Posts Tagged ‘sex toys’
Sybian Sex!
I have a new lover, pet, and housemate. Its name is Sybian. How do I describe Sybian? Can I call a 22-pound, vibrating, mountable, power tool a “vibrator”? That’s like calling the Sydney Opera House (which I plan to visit in September!) a music device. Do you want to know my Sybian review?
The Sybian is a big, curved apparatus designed to be mounted. You attach the attachment of choice, apply lubricant to the attachment and to yourself, straddle the Sybian, sit on it, turn the dial to control the sensations, and enjoy.
You can rock or you can just sit upright and let the Sybian do all the work. It’s not a bucking bronco — you won’t be tossed off.
Oh yes, it vibrates. Whoa, does it vibrate! It has a powerful motor, and, and depending on how high you turn the dial, the vibrations go from subtle to strong to 50 shades of holy moly!
Many of the photos and videos show a woman mounting the Sybian with her knees on the floor, but at our age, few of us would be comfortable that way. No problem — put it on a stable, elevated platform so that your feet can be on the floor. I recommend the optional storage cabinet that doubles as 3-level risers. That way, you can straddle it comfortably while sitting upright with your feet on the floor.
The cabinet is also useful because the Sybian is big and heavy — 22 pounds — so it’s not easy to carry or tuck away when not in use. The cabinet is built for it, hides it nicely, and has a separate storage area for attachments as well as a lock in case your visiting grandkids get nosy!
If straddling is uncomfortable for your hips, or if you can’t relax that way, you can lie down on your bed with the Sybian between your legs on its power-cord end. Then tilt it forward so that the attachment contacts your genitals without putting weight on you. It’s fine to use it this way — it won’t harm the Sybian or you.
The attachments give you a variety of choices: two for clitoral stimulation without penetration, a variety of options for clitoral pleasure with vaginal penetration, and one with a double dildo for vaginal and anal penetration. The Basic Sybian Package comes with two attachments; you buy additional ones separately or as a kit.
The insertable attachments don’t thrust. They vibrate and, using a separate control dial, they can rotate. It’s a different feeling if you’re used to thrusting.
You may find, as I did, that it took a half-dozen Sybian encounters to discover just the right combination of position, attachments, and intensities that work for you.
You may find, for example, that you get best results by starting with a non-penetrative attachment and switching to penetration when you’re fully aroused. You may find that spending 10 minutes on a low to medium speed vibration will get you ready for a higher speed, or that you like penetration with just a little rotation or a lot, or maybe that changes as you get closer to orgasm. Explore, and don’t get frustrated if it takes some experimentation before you experience earth-shaking orgasms. Important: Read the instructions first — don’t go straight to a discovery mission.
Pros:
- If you need strong stimulation, you can’t find a sexual pleasure tool that’s stronger than this.
- You can have all the sex you want: clitoral stimulation with or without penetration, with or without a partner.
- Attachments let you individualize it to your preference.
- Use it solo, or have a partner participate and enjoy your pleasure by watching or holding you or controlling the dial.
- If you like penetration, the insertable part can be slender (the finger attachment, pictured on the purple Sybian), jumbo, or some girthiness in between, depending on which attachment you choose.
- You can try it for 45 days, and if you don’t fall in love with it, you can return it for a full refund minus a $175 reconditioning fee. That’s an amazing deal.
Cons:
- It’s a learning curve — not just how to use it (follow the instructions, please — don’t just turn it on!), but how to adapt it for your individual needs and optimal pleasure. (This doesn’t have to be a “con” if you let go of expectations of instant orgasms and enjoy the journey.)
- Heavy, making it hard to move.
- It’s really loud. I was afraid that my close neighbors would think an airplane was taking off in my bedroom. If you don’t have privacy, this will be a problem.
- It costs $1,345.
I know I’ll get some criticism for recommending a $1,345 purchase. It’s not a sex toy — it’s a whole different category.
Here’s an idea if you have a few friends who are interested and the cost is stopping you: get together and get the 45-day trial, purchasing extra attachments for each of you. Since only the attachment comes in contact with your genitals, maybe you’d feel comfortable sharing the Sybian — a few days at your house, then put in in the car and take it to friend #1’s house, then to friend #2, and so on. I know some people who bought one in common and schedule who gets it on a weekly rotating basis.
