vibrator

An Assortment of Sexy Objects I’m Enjoying

Kate Sloan

Astroglide X Silicone Liquid

Recently Matt and I were wandering around in uptown New York, spending a staycation weekend enjoying the Central Park sunshine, when… the dreaded chub rub struck.

If you don’t know about chub rub, well, I envy you. It’s the phenomenon of body parts sliding against one another in a painful and irritating way, often exacerbated by sweat and humidity. I inevitably get at least a few really painful bouts of chub rub between my thighs every summer, because as much as I try to be careful about wearing cotton bike shorts under my dresses, you just can’t always predict when you’ll want (or need) to go for a long stroll.

That’s what happened to me during our late-spring staycation, and I didn’t want to give up and go back to the hotel – so we stopped at a CVS and went in search of silicone-based lube, an oft-recommended preventative measure against chub rub. Silicone reduces the friction between thighs (or other chub-rubbin’ body parts), so that they slide more smoothly against one another and get less irritated.

The only one I could find in the drugstore was this unostentatious purple-capped bottle from Astroglide – but notably, silicone-based lubes don’t actually differ all that much from one another. Much like Uberlube – the most widely beloved silicone lube amongst my friend group, and a noted anti-chub-rub agent – this Astroglide one is long-lasting, slick as hell, and essentially tasteless except for a very mild powdery flavor. This one is cheaper and more widely available, although its packaging certainly isn’t as glamorous as Uberlube’s. In any case, it nixed my impending chub rub and worked well for a handjob later that night, so I’m happy with my purchase!

BMS Factory Essential Bullet

Could it possibly be true? A rechargeable bullet vibrator for just $21… and it’s actually good?!?

BMS is renowned for their rumbly motors – the earthshattering Swan Wand is a prime example – and this bullet is one of its most stripped-down iterations. Seeing that it’s also USB-rechargeable, swathed in satiny silicone, and fully waterproof, this vibe could easily be viewed as a cheaper dupe of the revered We-Vibe Tango X – and at about a quarter of the price, that’s pretty astonishing.

I personally will probably continue to use my Tango X more often, though, for a few reasons: it has a higher number of steady vibration speeds (8 to the Essential Bullet’s 4), has three different buttons (as opposed to the Essential Bullet’s one button you have to click to cycle through its settings), and has a pointed/angled tip that allows for several different types/intensities of clitoral stimulation (the Essential Bullet’s classic rounded shape isn’t as versatile, though it will fit into bullet-compatible toys more easily).

That said, I’m very impressed with this toy for its price point, and the fact that it comes with a travel-friendly zippered hard storage case (which also fits its charging cable) just sweetens the deal, especially for someone in a long-distance relationship like me. If you want powerful vibrations on a budget, in a tiny package, get the Essential Bullet!

 

Zalo fox fur tickler

I’m not sure why, but this product doesn’t seem to be available anymore. Weird. Probably has something to do with the fox fur (no longer available? too expensive to acquire consistently? consumers got angry about it?) but it’s anyone’s guess. Anyway, I didn’t ask for this – and probably wouldn’t have, since it’s made with actual fur and I don’t feel great about that – but it was sent to me in a PR package of other Zalo stuff, so I thought I might as well try it out.

There’s no denying that this is a super elegant object. Its gold-toned stainless steel handle feels sexy and luxurious in my hand, and is long enough to give me good control without being cumbersome. The fur itself is cloudlike: white, soft, so gentle to the touch that you’re almost not sure it’s even there.

Ticklers are one of those items that a lot of vanilla people think kinky people would be into, but I hardly ever hear about any actual kinky people actually using them. This one is, at least, quite fancy and beautiful, unlike the cheapo ones that often find their way into sex conference swag bags and bachelorette kits along with sad buzzy fingertip vibes and papery blindfolds. I haven’t had a chance to use it in a scene yet, but I imagine it’d be fun combined with bondage and a blindfold, and perhaps contrasted with more intense sensations, like being hit with a leather strap or having a Wartenberg wheel rolled all over my body.

