Fusion Duality

April 15th, 2009

$39
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product.

Evolved’s Fusion line of toys has so far been really intriguing, offering multiple uses with dual-ended vibrators and endless patterns of fun. Although longer than your typical vibrator with a length of 10-1/2″, the Fusion Duality isn’t the thickest toy and measures only 1-1/2″ at its widest point. Unlike double penetration toys, the double sides on these toys really only work best for one person; the toy simply isn’t long enough for two people. In fact, for my own personal use, I would have liked the Duality to be a bit longer, especially the end with the flared bumps, which remind me of a rattlesnake tail. Because of the location of the controls, this end offered significantly less insertable length and I was disappointed because of that. I enjoyed the sensation of inserting the bulging shaft into my pussy but was able to insert it less than 3 inches.  To me, it would make more sense that the controls for each side would be on the opposite side rather than right next to the side you insert. However, I was able to orgasm using this end on my clitoris.

I didn’t fare so well with the hooked G-spot stimulation. I actually found insertion to be uncomfortable because of the hard plastic in combination with the shape. The hooked end is rather pointy which allows for pinpoint stimulation but also can feel rather sharp. There is an additional bump on the otherwise straight shaft which seems rather useless. Occasionally it would poke me uncomfortably when inserted. I’m not sure where or how this is supposed to feel good. When I could occasionally angle the hook so that it stimulated my G-spot nicely, the entrance to my pussy would feel sore. This end of the Duality was simply not mad for me.

Aside from those issues,  I found this vibrator to be well made, like I have come to expect from Evolved troys. It comes in the typical metal storage container and the vibrator sits in a contoured piece of foam. The velvet-coat plastic feels absolutely divine in my hand, but my pussy and vulva aren’t quite as sensitive to the texture.  It does at a bit of friction/resistance when thrusting, however. The shade of purple is feminine without being overly girly and there is a modern design around the control area which is cute. I found that this toy had a comfortable heft to it and feels solid in my hands.

Like every Evolved toy I have used, it is waterproof and while I did not choose to use this in the shower (I find it extremely difficult to enjoy myself standing), I ran water over it for a period of time and none leaked into the battery compartment. At first it actually seemed like the two ends did not fit snugly against eachother in order to provide a waterproof seal but the opposite seems to be true. As I wash my toys with soap and water, this is reassuring.

I find the Fusion vibes to be interesting as there are independent motors on each side. However ,I cannot think of time when they would need to be used together. As I already mentioned, this toy really is too short to use with multiple partners and I think the hard ABS plastic would also make it uncomfortable, even painful. As more toys are released from this line, I wonder if we will be able to mix and match because that would provide with the ultimate personal experience.

As is, Evolved claims there are 16 modes of operation to be had with the Fusion Duality. I can only count 15, including 6 single and 9 combination modes, but I’m not about to split hairs over that missing mode. 😉 These settings include a high, medium and low constant vibration on the G-spot hook side. The vibrations are more powerful than Evolved’s Waterproof Seduction but not mind blowingly so. The amount of power is more than  satisfactory for the 4 AAA batteries required.

The rattlesnake tail has 3 different pulsation settings, the first of which is a steady, fast pulsation. The second is a long buzz followed by a quick succession of shorter pulses and this repeats. The third is a really unique pulsation, which is fast, short, and increases in power until it steadies off. This delightful sensation is perfect just before orgasm.

All of these modes are controlled by one of two buttons – one for each side. Unfortunately, the G-spot hook only has steady vibration, and the pulsations are only available on the bulged end, which I think limits the possibilities of this toy. I also thought that I might be able to use only one side of this toy without requiring all 4 batteries, but this was not the case. I’m not sure if it’s possible but I had to hijack 2 of the batteries for my LayaSpot and then wasn’t able to use it at all. LOL

Like other Evolved toys, the Fusion Duality did become difficult to use when my hands were slippery with lube. My fingers curled around the bulging end comfortably when I had the G-spot hook inserted but after lube was applied, it became difficult to grasp.

One unexpected use for this purple vibrator might be as a body massager. The extra long shaft and bulges worked well for a back massage – or even a back scratcher is the need should arise (that pointy hook has to be good for something!).