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| Bunny Lampert shows Joan the Sybian |
The Sybian was invented by Dave Lampert in 1985, and it’s still a family business. The inventor’s daughter, Bunny Lampert, told me, “He was always curious about women and their orgasms — what was happening, and why it was so difficult. What could he create that would be designed for women’s sexual pleasure and nothing else?” Clearly, he figured it out!
Learn more about the Sybian here. If you have one, or have tried one, or have questions, I hope you’ll add your comments below.
Eroscillator: buzzing solo or with a partner
Eroscillator attachments
Toys Are Us: My Personal Vibrator History
I bought my first vibrator in my thirties at Macy’s: a “personal care” product for, uh, “massage.” The instructions said nothing about using it for sex, but, wink-wink, I knew.
For decades, I collected vibrators, trying to find the model that would do it for me. I don’t remember if I started with the Wahl (which I named Wally), with its many intriguing attachments, or the Hitachi M
agic Wand (named Big Buzzy), but after buying the first one, I quickly bought another.
Over the next few years, I filled three nightstand drawers with vibrators of all sorts, both plug-in and battery-operated. I had vibrators in the shape of a penis, egg, wand, rabbit, and probably more I’m forgetting. I must have tried every type of vibrator on the planet, not because I love variety but because it was difficult to find the one for me. I’ve always preferred the strength of plug-in rather than battery-operated sex toys, and now that I’m older, I need the most intensity possible. A “light touch” is pleasant, but if my goal is orgasm, it’s got to be strong.
A decade ago, I cleaned out my drawers, threw out the thirty-year-old attachments that had deteriorated into flakes of plastic, discarded the toys I didn’t really like, and kept only my favorites. I hated to throw this large collection in the trash, but I figured neither Goodwill nor my local consignment store would accept used sex toys, and they weren’t old enough to donate to Good Vibrations antique vibrator museum.
I decided I didn’t need all these extra toys anymore because I’ve discovered my favorite: the Eroscillator, an oscillating plug-in designed for clitoral stimulation. It feels great—intense and focused, with its smooth, rotating motion—and it is easy to hold, easy to aim, and easy to adjust intensity during the act. A twelve-foot-long cord makes it work in hotel rooms, where the outlet might be half a wall away. Best of all, the long, slim handle and small vibrating part make it simple and comfortable to use with a partner. It’s expensive—$120 to almost $200*, depending on attachments—but worth every penny.
Because the Eroscillator is endorsed by Dr. Ruth Westheimer and her picture is on the box, I named mine “Dr. Ruth.”
Electrifying Sex: Using Sex Toys with a Partner
At some point after Robert and I became sexual, I asked if he’d be open to using a vibrator with me. His response was a definitive, absolute, “No! I don’t want a machine in the middle of our lovemaking!” He had had no experience with what he called “appliances,” and they didn’t fit with his feelings about lovemaking as natural and spiritual. When I showed him my vibrator, it seemed like a noisy, mechanical thing.
Robert would make me come with his fingers before or after intercourse—I couldn’t come during intercourse at all. My sensations just weren’t strong enough anymore to bring me over the top unless I had really strong, direct, and focused clitoral stimulation. He kept asking if there was anything he could do during intercourse so that I could come that way, and my answer was always, “Only if we use a vibrator at the same time.”
Finally, he agreed to try it. The ease of giving me an orgasm and the intensity of my pleasure won him over. We’ve used it ever since, and it’s part of our love play. Now Robert will say in the middle of sex, “Let’s get my buddy, Dr. Ruth!”
– from Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex after Sixty (2006)
Learn more about the Eroscillator
* 2024 update: These were 2006 prices. Now $200 and up (worth it!), depending on the attachments you buy. Make sure your selection includes the “soft finger”!
Note: I kept this excerpt in present tense although some crucial things have changed:
1. I lost Robert to cancer in 2008, but I still love remembering precious moments like these, and I couldn’t bear to shift the ending of this excerpt to past tense.
2. I now have several favorite vibrators. The Eroscillator is still in the top four for solo sex and top two for partner sex!
The New, Rechargeable Magic Wand!
2/7/25 update:
I’m updating this 2015 post because the Magic Wand Rechargeable is in the news again for two reasons:
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Several of us (see comments) are among the 1,000 participants in the Magic Wand Study this month.
