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Review: Velora Dune banana-shaped vibrator

Kate Sloan

What is the Velora Dune?

Canadian sex toy retailer Velora’s Place asked me to review their Dune vibrator, which is shaped like the top half of a banana. It’s designed to stimulate the clitoris or other external erogenous zones. It’s rechargeable and made of silicone and ABS plastic.

Things I like about the Velora Dune:

  • Versatile & unusual shape: When it comes to external/clitoral vibrators like this one, I always appreciate a shape that feels different depending on how you angle it, as this gives more sensation options and makes the toy more versatile. The “business end” of this toy, shaped to resemble a banana stem, works well for this; I can lay it alongside my clit for broader stimulation, for example, or hold just the tip against my clit for a more pinpointed feeling.
  • Whimsical aesthetic: A banana is a cute thing for a sex toy to be shaped like, and I know some users (especially those with minimal/no sex toy experience) find it less intimidating to use toys that have a playful appearance like this. It’s also unusual to see a bright yellow vibrator; I appreciate the big swing that was taken here aesthetically.
  • Convenient charging dock: I like the way the Dune charges – it comes with a little charging dock that you can power with a USB-C cable, which makes it convenient for travel if you, like me, always have a USB-C cable on hand for other electronics anyway. The dock doesn’t take up a ton of space on a nightstand and charges the Dune relatively quickly – you get up to 2 hours of use from a 90-minute charge.
  • Relatively quiet: While it is definitely audible, the Dune tops out around 45 decibels, which is louder than a refrigerator but quieter than moderate rainfall.
  • Price: The Dune is currently priced at $29, which I think is a fair price for it. That’s also unusually cheap for a rechargeable vibrator (as opposed to one that runs on disposable batteries).

Things I don’t like about the Velora Dune:

  • Extremely buzzy: Unfortunately, the Dune’s motor – the most important aspect of any vibrator – is wildly buzzy, i.e. its vibrations are high-pitched, surface-level, and prone to causing temporary numbness and discomfort. Many people, myself emphatically included, prefer vibrations that are rumbly – i.e. low-pitched and therefore more able to stimulate tissues deeply without causing numbness – and there’s really no rumble to be found here; it’s all buzz, all the time. I was unable to reach orgasm with the Dune in any of my testing sessions because it numbed me out too quickly for me to get there in time.
  • Only 3 steady speeds: The Dune’s one button cycles through 3 steady speeds followed by 7 patterns. According to informal polls I’ve run over the years, most vibrator users, myself included, tend to stick to steady speeds rather than patterns, so there should always be more than 3 speeds available; otherwise the jumps between them feel too severe. The Dune also starts at a vibration level that feels way too intense for me at most points in my arousal cycle, so I generally have to be extremely turned on already before I start using it, or else it’ll be too jarring and uncomfortable.
  • Vibration conducts into handle: My fingers start to feel weird within seconds of using the Dune, because so much of its ultra-buzzy vibration conducts into the part of the toy that you hold onto. This could make it painful or challenging for folks with sore/weak hands to use.
  • Seemingly not fully waterproof: The Dune is “water-resistant,” which, in sex toy parlance, usually means you can safely wash it off in the sink but shouldn’t submerge it in water or use it in a bath.

Final thoughts

I wanted to like the adorable-looking Dune vibrator, but alas, it’s far too buzzy for me to enjoy. I kept having to reach for bigger, rumblier vibes to finish the job, and even then, it often wasn’t as pleasurable as it normally would have been, because the buzzy vibrations had temporarily reduced my sensitivity, as they tend to do.

But I can’t deny that the Dune is a cute, affordable vibrator with a versatile shape and a cool charging mechanism. I’m sure some people would enjoy it, but I ain’t one of ’em. This little banana just didn’t quite ap-peel to me, I guess 😉

 

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: Velora Luxe Bullet vibrator

Kate Sloan

What is the Velora Luxe Bullet vibrator?

Sex toy retailer Velora’s Place sent me their Luxe Bullet to review. It’s a rechargeable vibrator made of silicone and plastic. Like other bullets, it’s on the smaller side of the vibrator spectrum (3.15″ long by 0.8″ wide). It’s currently being sold for $20.99.

