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Review: Ppunson Tom 36-lb. realistic male torso sex doll

Kate Sloan
(My hickey in this photo is not from Tom 😉)

“What the fuck is this huge box?!??!?”

That’s what I shouted when the Ppunson 36-lb. realistic male torso sex doll arrived at my apartment. (Phew, his name is a mouthful. Just like his dick.)

You see, my email inbox can be a chaotic place, and I hadn’t realized Ppunson had decided to move ahead with a review, so I was genuinely baffled. “It’s probably a sex doll, right?” said my wife with a shrug. “I mean, what else would be this big?”

Indeed, when I tore open the box (and the multiple smaller boxes therein, matryoshka-style), I discovered a lifelike (though not exactly life-sized) sex doll with an enormous penis. My life is very weird. Let’s talk about this Ppunson doll. He’s referred to by the name “Tom” on the Ppunson website, so I’ll be referring to him as such in this review.

The day Tom arrived (photo by mb) – I am 5’4″, for reference!

Tech specs

Before we proceed, a few technical details on this barrel-chested marvel of sexy engineering:

  • Weight: Tom weighs 36 lbs, which is a little bit heavier than the dick-wielding sex doll I previously reviewed, the Tantaly Mark (33.6 lbs).
  • Height & width: Tom measures about 26 inches tall, from the bottom of his cut-off thighs to the top of his cut-off neck. He’s 29 inches wide at his widest point, which is his hips.
  • Dick: Tom’s dick is 8 inches long, and its widest diameter is about 1.6 inches.
  • Materials: Tom is made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a squishy, lifelike, porous material. It also contains a flexible skeleton that allows it to be positioned in various ways.
  • Hole: Tom has a fuckable butthole, which goes 5 inches deep and is pleasantly textured like the inside of a Fleshlight. I don’t have a dick so I wasn’t able to test this aspect of the toy.
At rest in my office

Things I like about the Ppunson Tom:

  • Good dick firmness: When I reviewed a different sex doll previously, my top complaint was that its dick was so squishy I could hardly feel it inside me – but Tom has no such issues. Its dick is a nice blend of firm-versus-soft, akin to something like VixSkin – it’s not dual-density, but the bendable metal core feels firmer than the TPE surrounding it, which almost makes it feel dual-density. Orgasming with this doll’s dick inside me is satisfying and intense, because I can feel it being rhythmically squeezed like a stress ball with every vaginal contraction.
  • Firm chest is good for leverage: The other sex doll I’ve tried was so squishy that my fist would sink unsettlingly into its chest if I tried to push on that area for leverage while riding it, the way I often do when riding human partners. The Tom, by comparison, has a firmer body overall, so it actually holds its shape when I lean on it, and is therefore easier to ride.
  • Angle-adjustable dick: While the shape/curve of the dick can’t be altered and is always ultra-straight (of which more below), the angle at which it juts out from the doll’s body can be adjusted, which makes this doll a lot more versatile than most. For example, when I got too tired to keep riding Tom’s dick, I was able to lie down with my legs draped over his chest (sort of like this) and bend his dick downward so it would fit inside me. I could still grind up and down on his dick, but this position gave me a lot more room to use a vibrator on my clit, and was also a lot comfier for me, so I appreciated Tom’s phallic flexibility.
  • Beautiful realistic details: I wrote “pretty nipples” in my testing notes, and it’s true, they are quite pretty. Granted, I was probably only checking them out because the doll has no head/face so I had little else to look at while riding him, but still – I think most people are more visually oriented than I am, and would therefore appreciate these little touches! Tom’s dick is also veiny in a realistically droolworthy way, and his balls look remarkably real too.
  • Reasonably priced: Tom currently retails for $187 USD, less than half the price of the similar Tantaly doll I previously tested. It’s kind of wild that you can get a whole poseable torso, complete with fuckable butt and rideable dick, for less than the price of a high-end wand vibrator.
Obligatory dick-‘n’-balls close-up

Things I don’t like about the Ppunson Tom:

