Sex Toy Reviews

A Beginner’s Guide to My Favorite Vibrator Ever, the Eroscillator

Kate Sloan

When you’ve been a sex toy reviewer for as long as I have, there’s one question you get asked a lot: “What’s your favorite toy?”

It’s a fair question, not only because one might glean some toy recommendations from the answer, but also because, in order to find my reviews most useful, a reader needs to have some idea of the types of toys I normally like, so they can try to figure out if my tastes are aligned with their own. That’s why, for instance, there’s hearts next to toys I love on my Toybox page, and there’s a section at the end of my About page where I list my absolute faves in some key categories.

But I have to admit: there is one specific toy which I can call my favorite of all time, without reservation. That toy is the Eroscillator.

 

What is the Eroscillator, and why is it my all-time favorite sex toy?

Me and this toy go way back. I wanted it from the moment I heard it discussed on an episode of the Sex is Fun podcast, probably sometime around 2005. In fact, I wanted it so bad that it was one of the very first toys I requested to review when I started this blog in 2012.

I had tried a handful of other vibrators by that point – but even still, I knew, from the very first time I used the Eroscillator, that this one was different. Famously, it doesn’t technically vibrate – it oscillates. To me (and evidently to many other Eroscillator fans), this produces a feeling that is much deeper, more pleasurable, and more satisfying than standard vibration, because of the “rumbliness”/depth of the oscillations.

Needless to say, when a vibrator consistently produces more pleasure and better orgasms than any other, it’s gonna make its way into my regular rotation – and boy howdy, has it! I’m not exaggerating when I say that there has been an Eroscillator in/on my nightstand at all times since I got my first one, which was over 12 years ago. I’ve owned a few of them over the years, always replacing mine immediately when it broke (more on that later), because it’s absolutely integral to my sex life, both solo and partnered. Nothing else makes me come as hard, or as consistently. And since I’m a pretty clit-focused gal, this isn’t just my favorite vibrator ever – it’s my favorite sex toy, period.

Aside from the wildly good orgasms, here are a few other notable benefits of the Eroscillator:

  • For me at least, it doesn’t cause any of the temporary desensitization/numbing that is common with vibrators, especially buzzy/high-pitched ones. This means I can use it for as long as I want and it’ll still feel good. This also makes it easier for me to orgasm again later, if I want to, since my sensitivity has been preserved.
  • Its long and slim shape makes it possible to use during PIV or strap-on sex, even in (a slightly adapted) missionary position.
  • I find its slider-style control panel to be easier and more intuitive to use than traditional buttons.
  • It’s remarkably quiet for a vibrator, especially when it’s actually pressed against your body.
  • Like many other vibes, it can be used on penises! Highly recommend getting someone off by holding the tip of the Eroscillator against their frenulum; it’s a good time.

 

Which Eroscillator is best?

There are two different Eroscillator models:

  • The Eroscillator 2 is the base model. It was the first one I owned, and it served me well for many years. I’d recommend it for people who have never used a vibrator before and/or people who would consider their clitoral sensitivity to be medium-to-high.
  • For those who like a bit more power, there’s the Eroscillator Top Deluxe, my current beloved. It’s a bit pricier, but IMO the extra power is absolutely worth it. Even on days when my sensitivity has been lowered by alcohol, fatigue, recent orgasms/vibrator usage, or other factors, this toy can get me off no problem like 99% of the time. (For that other 1%, I’d probably bust out the Magic Wand.)

Further, when you buy an Eroscillator, you’ll have to decide which attachments you want – there are various combo sets available, some of which come with fewer attachments than others. These attachments can be easily swapped out to give you a variety of sensations, but to be honest, there are only two attachments I ever use:

  • The Ultra Soft Finger Tip is an absolute must-have. (Legendary masturbation coach Betty Dodson agreed with me, if I recall correctly, although I can’t seem to find the video anymore where she said so.) It’s squishy, and softens the oscillations somewhat, so they don’t feel as jarring. I find it easy to maneuver, and its shape gives you a few different sensation options – try using the edge versus the side of it on your clit, for instance. Many Eroscillator combos come with this attachment, but if yours doesn’t, I highly recommend picking one up. It’s effectively the only attachment I use.
  • Literally maybe once every 5 years, I will use the G-Point attachment instead of the Finger Tip one. I only do this when my sensitivity has been so dramatically lowered for some reason that the Finger Tip attachment doesn’t feel stimulating enough.

