Five months ago, back in May, I had the fortune of stumbling across some Fleshjack dildos on sale for a ridiculously low price, and such is my love for all things Fleshjack I couldn't resist picking up the Kris Evans and Cody Cummings dildos for only £30 for the pair.

Since then I've largely put off reviewing them as I find that unfortunately it all starts to sound the same whenever I talk about one, but as it happened this afternoon I saw a few photos of Kris Evans on Tumblr and had a sudden hankering to whip out his dildo, and I thought if I'm going to use it I might as well review it!

I have to admit that originally the Kris Evans wasn't on my list of dildos that I desired. He's not a porn performer that I'm especially into, and there are a few oddities about the dildo that I found slightly off-putting, but that said I couldn't be more pleased to have it in my collection now.

The dildo is precisely what you'd expect if you've ever experienced one from Fleshjack before; an incredibly detailed and realistic replica of a penis. It's the most like-life facsimile of a body part you could imagine, and the closest you're going to be able to get to exploring Kris Evans' manhood in all it's three-dimensional glory. No matter how you choose to survey it, by eye, by touch, by mouth, in terms of pure visual authenticity nothing comes close to what Fleshjack do, and they really are the best on the market. That's not all, however, because they do a credible job of making sure they feel real too.

Starting right down at the base of the dildo the Kris Evans has possibly the perfect pair of balls. If you've ever seen him in porn then typically they're hanging low and swinging pendulously as they slap into the backside of his scene partner, but here they're tight and tucked up below the thick shaft, looking in perfect proportion. They're big, full, round, equally sized, perfectly symmetrical, separated by a pronounced raphe running the length of the scrotum, and beautifully textured with little bumps and creases. It's not really an area of a dildo of great importance, or deserving of much attention, but somehow they stand out through their uniformity, and they also make for a nice sturdy footing when standing the dildo up anywhere.

The shaft of the dildo sprouts out of the balls revealing its impressive girth, enticing you to wrap a hand around it and give it a squeeze. It's only 5 5/8" in circumference, which doesn't seem like an awful lot compared to the Dolph Lambert which is pushing 6", but nevertheless it feels thick between your fingers and palm. It's a beautiful straight shaft pointing up towards the sky, covered in a smooth skin where you can faintly make out the grain. There's plenty of other rich detailing to catch your eye too; a few surface capillaries appear throughout the skin, while the larger veins meander up either side of the dildo before wrapping around underneath and converging towards the frenulum. Toward the top of the shaft there's a ridge of bunched up skin where the retracted foreskin lies loosely 3/8" behind the head, and this continues around to form a pronounced frenulum which attaches to the base of the glans.

The head is probably my least favourite part of the dildo. The shape of it is mostly fine, though it is perhaps a little narrow and could be plumper, but what I really dislike is the texture. To me the glans of a penis should be perfectly smooth and shiny, that's what looks healthy and attractive, but the head of the Kris Evans dildo is covered completely in little bumps. To start with I thought I'd find this really unappealing, but it's actually tolerable in person while still not ideal. It's mostly a visual issue, because while it may not look that aesthetically pleasing it's not a great bother to the touch, or even if you're inclined to put it into your mouth. Aside from the textured surface the only other point of detail on the head is the opening of the urinary meatus, which is rather small and shallow, and not especially noticeable.

The dildo is made from Fleshjack's own formula of platinum silicone, which is one of the safest and most hygienic sex toy materials on the market. It's a reasonably soft type of silicone, with a nice amount of squish and flexibility to it, similar to that of the Tantus Pack 'n' Play, but a little firmer. I am particularly fond of this material, though it would enhance the realism if it were slightly on the softer side, especially when it comes to squeezing the head.

In terms of use it really is a fantastic dildo and gives a great experience of what it must feel like to be with Kris Evans. The dildo is 7 1/2" long in total, with just over 6" that is useable, so it's possible to get the entire thing in and sit on it without much struggle. Because the head isn't too big or bulbous it slips in pretty easily, and the softness of the silicone ensures a comfortable entry. As you slide down the shaft you don't really feel much of a bump from either the coronal ridge or the fold of foreskin below it, but the girth of the dildo is pleasantly filling, especially the further along you get. As the dildo is highly detailed this translates to texture in the surface, and it can feel a little rough if you use insufficient lube or something too thin. With plenty of thick anal lube it's not a problem at all, and the texture just provides a nice bit of added sensation against the sphincter. While the dildo doesn't really have any curve to it as such, the slight lean of the head is enough to alter how it feels depending on orientation, and my personal preference is to have it with the balls facing forward so that the tilt of the head follows the natural curve of the rectum. If you're thrusting by hand then the balls make a great chunky handle to grip, but if you prefer to ride it then they perform even better as a stabilising base, so you needn't worry too much about it toppling over. Once you get a good rhythmic thrusting going then it really feels great; you can feel the flexible shaft bending around inside you, and something about the shape of it allows it to really penetrate deep into you without discomfort. There's definitely a psychological element to it, knowing whose penis it is and what it's doing to you as you really thrust long, hard, and deep. On a purely physical note though it really does a number on the prostate, and that thick filling shaft rubs up against it intensely with each thrust. The central column which protrudes from the underside of the shaft seems to contribute to the overall effectiveness of the dildo, as there's an added sensation to be felt beyond that which is usually apparent. In a way I find it quite an addictive toy, as once you get going with it you only want to continue, perpetually generating more of those wonderful prostate sensations.

The dildo comes in Fleshjack's standard cardboard box packaging which I've spoken of a million times. It's great display packaging, but it's too large for practical home storage, though the photos on the exterior do make you somewhat reluctant to toss it out immediately.

So, the Kris Evans dildo, what's the verdict? It has to be one that I'd recommend. Everything that Fleshjack have put into this dildo is to be commended, from the materials to the quality of construction, but the real praise must go to nature for bestowing Kris Evans with this wonderfully shaped dick. Sure it may not have the prettiest head, but everything else is picture perfect, and all that I've experienced from using it makes me understand why his scene partners always seem to have such a happy look on their faces. It's definitely one to buy.

The Kris Evans Dildo is available from Esmale where you can get an extra 10% off when you use the code 'INCEND10' at the checkout.

Alternatively you can buy it directly from Fleshjack.

This week I have a brand new sponsor, the lovely folks at Meo.de - your premiere source of sex toys in Germany - and they've kindly sent me a couple of things to review for them. The first up is the Shaft dildo from Keep Burning, a brand I've been impressed by in the past, so let's see if this one lives up to its reputation.

The Shaft dildo is a bit of a departure for me from the type of dildo I normally go for as it's all about the length, but much less so the girth. That's one of the things that actually drew me to it in my quest for variety, and it's quite a lovely dildo to behold as it stands towering above all others in the vicinity, holding its head aloft seemingly craning for the sky.

In terms of shape the dildo is fairly regular, beginning with a nice compact set of balls at base which act almost like a solid paperweight and stabilise the whole thing. The shaft extends vertically upwards, being both perfectly straight and uniform in size. At the top it's capped off by a nice tapered head which flares out a good way from the shaft below, giving a strongly pronounced ridge.

With regard to dimensions we're looking at a 9 1/2" total length, with 8" insertable, so whichever way you look at it that's a lot of dildo. The girth measures in at a modest 4 3/4" around the shaft, increasing to 5 1/4" right at the corona of the head, which gives some perspective on just how prominent it is.

The Shaft dildo is made from 100% platinum silicone, which is a fantastic odourless body-safe material, and one which I always recommend. The silicone is a little on the firmer side as it needs sufficient rigidity to hold its shape with such long thin shaft, but its still got enough give in it that you can easily compress the surface with a gentle squeeze. It comes in just one colour, black, and the finish on it is neither wholly matte nor wholly gloss, but rather it has this subtle "leather" texture to it which is really quite nice and precisely what you would expect from that name.

When it comes to using the dildo it's nice and easy to insert thanks to the tapered head and its narrow nature. It doesn't require a lot of force to get it inside, nor any sort of warm up toy beforehand, just a good dollop of lube and you're good to go. It passes comfortably through the sphincter, and as you slide over the coronal ridge you get that telltale "pop" sensation as the head goes fully inside. Naturally it doesn't feel that filling as it works its way further into the body, but it's still a pleasant sensation, and you can pick up on a little bit of that leather texture which adds some additional interest. One of the benefits of the dildo's shape is that it's able to go quite deep, and not just because it has the length to enable that, but because the slenderness of the shaft helps it to snake around inside the body. If like me you generally struggle with longer toys, and find that there's a point beyond which they will simply go no further, then this dildo can help to advance beyond that. Admittedly I cannot manage the whole thing, but it has made good progress beyond my usual capability which is encouraging.

Like most dildos the highlight of use comes down to the thrusting, and the prominent ridge on the head helps to deliver some enjoyable sensations. It's not the most amazing prostate toy I've experienced, but you can definitely feel that ridge hitting the right spot, and thanks to the flexibility in the slim shaft you can really bend and angle the dildo so it pulls that ridge right into the prostate on each stroke. It's not without effort, but if you get your technique right then you can really work it to its fullest potential. Because of the length of the dildo, and the hefty pair of balls at the base, it's especially suited to being ridden. When you squat over it you don't need to go down quite so low as you might with other toys, and it stays perfectly stable in the process without toppling over. You can, of course, thrust manually with it, and this works just as well, with the balls acting as a nice handle to grip onto.

It's a good little dildo for people who don't want too much girth, especially on the more beginner end of the spectrum, and also for people who are looking to experiment with a few inches beyond the norm. In this respect it's quite versatile, and throw in its ability to hit the prostate reasonably well and you have yourself a good all round dildo. I'd be quite happy to recommend it to anyone looking for a dildo that fits these specific requirements, though personally I'm still going to favour the shorter and thicker ones.

Thanks to Meo.de for sending me the Shaft dildo, and it's available to purchase from their website right now.

Happy December everyone, and this month I'm back with an all-new Fleshlight review, courtesy of the folks at Lovehoney. A few weeks ago Fleshlight unveiled their brand new product the "Quickshot" and naturally I wanted to give it a whirl, so I got in touch with my friends at Lovehoney and they kindly agreed to send me one to review. Believe it or not this is actually the first new Fleshlight mastubator I've reviewed in almost three years, since the Sword back in January 2013.

Catch the review below!

The Quickshot marks the most significant change to Fleshlight's masturbator design since the company's inception back in the 90s. It eschews the traditional large bulky case for something much more compact, and akin to some of the other "pocket pussys" you see on the market. The first time I saw it though, I couldn't help but think back to a viral video from last year where a lady by the name of "Auntie Angel" taught the world how to turn a grapefruit into a sex toy, and gave everyone watching it a good laugh in the process. I like to think of the Quickshot as the professional evolution of that concept.

The Quickshot is available in two difference versions: the Boost and the Vantage. The difference between them is largely cosmetic, with the Vantage having a clear case and a clear insert, while the Boost has a black case and a metallic-grey insert, but there's also a slight difference to the texture. One of the first things that came to my mind is how sticky the clear inserts tend to be, so the Boost seemed to be the safer option on that front, but I can confirm that this isn't actually the case. Interestingly the grey insert appears to be just a clear Superskin with a lot of tiny metallic particles mixed in with it, rather than being a proper solid colour like the traditional Fleshlight-pink, but I'll talk more about that later.

The basic design of the Quickshot looks a bit like a barrel, and with its caps on it measures 4 3/8" tall by 2 3/4" wide, making it the sort of size you can conveniently store in the top drawer of your bedside table. With an end cap removed it does look a lot like a traditional Fleshlight, only sans the anatomical orifice, so if you prefer the more discreet Flight approach then it'll appeal to you. The Quickshot does in fact have two end caps, both of which are intended to be removed during use, and the orifices are identical on each side, though this does seem a little bit like a missed opportunity to incorporate some variety. In the absence of the caps the body of the toy is reduced to essentially a band of black plastic, with the Superskin insert held inside rather like an elongated doughnut. The openings in the insert are around 3/4" of an inch in diameter, promising to be nice and snug, and this size continues through the internal canal of the toy, with the exception of the textured areas. The texture is formed by intermittent horizontal ridges laid out in groups of three, and punctuated occasionally by a shallow nub between the rows. It's something of a unique texture compared to the others that I'm familiar with, seemingly crafted especially for the Quickshot.