  • Porous material: Lots of sex dolls, including this one, are made out of porous materials like TPE or TPR – which is understandable, since it would presumably be cost-prohibitive to make a toy this large out of silicone – but it poses a number of problems, namely:
    • Hygiene issues: Porous materials can never be entirely sanitized, so once you’ve gotten your bodily fluids on/in this doll, you shouldn’t share it with anyone else unless you’re okay with being fluid-bonded with them. (For this reason, I used a condom on Tom’s dick while testing it, because a friend wants to adopt him after I’m done with my review.)
    • Durability: Porous materials don’t last as long as non-porous ones before they start to smell weird or fall apart, so you may need to replace your doll in a few years or so, depending on how often you use it and how well you take care of it.
    • Upkeep necessary: TPE sometimes starts to feel sticky/tacky and needs to be sprinkled with cornstarch after cleaning to maintain its smooth, soft texture. More upkeep tips here.
    • No silicone- or oil-based lubes: You can only use water-based lubes with this doll, which don’t last as long as alternatives and may therefore need to be reapplied more often.
    • Easily stained: Ppunson warns that you shouldn’t wear dark-colored or brand-new clothing when using your doll (and likewise shouldn’t dress the doll in anything brand-new or dark-colored), as clothing dyes can stain the porous material.
  • Dick too straight: Why don’t more sex doll companies make dolls with a curved dick?! I guess maybe they want the toy to be adaptable to various different positions, and a good curve for the missionary position is different from a good curve for doggie-style, for instance… but I found Tom’s dick to be so straight that it kept painfully poking me in the cervix, and I had to be careful about positioning to get it anywhere near my A-spot.
  • Bulky, heavy, hard to clean: As is standard for sex dolls, cleaning this guy is a rigamarole. Generally you’re gonna have to put him in a bathtub or shower to wash him, especially if you make use of his butthole – and I’m rarely in the mood to lug around 36 pounds of dead weight when I’ve just jerked off! It’s also obviously hard to store something this big, especially in a small apartment (under the bed is often a good spot).
  • Uncomfortable-looking back arch: I’m sure plenty of gay men (among others) would appreciate Tom’s impressive back arch when using him from behind, but I was mostly riding his dick, and every time I looked at his elaborately arched back, I couldn’t help but think, “Yikes, that looks uncomfortable,” which took me out of the moment a little.
  • No storage case: The Tom doll doesn’t come with any kind of carrying case or storage bag, which is annoying, especially given how easy it is to stain TPE and how hard it is to carry this thing around. Sure, you could keep it in one of the cardboard boxes it came in, but that’s not particularly protective and certainly not sexy, unless you’ve got a corrugation fetish!
  • Only one skin tone: Unfortunately this is pretty common in the realm of sex dolls, but this doll is only available in a Caucasian skin tone. So far as I can tell, that’s true of all the other Ppunson dolls, too.
This doll’s got cake 🍰

Final thoughts

A lot of the problems I have with the Ppunson Tom are problems I have with sex dolls in general: it’s heavy and bulky, annoying to clean, and made of a porous material. You’d be hard-pressed to find a sex doll that doesn’t have these drawbacks, especially for less than $300.

Indeed, Tom‘s $187 price tag makes me inclined to forgive most of his flaws. He costs less than half what my last big-dicked sex doll did, but his cock feels better inside me, he’s easier to use in various positions, and I find him more visually appealing than that other doll. I do wish that his dick wasn’t so straight, and that his spine wasn’t so alarmingly contorted, but overall, I’ve enjoyed testing him. Thanks to Ppunson for surprise-sending me this nude cutie – he’s one of the better uninvited guests I’ve had in a while!

 

This post was sponsored, meaning I was paid to write a fair and honest review of this product. As always, all writing and opinions are my own.

Review: Lovense Exomoon lipstick vibrator

Kate Sloan

What is the Lovense Exomoon?

Reviewing a lipstick-shaped pressure-wave toy earlier this week made me realize – I’ve never reviewed the lipstick-shaped Lovense Exomoon vibe, even though it’s one of my favorite clitoral vibrators released in the last decade!