Real fur is an ethical line I admittedly have crossed before, but that was always with vintage furs, which IMO are in a different category morally because they’ve already been made and would likely end up in a landfill if no one bought them from consignment shops and thrift stores. I don’t feel good about recommending this product because it’s made of real fur, even though I think it’s beautiful and high-quality. Is anyone making gorgeous, luxurious faux-fur ticklers for kinky sensation play out there? I’d be curious to know!

Her Highness CBD pleasure oil

I’ve tried a few different sensation-enhancing products spiked with cannabinoids, and this one may be a top-tier fave, even after only using it a few times.

The main reason I like it: While it does contain peppermint oil like most other products of this type, the mint is quite toned-down in the formula compared to others I’ve tried. When there’s too much mint, my vulva gets so ridiculously overwhelmed by the minty intensity that all the oil’s other, more subtle effects become less noticeable. In the Her Highness version, the mint acts like a garnish in a cocktail, bringing out the sensations caused by the CBD without overpowering them.

Her Highness says this is “not a lube, it’s an orgasm enhancer.” Its two active ingredients work in tandem: CBD boosts relaxation and lubrication, while Spilanthes Acmella (had to Google that one!) is a vasorelaxant, meaning it improves circulation and prompts arousal. In my experience, the effects of CBD on the vulva, clitoris, and labia are fairly subtle – I definitely get aroused more easily, and my partner observes that it’s easier to get me off when we use CBD products, but it’s not, like, a whole new sensation or anything. I like that this oil allows me to appreciate those nuanced effects without proverbially drowning my genitals in peppermint oil.

As with all oils, don’t use this with condoms because it’ll degrade the latex. And as with all sexy CBD products, this one absorbs best if you massage it into mucous membranes, like the inner labia and inside of the vagina, which is why they don’t typically have much of an effect on penises (bummer!). But I like it and will continue to use it when I need a little help getting turned on!

 

Personal Fav Whet plant-based sex serum

The name of this product makes me laugh, especially when contrasted with its deeply elegant packaging.

This is a water-based lube with deliciously design-y branding. It lacks all the nasties you don’t want in your lube (glycerine, propylene glycol, parabens, etc.) and contains some active ingredients ideal for sex: hemp extract to amp up sensations, chamomile to calm any irritation, ginseng to enhance arousal, aloe vera to soothe your skin, and horny goat weed to increase desire. I haven’t really noticed these effects, to be honest, but it’s a good list of ingredients nonetheless!

This lube has basically no scent and a very mildly sweet taste, making it great for oral sex if you need some extra wetness. Like most water-based lubes, it dries out within a few minutes, but can easily be rehydrated by adding a little water (or, if you’re lazy/if you’re me, saliva or vaginal lubrication). It’s on the thinner side – I find most aloe lubes are – so it’s not ideal for activities that need a lot of lubrication and a lot of cushioning, like anal sex or fisting. As with many lubes of its ilk, I find it works best for vaginal penetration, because my vag getting wetter over time helps the lube stay wet the whole time I’m using it.

Frankly, though, one of my favorite things about this lube is its packaging! The matte black bottle is hard and won’t get squished in your handbag or suitcase; it’s also slim and space-effective. The shiny black plastic cap doesn’t fall off easily like so many other lube bottle caps. And it has a pump top, making it great for heat-of-the-moment lubin’. I can’t say the formula is my “personal fav” – it lacks the thick, luxurious glide of something like Sutil Rich – but it’s perfectly serviceable, and the durable, travel-friendly packaging means I’ll grab it more often than a lot of my other, better-formulated but less convenient lubes.

 

Zalo & Upko Doll Designer Collection silicone rose ballgag

This is the prettiest ballgag I’ve ever seen!! I wanted it desperately from the first moment I saw it in a Zalo press release that landed in my inbox. Ballgags are typically pretty utilitarian in appearance; this one is unapologetically fancy and (for my sensibilities, at least) glamorously femme.

