Dream Maker Lunar Rabbit

September 1st, 2009

Dream Maker Lunar Rabbit

Dream Maker Lunar Rabbit
$99.95 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

I was pretty excited when Evolved came out with their Dream Maker Rabbits. The pink Lunar Rabbit – which I have – is a fancy looking toy with LED lights and multiple buttons and rotating beads and a vibrating clit stimulator and it’s waterproof on top of that. The Dream Makers were received with, generally, mediocre reviews but this only piqued my interest. I was even more interested in this bunny when some of the early reviews made no mention of shaft rotation – only awesome rotating beads and vibrating clit stimulators.

Packaged in Evolved’s typical metal box (although the lid is now plastic encased as well) and nestled in foam, was my pink Lunar Rabbit. I quickly discovered that the soft TPR material, which coats the shaft and clit stim, was one hell of a lint magnet. It seemed even more so than other Evolved toys I’ve tried and reminded me of my less than stellar experience with Cyberskin. The control pack is velvety, hard plastic like Evolved uses in many other products and does not attract lint, of course.

I had no issues popping in 4 AAA batteries into an EZ load style pack, after unscrewing the bottom. It seemed plenty secure for waterproof purposes and makes cleaning with soap and water quite easy. There is a sticker which says to push and I expected it to click in and out of a secure position; however, pushing didn’t actually seem to do anything. The battery pack just sat there loosely, the whole time. It’s not an issue but it just seems pointless to tell us to push when it doesn’t do anything.

I immediately played with was the different functions and LED light. There is a master On/Off button which I appreciate. This is a great feature in times of unexpected.. interruptions. The clit stimulator and shaft have separate Up/Down arrow controls as well. On top of this, there is a function button for the shaft and clit stim as well for a total of 7 buttons. This is definitely more buttons than some may be used to or even like. It’s a toy that takes a bit more practice before play to get a feel of and I was initially confused.

Overall, I prefer the control pack to Evolved’s other single-button styles because it’s much harder to accidentally turn off and there’s also 3 finger indentations on the back of the toy for grasping. I did notice that the buttons for the rotation were less responsive than the rest of the buttons, for whatever reason. I would have to push them several times to increase or lower the intensity and this was just during experimentation. It’d probably be more difficult and frustrating during actual play.

The light display is in a shape of a star, with a light at each point for a total of 10 lights. When first turned on, the Lunar Rabbit turns on the lowest setting of function 1. This setting corresponds with the lights at the bottom 2 points of the stars. As you increase the speed of either feature, another point on the star lights up (for a total of 5 stars to each feature). In all, there are 5 functions, each, for the clit stim and shaft with 5 settings/speeds for each function which results in hundreds of different combinations. The functions of the clit stim include steady vibration, short pulsation, fast pulsation, an increasing pulsation and roller coaster while the rotation/beads includes forward, backward, back and forth, faster back and forth and “stop and go” rotation. The shaft and clit stim can be operated separately by turning down the speed on the function until it turns off but I wouldn’t have minded a quick Off button for either feature, either.

I was also surprised by the fact that the shaft does rotate; it just rotates in very tiny circles which could easily be missed. Overall, though, disappoint did abound. I think Evolved made a grave mistake in powering this rabbit with AAA batteries and no matter how many you use, simply upgrading to AA would have seen a vast improvement in power. Even on the higher settings, the bunny clit stimulator wasn’t all that impressive. And while I appreciated the variety in bead rotation, it didn’t stand up to muscle clenching at all. As you can guess, I couldn’t even feel the shaft rotations even though I knew it was happening – or supposed to be. My muscles likely put a stop to that, too.

Furthermore, I found the hundreds of combinations to be lackluster, really, but I’m more of a girl who likes one or two really good settings/functions and sticks to them. I tend to skip “low” settings right for medium or high and more than one pulsation setting is pretty unnecessary for me. I would have been more than happy if my Lunar Rabbit had only a handful of stellar combinations but.. it didn’t. With that said, fans of light to medium stimulation, who love variety and build up might enjoy the power of this more.

