on the packaging makes me smile. I mean, who wouldn’t? The fake breast groping and the forced smile are just so strange. I can’t help but laugh. Thanks for that, California Exotic Novelties, and not much else.

Sincerely,

Me

21 Comments

Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Get up to 30% off at MysteryVibe

Trojan Vibrating Touch Fingertip Massager

May 7th, 2009

Trojan vibrating touch finger vibe
$11.75 from Amazon

I have now used vibrating products from both the big names in condoms – Trojan and Durex – and while these products seem to be great for beginners, those companies will need to try harder if they want to make the giants like California Exotic run for their money.

For starters, Trojan needs to work on the commercial for its new finger vibe. If you ever tune into Oxygen late at night, then you’ve probably seen the two young women giggling about that new toy from Trojan and whispering to each other what it does. Even though the commercial wants us to believe that it’s okay to be curious about these things (after all, the older woman behind them has one, too!), we can only talk about them while laughing nervously. It seems to me, the commercial would be more effective if the women were talking calmly and collectedly about this product. Really, that’s neither here or there, but part of my motivation for trying out this finger vibe was because I hate the commercial so damned much. LOL

So once you get past the nervousness and purchase this toy, you’ll be staring at a purple box exactly like Trojan’s Her Pleasure line of condoms because the Vibrating Touch is part of it. When I opened my mail, I was actually confused as to why I was receiving condoms before I saw “Vibrating Touch.” I wouldn’t have minded if Trojan made the package a little classier (like Durex does with its Play toys) but am willing to look past this. Like most condom companies, Trojan provided a condom with their toy (Her Pleasure), and while I don’t need it, I could always use it with a questionable toy.

The finger vibe itself is in a plastic/foil bag. Inside the package is also a small velvet, drawstring pouch for storage. This looks exactly like small jewelry pouches, so if someone ever finds your Vibrating Touch finger vibe while it’s in the bag, they probably won’t think twice. Keeping it on or in your nightstand or dresser would seem completely normal, and it wouldn’t be out of place in your purse or even carry-on luggage if you’re traveling. I have noticed that the drawstrings are rather long and my cats like to play with them, dragging the pouch all over my house because it’s so small.

The finger vibe itself is a squishy, purple sleeve with a loop to slip on your finger and a removable, 1-speed mini-bullet. The material of the sleeve, which the packaging does not name (but there was no rubber smell) is really soft and has little ridges along the shaft and whorls, like a fingerprint, on the tip. While these are really fun to feel against my fingers, my clit didn’t detect the ridges and whorls so easily but I think the texture was better than a smooth sleeve. The stretchy loop on top of the finger vibe fit comfortably around my finger, but I found that, during use, the position shifted up and down, just as the toy seemed to slip left to right, and sometimes it wasn’t much better than using a finger to rub myself. I think this is because I use so much pressure.

And the reason I use so much pressure is because the bullet isn’t all that strong. It’s not bad for its size, but it’s definitely more of a gentle touch. I think this would be great for beginners, but I’ve used some strong vibrators and really need something more now. Unlike similar toys, this bullet here is reusable, so you don’t have to throw it away after 30 minutes of use; however, you will need to change the batteries after 30 minutes. Unfortunately, it is powered by 2 tiny battery sizes, which I have never before encountered, called LR41. I accidentally dropped one when opening the bullet, and these could easily be lost, so be careful when switching batteries.

As I mentioned, the bullet is removable, which means you can use the sleeve on your finger alone if you want a really light touch. You could possibly fit a similar-sized bullet in the sleeve, but it is rather small. Or, if you just wanted to use the bullet alone, there is that option. For thorough cleaning, I like this because the bullet is not waterproof; however, it looks waterproof, and I washed the whole thing without problems. It’s also extremely easy to remove and replace the bullet.

The on/off button on the bullet is easy to push with my thumb while on my finger. I actually preferred wearing the fingertip massager on my middle finger because it’s longer. My fingers are rather short so the massager sometimes felt a little unwieldy but not horribly so.

Because this toy is so small, you could use it almost anywhere and you can easily toss it in your purse or luggage for travel. I personally used it for a little afternoon stroll through the land of cybersex but I ultimately prefer my Laya Spot for this.

My final thoughts on this sex toy are that it’s cute and versatile, but its gentle vibrations are better for someone who is either less experienced or prefers their vibration to be really light and it’s extremely quiet.

And after 15 years? I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who has other options available, especially because it doesn’t feel like it will stand the test of time. Fortunately, the local pharmacy and big-big stores offer that convenience by carrying products by PlusOne! It’s wild to me that this toy is still available. I feel so strongly that you can spend a little more that I almost don’t want to include a link in this review. But here. Here is it. Do yourself a favor and don’t click it.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Pleasure Tops

May 3rd, 2009

Pleasure Tops
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued toy.