Using the Quickshot is very straightforward and requires no special preparation other than a bit of waterbased lube. It's worth applying a squirt of lube to the exterior of the orifice, as well as internally, just harking back to my earlier point about the material being quite sticky, as this'll aid with initial insertion. The Superskin is a wonderfully soft and stretchy material, and you can feel it expand as you enter the toy, but it still feels very snug. The thing that restricts just how much the insert can adjust to accommodate you is the diameter of the plastic band, as this is where the toy feels tightest. I'd go as far as saying that anyone with a girth above 5 1/2" should probably consider another toy, as that's about the max it can take before you find yourself getting into difficulties. There are a number of techniques you can employ to make the most of the toy's design: you can focus entirely on the head of the penis, leaving it in the toy at all times, you can employ long strokes so that the penis goes in one side and pops out the other, or you can use the toy mainly around the shaft, occasionally teasing the head. It's also very well suited as a couples toy if you wish to incorporate it with a blowjob. The texture of the Boost is fairly enjoyable during thrusting, but if I'm honest I wasn't all that blown away by it. The issue is that these little individual ridges get pushed over as soon as the penis makes contact with them, and then if you're quite girthy they just get squashed into the side of the canal. It's just not possible to feel them all that much, so while it does feel good, it feels good in the way that the smooth Fleshlight feels good, rather than in the way that the dozens of nubs inside the Flight can drive you wild. Occasionally part of one of the ridges, or one of the shallow nubs, will catch you right on the frenulum and feel extra good, but you have to play around with your technique to achieve this consistently. What is pleasant though, and a unique point for the Quickshot, is that sensation of the head emerging out of the end of the tight orifice, and then being pulled back through it in reverse. It's definitely not an imitation-sex toy, but for a masturbatory aid it's an enjoyable step up from using your hand.

In terms of prolonged use the Quickshot does have some drawbacks over the traditional Fleshlight, namely with regard to lube. Because the Quickshot isn't a closed environment, a significant area of your lube-covered penis will be exposed to the air at any time, where the moisture will rapidly evaporate. The longer you use the Quickshot the more times you'll need to reapply lube, because it does get quite stubborn when things aren't slick enough, and that tightness and the texture create a lot of friction together. It's not a huge deal, unless you're very frugal with your lube, but it can disrupt your rhythm a little, and after a number of reapplications things can start to get a little messy. The other thing to consider is that when you climax with the Quickshot you'll want a tissue handy, as it doesn't catch anything in the way that a regular Fleshlight would, but that does bring me onto my next point.

Overall the Quickshot is a nice little toy, and I love the fact that they've incorporated all the Fleshlight technology into something so convenient and much more accessibly-priced. For me it would benefit from having a slightly larger version to reduce the snugness, and I can picture some textures that I'd prefer, but these things aren't deal-breakers. If you want to upgrade your masturbation session to something beyond just your faithful hand, then the Quickshot is a great way to do that without a lot of hassle and without breaking the bank. For those reasons I'd definitely recommend it.

Thanks to Lovehoney for providing me with the Quickshot, and you can grab one now from their UK store, or their U.S. one.

Back in October I was contacted by a distribution company who work for Penomet, and they asked me if I'd be interested in doing a review for their penis pump. Considering I hadn't reviewed anything like this since the Hydromax in 2013 I decided to accept their offer, and a month later a parcel showed up at my door. After a good window of time for some thorough testing, the review is finally here. Catch it below.

The Penomet is a water-driven penis pump, almost identical in concept to the Bathmate range of products I've looked at previously. As with any penis pump it works on the principle of lowering the pressure inside a chamber surrounding the penis, in order to draw more blood into the shaft and cause it to expand beyond its typical size. The key difference between these pumps and others which have been on the market for decades, is that they involve pumping water out of the chamber rather than air.

Penis pumps have a number of different uses: to achieve a firmer and more engorged penis prior to intercourse, helping with cases of erectile dysfunction, and penis enlargement through regular use. This review will be concentrating on the first aspect.

The Penomet is around 11 1/2" long in total, with an internal diameter of 2 1/2". It's made from two parts: the upper half is a sturdy plastic cylinder (available in a choice of colours) which has the integrated valve at the top, and has gradients etched into the side in both inches and centimetres, going up to a maximum of 20cm / 8 1/2". The bottom half of pump consists of the rubber gaiter, which features a concertina design to allow it to be compressed. One of the unique things about the Penomet, compared to the Bathmate, is that the gaiter at the base is detachable and can be switched out with others in order to vary the pressure inside the tube. The Premium pack comes with five colour-coded gaiters in total, and this is the model that I was supposed to review, but unfortunately I ended up receiving the standard package instead, so while I like the concept of the interchangeable gaiters I can't actually comment as to how effective it is.

As it's a water pump it's designed with the intention of being used in the bath or shower. Like the majority of men I lean towards the speed and convenience of a quick shower, though it is a little easier to mess around with something like this during a relaxing stint in the bath. In the bath it's as simple as submerging the Penomet in water, placing it over your flaccid penis, and then beginning to pump. In the shower you need to first fill the cylinder with water from the shower head or tap, but the weight of the water will immediately open the valve at the end allowing the water to steadily trickle back out, so you need to keep it shut by placing a finger over the end. Unfortunately there's no locking mechanism to keep the valve shut, as found on the Bathmate. Once the cylinder is filled up you need to try to dangle your flaccid penis into the tube without sloshing out too much water, and then push it firmly into place against the pubis, and release your finger from the valve as you give a good initial pump to establish suction. All in all it is a little more tricky, at least until you get the knack of it.

One of the first things I discovered about the Penomet is that it hates pubic hair. It really hates pubic hair. I am a modern man so I'm not wandering about with a 1970s jungle in my Andrew Christians, but I like a neatly trimmed bush rather than the smooth look, and here is where the Penomet disagrees. As it turns out, where there is hair, there is no suction. Air bleeds into the chamber from every side, bubbling up like you were checking your bike tyres for punctures after riding through a cactus patch. I gave it a good few shots before I got annoyed, and then I gave up, and then I put it away for a few weeks. I knew I was going to have to shave everything off in order to test it properly, but I really didn't want to, and frankly I don't really feel like one should have to. I made the point of digging out my Hydromax for a quick comparison, not wanting to unfairly impugn the capabilities of the Penomet lest my bush be at fault, and as it happened the Bathmate sealed in place happily, bush and all.

With the hair gone and memories of being 12-years-old flooding back to me, I can confirm that the Penomet did finally manage to obtain suction, but it never felt all that secure to me at any point whilst I was using it. I found myself moving gingerly around the shower, because if I moved a leg too much, or angled the cylinder slightly to one side, small pockets of air would still seep in. Compare this to my experience of the Bathmate, where at one point I was walking around my house with it clamped so firmly to my crotch that I wasn't even bothering to hold onto it. I would have been afraid to let go of the Penomet for even a second. The only thing I can point to with this is the "comfort pad" that comes which the Bathmate, which is made of a much softer material than the rubber gaiter, and presumably aids in forming a tight seal.

In terms of performance I found the Penomet to be somewhat average. It fulfilled its job as a penis pump, but with varying degrees of success. I could feel the pressure, and see my penis swelling up in the chamber, but using the included measurements as a guide, when I was pumped to the maximum I saw less of an increase compared to my standard size than I did when using the Hydromax. This is only a reflection on the gaiter which comes in the standard pack though, and if you're worried about over-pumping then it might be preferable for you. The valve on the Penomet was something I had an issue with, as on 90% of the time when I used the pump air would bleed in through the top and I'd have to try to hold it to stop this from happening. I found this to be less than ideal, though to be fair I did also experience issues with a leaky valve on the first Hydromax I had. Finally, just on a general point of comfort, I did find that the rubber gaiter would dig into my pelvis during use, making me miss the aforementioned "comfort pad" on the Bathmate, and glad that the maximum recommended use time was 15 minutes.

Once you're finished with the Penomet it's very simple to flick the button at the top of the valve to release the pressure and then survey your results. After using it in a series of sessions of a couple of minutes at a time, with brief breaks in between, there was a noticeable change in my penis. It seemed more engorged, felt thicker in my hand, and had definitely responded to the actions of the pump, so in that regard the Penomet was a success.

The million dollar question though, would I recommend the Penoment? My only reaction is "ehhhhhhhh..." When it comes right down to it the thing does work, so credit where it's due, but then you can't have pubic hair, and the valve is leaky and needs special attention, and it digs into you when you're wearing it, and the seal against your body can break if you move the wrong way. The list of things just builds up and it becomes a hassle. It's not a terrible product, it's just very average - too average for its price tag. It is moderately cheaper than the Bathmate model I reviewed, so ultimately its got to be your call if you're willing to pay a little more, or if you can tolerate the shortcomings for a saving.

The Penomet is available directly from Penomet.

Happy New Year everyone! To kick off 2016 I'm starting with an all-new Fleshlight review, courtesy of my friends over at Fleshjack. Towards the end of last year Fleshlight unveiled a brand new product called the "Quickshot", immediately catching everyone's attention with its two different designs, and they were kind enough to send over the vantage model for me to review. I was lucky enough to have mine arrive just before Christmas, which goes to show that it's not only Santa who knows exactly what every boy wants to play with on those long Winter nights.

Catch the review below!

The Quickshot is available in two different versions: the Vantage and the Boost. The difference between them is largely cosmetic, with the Boost having a black case and a metallic-grey insert, while the Vantage has a clear case and a clear insert allowing you a clearer view of the action, but there's also a slight difference to the internal texture. One of the things that might come to mind if you have any prior experience with Fleshlights / Fleshjacks is how the clear inserts tend to be more tacky to the touch compared to other colours. In this case I can say that it's a moot point when comparing the Vantage to the Boost, as the grey insert is equal in its stickiness, so it needn't be a factor in your purchasing decision

The basic design of the Quickshot looks a bit like a barrel, and with its caps on it measures 4 3/8" tall by 2 3/4" wide, making it the sort of size you can conveniently store in the top drawer of your bedside table. With an end cap removed it does look a lot like a traditional Fleshlight, only sans the anatomical orifice, so if you prefer the more discreet Flight approach then it'll appeal to you. The Quickshot does in fact have two end caps, both of which are intended to be removed during use, and the orifices are identical on each side, though this does seem a little bit like a missed opportunity to incorporate some variety. In the absence of the caps the body of the toy is reduced to essentially a band of black plastic, with the Superskin insert held inside rather like an elongated doughnut. The openings in the insert are around 3/4" of an inch in diameter, promising to be nice and snug, and this size continues through the internal canal of the toy, with the exception of the textured areas. The texture is formed by columns of semi-circular nubs, separated from each other by shallow channels, which gently spiral down the length of the canal. There are five columns in total, each comprised of five individual and evenly-spaced nubs, for a total of 25 overall. It's quite a unique texture compared to the others that I'm familiar with, seemingly crafted especially for the Quickshot.

Using the Quickshot is very straightforward and requires no special preparation other than a bit of waterbased lube. It's worth applying a squirt of lube to the exterior of the orifice, as well as internally, as this'll aid with initial insertion. The Superskin is a wonderfully soft and stretchy material, and you can feel it expand as you enter the toy, but it still feels pleasantly snug. The thing that restricts just how much the insert can adjust to accommodate you is the diameter of the plastic band, as this is where the toy feels tightest. What was interesting to me was that on the whole the Vantage felt less tight than the Boost, and in my case that was a bonus. Thrusting felt much more fluid and not as though I was having to fight against something, so I'd say the Vantage is far more suited to anyone packing a little more girth.

There are a number of techniques you can employ to make the most of the toy's design: you can focus entirely on the head of the penis, leaving it in the toy at all times, you can employ long strokes so that the penis goes in one side and pops out the other, or you can use the toy mainly around the shaft, occasionally teasing the head. It's also very well suited as a couples toy if you wish to incorporate it with a blowjob. The texture of the Vantage is highly enjoyable during thrusting, and with every stroke I could feel the semi-circular nubs flicking up and down across the head of my penis, and especially along the all important frenulum. It even created a rather nice massaging action when used solely against the shaft. Again it's a significant difference to the Boost which really didn't impress me all that much. To be realistic it's still not up at that incredible level that you can expect from the long and varied textures inside something such as the Flight, but it's still very very enjoyable, and those stimulating little flicks from the nubs will have you regularly coming back for more. The other factor of course, and a unique point for the Quickshot, is that sensation of the head emerging out of the end of the tight orifice, and then being pulled back through it in reverse. It really does encourage you to make long strokes to get that whole combination of sensations in sequence as that really magnifies the pleasure.

In terms of prolonged use the Quickshot does have some drawbacks over the traditional Fleshlight, namely with regard to lube. Because the Quickshot isn't a closed environment, a significant area of your lube-covered penis will be exposed to the air at any time, where the moisture will rapidly evaporate. For this reason it really is important to experiment with the lubes you own to find which lasts the longest under these conditions. Naturally the longer you use the Quickshot the more times you're liable to find the need to reapply lube, as it will get a bit stubborn when things aren't slick enough. The other thing to consider is that when you climax with the Quickshot you'll want a tissue handy, as it doesn't catch anything in the way that a regular Fleshlight would, but that does bring me onto my next point.