There was one redeeming quality, however. It’s not well known and Evolved doesn’t advertise it as a feature but the shaft can bend, below the beads. I actually discovered this by accident when rocking the toy to stimulate my G-spot, which caused the shaft to bend. This offers much more noticeable stimulation via shaft rotation but I especially enjoyed it with rotation off, using the rocking motion to create a very effective dual stimulator and to finally achieve an orgasm or two. Because it bends below the beads, it really offers an experience like no other rabbit I’ve tried. Unfortunately, the folks from Evolved say that continuous bending might cause this wire to break which is a shame. I think this is by far the best quality of the Dream Maker Lunar Rabbit and without it, I was less than impressed by lackluster power, the confusing LED display, and the tendency to collect lint.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Berman Adonis G-Spot and Clitoral Stimulator

August 8th, 2009

Berman Adonis G-Spot and Clitoral Stimulator

Berman Adonis G-Spot and Clitoral Stimulator
$61.23 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

I don’t know much about Dr Laura Berman except that shes been on Oprah a time or two (even her Wikipedia page is scant which is shocking for “America’s leading expert in female sexual health”) . I think we all know that the Cult of Oprah readily accepts the people and products that are on her show, giving them attention and praise (not to mention revenue), whether or not they are worthy of said attention and praise. Needless to say, I was dubious about how well a Berman center product would work, especially with the disappointments I’ve had with Sue Johanson’s line of toys. After using Adonis, a dual stimulator, I now feel that Dr Berman knows her shit; she just doesn’t know how (or care) to put it together in the perfect package.

Right from the package, I notice some differences between Dr Berman’s toy and every other toy I’ve ever tried. First, the box is a cool rhombus s shape from the top or bottom and I’m pretty sure that’s the first time I’ve used that word since geometry. LOL The outside panels boast the name, type of toy with the Berman Center logo a woman/uterus and a tidbit of information about Dr Berman and the toy itself. The front is actually a doubled over flap which opens to provide more information and a list of other Berman Center products. Initially, I didn’t even notice this, it sat so flush with the box.

This is a shame because the instructions for use explain the location of the G-spot when on your back and even explain that you may feel the urge to urinate. Although it’s not a complete guide to the G-spot, it makes this toy a lot easier to use for beginners. There’s also a note to only use oil or water based lube and not to submerge when washing. I really wish every company provided this much useful information.

Inside, the box was fairly impressive too. It was made very secure by a piece of thicker cardboard which lined it. The Adonis G-spot and Clitoral Stimulator was inside a sealed plastic bag and that bag, in turn, sat inside another clear plastic bag with the control/battery pack. For anyone who has opened a box to find their toy floating alone amongst packing material after coming out of a horribly secured package, this is a step up for sure. There is also a thin, purple, organza bag included. The bag is nothing amazing but is definitely better than nothing at all. I like it, even if it doesn’t match.

The Adonis is a narrow C-shaped toy with a G-spot hook on one end and some soft nubbies on the other. It’s made of a pliable TPR silicone, not pure silicone. I don’t think the package actually makes this differentiation. On the plus side, it doesn’t seem to pick up lint at all. There is a slight texture which provides a bit of friction. Even at its thickest, the Adonis is no more than average penis girth, if that. It filled decently. I found the G-spot end provided very adequate stimulation but the clitoral nubs sat a little looser against my vulva than I’d like, resulting in a very light touch. If you like only a light touch, I would recommend this. Unfortunately, the shape wasn’t conducive to pressing it against my pubic bone how I like, despite the so-called finger dents. My fingers fell no where near those dents and the round shape of the toy didn’t offer a good handhold.

The Adonis is detachable from the control pack via removable plug-in jacks. Normally, I am not a big fan of removable jacks like this but the Adonis does it uniquely. There are two motors in the toy with independent controls and jacks. One features 3 functions of steady vibration and the other has 7 functions (low, medium, high, roller coaster, fast pulsation, stair stepper and super speed). You can choose which jack to use for each motor so if you prefer pulsation on the inside, and vibration on the outside or vice versa, you’re set. This made me feel like I have control over the toy.

There is a single On/Off/Function button for each motor which are raised and easy to find. This isn’t rocket science and is okay for the motor which only has 3 functions but becomes a little frustrating with the 7 function motor. You have to page through the rest to the right one or turn it off. There’s also no universal off button; although, I suppose you could just pull the wires from the jacks if you had to. Ideally, there’d be a universal off button and up/down buttons, too. Plus, the control lacks balance as the batteries sit in it kinda weird. They sit in 2 rows or 2 (like this: ==), rather than doubling up thickness so it’s pretty long. The wires between toy and battery pack are a whipping 32″ long and don’t hinder movement. I did find them to be strangely thick but it doesn’t detract from use.