As far as Lovense toys go, this one is pretty simple. It’s basically just your standard bullet vibrator, except that it’s made to look like a lipstick, complete with red tapered tip and sleek removable cap. But it’s a great vibrator, and is easily the best lipstick-esque sex toy I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. Let’s discuss its many benefits and its very few shortcomings…

Things I like about the Lovense Exomoon:

  • Strong: These vibrations are impressively powerful, especially for such a petite vibe. I’ve taken the Exomoon with me while traveling on many occasions, and have never felt disappointed that I didn’t bring a bigger/stronger vibe instead, because the Exomoon has always gotten the job done. Its tip is made of silicone, but it’s firm enough that it doesn’t dull the vibrations, as with something like the squishy-tipped We-Vibe Touch X.
  • Rumbly-ish: While it definitely gets buzzier the more that you turn it up, for the most part the Exomoon vibrates at a satisfyingly rumbly (i.e. low-pitched) frequency. It’s not as rumbly as my beloved We-Vibe Tango X, but it’s still notably rumbly for its size, and can easily get me off, sometimes even through a layer or two of clothing, due to how stimulating it is.
  • Price: The Exomoon retails for $79, which is slightly cheaper than the comparable and excellent We-Vibe Tango X ($85). Sure, it’s pricier than your average bullet, but most bullets are buzzy and cheap-feeling (especially those that use disposable batteries), whereas both the Exomoon and Tango X feel high-quality and have a robust, rumbly motor that makes them worth the money.
  • Angled tip: Like the Tango X (and like most actual lipsticks), the Exomoon has an angled tip that tapers to a point. This gives you many different sensation options, depending on how you hold the toy. I mostly place the flat bit against my clitoral hood or inner labia for some indirect stimulation, but folks who prefer more intense/pinpointed sensations could use the very tip of the toy, whereas those who prefer broader sensations could just lay the toy flat against their junk.
  • Waterproof: The Exomoon is IPX7 waterproof, so you can use it in the shower, bath, etc. without issue – and I have!
  • Battery life: The Exomoon lasts up to 3 hours on a 2-hour charge. That’s notably longer than the comparable Tango X‘s 2-hour runtime, although the Tango takes only 90 minutes to charge.
  • Small & lightweight: The Exomoon’s tiny size allows it to fit neatly between bodies during sex. I also never struggle to hold onto the Exomoon, even on bad hand pain days.
  • Portable: Not only is the Exomoon small enough to easily be tucked into a pocket or purse; it also has a lipstick-like cap that helps protect the business end from dirt/dust in transit. I wish it also had a travel lock function, though.
  • Discreet: Unlike most other lipstick-esque sex toys, the Exomoon could actually be mistaken for a lipstick if someone spotted it in your bag or on your nightstand, so you wouldn’t be immediately outing yourself as owning as a vibrator.
  • Long-distance controllable: I don’t tend to use clitoral vibes this way because I like to control them myself, but it’s good to know that the Exomoon, like most other Lovense products, can be used long-distance via Lovense’s fantastic app.
  • Same charger as other Lovense toys: Surprisingly few sex toy companies do this – Lovense uses the same charging cable for most of their toys, including this one. May not matter to you if you only ever intend to own one Lovense toy, but if you own multiples, this is super convenient, especially when traveling.
L to R: MAC M·A·Cximal Sleek Satin lipstick in “Center of Attention” (a lovely gift from my friend Edzel ❤️), the Lovense Exomoon, and Pat McGrath MatteTrance lipstick in “Elson”

Things I don’t like about the Lovense Exomoon:

  • Only 3 steady speeds: If you’re just using the Exomoon as-is without connecting it to the Lovense app on your phone, you can press its one button to cycle through 3 steady speeds followed by 4 patterns. I strongly prefer vibes to have at least 8 steady speeds (as the Tango X does), since it allows for a more gradual/less jarring experience – but at least I can vary the vibration strength more minutely using the app when I really want to.
  • Noisy-ish: While not ridiculously loud, the Exomoon is louder than I’d prefer/expect of a vibe this size. I measured its decibel level using my Apple Watch and found that it tops out at about 61 db (roughly the volume of a dishwasher), whereas the Tango X never gets above 45 db (somewhere between a refrigerator and moderate rainfall). The Exomoon also sounds buzzier/more high-pitched than the Tango, so the noise is more noticeable and marginally more grating.
  • Name: You know I’m grasping at straws to come up with downsides when I bring up something as trivial as a product’s name! Seriously though, I don’t get why Lovense’s lipstick vibe is named after “a natural satellite that orbits an exoplanet or other non-stellar extrasolar body” instead of something lipstick-related. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Lovense Exomoon (center) once again surrounded by lipsticks