The gag part is made of silky red silicone with no noticeable smell or taste. Metal snaps connect it to leather straps; I love being able to disconnect the straps so I can wash the gag without messing up the leather. You can also remove the rose part, leaving a simple red silicone ball with a hole through it, so this toy is a 2-in-1: you can use it on this “breathable setting” if you’re still getting used to ballgags, and then add in the rose when you want a more ~aesthetic~ vibe. (Zalo also notes that if you wanted to, you could poke a finger underneath the rose, through the hole, and into your partner’s mouth as a “finger tease,” but fingers in my mouth is a hard limit for me, so, nope. I know lots of people are into it though.)

I’ve only tried a couple of ballgags (I think?! I dunno, I’ve been doing this a long time) so I can’t compare this one to many others in its genre, but I will say that it’s quite comfortable but still produces the requisite amounts of powerlessness and drooling that gag aficionacos seem to adore. I’m not a frequent gag user at all, but I love the glamour of this one and I’m sure I’ll use it a lot in the fullness of time!

 

Thanks to Zalo, Her Highness, and Personal Fav for sending me these products to try! The first two in this post (Astroglide + Essential Bullet) were purchased with my own money.

Lovense Toys Are Fucking Excellent

Kate Sloan

I wrote off Lovense for the longest time. I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s the fact that they’re not carried by any of the online sex shops I work with, or the fact that almost none of my sex toy reviewer pals have written about them, to my knowledge. They’re not mentioned very often in the circles I run in – which is odd, because in the camming world, they’re hugely popular.

In fact, doing the work I do at my dayjob in adult-industry social media, I often have to pop into camgirls’ rooms to collect URLs and relevant personal descriptors while writing tweets to promote them – and I’ve noticed that the word “Lovense” is basically used interchangeably with “remote-controlled vibrator” on some of these platforms. Like the Kleenex of sex toys, Lovense has proven themselves so wildly good at what they do that they are thought of as the category itself, not just a part of that category.

I recently got my hands on some Lovense products because I was working on an article for the Insider about sex toys for long-distance couples (more on that soon). Here’s what all three of the Lovense toys I tried have in common:

  • Once they’re connected to the app on my phone, they stay connected for the entire duration of the session.
  • Controlling them with the Lovense Remote app is easy, fun, and (most importantly) fast. When I change a setting on the screen, it’s reflected immediately in the toy.
  • Their Bluetooth range is astonishing. The toys continued to respond pretty much instantaneously even when I was across the apartment from my phone, or in another room with the door closed.

You would think that these three qualities would be the most important ones in a Bluetooth-compatible sex toy, but actually, my experiences with We-Vibe and Lelo (among other brands) over the years have shown me that even top-tier companies can’t always get this right.

 

Let’s talk about some of the specific toys I tried:

The Lovense Lush 3 ($119) is an insertable vibrator made to stimulate the G-spot. It’s shaped to hit that spot really well, and has a wide variety of vibration intensities and patterns.

I’m not the biggest fan of G-spot vibration – it usually just feels mildly uncomfortable for me, and can only make me come in conjunction with clitoral stimulation, if at all – but the Lush still feels pretty good to me nonetheless. It’s a fun tease when my partner and I are watching porn together on the couch, and I imagine it’d work well for discreet public play once we’re able to go to restaurants and bars again. (The Lush is fairly quiet, but definitely audible in a silent room, so I wouldn’t wear it to, say, a museum.)

The Lush’s external arm, in which its powerful antenna is housed, could theoretically provide clitoral stimulation, depending on your anatomy – but for me, it just isn’t enough unless I’m physically pressing it against my clit. It’s too slim and floppy. If they fixed this issue, it’d work much much better for me and many other people – although at that point they’d basically be making a We-Vibe, which maybe they’d rather not do. In any case, the Lovense Lush 3 is a fantastic insertable vibrator for people who like a lot of G-spot sensation, and it’s the only vibe I’ve tried of its type that hasn’t had major connectivity issues.

The Lovense Max 2 ($99) is a high-tech stroker that incorporates vibration and suction-based “contractions,” both of which can be controlled using the Lovense app. The stroking itself can’t be controlled that way, and has to be done manually, but even without stroking the toy up and down at all, my partner found the other sensations it offers very satisfying. Specifically, they said that this toy feels the most like actual penetrative sex of any stroker they’ve tried (and, being married to a sex toy reviewer, they’ve tried more than their fair share!).