Overall, the vibrations were okay. The pulsation was actually really strong, so strong that pulsation on the clit alone also easily provided G-spot stimulation. On the other hand, the steady vibrations seems to have less life than the pulsations and were a high frequency type of vibration. I also felt that using both motors at once was perhaps a bit distracting.

There is one major design flaw which is highlighted by the amount of noise this toy makes. The internal bullet typically operates as more than an acceptably low hum but, strangely, its wire runs through the toy and sits right against the other bullet. This makes the external bullet much louder, almost painfully loud. It’s very distracting. In certain positions, this wire also rattles against the clit bullet even when only the G-spot bullet is on. Another strange construction decision is how the wires exit the toy. The wire from the clitoral bullet; they simply come out of a hole in the toy with no cover or cap. Care is a must when cleaning and I wouldn’t even try this toy in the shower.

In the end, I feel that the Berman Center Adonis G-Spot and Clitoral Stimulator has a strong foundation. It works well for my shape and with some thought given to the wires and an easier handhold on the outside, I would use it frequently. With the current flaws, I think it should be price more reasonably.

Information, instructions and mini-catalog on inner flap of the Adonis box Berman Center Adonis toy and control/battery pack in organza bag Adonis battery pack and control Coil of cord Wire against the bullet in Adonis Wires exiting the Adonis

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Sue Johanson’s Royal Rabbit Vibrator

July 31st, 2009

Sue Johanson's Royal Rabbit Vibrator

Sue Johanson's Royal Rabbit Vibrator
$35.79 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

Not too long ago, I tried a Sue Johanson rabbit vibe and was like “Hmmm, this a decent toy but it doesn’t fit me all that well.” I thought I’d try another toy by Ms Johanson and opted for her Royal Rabbit (I’m trying to get away from this purple kick, really I am!).

In terms of rabbits, this one is different. The Royal Rabbit could be seen as a sort of “back to basics” rabbit. It’s rather much smaller than some (especially compared to giants like the Passion Wave) and measures in at “only” 6″, 4.5″ of which are insertable. With a diameter that’s only slightly above 1″, it could very well be a newbie toy. It also only has one function. No beads or rotation here. The Royal Rabbit only vibrates and only in one place: the head. Because there’s no bullet in the clitoral stimulator, the bunny is much smaller. Lastly, the Royal Rabbit is not controlled by a bulky battery pack/control setup at the bottom of the toy but has a wired remote, the first I’ve tried on a rabbit.

What the Royal Rabbit lacks in size, it more than makes up for in texture and shape. The pthalates free, TPR silicone is ribbed on the shaft, to add an extra bit of sensation to your play. Because of the increased friction, using a bit of water based lube is a good idea. The enlarged head is also decorated with bumps and whirls which, I admit, I didn’t feel all that much. However, it’s shaped worked very well for mild G-spot stimulation, which I usually don’t get from rabbits. The head is much firmer than the shaft (which can be bent to about a 90 degree angle) or the bunny’s ears (but his body is about the same firmness of the head). Plus, I never had to deal with any painful cervix bumping. This vibrator was definitely a little easier to manuever because of it’s shorter length.

The remote control also aided in maneuverability. Because of my short arms, I have trouble grasping uber bulky vibes that extend what feels like 3 feet from my vagina. This usually results in the vibe hitting the back wall of my pussy rather than the front/G-spot. This definitely wasn’t an issue here and being able to see the control in my hand took out all the guesswork. The control is very easy to use as well. It has only two button: an On/Off button and a button which cycles through the settings. A lot of multispeed/setting vibes do not have a button for an “easy” off so I also appreciated that. Seeing as this toy is supposedly waterproof, the battery cap does fit snugly and the wise is firmly attached with a little protective cap over it.

Function-wise, this vibrator has a few options. The vibration start steady and there is a low, medium and high. Next is a setting called rollercoaster, a fast pulsation which increases in speed/frequency then repeats. This is followed by a slower, steady pulsation, then a medium paced pulsation. The seventh and final mode is a sort of “dot dot dot dash” or three quick pulsations followed by a lingering one, which repeats. For 2AA batteries, the amount of power is what I would consider satisfactory. I did find the steady vibrations to be rather lackluster as that isn’t exactly what does it for me internally. The pulsations were more enjoyable, though.