One of my favourite things about the Quickshot is that it's so easy to clean, and that's not something you'll hear anyone say about Fleshlight's other masturbators. It's as simple as popping the SuperSkin insert out of the plastic case, submerging it in a basin of warm water, and agitating it a little to remove any lube etc. After that it's just a matter of leaving the insert somewhere to dry before you reassemble it, and it dries ever so quickly thanks to the open-ended design and relatively short body. It has to be the most hassle-free product that Fleshlight have come up with, and that's a major selling point for it. You're able to use it as frequently as you like because there's no need to worry about the clean up afterwards. As much as I love my other Fleshjacks, there's always a debate that goes on before getting one out "do I want a really good orgasm enough to go through the washing, cornstarching, and days of mould-preventing ventilation afterwards?" On the subject of cornstarch, it's entirely optional with the Quickshot. As I mentioned earlier the material is sticky, but it still pops back into the case easily enough that it's not a big deal. Personally I don't bother.

In terms of quality I do have one minor point to raise, and that would be that the internal texture of my Vantage is slightly deformed in places. Two and a half of the semi circular nubs are missing off the bottom of one of the columns, and one and a half off the top of another, leaving those areas almost completely smooth. The reason I classify this as minor is because I wasn't even aware of it during use, I only noticed it whilst washing it prior to writing the review, so it clearly had no impact on how it felt. The other reason would be that it's actually the first time I've encountered anything like this in all the many Fleshjack products I've reviewed, so they have a very good track record in my book.

Overall the Quickshot Vantage is a great little toy, and I love the fact that they've incorporated all the Fleshlight technology into something so convenient and much more accessibly-priced. Somewhat amusingly my two main criticisms of the Boost were the tightness and the texture, both of which have been fixed with the Vantage, so it's simply a matter of picking the right model, and I'm grateful that I was able to try both. If you're looking to upgrade your masturbation session to something beyond just your faithful hand, then the Quickshot Vantage is a great way to do that without a lot of hassle and without breaking the bank. It's really pleasurable and well designed, so I'd definitely recommend it.

Thanks to Fleshjack for providing me with the Quickshot Vantage. You can grab one now from their website, and they'll ship it directly to you direct from their Locations in the U.S, the E.U., and Australia.

It's February already and I'm back with another review for my German friends over at Meo.de. This week I'm going to be looking at something a little bit different in the form of the Silicone Cum Stopper. It's essentially a combination product designed to be worn on the penis: part glans ring and part urethral plug, offering you the full experience of both. As always head below for more.

The Silicone Cum Stopper is quite an intriguing little product, and as so often is the case that's what originally drew me to it. I've dabbled with urethral play over the years, but I've never had anything before which was truly wearable in that respect. Indeed one of the drawbacks of typical urethral play is that it always seems to take up a hand; whether it be a full length sound or just a plug, you always need to hold them in place lest they pop out of their own accord, and that can restrict what else you're able to do at the same time. The idea of a toy which takes care of that for you is something which definitely appeals to me.

The basic design of the toy really isn't all that complex. You've got your basic 1 1/4" wide O-ring designed to fit over the head of the penis, and out of the 12 o'clock position comes a horseshoe-shaped hook with an 8.5mm wide ball on the end, which is to be inserted into the urethra. The hook is rather sensibly angled slightly inwards, so it follows the natural contours of the head of the penis, allowing for a better fit.

As name suggests the Silicone Cum Stopper is unsurprisingly made of platinum silicone, and this is especially important when it comes to urethral play, as you want to be using a material that can be sterilised so as to minimise the chance of any infections. Like all silicone it's not the most stretchy material, but it's elastic enough that you can easily expand it to double its diameter when putting it on or taking it off. It comes available in a simple choice of red or black, and it has a nice smooth finish to it. It's not a shiny high-gloss surface, but it's such a subtle matte that there's no discernible texture to it, unlike with the Oxballs sounds I reviewed a few years ago.

Using the Cum Stopper is a pretty straight forward affair as you might imagine. You simply stretch the silicone ring wide enough to pass the head of your penis through it, then release it so that it nestles closely behind the corona, and with the hook lined up with the frenulum on the underside of the glans. The final step is to apply a little sterile lube to the tip of the hook (I would recommend Meo's own "Very Deep" for this purpose) and then slip it into your urethra.

The glans ring feels quite snug around the shaft, but not uncomfortably so. Like any cock ring it acts to hold blood inside the penis, but in this case only the head rather than the full shaft, so you may notice some increased plumpness to the glans, or a deepening of the colour. The urethral plug section offers quite a subtle sensation, it's not that thick, nor does it go that deep, and it lacks the cold hardness of a steel toy, so it feels rather unobtrusive. It just gently tickles the inside of the head as it makes small motions back and forth across the sensitive urethral lining. It's similar to how I imagine it must feel to have the jewellery from a Prince Albert piercing inside you. The act of the glans ring being in place can be to inhibit the movement of the foreskin, causing it to remain retracted even during masturbation, which can lead to a modification of your technique for better or worse depending on how you choose to look at it. One downside though is that the external portion of silicone from the hook blocks access to the sensitive frenulum region, making it difficult to stimulate. I did find that a lot of the time the hook didn't want to stay inside my penis, and it would spring straight out of my urethra, forcing me to reinsert it, or attempt to hold it in place with a finger during masturbation. Part of this is in no doubt due to the flexible nature of the silicone; were it a rigid toy then it would stay in place, but there's also a good likelihood that its ability to stay in place is affected by the shape of the user's penis. Unfortunately knowing whether or not it's going to stay in place for you is something you can only find out by actually trying it.

In terms of whether or not I found that wearing it enhanced my sexual experience, I'd say that the effects were probably negligible. When the hook stayed in my urethra it was nice, but it was also too subtle to make a real impact. The pressure from the glans ring and the extra blood trapped inside the head really didn't cause me any extra sensitivity, and while adapting my masturbation technique was novel, the blocked access to the frenulum made it more difficult to deliver the sensations I wanted.

Overall it's quite a fun little toy, and I feel inspired to try more products in a similar vein, but I don't really see myself using this particular one all that much in the future.

Thanks to Meo.de for sending me the Silicone Cum Stopper, and you can buy it directly from them.

Every now and again when I'm quietly browsing Twitter a new product will pop into my feed which causes me to instantly track down the company that made it and start following them. I'll then sit back in the hope that just maybe they'll notice me and ask if I'd be interested in doing a review for them. The company in question on this occasion is Godemiche, a new brand from the UK which sprang into everyone's consciousness in the latter half of last year with their brightly-coloured Adam dildo. In an uncharacteristic surge of assertiveness I actually messaged them to politely enquire if I might be able to get hold of one, and they very generously sent over my very own Adam to review.

The Adam started off as Godemiche's sole product when they made their splash into the world of sex toys in 2015. Originally available in just one size, it now has a slightly larger version, an incarnation which comes mounted on a wooden stick, and it can even me made to house a bullet vibrator in the base. I'm going to be looking at where it all began, however, with the signature model of the Adam.

It measures in at 6 1/2" in total length, with around 5 3/4" which can be comfortably inserted, making it a fairly modest dildo, but it certainly doesn't look that way. Around the middle of the shaft it measures 5 1/4" circumference, increasing to 5 1/2" around the widest part of the head, and it's this generous girth which fills it out to an impressive overall size. In terms of proportion I think they've got the length to thickness ratio just right, and I can see it suiting a lot of people, especially those who are scared off by a lot of the larger dildos on the market and seeking something more natural. I would stress caution to complete beginners over the girth though, as it is a little beyond the average penis thickness.

The Adam is a quite beautiful dildo, and this is not a point that I make lightly, because the secret is that out there on the wider sex toy market there is an incredible assortment of really rather hideous penis-shaped dildos - thankfully none of which I own. I'm aware that I'm fussy (to put it mildly) but I challenge you to go to any sex toy retailer and not find some twisted facsimile of a penis which looks barely human, let alone desirable to put inside your body. This is a lot of what drew me to the Adam, the aesthetics, because a pretty penis makes me happy. It's a dildo that looks like it was made by someone who understands the human body, and who actually took the time to lovingly carve it / sculpt it / mould it into the best product they could achieve. It starts of with this nice broad head which is suitably plump and proportionate to the size of the shaft, and which also features an impressively-deep urethral opening moulded into the tip. Just slightly below the head is a ridge representing a retracted foreskin, which sits there rather like an Elizabethan ruffled collar, and which follows all the way around the shaft and connects to the underside of the head with a delicate frenulum. The shaft itself is pretty straightforward: it's almost perfectly straight, largely uniform in thickness, and has a pretty circular cross-section. There isn't actually a lot of detail on the shaft, apart from one slightly raised vertical column which runs the length of where the urethra would pass, giving the dildo a nice bit of added realism. Finishing off the dildo is a nice chunky base which makes it anal-safe, harness compatible, and also serves as a handle during use.

The Adam is available in a vast assortment of colours, starting with your basic flesh-tones, and then continuing with pretty much any colour you could pluck out of the spectrum. I was sent a yellow one, which I find pretty cool because you never seem to see yellow sex toys anywhere; it's actually my first one. It's this lovely vibrant lemony colour, but it's ever so slightly translucent around the edges making it look almost wax-like. What I think is really cool though, and what originally drew me to the brand, is the colour combinations and custom effects they make. As everyone knows I love bright unusual looks for sex toys, such as the things you see in the Tantus Grab Bags, but Godemiche have really taken this to the next level. They have marble effects, colour fades, glow-in-the-dark, glittery silicone, and if you don't see precisely the combination you're after then you can made a custom request and they'll fulfil it. They even go one step further with dildos for specific occasions such as Valentine's Day and Halloween, which impressively contain designs embedded within the material. My personal favourite has to be this red and orange one which looks almost like fire, or a Tequila Sunrise. They're turning dildos into art and that excites me. I feel as though I could take a dozen of them and decorate a mantelpiece.

All Godemiche products are handmade from 100% platinum silicone, which is fantastic as it's a non-porous, odourless, body-safe material, that can be sterilised and shared with a partner. You can even toss it in the dishwasher to clean it. The silicone is available in two different firmnesses depending on the type of toy you choose. The more complex colour combinations are available only in "medium," but the solid colours also come in "hard," so whatever suits your preference. The finish on the dildo is smooth and quite glossy, but it's not a really high shine, and you can compare the look and feel with the underside of the base which does have that really polished look to it.

In terms of usage the Adam really does deliver, and I can't tell you how relieved I was to discover that, because it's entirely possible to get all hyped up about the look of a toy and then find out that it's a flop in practice. Not here however. The slightly-tapered tip to the Adam helps it to slip into the body with relatively little issue, though given its size you may be inclined to opt for a warm-up toy first if you lack experience. The smooth surface helps it to glide in comfortably, and all you'll really feel along the way is a slight bump as you pass over the coronal ridge of the head and the foreskin section. It may not be the hugest dildo in the world, but it still gives off that sensation of being pleasantly filling, especially as you go deeper. The girth of the shaft is enough to give a nice little stretch to the sphincter, but you can also feel it filling you internally, and that contour to the head helps it to get further inside you in a way that a blunter dildo would not. I was sent the firmer version of the dildo, and while typically I tend to prefer my toys with a little more squish to them, I actually find the hardness here perfectly enjoyable. There's no sense of it being too solid, and it still bends and flexes about pretty well, so at no time did it really enter my consciousness that I'd prefer something different. In fact I think the fact that it's a little more robust makes the ridges feel more apparent.

My yellow Adam

When it comes to thrusting with the Adam it's a great experience, and the shape of the dildo actually helps a lot with that. If you orientate the dildo so that the coronal ridge points forwards towards the prostate, then the narrowest portion of the head taper naturally follows the curve of the rectum back towards the spine, so it finds its own path free of resistance. You get a really smooth thrusting experience, with very little sensation of drag from the silicone against the sphincter, and you can feel the fullness from the bulbous head moving back and forth with each stroke. With regard to prostate stimulation it's not something that you notice immediately, but once you start to get up a good rhythm with the thrusting you can really begin to feel the effect of those ridges against the prostate. I found that by doing really long thrusts and almost pulling the head of the dildo out of my body that it made the greatest impact. You get this great combination of the moving fullness, the ridges hitting the prostate, and then a slightly increased stretch on the sphincter as the wider head hits it. I really loved the experience and felt like I could allow myself to get carried away and spend half the night with it, as often is the case when something is working your prostate really well. You have a couple of options on how you can use it, either thrusting by hand or riding it, and personally I'd go with the riding option. The nice broad base keeps it stood upright, and in this position you can get a good regular rhythm going, as well as angling the direction of your thrusting to pull the dildo more into your prostate if you desire. It's a really great dildo for prolonged use because it hits that Goldilocks spot in terms of size and shape. It's big enough to make you feel pleasantly full, but it's not so large that it's a hassle to get in, or will leave you feeling sore, and it offers enough prostate stimulation in each stroke to feel delightfully satisfying, but without being overly intense and requiring you to regularly pause. I can really see it becoming one of my regular go-to dildos in future, when I just want to sit down and have a good time.