Final thoughts

I’m a big fan of the Lovense Exomoon! I think it’s a solid, decently-priced clitoral vibrator, with a fun aesthetic that’s cute without being cutesy. It’s strong and rumbly enough to always be able to get me off, and portable enough that I’ve taken it with me on many overnight stays and vacations.

I wish its presets included more than 3 steady speeds, and that it was a bit quieter. As-is, I think the We-Vibe Tango X is a slightly better vibe on most dimensions, so I would generally recommend that one instead. But if you prefer the Exomoon’s lipstick-y look, and/or you want the long-distance controllability offered by Lovense toys, I think the Exomoon is well worth considering. It gets my seal of approval! 💋

 

This post was not sponsored, although Lovense did send me the product for free back when it launched in 2022.

Review: Chalovelo Lipsip pressure-wave stimulator

Kate Sloan

What is the Chalovelo Lipsip?

I am a femme, known for both wearing lipstick and writing about lipstick’s sexual applications – so it always catches my eye when sex toy companies make products that look like lipstick!

I’ve tried a few vibrators along these lines, the best of which is the Lovense Exomoon – but the Chalovelo Lipsip is different, because it’s a pressure-wave simulator, not a vibrator. That means it stimulates the clitoris with rhythmic air waves, creating a sensation that’s somewhere between tapping and mild suction. Let’s see if it performed as well as my favorite lipsticks do…

Things I like about the Chalovelo Lipsip:

  • Multiple attachments: The Lipsip comes with 3 different attachments: one for small-to-medium-sized clits (0.43″ diameter), one for medium-to-slightly-larger clits (0.55″ diameter), and one that is angled (0.51″ diameter). It’s great to have options for this type of toy, because clitoral size and shape are so variable. The better a pressure-wave toy fits your clit, the better it can form a seal, which allows these toys to stimulate you in the way they do. (I wouldn’t recommend this one for folks with large and/or testosterone-enhanced clits, though, unless you want a toy that mainly just focuses on the tip and not the shaft.)
  • 7 intensity settings: While the Lipsip’s website claims it has 9 intensity settings, it actually has 7 intensity settings followed by 3 patterns. However, even 7 is impressive for a toy at this price point ($50), and I appreciate the huge variance between the first setting’s low-and-slow tickle and the highest setting’s buzzier thumping. This toy could be a good option for people who have found other pressure-wave toys too intense, because this one starts out very mild and builds up from there.
  • Rumbly/thumpy: The quality/timbre of these pressure-waves is pleasantly low-pitched, so it stimulates my clit in a way that feels more full-bodied (and thus more enjoyable) than some other pressure-wave toys at this price point. It can feel really good, especially when I’m already turned on by the time I start using the Lipsip.
  • Low battery indicator: It’s rare for toys at this price point to have a way of notifying you when their battery is low, but it’s a crucial feature for avoiding ruined orgasms, IMO, so I appreciate that the Lipsip has one! (Its battery lasts about 1 hour on a charge, by the way, which is okay but not great.)
Size comparison with an actual lipstick (Cherry Lush by Tom Ford, my MVP)

Things I don’t like about the Chalovelo Lipsip:

  • Not strong enough: I repeatedly tried to get off with this toy, and it just wasn’t strong enough to get me there. It felt okay-to-good most of the time I was using it; it just didn’t have the chutzpah I needed, ultimately. This was made even more frustrating by this next drawback…
  • Patterns: Once you reach the Lipsip’s highest speed, clicking its one button again will switch to a rhythmic pattern. But there’s no way to know when you’ve reached the highest speed (and, as I just described, it isn’t even all that high), so it would be all too easy to ruin your orgasm by hitting the button at a crucial moment. Toy designers, I beg of you, make patterns accessible only via their own separate button, or don’t include them at all, please!
  • Lipstick-inspired design: Look, it’s a cute idea, and could theoretically make this product more discreet – if not for the fact that it’s about 50% bigger than an actual tube of lipstick, so only the most cosmetically inexperienced onlookers would ever mistake it for an actual makeup product. The “lipstick cap” could’ve been a useful innovation for keeping out dust/dirt when you travel with the toy, except that the cap pops off at the slightest provocation (unlike most real lipstick caps, which take their protective duties seriously!).
  • Not waterproof: The Lipsip is IPX6 water-resistant, so you can wash it in the sink or use it in the shower, but shouldn’t submerge it in water. I gotta ding this toy for not being waterproof because I love to use pressure-wave toys in the bath, and always wish I could!
  • Noisy: On its highest setting, the Lipsip would be audible (albeit faintly) through a closed door. Most of its settings would certainly be audible to someone who was in the same room as you.

Final thoughts

As a femme and a comedy fan, I enjoy the Chalovelo Lipsip‘s commitment to the bit – that “bit” being its resemblance to a tube of lipstick. That said, I’m not sure this is the ideal form factor for a pressure-wave toy – and if you’re gonna make a product with a removable cap on it, please ensure the cap will stay on when the toy is riding around in my pocket/purse!

Gotta say, though, I admire Chalovelo’s decision to include three different attachments with this toy, especially at a $50 price point (which is fairly low for a pressure-wave toy). It’s always lovely to see a sex toy company thoughtfully accounting for the broad range of bodies out there. To that end, I also love that the Lipsip starts low and slow, for those of us who like to increase stimulation gently and gradually throughout a session. Its pressure-waves also feel delightfully thumpy/low-pitched, in relation to some other comparable pressure-wave toys; my clit approves.

My clit is, however, less thrilled about this toy just not being strong enough to make me come. (Today I whipped out my Pulse Queen to finish the job, if you must know!) I also wish it had more than one button, to reduce the risk of ruined orgasms when you inadvertently switch from steady speeds into patterns. But if you’re shopping for a beginner-friendly pressure-wave toy on a budget, you could do worse than the sleek, chic Lipsip. Like a beautiful babe in a bold lip, or a sucker-punch right in the kisser, the Lipsip might just make you weak in the knees.

 

This post was sponsored, meaning I was paid to write a fair and honest review of the product. As always, all writing and opinions are my own.

Review: Lelo Switch double-ended wand vibrator

Kate Sloan

What is the Lelo Switch?

A few readers were curious about the Switch when I listed it as one of my favorite toys of 2025, despite it being far from perfect – so I thought I’d review it in full today!

Naming it the Switch was an interesting choice, given that it was released the same year as the Nintendo Switch 2, but whatever, you do you, Lelo! Its name refers to the fact that it’s double-ended, with a motor in each end, so you can “switch” back and forth between its wand head and its G-spot-targeting handle.

It’s rechargeable, and is made of silicone and ABS plastic. It’s 8.5″ long, with about 4″ of insertable length on the G-spot side, the widest diameter of which is about 1.3″.

Switch vs. Switch

Things I like about the Lelo Switch:

  • Rumbly vibrations: While the vibration strength leaves something to be desired (of which more below), the timbre/pitch of these vibrations is deliciously rumbly, which most people (myself included) find more pleasurable than surface-level buzzy vibrations. With the Switch, I don’t experience the temporary desensitization that I get from buzzy vibrators, so I can enjoy the toy’s sensations all the way through a session.
  • Wide range of vibration speeds: This has always been one of Lelo’s strong suits. The Switch starts at a very low speed – just a gentle, teasing rumble – and has a whopping 16 intensity levels, which is way more than any wand I’m aware of. If you’ve used wands before and found that they felt too intense or that the big jumps between speeds were too jarring, you’d likely appreciate the subtler gradation offered by the Switch.
  • Color: This shade of teal/turquoise is absolutely stunning, and surprisingly uncommon in sex toys. I still don’t love the weird faux-metal detailing Lelo likes to incorporate, though, because it gets scuffed easily and is cheap-looking compared to the classic Apple-esque Lelo aesthetic of yore. But presumably some people think it looks luxurious and sexy, or they wouldn’t keep making toys that feature it! Right…?!
  • Lightweight: The Switch only weighs 167 grams, or about 0.37 pounds. That’s significantly lighter than other wands of a comparable size, like the We-Vibe Wand 2 (1.5 pounds) and Magic Wand Mini (0.6 pounds). As someone who struggles with chronic pain and muscle weakness, I love having a lightweight wand in my collection that I can grab when other wands feel too tiring to hold.
  • Decent battery life: You get about 2 hours of usage from a 2-hour charge with the Switch, which is comparable with other rechargeable mini wands on the market.
  • Quiet: This is one of the quietest wand vibrators I’ve ever used. Even its highest speed is only 62 decibels (according to the noise-measuring app on my Apple Watch), which is about as loud as a dishwasher. (For reference, the Magic Wand Rechargeable and Waterproof both top out at about 75 db, which is louder than a vacuum cleaner.)
  • Waterproof: The Switch is 100% waterproof, so you can use it in the shower or tub, and can wash it without fear of ruining it. Yay!
  • Inflexible neck: Some people prefer wands with a bendy neck, but I’ve always preferred ones with as little flex as possible, since that allows you to apply more pressure if/when you want to.
  • Travel lock: Like many other Lelo toys, the Switch has a travel lock function, so it won’t start buzzing in your purse/pocket/suitcase if you don’t want it to. Just hold down the “+” and “–” buttons simultaneously for a few seconds to lock or unlock it.

Things I don’t like about the Lelo Switch:

  • Not strong enough: Is the Switch strong, relative to other Lelo vibes? I’d say so! Is it strong relative to other wands? Not exactly. Its highest vibration speed is somewhere in between the first and second speeds of both the Magic Wand Mini and Rechargeable. If power is your priority (as is often the case for wand users), you should just get one of those instead. I’ve also noticed that the Switch’s vibrations feel somewhat buried below the surface of the toy, resulting in orgasms that feel slightly more muted/less satisfying than wand orgasms usually do for me.
  • Double-endedness: [Gretchen Weiners voice] Stop trying to make double-ended toys happen. They’re not going to happen!! …Okay, I’m sort of kidding; some people like ’em, and there are a few double-ended toys I adore, such as the NobEssence Seduction and Njoy Pure Wand – but notably, when I use those toys, I typically only use one side per session. I don’t “switch” back and forth between ends throughout, as the name of Lelo’s wand seems to encourage, because I don’t like the sensory nightmare of getting lube/vaginal fluids all over my hands. I would always prefer that a sex toy just do one thing really well.
  • Not G-spotty enough: The curve of the Switch’s G-spot end is okay – it indeed hits my spot, and can feel good – but ultimately it isn’t as deeply curved as a G-spot vibe should be, IMO. I often find myself angling the toy downward to apply more pressure to my spot, which tires out my arm after a while and shouldn’t be necessary with a well-designed G-spot toy. There are tons of better G-spot vibes out there, from the Swan Wand to the Dame Arc to Lelo’s own Mona 2 – and what they all have in common is that they’re more curved than the Switch’s handle.
  • Confusing controls: The double-endedness would be easier to deal with if I could guarantee that the vibrations would stay in the end of the toy I’m actually using for the entire duration of a session, but that’s trickier to achieve than you’d think. The center button on the control panel allows you to scroll through 10 different vibration modes – 4 that vibrate the wand’s head, 4 that vibrate the G-spot end of the toy, and 2 that utilize both ends (presumably so couples can both use the toy simultaneously?) – but the toy alternates between the two ends as you flip through modes, which is irritating. You can also change the vibration mode with your phone by using the Lelo app, but the app’s interface is confusing and the modes are poorly labeled.
  • Shallow insertion only: When using the G-spot end of the Switch, you can only insert it up to 4 inches before the toy’s buttons start going inside you. Granted, the G-spot itself is located only 2-3 inches inside, so for some users this may not matter, but I usually prefer deeper penetration and it’s annoying that the Switch’s buttons get gunked up with vag juice if I push this toy as deep as I like.
  • 20-minute auto-shutoff: Like the rechargeable Magic Wands, the Switch automatically shuts off after 20 minutes of use to prevent overheating (although you can increase that timespan to 30 minutes in the settings of the Lelo app). I find auto-shutoffs annoying and occasionally orgasm-ruining, but I get around this problem by turning the vibe off and back on again every so often.
  • Vibrations transmit into handle: Even when I’m using the wand side’s motor exclusively, its vibrations still transmit into the other side of the toy, vibrating my hand. I find this bothersome after a while. (Yeesh, it really doesn’t speak well of this toy that I just had to look up synonyms for “annoying” while writing this…)
  • Ridged texture: Fun Factory already tried making a ridgey-headed wand, supposedly because the ridges help the toy cling onto lube better, but I just found those ridges a bit abrasive against my skin. The Switch’s texture isn’t as extreme, but it still feels unnecessary, more of an aesthetic touch than a practical one. Even when I insert the G-spot end, I can barely feel the “ultra-soft sensorial ribs” (to use Lelo’s terminology), so I’m not sure why they’re there.
  • Price: As is par for the course with Lelo, this vibe is too damn expensive for what it is. Its retail price is $200(!!) – although, as of this writing, it’s on sale for $180 at Lovehoney – which makes it one of the priciest wands on the market, up there with the ultra-powerful Doxy Die Cast and Magic Wand Waterproof. It’s a nice vibe, sure, but I don’t think it’s nice enough to be worth $200.
Size comparison; from left to right: Lelo Switch, We-Vibe Wand 2, Magic Wand Mini, and Magic Wand Rechargeable