My one major complaint about this toy is that the internal sleeve is open-ended, so cum and lube inevitably get into the outer case, which then has to be cleaned. It’s also very loud, although that is usually par for the course with this type of toy, unfortunately. As a sometimes-voyeur, I don’t love that the exterior is opaque – I’d always prefer a clear view of the action, as with a see-through Fleshlight – but that’s really a small price to pay for the pleasure my partner gets from the Lovense Max 2.

Finally, probably my favorite of the three: The Lovense Edge 2 ($99) is a prostate vibrator that also has an external portion for stimulating the perineum at the same time. You can control each motor separately in the app.

At first my partner found that this toy kept slipping out during use, but then we learned that the toy’s angle is adjustable – so you can bend it to hit your prostate more effectively, and in the process, keep it anchored more securely inside you. I love this feature and wish more sex toys were this versatile, to account for differences in individual anatomy.

Orgasms from prostate stimulation alone are pretty rare for my partner – I think together we’d only previously achieved it via pegging – but this toy gave them one, and it wasn’t even that much work for me! I mostly just kept undulating the prostate vibration up and down in a wave-like pattern, which made them feel like I was fucking them. Their orgasm seemed super intense, and because of the toy’s app functionality, getting them off this way didn’t cause me anywhere near as much pain as thrusting a dildo for the equivalent amount of time would have. We will definitely be using the Lovense Edge 2 lots more in the future!

 

Have any of y’all tried Lovense toys? What did you think?

 

This post was not sponsored – I really do like these toys this much – but the links are affiliate links.

Guest Reviews for Penis-Havers: Fun Factory Manta, Satisfyer Men Vibration, Kink3D X-Lock Cobra

mb

Note from Kate: Here’s some sex toy reviews I asked Matt to write. Enjoy!

One of the benefits of dating (and then marrying) a sex toy reviewer like Kate, is that as her collection grows, so does mine. Sometimes it’s because brands send her toys that are designed for cocks, sometimes I buy them to use with her, and sometimes they’re gifts from my beloved! In this post, I want to highlight 3 toys that I’ve picked up recently that are useful if you’ve got a penis or access to one 😉

The Manta by Fun Factory ($140) is a rechargeable vibrating stroker that’s marketed as “a men’s toy for couples.” Welp, no men to speak of here, but this toy still works plenty well for me and my nonbinary dick.

The Manta has become my go-to vibrator since I purchased it as an upgrade to the Volta, which worked okay but wasn’t shaped quite as well for my particular penis. The Manta fits around the shaft of your dick (3 cm inner diameter), and it works just as well held stationary as it does as a stroker.

It’s a beautiful object and comes in 3 muted colors (I wish the black had been out when I purchased mine). The vibe is cleverly designed with two flexible wings that are ridged for stimulation and to distribute lube as you thrust, though they can take some work to clean.

Some of the most memorable blowjobs of my life have been enhanced by this toy thrumming against the base of my cock while Kate sucked the tip, but you can also use it solo, or to “turn your penis into a vibrator” during penetration. And if you prefer more pinpoint stimulation, you can gently pinch the wing tips around your frenulum for extra intensity.

The handle is looped, so it’s comfy to hold, the motor is powerful and rumbly, the controls are intuitive, the 6 speeds and 6 patterns can always get me off, it’s waterproof, and it’s got a travel lock. You love to see it. This is the perfect toy for someone who’s maybe tried a vibrator designed for clits and liked it, but wants something made with their body (if not gender) in mind.

A very different (but still unnecessarily gendered) take on the penis-vibrator is the Satisfyer Men Vibration ($50), which I won in the Smutathon. Satisfyer claims this enclosed, rechargeable vibrator “feels like a real blowjob,” which it most certainly does not. But that doesn’t mean it’s not pleasurable. The two motors in this toy and the tight black silicone sleeve work together to create powerful suction as the waves of vibration crash over the tip of your penis, occasionally making some hilarious noises in the process.

