Sex Toy Reviews

Review: Utimi Hands-Free Automatic Penis Pump

Kate Sloan

When my partner and I tested the Utimi hands-free automatic penis pump together for the first time over FaceTime, and we were trying to decide whether they should use the included cock ring with the pump or not, I said, “Well, how would you normally use a penis pump?” and they said, “I’ve never used one, so I wouldn’t know.” For some reason I had 100% assumed that they would have tried one at least once before, even though they didn’t actually own one before getting this one.

I think that’s just because I can’t imagine not having a clit pump in my sex toy arsenal. It does something that no other type of toy can really do. Sure, there are some toys which claim to be “clit suckers,” but those are actually using pressure-wave technology for the most part, which is different. I like that the clit pump almost forces me to become aroused – first physically, and then (if I’m in the right frame of mind) mentally – by engorging my clit with blood, essentially creating an artificial clitoral erection. Pressure-wave toys like Womanizer don’t typically do this, or at least not as consistently.

In much the same way, many pleasure-oriented “suction” products for penises do some sort of rhythmic contraction/intermittent tightening, which isn’t quite the same as what a penis pump provides: consistent, insistent suction over the entire length of the dick. The difference matters, because of the effects that can be achieved with each. Penis pumps aren’t necessarily pleasurable; they aren’t designed to be, in the way that some of those “blowjob simulator”-type toys are. Pumps are mostly used either for encouraging a nominal amount of penis growth over a long period of regular use (the effectiveness of which is debatable), or for addressing erectile dysfunction.

The way they work is, you put on a cock ring and then put a lubed-up pump on and start gradually pumping air out of it, which pulls blood into your dick – and since the blood is trapped in there by the ring around the base, this hopefully helps you achieve a boner even if you otherwise struggle to do so. Some experts even think that doing this regularly can increase your overall erection quality, whether or not you choose to use the pump before any given sex or masturbation session.

Though erectile dysfunction isn’t a problem they deal with, my partner was more than willing to test out the Utimi hands-free automatic penis pump so I could review it. Let’s talk about it.

 

 

What is the Utimi hands-free automatic penis pump?

Broadly speaking, there are two types of penis pumps: manual and electronic. The manual ones involve hand-pumping air, while the electronic (or “automatic”) types do the pumping for you, at the press of a button.

This Utimi pump is of the latter type; it’s a rechargeable electronic penis pump. Here are some of the things my partner and I like and dislike about it.

 

Gif via Utimi

Things I like about this toy:

  • I have to say, it fucking works. The gif to the left made me cackle out loud when I first saw it, because it’s so cartoonish and obviously fake, but when I actually saw my partner use this toy on FaceTime for the first time – starting from almost totally flaccid – the transformation was nearly as fast and as intense as the one pictured in this gif. This pump really does kind of conjure a boner out of thin air, and combined with a cock ring, that boner can have staying power. Good news for ED sufferers!
  • It’s nice that it comes with a cock ring, as well as a bottle of water-based lube. These are accessories that everyone should have on hand when using a penis pump, so it’s super convenient that they’re included.
  • The controls are simple, and easy to learn: there’s an on/off button that also functions as a “pause” button when short-pressed, as well as a “+” button, a “–” button, and a quick-release button.
  • The quick-release is manual, not electronic, as it should be – and it works. Never buy a penis pump where the pressure release has to be done electronically, as this could be very dangerous if the electronics fail mid-session for whatever reason.
  • There are measurements printed along the shaft of the pump, like a ruler. This is cool because it lets you see just how much your dick is actually growing, plus it could potentially be fun to use as part of a small penis humiliation scene or somesuch.
  • In addition to two soft endcaps that make the base of the pump more comfy when it’s pressed against your pubic mound, this pump also comes with another endcap designed to look like a vulva. There’s no texture or anything on the inside – this ain’t no Fleshlight – but it does provide a nice visual if you’re into pussies, and it’s also more cushioned than the other two endcaps, so it’d be a good pick if you find the pump’s edges too pokey around the base of your dick.
  • The components of the toy can be disassembled for easier cleaning. Everything except the motor component is water-resistant.

