Sex Toy Reviews

Below you’ll find all of the sex toy reviews I’ve written at Of Sex and Love. Find my opinions on vibrators, dildos, media (sex education books, porn, DVDs and erotica), bondage and BDSM gear, lingerie,  anal toyslube, massage products, and more!

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I’ve also reviewed sexual health goodies.

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Bbold Premium

December 3rd, 2012

I lusted over the Bbold for a while before I got it. I really enjoy the black and burgundy color scheme that Bswish tends to use. The shape of this vibrator also reminds me of the Vida Lussuria. I wanted to compare them side by side and take pictures, but I cannot figure out where my Lussuria went. I hope it wasn’t one of those that got tossed in the trash when my family and friends discovered sex toys during my move.

Annyway…

Bbold is a lazy S shape. The insertable portion works as a G-spot vibrator on one side and has a clit dimple on the other. The controls rest on the other side, where it curves again. Unlike Lussuria, this vibrator is made of silicone. It’s velvety but rigid. There’s a burgundy stripe that’s slightly more plush and runs around the profile of the toy. It’s attractive. It’s also completely smooth. There’s no ridges.

It’s just under 7.5″ long, but only about four of those niches are insertable. The g-spot head flattens and widens out to about 1.5″ wide but it’s about one inch “tall.” The majority of the shaft is much thinner, think .75″. The tapering is pretty gentle, but this toy is intended to stimulate one specific erogenous zone and not fill you up.

So, let’s go with the good.

It’s attractive. It’s got that angled G-spot head, and you can also use it externally. It’s super smooth and doesn’t have much drag. It’s waterproof, which means ease of use and versatility.

I effin’ love the buttons Bswish uses. It’s this bubbly shaped with two buttons — power and strength/mode adjuster. It lights up a super bright blue. There’s audible and tactile feedback. There’s no missing it in the dark. It’s simple. It works. It provides an instant off function when you need it.

This toy is USB rechargeable but it doesn’t plug into your computer — thank god. The included USB cable can be plugged into any USB outlet adapter. So anyone with an Android phone can just swap out the phone charging cable and plug the toy into it. It does use a proprietary port. I’d love if sex toy makers got on board with microUSB ports, but I’ll take what I can get.

The LED light lets you know when it’s charging, and this comes with a storage pouch. Bswish has had a hard time figuring out how it wants you to store toys. The first pouches were a thick, hoodie-like material. The company thinned them out. It’s now moved on to a satin sac with the company name on a tag. It’s stiff satin, but who cares? It does feel more luxurious than the old pouches, of course.

It comes charged!

On to the critique.

This toy just isn’t strong enough. There’s three steady levels of vibration. They remain about the same depth as you increase the level, which is good. They’re not super buzzy, but they could be deeper and stronger. The pulsation modes — of which there are three — aren’t fantastic for me, but the depth of the vibes does make two of them feel pretty intense. On my clit, however, I soon can’t feel them anymore. There’s an initial pleasure, then nothing. I need to be able to build up and get pressure, and this doesn’t happen with the Bbold.

For the power output, this thing seems pretty loud. I would worry about discretion if I was worried about being caught.

The clip dimple isn’t my thing. I don’t want to surround my clit. I want to press against the bone around it, with strength. The shape just doesn’t lend itself to how I like to masturbate. It’s also weird during masturbation. I tried the toy with that side against my G-spot and didn’t like it once bit. It completely missed where it needed to go. Turned around, the toy works much better, and the buttons wind up on top.

It’s a very simple experience. It made me squirt, but it wasn’t fantastic. A little forgettable, really.

The thing died pretty quickly when I got it. I hope this means it wasn’t fully charged, because I’d only used it once and briefly. A full charge has lasted me longer the second time around, so let’s hope that was a fluke.

The toy doesn’t remember your setting, but it does cycle through them. Once you get to the last pulse setting, it goes back to the lowest steady vibe. I don’t know if I like or dislike this, but it’s interesting.

Ultimately, this didn’t provide the premium experience. It felt very.. utilitarian. Got the job done but not any better than any other toy. USB charging is interesting, but it’s only practical in certain situations.

I really like Bswish as a company, probably because my first review toy came from them. I’ve come a long way since than and I still want to like them, but I’d love to see them think outside the box a little more. And add stronger motors. That’s a must.