 

How to use it

If I estimate, conservatively, that I have had an average of 2 orgasms per week with the Eroscillator for the 12 years I’ve owned one, that would mean that I’ve had over 1,200 orgasms with this thing. I may not have quite hit my Malcolm Gladwell 10,000 hours yet, but I’m getting there! So, suffice it to say, I think I’m qualified to advise you on how best to use this toy…

  • Luuuuube: You’ve heard this song before – lube is good, and more lube is better! I notice a big difference in sensation between a lubed vs. unlubed Eroscillator attachment; lubed is way more enjoyable. You’ll probably want to use a thick water-based one like Sutil Rich, because silicone-based lubes are incompatible with Eroscillator attachments. Reapply as needed.
  • Placement: As with any vibrator, I think most people will benefit from starting with gentle, indirect contact, to warm up the genital tissues, before moving on to more direct stimulation. (Check out my post about indirect clit stim techniques for more on that.) When I use my Eroscillator, I often move it around to stimulate my clit from different angles, through the outer or inner labia, etc. until I’m ready to focus the oscillations more directly on my clit.
  • Pressure: One thing you might notice pretty quickly about the Eroscillator is that its oscillations weaken when you apply pressure. It took me some time to get used to this initially, but now, I actually use it to my benefit: the toy has only three speeds, but I can press it harder against my body to make a speed feel weaker, and then gradually lift off the pressure as I want it stronger. It’s more intuitive than it may sound, I swear, although it may take some practice.

 

Quirks but not dealbreakers (for me, anyway)

Look, I’m gonna level with ya – this toy has a lot of drawbacks, as you can already see from the length of the list below! In a way, though, I think it speaks well of the toy that it’s still my very favorite, despite all these flaws… It really is just because it gives me better orgasms than any other toy, and, as with human beings, many sins can be forgiven if you make someone come real hard… 😂

But, okay, yes, let’s talk about the many downsides of the Eroscillator:

  • Some people find that the oscillations just don’t feel strong enough for them. If you know you need/want a lot of power, I’d recommend something like a Magic Wand Rechargeable or a Doxy over the Eroscillator. For reference, I’m somebody who typically sticks to the first and second speeds of the MWR, and I find the Eroscillator Top Deluxe plenty strong enough to get me off.
  • As described above, its oscillations weaken when pressure is applied – and while I’ve learned to work with this quirk, rather than against it, this toy isn’t suitable for someone who loves/needs to apply pressure with their vibrators (unless you’re trying to wean yourself off of doing that for some reason).
  • Since oscillation is somewhat subtler than standard vibration, I find that the Eroscillator’s sensations get drowned out if I try to use a vibrating dildo, insertable vibrator, etc. at the same time. That said, good god does this thing ever feel good paired with a (non-vibrating) dildo. The Eroscillator + Pure Wand combo, in particular, nearly makes me black out every time from the intensity 😂
  • It’s expensive!! The cheapest model, which comes with only one attachment, is $119. If you throw the Finger Tip attachment in your cart as well (which you should), it costs a hard-to-swallow $39.95 on its own, and brings the total up to $159. For those with a larger budget or who crave more power, the stronger model comes with a slew of attachments (including my fave) and will run you $249 all told. Worth noting, perhaps: While I didn’t pay for my first two Eroscillators because they were review units from retailers, I did pay full-price for my third one, because I really do love it that much, and the frequency with which I use it more than justifies the price tag for me. But I get that it’s a pretty huge expenditure for a sex toy.
  • On that note, the reason I’ve owned a few different Eroscillators is that mine have sometimes broken. There’s a plastic “cone” that covers the juncture between the body of the toy and its attachment, and eventually the small piece of plastic inside it that holds it in place will break off somehow, which causes the cone to rattle around loosely during use, and can even make the control panel pop right out. Originally I thought this was unfixable, which is why I bought a whole new Eroscillator; however, the brand now sells replacement cones on their website for $21.95 each, which makes this a much cheaper fix and gives the toy a longer lifespan – better for the environment and your wallet.
  • It’s an electric/plug-in vibe, so it’s not waterproof (obviously) and you do have to stay near-ish to an outlet – although I will say that the cord is 12 feet long, which is way longer than most other vibrator cords and gives you a fair bit of leeway.
  • The attachments are made of porous materials!! That really pisses me off, especially at this price point. The Finger Tip attachment is made of “medical silicone elastomer” and the others are made of TPR. I haven’t personally noticed any ill effects of this (such as irritation or infections), but it does mean that you can’t share your Eroscillator attachments with someone unless you’re prepared to be fluid-bonded with them. The Finger Tip attachment also gets slightly discolored over time, because it’s porous.
  • A lot of people think it is very ugly. (However, I am not one of those people. I’m sure the fact that it’s given me over a thousand orgasms has something to do with that.)