Things I don’t like about this toy:

  • I don’t feel able to say with 100% certainty that this pump is safe to use. I interviewed a penis pump expert for a piece I wrote for MEL a few months ago, and he said that pumps should always have a gauge which tells you how much pressure is being exerted at any given time, so that you can know for sure that you’re staying within a safe zone. This pump offers no way to monitor the pressure.
  • The pressure is also way too intense, even on the first of its four suction settings. My partner found it unpleasantly tight, and said it was “like a different version of CBT” (cock and ball torture). Each setting escalates, starting at a low amount of pressure and working its way up – and if you manage to press the pause button at the moment you’ve reached your ideal amount of pressure, you can keep it there, and then gradually increase it as needed by unpausing and then quickly pausing it again. But this level of manipulation really shouldn’t be necessary to achieve a safe and comfortable amount of pressure, and there should be less intense settings available to use.
  • The pussy endcap is made of TPE, a porous material, meaning it will eventually break down and will hold onto bacteria no matter how much you wash it. This isn’t typically as big of a deal for people with penises because they’re usually less prone to infections, etc. than vaginas are, but it’s worth knowing about, especially if you plan on sharing the toy.
  • Although Utimi emphasizes the toy’s transparentness as a selling point because it gives you a view of the dick inside, there’s a strange diamond pattern on some sections of the tube which obscures the dick visually. This seems unnecessary and I wish it were see-through all the way around.
  • The construction feels cheap – the motor end of the toy doesn’t screw onto the tube with threads, but rather, just stays in place due to tension from the tube, so it could easily fall apart mid-session. You could put it back together just fine, but it’s pretty annoying to even have to do that.

 

The toy’s controls

Final thoughts:

I don’t think the Utimi hands-free automatic penis pump is safe for most users, and especially not for beginners to pumping, because it gives you minimal control over how much pressure is being exerted, and doesn’t have a pressure gauge.

However, if you’re a pumping veteran and are good at paying attention to your body’s signals and knowing when to stop, you may be able to make use of the “pause” function on this toy to achieve your desired amount of suction without much effort. It’s also worth noting that electronic penis pumps are more accessible than manual ones for people who struggle to do the hand-pumping motion due to disability, strength issues, chronic pain, etc.

Utimi makes another penis pump that does have a pressure gauge on its LCD screen, so that might be a good option (and for some reason it’s actually cheaper than this one), but I haven’t tried it out so I can’t say for sure. But in general, especially for beginners, I’d recommend a manual penis pump with a non-digital pressure gauge, as these are safer to use and tend to give you more control over your experience.

 

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: Upko Invisible Mouth Gag

Kate Sloan

Many people enjoy the power imbalance and sense of vulnerability that can be created when one partner wears a gag during a kink scene, whether it be a ballgag, a bit gag, or some other type. But a common issue with gags is that – of course – your mouth isn’t really useable or fuckable while there’s a big piece of silicone shoved into it.

Various makers of BDSM gear have attempted to address this with inventive open-mouth gag designs, and some kinksters even repurpose Jennings gags, which help dentists keep patients’ mouths wide open during oral surgeries. But a brand called Upko took an approach to this problem that I’ve never seen before, by selling an “invisible” gag that simultaneously prevents you from talking and keeps your mouth agape and useable. Let’s talk about it.

Image via Upko

What is this gag and how does it work?

The Upko Invisible Mouth Gag comes in two main pieces, which attach at the back of the head via a strap.

Each piece features a rounded-off silicone wedge that you’re meant to bite down on, so that the gag mostly stays in place due to the pressure of your teeth. As a result, the middle of your mouth is left wide open.

 

You’re welcome for these extremely attractive photos 😇

A note on drool

In my experience, all gags promote drooling. I think this is due to the combination of having a foreign object in your mouth and no longer having the ability to swallow your spit as much or as easily.

A lot of people get nervous about wearing gags because they’re embarrassed at the thought of drooling profusely. However, if your partner is into the idea of you wearing a gag, odds are good that they’re also into the idea of you drooling. A lot of the kinky pleasure of using gags is about the vulnerability they create in the wearer, which can (optionally) tie into kinks like humiliation and objectification. For many doms, it’s super hot to see their sub drooling uncontrollably with a gag in. If you’re not sure how your partner feels about drooling during sex/kink, ask them – you might be surprised at what they say!