However, Bswish asks less for the Bbold than other luxury vibrators, making this a good investment for someone who wants a toy that will last a long time and is attractive. At less than $75,

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Posh Teaser 2

November 28th, 2012

I wasn’t super enamored with any of the Posh line of toys from California Exotics. It’s good that they’re silicone, and the price isn’t too bad, but they all looked a little generic. I’d rather have a super strong rechargeable, I guess. So I was surprised when I received the Teaser 2 in blue and I like I’d underestimated it. It’s less tiny and, well, dinky. It feels more significant in my hand. This doesn’t mean that I’m going to throw out my Mona or anything because, well, it’ll never happen. Others are still better at what I need them to do, but I think CEN is making some toys that are definitely wallet-friendly, good for beginners and worth keeping around for as long as they’ll last. The Posh Teaser 2 might be one of those.

THe Posh Teaser has an interesting textured. It’s a series of bulbs along the 5″ shaft. There’s some wavy swirls that are interesting to my eyes but, as is usually the case, don’t add much for my vagina. Still, the head is the biggest bulb of all and adds some G-spot action. The silicone does have a lot of drag, though, and it’s prone to collect lint. You’ll want to use a nice dose of water-based lube, even though the that is 1.5″ wide at its most. Really, the majority of the shaft is about 1″ long, which makes this good for people who don’t like to feel like a subway train is trying to squeeze through their lady parts. You’re welcome for the visual.

Another thing I like about this toy is the LED ring that surrounds the button on the base. I will never see it in use, but it pulsates with the setting, and I feel like I’m ready for anything? You don’t need a flashlight, guys, I’ve got my sex toy. I’m not familiar with seizures, but if you’re photosensitive, you won’t want to look at the base of the toy. There’s some serious flashing going on. And it’s bright. B-r-i-g-h-t.

Except for the head, which has some give when squeeze it and can bend just a few degrees, the silicone covers a rigid inner mechanism. But it’s plush all around and doesn’t feel hard, just ungiving beneath.

I’m also not shatteringly-disappointed with the strength of the vibrations. It’s only powered by 2 AAAs, but they’re putting out some decent vibrations considering the power source. Sure, they’re buzzy, but the highest setting is okay, and the pulsations feel more effective. However, CEN did something stupid, here. They put the highest setting first, so when you press the button, you wind up turning it down. Um, that makes no sense. M I Rite? Right. So once you’re all buttered up and want to increase the settings, you’re disappointed to find out that’s all there is. It’s not the first time a vibrator has worked like this but it should be the last, god damn it.

There are seven different pulsation settings to this toy, which is more than enough. They’re fast, slow and everything in between. I’m not really won over by pulsing, though, so this might be more your thing than it is mine. The Posh Teaser 2 remembers your setting when you turn it off, which might be good if you like those settings. Otherwise, you’d have to cycle through them all again.

For the power output, this is a little loud. I don’t think the vibe should be any louder than it is on its weakest setting, which says something. It’s not a chainsaw, but it’s definitely not “whisper quiet.” Unless, maybe, you know those people who whisper yell.

I don’t use my toys in the shower and have no tub, but CEN calls it waterproof. The battery cap twists on normally — none of that half twist BS — and there’s an O-ring permanently attached. I wouldn’t submerge it in the ocean, but you can test its waterproofiness all you want. It’s nothing I’d worry about in the shower, though, and it makes cleaning with soap and water easy. Unfortunately, you’ll need to watch the lint off of this before you use it if you don’t keep it in a Ziploc bag.

I’m not going to default to the Posh Teaser 2 over any of my other toys, but I’d pass mine on to someone in need, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone in need of a cheaper, G-spot dildo. That’s quite the endorsement.

CEN Sexpert

 

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Lovehoney Galaxy Orgasmic Glass Dildo

November 20th, 2012

This is an archived review. Lovehoney no longer makes this glass dildo.

Do yourself a favor and read up on glass dildo safety before making any purchases.

Lovehoney Galaxy Orgasmic Glass Dildo


Sometimes, something about a toy just makes me go “meh.” It might be that it’s a different size or color in person. Maybe I’ve used something too similar in the past. It might be less strong. Whatever the case, I felt like this with the Galaxy Dildo. It looks swirled with smoke in the product images, but I was less impressed with it in person. Another notable difference is the “kink” or hook in the neck, right below the head.

So, the lines are stark black and not smokey in person. It’s kind of.. amateur. I don’t know. It stands out too much from the clear glass shaft. I’d like to see the lines blurred more. That would appeal to my sense of aesthetics a little more.