 

Final thoughts

Recently I’ve been using the Magic Wand Rechargeable a lot; it’s my second favorite vibrator, for sure. But when I switched back to my beloved Eroscillator after not using it for a while, the difference between the two sensations was stark.

The Magic Wand can brute-force an orgasm out of me, in a way that sometimes feels like using a flamethrower on a birthday candle. Like: okay, we get it – overkill much?! These orgasms can be almost painful in their intensity, and leave my vulva feeling slightly numb and frazzled for a few minutes as it recovers from the onslaught of pleasure.

But the Eroscillator… Oh, wow. Some creatives say that a good ending to a story or poem or song should be “surprising but inevitable,” and that is how Eroscillator orgasms feel to me. They have a way of building and building and building before bursting into sparkly fireworks of pleasure. They’re so intense and so sudden that they tend to knock the wind out of me (to the point of making me reflexively do Lamaze-type breathing sometimes, to manage/handle the intensity of the sensation), but they’re rarely painful or uncomfortable the way a wand orgasm can be.

I’m talking a lot about orgasms here, so let me be clear that the Eroscillator feels good the whole way through the process – particularly since it doesn’t cause the same numbness other vibrators can, so I get to fully enjoy the sensations throughout any given session. But those orgasms… phew. Might need to go have another one right now…

 

This post was not sponsored; I’m just quite possibly the world’s biggest Eroscillator fangirl. You can get yours at SheVibe!

Review: Cupsland Twirl 1.0 adjustable stroker

Kate Sloan
Photos in this post via mb bischoff 💋

What is the Cupsland Twirl 1.0?

The Twirl 1.0 is a stroker, and it’s currently the only product made by Cupsland. (More like Cupland, am I right?!) I’m used to reviewing products from companies with wide catalogues, companies that throw spaghetti at the wall all year long to see what sticks; by contrast, Cupsland has put all of their, uh, cups into one basket. But I kinda respect that choice!

You might assume, from the Twirl’s space-agey aesthetic, that it vibrates or squeezes or, indeed, twirls – but this is actually a non-mechanical stroker, meaning that you have to either move it up and down by hand, or anchor it somewhere (like between your bed’s mattress and boxspring) so you can thrust in and out of it. It has a feature Cupsland calls its “patented three-level twirl,” which allows you to adjust the toy’s tightness while you’re using it, by rotating the cap at the end of the toy to one of three tightness settings.

Cupsland wanted me to put the Twirl to the test, so I asked my spouse if she’d mind sticking her dick in it, for science… Let’s discuss the pros and cons we discovered.

A peek at the toy’s internal texture, via Cupsland

Things we like about the Cupsland Twirl 1.0

  • I really do dig the aesthetic of this toy. I think it’s neat that they went with a hyper-modern, stylized look for the outer casing, and a more humanoid, vulva-esque appearance for the sleeve itself.
  • Further, I think the toy’s outer appearance is juuust different enough from your standard Fleshlight that it might not be immediately recognizable to any onlookers, so it’s a bit more discreet than a lot of other strokers I’ve seen.
  • The internal texture features ridges and nubs, and my partner said that these felt surprisingly similar to the naturally ribbed texture of vaginal walls around their dick during PIV. The texture itself is softer and less intense than those of some other strokers she’s tried (including some Fleshlights); she thinks this makes the Twirl more suitable for longer sessions where you want to draw things out, because the texture feels good but not overstimulating to the point of prompting a premature orgasm.
  • The sleeve gets tighter as you get deeper, which felt good for my partner – although she was only able to enjoy the full depth when she took the sleeve out of the toy’s outer casing, for reasons I’ll explain below.
  • Like more and more strokers being produced these days, this one comes with its own drying rod. It’s made of a super absorbent material; just insert it into the toy after washing it out with soap and water, and the drying rod will soak up the moisture, allowing the toy to dry faster and more hygienically. This makes normally-cumbersome cleaning into a somewhat easier process. The toy can even stand up by itself on the rod while it’s drying.