Unfortunately, since the vibration is focused as the tip of this toy, it wasn’t to be felt near the clit at all. Even if I’m just holding the Royal Rabbit in my hand, I can barely feel vibrations in the bunnies ears but once inserted, there’s nothing to be felt at all. I wonder if it would have made more sense or center the vibrations in the middle of the shaft or even in the clit stimulator because I think the rounded head would still be pleasurable on the G-spot. Some people find that multiple functions of some rabbit vibes are distracting so they might enjoy the Royal Rabbit more than I did. Sadly, it offered no clit stimulation at all and, considering as I am clitoral orgasm kind of gal, it was disappointing.

Because of the textures I previously mentioned, one might want to take special care when washing the Royal Rabbit. Soap and water or toy cleaner (unfortunately, TPR silicone cannot be sterilized) will work just fine but take your time, perhaps even use a Q-tip in the ridges and whorls. I ran my toy under running water when cleaning and it was fine but I did try to stay away from where the wire protrudes from the vibrator itself as it doesn’t have a nice protective cap n that end, like the battery pack does. I might try this in the shower but would advise against full submersion, just in case.

I was not personally impressed with the Royal Rabbit. It didn’t fit my needs but someone who can achieve vaginal/G-spot orgasms more easily than I can or who doesn’t mind pairing this with a clitoral vibe might enjoy it better. I do think that this vibrator is about the same quality of the other toys in Sue Johanson’s line; it’s a step up from most Cal Exotic toys but we’re not talking Fun Factory or anything here. As it is, I don’t have any qualms using the toy and it seems decent quality, except for where the wire meets the vibrator. I simply need more than decent to blow my mind.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Icegasm Kit

July 24th, 2009

Icegasm Kit

Icegasm Kit
$24.96 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

Temperature play is an easy and safe way to add a little excitement to the bedroom. I love the feel of a cool dildo upon first penetration and also enjoyed some frozen lube cubes I had the opportunity to try. Oddly enough, I’m almost adverse to heating products, except for use in massage, and have no interest in them whatsoever. On the other hand, I jumped at the opportunity to try an ice-based sex toy (and I hear BSwish has something on the horizon, too!).

Straight from the package, Icegasm is perhaps too like Tupperware with its brightly coloured ice tray and pocket rocket style vibrator. Part of me want to cringe as the various coloured caps over the tray and part of me finds it ingenious because it would absolutely not look out of place in the freezer. I could even say it’s a tray for water bottle ice cubes. On the other hand, nothing about this set is sophisticated or appeals to my sense of aesthetic.

Regardless, Icegasm is unique. It comes packaged in a clear plastic bag with instructions you or I could have printed and tied with ribbon. It has a very DIY feel and I’m not sure how I feel about that. The presentation was slightly impaired by the fact that the vibrator had fallen out and was floating loosely in the box.

The ice tray has 4 tubular slots to produce tubular ice cubes which can be attached (1 at a time) to a pocket rocket style vibrator. This vibrator is pretty typical, if not a little outlandishly coloured, save for the tip which is a plastic dome (as opposed to the 3 “prong” style of many pocket rockets). Beneath the dome is a nut, the center of which lines up with a hole in the center of the dome. Any appropriately threaded object can be screwed into the top of this vibrator. Otherwise, it is one speed, powered by a single AA battery and relatively mild in terms of vibration. I also don’t think it’s waterproof.

If it the caps which prove appropriate. These slightly dome-like pieces of plastic sit atop the molds (they don’t seem to snap on so expect them to be loose). Through a hole in the center of the caps are plastic “sticks”, like a screw without a head. These sticks protrude from either side. After freezing for 3 – 5 hours, with the caps placed on the molds, the ice has frozen securely around the plastic. (Your ice cubes are ready to use after running under hot water or letting thaw for 5 – 10 minutes.) The other end of the stick is screwed into the vibrator by grasping the cap. The overall tool looks something like a wand or sword.

When it comes to transmitting vibrations, ice does not seem to be the best material because it is so dense. I could feel it but pressing it against myself definitely muted the sensation. Nevertheless, the cold was intense. Almost too intense, even for me. I think a lot of people fear cold and, if you’re really not into it, this is definitely not for you, but they forget that our bodies are more sensitive when we’re cold. When you have goosebumps, sensations are that much more intense, right? Unfortunately, I found the Icegasm too cold for insertion but external play was more comfortable. The chill definitely made me more sensitive and I remained so for quite some time.

