Posted by Lilly | 10 Comments

Lelo’s Smart Wands – A comparative review

This year, Lelo decided to tackle the vibrator they’ve left untouched thus far: The “wand” vibrator or “body massager”. Up until now, the only wand massager that looked half decent was the Vibratex Mystic Wands. Everything else, such as the Hitachi Magic Wand, the Acuvibe, or even the Fairy Massagers, looked cumbersome, cheap, clinical or just plain ugly. But the Lelo Smart Wands are pretty, I’ll give them that. Actually the first word that pops into my head is “posh”.

  

Of course, posh looks come with a posh price tag. Currently the non-sale price at EdenFantasys is $129 for the Medium Smart Wand and $169 for the Large Smart Wand. That is a lot of money to spend for most people and if they’re going to spend it, it had better be worth it.

What do you get for the price? Looks and the Lelo name, primarily. Plus a fairly intelligent design. Many wand vibrators have a long, straight handle. This isn’t ideal for using them as a back & body massager OR a vibrator. The handle of the Smart Wand is gently curved. And other than the metallic-painted plastic portion, the rest of the Smart Wand is covered in Lelo’s signature silicone skin. This is where they used their brains in design: There are no ridges on the head like the Acuvibe, Fairy Wand or Mystic Wands. There is no horrible texture like the Hitachi Magic Wand. And the neck is also completely covered by this smooth, silicone skin. It makes it really easy to clean. The Smart Wands are also pretty quiet for a wand massager. There is no high-pitched heard-through-walls whine of the Hitachi Magic Wand, and unlike the Mystic Wand Rechargeable, the buttons are silent when pressed.

Unlike many other wand vibrators, the Smart Wands are both waterproof. I’ve seen countless reviews talking about how they doubt the veracity of the waterproof claim simply because the charging port is large and uncovered. Why on earth would you doubt this?? Lelo is a major company, they would be stupid to tell you the vibrator is waterproof if it is not. If Lelo says it is, then it is, and you should feel free to take this thing into the shower if that’s what you enjoy.

The Large is quite large – about 14 ounces and 12″ long overall. The Medium is drastically smaller, measuring at 8″ in length and not quite 6 ounces in weight.

Lelo’s New Sensetouch Technology

Like all Lelo sex toys, the Smart Wands are of course rechargeable but that isn’t what sets them apart. Lelo’s “Sensetouch Technology” is a unique feature. Unfortunately, it’s not a feature that I personally think has a value. The Sensetouch sensors allow the vibration strength to gradually build as soon as the head of the wand comes in contact with your body. Sounds pretty neat, right? Meh. The build-up is pretty quick. The wand sits there idling on low speed until it sense that you’re touching it to your skin at which point it’ll quickly speed up to high – unless you then alter the speed or even pattern. It won’t ramp up in speed if it comes into contact with say, your bedspread. When you lift the wand away from your body, the vibrations die back down to low speed. When I first heard about this technology I had assumed that the vibration speed would increase or decrease depending on how hard you pressed it to your skin. That isn’t the case. The Sensetouch feature is something that you’re going to have to really think about to determine if it’s a necessary feature for your lifestyle.

In addition to this weird SenseTouch feature, the Wands also have the standard Lelo settings – 8 pattern settings, including steady vibrations, and I think 6 power settings. And of course the always-present Lelo feature: Button Lock. I don’t know of any other rechargeable wand massagers that have that feature.

Smart Wands….Vibrators or Body Massagers?

Lelo’s packaging firmly markets the Smart Wands as a body massager. The new white packaging also denotes that this is from their “Health” line rather than the black packaging of the “Pleasure” lines. As a body massager though, the Smart Wand Medium is pretty underwhelming. As an external vibrator it’s also somewhat underwhelming. It’s not buzzy, it’s not exactly weak but it’s no powerhouse. In fact the Smart Wand Medium is about equal in vibration intensity to the Lelo Mona. Medium is a lot smaller than the Large and would certainly be more “travel friendly”, but again as a body massager it really didn’t do anything for me. There’s a reason that some women flock to the drugstore electric body massagers – they are intensely powerful, meant to replace strong, powerful hands in a simulated deep-tissue massage. So people familiar with what a wand vibrator represents would assume then that Lelo is bringing the power. They’d be wrong……