Things we don’t like about the Cupsland Twirl 1.0

  • Our biggest issue with this toy (so to speak) is that it’s simply too small for my partner’s dick. She’s on the larger side (about 7.3″ length x 1.8″ diameter) and was only able to fit about one-third of her cock into the toy, even on the loosest setting with a ton of lube, and it was too uncomfortably tight to be enjoyable. Even inserting 3 fingers felt tight, though, so I imagine this would affect some people with smaller dicks than my spouse’s as well. At one point, she tried removing the squishy inner sleeve from the hard outer case, and just using the sleeve itself as a stroker; this was much comfier/easier and felt a lot better.
  • While Cupsland’s description of the product claims that adjusting its tightness is “effortless,” my spouse found that it was actually really, really hard. It required all of her strength, and she’s the gal I ask for help when I can’t open a pickle jar/wine bottle/dildo box, so I gather it would be impossible for me to do it, with my chronically sore/weak hands. For this reason, this isn’t a very disability-friendly toy, at least if you plan on adjusting the tightness at all (which you should, since that’s the toy’s main feature).
  • As with many strokers, this one is made of a proprietary material (in this case, something called “NaturSKIN”) which is almost certainly porous. This is generally fine for penile toys, because dicks usually aren’t as prone to irritation/infection as vaginas are – but it does mean that the toy won’t last as long as a silicone stroker would, and will cling onto some amount of bacteria even with thorough cleaning.
  • Speaking of cleaning: it’s annoying with the Twirl, as it is with most strokers. The closed-end design of this one makes it slightly more of a hassle than it would otherwise be, although the inclusion of a drying rod (see above) helps make up for this, as does the fact that the sleeve can be flipped inside-out for cleaning.
  • The toy’s $60 price tag is a bit hard to swallow (so to speak), given that it’s non-mechanical and you can get plenty of great non-mechanical strokers for under $40, including some made of non-porous materials.

Final thoughts

While I think the Cupsland Twirl 1.0 has a really cool design and an interesting internal texture, it was ultimately too tight and difficult to use for my partner and I to really be able to enjoy it. She could reach orgasm from stroking herself with the toy’s sleeve, once it was removed from the outer casing, but the sensations weren’t as intense as those she gets with some other strokers.

However, if your penis is small-to-average, and you want a slick-looking, adjustable stroker with a realistic internal texture, the Twirl 1.0 might be exactly what you’re searching for. Why not take it for a twirl? …uh, I mean, a whirl?

 

[Edited to add, on 10/21/2024:] I have a coupon code you can use at Cupsland! Use code “KATESLOAN” at checkout to get 15% off your order 😘

 

This post was sponsored, meaning I was paid to write a fair and honest review of the product. As always, everything I’ve written here is what I honestly think.

Review: We-Vibe Wand 2

Kate Sloan

Yep, I’m reviewing another wand. Can’t stop, won’t stop, baby!

Sex toy companies around the globe are always cranking out new wands, because this genre of toy is so popular. But it’s relatively rare that a new wand comes out which I’m actually excited about. The We-Vibe Wand 2 is definitely one of those wands.

As you might have intuited by the “2” at the end of its name, the Wand 2 is an updated version of We-Vibe’s first wand, which they released back in 2019. At the time, I liked it, but didn’t love it – its vibrations were powerful and rumbly, but its intensity was controlled via a joystick-esque button that could be hard to operate, so it didn’t earn a spot in my regular wand rotation.

However, the new Wand 2 has gone back to traditional buttons. It’s also 30 grams lighter and 1.4 inches shorter than the original Wand.

Oh, and it makes me come super hard. (You can listen to the first orgasm I ever had with it, if you don’t believe me.) Let’s talk about the We-Vibe Wand 2!