In the end, I think Evolved is making some unique toys in their Fusion line, which is worth keeping an eye on. While the Duality is a solid vibrator with a lot of different options to enjoy, I found the shape left a little to be desired for its intended use. I don’t think I’ll be achieving that elusive G-spot orgasm with the Fusion Duality but the bulged end definitely works out as a clitoral vibrator

14 Comments

Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Orchid G

April 7th, 2009

Orchid G
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product. For something similar, you might try Chelsi or Rose.

It took me a long time to warm up to the idea of a G-spot wand like the Orchid G, which was available by itself as well as in a combo with The Smart Girl’s Guide to the G-spot). I don’t really consider these toys to be attractive, and they don’t really seem to be as versatile as, say, a silicone vibrator. I finally decided to take the plunge when I saw Babeland offered it up for review, right around the time I was also trying out the Symphony G-Harmony (to refresh your memory, it didn’t work for me).

The Orchid G, which is pretty affordable at just $22, really isn’t a very flowery vibe, so I’m not sure about the name. The colours are a bit girly and my plastic, purple vibe is also glittery. Still, I don’t find it to be particularly attractive. However, it’s not very intimidating and just may make a good beginner’s toy. There’s no need to fear insertion with the Orchid G.

What you see really is what you get, in this case. In fact, I only got a cheap plastic bag with my Orchid G – and it was slipping halfway off in the shipping box. I would have appreciated the packaging to at least stay on during shipping. =/

The batteries are inserted at the end (2AA), and there is a dial control. The bulbous head of this toy, where the vibes are concentrated, looks like a bullet or egg vibe on a stick, and that’s pretty much what it is. The vibrations are surprisingly powerful, and the Orchid G is also louder than I would expect a toy of its size to be. The long shaft (the toy is 8″ long) allows you to penetrate yourself to reach a range of locations; ideally, every G-spot, no matter how shallow or deep, can be reached with the Orchid G. Plus, the angled head can be used to stimulate that sweet spot.

Except, in my experience. I read a lot of positive reviews, many from first-timers who were able to achieve G-spot orgasms from this and similar toys, but I was not to be included. I found that the wand was too long for my short arms. Because the only place you can really grasp this toy is at the base, otherwise the smooth plastic becomes too slick, I wound up actually pushing the head of the vibe toward the back wall of my vagina rather than toward my G-spot. In general, the toy simply jutted out too far from my vagina. A curved toy would be better for me.

At times I was able to stimulate my G-spot a bit but it wasn’t overwhelmingly pleasurable. I would find a spot that was good and lose the position I was in. I tried to grasp the handle higher up, but to no avail, because it would slip. On the plus size, insertion is really easy. I also noted that the base become rather warm during use. I usually cannot tell with a lot of toys because the motor is inserted and the toy warms up to my body heat as well, but it was very obvious that this toy becomes hot quickly. Perhaps I was just trying too hard and too long.

Not wanting to give up on this toy, I tried it as a clit toy but I found the hard, smooth plastic just didn’t stimulate my clit the way I wanted. It was actually painful. Also, with the long shaft, I could use this toy as I might normally use a bullet-style vibe (with lots of pressure and grinding) because the shaft would get in the way.

I really tried and tried, but by the time I finished, I was pretty frustrated. I was so sure the hard plastic and angled head of the Orchid G would work for me like it has so many others, but it just did not because of my specific anatomy. I have since then moved on to trying some alternative forms of G-spot stimulation, like the Pure Wand, which presented some unique frustrations. If you’re not so limited in the arm department, the Orchid G might just be your saving grace, but it wasn’t for me.

19 Comments

Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

And the winner is..

March 13th, 2009

Beautiful Dreamer! Congrats!

Her winning comment was pretty inconspicuous. 😉

Lovely choice. 🙂

Comment

Categories: Everything Else

Bloomy

February 24th, 2009

Bloomy

Sadly, Fun Factory no longer makes the Bloomy.

Fun Factory’s Bloomy anal plug/dildo was a pleasant surprise. I fell in love with it as soon as I first laid eyes on it; after all, it’s a really unique shape, and both black and deep pink are attractive colors. Mine came in pink, not the typical fit-for-Barbie pink of so many sex toys but a deep, grown-up pink. Although I love black, I actually prefer pink because I think it better highlights the shape of the bloomy – a shape vaguely reminiscent of a flower but not obviously so, but perhaps that is just my opinion.