….Until you get to the Smart Wand Large. In size, it’s pretty comparable to the Hitachi Magic Wand. In fact the head is so similarly sized that the Large Smart Wand can accommodate any attachment meant for the Hitachi. I’ll get to this gem in a few. Both the Smart Wand Medium and Smart Wand Large can be considered “rumbly” but the Smart Wand Land is very, very rumbly. Rumbly here translates to a very low RPM. In fact, it’s so low, and so quiet, that veteran sex toy owners might at first mistake this low, quiet sound with the sound of a dying vibrator. I did at first. Lelo won’t tell me what the RPMs are for the Smart Wand Large, but I would hazard a guess that it’s among the lowest in the industry. When properly equipped, the Large version gives the Wahl 2-speed on high quite the competition – it’s got the somewhat-jack-hammering quality without the “too much” quality of the Wahl¹. It is not as powerful at the Wahl 2-speed on High, and not quite as rumbly (that would be nearly impossible to replicate) but it’s really pleasurable for those that absolutely hate surface-buzzy vibrators.

The downside to all this power in the Smart Wand Large is that the handle vibrates with an alarming intensity. The trick though is to hold this thing right in the middle of the handle, the thinnest part of it. For some reason the residual vibrations are the weakest there and won’t cause you much hand/arm problems with longer-use sessions. The handle of the Smart Wand Medium has some residual vibrations, but no more than your average vibrator. If you have to hold the Large by the very end of the handle though you will feel numbness and irritating vibrations after 5 minutes of use.

As a body massager, the Lelo Smart Wand Large is fairly decent. Meaning, I’ve had better but it does have it’s pros and cons. One good point is that unlike many other rechargeable wand vibrators, there is no discernible loss of power when you apply pressure to the vibrating head. I’ve also had this thing last me quite awhile on a single charge. At least 5 masturbation sessions.  The Smart Wand Medium as I’ve said is worthless as a body massager.

As a vibrator, again the Medium has no real benefits. But the Large? Oh it shines. Gloriously. With one caveat: You really must pair it with a Hitachi-attachment for the best results. I purchased (finally!) the Vixen brand Gee Whiz Hitachi Attachment. It fits the Large very well; it harnesses all the broad-range power of the large head into more concentrated power through the um…nose? dildo? What would you call that? Insertable portion? You would think that since this attachment is largely made for internal use that that’s where it would shine but it is equally, if not moreso, lovely when used as a clitoral massager via the insertable dildo portion. It also turns the Smart Wand Large into a very powerful g-spot massager – almost as breathtaking as the Vanity VR6. In fact, the Gee Whiz performs way better when used on the Smart Wand Large than the Hitachi, which is the massager it was made for! The Hitachi’s vibrations are more powerful but they have a much higher RPM than the Smart Wand, and the vibrations just don’t travel as well. The difference in power transference is huge comparing the two. If I had purchased this attachment years ago for my Hitachi, I would have been really underwhelmed. You could also try the Gee Whizzard attachment, I’m sure it would perform just as well. I don’t see how there is any difference in the g-spot curve between the two, but perhaps the Gee Whizzard’s shaft, with the bumps and ridges, is more solid? I don’t know. The bumps aren’t even on the g-spot side of the shaft. It is worth mentioning that if you love the SenseTouch feature, you’ll have to give that up when you pop an attachment on.

PLEASE NOTE: For some idiotic reason, EdenFantasys has proclaimed in their attachment + massager combo deal that the Gee Whiz will fit the Smart Wand Medium. You are not even given the choice of buying the Smart Wand Large for this combo deal. This is a gigantic fail. The Medium is far, far too small for any Hitachi attachment to work.

More reasons to get the Smart Wand Large

The Large version is the first Lelo item to deviate from the standard black satin drawstring pouch. Instead, you get a reversible Neoprene pouch – the main side is black with plum stitching accents and the secondary side will match the dark purple of the vibrators. The Medium wand just comes with a standard satin drawstring pouch. The Large also comes with a bottle of Lelo’s sex toy cleaner. One thing also to note if you get the Smart Wand Large: While the male charging portion might look just like all the other Lelo chargers that are interchangeable, this one is meant solely for the Large Smart Wand – and it says so right on the charger. Since the Large has considerably more power than anything Lelo makes, I guess this makes sense.

