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.
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.
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.