The Bloomy came packaged similarly to other Fun Factory toys. Actually, I think mine had some packaging snafus as it included two copies of the Fun Factory brochure, two packets of lube, instructions for the Teneo Smart Balls, and instructions for the Bloomy. The toy itself was also nestled only in a “bottom” plastic tray, leaving the toy open so you could touch it while in the box. Because of the silicone, the toy had actually attracted some dust and dirt during shipping which was kind of gross.

Nevertheless, I easily washed it with soap and water and was surprised to find how much give this silicone toy has. I actually thought it was a bit too floppy at first but this soon proved not to be the case.

The Bloomy is billed as a multifunction toy, and I certainly cannot argue; the pure silicone makeup is boilable for sterilization, so it’s safe to use anally and vaginally. However, I only used this toy vaginally and will continue to do so. I have no doubt that the bloom shape would make for a fine anal plug and the “leaf” extension could stimulate the perineum as well but, for me, I immediately thought this could be a dual action dildo and identified the loop as an insertion point for a bullet vibe.

And that’s exactly how I used it. I slipped my BNaughty into the loop, turned it up high and let the toy transmit vibrations to my body. This was pretty nice but I found the thin “leaf” to be a little too soft for adequate clit stimulation. Fear not! I found an unexpected use for this toy, which actually resulted in a new kind of orgasm! Yes! A new kind of orgasm for me.

With the bullet in the loop, I was able to grind this “middle” section against/into the opening of my vagina, stimulating the nerve endings which are there. I moved this toy in a circular sort of motion and was soon experiencing my first (then second and third) vaginal orgasms. Now, these weren’t G-spot orgasms as they weren’t located that far in but it was still different from my usual clitoral orgasms and I was ecstatic to say the least.

On that note, I didn’t find a whole lot of G-spot stimulation because the silicone does have a lot of give – more than I am used to from pure silicone toys which usually seem to be firmer. I also can’t say that I was very sensitive to the shape of the Bloomy. I liked it but it wasn’t obvious that it has a unique shape after I inserted it. Still, it did feel good and I actually found walking around with this toy inserted to feel pleasurable (internally, at least, the walking was kind of silly).

I was really excited to find a toy that both looked and felt amazing, and the unique orgasms the Bloomy gave me were a welcome change from my usual routine. It was exciting to learn something new about myself, and I think the Bloomy makes a great toy when paired with a bullet vibe, but it’s certainly versatile enough to use in other ways. In the future, I will likely invest in a stronger bullet/egg vibe to use with my Bloomy, and I think the fact that I want to get another sex toy simply to improve my Bloomy experience says a lot. I would recommend the Bloomy to just about any way!

14 Comments

Categories: Anal Toys, Dildos, Reviews

Petite Pink Ribbon

January 9th, 2009

Petite Pink Ribbon
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product.

The Pink Ribbon Petite arrived in very minimal yet classy packaging. The vibrator, instructions, and included batteries (AA, but it’s still nice) were nestled in a tiny cardboard box over which slid a plastic sheath with the product name. Although it wasn’t as nice as, say, Lelo’s packaging, it was definitely less wasteful, and I appreciate that.

The Petite truly lives up to its name (which translates to small), being only 4 inches long. Ideally, it should fit in your hand but I found that this small plastic vibrator was a little too ‘boxy’ in parts, like on the sides. Although it seems to be curved well for a woman’s body, I think a more pronounced curve would fit better in my hand. I was much more comfortable holding and using the Laya Spot. I think it significant to mention that my hands are pretty small so this may be a personal preference.

The Pink Ribbon Petite is a special vibrator, however. First, some proceeds will go toward the fight against breast cancer. I think this is a noble effort, but it would be interesting to know just how much a “portion” is. Secondly, the plastic is treated so that it feels velvety. Holding the Petite in my hand feels great because of its texture. The Petite is also feminine and cute, discreet, comes with batteries and is easy to operate.

The Petite is not, however, my sex toy of choice. Starting with the shape, which was just a little awkward for my hand and also did not work to lay this toy flat against my mons. The curve was just not enough. Because of it’s specific shape, it really doesn’t work so well holding it any other way (like with the controls toward my vagina rather than up toward my mons).