The quality of construction in the Adam is absolutely top notch, especially in areas where you might expect problems to arise, such as that deep meatus. I honestly couldn't find a flaw on it anywhere: no seams, no bubbles, no moulding marks, no leftover lumps of silicone. What really impresses me is that this is a toy that's made right here in the UK, and for a small family-run operation it's a really professional-looking product. I absolutely love to support British manufacturing, and it's one of those cases where from humble beginnings I hope that great things will come.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the price, but it's not something I usually bring up. The Adam is £20, and quite frankly that is a steal. Silicone toys can set you back a pretty penny, especially the imported ones, but for £20 you're getting a good-sized dildo, with a great design, and made from the best material you can put inside your body. I can honestly say that the Adam is worth the price, and great value for money.

If you're at all interested in packaging then the Adam simply comes inside a heat-sealed polythene bag. This is fine by me because it keeps that price down by not worrying about something that just goes in the bin anyway.

So let's get to the crux of the matter; would I recommend the Adam? Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. It's affordable, it's body-safe, it looks fantastic, and it feels great too. It's the whole package, and it's made right here in the UK, so you can feel good about boosting the local economy a little.

Thanks ever so much to Godemiche for sending me an Adam to review. You can grab one right now from their website, or their etsy store if you prefer. They're also available from my friends at ThatPosition.

To check out this week's round-up of all the latest sex toy reviews and contests posted throughout the blogosphere click below.

My review of the L'Amourose Rosa is featured in this edition.

Welcome to HedoVibes, a collection of reviews and giveaways that were posted in the past week or so from around the web. This is a collection of adult product reviews & contests from real reviewers. If you want to be included in the next edition start with the guidelines, then use the submission form.

Want to read more reviews? Check out HedoVibes for a list of the latest reviews and stellar reviewers. You can also follow on twitter for the latest round ups. HedoVibes is also accepting photo submissions for each edition.

CONTESTS

DILDOS

VIBRATORS

ANAL TOYS

Rocks Off RO-ZEN -by Naughty Corner
Anal Fantasy Collection Elite Vibro Balls -by Inquisitive Clam
L’Amourose Rosa -by Incendiaire

RINGS & STROKERS

BONDAGE, IMPACT, & FETISH GEAR

STRAP-ONS/HARNESSES

SpareParts Hardwear Bella Lingerie Style Strap On Sex Harness -by Cara Sutra

LUBES & CONDOMS

EXS Air Thin Condoms -by Naughty Corner

STORAGE & FURNITURE

Joyboxx -by Krissy Novacaine

MISCELLANEOUS

A few years ago I gingerly dipped a toe into the waters of urethral play with my first ever sounding rod, and as it happened I actually kinda liked it, then in 2014 I had the opportunity to up the ante several notches and review an electro-sound. My feelings on the subject were slightly mixed; I generally enjoyed the experience, but I felt as though it was somewhat wasted on a full length sound as the best experiences came from inserting it only shallowly. I actually said at the time that what I really would have liked was an electro penis plug, and it looks as though someone has taken heed of my suggestion because that's what I'm going to be reviewing today.

The Electro Penis Plug is pretty much what it says on the tin; it's a unipolar metal electrode designed specifically to be worn in the penis. Unlike the Micro Sound from E-Stim, which I experimented with last year, it's short, stubby, thick, and perfectly engineered for this singular purpose.

The Plug comes in a choice of three sizes, and E-Stim very generously sent me them all to play around with. There's a 7.5mm 'small,' an 8.5mm 'medium,' and a 9.5mm 'large.' The size refers to the diameter across the widest part of the plug, and as you can see from the photos they all have a similar arrowhead-like shape. Each plug starts with a perfectly rounded tip which then gently tapers up to the stated thickness, before tapering back down again slightly and finally continuing with a short section of straight shaft. Each plug has an identical insertable length of 1 3/4", and is finished off with a hefty base section which increases the total length to 2 1/4".

In terms of picking the right sized plug my advice generally would be to go bigger. If you've experimented with sounding before then you'll know that the thickness of a urethral toy typically matters most the deeper you go with it. The spongy head of the penis can be far more accommodating than the shaft, and when you couple this with the tapered shape of the short plug, it allows you to go a size up from what you would consider your maximum, and the larger plug gives a nice fuller feeling right inside the head. Obviously if you've never tried sounding before, or your urethral opening is constricted, then sticking to the smaller size would be a better option.

The Plugs are made in one solid piece from highly polished aluminium, and like with all E-Stim products that I've had the pleasure of reviewing, the quality is excellent. When it comes to urethral play you have to be extra careful, because there are membranes inside the penis that you don't want to irritate, and these plugs are absolutely top notch. No scratches, rough spots, or anything of the sort, just perfectly smooth sleek metal, so it's a product you can feel confident with.

To make use of the Electro Plugs you'll need some sort of E-Stim power unit, and as they're unipolar toys you'll also need another attachment to complete the circuit. You can just use the standard adhesive pads stuck somewhere on your body, but I find that the conductive loops worn around the base of the penis work the best. Somewhat unusually the Plugs take a different sized cable jack to the Micro Sound, opting instead for the larger one seen on the Torpedo, so you do need to make sure that you have one of the cables that features both types jacks on it, so you can use the larger with the plug, and the smaller to connect your pad / loop.

Once you've hooked everything up properly I recommend first inserting the Penis Plug without the power switched on, as otherwise you're liable to feel a slight shock as the metal first makes contact with the skin. With the aid of a little sterile lube the Plug glides smoothly into the urethra, and there's a wonderful feeling of the cold hard metal gently stimulating the head of the penis from the inside. The shape of the Plug stretches out the soft tissues of the glans as it goes in, leaving this pleasantly full sensation around it. As it's only a short plug it can go in comfortably all the way, with the tip extending slightly beyond the head and sitting behind the frenulum, and it seems to almost anchor itself inside, not immediately wanting to pop out again as many urethral toys do.

With the electricity turned on the Plug immediately begins transmitting that wonderful tingling, vibrating, throbbing sensation that I've described before right into the head of the penis. It really is as though the whole glans suddenly just lights up, and what you do with it then really just depends on what you like, and what sort of power unit you have. You can leave it on continuous and keep cranking up the power to make it more and more intense, you can switch to a pulse setting and play around with the speed, or you can select a pattern of your choosing and enjoy feeling the rhythmic pulses it delivers. It's especially great if you can couple that amazing sensation that the Plug delivers in the head with one targeted right at the base of the penis or perineum, thanks to the pad / loop.

As much fun as it is just to insert the Plug, crank up the power, and sit back and enjoy it, what really makes me love this product is what else you can do while using it. Because the plug stays in place so well you can masturbate at the same time, and there's something quite special about syncing up the rhythm of your strokes with the speed of the pulses. It's a double dose of stimulation to your penis, from both inside and out. Even better you're still left with a free hand, so you can play with the controls on the power unit, stimulate other erogenous zones of your body, and you don't have to worry about keeping hold of the Plug. My favourite thing to do did actually evolve holding onto the plug though, because I discovered how great it was for thrusting with. The Plug slides beautifully in and out of the penis, and the arrowhead shape of it is fantastic for stimulating the urethra. Normally I'm not a great fan of thrusting with sounds, because their smooth shape does little for me, but these plugs take it up to a new level, and you can really feel that wide section moving back and forth. Once you combine this thrusting with masturbation it's like a triple whammy of pleasure for your penis; physical stimulation both inside and out, and with the added electrical element. It really is intense and adds all these extra layers beyond what you thought you were capable of feeling. The only minor downside about thrusting with the plug is that it doesn't have an insulated section to hold on to so you will notice some tingling in your fingers when you grab the base.

I have to say that this is easily my favourite electro-sounding product. It's the electro-sounding tool that I've been waiting for, and I'm so glad that someone has made it. If you have any interest in electro-play or urethral-play then hands down this is the product that I'd recommend to you.

Thanks to E-Stim for sending me these to review, and they're available from their website as of today.

This month Tantus have kindly sent over their two newest dual-density dildos for me to review, the Alan and the Sam, and it was tough to decide which to review first as they're both a treat.

One of the interesting questions I often ask myself about dildos is "exactly how many variations do you need?" because I constantly find myself being impressed with all the new designs coming out of companies like Tantus. It certainly can't be an easy task to maintain creativity when working within a fairly narrow theme - such as penis shapes - and yet somehow they still manage it, as this latest toy can attest to.

The Alan is, by my reckoning, a sort of Jack of all trades of dildos; the product of years of dildo evolution. It's mid-sized, dual-density, harness-compatible, suction cup compatible, and with space for a bullet vibrator inside. It's a dildo packed with features, all aimed at being a great first dildo for someone who wants it all, or even just a first quality dildo for someone looking to finally divest themselves of a drawer of toxic materials.

The Alan, as it happens, is one of Tantus's smallest dual-density dildos, second only to the shorter Mark. It's 7" long in total, with 6 5/8" insertable, and a circumference of 5". It's smack bang in the middle of that realistic territory, offering a size that's more akin to the man down the street, rather than the man on your computer screen. It's ideal for anyone looking for a comfortable everyday dildo that they're not going to have to prepare to use, or someone curious to start experimenting with anal play before they move onto a real person.

The design of the Alan is probably best described as "subtly phallic." It's clearly a penis, but it's not in your face about it with masses of exaggerated detailing and accentuated features. The shaft is perfectly straight throughout its length, and topped off with a low profile glans which barely adds anything extra to the girth. There are a few wrinkles in the skin, and hints of veins, but nothing major, making it a nice middle ground for anyone looking for a dildo which is distinctly anatomical, but without being hyper realistic.

The Alan is available in a choice of three skin tone mimicking colours: cream, cocoa, and mocha, allowing you the option to find a match for yourself, your partner, or even just your fantasy. I got mine in the cream variant for what's probably the first time since I reviewed the Adam in 2013, and what's interesting to note is that they've actually changed the hue of it quite significantly. It used to be a very pale, solid, ivory sort of colour, but now it's a slightly translucent fleshy-pink tone. From a personal standpoint I much preferred the old colour, and am slightly off-put by the aesthetics of the translucent silicone, so it's worth bearing that in mind when considering your choice. The cocoa and mocha colours are just as sumptuous as ever though, as I can confirm from the Gary and upcoming Sam review.

As always the Alan is made from Tantus's own formula of premium platinum silicone, an odourless, non-porous, and 100% body-safe material. As it's a dual density toy the dildo is constructed from a firm-yet-flexible silicone inner core, coated with a layer of a much softer silicone, all to create a more realistic feel. The inner core extends only about halfway into the head of the dildo, leaving it comprised largely of the softer silicone, and giving it a wonderful squishy feel similar to the spongy nature of the glans penis. Along the shaft the soft layer is much thinner, making it less noticeable when you squeeze it. The surface of the silicone is entirely matte throughout, making a departure from earlier Tantus designs which featured a glossy head in contrast to the matte shaft.

Concealed beneath the base of the dildo is the opening to a short channel within the core of the shaft, which allows either a bullet vibrator or suction cup to be inserted, and because Tantus are wonderful they include both of these with the dildo. Personally I'm not one to pair vibrators with dildos, but the suction cups are invaluable.

In terms of quality of construction the Alan is impeccable. You won't find a mould line on it anywhere, nor any air bubbles or other defects in the material, and this is especially impressive considering how many things the dildo has going on, from bullet holes to dual layers of silicone.

When it comes down to use the Alan is a lovely all round dildo which does just enough to keep you satisfied. I'm not going to say that it blew me away, because I already have my go-to toys for when I want something that'll really hit my prostate hard, or provide a real sense of fullness, and the Alan isn't designed to specifically target any of these things. What it is is almost a blank canvas of a dildo, waiting for you to impress upon it what you want from how you use it. The squishy tip makes it very comfortable to insert as it presses against the sphincter, with the soft material cushioning the force as it steadily passes through the muscle. It doesn't "pop" as it enters the body, but as it glides deeper you can feel that subtle matte texture to the silicone, and mild stimulation from it adds a touch of interest to the experience. Inside the body it feels satisfying; it doesn't especially stretch you or create a strong feeling of fullness, but you're aware of its presence there and it doesn't feel alien. The size of it, the flexibility of the material, and its ability to suck up body heat and radiate it back out, all contribute to a very natural and comfortable sensation of it being there. One thing which I do like about the slightly smaller dildos is that it's easier to insert them deeper into the body, to the point that it's possible to sit down with the Alan fully inside. This is aided by the squishiness of the tip, with again cushions the force of the dildo as it pushes against the top of the rectum.

Thrusting with the dildo is a really lovely experience, and there are plenty of options of how to do it, whether by hand, riding it, or held to the wall with a suction cup. Personally the best way I found is by riding it with it stuck to the floor with the suction cup. This method gives you the maximum amount of control over the dildo, as well as freeing up both hands for other things. Once you get a good rhythm going there are three main sensations to be derived: the basic sensation of this delightful dildo moving its bulk in and out of you, the added sensation of the matte surface gently stimulating the sphincter with each pass, and finally prostate stimulation. I did say earlier that it's not specifically a prostate toy, but when you're squatting over it and riding the shaft you can angle your body so as to maximise pleasurable contact with the dildo. The ideal technique is go down so that the head hits the prostate directly before deflecting on its route deeper, and then on the way out again it bends and flexes as it pulls hard back against the gland. It's actually very satisfying, especially once you get a good rhythm going. It may not be as intense as the best prostate toys are, but you can really ride it for a long time and keep getting a steady stream of pleasure, without feeling like you've overloaded yourself. It's actually the sort of dildo which I wish had been around years ago, because the level of stimulation it delivers would have been ideal right when I was starting to experiment with toys.

