Posts Tagged ‘sex toys’
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 LoveHoney’s newest Womanizers.
The Womanizer from LoveHoney.com 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.
Thank you, LoveHoney.com, for sending me the Womanizer.
Lelo’s Mona Wave wiggles hello to your G-spot
Are you old enough to remember the ad for the Yellow Pages that started, “Let your fingers do the walking”? Then you’ll understand me if I say, “Let your Mona Wave do the waving.” This delightful and lovely penetrative vibrator does more than vibrate — it gently wiggles forward and back to wave hello to your G-spot.If moving fingers in your vagina are your idea of a fine time, this vibrator from Lelo comes close. The “waving” is supposed to simulate the “come hither” motion recommended to stimulate the G-spot. It sort of does that.
I like a lot about this sex toy:
Pros:
- Beautiful design, well-made, curved for ease of G-spot stimulation.
- 10 patterns with adjustable intensity. You can get the vibrations + the wave, or the wave without vibrations, or the vibrations without wave. The patterns use different rhythms, from tap-tap to roller coaster.
- Smooth, body-safe silicone materials.
- Waterproof and rechargeable.
- Waving motion feels darned good.
That’s not to say it’s perfect, though.
Cons:
- Just try to see the controls without your reading glasses. You can tell by feeling the recessed area how to turn it off and on, but if you want to explore patterns or increase intensity, your lubed fingers will have no idea where to press. You’ll have to turn it off, pull it out, put on your bifocals, and either change the setting or memorize where it is. I know that the lack of raised buttons and easy-to-feel markings make it easier to clean, but the trade-off is that it’s harder to vary settings once you’ve started.
- The vibrations are in the handle as well as in the insertable part. Holding it can irritate an arthritic wrist. Solution, once you have it where you wanted, let go. It will likely stay where it belongs, hands-free or at least hands-minimal.
- If you clench your vagina, the waving transfers from the vibrator to the handle. Neither our vagina nor our hand wants that!
- Lelo is overselling it by claiming that it gives “the orgasm to end all orgasms.” First of all, it doesn’t deliver that. Second, who’d want to “end all orgasms” anyway?
For me personally, the pros far outweigh the cons. I’ll be enjoying this toy often!
Note: The diameter of the widest part is about 1.5″. If you have discomfort with penetration and you prefer a slim toy, it may feel too large. If your vaginal entrance is tight, which is true for many women of our age, the abrupt size change and lack of tapering may be a problem.
You can purchase Mona Wave from Good Vibrations in the US, or for international sales, visit Lelo. Lelo also puts the wave technology into a rabbit vibrator — the Ina Wave — which I haven’t tried yet.