Anyway, the design also seemed disappointing because it’s just so thin and smooth. I generally prefer some sort of texture on my glass. However, this dildo did surprise me in use because of the little hook beneath the head. It actually proved perfect for stimulating my G-spot. I was able to come in something like six strokes. So even though I expected little from the dildo, and it didn’t look beautiful, it did do its job. The head adds to the sensation only in that the bulge is a good end to the hook. It provides leverage.

There’s nothing entirely fantastic about the specs of this one. It’s glass, so it’s heavy, is suitable for temperature play and doesn’t take much lube. Clean is just as easy, and the widened base makes it safe for anal play and possibly compatible with a harness. It’s also good for grasping. The diameter is just over 1″, and the dildo is perfectly round the entire length through save for the head. The bulbous head is less than 1.5″ wide, which makes this a good choice for anyone who doesn’t like giant toys. I was barely warmed up and didn’t need a whole lot of lube. I love that about glass. Of course, as glass, this dildo is less forgiving and feels a little larger than softer toys.

Some might enjoy the contoured head for clitoral stimulation. That’s not really my thing. I’m sure many people will find the dildo to be more attractive than I do, too.

Lovehoney packages this with a storage pouch made of velour. It cinches closed but it’s barely longer than the 7.25″ dildo. I would really like to see another half of inch in length for the pouch to be ideal. The velour is thicker than satin, but it’s not like an Otterbox case for your dildo.

I feel like I should have more to say about this toy, but I don’t. It’s simple. No frills. You can heat it up or cool it down, but I never do. I feel like it might be just a bit overpriced, to be honest. I’ve used cheaper glass toys that looked as nice as they worked, but maybe I’m too obsessed with looks. I mean, I am the chick whose Layaspot just died and will only consider a replacement in the right colors.

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Lovehoney Satin Drawstring Bags

November 11th, 2012

So these things have been sitting on my dresser for a while. My cats like to sit on them and, you know, I’m kind of pussy whipped. Also, I’m not sure what to put in them. It’s not an issue of not having enough toys without storage. It’s an issue of liking the design so much that I don’t just want to shove them in my nightstand, but my remote controls don’t really need satin pouches — or do they?

Let’s start with the logo, then. It’s this stylized heart. It doesn’t scream “sex toy” or adult at all, which is why I love it. It’s got clean lines and I’d like to wear it as a hoodie, I really would. Like, even in front of my mom. Whoa. I know.

So, the logo is printed on all of Lovehoney’s bags in a vinyl. It feels like any screen-printed tee. It’s set off to the bottom and corner, which is appealing to my eye. It’s in a bright red, but even though people always tell me that red and purple don’t match, I think they’re dumb. The purple is a cool blue base, but it’s purple.. so that’s a problem for some folks. But, think about the naked sex toys! Aren’t purple togas better than none at all? I rest my case.

LoveHoney Large Drawstring BagI received two different pouches because the folks at Lovehoney love me. The small isn’t even that small at 5.6-by-8 inches. It’s longer than the Don Wands storage pouch, at least, and it’s not puffy so you can actually put stuff inside it. The large is the same width but is significantly longer at 13.2 inches. The awkward measurements are because these are actually in metric, but converting won’t kill me. However, the Lovehoney website tries to explain how large of a toy you can store in these pouches when closed, so the two sets of numbers is a little confusing in my opinion. The large sac is about an inch shorter than it actually measures because of the hem/cinch area. That’s something to take into consideration.

Still, both bags are impressively sized. You can fit a fuckin’ rabbit vibe into the large. The puffy, awkwardly sized storage I’ve used in the past couldn’t do this. The small bag will easily fit cock rings, condoms, small bottles of lube or just a handful of clitoral stimulators if you happen to have them lying around, which I do.

The exterior is a shiny satin, the interior unfinished. There’s no rough edges, and all the hems and stitches seem secure. I imagine the material would get caught on nails, so treat them with caution. Unlike the puffy bags, you could hand wash these and lay them flat to dry if you spilled lube on them, which is always nice.

Small LoveHoney BagThe bags secure with loops of purple ribbon. It’s thin and easy to use but not so pretty. You could cut the knots at the end of each side to replace with some pretty ribbon, but I think that’s silly. On the other hand, if your ribbon did fray, replacing it wouldn’t be so hard. Removing it altogether is also an option.

When you close the bag, you lose some length, of course, so you should be wary of that. As this is thin satin, it’s not going to protect your toys from a drop off the Empire State Building but you probably won’t care when someone sues you for murder. At around $5, these bags are a steal. The one option that I really liked is no longer available. Although Devine Toys has a nice option, it’s almost three times the price of these from Lovehoney. These are definitely the better option for frugal folks. Plus, Lovehoney has a ton of other branded gear to match!