All in all I have to say that this is another great little toy from Tantus, and an all round winner. As much as dildos tend to be a very personal thing, it's one of those few that I think would be suited to the vast majority of people. It's perfect for anyone who's simply looking for a realistically-sized and feeling toy, as well as having the potential to make a great starting point on anyone's dildo journey. I'd happy give my recommendation to it, especially for anybody considering picking up a first time dildo.

Thanks to Tantus for sending it over, and you can grab one directly from them.

Remember you can get 15% off any Tantus order with the code "INCENDIAIRE"

Last month I got a surprise package in the post from my German friends over at Meo.de, containing none other than one of their very own anal-stretching rings. As it happens this is a product that I've been aware of for quite a while, so I was especially pleased to discover that I now had one of my own to try out.

The Anal Stretching Ring from Meo is at its heart a rather stylish-looking butt plug, but what sets it apart and makes it that little bit special is that it has a hollow channel running all the way down the centre of it. In this regard it's actually very similar to the Perfect Fit Tunnel Plug that I reviewed back in 2013, with the main difference being that this is made from a high grade aluminium alloy rather than TPR. Because of the similarities it's quite useful to drawn comparisons between the two for the purposes of this review.

The 24/7 Anal Stretching Ring comes available in a total of six different sizes, aimed at every level of experience. I was sent the "small" which actually has a 6 1/4" circumference, so you can fully imagine just how much bigger things get by the time you're up to XXL. It really is only small in the relative sense, and not a beginner toy by any means. Size wise it is actually almost identical to the Tunnel Plug, which is both convenient for me and this review, and for anyone considering making a direct trade up from a TPR toy to a metal one. In terms of its other dimensions it has a total insertable length of 2 3/4", split between a generous 1 1/4" long neck and a 1 1/2" long bulb, and it has a 4 1/2" circumference around the neck itself.

The general shape of the plug is a bit like a funny little doorknob. The actual bulb is almost entirely spherical, save for the flattened tip which is absent due to the hollow passage running through it. The shape is certainly something to bear in mind as the lack of taper will have an impact on how easy it is to insert. Aesthetically it's a very attractive toy, and it mirrors the roundness of the bulb with a completely circular flared base.

The plug is machined from one solid piece of high-grade aluminium, and it's manufactured to a very high standard. The curves are all perfect, the edges are safe and rounded, and the surfaces all feel beautifully smooth. It really is a great quality piece, and because it's metal it has that reassuring weightiness to it. The finish to the plug is some sort of black coating applied to the metal which gives it a very sleek appearance, and elevates it from that dull grey which is typical of aluminium.

When it comes to using the plug I'm going to suggest that most people are going to want to go for a warm-up toy first, and this is strictly down to its shape. The thing about round toys in general is that they have no taper, so there's nothing to gently dilate the sphincter as you insert it, and the result is quite a rapid expansion of the muscle instead. This almost goes double for a round toy which is completely blunt in the section where what would be its tip is missing. As always I did endeavour to see if it was possible to insert without a warm-up, and indeed it is. With a toy of this size, and my level of experience, I was able to get it in on the first occasion without too much fuss, but I really wouldn't be that confident if I was going one size up, so my advice still stands. What was interesting to me though is that I found the Stretching Ring far easier to insert under these conditions than the Tunnel Plug. One might be tempted to think that the soft flexible toy would be the easier and more comfortable one to use, but actually the rigidity of the Stretching Ring does far more to aid insertion by holding its shape as it pushes through the muscle.

Once you've got over that initial hurdle of starting the insertion it goes in very comfortably, just as with any other plug, and soon as you pass the mid point of the bulb the remainder seems almost to be sucked into the body. The big advantage of a metal plug here is that you can use a silicone lube with it, and nothing rivals the slickness of a thick silicone anal lube on a smooth metal toy. Inside the body the plug does feel extremely comfortable to wear, and immediately you can feel that extra weight that comes with a metal toy, yet it still feels very secure. The stubby design places the bulk of the toy just beyond the anus, and not deeper inside the rectum, so you feel the full extent of it nestled right up against the prostate, and the girth does give a reasonable sensation of fullness, though the size queen in me craved a little more. The neck of the plug is long enough that it leaves plenty of room for the sphincter to rest against, so it's not sitting on the underside of the bulb and generating that sensation that it may slip loose at any second. The girth of the neck is also such that it allows the muscle to relax again a little after stretching over the bulb, but it still holds it open enough to give a nice sensation and aid with removal again afterwards.

If you're considering wearing the plug long term then the base of it is pretty unobtrusive. It fits comfortably between the cheeks without digging into the flesh, it can't be seen under clothing, and all importantly you can sit down on it.

The key feature of the Stretching Ring is the hollow down the middle, and yet I still haven't entirely figured out the purpose of yet, but that might just be because I haven't been exposed to much of the kink world yet. I'm sure it has plenty of uses for people in the know, so I'll just leave it at that. The flip-side to this though is that it can be a liability. If you're wearing something that holds you open like this then you want to make certain you're completely empty and clean at the time, lest you ruin your favourite pair of underwear. Luckily Meo do have a solution for even this, in the form of a little rubber stopper for the hole which is sold separately.

Overall I have to say that I really do like this plug. It's a great stubby little shape, its really well made, and you get those wonderful sensations of weight and temperature variation which come only with metal. Compared to the Tunnel Plug this has to be the one I prefer by far; while the other felt more like a bit of a novelty the Stretching ring is a serious piece of equipment, and not only that but it's easier to use. I can't claim to fully understand the purpose of the passage, but psychologically it is interesting to think about the notion of not so much being plugged up, but rather being constantly stretched wide open.

I'd be very happy to recommend the 24/7 Anal Stretching Ring, and many thanks to Meo.de for sending it over. You can grab it from them right now.

This week I'm doing a review for Bondage Bunnies. It's a new website that mainly focusses on bondage gear for women, but they also stock a small assortment other bits and pieces that are worth checking out. They got in touch with me last month and asked if I would review something for them, so I picked out this lovely-looking glass butt plug.

The Arts Clair Passion plug is a rather straightforward butt plug from the German company You2Toys. What makes it interesting compared to the other glass toys I've tried in the past is that it's entirely clear, with no form of embellishment at all, and actually I quite like this. Increasingly you find that glass toys are becoming more and more ornate, and some are actually quite beautiful, but every now and again it's nice to make a return to simplicity.

As it happens I've actually been interested in the idea of a completely clear glass plug for a while, ever since a conversation I had with an exhibitionist acquaintance I used to talk to online. He was always experimenting with creative self portraits, and he told me of the time he inserted a clear glass plug and pointed his butt up towards an open window as the warm midday sun streamed through, catching the rays of light in the plug like a glass prism. It was an oddly romanticised recollection of sex toy use, and apparently enough to plant a seed in my mind.

The plug is a fairly modest-sized toy, though it's not easy to gauge from images and probably looks a little more substantial than it actually is. It's a total of 4" long with 3 1/2" that can actually be inserted, and around the thickest point it measures 5 5/8" in circumference. Girth wise it's probably a little bit up from being an absolute first time plug, but it's not one you're going to need a lot of experience to be able to manage.

Shape wise it's a fairly standard plug with a gently tapered bulb at one end, followed by a nice straight neck and base at the other. The only slight difference is that the underside of the bulb, where it joins onto the neck, is completely blunt, meaning there's no taper on the plug in reverse. The neck itself is a generous 1 3/8" in length, giving the muscles plenty of space to rest on while the plug's being worn, and it's 3 1/4" in circumference, meaning they'll be able to relax a bit after passing over the bulb.

The plug is manufactured in China from what I'm assuming to be toughened borosilicate glass, though the packaging only mentions it being "glass" which leaves some uncertainty. Glass is a material that I enjoy both because it has a little extra weight to it, but also because it's fun for temperature play. You can toss it into the fridge or a bucket of ice water before use and enjoy some pleasant chills.

In terms of use the plug is nice and easy to insert thanks to its taper, and it goes in comfortably all the way despite some initial concerns I had about the angle at the bottom of the bulb being a little pointy. Inside the body the plug stays in place well and it feels pleasant. You don't get that great feeling of fullness due to its smaller size, but it gives a nice subtle variant of that familiar enjoyable sensation that comes from using a plug. Because of its size and shape it's a really nice plug for long term use; it doesn't overwhelm you with a feeling of being full or stretched, and the base nestles comfortably between the cheeks and allows you to sit down on it. What's also nice in this regard is that because it's glass you can use a silicone lube with it, which won't dry out during prolonged use. Once you're done with the plug it's also quite comfortable to remove. This is another area I had concerns about due to the aforementioned bluntness, but thankfully such concerns proved unfounded.

One thing I really do like about the plug is strictly visual, and it comes back to it being clear. Because the glass is completely see-through it provides an intriguing view into the body. It shows you exactly what your body looks like when you're wearing a plug, and creates almost a virtual gape, whereby you can peer through the base and see the sphincter clenched around the neck in a perfect circle. It's quite a unique experience.

A nice feature of the plug is that it comes packaged with its own velvet storage pouch, so you have somewhere safe to keep it in between use. On the subject of packaging I was going to say that it's fairly discreet, but the box does quite unnecessarily have a topless woman printed on one of the sides.

On the whole I do quite like this plug. It's a nice, simple, quality little toy, that feels good to use, and that's also quite interesting to look at. Due to its size its something that should be suitable for a wide range of people, and I'd feel happy recommending it.

The Arts Clair Passion Glass Butt Plug is available from Bondage Bunnies.

This week I'm looking at Tantus's latest dildo, the Sam, and what a beast of a dildo it is. If you like your toys both big and very realistic then stayed tuned, because this one's for you.

As always, head below for the review.

Much like the Alan that I reviewed a month ago, the Sam is another of Tantus's "next generation" O2 dildos, incorporating everything that they've learnt in almost 20 years of being in the business, and still continuing to build on it.

With the Sam you get more than just a simple dildo, you get a whole self-contained pleasure kit, bundling together a bullet vibe and suction cup alongside the dildo, providing you with all the things you'll need to get the most out of the toy.

The dildo has a strongly phallic design to it, and gives off a strangely commanding presence. It's long, it's thick, and the shaft is criss-crossed with bulging veins which suggest that you could feel the whole thing throbbing were you to grab it. It's a dildo that looks like it means business; it's a dildo which signals that it requires your submission to it, and yet challenges you to wrest back control and conquer it. The overall shape of the Sam is pretty uniform: the shaft is straight and the head gently tapers to a rounded tip without ever really flaring out along the coronal ridge. In total it measures 7 1/2" from end to end, with 7 1/8" insertable, and around the middle it has a circumference varying between 5 3/4" - 6".

The base of the dildo is 3 3/8" in diameter, making it both an anal-safe toy and compatible with a standard O-ring harness. Beneath the base of the dildo is a small cavity into which either the bullet vibe or suction cup can be inserted, depending on how you wish to use the toy. One downside to the base is that the material does naturally warp slightly over time, causing the base to become convex, and thus rather unstable when attempting to stand the dildo upright.

As always the Sam is made from Tantus's own formula of premium platinum silicone, an odourless, non-porous, and 100% body-safe material. As it's a dual density toy the dildo is constructed from a firm-yet-flexible silicone inner core, coated with a layer of a much softer silicone, all to create a more realistic feel. The inner core extends only just into the head of the dildo, leaving it comprised almost entirely of the softer silicone, and giving it a wonderful squishy feel similar to the spongy nature of the glans penis. Along the shaft the soft layer is much thinner, making it less noticeable when you squeeze it. The surface of the silicone is entirely matte throughout, making a departure from earlier Tantus designs which featured a glossy head in contrast to the matte shaft.

The silicone of the dildo is available in three different colour choices: cream, cocoa, and mocha, depending on what takes your fancy. I have mine in the cocoa and it's easily my favourite; it's this wonderful rich caramel tone that reminds me of toffee or butterscotch sweets.

In terms of quality of construction the Sam is impeccable. You won't find a mould line on it anywhere, nor any air bubbles or other defects in the material, and this is especially impressive considering how many things the dildo has going on, from bullet holes to dual layers of silicone.

When it comes to using the Sam this is one dildo that I'm really going to recommend a warm-up toy for first. It is possible, and even fairly comfortable to insert without one, but when you take into account the large girth of the toy, and the heavily textured nature of all the protruding veins, it's one of these instances where thrusting is most comfortable when you're pre-stretched to slightly larger than the toy's size.