Things I like about the Velora Luxe Bullet:

  • Strong enough: It’s no jackhammer or Magic Wand, but I was surprised by this thing’s power output, given its low price and diminutive size. I never had a problem coming with it, sometimes even through underwear and/or sleep shorts.
  • Not horribly buzzy: While the Luxe Bullet certainly isn’t as rumbly (i.e. low-pitched and deeply stimulating) as some higher-end bullets like the We-Vibe Tango X, it’s also not anywhere near as annoyingly buzzy (i.e. high-pitched and numbing) as I would generally expect for a vibe at this price point. As I said above, I was consistently able to reach orgasm with it – and I had enough clitoral sensitivity left at that point that the orgasms were good, not muted. Impressive for such an affordable toy!
  • Petite: Like other bullets, the Luxe Bullet is small and thus more easily maneuverable than a chonkier vibrator. It can work well between bodies during sex, and easily fits into a purse or pocket. (A couple caveats, though: it lacks a travel lock function, which would make it more portable, and it’s also too big to fit into slots designed for standard-sized bullet vibes, such as those found in the base of some dildos.)
  • Price: Despite its bougie-sounding name, the Luxe Bullet currently retails for just $20.99. I’m always glad to see an actually-decent vibe at a budget-friendly price. It has its flaws, as I’ll get into below, but overall it performs quite well for a $21 vibrator!
  • Rechargeable: It’s cool to see a rechargeable vibe at this price point, since generally I’d expect vibes under $30 to run on disposable batteries. This toy charges via a convenient little USB cable.

Things I don’t like about the Velora Luxe Bullet:

  • Only 3 steady speeds: Not that I would expect much more from a $21 vibrator, but the Luxe Bullet has just 3 steady speeds, followed by 7 patterns. I always prefer at least 8 steady speeds, as it expands your sensation options and makes the jumps between speeds less jarring. It’s also annoying to have to cycle through all the patterns, using the toy’s one button, to get back to the first speed again.
  • Inconsistent patterns: Of the Luxe Bullet’s 7 patterns, only 3 maintain a steady rhythm with minimal pauses between buzzes. The other 4 patterns might be suitable for people who like unpredictability or the fun(?) frustration of edging, but that ain’t me, so I got annoyed with these, especially since you have to cycle through all of them to get back to the first vibration speed.
  • Basic shape: I generally prefer bullets that have either a pointed tip or a flat/angled one, as this gives more sensation options (you can, for example, use the tip of such a toy when you want a more pinpointed sensation, and hold it sideways when you want a more diffuse/broad feeling). The Luxe Bullet has a uniform thickness of 20 mm (about 0.8 inches) along its whole length, so if you prefer slimmer/more precise stimulation than that, you should look elsewhere.
  • Color: Brown is certainly an unusual shade for a vibrator, so I’ll give ’em points for originality, but in this particular size and shape, it ends up looking a bit faecal, which is, shall we say, not my kink. Other color options are available, though!
  • Noise level: As is to be expected for a vibe at this price point, it makes a definitely-audible buzzing noise, and is not, as its marketing copy claims, “whisper-quiet” by any means. However, it probably wouldn’t be detectable from another room if the door was closed and you were playing white noise or music to cover the sound.
  • Vibrates fingers: I sometimes experienced numbness or discomfort in my hand/fingers when using the Luxe Bullet, because (as is common for vibes of this size/shape) the vibrations are conducted through the entire toy, not just the tip. Folks with hand pain/discomfort might struggle to comfortably keep a good grip on this toy.
  • Presumably not waterproof: Since there’s no mention anywhere of the Luxe Bullet being waterproof, I have to assume it isn’t, which makes it a little trickier to clean and also limits the environments in which you can use it. But, again, that’s to be expected for a $21 vibrator.

Final thoughts

The Luxe Bullet is a notably better vibrator than I was expecting, for a $21 toy! I’d happily recommend this for a beginner on a budget who wants a vibe for external stimulation (it’s not really suitable for vaginal or anal penetration due to its small size, straight shape, and lack of a flared base). It delivers decently strong vibrations for its petite form factor, and will do the job well for many folks. I wish we’d had this in stock when I was working sex toy retail in my twenties – I’m sure I would’ve sold a bunch of them!