On a note of safety, I know you’re not supposed to apply ice directly to skin or for more than 15 minutes in regards to pain so I would also not use this for a prolonged amount of time. However, there is no safety note on the instructions.

One thing I noticed is that I had so much fun playing with it in my hands, before on my genitals, that it was already quite melty. The drips of the cold water were more shocking than the actual cold solidity. With the ice end on top, the cat actually serves to “catch” the drips and can be dumped out. Of course, the melting makes is a wet activity so a towel or Liberator Throw or something would be appropriate.

Next time, I would also alternate with something room temperature or warm just to break up the intensity. So perhaps a glass dildo dipped in warm water or even warm breath (if only I had that right now!) would make it even more interesting and possibly make it more comfortable for longer play.

Ultimately, I didn’t experience any sort of Icegasm. I had fun with a novel idea. I would like to play with it again and add some heat. I think the properties of vibration were overstated; a pocket rocket really doesn’t give you great vibes but it didn’t detract from the overall play. Perhaps the concept of “ice dildos” would be something to explore more. Either way, I’m really excited to see what ice toys pop up next and while the Icegasm kit isn’t flashy or as pretty as some I think it’s mainly due to the concept of ice toys being in its infancy.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

There’s a first time for everything

July 4th, 2009

And for a limited time only (meaning: forever) you can read about my first sex toy, ever: Devinn Lane’s Pleasure Pal, a waterproof, multispeed vibrator in purple glitter!

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Silicone Intimate Diver

July 3rd, 2009

Silicone Intimate Diver

Silicone Intimate Diver
$29.88 from PinkCherry

My experience with under the sea creatures as sex toys has proven unpleasant more than once now. For whatever reasons, dolphins and their cousins the porpoises are perhaps a little too realistic for comfort. Such was the case with the Intimate Diver, a dual stimulation vibrator.

A little information about this toy. Made of TPR silicone, the Intimate Diver is waterproof, of course. A note that this is not pure silicone and while it’s generally more hygienic and less porous than jelly or cyberskin, for instance, it’s still porous so anal use or sharing without a condom isn’t a good idea. You’re also limited to water based lubes, here.

My pink porpoise is posed so it’s forked tail – the clit stimulator – curls over its back, toward it’s head – the internal/G-spot stimulator. The very tip of this toy is his nose and he has a “fin” on each side as well as a vertical fin on his back. The body is this sea creature has a little give but is mostly firm. The fins, tail and nose have more give because they’re thinner but you won’t experience any rabbit ear floppiness with this tail (like on rabbit vibes with much thinner parts).

His head contains a bullet style vibe which is powered by 2AAA batteries that slip into an EZ load pack. As you can imagine, this doesn’t make it the most powerful toy. For me, the lowest and middle settings will do little more than tease; the highest likely won’t get me off but it’s decent. Unfortunately, the thicker TPR silicone isn’t great with vibrations and it’s definitely more difficult to feel them in the tail. Furthermore, once inserted, vaginal muscles have a tendency to muffle some of the vibrations which even worsens the problem. Stronger vibes and a thinner tail might help with this but I just prefer toys with bullets at the clit, too, because of the pressure it gives. Unfortunately, the TPR silicone was soft enough that it wasn’t a good toy to grind with, either.

What ultimately turned me off from this sex toy is that its fins hurt upon insertion. I could plainly feel the side fins poking at me painfully because they’re much denser than the tail or nose. I’m not really sure what purpose they’re supposed to serve; the back fin could possibly provide G-spot stimulation (although it didn’t, for me) but those side fines are pointless. It’s hard to feel aroused when you’re in pain. The moral of the story here: just because you want to model a vibrator after an animal does not mean it has to be completely anatomically correct. Fins server a purpose in the water, not in my vagina.

It’s good to see California Exotic working with higher quality materials than jelly (even if they’re aren’t as quality as they’d have us believe) but it seems like a lot of corners were cut to make this toy.

PinkCherry also has a Canadian website, PinkCherry.ca

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Bottle Rockets Nova

July 1st, 2009

I almost overlooked the potential of Nova because it wasn’t what I expected. Perhaps that is a lesson I need to take with me in every aspect of life? Needless to say, giving this tiny vibrator a second chance revealed its potential in a way I never saw coming. I definitely had to rethink my approach when writing the review after it made me squirt.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Image © MisterUnlucky; used with permission.