Inside the body the Sam feels wonderfully filling, and this sense of fullness continues the deeper you insert it. Because of how thick and blunt the dildo is it is more difficult to insert it deeper, and can require a little patience and some extra lube depending on how far you wish to go, but this preparation early on can lead to a more comfortable thrusting experience.

When it comes to thrusting you have your usual choice of either thrusting by hand or riding the dildo, and with the dildo's extra size and the option of the suction cup I find that riding works best. The whole experience can feel quite intense, and the dildo delivers a lot of stimulation. The sense of the thick girth moving in and out of the body is very apparent, but you want to be careful not to overshoot the depth you're comfortable with, otherwise it can cause discomfort, even with the cushioning action of the squishy head. Alongside this there's a lot stimulation to the sphincter from the veiny design. This is great if you love a lot of texture on your toys, but does require a very relaxed muscle and a good thick lube, or else it can verge on feeling scratchy. The final sensation, and arguably the most important one, is that of prostate stimulation, and with a dildo of this size you can't help but achieve it. The thick shaft of the dildo bludgeons the prostate gland with every passing stroke, and once you get up a good rhythm and find the perfect angle to thrust at it's very enjoyable. It's still not the most targeted prostate stimulation though, so depending on how strong you like it it may disappoint, but it does seem to balance itself out with an array of complimentary sensations rather than being a toy which focusses just on the prostate.

If you're someone who loves size in their dildo, who loves realism - both in look and feel -, and who loves good assortment of stimulation during use, then the Sam could just be the perfect toy for you. It is a great dildo, and it comes packed with all the extras you could want, but hand on heart it's not my favourite of my larger toys. I would be more inclined to recommend the Tantus Duchess as a good girthy dual density dildo, as it packs much more of a punch when it comes to prostate stimulation. This is the beauty of having options though, and you can't fault the quality of a Tantus product.

Thanks to Tantus for sending it over, and you can grab one directly from them.

Remember you can get 15% off any Tantus order with the code "INCENDIAIRE"

This week it's time for a review of a product that's been long overdue: the Pulse II Solo from Hot Octopuss. The Pulse II is the follow-up to the original Pulse 'guybrator' which launched back in 2013, and when its successor arrived at the beginning of last year Hot Octopuss kindly offered to send me one to review, but due to some crossed wires I never ended up receiving it, that is until now. I apologise to my readers who may have been waiting for this review, especially poor Sue, but we're about to put this right!

2015 was a good year to own a penis; Fun Factory had launched their next iteration of the Cobra Libre only four months prior, and not one to be outdone Hot Octopuss kicked off the new annum with mark two of their powerful oscillating gadget. If you were a man who enjoyed all things vibrational then it couldn't have been a better time for you, and indeed the case remains so through to today.

Having only launched two years prior to much critical acclaim, it seemed quite soon for an upgrade, so many of us were gripped with anticipation to see what reworkings had taken place to justify this, and more importantly from a reviewer's perspective, whether any of it had been the result of our feedback. This was especially true for me, having been a big advocate of the original model.

Possibly the biggest shake up to the Pulse is that it became the Pulses, plural, with the introduction of the "Solo" and "Duo" models for the Pulse II. The original Pulse offered multifunctionality aimed at couples play, while still primarily being a toy for the man, and it did this by offering a secondary point of vibration which could stimulate a female partner during use. The Pulse II Duo represents the point of continuity with this concept and is most consistent with the original design, while the Pulse II Solo is the new kid on the block, dispensing with this aspect altogether and focussing solely on individual pleasure.

Today I'm going to be looking specifically at the Pulse II Solo, and I have to say that I'm quite pleased with this divergence in the design. It's not because I had any particular issue with it in the old model, it's just that it was redundant for all those but heterosexual couples, and by stripping out the redundancy from one half of the new Pulse II pairing they've also managed to make the Solo £20 cheaper than the Duo. I've always felt that affordability is massively important for consumers, and after all no one wants to be paying for features they're not using, so this is a positive development right off the bat.

So what exactly is the Pulse II Solo? I've been speaking so far with the assumption that everyone has read my earlier review and has a general understanding of the nature of these products, but for the benefit of those coming to this afresh. The Pulse is a vibrating male masturbatory aid, or a 'Guybrator' to use the term they've coined, and it's one of the very very few vibrators aimed specifically at men. It differs from nearly all other male masturbators on the market, such as your Fleshjacks and Tengas, because it takes the conventional thinking about how men get off and turns it on its head. Most male sex toys aim to replicate the natural sexual experience as closely as possible, that is they involve the penis being thrust inside something in order to stimulate it to the point of orgasm. The Pulse on the other hand requires absolutely no motion on the part of the user, and brings him to climax via the use of powerful vibrations targeted directly at the most sensitive part of the penis. For any man who's experienced the joys of vibrator use before then it probably doesn't seem that revolutionary, but within the realm of male sex toys it really is.

The design of the Pulse II closely follows on from the original Pulse, employing the same shape and the same materials, with the only real difference being the size. The Pulse II is ever so slightly larger over all, and mainly in terms of length. What's unusual though is that one area does seem to be smaller, and that's the opening where you place your penis, but I'll talk more about that later. The central channel is where the "Pulse Plate" lies, and this is the piece of technology which produces the vibrations, or to be more accurate, the oscillations. It's strategically located to make contact with the sensitive underside of the penis, where the nerve-rich frenulum is located. The channel isn't entirely enclosed, and is flanked by two flexible silicone "wings" which adapt to accommodate the size of penis placed between then. It's quite a stylish toy on the whole, and it's well made from quality body-safe materials such as silicone and ABS plastic.

To use the Pulse II you first begin by inserting your penis into the channel, and what's quite beautiful about the whole way the product is engineered is that doesn't really matter what state your penis is in, be it hard or soft, circumcised or intact, with the foreskin retracted or not. It's functional in all situations, which is beneficial to anyone who might suffer from erectile dysfunction or a tight foreskin, for example, which limits their ability to use other toys, or be intimate with a partner. One thing I did notice, however, is that the channel definitely is smaller, and that bodes less well for more endowed men, specifically men with more girth, or in this case a wider penis. The flexible silicone wings felt noticeably snugger around my penis, and they had the same problem as in the original model, whereby they're only flexible in their top half. I'm going to briefly quote myself as explanation.

One thing I did notice though is that the "wings" are flexible mainly at the top half, and not towards the bottom, so while the top section can become almost infinitely wider the bottom of the channel always retains the same semi-circular shape. Where this could cause an issue is that most penises don't have a completely circular cross-section and are wider from left to right than from top to bottom, so depending on the size and shape of the penis you may find that once inserted to the fullest extent the shaft may hover above the Pulse Plate without actually making direct contact. This probably won't be an issue for most people, but if your penis is very wide in one direction, and not so much in the other, then it's worth bearing in mind.

Like many I happen to have a penis which is wider in one axis than the other, and the smaller (narrower) channel does exacerbate the issue of flexibility with the wings. Instead of my penis lying completely level and flat along the channel, the pressure from the wings causes it to twist to try to conform with the narrow space, breaking optimal alignment with the Pulse Plate. The only way to really deal with this is to manually push the head of my penis down into the Pulse Plate and hold it in place, which works but which isn't ideal if you were going for a hands-free experience. From my experience making the channel smaller is an unfortunate change, but perhaps there's some evidence which shows it's more suited to the penis size of a greater number of people, and it's not enough to be a deal-breaker either way.

To turn the Pulse II on you hold down the button on the left hand side and it jumps into a constant vibration mode at its lowest intensity. It's a very powerful deep rumbly vibration, and I am inclined to say that it feels slightly stronger than the original model. From here you can either adjust the strength of the intensity using the + and - buttons on the right hand side of the Pulse, or for the first time you can cycle through 5 different vibration patterns by pressing the power button. The strength of the vibrations is truly impressive; they penetrate deep into the shaft and can be felt all the way down to the pubic bone, and they even have the effect of making the penis appear blurry at times because the whole organ itself begins to vibrate. This "total vibration" is one of the most unique features of the Pulse II, because although the vibrations are being applied directly at the frenulum, they don't simply feel localised here, but can be felt all over. Feeling every inch of your penis vibrating is fascinating, and entirely new, not to mention intensely pleasurable. It's miles away from conventional masturbation, and it's this whole new world of sensation which makes it all the more interesting. What really makes it special though is the inclusion of the patterns finally, because their absence did let down the original Pulse. Now with the ability to experience a good rhythm of vibrations it takes the experience to another level, and you have a choice of slow or faster, as well as a couple of more elaborate patterns. Because the vibrations from the Pulse are so strong it does run the risk of overwhelming you at times, so if you want a long drawn out session of pleasure, then you have to be careful that it doesn't push you over the edge too soon. If you do manage to get it just right, and have an extended period of foreplay with the toy, then the orgasm that it rewards you with is quite explosive at the end, and definitely worth it.

The one major drawback of the toy is exactly the same as with the original Pulse, and that's the noise. It's not a subtle toy at all, and that could be problematic for a lot of people. It sounds like a little lawnmower engine chugging away, and is liable to rouse suspicion if you live in close quarters with others. I know I'd have trouble relaxing if I was using it and I knew there was someone on the other side of a thin partition wall.

Another point I do want to raise about the Pulse II is regarding the buttons. They're smaller than on the original Pulse, and much stiffer too, which can make them awkward to push. The upside is that they're less likely to go off in your luggage, but they can be a struggle to operate while your penis is in the device, and this goes doubly if your penis doesn't quite fit in it properly and you're already using one hand to secure it in the right position. I mostly raise this with the thought of people with dexterity issues, however, because for everything the Pulse does to aid those who struggle sexually the buttons could trip them up.

The Pulse II is a fully rechargeable toy and it comes with a USB cable which plugs into a port in the rear. The port is sealed by a little silicone stopper which stays in place much better than on the original Pulse. The other advantage is that the Pulse II is now 100% waterproof, which makes it far easier to clean afterwards.

At the start of the review I mentioned the Cobra Libre II, and I'd be remiss if I didn't make some attempt to compare the two, but the difficulty is that the two really are apples and oranges, despite at least seeming to have so much in common. The Cobra is a lovely polished piece of design, and as much as I enjoy it, the vibrations feel that much more superficial. The Pulse II on the other hand wins on the sensation front. It may feel slightly awkward to use at times, what with the buttons, and trying to keep the right bits of your penis in contact with the right bits of the toy, but the absolute penetrating power of the vibrations from the Pulse plate are without rival. It's an incredible new world of sensations, and after using them back-to-back it was the Pulse that my penis was yearning to return to.

I have to say that on the whole the Pulse II feels like a significant step up from the original Pulse. It's a much more polished device, and while all the design features don't suit me personally I like the direction in which the company is going. The original Pulse was their first product, and on that basis it was outstanding, but you can tell that they're learning now and improving as they go along, and if there's ever a Pulse 3 then I can't wait to see where they go next. I'd definitely recommend the Pulse II Solo, but I think the question is, would I recommend it to people who already own an original Pulse? Is it enough of an upgrade to justify buying something so similar? My answer would actually be yes. There's enough new stuff going on to warrant the purchase. Before I'd tried it I didn't know what I was missing out on, but now I wouldn't want to go back. The strength and quality of the vibrations just seems to feel better, and the patterns are the icing on the cake. My only caveat would be to guys with a thicker (wider) penis, because if the original Pulse felt too snug for you then the Pulse II will only add to that frustration.

Thanks to Hot Octopuss for providing me with the Pulse II Solo to review, and you can buy it directly from them, as well as any of the fine retailers I have links to on my blog.

Today I'm going to be looking at the all new Slick from Tantus. I say 'new' but they kindly sent it to me back in May when it officially launched, and I've been a little slow in getting around to review it.

I first saw a sneak preview of the Slick on Twitter a year ago this month, and instantly fell in love with the shape, and now that I finally have one in my hands I can happily say that functionally it does not disappoint either.

Head below for the review.

The Slick is Tantus's first completely non-phallic dual-density toy, made in the same way as their O2 line of dildos. I'm a huge fan of these wonderfully soft and squishy creations, and it's a nice change to see a technology originally devised to make realistic dildos feel more penis-like, being applied to other sorts of designs.

The Slick comes in a choice of two sizes, Small or Large. The Small is a nice little beginner's toy which slips easily into the body thanks to its tapered shape, but beyond that it's not terribly exciting for anyone with prior dildo experience, so I shan't spend too much time on it. The Large, however, is where the real magic happens, so that's going to be the focus of my review

The shape of the Slick is wonderfully unorthodox. A former Tantus employee stated that it reminded her of a seadragon, and it does have something aquatic about it, though I find equally it has a botanical vibe, almost like a cartoon representation of a jungle vine. The head of the dildo is like the unopened bud of a flower. It's gently tapered at the tip, steadily growing wider the farther down you move, and then rounding off before it meets the shaft. The shaft too is tapered, having its smallest diameter where it meets the head, and then slowly growing ever wider as it moves towards the base. On the whole it's quite a simple, elegant, design, topped off by a gentle curve to the entire piece. At the very bottom it has Tantus's teardrop shaped base, making it both anal-safe and harness compatible.