I realize that this is a really pricey endeavor, especially if you take my advice (oh you won’t be disappointed) and get the Gee Whiz attachment, but I’d highly recommend the Lelo Smart Wand Large. Highly. Again, this high recommendation comes on the condition that you use the attachment. Just watch for sales. As of this writing there is a sale and you would get 30% off of your order; EdenFantasys has sales frequently, especially around holidays for site-wide sales like this. At 30% off, you can grab this duo for $160,  and you’ll get free shipping!

Read More

All text and images on this site require permission before they can be used anywhere. To obtain permission click here to contact me

Posted by Lilly | 2 Comments

FixSation Couples Vibe – Not for Fat Chicks!

Whenever I see a product, especially a sex toy, that is marketed as the be-all end-all perfect-for-all product….I get skeptical. And then I aim to prove it wrong. I’m happy to be the one proven wrong, lest this be misunderstood as a mission where I will not accept my own “failure” to spot a crappy product. I think you all know better than that, but I also think there might be a reader or two who won’t understand unless it’s spelled out. As much as I love to tell you about awesome sex toys I also love to tell you which ones to avoid.
Update: Fixsation owner tried to leave a “redeeming” comment for the product, shaming me and pretending to be a customer. Professional, eh?

When I first saw the Fixsation I thought “Oh great…another wearable vibe for skinny hetero chicks”. Then I was told that no, no! it comes in various sizes! yay. Unlike the atrocity that was the Venus Penis which had no hope of fitting any woman above a size 12, the Fixsation comes in various sizes. The XXL  claims to fit sizes 18-20. That is as big as it goes, however. My pants are closer to a 20 right now because I carry a lot of my weigh in that ring area right below the belly button – my hips, my ass, my belly. Going by the drawings of the Fixsation, I figured I would not be able to wear this at all. I was mostly right. Anyone larger than me would not have a prayer.

Photo courtesy of EdenFantasys

Fixsation is labeled as a “couple’s vibe and panty”, and that is my first bone to pick. A strip of lace does not a panty make. At best it’s a garter belt. Sort of. I suppose this is a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things to come, though.

The Fixsation is “assembly required”. I always appreciate when my rechargeable vibe is already charged up when it arrives at my doorstep, because I’m impatient when it comes to trying out new toys. The vibrator portion of the Fixsation did arrive charged….so at least I was able to immediately tell that that portion was a complete fail for me, but the “panty” portion required assembly. It seems simple enough – there is a silly band of lace and 2 small bra-strap-ish straps that clip on to the lace and eventually run through holes in the vibe to achieve the hands-free feature.

Assembly took me 10 minutes and I nearly launched it across the room twice. I had to get out the tweezers to finish the job. Since part of this sex toy is fabric and it will get dirty, you will need to handwash it…which means you will need to take the vibrator off. And then re-assemble it. My tip, if you should purchase this, is to assemble it well before sex otherwise you will be too irritated to even have sex. Once I had both straps threaded through the side holes it was time to put it on. You step into it like a panty…..just be sure you don’t get things tangled up before you step in. Pulling the lace bit up proved my point that this design is just not meant for fat girls. I had to pull it all the way up over my hips to rest at my belly-button-centered waist area and this was a very tight fit. Someone built differently might have better luck letting this rest on the hips. I then had to adjust the vibe so that it was sitting more or less over the area where my clitoris was….somewhere. Here’s where the failure was the greatest.

I have very full outer labia and mons. It’s kinda natural given my size but I think I’ve always been like this even when I was thinner. When I spread my legs, I still have to part my labia to access my clit. If that describes you at all, then the Fixsation will not work. You pretty much have to look like this Wikipedia photo, with minimal labia and a prominent clitoris. What happens if you should try to spread your labia around the vibrator so that the vibrator will actually be vibrating your clitoris and not your labia?

Pain. Pinching. Pain. Even if you like pain with your sex, this is not the purpose of the sex toy. The sides of the vibrator are a bit sharp-feeling to fleshy flesh since it is made of hard plastic. God forbid you should have pubic hair, because it will get caught up in the sides. This can happen to either one of you, by the way. Imagine a more-painful but less-complicated entanglement similar to braces locking together when kissing. A pubic hair or two yanked out at the root doesn’t exactly keep the mood alive.