Things I like about the We-Vibe Wand 2

  • Let’s not bury the lede: this is one of the strongest and rumbliest vibrators I’ve ever tried. It makes me come easily, quickly, and hard, even on its low-to-middle intensity settings, because of how rumbly it is. On its highest setting, the Wand 2 feels stronger than the Fun Factory Vim, though not as rumbly. Its upper settings are rumblier than the Magic Wand Rechargeable‘s, though not quite as strong – I’d say that the highest speed of the MWR just barely exceeds the We-Vibe Wand 2‘s power output. Overall, I’m really, really impressed with this wand’s vibration strength and quality – and my clit enthusiastically agrees!
  • This vibe has 10 intensity levels and 10 vibration patterns; each pattern can be used at any of the 10 intensity levels as well. This gives you a ton of variety to play around with.
  • The controls scheme is easy to pick up: the plus and minus buttons can be held down to turn the toy on or off, respectively, and are also used to change the vibration intensity. The left and right arrow buttons are used to cycle through patterns (which is great, because it means that those of us who prefer steady vibration won’t accidentally stumble into pattern-land). The squiggle button can be held down for 2 seconds to turn Smart Silence on or off (more on that later).
  • While the potatoey shape of the Wand 2’s head is baffling at first glance, it’s surprisingly versatile in use. It’s rounded on one side, but the other side offers more pinpointed edges for those who prefer that type of stimulation (like me!). I find myself experimenting with different angles a lot when using this toy, because the vibration can feel quite different depending on what specific part of the wand’s head is touching your body.
  • Nearly the entire toy is encased in a soft, smooth, matte silicone that plays well with water-based lube and feels sexy to the touch.
  • The curved shape of this wand feels more ergonomic than a straight one, and also makes it easier for me to direct this toy’s vibrations onto my neck/shoulders/etc. for massaging sore muscles.
  • This toy is fully waterproof! That’s extremely rare for a wand this powerful. I could see this being a wonderful bathtime companion.
  • You can connect this toy to the We-Vibe app and control it that way, or even cede control to a long-distance partner. I don’t tend to use wands this way, but I’m glad the option exists!
  • It’s quiet! …for a wand. By which I mean: it would be audible from across a room, but probably not through a closed door, which is more than I can say for many other wands as powerful as this one.

Things I don’t like about the We-Vibe Wand 2

  • There’s a weird thing that happens around the 5th or 6th speed (of 10) where the ultra-rumbly vibrations will seem to glitch out, becoming noticeably buzzier all of a sudden, without me having pressed any additional buttons. The Lelo Smart Wand had this same issue, and I find it just as jarring in the We-Vibe Wand. Now, granted, even the glitched-out, buzzier speed is plenty strong and rumbly enough to get me off, so once I recover from the surprise of my vibrator seeming to malfunction, I just continue using it and it’s fine… but I wish this wouldn’t happen at all.
  • A significant amount of vibration transmits into the handle of the toy, which can feel a bit annoying for my hand/fingers after a while.
  • This toy has We-Vibe’s “Smart Silence” feature, wherein the toy senses whether it’s touching your skin or not, and automatically turns off when you lift it away from your body, then turns back on when it makes contact again. Some people might like this feature, but I find it a bit glitchy and temperamental, so I turned it off by holding down the squiggle button for 2 seconds.
  • I don’t love the look of this wand. It’s “sad purple,” and the (admittedly innovatively-shaped) head just doesn’t look as sexy or sophisticated as some other wands do.
L to R: Fun Factory Vim, We-Vibe Wand 2, Lovehoney Classic Wand, Magic Wand Rechargeable

Final thoughts

If you want sheer power above everything else, I’d still direct you to get a Doxy Die Cast (which plugs into the wall) or a Magic Wand Rechargeable (which can be used either plugged in or not), as those both edge out the We-Vibe Wand 2 in terms of vibration strength – albeit not by much.

However: the We-Vibe Wand 2 has the benefit of being very nearly as strong as those other behemoths, and much rumblier than both – not to mention, a whole lot quieter. And unlike the comparably rumbly Fun Factory Vim, the Wand 2 is fully waterproof. It also has a smooth head that’s gentler on the skin and easier to wash than the Vim’s ridgey one.

I have some minor quibbles with the Wand 2, including that one strange mechanical glitch, which doesn’t even stop me from coming (and coming hard!) with this toy. I also wish it weren’t quite so expensive.

But overall, I think this is an absolutely stellar wand. It’s strong as hell, rumbly as fuck, easy to use, waterproof, relatively quiet, and lives up to We-Vibe’s reputation as makers of high-quality vibrators.