Most of the time, when I am not completely satisfied with a new sex toy, I develop a grudge against it, and it becomes extremely difficult to see the strengths of the toy. This really isn’t the case with the Pleasure Tops vibrator. In fact, I just can’t help but focus on how close this was to being my perfect toy. It does make the disappointment harder to swallow, though.

When Doc Johnson designed the Pleasure Tops vibe, they went out on a limb. It certainly is a unique toy with its cone-shaped base and thumb-like protrusion. It’s also fairly small. I thought it seemed tiny compared to the size I thought it would be; I know there is always some reconciliation between expectations and the reality of sex toy size, but I had never overestimated size so badly. The Pleasure Tops toy sits in the palm of my hand and is less than 5″ tall overall. The girth at the base is a whipping 7.85″, but only a portion of that is actually insertable.

Even though the size was not what I was expecting, this is not altogether a fault. I enjoyed the size and uniqueness of the cone. Insertion of the TPR-covered toy (I chose the blue over the pink that reminded me too much of bubblegum) was a breeze with just a dab or water or silicone-based lube. Once inserted, I couldn’t really feel the bullet in the tip of the cone because it didn’t really touch anything. Rather than improving upon the size and strength of the bullet or the shape of the toy, I think the cone simply does not need to vibrate. I enjoy cumming around items (like a vibe, dildo, or cock) and have often wished for a sort of vaginal plug, which the Pleasure Tops does nicely. Because the external portion of the vibrator is the largest part, I could easily feel it at the entrance to my pussy but it wasn’t so long or large (only 2.5″ long and 5.25″ around at the widest insertable point) that the inserted portion was uncomfortable, which I sometimes experience with longer toys.

On the other hand, I thought the clit stimulator could use a little more in every sense. This thumb-shaped stimulator is made of the same soft TPR (the material does pick up lint, so beware), which covers a second mini-bullet. Even at the highest setting, this was nothing more than an exciting tingle. A larger bullet is absolutely necessary. This would improve both the strength of the vibrations and the size of the clitoral stimulator, which, I thought, was both too short and too thin. While I could easily manipulate the clit stimulator into place, it didn’t like to stay in place over my clit and would slip down or to either side. I especially wished for a wider clit stimulator.

I tried out the Pleasure Tops both lying and sitting up because it seems like it would be a good toy for use while sitting. Use while lying was similar to using any other dual stimulator toy, but I had a bit more trouble sitting. Because an inch or so of the cone protrudes, I could not sit with the cone flat beneath me but I could sort of squat over a chair, using the arms to support myself. However, I was able to sit more or less normally, with the cone tilted so the back edge rested on the seat of the chair. This was actually fairly comfortable and also provided for hands-free stimulation, but it didn’t bring me to orgasm.

Ultimately, I don’t think this is a toy that can do it for me. It was an exciting tingle, and I liked the overall fit but a stronger and larger clit stimulator would have really pushed me over the edge. As I am prone to say, I enjoyed the way the toy hugged my pubic bone. Had I been able to achieve orgasm, I think it would have felt great.

For those who only need a lighter touch or want a toy for warmup, then Pleasure Tops might do the trick but I kept the vibration on high the whole time, and it still wasn’t enough. For the strength of the vibration, I found the amount of sound to be acceptable. It is noticeably louder on the higher settings, but once pressed against flesh, the sound is muffled. For 2 AAA batteries, the amount of power is reasonable but I would consider a power supply of at least 2AA batteries, if not more.

I would also change the entire control system. I might have tried to work myself up to the highest system is it was not such a hassle to adjust. To insert batteries, the end base, made of ABS plastic, unscrews. Battery insertion is easy and you screw the base back on. However, the base does not like to be screwed on snugly otherwise the vibrations do not work. There needs to be a thin area of space between the base and the rest of the toy itself. I could easily slip a piece of paper folded 4 times between this space. Not only is this annoying, but it made me wonder how waterproof this toy really is. I ran the toy under running water and patted down the outside before checking inside. There was water between the 2 parts of the Pleasure Tops but not in the battery area itself, so I would trust it to hold up in the shower but maybe not completely submerged.

I wish the touchiness of screwing on the lid were the only problem I had. Unfortunately, the controls just suck. The base is also something of a giant dial. Because of this, turning too far toward the “Low/Off” side can cause the base to unscrew and turning too far in the “High” direction causes it to tighten to the point where vibration stops. The only way to ensure that neither happens is to use both hands, which is really a hassle because you pretty much have to remove the toy to adjust the settings. Dial controls should not be so difficult. I would much prefer a corded hand-held control with buttons and specific settings but I’m not a big fan of dial controls, period. Perhaps making this change would also make the Pleasure Tops usable during sitting.

Were the size and strength of the vibrations the only complaints I had with the Pleasure Tops, I would still use it because the shape is really what I have been wanting for a long time. However, the problematic base/controls really seem to thwart any efforts on my part to make the best out of Doc Johnson’s Pleasure Tops. Because this is so close to my perfect toy, I would plead with Doc Johnson or anyone else to take my suggestions into consideration. You have no idea how happy and sated that would make me!