Photo courtesy of EdenFantasys

Fixsation is meant for the missionary position sex¹ and is advertised solely to hetero couples. I can understand their motive for the audience thing, even though I don’t exactly like it. This toy could work for lesbian couples…perhaps. But to design something just for the missionary position? Fixsation is meant to work with the pressure applied by your partner’s pubic bone. It’s been a long time since I first side-eyed this sex toy but I once ran across something that seriously irked me; I believe it was on the Fixsation website but I cannot find it anymore so I cannot be sure of where I read this but I remember this specifically: It was said that the Fixsation was never intended to be a powerhouse, because the point was to “help” bring her to orgasm at the same time as her partner². It was purposely designed so that she did not climax from clitoral stimulation alone before her partner. *blinks* I have lots of feelings on that, and none of them are good. Be that as it may, you’ve likely guessed by now that the Fixsation is mediocre at best in the vibrations department. It is pretty buzzy. It has a little more power than the original Lelo Tiani, but not as much as the Tiani 2 or the We-Vibe 3.

Speaking of, since this is touted as a “couple’s sex toy”, let’s discuss how it compares to the Lelo Tiani or the We-Vibe, two other hetero-centered PIV sex toys. Both the Tiani and We Vibe work by inserting part of the toy inside the vagina. If your partner is bigger than average or you do not like anything bigger, then you’d want the Tiani over the WeVibe. But the Fixsation proudly proclaims that it is “non-invasive” which could be a plus for some women. There is no remote with the Fixsation, the button is located on the vibrator. You have to press and hold for about 5 seconds to begin vibrations. One of the reasons I prefer the We-Vibe 3 over the We-Vibe 2 is the remote: it’s awkward and not easy to fumble around a slippery vibrator with slick fingers in the middle of sex to change a vibration speed or turn it off. So the boast of “no remotes needed” for the Fixsation is not a plus in my book.

Moving along….the Fixsation is indeed quiet. Users who are in need of something quiet will find that in this toy. It is made from body-safe materials (plastic). It is water-resistant but not waterproof: Ok for squirters but not ok to wash along with the “panty”³. It is rechargeable, has various speeds of yawn, is fairly small, travel-friendly and “non-threatening” if you happen to have a male partner who is so insecure as to be intimidated by sex toys.

Fixsation would work best for:

• Those who are a size 14 or under, despite the sizing of the XXL version
• Women who do not carry much weight in their belly
• Women whose labia are small and whose clitoris is easily accessed and visible
• Those who do not require much assistance from vibration to help with climax
• Those who prefer the missionary position
• Heterosexual couples, however it could work for same-sex couples if the giving partner’s harness isn’t too bulky
• Solo use if you truly hate holding two sex toys and fit the above descriptions
• Those with cropped or shaved pubic hair

Please note that these aren’t “or” statements, they pretty much all go together and you have to fit most of them. I do not.

I really, really dislike the Fixsation. In fact, I don’t think I’d ever recommend it. There are many flaws, a lot of which are never mentioned in some other reviews. This is another reason why I wanted to get it – if you’re thinking of dropping $100 on a sex toy, you should be fully informed. I am a bit irked that I paid 2/3 the retail for this sex toy because in a way it feels like a gigantic waste of money, but at least I was able to use EdenPoints to cover the rest of the balance after doing a buy-out assignment. I knew though, when I bought it, that it wouldn’t work for me so it’s not like I was disappointed and didn’t have my own gut instinct as fair warning. I specifically wanted to review this item though for a retailer, and at that, one who doesn’t mind a negative review. If I had had to hold my tongue after experiencing this awful sex toy I’d have been mighty pissed.

While I have indeed often wished for a sex toy similar to the Fixsation for use during missionary-position sex, Fixsation falls so short of the mark it’s not even funny. Because we’ve yet to find a sex toy that doesn’t get in the way during sex, he usually gets me off before PIV sex. Our favorite way is his hand plus my We-Vibe Salsa, resulting in an explosive orgasm that he was very much a part of, and it leads to a deliciously sensitive g-spot and therefore extremely pleasurable sex for us. That is what works for us. His cock is too long for me to enjoy rear-entry positions usually, or I’d be using a position pillow like the Liberator Wing, Axis Hitachi, Pulse or BonBon to hold the vibrator in place for me.