For similar reasons, you probably don’t need to worry about looking weird/ugly while wearing a gag. Like, yes, it’s not the most flattering look by conventional beauty standards, but plenty of kinksters aren’t that interested in conventional beauty standards anyway, as evidenced by how many doms adore the appearance of smeared lipstick, ruined mascara, ripped tights, etc. during scenes. You’ll enjoy yourself more while wearing a gag if you can accept that looking pretty is not the point – or that maybe looking vulnerable and subby is looking pretty, in the eyes of your dom.

 

Things I like about this gag

  • While we’re talking about drool: I drool a lot with this gag in. I think the open-mouth design makes it much easier for drool to spill out, which my partner finds hot.
  • The gag is relatively comfortable during use, which I wasn’t expecting. I find it less invasive and unsettling to bite down on a gag with my teeth than to have it shoved far back on my tongue, which tends to make me gag in the not-fun way. It doesn’t hurt my teeth, either, because the silicone you’re biting into is very squishy.
  • With this gag in, my mouth is indeed open wide enough that I can get face-fucked or give oral sex, especially if I bite down on the gag with my very back teeth. I wasn’t able to continue a blowjob “to completion” with the gag in, though, because it eventually got uncomfortable and made me feel like I was gonna puke (which, to be fair, would probably happen with any gag), so I just took it out to finish the job.
  • I really like the idea of this gag, having never really seen a design quite like it. Since the effectiveness and comfort of a gag really depend on your specific mouth and what it can handle, it’s good that there are plenty of different gag styles out there for different people to experiment with. If ballgags and bit gags have been untenably uncomfortable for you, it’s possible that this style of gag would work better.
  • The back strap is adjustable, with 8 different tightnesses to choose from, so this gag should fit a broad range of head sizes and tightness preferences.
  • I like that the part that goes in your mouth is made of silicone. Rubber gags, which are still sadly pretty common, are porous, meaning that they hold onto any bacteria that gets into their pores and can never be fully cleaned. Obviously, this really isn’t ideal for something that goes into your mouth, especially since the bacteria build-up can also lead to weird tastes and smells. All of that is avoided when the gag is made of silicone, as this one is, because silicone is non-porous and you can wash it and/or sanitize it in the same ways you’d clean any other silicone sex toy (just make sure to separate the silicone parts from the leather parts first).
  • The aesthetic is classic and cute. Red, black, and gold is a color combo that reminds me (regrettably) of Christian Grey, but I have to admit it looks good and would match a lot of people’s bedroom decor and plenty of other bondage equipment.
  • This gag is small and slim compared to a traditional ballgag, so it might be better for tossing into a suitcase or purse for on-the-go kink play (and might not be as immediately recognizable as a gag to nosy relatives or TSA agents).
  • My only other association with biting down on a squishy-but-firm object that keeps my mouth open is being at the dentist, so I can see how this gag would work excellently for dentistry-related roleplays. (Horny dentist taking advantage of their innocent patient, anyone?)
  • It’s really, really easy for the person wearing the gag to just spit it out or let it fall out if they want to. This can be a good thing if you’re a beginner and/or nervous about using a gag, because you can un-gag yourself quickly and without assistance if you need to.

 