10 Comments

Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Make love to your long distance lover online

Decadent Indulgence

April 30th, 2009

Decadent Indulgence
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued toy

Years ago, before we were concerned with environmentally friendly or safe materials in our sex toys, we focused on function alone. The toys which were best loved, like the Decadent Indulgence, came with a high price because they performed so admirably and, even though it may now be considered inferior by some, there were hordes of women who were singing their praise for this rabbit vibrator. Despite the fact that I have tried more than my share of rabbit vibrators, and I usually find a fault, I knew it was my responsibility as a reviewer to try out one of the Decadent Indulgence vibrators. I went with the original because it’s the original for a reason, right?

Back in my early days of sex toy exploration, people raved about the Decadent Indulgence. I never once read a bad review. Women wanted to marry it, despite the fact that it cost over $200. Today, this rabbit vibe costs only a fraction of the price at just under $100. Some wonder if a toy that is made of only TPR is really worth the price, but I have to tell you, it’s not the material that will blow you away! Powered by 4 AA batteries, the original Decadent Indulgence is pretty much a powerhouse of vibration and rotation.

Let me back up a bit. This pink rabbit vibrator by California Exotic, as mentioned, is made of TPR over a rotation shaft and beads, as well as a bullet in the hummingbird-shaped clitoral attachment. The box claims TPR is “hygenically superior” but not only is it spelled wrong, it’s just wrong. Pure silicone or even a silicone composite would be better if hygiene is your concern. Also, considering the stiffness of this material, it wouldn’t make much difference if it were upgraded to silicone. In fact, that is my one major complaint about the Decadent Indulgence. The wings and beak on the hummingbird are cute and vibrate loosely when the clitoral stimulator is on, but they’re rather thin, pointy and sharp. It’s not something that bothers my hands, but I found using the clitoral stimulator to actually be painful unless I was firmly pushing the bullet against my clit so that those appendages were more stationary instead of vibrating freely against me. Because my use of dual stimulators tends to focus on clitoral pleasure, this is a big issue for me. I really wish there were no protrusions at all, just a TPR-covered bullet.

There are two controls for the functions, one for the vibrating hummingbird and one for the shaft/bead rotation. I always prefer separate controls for shaft rotation and beads, so I would like to see that here. The buttons are not the hard-to-press digital kind; they are easy to find and press which I like. In fact, they might be too easy. I hadn’t realized there were 8 levels for each function because the “ultra sensitive control pads” tend to increase 2 or 3 levels at a time. There is also a button in the center that switches modes from basic vibration and rotation to a slower pulsation and back-and-forth rotation and then a much faster mode. The mode applies to both functions so the rotation and beads occur at the same speed as the pulsation, resulting in a more profound effect than if they operated at separate modes. Overall, the combinations are endless.

I found the vibration to be adequate, but the increases were more of speed than size, as is typical with bullets of that size. What I really liked were the pulsation modes. They were incredibly strong, almost too strong at some points, and not at all like the high-frequency pulsation of other vibes, which left me wanting. Even as I lay thinking about how the beak was painful, the pulsation led me orgasm. It was really the first orgasm I had without even trying, and that was vibration-induced alone, so it was something of a milestone, even if it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had. If that doesn’t say something about the value of this toy, I’m not sure what can.

For once, I quite enjoyed the rotation of the shaft. The 3 tracks of 3 beads each move in the same direction and at the same speed as the shaft and were noticeable, but the overall effect felt like there was only one internal function. The rotation was also rather powerful and stood up to clenching but it was hard to tell if both the shaft and beads stood up to my muscles or if it was just the shaft or beads. Either way, I have had few rabbits that stand up at all to clenching, so it was nice.

One of the things I especially like about rabbit vibes is how they hug my pubic bone, and the Decadent Indulgence did a decent job. The TPR, while pliable was stiffer than some jelly I have experienced, and helped with this. I wouldn’t complain if it was a more snug fit. The bullet seemed to be a little further away from the shaft than in some rabbits I have used, resulting in a clit stimulator which is a bit too flexible. I found that in order to place the bullet as high as I like on my vulva, the beak was simply in the way, poking at my mons, and the shaft did reach a little further than I prefer, but this was less of an issue than the beak.

A few other thoughts on this toy. The TPR will attract a little lint and has a slight rubbery smell, but it’s really not offensive. The battery pack is closed with a slide-on cover which doesn’t seem super secure. This toy should not be submerged and you should only use water-based lube. However, TPR should be safe with both water or silicone-based lubricants, so I am not sure why this would be the case.

In the end, I loved the functions of the Decadent Indulgence. The pulsation truly lived up to the name of this toy. However, I could really do without the painful clitoral stimulator. California Exotic does have a lot of toys with similar functions so I will definitely keep my eye out for something that has all the strengths of the Decadent Indulgence without the bite.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

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