Since the Fixsation is technically in the strap-on vibrator category while still being a hetero-couple’s vibrator for use during sex, it’s a little difficult to recommend something else. Of course the Lelo Tiani 2 and the We-Vibe 3 are very decent for Hetero-PIV sex, I can understand that they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. They’re not strong enough for me, personally. The Tiani is pretty darn unobtrusive vaginally, while the WeVibe 3 is quite a bit more noticeable. I would not likely recommend anything from the strap-on vibrators section that looks like a butterfly/bee/whatever. However, this pair of vibrating crotchless panties could work if you replaced the bullet with the WeVibe Salsa….except that it’s “one size fits 45% of users”, so not plus size friendly. The Black Rose Vibrating Panties are very femme and pretty and very adjustable but you’d need to do some cutting and sewing to change them into crotchless panties for sex. Again, I’d also recommend pairing it with the WeVibe Salsa or Tango for a huge upgrade to the vibrator.

ETA: I’ve already heard some pretty negative things about the inventor, Tiffany York, so as soon as I got the comment below I just knew it was her. She must think I’m pretty damn dumb, she used the same email address that is associated with the Fixsation domain! YES, pretending to be a satisfied customer and getting snotty in your comment will TOTALLY discredit my negative review in the eyes of all who shall pass here and doesn’t look suspicious AT ALL. Yup. Yes indeedy. Sorry Tiff, not born yesterday:

Read More

All text and images on this site require permission before they can be used anywhere. To obtain permission click here to contact me

Posted by Lilly | 3 Comments

Lelo Tiani 2: Design Edition

Lelo is a company that changes their sex toys based on consumer feedback. Many have been changed. The Ina‘s clitoral arm was made less pinchy. The Mia was made more powerful and rumbly. So this review is a comparison review of the original Tiani vs the Tiani 2. If you’ve never read my opinions on the original Tiani, you might want to jump over to that review. Likewise if you’ve never heard much about SenseMotion or the Tiani before, you should start with my original review. This review will not be detailing the minute details and basics of how it works, packaging, etc. That’s all been done.

As I said, based on feedback from customers and reviewers, Lelo made changes to their SenseMotion line. All items in the SenseMotion line and just about every aspect of them has been revised – from the remote to the vibrations. But the real question is – do these updates and revamps make the Tiani 2 worth purchasing? As told by Lelo, the changes made to the Tiani are:

1. Enhanced Motor: Quieter, and 50% more power than the original line
2. Intelligent Memory Chip: No interruption of vibration if the remote and vibrator lose connection
3. 3X Greater Wireless Range: Signal travels up to 48 feet with less interferrance from other wireless devices
4. Enjoy with or without a Remote: Power on the vibrator and cycle through 6 modes without the remote
5. Two Wearable Attachment Options: Classic looks the same as before; Contoured has a fuller flare for g-spot stimulation and a concave arm design

Lelo Tiani 2′s Enhanced Motor

From what I can see, the Tiani 2 itself is not any quieter, but it didn’t really need to be. What is quieter is the remote. It’s a noticeable difference, and a good change. The 50% power increase is not only correct, it’s selling itself short. Frankly I’d say that the Tiani 2 is three times more powerful than my original Tiani. The original was so surface-buzzy and weak that I could barely even feel the so-called vibrations. The Tiani 2 is an improvement with more rumbly vibrations that are more powerful. They feel pretty identical to the updated Mia. However…..while the vibrations are improved in both intensity and type, it’s still not powerful enough to me. When you make a vibrator with variable speeds, it stands to reason that you should make the top speed a little more powerful than what half of the women would prefer – this will appeal to a greater audience. Those who require something extra are satisfied while those who are more sensitive can keep it on a lower setting.

The vibrations are, however, not at all irritatingly buzzy. They are substantial enough to be felt. I can imagine that this would provide a great public tease, but perhaps is not enough power for many women to orgasm with it alone. The vibrations are without a doubt much more pleasant and powerful than the overhyped Fixsation; it is also more powerful than the We-vibe 1 or 2. At the moment I’m going strictly from memory¹ but I feel pretty safe in saying that the Tiani 2′s vibration intensity is just about equal to the We-Vibe 3.