You can flip between the toy’s 3 speeds and 11 vibration patterns with the “+” and “−” buttons on the body, but as you increase the speed and intensity, you might find yourself wanting to thrust into the sheath as your erection grows. That’ll cause problems if you enjoy deeper stimulation like I do, because this toy only has an insertable length of 7 cm, so you’re limited to vibrating just the first few inches of your penis. Maybe that’s why Satisfyer calls this an “edging tool” rather than an orgasm tool, because that’s definitely what it’s best at.

The inside of the sleeve is wide, so it can easily accommodate a dick whether it’s erect or flaccid, but it also rapidly narrows toward the back to increase the stimulation on the most sensitive spots. With lots of lube, and some experimentation to figure out my preferred patterns, I’ve been able to reliably come with this toy, but the orgasms are never as satisfying as if my whole dick had been stimulated. So I tend to use this vibrator as it was intended: to tease and stimulate the tip of my cock for a while before I’m ready to come in something (or someone) else.

The Satisfyer Men Vibration is a good value if you’re especially into stimulation of the head of your penis, plus it’s waterproof, easy to clean, and carries a 15-year warranty. But if you’re looking for a toy that can quickly and consistently stimulate your entire cock to orgasm, you might not vibe with this one.

Not all the sex toys I own for my penis are about stimulating it; in fact, sometimes they’re about preventing stimulation altogether. Since reviewing the CB-6000 earlier this year, my chastity kink has only gotten bigger, as has my collection of cages. And if you spend even a few hours on chastity twitter, you’ll frequently see the same elegant black cock cage in photos. This cage is the Kink3D X-Lock Cobra ($155–$185), and it was generously sent to me by its maker, who’s an independent creator and active Redditor and Twitter user.

Kink3D cages are individually 3D-printed from hard nylon and nylon composites, so they‘re incredibly strong, light, and smooth. As with all chastity devices, sizing is particularly important, and there’s a detailed sizing guide here. I wear the size S+ cage with a size 2 ring, and it’s the best-fitting and most comfortable cage I own. Because of its open lattice design, it’s easy to wear the X-Lock long-term and maintain hygiene in the shower with just soap and water.

If you’re into tease and denial with your chastity play, the Kink3D cage also makes it easy for your keyholder to see and comment on your locked erections, touch or lick your penis through the cage’s bars, or hold a vibrator against the cage to stimulate you through it, though watch out for potential pinch points which can hurt in a bad way.

I still think the CB-6000 is the best chastity cage for beginners, because tons of sizing options come in a single box. But once you know your sizes and you’re interested in a gorgeous, custom-fit cage you can wear long-term that won’t break the bank, get an X-Lock. It’s been locked on my body for weeks at a time, and I’ve loved every second of it.

Review: Sohimi Sucking Clitoris Stimulator & Wand Massager

Kate Sloan

I feel like I’ve reviewed approximately one zillion pressure-wave toys as of late… and I sort of have. But, encouragingly for this once-tiny category of sex toy, each one I’ve reviewed recently has been pretty different. There used to be very little variety in pressure-wave land, but now you can get tons of different takes on this same basic idea.

Today I’m reviewing the Sohimi Sucking Clitoris Stimulator & Wand Massager, which I think needs a much snappier name, like perhaps the Suck ‘n’ Buzz, or the Beyond Wand. (Okay, no one should hire me as a sex toy namer. That much is clear.)

This petite pink rechargeable wand vibrator has a classic wand head at one end, and a clitoral suction nozzle at the other end. At first I was confused about why anyone would want this, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me. Vibration and pressure waves are the two major modes of clitoral stimulation that the sex toy industry offers these days; it’s a cool idea to package them both in one toy, so that regardless of which one you’re in the mood for, you’ll have both at the ready. Or you can start with one and switch to the other mid-session, something I often do.

The pressure-wave functionality of this toy is… not my favorite. The nozzle isn’t as tiny as that of the Sohimi Hedgehog, but is still pretty small, so it’ll probably only stimulate the very tip of your clit. It starts out very mild – which I appreciate, since suction toys can often feel wayyy too intense toward the beginning of a session – and gets much stronger as you cycle through its 7 suction modes. But rather than feeling rumbly and rhythmic, these pressure waves start to just feel like buzzy vibration as I turn up their intensity – so eventually they just numb the tip of my clit and don’t feel like much of anything. Boo.