It has its issues, but overall, the Luxe Bullet is indeed more luxe than one would think, given its low pricetag. Yay for affordable orgasms!

 

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: OhMiBod Esca 2

Kate Sloan

What is the OhMiBod Esca 2?

The sex toy company OhMiBod was one of the original pioneers of remotely-controllable toys, and they still make great ones to this day. The one I’m reviewing today is the Esca 2, a G-spot vibrator designed to be “worn” vaginally. Via the OhMiBod app, this toy can be controlled either locally or remotely, so it’s great for public play scenes or long-distance sex.

The Esca 2 is made of silicone and ABS plastic, has a total length of 7.3″ and a max diameter of 1.3″, and has a Bluetooth range of 26 feet.

Things I like about the OhMiBod Esca 2:

  • Strong, rumbly vibration: A vibrator’s motor is its most important quality, so I’m thrilled that OhMiBod clearly put effort into making this one great! The rumbliness of the Esca’s motor ensures that I never feel desensitized to its vibrations, even after a longer session – and there’s a wide range of vibration intensities available, from low to high.
  • Amazing app and connectivity: The remote-controllability of the Esca 2 is its main draw, and accordingly, OhMiBod’s app – available for iOS and Android – is excellent. It offers several different ways to control the toy’s vibrations – you can sync it up with music or sound (more on that in a moment), tap or swipe to create your own patterns, and try pre-programmed patterns. I also found that the Esca paired to my phone instantly when I turned it on, and stayed connected the entire time I was using it – no troubleshooting required whatsoever.
  • Sound-responsive mode: I had a lot of fun playing with the app mode that makes vibrations respond to music or other sounds. Some other companies have made versions of this feature which I’ve found finicky and inconsistent, but OhMiBod offers the genius innovation of allowing you to adjust both the intensity of the vibrations and the sensitivity of the audio-sensing – so, whether you want your vibe to respond to your partner’s voice murmuring to you in bed, or to a DJ’s larger-than-life set at a music festival (or anything in between), you can configure this vibe to make it happen. I actually found the music mode to be the best way for the Esca to achieve steadily rhythmic vibration, since it doesn’t offer that on its own (more on that later).
  • Easy to use surreptitiously in public: Perhaps more than any other “wearable” vibrator I’ve tested, the Esca 2 can easily be used in public without constantly having to readjust, reconnect, etc. For one thing, the toy can stay in standby mode for a very long time, so if you pause your public scene for a bit (like if the waiter comes back with your drinks), you won’t need to dash to the bathroom to turn the vibe back on. The vibration intensity can be changed using the physical volume buttons on your phone, rather than just via the app, so once the toy is paired and turned on, you don’t even need to unlock your phone to control it thereafter – you could even control it while your phone’s still in your pocket! The vibe is also fairly quiet in use, and its LED light can be disabled by pressing its button twice once it’s turned on. All of this adds up to it being a great option for discreet public play.
  • Stays in place well: I never experienced any slippage while testing the Esca, which sets it apart from many other wearable vibes. I even went for a 45-minute walk with the Esca inside me once, after already having an orgasm on it, to test whether the combo of wetness, gravity, and motion would cause an embarrassing incident in public… and I didn’t feel it slipping at all, ever. Kudos to these toy designers!
  • Long battery life: With the Esca 2, you’ll get about 3 hours of use from a 90-minute charge, which is great.

Things I don’t like about the OhMiBod Esca 2:

  • Patterns aren’t consistent enough: My #1 complaint about this toy is that its own built-in patterns are somewhat erratic, like a clumsy lover: often changing things up instead of staying the course. Even when I tried to make my own patterns for more consistency, there would be (at minimum) a short pause in between loops. The only way I found to keep the vibrations rhythmically consistent for more than 10ish seconds at a time was to sync the toy up to music, as described above.
  • No clit stimulation: Not that I would expect it from a G-spot-centric toy, but the Esca doesn’t really get anywhere near my clit. Even when I position its external arm there, almost no vibration conducts through it. So, if you or your partner require clit stimulation to get off (as the majority of people with vulvas do), you may want to pair the Esca 2 with a clitorally-focused wearable vibe like the Lovense Ferri. Personally I don’t mind a bit of a tease during public play, since I would find it too difficult to reach orgasm in that environment anyway, but your mileage may vary.
  • Not waterproof: You gotta be careful when washing the Esca 2, and avoid using it in the shower/bath/hot tub/etc., because it’s not waterproof.
  • Not anal-compatible: Possibly goes without saying, but just incase you were considering it, the Esca 2 is not anal-safe. Something like the Lovense Edge would be a better bet for that usage.