Intelligent Memory Chip / 3X Greater Wireless Range

The very first run of SenseMotion remotes absolutely sucked. If you were in any position other than legs splayed wide, the remote would lose connection and the Tiani would quit vibrating. It wouldn’t transmit through flesh. Then I found out that Lelo had fixed the remotes but were not exactly making it public knowledge. If asked, they would replace your remote for free though. The new remote was indeed much better with transmission; I was able to put my pants on and be 2 rooms away with it still vibrating. With the new & improved SenseMotion, the range is much farther (up to 48 feet) and best of all – if you do lose signal, the vibrations won’t die out. I tried to test this but so far have been unable to lose signal! Basically though if you do lose signal, it will simply revert back to straight vibrations. When the signal can be picked up again it does this automatically; you don’t have to do anything. I gave up reviewing wireless remote control vibrators because inevitably the remotes lacked something; range, ability to tell the remote holder what is going on, etc. This new SenseMotion remote does answer all of those problems.

No Remote Required!

One thing that the original Tiani failed on in comparison to the We-Vibe 3 was that the We-Vibe 3‘s remote wasn’t necessary, it was simply an enhancement. While the remote is still necessary for SenseMotion type play, you can use it without the remote. This is especially handy when you just want to use it during sex and you don’t want a remote buzzing away on the headboard. It’s also handy for those times when you run out of AAA batteries. The little invisible button on the top of the clitoral arm is where you turn it on and then can change settings. The location of this button is an improvement over any of the We Vibes whose button was located on the very tip of the clitoral arm, making it difficult to access when in use.

The way the remote and SenseMotion works is identical to the original Tiani. If you need a refresher on this or somehow have never heard about the Lelo SensMotion line, I will direct you to my original review of the Lelo Tiani, rather than spend 4 paragraphs here re-telling the details of exactly how it works.

Tiani Now Has Two Wearable Attachments

A complaint of the original Tiani was that the internal arm didn’t provide any g-spot stimulation. Since the design of the Tiani is so similar to the We-Vibe, people expect a little more action from that internal arm other than to just hold it in place. With the Tiani 2 Design Edition² they’ve given you a choice of two internal arms. The new design is supposed to provide g-spot stimulation. This is where I have to criticize. While many users of the We-Vibe thought that the internal arm was *too* bulky, I think that the internal arm of the Tiani is not enough. This new flared end is a little bit thicker, yes. But the design will not work for everybody. Your g-spot would have to line up exactly with this spot and mine does not.

They also have changed the silicone of the arm, ever so slightly. With my first Tiani I’d complained that the arm was a little too floppy and that it provided no pressure to the clitoral portion. The new Tiani 2 is even more pliable. The silicone is a little more squishy and the thinner portion at the middle of the c-shape is very flexible and pliable.

The upside though to including both internal arm designs is that it will appeal to a larger variety of women. The design differences are not huge but it’s enough that some women will drastically prefer one style over another.

What Else Has Changed?

Another complaint I had with the original Tiani was when you screwed the internal arm on, the threads wanted you to turn it a quarter-turn more for a more secure seal, but the design clearly did not agree with this. This has been fixed, mostly. The two halves are together a little better. While the threads still want to keep going, it’s not as much as the original. You wouldn’t think this a problem, but with the original I would get lube and fluids inside. I’d clean the outside, thinking that was good enough only to unscrew it another day for recharging to find it covered in gunk. Nice, eh? A little bit still gets in, but as you’ll see in the photos, it’s not nearly as bad.

As I said, the remote and SenseMotion functions are identical from the original (except that the vibrations of the remote are quieter). You still need that plastic key to get the remote back off. Many people had no issues getting the remote back off without the use of the included tool; these people proclaimed people like me to be whiners and complainers. Now, perhaps I lack finesse or strength in my hand. Perhaps you don’t. Perhaps I happen to have a remote that is more cantankerous than yours. But I have even more trouble than before getting the remote battery cover off. It will be really hard to see in the photos, but I already chipped off metallic paint (and a teeny sliver of plastic) trying to get mine open with the key. Your mileage may vary.

Changes I wish they’d made but didn’t: I hate that faux-metal band. It’s part of the design, I know, but I hate it. It’s hard to keep clean and the line between plastic and silicone can get gunked up. I wish that the remote were rechargeable. I wish the remote was smaller. These are minor gripes, and fixing them (along with the vibration intensity) would only serve to make the Tiani 2 practically faultless. As it is, it’s now a vibrator I will recommend for those seeking a wireless remote control vibrator.

So…What’s the Verdict?