Things I don’t like about this gag

  • As mentioned above, it’s very easy for the wearer to spit the gag out or let it fall out at any time, which you might not appreciate if you’re into gagging that feels forced or inescapable. The gag also fell out accidentally a few times while I was testing it, which was annoying, as we had to pause the scene to put it back in, and would’ve had to go rinse it off if it had fallen on the floor.
  • For some unfathomable reason, the parts of the gag that you actually bite down on can be separated from the long pieces of silicone attaching them to the straps. This strikes me as a choking hazard, since – if you bit down hard enough and tugged on the gag straps at just the right angle – the parts could separate and then you’d have a big piece of silicone just… loose in your mouth. For that reason, this gag doesn’t feel super safe to me and I would be hesitant to use it during any kind of rough play.
  • When I gave my partner oral sex while this gag was in, they reported that it didn’t feel as good as usual because I couldn’t apply as much suction and my teeth were more in the way than they might normally be. The visual of my drooly gagged mouth made up for these deficits for them, though – and also, their dick is pretty girthy, so I think small-to-average penises would have an easier time fitting into the mouth of someone wearing this gag.
  • The instructions that come with the gag are minimal and poorly written. Since its design is unusual, I think clearer instruction is warranted. There’s also no safety info in the instructions, other than a warning that you should agree on a safe-signal (a non-verbal safeword) before you start. That’s good advice, but given that gags are risky to use and this one is especially so, it’s worrisome that there are no other safety warnings/tips in the instructions.
  • While Upko assures me that the straps are made of real Italian leather – and actually produced importation documents to prove it – the leather doesn’t feel as buttery-soft and high-quality as some of my nicer leather kink gear (for example, anything made by Aslan Leather). But it’s still nice that it’s actual leather.
  • I don’t think this product should cost $79.99, which is its current retail price on the Upko website. For comparison, a couple of other silicone gags I enjoy – the Zalo red rose one and the Unbound Bit – go for $65 and $39, respectively, and are better-constructed than this one. Personally I wouldn’t pay more than $40 for a gag like this.

 

Final thoughts

While the Upko Invisible Mouth Gag is beautiful and is certainly different from any other gag in my collection, I think it’s way too expensive and kind of a safety hazard. I’d only recommend it if you love its design and/or think it would be comfier for you than traditional gag styles. Or if you want to do a dentistry roleplay, in which case, open wide and say “aaah!”

 

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: Lora DiCarlo Baci

Kate Sloan

My relationship to receiving cunnilingus has undergone a lot of changes over the years. There was a time, in my late teens and early twenties, when getting head was literally the majority of my sex life, because my partners then were people who preferred licking pussy over pretty much every other activity – and had therefore gotten quite good at it.

Later, as I started hooking up with randoms from Tinder and OkCupid, I gradually stopped asking for oral because it… stopped being good. But now that I’m back to being partnered with a self-professed pussy-eating fanatic, it’s back to being one of my favorite sexual activities, and something that I often fantasize about when I’m alone.

Accordingly, I’m as intrigued as I’ve ever been by the plethora of sex toys that claim to imitate cunnilingus. One in particular has gotten a lot of great reviews: the Lora DiCarlo Baci. (Apparently pronounced like “botchy.”) Let’s talk about it.

 

What is the Lora DiCarlo Baci?

Lora DiCarlo – both the company itself and the woman of the same name who founded it – is somewhat controversial and mysterious. While their products are beautifully designed and get good reviews, they’ve made a lot of sweeping claims that were called into question by an infamous Wired.com article, like that their founder is a med school dropout and that they use “micro-robotics” in their toys. However, in the sex toy industry, it’s hard to fault a company for talking itself up a little; they all do it. At least this one seems to be making genuinely original toys rather than basing their entire business model on plagiarism like some other sex toy companies do.

While Lora DiCarlo makes toys aimed at various different erogenous zones, the Baci is one that focuses specifically on clitoral pleasure. It does this in an interesting and unique way: although it uses similar “pressure-wave” technology to what’s found in Satisfyers and Womanizers, it also has what the company calls a “thrum pad” which is meant to sit between the inner labia during use, vibrating against the underside of the clitoral shaft and other, more deeply-buried portions of the internal clit. The company calls this “full-coverage clitoral stimulation,” a phrase certain to get my attention.