The Slick comes available in a choice of just two colours, black or purple haze, which is a far cry from all the different shades I saw in the prototype photo. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed by this, as the pearl-white and blue Slicks caught my attention more than anything, but Tantus know better than anyone which colours are going to sell, so I can't hold it against them.

As the Slick is a dual-density toy it's manufactured from two different firmnesses of Tantus's own premium formula of 100% platinum silicone. The central core of the toy is made from a stiffer silicone, while the exterior is covered in a generous layer of soft squishy silicone. It gives this great combination of a dildo which holds its shape well, while still being easily flexible, and it feels great when you squeeze it in your hand.

The quality of the Slick is up to Tantus's usual high standard. You won't find any seams or air bubbles anywhere on the toy, and it's finished off with a perfectly smooth shiny gloss surface, free from all texture.

When it comes to using the toy the Slick is a pure joy, and it's become one of my new favourites almost overnight. It's one of those toys where you definitely get the most out of it by riding it, rather than trying to use it manually. When you first go to insert it it's a lot like using a buttplug, it has that gentle taper which helps to slowly spread you open, and then you get over the widest part of the head and it pops inside as you slide down onto the shaft. The combination of the shape and the soft dual-density silicone makes it a really comfortable experience, with no need for a warm-up toy beforehand. The other thing I like about the Slick is that it goes deep, and with very little fuss. The whole thing is only around 7 3/4" long, but it's all useable. The average rectum is only 5"-6" deep, which can be an issue when it comes to longer dildos, but the shape of the Slick - the tapered head and gentle curve - combined with the soft O2 tip, help it to snake around inside the body and pass deeper into the colon. You'll find yourself squatting over it, starting to insert it, and the next thing you know you'll be sat on the floor wondering how it all just disappeared inside you like that. Deep insertions have always been my Achilles heel, so it's refreshing to finally find a toy which actually helps with this, not to mention that there's a whole new sort of sensation to be found when something goes that deep.

Going beyond all this, what I really love about the Slick is thrusting with it. The smooth gloss surface to the shaft allows it to glide seamlessly in and out of the body, with no drag or irritation to the sphincter, allowing you to focus entirely on the sensations coming from the shape. As you go down on the shaft you can feel it gently growing wider, adding a little stretch to the sphincter, and then as you go back in reverse this all turns around, right up until the point where you reach the head and it hits you with a double whammy. The bulbous tip ploughs beautifully into the prostate for maximum effect, but also you can feel the rounded underside of it tugging at the sphincter, giving it a pleasurable stretch again just as it's relaxed from feeling the shaft narrow. Every time you complete a thrust you find yourself withdrawing it a little more, adding that extra bit of stretch, and then eventually the whole thing will slip out, giving that satisfying pop like when you remove a buttplug. When this does happen though you realise how easy the Slick is to reinsert, and so allowing it to happen becomes part of the routine, and you bob up and down on the dildo, allowing it to pop in and out of you with each thrust, filling you up, hitting the prostate, and pleasurably stretching the muscle. It's this combination of sensations which makes the Slick such an utter joy to use, and because it slides so freely and without friction, you can carry on using it for ages without any soreness. You don't even have to worry about being too rough with it, because that soft dual-density tip, and the fact that it's naturally inclined to go deep, means you can slam down with your thrusts without fear of being jabbed uncomfortably in the top of the rectum. It's such a satisfying experience, and it works on the prostate almost effortlessly, though you can change the angle and rotation of the toy to pull it into the gland even more if you wish, thus maximising the pleasure from it.

I have to say that I think the Slick would probably be perfect for couples who want to try pegging, in part because of how fantastic it feels, but also because the non-phallic shape of it helps to take down the psychological barrier which might exist.

Without a doubt I would definitely recommend the Slick to anyone, and if you think that the Large might be a little too much for you, then it's really worth working up to. The sensations are a pure joy, and the Small just doesn't manage to replicate them. If you're looking for a really comfortable and effective prostate toy, then the Slick Large is the way to go.

Thanks to Tantus for sending me the Slicks to review, and they're available now from their website.

Remember you can get 15% off any Tantus order with the code "INCENDIAIRE"

Happy Autumn, folks! This week as the leaves start to turn umber, and the shops begin to fill their shelves with everything pumpkin-related, I'm going to be looking at ~~a small boy from South Park, Colorado~~ an all new personal lubricant.

As you may know I tend to avoid reviewing lubes for the most part, as more often than not it proves to be a chore, but when Jerome from LTA Sex contacted me about his new product I was intrigued enough to agree to try it out.

Catch the review below!

The Butters is an all new oil-based lubricant, produced from 100% natural botanical ingredients. It's the brainchild of fellow blogger Jerome Nichols, the man behind LTA Sex, and he hand makes every batch of the Butters, giving a uniquely artisanal / cottage-industry touch to a product line typically dominated by large manufacturers.

The Butters is made with just nine separate ingredients, all of which can be seen listed on its label above, with absolutely no hidden additives or mysterious substances included.

One of the primary ingredients of the Butters is coconut oil, and I don't mind telling you that I'm ever so slightly obsessed with coconut at the moment. Whether it's making coconut cake, coconut rice, putting coconut milk on my cereal, using coconut and shea butter shower gel and handwash, I'm doing it, but I never would have thought to use coconut oil as a lube.

Interestingly, despite its ingredients, the butters has no discernible smell, coconut or otherwise. I was surprised by this revelation, but it does reinforce the fact that everything inside it is natural, with no added scent compounds. The only slight note of fragrance I picked up was something vaguely bitter, which I'm inclined to believe is from the aloe.

The texture of the lubricant is rich and creamy, feeling like it's been whipped or gently churned, and you start to get the idea of where it got its name. Unlike most lubes it's solid at room temperature, and comes packaged in a small tub like a jar of thick overnight moisturising cream. The advantage of this is that it sticks to toys incredibly well, which is especially useful in situations where you need a bit of extra lubrication, and reassurance that it's going to stay there.

As happens I've been trying to get back into using some of my larger toys as of late, which proved the perfect opportunity to test out the Butters. One of the big problems with using a regular water-based lube with a big shiny silicone butt plug, is that as soon as it reaches the point where the body needs to start stretching to accommodate it, the result is like dragging a squeegee down a rain-speckled windowpane. The lube gets scraped off and you're left with the friction of a dry plug against your body. What I found with the Butters is that once you smear its thick creamy oil all over the plug, it actually sticks to the surface giving a nice even coating, and then when you go to use it a thin lubricating film always remains behind even when the body scrapes away the excess. Because of this it made the plug I was using far more comfortable to insert, and I was really impressed. To try to test this even further I brought out my largest plug, the Tantus A-Bomb, a toy which is such a struggle to insert that I've only ever used it a handful of times, and sure enough the Butters noticeably made a difference. By eliminating the discomfort of friction, it makes it far easier to concentrate on working through the sensations of being stretched, and the result is a far more pleasant experience.

Another nice advantage of using the Butters for anal play is that it doesn't dry out like a water-based lube would, so if you're considering wearing a plug for an extended time then it remains mobile and won't tug on the skin. The only potential downside is that it can feel a little greasy between the buttocks, which some may not like.

The Butters is also designed to be used as a masturbation lube if desired. Like most guys with a foreskin lube isn't something I generally use for that particular activity, but it can be a fun change of pace if I'm varying my technique. What's interesting about the Butters is that as you apply it to the penis and begin to massage it in, it almost appears to melt from the body heat, and leaves everything with a slick glossy appearance. This change of state really aids with its effectiveness as a lube, and as you start to glide your hand up and down the shaft and over the head it moves completely freely. It's easily as effective as any silicone lube I've tried with this technique, and gives great-feeling and long lasting results. Because it's also advertised as being a moisturising product you don't need to worry too much about clean-up, as eventually the skin will absorb it if left alone. If you're overly generous with it then soap will be required to rid yourself fully of lingering greasiness, but a little does go a long way.

I have to say I'm actually really impressed with the Butters. There are a lot of advantages to having a thicker cream-style lube to hand, and the Butters is especially effective during use. It's a great performing lube, and its natural ingredients leave the skin feeling silky and moisturised after, so I'd recommend everyone gives it a try.

The Butters is available here

Happy New Year to all my lovely readers, and what better way to kick off 2017 than with a brand new review for everybody's favourite 'guybrator' manufacturer, and XBIZ Award-winning Boutique Pleasure Products Company of the Year, Hot Octopuss!

Sticking to what seems to be their two-year development cycle, the guys at Hot Octopuss have just launched the third iteration of their much acclaimed Pulse, and they've kindly sent over a Pulse III Solo for me to test out. So, without any further ado...

The original Pulse first launched back in 2013, as a challenger to then market leader in male vibrators, the Cobre Libre by Fun Factory, and it quickly became one of my favourite toys. The following year, reinforcing that competition drives innovation, we were treated to Fun Factory's answer in the form of the revamped Cobra Libre II, and then only months later Hot Octopuss returned to us with their line up of new Pulse II models. I remarked back then that 2015 was a good year to own a penis, and indeed it was, but two years down the line the question is what new heights are Hot Octopuss about to take us to with the Pulse III? I know I'm excited to find out.

The Pulse III builds directly on the advancements of its immediate predecessor, the Pulse II, and represents a straight evolution of the original concept, though this time the change is far less of a leap than from the Pulse to the Pulse II.

The biggest shake up in the previous generation was that it introduced separate "Solo" and "Duo" models aimed at slightly different markets, and the Pulse III maintains this distinction. The original Pulse offered multifunctionality aimed at couples play, while still primarily being a toy for the man, and it did this by offering a secondary point of vibration which could stimulate a female partner during use. The Duo models represent the point of continuity with this concept and are most consistent with the original design, while the Solo units have dispensed with this aspect altogether, instead moving towards a focus solely on individual pleasure.

Today I'm going to be once again looking at the Solo version of the latest Pulse, which has the welcome advantage of being slightly less expensive than the Duo. I'm pleased that they're maintained this divergence in the design, because who wants to be paying for a feature they won't be using?

So what exactly is the Pulse III Solo? I've been speaking so far with the assumption that everyone has read one of my earlier reviews and has a general understanding of the nature of these products, but for the benefit of those coming to this afresh. The Pulse is a vibrating male masturbatory aid, or a 'Guybrator' to use the term they've coined, and it's one of the very very few vibrators aimed specifically at men. It differs from nearly all other male masturbators on the market, such as your Fleshjacks and Tengas, because it takes the conventional thinking about how men get off and turns it on its head. Most male sex toys aim to replicate the natural sexual experience as closely as possible, that is they involve the penis being thrust inside something in order to stimulate it to the point of orgasm. The Pulse on the other hand requires absolutely no motion on the part of the user, and brings him to climax via the use of powerful vibrations targeted directly at the most sensitive part of the penis. For any man who's experienced the joys of vibrator use before then it probably doesn't seem that revolutionary, but within the realm of male sex toys it really is.

The design of the Pulse III closely follows on from the Pulse II, employing the same shape and the same materials, and with no notable difference in the size. Unfortunately that does mean that it maintains Pulse II's smaller opening into which you place your penis, compared to the original model, which is something I'll come back to. The central channel is where the "Pulse Plate" lies, and this is the piece of technology which produces the vibrations, or to be more accurate, the oscillations. It's strategically located to make contact with the sensitive underside of the penis, where the nerve-rich frenulum is located. The channel isn't entirely enclosed, and is flanked by two flexible silicone "wings" which adapt to accommodate the size of penis placed between them. It's quite a stylish toy on the whole, and it's well made from quality body-safe materials such as silicone and ABS plastic.

To use the Pulse III you first begin by inserting your penis into the channel, and what's quite beautiful about the whole way the product is engineered is that doesn't really matter what state your penis is in, be it hard or soft, circumcised or intact, with the foreskin retracted or not. It's functional in all situations, which is beneficial to anyone who might suffer from erectile dysfunction or a tight foreskin, for example, which limits their ability to use other toys, or be intimate with a partner. One thing that does carry over from the Pulse II is that the channel is still on the smaller side, and that bodes less well for more endowed men, specifically men with more girth, or in this case a wider penis. The flexible silicone wings feel noticeably snug around the penis, and they have the same problem as in the first two models, whereby they're only flexible in their top half. I'm going to briefly quote myself as explanation.

One thing I did notice though is that the "wings" are flexible mainly at the top half, and not towards the bottom, so while the top section can become almost infinitely wider the bottom of the channel always retains the same semi-circular shape. Where this could cause an issue is that most penises don't have a completely circular cross-section and are wider from left to right than from top to bottom, so depending on the size and shape of the penis you may find that once inserted to the fullest extent the shaft may hover above the Pulse Plate without actually making direct contact. This probably won't be an issue for most people, but if your penis is very wide in one direction, and not so much in the other, then it's worth bearing in mind.