The Tiani 2 will be priced the same as the original Tiani was: $159. The Tiani original is now reduced. EdenFantasys is selling it for $124 on sale. Frankly I don’t see why you’d want to purchase the original Tiani. The Tiani 2 is really that much of an improvement. I recognize, though, that this sex toy isn’t for everyone. For me it would only serve as a teasing toy out in public; it doesn’t enhance sex for me and it is not strong enough to bring on a clitoral orgasm. The We-Vibe 3 is about $20 cheaper, but that $20 is all in the remote. If you really enjoy patterns and pulsation functions, and if you don’t require the power of the Web-Vibe Salsa³ then I can actually recommend this. That’s really saying something, because I would not have recommended the original Tiani to anyone. Lelo has definitely worked out all the kinks in the SenseMotion remote; it’s actually fun now!

 

Thanks to Lelo for letting me review the new & improved Tiani 2, and proving that they do listen to us!

Read More

All text and images on this site require permission before they can be used anywhere. To obtain permission click here to contact me

Posted by Lilly | 3 Comments

I Don’t Hate the Picobong Moka

First, a little background on why me NOT hating the Picobong Moka is such a shocker

There are a lot of things I disliked about Picobong from the get go. The stupid name that reminds me of something childish; the beachy-fun website with their Hawaiian-like names; the toy designs that left a lot to be desired; and most of all their inability to call things what they are – they cutesy shit up with “C-spot” like we didn’t have enough of that with the oft-used “P-spot” – it’s not a fucking spot it’s a goddamn CLITORIS. The G-spot is the only genital bit allowed to be called a “spot”. Their first run included things like the Honi (a bullet intended for vaginal insertion, but the buttons were inside of you), the Tano (vibrating butt plug where again…the buttons are inside of you AND the seam scrapes your ass), and the Mahana (c-shape for dual stimulation, but rigid design makes it difficult to use).

Despite knowing I would hate it, I willingly reviewed the Honi. The packaging sucked and was ruined by the time it arrived on my doorstep; they included a very baffling 6-sided die with shapes of their sex toys instead of numbers making it nearly as useless as the faux-gold-plated Insignia brooch. I reviewed it because I kept seeing positive reviews on it and I KNEW that it had to be bullshit. I was right. It was buzzy and irritating and weak.

PicoBong Moka is Lelo Gigi’s College Cousin; The adult Skipper-to-their-Barbie, if you will

When I heard that Picobong had a new line coming out, I was unimpressed. Many of us were¹. Yet when I saw that the Moka looked a hell of a lot like Gigi at nearly half the price, I just had to review it. HAD TO. I figured I’d be able to compare and contrast with the Gigi until a fruitless search for days finally revealed that I no longer have the Gigi; I swapped it out to someone ages ago. Oops. No worries though, my friend Laura who runs a great Milwaukee sex toy store called The Tool Shed was kind enough to do a quick comparison for me and even snapped a photo of the Moka and Gigi side by side.

I read over my very old review of the Gigi and recalled why I didn’t quite love it, despite the fact that many, many women love theirs. I had 3 issues with Gigi:

1. It’s short. Too short for me. And that’s not because my g-spot is buried in the deep depths of my cavernous vagina, it is because I have big tits, a belly and short arms. The Pure Wand still remains my g-spot’s best friend in part due to the length and the extreme curve.
2. The location of the buttons was exactly where I’d rest my thumb as I held it during use.
3. The vibrations were decent and serviceable but not strong enough to matter to my g-spot.

The Picobong Moka fixes those first two complaints. According to Laura, the vibration strength and type is pretty much the same between Moka and Gigi. Moka is a little over an inch longer and the head and shaft are also just slightly bigger. Picobong’s bad habit of putting the buttons on the side of their toys proved useless for their little insertable jobs but on the Moka it’s kinda genius. There is no position in which I’d hold this and accidentally hit a button².

I know that a lot of sex toy users are reluctant to drop $100 or more on a vibrator. I would be, too. And while I think that the Moka is still a wee bit overpriced and I think it shouldn’t cost a penny over $50, it’s still a very good option for those on a bit of a budget. You’ll get the sorta-rumbly and moderately decent vibrations of the Gigi, the curved shaft and wide, flat head of the Gigi with a little much-needed length and improved button placement. Style-wise it’s more South Beach Party Girl than Southern Belle Sorority Girl (which Gigi so clearly is). And of course you’ll need batteries (2AAA) rather than the supposedly green aspect of a rechargeable sex toy but for many people those can also be positive aspects. So long as you always make sure you have a spare pack of batteries on hand (and really, what seasoned sex toy owner doesn’t?) then you’ll never be at the mercy of waiting on a recharge.