Final thoughts

When sex toy companies try to create multipurpose toys, too often they end up making something mediocre. For years, I have said that Lelo and other vibrator companies should focus on just making really good vibrators that do their one job very well. The Switch attempts to do two things – external vibration like a wand, and internal vibration like a G-spot vibe – and it’s therefore only so-so at both of them.

That being said, there are reasons some people might nonetheless enjoy it – hell, even I do, sometimes! The ideal user for the Switch would be someone who meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • likes rumbly vibration but doesn’t need it to be ultra-powerful
  • enjoys both clitoral & G-spot stimulation, though not necessarily at the same time
  • appreciates a luxurious aesthetic & doesn’t mind spending big bucks on a sex toy
  • needs, for privacy reasons, a vibrator that is both quiet & waterproof
  • travels frequently & wants a travel-friendly, versatile vibrator

…but I’ll level with ya: If you want power, you want a Magic Wand instead. If you want an intense G-spot vibe, you want the Swan Wand or Mona. The Switch has given me plenty of orgasms with its wonderfully rumbly vibrations, but alas, its high price tag, underwhelming power, and confusing controls make it hard to recommend. It’s not as mechanically glitchy as Lelo’s previous attempt at making a wand, the Smart Wand, which is good, I guess – but the wand category is competitive, and plenty of other wands massively outperform the Switch. Better luck next time, Lelo! 🪄

 

This post was not sponsored, but Lelo did send me the product for free. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

7 Reasons My Book Makes a Great Valentine’s Day Gift!

Kate Sloan

My first book, 101 Kinky Things Even You Can Do, has been out for over 5 years, but I still hear from people regularly that it’s changing their sex lives for the better! (And yes, I do still cry every time I receive one of these emails… What can I say; I’m a sentimental pervert who loves helping other perverts become even pervier!)

Valentine’s Day is coming up real soon, and I know there can be a lot of pressure to buy your partner(s) the perfect gift. You could always go classic – flowers and chocolates, anyone? – but if you’re looking to get your sweetheart(s) something a little spicier, might I suggest 101 Kinky Things? Here are 7 reasons it makes a great Valentine’s Day gift!