The controls are also something that makes little sense to me. First, they’re situated in a strange place. When holding this, the heel of my hand is over the controls rather than my fingers and I’m pretty sure I’m doing it “right.” This 3-speed vibrator caught me off guard when I realized the horizontal switch first moves to the highest setting, then medium, then low. So it’s Off-High-Medium-Low. I forgot one time, warmed myself up on the highest setting, thought I’d turn it higher and was disappointed when I realized that was the highest setting.

So you can probably guess my next point, which is that the vibrations are not so impressive. My clit isn’t super sensitive; I never get off from vibration alone and to even feel relatively stimulated, I need a decent vibrator. The vibrations in the Petite are rather small. In fact, rather than increasing in power when I turn up the settings, they tend to increase in frequency which doesn’t really do much for me. At the highest setting, it’s more like an annoying buzz. Because of this, I would only recommend using this toy directly on your skin (not through panties, which is something I like to do).

Nevertheless, vibrations aren’t usually the deal breaker for me. I love pressure and if I can rub a toy against me in the right way, I can get off without vibrations (I did this with the Laya Spot). I just couldn’t do it with the Petite. Natural Contours tried to create something that would work well for most females, and maybe I just don’t fall into that category, or maybe they failed. Although velvety on the outside, this toy is overall hard. When trying to rub the curved end around my clit and labia, it hurt if I applied any pressure. I think a combination of shape and material just makes this toy ineffective for that purpose.

As I wind down my review, I’m disappointed. I could not orgasm with this toy and I have had orgasms with some pretty crappy toys. I cannot see this toy working for anything more than warm up and it probably won’t even work well for that. It’s a looker but that’s about all. The biggest impression the vibrations left upon me was that of annoyance and the shape and feel just did not lend itself well to applying pressure. The controls are awkward, both in function and position.

In my opinion, the benefits (donation, batteries included, texture, look) simply pale in comparison to the disadvantages of the Pink Ribbon Petite. If you’re shopping for a clitoral vibrator, I would recommend any Siri over this one. If you want to lend a helping hand, a full donation to a charity would likely do more good.

24 Comments

Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Laya Spot

January 8th, 2009

Laya Spot
N/A from

This is an archived review of a discontinued product. Fun Factory has released newer versions, the Laya II and III.

The Laya Spot might be small but it should never be underestimated. This toy’s tiny stature was both surprisingly small yet enough to get me off time and again. It has quickly rekindled the passionate spark in masturbation for me, causing me to increase my frequency. I would not be lying if this was the only toy I could for the rest of my sexual life, I would be satisfied and I think everyone with a clit should own one.  Period.

No matter how detailed a toy’s description is, I am nearly always surprised at its size when it finally shows up. Perhaps it was because of the close-ups of the Laya Spot, but I didn’t realize it was so tiny. It’s no mini bullet but it easily fits in the palm of my hand, making masturbation much more effortless than before.

My Laya Spot is black and purple with the main body of the toy being a softer black Elastomed and the controls and battery cap a hard purple plastic.  This makes it a fairly hypoallergenic toy which can be cleaned with soap and water but Fun Factory does not recommend boiling or wiping down with alcohol so I’m not sure it can be sterilized.

Overall, it’s a quality toy, which even the packaging suggests. I had heard that Fun Factory has impressive packaging, and I must concur. The Laya Spot came in a box which didn’t waste a lot of space or packaging.  The box contained two “flaps,” with a bit of information about the toy. These flaps folded down and stayed in place with small magnets.  My Laya Spot also came with a small instruction sheet (in several languages) and a sample of Fun Factory’s water-based (thus safe for everything) lube, ToyFluid.

The Laya Spot is a really unique shaped toy which I think is its best selling point. The rounded ends work perfectly for stimulation, and I think this toy would work well for women of all shapes and sizes, as well as perhaps even regular massages. With my fingers reaching toward the controls and the heel of my hand resting over the battery pack, I can easily control the Laya Spot. I use it like the instructions suggest, placing the Laya Spot over my mons. However, it could be used in a variety of ways – perhaps with the battery pack stimulating the vaginal opening, which I didn’t try. The placement I like would also work well during many sexual positions, but I’ve never tried that.