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Marilyn

October 29th, 2012

Berman Weighted Pelvic Exerciser Marilyn

Berman Weighted Pelvic Exerciser Marilyn

This is a discontinued product, but you can try a smart Kegel trainer or Kegel balls to improve muscle function.

I haven’t had a lot of luck with the other Dr Berman toys I’ve tried. They’re frequently poor quality and inferior materials. Many of them items seem like there were design by someone who has no idea what a man or woman truly wants from a sex toy, let alone a so-called expert. In fact, I have thrown out every single Dr. Berman toy I’ve had a chance to try, so I don’t have high hopes for them. If you’re getting the picture that I wouldn’t have personally chosen to buy this dildo/PC exerciser, then you’re right.

But, I think this toy is probably less of an abomination than every other toy in the line. However, it could definitely use some improvements. Let’s start with the obvious. This is made of resin. I assume it’s something like acrylic. Every once in a while, you see a toy made of this hard material. On EF’s scales, it’s rated a 9, so it’s not horrible, but I think it is confusing. So the toy seems similar to but not quite like glass. That is, it’s clear, smooth and rigid. It sounds like plastic if you hit it with a nail, though. The density isn’t quite the same.

I think it’s also a little lighter than glass, but I’m not positive. I don’t know if this is actually working against the design. You see, California Exotics has included two weighted stainless steel balls in either end of the toy. One of obviously larger and heavier than the other. The intent is to use this is a pelvic muscle exerciser, but I think perhaps the weight of glass could have helped this, reducing or even eliminating the need for the balls themselves. Maybe I’m wrong, but I find the material choice curious.

I’m also not sold on the design. I recognize that this isn’t supposed to be a dildo per se, but I’m betting that most people will want it to be versatile. The end with the larger internal ball has a single row of nubs that run around the circumference. It’s got no texture at all. I like rows of nubs or, preferably, ridges that wrap around the entire shaft. I’m not much of a fan of such a difference between texture and lack thereof, so this isn’t my thing.

The other side of the shaft also has some interesting texture, but I’m having a hard time describing it. If you look at it head on from the end, it looks a bit like a star. There are elongated dimples that are about an inch or so long running down the length of the shaft. This results in angled ridges. Most ridges tend to be more square or round, at least in my experience. This is unique, but I think it looks cooler than it is.

The rest of the shaft is completely smooth. It tapers toward the center, so either end is wider. Both ends come to a rounded point, and it seems like the one on the nubby end is a little more rounded, but it could just be shorter. That end seems significantly smaller, even though it holds the larger internal ball. I think it’s just my eyes playing tricks on me though. It is smaller, but not by much. The smaller end measures about 1.4″ in diameter, while the larger end measures a little over 1.5″ in diameter. The product description says 1.25″, but that doesn’t match any measurement I took. The thinnest part is less than an inch wide, so I’ve no idea.

Sizewise, this could work for people who like smaller toys, but because the ends are larger, there’s no tapering to help you out. This isn’t really for pleasure in that way. Ideally, you’d start with the larger end with the smaller ball for PC exercises. You could pull with your fingers while using your muscles to play tug of war or simply insert and squeeze. I suppose if you were so inclined, you could walk around with it inserted, but I’m not. Then, you’d move to the smaller end, which would require better trained muscles and which, in theory, result in more of a workout because of the weightier ball.

But therein lies the keyword: workout. I don’t have the time or effort to be so conscientious about my PC muscles, and I don’t think it’s necessary for me. If you experience more difficulties with bladder control or have just given birth, you might be more concerned than I am. Perhaps this “Weighted Pelvic Exerciser” might be more up your alley or your doctor would recommend something similar. Then again, I’m not sure why you couldn’t just use a regular dildo or, if you’re lazy like me, some kegel balls might be better for passive exercise. I’m just saying.

In terms of quality, there’s no seams. Ease of use? Yep. Versatility? Eh, not so much. Cleaning and care? As easy as glass or hard plastic. I’d you could use any lube with this, but I’m not really sure. So information? Cal Exotics is pretty lacking there. Still, this toy doesn’t seem to do much that one of my glass dildos does, and I can use them to get off or squirt, too. However, it’s definitely the least offensive in the Berman line, so there’s that.