1. It’s a conversation-starter

People are always asking me for advice on bringing up kinks with a seemingly vanilla partner. That leap of faith can be super scary, because of the risk of judgment or rejection – so why not let this book do the heavy lifting for you?

If you want, you can even mark certain pages with sticky notes so your partner knows exactly what you’re most curious about when they flip through it. And then you can ask them, “Which kinks appeal to you in this book?” There’s a wide range of activities, from mild (kissing, sexting, massage) to wild (electrostimulation, hypnosis, figging), so just about every reader will be able to find something in here to get excited about, regardless of their level of kink experience.

2. It’s full of actionable ideas for spicing things up

Does your sex life feel like it’s stuck in a rut? Not all ruts are bad, per se – sometimes it’s comforting to have a sex life built around acts you both reliably love! – but more variety often leads to more excitement. There’s an actual neurochemical reason for that: as anthropologist Helen Fisher explains in her book Why We Love, trying new things promotes more dopamine production in the brain, which can juice up your libido. Fun!

It’s a real point of pride for me that Kinky Things isn’t just a theoretical treatise on kink – three specific scene ideas are listed for each and every “kinky thing” in the book, so if you read about something that intrigues you, you can try it pretty much immediately. You don’t have to be a kink expert or do a ton of research for most of these activities, so it’s easy to get started, even if you’re a nervous newbie.

3. It’s fun to read together or separately

Some couples have told me that they enjoy leafing through 101 Kinky Things together, discussing each kink and whether it’s something they’d be willing to try. Some other couples have told me that they’ve each read it separately, maybe marking pages they wanted to ask their partner about, or making notes to discuss together afterward. Either way, this book can be a helpful communication tool and intimacy-booster!

4. It’s far more safety- & ethics-focused than Fifty Shades, etc.

Look, I love kinky erotica as much as the next literary perv, but there’s no denying that Fifty Shades promotes some pretty problematic ideas about kink. Consent contracts, creepy stalker behavior, non-consensual toast-eating… It’s a bit of a mess, ethically speaking! Erotica isn’t necessarily obligated to be ethical – it’s just fantasy, after all – but it can become an issue when (as often happens) someone views sexy media as an instruction manual, when it’s very much not intended as such.

To that end, I think 101 Kinky Things would be good to include alongside any kinky erotica you’re buying for your sweetheart. It addresses the ethics and safety considerations of each kink listed therein, and also contains good general information about basic kink concepts like negotiation and aftercare.

5. It adds to your kinky cachet

Look, I’m just saying… There is a certain type of sex nerd whose eyes would light up if they saw this book on your shelf, either because of its glamorously saucy aesthetic, or because they recognize my name from my podcast or somesuch. So if you buy a copy for your (non-monogamous) darlin’, maybe they can impress their other dates with it, you compersive cutie, you!

(On that note, I once saw a man on Tinder who was reading 101 Kinky Things in one of his photos. Obviously I SCREAMED and asked him out! He turned out to be a very good kisser, as you might expect… and I was struck by the socially intelligent move of “flagging” as kinky by including that photo on his profile!)

6. It’s beautifully illustrated

All these years later and I’m still swooning over the gorgeous illustrations Ewa Żak did for Kinky Things. They show a diverse range of body types doing all kinds of sexy stuff, and they set exactly the right tone for the book: classy-yet-depraved! Some of my faves are the ones for submission, medical play, and corsets… What are yours?

7. You can use it for impact play!

I love a good spanking, so naturally I was excited to try out Kinky Things as an impact implement as soon as the first proofs arrived in my hot little hands… and it turned out to be pretty awesome for that purpose! I’d recommend holding it by the outer edge and hitting someone’s ass with either the front/back of the book or its spine, so as to avoid pokey corners. It’s delightfully thuddy – my fave! Could be the perfect end to a romantic Valentine’s date… or maybe just the beginning? 😉

 

You can buy 101 Kinky Things on Bookshop.org or wherever you get your books! Thanks, babes, and I hope you have a rollicking good Valentine’s Day no matter how you spend it 💖