Final thoughts

Thanks to today’s sponsor, Evolution Zone, for sending me the OhMiBod Esca 2 to try out! I enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting to, because most wearable vibes are weak, buzzy, and unreliable, whereas the Esca 2 has none of those problems: its vibrations are wonderfully strong and rumbly, its app is astonishingly well-built, and its Bluetooth connectivity worked great during all my testing sessions.

I wish this toy had some consistent vibration patterns; the lack of them is really its only major drawback. But if you’re just looking for a dependable vibe for some public teasing ‘n’ edging, or a G-spot vibe for long-distance play, I think the Esca 2 will serve you well.

 

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.

3 Fascinating Facts from Sex Doll Science

Kate Sloan
Pictured: the Rowan doll from YourDoll

Y’all know that I love me some sexual science – so when sex doll company YourDoll reached out to partner with me on a post, I knew immediately that I wanted to do a scientific deep-dive on sex dolls! Turns out there’s a surprising amount of scholarship on the subject – here are 3 interesting facts I discovered, for your sex-nerdy amusement.

1. Some asexual people own sex dolls

Yep – just like sex dolls themselves, ace people contain multitudes! In a 2022 paper published in the Journal of Future Robot Life, the Dutch anthropologist Roanne van Voorst wrote about a woman she interviewed who is asexual-identified but (paradoxically?) owns a sex doll.

The woman described having purchased a sex doll for a thousand euros, amidst a lonely lockdown in the early pandemic years. Although she explained that she is one of the many asexuals who sometimes masturbate (albeit in a perfunctory, “non-erotic” way), she said that her relationship to her doll wasn’t sexual at all – she found comfort and enjoyment in dressing up the doll, brushing its hair, taking photos of it, and lying with her head in its lap. Doll ownership had indeed helped alleviate some of the loneliness she’d been experiencing. “Perhaps [my doll] functions in the way other lonely people use a television,” she told the interviewer – “by having that blast all day, it feels like you are not so isolated.”

While this particular paper only delved into the sex doll usage of one asexual person, I imagine there are plenty more ace people around the world who’ve enjoyed using sex dolls. Asexuality is characterized by low or nonexistent sexual attraction to other people, but that doesn’t necessarily preclude an ace person from masturbating, fantasizing, or doing sensual stuff like naked cuddling – all of which they might be able to enjoy more easily with a sex doll than with, say, a human partner who (sadly) might make them feel pressured or shamed.

2. Owning a sex doll may affect how you view women

Of all the questions that scientists have pondered about sex dolls, one of the most common is: Are they good or bad, vis-à-vis misogyny, patriarchy, and men’s treatment of women? Some studies argue, for example, that owning a sex doll could make a sex offender less likely to re-offend, while some suggest just the opposite, that sex doll usage increases men’s sexual objectification of women and thereby makes them more likely to coerce or assault someone.

I’m not sure how I feel about this issue, given the mixed scientific evidence, not to mention the fact that correlation doesn’t necessarily equal causation. But this type of research certainly gives me a lot to think about. For instance, one 2022 study, published by Craig A. Harper et al. in the Journal of Sex Research, found that men who own sex dolls are more prone to obsessiveness, have lower self-esteem, and are “more likely to see women as unknowable” – but the same study also found that doll-owners are less sexually aggressive than the general population. A mixed bag, you could say!

3. Sex doll owners often bond with each other online

Contrary to the popular perception that people who own sex dolls are lonely losers with no social skills, there are actually thriving online communities of sex doll owners, where they trade tips and tricks, share photos and videos, and discuss their feelings toward their dolls.

This community aspect of doll ownership was discussed at length in a 2007 paper by journalist Belinda Middleweek, published in the journal Sexualities. The paper reflects on, among other things, how a significant portion of doll-owners say they appreciate their doll not just for sex but also for companionship. While some critics might argue that perceived emotional closeness with an inanimate object is a poor substitute for actual human connection, Middleweek’s paper shows us that sex doll ownership actually can help foster human connection – with other sex doll devotees! I bet some of them even throw sex doll orgies… Wish I could be a fly on the wall for one of those!