What I like about this toy:

  • Let’s not bury the lede: this thing feels good. Really good. A lot of pressure-wave toys are so focused on the glans of my clit that they feel almost inconsequential, like someone teasingly licking the tip of your dick when you really want a deepthroat blowjob. The Baci stimulates my glans with its “mouth,” rubs against my clitoral hood and inner labia with its “lips,” and rumbles against broad swathes of my internal clit with its sizeable “thrum pad.” The result is full-clit stimulation that normally I can only get from a huge, rumbly wand vibrator or my partner using their entire mouth on me. (I should say, water-based lube is a must with the Baci, particularly if you want it to feel like oral at all.)
  • As you’d expect from that description, the orgasms from this toy are more satisfying than those from many other toys in this category. This just makes sense: in general, the more of your sex organ that’s being stimulated before and during your orgasm, the more intense and long-lasting that orgasm is likely to feel. I reach climax easily, consistently and hard with this toy.
  • The Baci has 10 intensity settings (and no patterns, which I don’t care about anyway). I’ve never gone past 4 out of 10. I’ve never needed to. This toy is that good. If you’ve been curious about pressure-wave toys but are worried they’d be too subtle for you (which is a reasonable fear if, for example, you tend to masturbate with a powerful wand vibrator), I think the Baci could actually work for you. It’s not just that its motor is stronger than many of its competitors’; it’s that it uses its strength in a different way, stimulating more of the clitoral structure.
  • The controls are easy to understand: there’s a power button on the top that you press and hold to turn the toy on or off, and then there are “+” and “–” buttons on the back for changing the speed. All of these buttons are located and constructed such that I never bump them by accident.
  • It’s waterproof. Love.
  • The construction feels pretty sturdy, like it could get knocked around inside my suitcase or purse and be fine.
  • It comes with a travel cover, so you can keep it free from lint, dirt, etc. when it’s riding around in your bag or even when it’s just been tossed into your nightstand drawer.

What I don’t like about this toy:

  • The form factor of this toy is awkward, to say the least. It’s what my friend Epiphora would call a “vulva hog,” meaning it takes up so much space on my vulva during use that I can’t easily add a dildo, fingers, or a partner’s penis into the mix if I want some internal stimulation. If you’re looking to use a pressure-wave toy during penetrative sex, I’d recommend the We-Vibe Melt or Womanizer Premium instead. A stationary vag toy like the Hole Punch Fluke can work with the Baci, though. And frankly, when my clit’s being stimulated as fully and as well as the Baci can do it, I don’t always need extra stimulation to get me off. (P.S. There is something very funny to me about referring to penetration as “extra stimulation,” given how often that phrase is used about clit contact, which is, for me and most other people with vulvas, mandatory for reaching orgasm…)
  • As often happens with pressure-wave toys, sometimes the Baci makes me come faster than I wanted to, in that way that’s like “Oh shit, am I about to…? Oh no, yes, I am.” Seems weird to complain about this, I know, but sometimes I want to stretch out a session a little longer!
  • It’s a little loud. But like, so am I when I’m using it.
  • I don’t love the aesthetic of it. It’s almost my exact skin tone and kind of reminds me of a medical device, like something a doctor might use to take my cunt’s temperature. (Then again, a clinical aesthetic can be well-suited for medical play scenes, so your mileage may vary…)
  • The battery life isn’t amazing; I have to charge the Baci every 4-5 sessions or so, which is more often than I’d typically expect for a toy of this kind.
  • It’s expensive: about $205-220 in Canada (depending on where you get it from). HOWEVER, CurrentBody has it on sale for $145 USD at the time that I’m writing this, and that’s reduced even further to $116 USD (about $151 CAD) when you use my coupon code “GIRLY20” on your order. That’s a pretty sweet deal.
  • The plastic travel cover that it comes with is weirdly hard to open. You have to squeeze it and then rotate it, like the childproof cap on a bottle of pills. As someone with chronic pain and strength issues in my hands, I found this frustrating; it took me 5-10 minutes of struggling and pain in order to get it open the first time, so I haven’t attempted to close it again.

 

Final thoughts

The Lora DiCarlo Baci has impressed me so thoroughly that I’d put it in my top 3 favorite pressure-wave toys now. (The others, if you’re wondering, are the Lelo Sila and Satisfyer Curvy 2.) This type of toy is always so hit-or-miss for me, with some of them giving me weak, half-ruined orgasms and some of them making me come so hard and fast that I practically black out; the Baci is definitely in the latter category.

I can’t confirm for certain whether all the claims made by Lora DiCarlo about their toys and technologies are accurate. But what I can tell you is that the Baci is a top-of-the-line clitoral stimulator that I hope will usher in a new trend of companies pushing the boundaries of what a clit toy can be.