The vibration component of this toy is much more compelling to me. It’s a weird blend of buzzy and rumbly. I’m sure it’s not ideal for everyone, but it surprised me with how much it felt like “the best of both worlds”: it contains some of the deep, delightful thrumming I associate with rumbly vibration, but also has that surface-level, buzzy edge that can sometimes push me into an orgasm. The orgasms I have with this toy are, indeed, very intense, and come on surprisingly fast.

It’s strong from the get-go, strong enough that I have to spend a good few minutes moving it around my outer labia and thighs before I’m warmed-up enough to put it on my clit. The vibrations get a bit buzzier as they get stronger, but it’s still nowhere near the shitty, desensitizing sensation I get from most inexpensive wands of this one’s ilk.

The powerful vibrations are, I think, especially well-suited for transmitting through something, like underwear or even another sex toy. I used this vibe on my partner’s cock cage while they were in chastity, for example, and the sensation traveled through the cage loud and clear.

There are only three steady speeds, followed by a handful of patterns. I do wish there were more steady modes available, since they’re what I use almost exclusively, but this annoyance is easily mitigated by just moving the vibe around on my vulva. The same speed can feel very intense when it’s on my clit and much less intense when it’s on my labia (of course), and I use this strategy to make the vibe’s limitations work for me.

Unfortunately this toy is suuuuper loud, despite its marketing copy claiming that it is quiet. (I don’t know why so many sex toy manufacturers insist on saying their demonstrably loud toys are actually nearly silent. If someone is shopping for a quiet toy, it’s generally because they need a quiet toy, due to their living situation. Companies should not lie about this!) It actually makes a somewhat ugly, grinding sound. The noise eases up a bit when I press the toy against my body – or when I use it in the bath, which is doable because it’s fully waterproof – but it’s still loud enough to be heard through a closed door.

One neat thing about this toy is that you can enable both the suction mode and the vibration at the same time – so, theoretically, you could use it with a partner, like a double-ended dildo except for external stimulation only. (Well, I guess you could try to insert the wand head into your vagina, but I wouldn’t recommend it.)

For its $35 price tag, I think you could do a whole lot worse than the Sohimi Sucking Clitoris Stimulator & Wand Massager. Its vibrations are significantly more powerful than what you’d typically find in a vibrator at this price point, and I like that you can switch between suction and vibration at will for a more varied masturbation session. If you have the cash, I’d recommend you just get two separate toys that do their jobs very well (and much more quietly than this one), like perhaps the Satisfyer Pro 2 and Bodywand Midnight, which would run you about $90 total. But I know many people’s budgets are tight right now, and to that end, I think the Sohimi Sucking Clitoris Stimulator & Wand Massager is a pretty cool product if you want big vibrations in a small package, with a side of clitoral suction. Just don’t expect to be able to hear your sexytimes playlist over the roar of the vibe.

 

Thanks to Sohimi for sending me this toy! This review was sponsored, which means I was paid to write a fair and honest review of this product. As always, all writing and opinions are my own.

Review: Dame Arc

Kate Sloan

When I first started buying sex toys as a teen, I wanted a vibrator that could “do it all.” That was my holy grail. And who could blame me? With minimal (if any) income, and limited privacy and storage space since I was living at home, it made more sense to look for versatile toys that could multi-task or do double duty, rather than getting a different toy for each intended usage.

As I got older and learned more about sex toys, I began to see the appeal of toys more specialized in function. There are, for example, some clit stimulators so good that they don’t need to do anything else, and some dildos so inventively shaped that I don’t even care about their inability to vibrate. But there is still something intriguing about the idea of One Sex Toy to Rule Them All – one toy that you could throw in your bag for a getaway or a sex-date and know you had your bases covered.

The Dame Arc, I’m thrilled to tell you, is that type of toy.

I was duly excited when I saw a preview of the Arc at ANME earlier this year. Dame has really stepped up their game these past couple years; once considered a bit of a joke among my sex toy reviewer friends due to their ultra-buzzy, oddly-designed Eva, they later came out with new clit vibes, like my beloved Kip, which boasted robust motors, thoughtful shapes, and cute colors. The pleasure Dame had given to clits worldwide was pleasure that G-spots deserved too, so I was glad to see they were launching not only a G-spot toy, but a G-spot toy that looked really fucking good.