CEN Sexpert

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Lelo Mona 2

October 12th, 2012

Mona 2

Mona 2
$139 from Lelo

I like the Mona 2, but it’s just so similar to the original that I feel like I don’t have much to say that’s new. So, I think I’ll start with..

What’s Different Between Mona and Mona 2

You can definitely see the relation here, but they’re not identical. The Mona 2 is a bit longer, for example. It has a longer insertable length: 5 1/4″ versus 4″. Mona is also slightly narrower. It’s not much, but the design seems to flatten out less on the insertable portion than it does with the original Mona. I think this lends a sleeker appearance, and it reminds me much more of Lelo’s Elise (which also has been recently revamped). The G-spot angle is also slightly more extreme. I didn’t have any difficulty reaching mine with the original Mona, but this might be ideal for others.

Mona (Red) and Mona 2

The silicone on the Mona 2 is a bit plusher. It’s still around a rigid internal mechanism, but it’s slightly thicker. You can push it into with your fingers in a way that you can’t with the first Mona. This might not be noticeable for some people, and I didn’t necessarily notice it while inserted. However, it might appeal to anyone who doesn’t like their silicone rock-hard. I thought the silicone seemed more plush in product photos, but it’s a bit hard to tell with all the digital airbrushing.

Lelo has decided to go ahead and release these new Monas with some different colors. There’s a hot pink, which I received, a cherry red and a grapey purple. The red seems more pinkish than my other Mona and Siri. This is sad news for anyone who loved the unique colors of the original Mona and Ina. However, I love the pink as I’ve previously mentioned.

While the controls remains absolutely the same with this vibrator, Lelo has increased the vibration strength noticeably. A side-by-side mistaken is impossible to deny. Mona 2 has more power and it still feels a bit rumbly. I appreciate the strides Lelo has made to keep up with companies like Fun Factory. However, it’s not the strongest toy I own, nor does Mona 2 have the deepest vibrations.

Mona (Red) and Mona 2

Finally, Mona 2 differs from Mona in that it has a different storage pouch. My original Mona has black satin on the outside and white on the inside. It’s so incredibly classy. The plain black satin isn’t less classy, and I imagine it’s a whole lot cheaper, but it’s also not quite as nice in my opinion. It’s fully functional either way.

There are minor cosmetic differences. The angle at which the plastic and silicone meets is different with the Mona 2. It feels slightly more seamless than the original. This is partially why the Mona 2 has more insertable length, too. The plastic portion is shorter on the Mona 2 while the neck of the shaft has a greater length.

Everything else, though, right now to my experience, feels exactly the same. Mona and Mona 2 both make me squirt– in a matter of seconds. There’s no learning curve. I need little lube for insertion. The buttons are a soft silicone that is easy to find amidst the hard plastic base of the vibrator. The charting port is covered with another piece of soft silicone. Although I haven’t tried it, I wouldn’t be surprised if you could use the exact same charger for both toys. However, Mona 2 did seem to charge amazingly fast. I swear it was less than an hour, but I didn’t pay close attention to the time.

Like the original, Mona 2’s steady vibrations are the best for me. There’s a serious of short and long pulsations followed by some escalation but none of those settings really do a lot for me. As far as I can tell, the different modes number five, including steady vibes. There’s about ten levels of vibration on steady, but the pulsation don’t seem to have as many strengths. The lower ones feel more rumbly, and the stronger settings definitely tickle your hand.

All in all, the Mona 2 is a nice vibrator. Given the current price drop for the original, I’d recommend you save a few bucks and get the Mona as long as it’s available. However, I would be much more impressed with the Mona 2 if it weren’t for one thing.

Mona and Mona 2

This vibrator has a distracting rattle that I just can’t get over. It’s stupidly noticeable. It sounds like some extra piece is flying around the shaft. I hate it. Mona 2 might look slicker but it certainly feels like the first age of digital vibrators, and I can’t justify the price

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Lelo Mona 2 [First Impressions]

September 30th, 2012

Everyone hates pink, but I think it’s because so many toys are accidentally pink. It’s an afterthought. Mona 2 is an in-your-face pink that screams “This is on purpose. I am no afterthought,” and I kind of love it. It’s so bright. The vibrator seems plushier than its predecessor, which I thought was the case from photos. I plug it in the charge, and it seems to take just a few minutes. It’s more than that, but Lelo must have worked on their charging systems.

Mona 2 looks different from Mona in a way that I can’t quite put my finger on, even when I’m holding them both. It’s definitely stronger, too. Someone said this wasn’t the case. I won’t name names, but that person is a dolt.

 

 

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