 

Thanks to CurrentBody for sending me this product to review! You can use the code “GIRLY20” to get 20% off your order at CurrentBody – yay!

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.

Fun Factory’s Having a MASSIVE Sale! Here’s What I Recommend…

Kate Sloan

On August 15th – that’s this coming Monday – legendary German sex toy brand Fun Factory is having a HUGE sale to celebrate their birthday: 40% off any toy!!

They are truly one of the best sex toy brands on the market, and have been for the entire time I’ve been in this industry, so this is very exciting. I thought I’d put together a guide to my favorite Fun Factory items so you can decide what you want to snap up in the sale on Monday! (Set yourself a calendar alert if need be…)

 

All images in this post courtesy of Fun Factory

A brilliantly-designed beginner-friendly butt plug: Fun Factory Bootie

Price before the sale: $34.99 (small size), $39.99 (medium size), $44.99 (large size)
Price during the sale: $20.99 (small size), $23.99 (medium size), $26.99 (large size)

The Bootie is one of the plugs I often recommend for people who are curious about anal play but are also intimidated by it. That’s an understandable way to feel – butt stuff can be challenging and uncomfortable, and comes with a whole host of psychological and sociocultural taboos to work through – so I’m glad Fun Factory makes this approachable little plug.

The curved base is super comfy, to the point that you could wear this plug while out and about and you’d be fine (although you might need to re-lube in a public bathroom at some point).

The smallest size maxes out at 1.06″ in diameter – that’s pretty dang small. If you find that you like the prostate-targeting curve of this plug, you can always upgrade to one of the two larger sizes sometime down the road. Hell, maybe you’ll even want to own all three someday – different butt plugs for different moods!

 

A gay-as-heck dildo: Fun Factory Rainbow Amor (read my review here) (also one time I did a makeup tutorial inspired by this dildo)

Price before the sale: $44.99
Price during the sale: $26.99

I mean, what can I say? It’s a rainbow dildo. Just looking at it fills my heart with glee.

This queer-looking silicone cutie isn’t available year-round, so if you love the look of it, I’d suggest snapping one up tout suite. It’s kind of an unusual dildo in terms of shape and size: it’s on the shorter side, with just 4.72″ of insertable length, but has a medium girth of 1.46″. I like that Fun Factory offers this smaller dildo, in contrast to their chonky Big Boss; not everyone is a size queen/king/monarch!

The gentle curve, subtle “coronal ridge” and suction-cup base of this dildo all make it useful for hitting the G-spot or prostate, whether you’re alone or with a partner. And despite the fact that strap-on harnesses usually shorten a dildo’s useable length by about an inch, this one’s base is quite slim, so you can use it for strap-on play even despite its short stature. Get your gay on, y’all.

 

A magnificent vibrator for penises: Fun Factory Manta (read my spouse’s review here)

Price before the sale: $139.99
Price during the sale: $83.99

I’m thrilled that the category of penis vibrators – and penis toys in general – has expanded so much in recent years, spearheaded in large part by Fun Factory themselves.

The Manta is one of my absolute favorites to use on my partner, or to watch them use during FaceTime calls (#LongDistanceLyfe). It has two silicone “wings” that wrap around the shaft of your dick (pretty much regardless of what size it is!), creating a surround-sound sensation. You can stroke the toy up and down or just hold it in one spot – whatever feels best to you.

Notably, this toy works brilliantly for partnered play as well as solo sex. I think some of my partner’s most intense orgasms have happened while my mouth was on the head of their dick and this toy was working the lower shaft. Truly a genius product that I am constantly raving about to my penis-possessing friends.

 

A super-satisfying self-thrusting sex toy: Fun Factory Stronic Real (read my review here)

Price before the sale: $169.99
Price during the sale: $101.99

Look, I’m lazy. I also have hand strength issues and chronic fatigue due to fibromyalgia. All of this adds up to me sometimes not being able to thrust dildos as fast, hard, or consistently as I’d prefer.