Like many I happen to have a penis which is wider in one axis than the other, and the narrower channel does exacerbate the issue of flexibility with the wings. Instead of my penis lying completely level and flat along the channel, the pressure from the wings causes it to twist to try to conform with the narrow space, breaking optimal alignment with the Pulse Plate. The only way to really deal with this is to manually push the head of my penis down into the Pulse Plate and hold it in place, which works but which isn't ideal if you were going for a hands-free experience. From my experience this size of channel is less than optimal, but again perhaps there's some evidence which shows it's more suited to the penis size of a greater number of people, and it's not enough to be a deal-breaker either way.

To turn the Pulse III on you hold down the button on the left hand side and it jumps into a constant vibration mode at its lowest intensity. It's a very powerful deep rumbly vibration, and from here you can either adjust the strength of the intensity using the + and - buttons on the right hand side of the Pulse, or as with the Pulse II you can cycle through 5 different vibration patterns by pressing the power button. There's also a brand new "Turbo Function" whereby you can skip directly to the most powerful vibration setting. The strength of the vibrations is truly impressive; they penetrate deep into the shaft and can be felt all the way down to the pubic bone, and they even have the effect of making the penis appear blurry at times because the whole organ itself begins to vibrate. This "total vibration" is one of the most unique features of the Pulse III, because although the vibrations are being applied directly at the frenulum, they don't simply feel localised here, but can be felt all over. Feeling every inch of your penis vibrating is fascinating, and entirely new, not to mention intensely pleasurable. It's miles away from conventional masturbation, and it's this whole new world of sensation which makes it all the more interesting. What really makes it special though is the patterns; the ability to experience a good rhythm of vibrations takes the experience to another level, and you have a choice of slow or faster, as well as a couple of more elaborate patterns. Because the vibrations from the Pulse are so strong it does run the risk of overwhelming you at times - especially as the Pulse III is now 25% more powerful - so if you want a long drawn out session of pleasure, then you have to be careful that it doesn't push you over the edge too soon. If you do manage to get it just right, and have an extended period of foreplay with the toy, then the orgasm that it rewards you with is quite explosive at the end, and definitely worth it.

The one major drawback of the toy is the noise. It's not a subtle device at all, and that could be problematic for a lot of people. It sounds like a little lawnmower engine chugging away, and is liable to rouse suspicion if you live in close quarters with others. I know I'd have trouble relaxing if I was using it and I knew there was someone on the other side of a thin partition wall. The noise has been an ongoing issue with the Pulse since the very start, and frankly it's a little disappointing that it's not something they've been able to address. It was easy to overlook in the very first model, less so in the Pulse II, but by the third generation it's hard to excuse.

Another point I do want to raise about the Pulse III is regarding the buttons. They're smaller than on the original Pulse, and much stiffer too, which can make them awkward to push. The upside is that they're less likely to go off in your luggage, but they can be a struggle to operate while your penis is in the device, and this goes doubly if your penis doesn't quite fit in it properly and you're already using one hand to secure it in the right position. I mostly raise this with the thought of people with dexterity issues, however, because for everything the Pulse does to aid those who struggle sexually the buttons could trip them up.

The Pulse III is a fully rechargeable toy and it comes with a USB cable which now clips onto a magnetic charging port at the rear. This is a really convenient feature and a welcome upgrade, and the other advantage is that it's 100% waterproof, which makes it far easier to clean afterwards.

I have to say that on the whole the Pulse III feels like a huge leap forward compared to the original Pulse, but only a relatively minor step up from the Pulse II, and therein lies the dilemma. I'm impressed by how the guys at Hot Octopuss keep on working to improve their device, perfecting it a little more each time, but you have to wonder who it's aimed at. If you don't already have a Pulse, then I wholeheartedly recommend that you buy the Pulse III. If you own an Original Pulse, then the Pulse III is well worth the upgrade. If you have the Pulse II, however, I honestly can't say that there's enough there to justify buying a new one. The Pulse III is more like a Pulse 2.5 in this regard, it tinkers around the edges, but there's nothing added which you absolutely need to have. It's not like a smartphone where there's a genuine incentive to make the transition every time.

The Pulse III is once again a more polished device, and I love the strong vibrations and exciting patterns it offers. I definitely think that every guy should try one. My only caveat would still be to guys with a thicker (wider) penis, because if the original Pulse or Pulse II felt too snug for you then the Pulse III will only maintain that frustration.

Thanks to Hot Octopuss for providing me with the Pulse III Solo to review, and you can buy it directly from them, as well as any of the fine retailers I have links to on my blog.

Hello, hello, hello! Spring is here at long last, and what better time could it be to finally emerge from my blog hibernation?

The smell of freshly cut grass hangs in the air, Rupaul is once again telling queens to "sashay away" on our screens, and I've got my balls wearing some sort of tennis bracelet with Wimbledon still three months away.

How fitting, I thought, to kick this off with a review of something from one of my favourite companies, the all new Super Soft Ball Stretchers from Tantus!

If you'd told me when I first started blogging that there'd be a time when I was reviewing Ball Stretchers, then I probably would have scoffed at you, because on the surface Ball Stretchers don't seem like the most exciting item, but actually that couldn't be further from the truth.

For anyone who has ever worn a cock ring, you'll know that there's something strangely comforting about that subtle squeeze of it gently hugging your shaft, or pressing against your perineum, and that's the same principle that comes into play with ball stretchers, and what makes them a great addition to any toy drawer.

The Tantus Ball Stretchers are wonderful in their simplicity, made from velvety soft and stretchy silicone, you get a set of two which can either be worn separately, or together if you're up for the challenge of an even greater stretch.

Both Stretchers have a generous internal diameter of 1 1/2", making them nice and easy to put on. With your scrotum fully relaxed, all you need to do is pull some of the loose skin down through the Ball stretcher, and then feed each testicle through after it. If need be you can stretch the soft silicone to make the opening wider, and help a larger testicle pass through.

The smaller Stretcher is 3/4" deep and is great for a novice user. It doesn't provide any noticeable stretching effect until the scrotum beings to tighten and the balls are naturally drawn closer into the body, but it does give a good first impression of what that snug feeling around the balls will feel like.

The larger Stretcher is 1 1/4" deep and is definitely my favourite of the two. Even with the scrotum fully relaxed you can feel it pulling the balls away from the body, giving a more intense sensation. As it pulls the balls down, it naturally pushes itself back up against the underside of the shaft and the perineum, and this in itself creates a pleasurable sense of pressure there.

One of the features I really like about the Ball Stretchers is down to the nature of how they work. As you pull the scrotum away from the body, it naturally draws in skin from the shaft of the penis, so if you have a foreskin it automatically pulls it back and holds it there, significantly reducing its mobility. This can be fun because if drastically alters the way sex feels without that rolling gliding action of the skin, and the place where that's most noticeable is with a highly textured masturbator. If you're used to just feeling that texture against the head with the in stroke, and then very little of it as you withdraw, then the action of the Ball Stretchers helps you to feel every little tickling nub and ridge of your favourite Fleshjack, in both directions.

One of the potential downsides to the Ball Stretchers is if you have smaller testicles, because they do come in all sizes. As the internal diameter is so generous, you run the risk of one ball slipping back inside and breaking the stretching effect. A solution to this though can be to use another smaller ring as a locking device, and the smaller diameter of Tantus's Super Soft C-Rings makes them a good option for this.

What I love about ball stretchers is that they offer a subtle enhancement to the already great sensations of sex, like someone constantly playing with your balls, and tugging gently on them, even when the person you're with may be focussed somewhere else on your body, or not even there at all. Where they start to come alive is the closer you get to orgasm, as the body starts to pull the balls closer into the body in preparation for ejaculation, only it can't because they're being held back, and somehow that just makes the sensations and the orgasm feel even better. Couple the Ball Stretchers with a cock ring and you're on track for a very happy penis.

Thanks to Tantus for sending me the Super Soft Ball Stretchers; they're another fine product that I'd happily recommend.

You can buy them directly from Tantus.

One of my all-time favourite dildos has to be the original Echo from Tantus. It seems hard to believe that it's been five years now since I first reviewed it here on this blog, so it's fitting that I finally come back to it now. For all that time it's steadfastly remained one of my go-to toys, that I regularly whip out whenever I'm in the mood for some guaranteed prostate satisfaction, so when I heard recently that Tantus was bringing out a version in their Super Soft silicone, I naturally clamoured to get my hands on one.

Now let's see if they've improved on perfection!

The Echo Super Soft is something of a dream combination for me. On the one hand you have my absolute favourite material, and on the other one of my favourite dildo designs; a match made in heaven if ever there was one. If I had the power to convince Tantus to make all of their dildos, past and future, from the Super Soft material by default then I would, but it's also worth noting that silicones of different firmnesses do all have their own applications. You wouldn't want to make an overly-squishy buttplug, for example, so how is that softer silicone going to affect the performance of the Echo's design?

The Echo is one of the mostly uniquely-shaped dildos around. I class it as semic-phallic, but really it's like a penis on steroids. It starts off with that classic penis shape: a nice big bulbous head, with a flared coronal ridge that wraps around the shaft, before tapering down to a narrower girth, but then here's where the fun begins. Rather than simply having a smooth shaft, the Echo replicates that coronal ridge a further four more times down its length, and frankly it's genius. Forget about "ribbed for his/her pleasure," the Echo takes the most satisfying part of any dildo - that big prominent ridge - and gives you five of them to contend with, the result of which should be immediately apparent. Instead of one long stroke with a delightful nudge at the end where the head hits your prostate, you're met with a swift succession of bumps and judders in every direction, as the Echo ripples back and forth across that sweet spot. This is why I first fell in love with the Echo.

As you would expect the Echo Super Soft is more or less a direct copy of the original Echo, even down to the old-school Tantus logo stamped on the heel of the base, but that's not to say is doesn't have a few physical divergences.

One thing that's interesting about the Echo SS is that it's ever so slightly smaller than the original Echo, not in terms of insertable length, but in the girth. I would have put money on them being cast from the same original moulds, but somehow the Echo SS is 1/4" less around the circumference at the widest point. It could just be a quirk of the softer silicone, that it shrinks as it cures, rather than an intentional manufacturing difference, but it's worth noting if thickness is important to you.

The only other significant change is that the Echo SS no longer incorporates a bullet hole in the base, which means it's not compatible with the Tantus suction cup.

In terms of use, differences between the original Echo and the Echo SS are most notable when it comes to sensation around the sphincter. The firm pronounced ridges on the original Echo can be felt strongly with each thrust, and require a good level of relaxation the entire time, whereas the Echo SS is that much more subtle. You still feel each sequence of bumps popping in and out, but it's like a soft massage, and doesn't draw your attention quite so much. The benefit of this is that it allows you to focus more on what you're feeling internally, and the Echo SS is every bit as good at what is does as the original Echo was, if not better. Those ridges rippling across the prostate feel every bit as good, and lose none of their impact through the material change. The added flexibility in the softer silicone allows you to bend the dildo and angle it so that the ridges push firmly into the prostate as you build a good thrusting rhythm, and it truly feels fantastic. In a side by side comparison it was Super Soft Echo that I found myself the most drawn to, and I even noticed that it seemed to warm to body temperature that much faster during use, giving an even more pleasurable experience. What's fascinating is how is manages to be incredibly stimulating and incredibly comfortable at the same time, and that squishy tip now makes it even more comfortable to insert.

There's a reason why I love Tantus's Super Soft silicone, and this new Echo is testament to that fact. Not only does it feel great, but it's non-porous, 100% bodysafe, and just about the best thing you can put inside yourself. Oh, and did I mention the amazing new colour it comes in? This deep shade of burgundy that they're calling Wine, and it looks truly stunning.

Without a shadow of a doubt I'd recommend this new Echo, whether you're coming to this anew, or you have an old model like me; you really can't go wrong with the Super Soft.

Thanks to Tantus for sending me one to review, and you can grab one directly from them!

Kris Evans Dildo

Keep Burning Shaft Dildo

Fleshlight Quickshot Boost

Penomet

Fleshlight Quickshot Vantage

Silicone Cum Stopper

Adam by Godemiche

Tantus Valentine's Day Sale

HedoVibes Round-up 80

CONTESTS

DILDOS

VIBRATORS

ANAL TOYS

RINGS & STROKERS

BONDAGE, IMPACT, & FETISH GEAR

STRAP-ONS/HARNESSES

LUBES & CONDOMS

STORAGE & FURNITURE

MISCELLANEOUS

E-Stim Electro Penis Plugs

Tantus Alan

24/7 Anal Stretching Ring

Arts Clair Passion Glass Butt Plug

Tantus Sam

Pulse II Solo

Tantus Slick

The Butters

Pulse III Solo

Tantus Super Soft Ball Stretchers

Tantus Echo Super Soft