The We-Vibe Wand 2 is available at:

This post was not sponsored, but Lovehoney did gift me the product. As always, all writing and opinions are my own.

Review: Womanizer Vibe (Womanizer’s First Vibrator!)

Kate Sloan

What is the Womanizer Vibe?

You might know Womanizer as the inventors of pressure-wave technology, which uses rhythmic air pulses to stimulate the clit – or, occasionally, other bits, like the G-spot or even the frenulum of a penis. I reviewed the very first Womanizer back in 2015 and have been following their meteoric rise ever since.

The Vibe is their latest product, and it’s different from anything they’ve done before, because it’s a regular ol’ vibrator, not a pressure-wave toy. Specifically, it’s meant to be a “lay-on” vibrator, meaning that you can lie face-down on top of it, or sit on it, with the tip pressed against your genitals, and then grind against it while it vibrates. (You can use it in other ways, too, but that’s what it’s designed for.)

It’s shaped like your typical Womanizer, but there’s no air nozzle to put on your clit. Instead, there’s a softly pointed tip that’s firm but draped in silicone, which gives it a little squish, similar to the tip of the Dame Kip or We-Vibe Touch.

I’m not much for lay-on vibes in general, but when a big sex toy brand enters a new category, of course I’m gonna be intrigued! So I’ve put the Vibe through its paces and can tell you all about it.

Things I like about the Womanizer Vibe

  • Let it be said: this toy’s vibration is extremely rumbly – by which I mean that its vibrations are low-pitched and satisfying, they stimulate not only the surface of my body but also deeper clitoral structures, and they don’t cause numbness for me like buzzier vibes can. The rumbliness works well whether I’m holding the vibe manually on my clit or grinding against it, even with a fair amount of pressure.
  • This may well be the quietest vibrator I’ve ever used. Ever. Womanizer calls it “noiseless” and “silent,” and I wouldn’t go that far – it’s still a machine, so there’s still some noise involved – but even on the highest speed, I can only hear it at all when it’s less than an arm’s length away from me. Otherwise, it’s inaudible. So, if you’re looking for a super discreet vibrator, I can enthusiastically recommend this one! (It gets louder if you’re grinding against it while it’s pressed against a hard chair, a firm mattress, or similar, but not by much.)
  • The shape of the toy is well-designed for grinding against – as you might expect, since that’s what they made it for! I have a picky clit that prefers to be stimulated through the hood or inner labia, and this toy’s so-called “Pleasure Edges” allow me to line myself up right where it feels the best and grind away. It’s a stark contrast to Womanizer’s pressure-wave toys, which often feel too direct for me. I also love that they covered the whole grindable area of the toy in firm silicone that has just a bit of squish to it – it strikes the right balance between comfort and intensity.
  • Like some other Womanizer toys, this one has an “autopilot mode.” You can activate it by holding down the “~” button for two seconds. When in autopilot, the toy runs through a pre-set vibration program – sort of like a vibration pattern, except longer, more gradual/fluid, and (for me, at least), more enjoyable. I normally don’t like vibration patterns because I find them too jarring and not stimulating enough, but these ones are much more like being teased by an actual human being. And if you find yourself suddenly wanting to take back control of the toy, it’s as easy as pressing down that same button for two seconds again to switch back into manual mode.
  • The overall, uh, hand-feel of this toy is really pleasing. You can tell that these people have done user research and know a thing or two about ergonomics and design. I find this toy comfy to hold, even with my achy hands, and its buttons are placed well for easy access. The silicone is smooth and matte to the touch. It feels sexy in your hand.
  • Speaking of buttons: they’re great. While I wish that I didn’t always have to reach down to press them (more on that below), they are very easy to find by touch alone, because the “+” button is bigger and more raised than the “–” button, and the autopilot button is even smaller and set slightly apart from the first two. I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of this choice and I hope more sex toy companies follow Womanizer’s lead on this one.
  • I haven’t gotten to test it this way yet, but I imagine that the Vibe could work well on (some) penises, if the pointed tip – or the curve just below it – was pressed against the frenulum area, or wherever is most sensitive. It could be gender-affirming for some transfeminine folks to use it, although I still think the Hot Octopuss Pulse and Fun Factory Manta are the best penis vibrators on the market right now.
  • It’s fully waterproof! Yay!