But that’s when I reach for a self-thrusting toy like the Stronic Real. Now, let’s be clear: many toys that claim to “thrust,” including this one, are really doing something more akin to jiggling back and forth a tiny amount. But, in practice, this can feel like thrusting –very targeted and precise thrusting. If you position one of these toys so that it’s making consistent contact with your G-spot or A-spot, it’ll keep ploughing into that spot over and over again, in a way that (for me at least) can enable intense orgasms and, frequently, squirting.

You do have to anchor the base of the toy against something, like a pillow placed between your legs, to keep it from wiggling its way out of you. But I don’t mind doing that in exchange for the ease and reliability of these toys. All of the Stronic products I’ve tried are great, but I particularly like the Real because it gets in deep, hitting my A-spot again and again in a way I previously thought only a partner’s deft fingers could accomplish.

 

An ultra-versatile finger vibrator: Fun Factory Be-One (read my review here)

Price before the sale: $69.99
Price during the sale: $41.99

A common refrain amongst couples shopping for their first sex toy together is that they want something unobtrusive – something that melds seamlessly into sex so that it feels almost like part of their bodies, rather than being a mechanical interloper into their intimate lives. Something like the Be-One is ideal for this: it’s easy to hold, easy to maneuver, and easy to use – even when you’re, uh, a little distracted.

I’ve also recommended the Be-One before as a good choice for folks who, like me, struggle with hand pain or hand strength issues. Holding it between your fingers is a cinch; I can manage it even on days when I can barely hold my phone comfortably.

The motor in this toy isn’t as rumbly or powerful as I generally expect from Fun Factory, but I think it’ll work fine for more sensitive users. It’s also a fun addition to a handjob or fingering.

 

A phenomenal prostate massager: Fun Factory Duke

Price before the sale: $99.99
Price during the sale: $59.99

I haven’t personally tried this whimsically-shaped anal vibrator, but fellow GQ writer Zachary Zane says it “leads to incredibly powerful orgasms,” and I believe it.

The Duke delves deeper into your butt than many other plugs (at least, many of the ones available from mainstream, non-fetish and non-specialty sex toy companies), and also rumbles against your prostate and perineum simultaneously. Gotta love a multitasker!

Fun Factory recommends that you “wear it during partner sex for toe-curling sensation,” which kinda makes me wish I had a prostate.

 

A wonderfully weird dildo: Fun Factory Bouncer (read my review here)

Price before the sale: $99.99
Price during the sale: $59.99

You know how some Kegel balls have little weights inside them that roll around whenever you move? Well, Fun Factory made a dildo that has that same feature. Every time you thrust it in or out, the weighted balls inside it bounce around. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this, but it’s wild how it actually makes each thrust feel more impactful and just adds another layer of sensation to the familiar feeling of being fucked with a dildo.

I also love the gently rippled texture of this toy, and the fact that it’s harness-compatible so a partner can strap it on and then fuck me with their bouncy dick. All in all, this toy is a delight.

 

What are your fave Fun Factory products?

 

This post was sponsored, but I really do love Fun Factory (as years’ worth of reviews have made very clear, lol). As always, all writing and opinions are my own.

Review: Womanizer Liberty by Lily Allen

Kate Sloan

If you were following along with new developments in the sex toy industry back when the first Womanizer model launched, then you know that these toys had an ugly start. Literally.

The tragically-named company was bringing an exciting new technology to the market – pressure-wave stimulation, i.e. making clits feel good with rhythmic pulses of air – but they had made a grave miscalculation (in my view) by festooning their new toys in cartoonish leopard print and over-the-top rhinestones. The product itself was giving folks with vulvas a whole different type of stimulation than they were used to, so Womanizer could’ve gone with a much less gaudy aesthetic and still intrigued consumers around the globe. And yet, they went with designs so garish that I was frankly kind of embarrassed when friends spotted the toy on my nightstand. (As you can imagine, in my line of work, that situation doesn’t usually embarrass me…)

I say this not to retroactively shame Womanizer, but to say that I really appreciate the aesthetic direction the brand has taken over the past few years, particularly since they were acquired by We-Vibe. Their current lineup is sleek and sophisticated-looking. If you love leopard print, perhaps you’re crestfallen (I can appreciate it too, just not on a sex toy), but I’m delighted that consumers can access pressure-wave toys now without their friends and lovers making comments such as, “Did an Elvis impersonator in Vegas throw that at you from the stage?” or “Liberace called; he wants his vibrator back.”