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The New York Times Wirecutter declared the Magic Wand Rechargeable “the best vibrator.” I’m delighted that this article referenced me, Naked at Our Age, and my post “Vibrators for Seniors – especially for first-timers“! (Thank you, Bianca Alba!)
Original review published 4/13/15:
If you read my reviews, you know that I love the Magic Wand. For decades (yes, decades, with a couple of improvements along the way), it has been the King of Vibrators.
Now there’s a new king in town: the Magic Wand Rechargeable. It has everything we loved about the Original Magic Wand (reviewed here) plus 4 new attributes that make it the ideal sex tool for those of us who need really strong vibrations:
- It’s rechargeable! No need to look for an outlet near the bed or get tangled in cords — just charge it ahead of time, and it’s usable cord-free.
- Silicone head! The silicone covering of the head is not only more body-safe than the previous wand, it’s softer, a little cushy, which feels really good.
- Four speeds! Instead of the previous two speeds (high and turbo high), we have four choices. The lowest speed is rumbly and great for warm-up (for most of us), or if you don’t need super-strong, the first two speeds might be all you need. Turbo users can turn it up from level 1 to higher, extra high, or unbelievably high. According to Good Vibrations, here’s a comparison of intensity levels:
- Original Magic Wand: 1- 5000 rpms (vibrations/ minute); 2- 6000 rpms
- Rechargeable Magic Wand: 1- 2,700 rpms; 2- 3,800 rpms; 3- 5,400 rpms; 4- 6,300 rpms
- Patterns. I don’t really care about patterns — just give me strong, steady vibrations, thank you. But for those of you who like to experiment with patterns, there are four of them.
Being so strong, it has to be large to house the motor. Like previous iterations, this Magic Wand is big (13″ long with a tennis-ball sized head) and heavy — caution if you have arthritic wrists. On the other hand, it works so well that you’ll likely reach your goal in a very short time, compared to other sex toys!
The silicone head cover is not removable, so you have to be careful cleaning it — just wipe it clean.
The Magic Wand Rechargeable is priced in line with other rechargeable vibrators and well worth the money. (Please don’t be duped into buying it cheaper on Amazon. The cheap ones may be labeled Magic Wand, but they might not be — they might be knock-offs with inferior materials and design, and just try to get a refund when they overheat or stop working. Don’t risk it, seriously.)
I’m shouting, I’m singing, I’m dancing, I’m loving this new Magic Wand! Thank you, Good Vibrations, for gifting me the Magic Wand Rechargeable in exchange for an honest review.
(Originally published 4/13/15)
Womanizer Clitoral Stimulator: Clitoral suction!
2021 update: This first version of the Womanizer is no longer available (mine should go in a museum), but later versions without the garish decoration and thumb-stabbing jewel are sure to delight! I’m keeping this review (after removing the dead links) because it’s fun to see this original version. Check out my newer Womanizer reviews.
The Womanizer is a sex toy that sucks your clitoris — and that’s a rock-your-world sensation!
Let’s get this part out of the way first, though — this is the ugliest, tackiest looking sex toy that has ever graced my nightstand. It looks like a design by sixth graders assigned to figure out what a girly ear thermometer might look like. It’s a garish shade of fuschia, with animal print decoration. The “+” button is a fake jewel.
And the name — Womanizer. Seriously?
And yet… it’s wonderful! This magical sex toy isn’t quite a vibrator, although it does vibrate. The essence of its power is suction. Position it so that the silicone attachment surrounds the nub of the clitoris, turn it on, and waves of gentle suction tug around the clitoris. It’s an exquisite feeling. And yes, the rhythmic suction does lead to orgasm. Oh yes, it does.
This might be a deal breaker for you: it’s very expensive, about $200. (Yes, it should be less ugly for that price.) But if the idea of having your clitoris gently and rhythmically sucked for as long as you want makes you squirm, save up for it. It’s worth it.
The Womanizer charges via USB, so there are no cords to wrestle with while you’re using it. It comes in a hard case in an unattractive shade of bubble gum pink.
The silicone part that nibbles and sucks your clitoris comes off for easy cleaning, and there’s an extra in the case in case you need it. One caveat — the manual says that you can use silicone lubricant, but you cannot. The tip, which is the part you need lubed, is silicone, so use water-based lubricant with it.
Bottom line — Give me that clitoral suction sensation — I love it. I can get past ugly by closing my eyes.