It is really fucking good. My pals at TheVibed sent me one to try, in a lovely ice-blue color (it also comes in a dusty rose), and as soon as I held it in my hands and turned it on, I knew I would like it. The silicone is smooth and soft, the curve is well thought-out, the controls are easy to understand, and the vibrations are – as I’ve come to expect from Dame – impressive.

Dame’s marketing for the Arc explicitly positions it as a toy you can use clitorally for warm-up before moving to penetration. It’s odd how rare it is for sex toy companies to specifically mention the clitoral useability of penetrative vibrators, given that most of the vibrator users I know are mostly using ’em on their clits. The Arc is designed to be comfortable and ergonomic whether you’re using it externally or internally, and as someone with intermittently tricky hands and wrists, I can confirm that this toy is easy for me to handle. The hard plastic panel around the charging connectors on the back of the vibe makes it easier to keep a firm grip on the toy even when it’s lubed up, and the shape of the handle makes sense in my hand.

There’s a seam running all the way around the middle of the toy – a fairly common flaw among vibrators – but Dame has leaned into it by discussing it as a feature rather than a bug. They call it a “beaked tip” ideal for pinpoint clitoral stimulation. I tend to like my clit stimulation a bit broader, but if you prefer the tiniest of touches on your clit, this seam/ridge can focus the toy’s powerful vibrations into a very small area so you can get the specificity you need.

Vaginally, the curve is just right for my body. Not as extreme as a Pure Wand but much more pleasurable than a straight shaft, this is a Goldilocks-level G-spot toy for me. It arcs effortlessly into my spot, but doesn’t press so hard as to cause discomfort, even in the early stages of arousal when that’s always a risk for me. It locks into place fairly well behind my pubic bone, making it easy for me to thrust or rock the toy to my heart’s content, or just leave it stationary while I do other stuff to my clit. This is also exactly the type of toy that makes it super easy for me to squirt.

The motor is, as advertised, excellent. It starts low and rumbly – perfect for warm-up, or a slow and lazy wank – and stays fairly rumbly as you turn up the power. There are 5 speeds, and you can also hold down the “up” and “down” buttons for a more gradual change. (I slightly wish there was an accompanying app, as with We-Vibe toys, so I could have even more fine-tuned control of the settings.) People who need a lot of power probably won’t find this toy strong enough, and for them I would recommend putting a G-spot attachment on a wand instead. The Arc also has 5 patterns, all fairly steady rhythms that work really well for my G-spot. Even leaving the toy perfectly still inside me can feel like motion when it’s set to one of the thrumming/pulsing/pounding patterns.

Since the Arc is also waterproof and pretty quiet, I think this would be a good option for someone who has to keep their solo sex life on the down-low at home, due to kids/nosy relatives/etc. Tell your fam you’re gonna need some time alone in the bath or shower, and you should be fine! It even comes with a cute cloth storage bag bearing the (totally non-explicit) Dame logo, so you can tuck it away when you’re not using it and it won’t draw attention.

The Arc costs a cool $115 – but seems pretty reasonable when you compare it to other G-spot vibrators of similar quality, like the We-Vibe Rave ($113), BMS Factory Swan Wand ($150), and Lelo Mona 2 ($169). Dame offers a 3-year warranty, and that certainly sweetens the deal.

Overall, I think the Dame Arc is a really fantastic vibrator, one that I wish I had been able to own when I was a teen. It’s simple and elegant, yet undeniably effective. If there’s a person in your life who has a vagina and has minimal (or no) sex toy experience, I think this would be a great gift for them, because it’s not overly intimidating but is still plenty great enough to get the job done. But this is also a lovely vibe for someone like me, who’s tried hundreds of toys and just wants something that works well. With the Arc, Dame has created an all-rounder and an instant classic. I can’t wait to see what they make next.

 

Thanks so much to my friends at TheVibed for sending me this product and sponsoring this review! As always, all writing and opinions are my own.