Oh, PicoBong. Is there really a ditzy California surf bum on your staff or do you make this shit up?

Like the Honi, the packaging is utter shit. The box is made of the most flimsy cardboard ever and you will not be able to use it for storage. There’s no bizarre dice included with the recent line of Picobong toys.

No, instead they’ve changed up the cap so that it has a slightly ridged texture and at the tip of the cap is a hole….for…a lanyard?? WTF? Am I supposed to wear my 8 inch vibe around my neck like the even-more-perverted-and-white version of Flava Flav?

   
Wait, no, I think there’s something else in this mangled box…. OH YES. It’s…..? Yet again, Picobong owners are forced to go to the site en mass to query “WTFISTHIS”. It’s a cute dangle! “Perfect for your phone, keychain, or whatever clever accessory option you come up with, our PicoBong dangles are a just-for-fun addition to your PicoBong experience.” IT’S SO FUN. I DON’T KNOW HOW I HAD FUN BEFORE THIS.

Picobong toys are covered in a silicone skin just like Lelo toys are, except with Picobong there’s more silicone and less plastic³. Then again, the silicone skin is merely covering up a hard plastic vibrator. And really, it’s the same for all Lelo toys. There is no plushness, no give – the entire toy is hard and rigid. So why are we even bothering with the silicone skin? Please, enlighten me. If you wanna get technical, ABS plastic is a hard material and therefore should be less porous than the so-almost-non-porous silicone. Yes, silicone is very, very slightly porous. And since these are vibrators, you can’t boil them anyways. The silky touch to the silicone skin feels like many matte-finish ABS plastic toys, anyways. Go ahead. Pet the handle of your Mystic Wand and then your Lelo/Picobong toy. See what I mean? And in the case of many Lelo toys, a lot of gunk can get caught in the demarcation line between the silicone skin and the plastic handle. So why bother with the silicone skin??

So, no – I don’t hate the PicoBong Moka. This halfhearted endorsement is, however, not to be confused with an endorsement of the rest of the PicoBong line. But if you’re looking for a quality g-spot vibrator like the Gigi without the luxury pricetag, I will fully recommend the Moka. Because like the Gigi, that wide, flat tip is also pretty great for external use as well. With vibrations identical to the Lelo Mona and Gigi, just as quiet as them too, and a lower price tag it’s really not a bad deal. You’ll get the standard Lelo warranty, as well: 1 year warranty, 10 year “quality guarantee”.

 

The PicoBong Moka is a silicone sex toy with plastic parts and is considered very safe on the material safety scale. As it is a vibrator, you should use only the wipe down method for cleaning. This sex toy was provided to me at a discount for my review, not that that changes the content of my review any.

 

Read More

All text and images on this site require permission before they can be used anywhere. To obtain permission click here to contact me

Posted by Lilly | 0 Comments

Support Team Tantus’s Good Clean Fundraiser

“Cancer touches us all. At Tantus, over half the staff has had personal experience with cancer, either as a survivor, or having watched as a loved one is treated. It is for this reason that Team Tantus participates in Relay for Life. For 2012, we’ve created this dual-color limited edition toy – the Panacea Vibrator. Named for the Greek goddess of “universal remedy”, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the Panacea will go to the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life. The Panacea is available in a dual-tone Pearl White and Purple Haze color. The manufacturing process used means that no two toys are exactly alike. The Panacea is available only from www.tantusinc.com.

Help us reach our goal. Order a limited edition Panacea Vibrator, and let your playtime serve a purpose!”

 

Now, how can you say no to that??? Panacea is the Goddess Vibrator done in dual-tone, basically. One of the great things about the vibrators from Tantus is that the removable bullet comes out leaving you with a hole that can be filled by their Suction Cup accessory. There are very few silicone suction-cup dildos on the market and this accessory is awesome.

The Panacea Vibrator has a diameter of 1.55″ and is  6.25″long. It is selling for $59.99 and is available ONLY at Tantus.com.

Read More

All text and images on this site require permission before they can be used anywhere. To obtain permission click here to contact me