The most recent addition to my Womanizer collection, sent to me by the lovely folks at XOXTOYS, is the Womanizer Liberty by Lily Allen, a special-edition toy co-designed by the British singer/songwriter whose name it bears. Prior to trying this toy, the only other thing I knew about Lily Allen was that she did a song called “Alfie” that I liked (I think it was even my ringtone for a while in middle school). I’m not quite sure to what extent she was actually involved in the design process for this toy, but I imagine that she at least picked the colors, and they’re good ones: a very 1960s juxtaposition of hot pink and bright orange. I actually love this color combo and find it uplifting to see this toy on my nightstand.

Another aesthetic thing I like about the Lily Allen Womanizer is that it comes with a matching “travel cover,” a piece of curvy hard plastic that the Womanizer slots into perfectly, so that it’ll be protected from dirt, dust and damage in your purse or suitcase, and also won’t be immediately recognizable as a sex toy to any nosy relative or TSA agent who happens to spot it.

In terms of what the toy actually does, though… This Womanizer has six intensity levels and no patterns, which I respect. I’m not a patterns person, but if you are, this isn’t the toy for you.

I don’t always love reviewing pressure-wave toys, because I find the differences between them more subtle and difficult to discern than the differences between vibrators or dildos. But this Womanizer actually feels markedly different from most other pressure-wave toys I’ve tried. It feels… thumpier? Stronger? Sharper? More aggressive? There’s an intensity to the sensation that I don’t often run across in these toys. It feels like someone is firmly tapping against my clit.

I imagine that this intensity is what makes the Womanizer Liberty such a hit with so many online reviewers. For me, it’s a bit hit-or-miss. My clit enjoys the first couple of modes, but after that, the jumps between settings start to feel a bit wide for my preferences. Things’ll be feeling good, and then I’ll hit the “+” button and be jarred out of the moment a little bit by how much more insistent the stimulation suddenly gets.

The thing is, sometimes that’s an unwelcome sensation for me, but other times, there’s a bit of forced-orgasm hotness to it – like a dom is holding a slightly-too-strong vibrator against my bits and trying to (consensually) induce a climax in me whether I like it or not.

And indeed, I have orgasmed several times with this toy. I will say, it’s a bit more hard-won than with some other toys, because I’m constantly engaged in a dance of turning up the toy when I want more and then turning it back down when I want less, until I finally reach orgasm. But frankly, I prefer that over some other pressure-wave toys that are so depressingly weak that they have no hope of getting me off. There’s never any doubt in my mind that the Womanizer Liberty by Lily Allen is gonna get me there, although it might take a while.

Perhaps my favorite feature of this toy is the buttons. There was a night recently when I was trying to sleep but kept having intrusive sexual fantasies about receiving oral (what else is new), so I decided to quickly jerk off so that hopefully I could get some shut-eye. Literally without removing my eye mask, I was able to reach over, grab this Womanizer, position it on my bits and turn it on. It only has two buttons, a “plus” one and a “minus” one, and the “plus” one is significantly larger. This makes it shockingly easy to operate this toy in the dark, even while half-asleep or intoxicated (trust me, I’d know).

This Womanizer is one of the more powerful pressure-wave toys I’ve tried, despite its small size. It’s also definitely the most travel-friendly of any I’ve used. It doesn’t stimulate as much of my clitoral shaft as the Lelo Sila – so if you have a larger clit, or are a transmasculine person with bottom growth, this may not be the one for you. It doesn’t have fancy patterns and modes, like the Womanizer Premium does.

But it’s probably the prettiest pressure-wave toy I own, at least for my particular aesthetic tastes, and it’s also one of the quietest and most discreet toys in their lineup. Whether or not you’re a Lily Allen fan, I think you stand a good chance of enjoying the Womanizer Liberty by Lily Allen. This sex toy company has had some failures and some successes, and I think this toy is firmly in the “successes” pile, even if it’s not my favorite ever.

 

Thanks to the folks at XOXTOYS for sending me this toy! 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.