This position worked well when it came to using the controls. For the most part,  I could reach and use the controls which include 2 buttons. Holding the + button turns it on (while holding the – button turns it off) or increases the vibration. After the highest level, which I thought was pretty impressive for this small toy, it begins a couple patterns of pulsation.  So you have a lot of options, quite literally, at your fingertips.

Although the vibrations were very nice, I used this toy without having it on and also got off. I think the innovate shape is that effective. I also didn’t love the pulsation settings so I kept it on regular vibration most of the time. There are something like 7 levels of vibration so that certainly didn’t disappoint.

Most of the time, I used the Laya Spot through my panties. This wasn’t for any real reason, but it definitely worked out. I finally decided I wanted to try out this little toy with the included lube so I lubed it up, slipped out of my clothes and began my merry journey. The combination of no fabric and lube provided a sensational vibrating feeling, and the tip of the Laya Spot glided easily when I directed it with my hand. I soon came a handful of times.

I have yet to play with the Laya Spot and not orgasm so I’ve been pretty impressed. I also have had very satisfying orgasms with this toy and I am the queen of frustratingly unsatisfying orgasms so that says a lot. In fact, I feel so relaxed after playing with the Laya Spot. I’m usually so uptight about everything and something about this little toy just clicks with me and is extremely pleasing.

I also love that it’s small enough to take just about anywhere, which I imagine I will do in the future. It’s shape makes it fairly discreet so people won’t automatically know what it is. It is a little loud for its size, especially on higher settings but it’s not something you’ll hear through a wall.

So, is there anything I don’t like about the Laya Spot? The answer is “yes,” sadly. It’s only splash-proof, not waterproof. It would be damned near perfect if it were waterproof. The battery cap does seem pretty snug but I am not going to risk it. The battery cap is another issue. After inserting batteries (2 AAA), I didn’t close it all the way. The last little push you need to firmly close the cap, which twists on,  is pretty hard so it can seem fully closed before it is. Before I realized this, the cap popped off a couple of inopportune times.

Finally, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but the Laya Spot had a rather offensive odor when I first opened it. It was something like super-condensed BO. It has gotten better as I have washed it a few times since then and generally keep it in the fresh air. I really don’t know what this is about. I haven’t really read any reviews where others have experienced the same thing, so I don’t know if it’s necessarily a material smell or what, but it’s really, really unpleasant. Luckily, everything else about this vibrator is so impressive, or I might have given up on it.

If you like clit stimulation, the Laya Spot is a great vibrator, any way you look at it. The unique shape made this an amazing toy, even when used without vibration, and I cannot recommend it enough!

50 Comments

Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Under the Bed Restraints

November 20th, 2008

Under the Bed Restraints
$69.99 from Babeland

I was excited that Babeland would be kind enough to supply me with some Under the Bed Restraints. It seemed like the perfect way to finally bring my interest in BDSM from the internet to the bedroom (and real life). I knew the restraints had been rated highly by many folks before, so I expected a quality product that would allow me to truss up my husband easily.

After the restraints arrived, I spent nearly 2 weeks being unable to use them because of lack of time and other intrusions. We had jested back and forth about using them and finally decided to have them set up for his next “weekend” off. I finally got the chance.

Under the Bed Restraints by Sportsheets were in a smaller package than I expected, but this didn’t mean they would be less impressive. The plastic clamshell box was disappointing with its display of a naked woman that leaves little to the imagination. Sportsheets has since upgraded this to a cardboard box featuring a different woman, so I guess that’s an upgrade.

I was surprised to open the package and see such a small pile of straps, clips, rings and cuffs. I was also worried about how much work it would be to get under the bed as I would be the eonly person installing them, and our mattress is quite large at 17″ high. Despite all my reservations, Under the Bed Restraints came through.

The restraints come with the cuffs unattached, which is how I left them when installing them. There are a total of five straps: one connector strap that goes beneath the mattress and four that connect to either side of that center strap to make the four wrist and ankle straps. Each strap in the set is 60″ long.

To install the under-the-bed restraints, I slid one end of the connector strap and one restraint strap under the head of my mattress, beneath the bed skirt. I pulled the restraint strap until it was roughly even with the other restraint strap, and that side of the connector strap was centered beneath the mattress. I mirrored the process for the foot of the bed, which was more difficult because the left restraint was trying to go over the bed skirt rather than under.