 

This post contains sponsored links. As always, all writing and opinions are my own.

Can You Give Yourself a Fetish (On Purpose)?

Kate Sloan
Photo by mb. Hot sexy fetishizable boots by Frye.

Of all the unanswered questions in human sexuality, perhaps the one that puzzles me most is “Where do kinks and fetishes come from?” There are so many different explanations out there – several of which are scientifically supported – that it’s hard to come up with a unifying theory on the subject. Maybe our horny human minds are just too complex to be pinned down like that!

Part of the confusion stems from stigma – because, unfortunately, some people only ask “Where do kinks come from?” in an attempt to get rid of a fetish they’re ashamed of, or to gather psychological ammo for shaming a fetishist in their life. But with very few exceptions, those people can fuck right off.

Personally, I think the immense variety of kinks is worth celebrating, not suppressing – and so, when I’m wondering about the origins of kinks, it’s often in service of these two underlying questions: How can I lean into my partners’ kinks, and my own, in the most satisfying ways? And how can we gain even more new kinks to enjoy?

That last question has actually been addressed by science. Lemme tell you about it!

 

The rubber boots study

Fetish formation was studied way back in 1966 (yes, 60 years ago!!) by a researcher named S. Rachman at London’s Maudsley Hospital, who tried to induce a rubber boots fetish.

The study had just 3 participants, all “unmarried psychologists” and ostensibly cis straight men. They were shown images of “black, knee-length woman’s boots (a common fetishistic object)” in between slides of “attractive, naked girls,” with the idea being that sexual arousal from the nudes would be redirected onto the boots, creating a Pavlovian link between boots and pleasure. Arousal was tracked via a phallo-plethysmograph, a stretchy ring that goes around the penis and measures its bloodflow.

Rachman successfully induced a kink for boots in all three men, meaning that they got aroused from the boot pics even without a boob-based pre-show – although, interestingly, the study notes that all three participants experienced “spontaneous recovery” from the fetish just 4-7 days after gaining it, suggesting that kinks formed through deliberate association are probably weaker and more malleable than kinks that seem to arise spontaneously/without you doing anything to foster them.

This study was small and was conducted a long time ago, so it’s hard to extrapolate anything meaningful from it, but I think about it regularly nonetheless. I wonder if kinks formed in this Pavlovian way are like an initial spark when you’re trying to light a fire – they could grow into something blazingly bright and beautiful, but only if you keep ’em well-fuelled with firewood (erotic stimuli, fantasy, repetition) and protect them from the wind (shame, distraction, social and cultural pressures).

 

The penny jar study

Another study, published in the journal Behavior Modification in 1999 and conducted by Joseph J. Plaud and James R. Martini, used similar methods to the rubber boots experiment, in an attempt to induce a fetish for a jar of pennies. They arrived at the same outcome as the other study: there was “a significant increase in penile tumescence to a previously neutral stimulus that originally elicited no tumescence.”

Notably, the researchers tried different ways of ordering the stimuli – naked girls first and then pennies, and also the inverse – and found that this type of conditioning only works when you get horny and then encounter the thing you’re trying to fetishize. So if you’re looking to try this conditioning method in your own sex/kink life, think carefully about your order of operations when planning your sexy slideshow!

With its small sample size of just nine participants, this study doesn’t offer universal answers about how fetishes can be formed – in part because, as the authors themselves point out, “Only males have been studied in these experiments, which provides no data about patterns of sexual arousal in females” – but it’s interesting that both studies found we can pick up new kinks if we want to. What an inspiring fact for those of us who are always looking to expand our sexual horizons!

This study doesn’t comment on how long the participants’ fetishistic associations lasted, like the other one did, so it’s hard to say whether Pavlovian conditioning can actually create a long-term, enduring, capital-F Fetish in somebody. But at the very least, you could use these techniques to install a short-term arousal trigger, which might or might not linger after your scene is done. Could be a fun science experiment to try on your next date night… Let me know how it goes!

 

This post contains a sponsored link. As always, all writing and opinions are my own.