Things I don’t like about the Womanizer Vibe

  • Womanizer has repeatedly emphasized that the Vibe is designed to “avoid overstimulation” and to be less intense than more pinpointed vibrators, and indeed, it’s not as powerful as I wish it was. Even cranked all the way up to the max (10th) speed, I think it’s only about as strong as the first speed (of four) on the Magic Wand Rechargeable, or maybe a little stronger. That being said – as I mentioned before, this vibrator is designed for the user to “lay on” it and grind against it, and it works well for me (i.e. feels good and can get me off) when used in that way. But when I’m just lying on my back and using it like a wand, without moving it against myself at all, it’s not strong enough to get me there.
  • In using the toy as intended (i.e. by lying on it and humping it), I reeeeeally wished it could be controlled via a phone app. It’s annoying to have to reach down between your body and the bed to locate the buttons whenever you want to change the vibration speed. Using the autopilot mode helped a bit with this problem, but sometimes I want more control than that.
  • I got the blue colorway, and while I normally love blue sex toys, this one is a weirdly depressing shade of navyish grey. It’s like the sex toy equivalent of a suit you’d begrudgingly wear to a temp job. But the good news is that it also comes in a springy pale green and a reddish pink.
  • I say this every time I review a Womanizer product, but: I still hate their name. I know changing your company name is a Whole Thing, but dear god, it’s just so bad. Womanizer? Really? In the year of our lord two thousand and twenty-fucking-four? Can we… not?
Size/shape comparison with the Womanizer Next (left) and my beloved Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen (right)

Final thoughts

I’m not a big grinder. Generally I prefer to lie back and let the toy do the work. So, while I may not be the ideal user for the Womanizer Vibe, I’m nonetheless delighted to own one. It’s ultra-rumbly, ultra-quiet, and clearly well-made.

For me, it works best when used as intended. When I’m not in the mood for the physical exertion of humping a vibe, I can still use this toy, but the “lay-on” position is where it really shines. It lacks the sheer power to be stimulating enough as a regular, handheld vibe, unless you’re moving against it – or are quite sensitive.

On that note: you might enjoy the Vibe if you’ve found that typical Womanizer-type toys feel too intense or direct. It allows for a wider variety of approaches and sensations than pressure-wave toys do, and its rumbly vibration is less overwhelming than focused air waves, but the toy is overall shaped very similarly to most Womanizers, so you’ll get all the ergonomic and aesthetic benefits of that.

You should also consider the Vibe if you want a toy that’s basically inaudible – like if you live with family or nosy roommates. And I think it’d make a great gift for beginners to the world of sex toys; it’s understated, easy to use, and starts at a very low speed, so it’s unlikely to intimidate even the newest of newbs.

We need more toys like the Womanizer Vibe in the world: simple, thoughtfully designed, well-made toys that just do what they’re supposed to do. It may not be as flashy as the leopard-print-and-rhinestoned Womanizer I reviewed back in 2015, but it feels a hell of a lot better – and will work for a hell of a lot more people, I suspect.

 

The Womanizer Vibe is available for purchase at:

 

This was not a sponsored review, although Womanizer did gift me the product. As always, all writing and opinions are my own.

Review: Romulus Shop Olympia 10-Speed Wand

Kate Sloan

Oh god. I’m the wand girl now, aren’t I.

This was a fear I professed to my spouse while I was working on my miniseries about the Magic Wand, Making Magic. Some actors worry about getting typecast after a well-reviewed turn as a nerd or a cad; similarly, I was worried about becoming known forever as that gal who loves wand vibes.

But now, having reflected on it more, I kinda think: it’s fine. There are worse legacies I could have.

And I’m not just saying that because the wand girl gets sent a lot of wands, I swear.

 

What is the Romulus Shop Olympia 10-Speed Wand?

Like many sex toy stores I love, Romulus Shop carries a mix of classic, well-known shapes, and wild, out-there designs. Ever wanted to have your G-spot tapped while your clit is getting sucked? They’ve got a toy for that. How about a hairjob from Medusa? They’ve got a toy for that. Glass anal beads? Yep, they’ve got those, too. (I haven’t tried them and can’t personally attest to whether they’re good, but… whoa. Glass anal beads?!?)