After I straightened it out, I attached the cuffs to each restraint. Each cuff is outfitted with a metal clip (like on the end of a dog leash), and each strap is fitted with a ring where the clip is attached. I pulled on the cuffs for good measure to make sure there was no give in the connecting strap beneath the bed. I adjusted the straps so they had as much room as possible because of our large mattress. We have a queen-sized bed, and I can see this being too small for those with larger beds unless the mattresses are very thin.

After installing the restraint system, I adjusted the straps so there was no slack and tucked them, along with the cuffs, into the bed rails beneath the skirt. They became virtually invisible after I smoothed the bed skirt back down over them. I was excited at the thought of reaching down and cuffing my partner with the seemingly “invisible” restraints. You could also tuck the cuffs beneath the edge of the mattress. This also makes storage extremely easy, and unless I move the bed, I don’t have to do anything but reach for the cuffs when I want to play.

All in all, installation took about 10 minutes by myself and was not extremely difficult despite a cat who kept chasing the straps and working beneath my bed skirt. I only had to lift the edge of the mattress, and then I slid the restraints beneath it, so it was not as much effort as I would have thought. I have also repeated the process twice more since I first got these with no more difficulty.

During this process, I took some time to get to know the restraint system. The straps are woven nylon, similar to some belts, attached to keychain-like rings, and the metal clips seemed to be pretty standard. For someone creative, imitating this setup would not be very difficult. Furthermore, if something breaks on my restraint system, I can replace it without trashing the whole set.

I was impressed with the cuffs, which are lined with super soft felt and measure in at 9.5″, which makes them long enough for even fairly wide wrists. They are fastened with velcro, which makes them easy to use and easy to take off in a hurry, such as if the kids come home early. 😉 The velcro straps are quite long and allow the straps to be adjusted from 5″ to 13.5″ inches (if you don’t mind feeling the velcro on your wrists). Although velcro can be easily pulled apart, these cuffs felt very secure for the type of pulling they would experience.

Putting them on my partner was just as easy, although he wasn’t resisting much. I did use my body weight in my aid when he resisted at first, something that should work for many. The cuffs wrapped comfortably around his wrists and ankles as he lay face up. As I started to tease him with a bullet, I found the straps for his legs had too much give and easily adjusted them by pulling on the straps with one tug. I felt assured that should I need to do the opposite (give slack), that I would be able to do so with one move as well.

I felt that the straps were very secure around his ankles, but no more than a minute after I’d cuffed one wrist, he had gotten out. He has extremely long fingers and was easily able to undo the straps. I would find this much more difficult or even impossible because of my short fingers, but so you might want to consider who will be trussed up. I have continued to use the restraints with other cuffs to eliminate that issue.

Depending on the way someone struggles, they could pull the straps far to one side. The straps also like to slip when not in use because of my bed skirt, and the same would happen on an adjustable base. However, moving them back into place is easy enough by tugging near the cuffs.

Speaking of maintenance, I have yet to wash these as they haven’t gotten any lube or fluids on them. Technically, you could put them into the machine, especially if you put them in some sort of bag. You can also hand wash them without too much hassle. I would let them hang dry, of course.

I thought the restraints added a nice aspect to our play. I was able to tease and tickle him, and, after I tightened the straps, he was helpless. I know he also enjoyed the sensation and felt no discomfort from the cuffs. Under the bed, restraints would also work well for someone who is on their stomach for impact play, such as spanking or flogging. You could also stimulate someone’s chest/breasts or genitals while they’re on their back.

However, your positions are somewhat limited. A person could be spread eagle or stretched with arms above their head and legs closer together or a combination of spread and close limbs. It would be harder to pull the arms and legs together on each side, but you could figure it out. While you could do doggy style, it wouldn’t make as much sense with the restraints. The restraints could be used to bind someone of the right height who is leaning over the bed for better access to genitals and to make a better target of the ass. But you can’t do everything with Under the Bed Restraints.

And that’s okay. They’re practical and easy to use and store bondage solution, and I heartily recommend Under the Bed Restraints to anyone interested in bondage, amateur or pro!

33 Comments

Categories: BDSM, Reviews

Image © MisterUnlucky; used with permission.