However, in this case, I’m reviewing a tamer product: a humble wand. You know ’em, you love ’em; they’re the original muscle-massager-turned-orgasm-implement, and they tend to offer some of the strongest vibrations around. The Olympia is the most classic wand that Romulus Shop carries.

Bendy neck

Things I like about the Olympia Wand

  • To me, the most impressive thing about this wand – especially for its low price point – is that each of its 10 vibration modes has 5 different intensity settings. Usually, on cheap vibrators, you’re lucky if you get 3 different steady vibration intensities plus a handful of patterns – but this wand gives you a steady vibration mode + 9 pattern modes, all of which have 5 different intensity levels to choose from. This gives each pattern way more versatility and makes it likelier for me to actually use patterns, because (for example) I can start with a low, rumbling pulse and work my way up to a high-powered pulse, without needing to interrupt the flow by cycling through other patterns.
  • The lowest intensity has a nice vibration quality; I’d say it’s buzzy but leaning rumbly, and I find that it works well for building arousal. However, as I’ll describe later, I’m less thrilled with the buzziness of the higher intensities. But in terms of sheer power (i.e. vibration strength, rather than vibration quality/pitch), I’d say this one is pretty middle-of-the-road for a wand – decently strong but not wildly so.
  • The wand’s neck is very bendable in all directions, and the vibrations don’t weaken or cut out when the neck gets bent in this way, in my experience (although I’m sure, as with all wands, there is an amount of pressure that would eventually break it).
  • It’s pretty light, compared to other wands of its size. It feels like it’s maybe half the weight of the Magic Wand Rechargeable, if not lighter. There was a time when I would’ve considered this a drawback, since lighter toys can feel insubstantial and low-quality – but now that I live with chronic pain and strength issues in my hands/arms (among other places), it’s actually helpful for me when a toy doesn’t weigh much, because it means I can hold it for longer without getting tired, and can easily maneuver it to different spots around my vulva.
  • At first, I was concerned to see that the toy didn’t come with instructions – but its controls are actually fairly simple. You hold down the power button to turn the toy on or off, and then short-press that same button to cycle through vibration modes. The plus and minus buttons control the vibration intensity.
  • It’s waterproof! Yay! That’s unusual for a full-size wand like this one. Always nice to be able to use a toy in the shower or bath, or even just to be able to wash it in the sink without worrying you’ll ruin it.
  • At the time that I’m writing this, it’s on sale for $31.90 USD (or $46 CAD), which is pretty damn good for a full-size, rechargeable wand vibrator made of non-porous, body-safe materials.
Pictured with some wands you may have heard of

Things I don’t like about the Olympia Wand

  • The biggest problem with this toy is the vibration quality. I genuinely like the lowest of the 5 intensity levels, as I mentioned above, but levels 2 through 5 get progressively buzzier, resulting (for me) in the temporary clitoral desensitization that happens with high-pitched vibrations like these. I can’t get off with buzzy vibes like this unless I either physically move the toy in circles against me the whole time, or rush through the process so I come before most of the desensitization sets in.
  • It’s loud, even for a wand. My Apple Watch measured it at 71 decibels, while the Magic Wand Rechargeable tops out at about 50. With the Olympia, someone standing outside my bedroom door would likely be able to tell I was using a vibrator… although I will say that it gets a bit quieter when it’s pressed against my body and/or used under blankets.
  • Personal pet peeve: when you first turn it on, it always starts at the 3rd intensity level out of 5 – so if, like me, you prefer to work your way up from the lowest speed, you’ll have to manually turn it down every time you turn it on.

Final thoughts

The buzziness and loudness of this wand make it less than ideal for me, so the main reason I’d recommend it to someone is if price was a major factor for them. (It’s a very valid factor!)

So, here are some questions to ask yourself. Are you looking for a super budget-friendly wand? Do you enjoy, or just not particularly mind, buzzy/high-pitched vibrations? Are you okay with your toy being somewhat loud? If you said yes to all three, then I think the Romulus Shop Olympia Wand is worth considering. A wand vibe can be a versatile addition to just about anyone’s toy collection, because of all the many ways it can be used solo or with a partner, and I love that there are body-safe options available under $40, like the Olympia, so that strong vibrations are financially accessible to more people. This wand also has the benefits of being waterproof and very light and easy to wield.

I guess I am the wand girl, because I want everyone to be able to afford a wand if they want one. And to that end, I’m glad the Olympia exists.

 

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