Posts Tagged ‘vibrator review’
Doxy – a power tool
When Roylin Downs, owner of Trystology, told me that I had to try the Doxy Wand, I believed her. She knows my preference for intense vibrators, even if that means that they’re heavy and need to be plugged in.
Oh my. I wouldn’t have imagined that a vibrator this strong existed. I don’t even need to take it to the highest power setting to send me spinning into space. Even the low settings are strong and they’re rumbly rather than buzzy. If you cycle from the lowest to the highest setting, it sounds like a plane taking off.
 |
| Doxy vs length of my arm. |
Be aware that when you first turn it on, it doesn’t start at the lowest setting, but at higher than mid-point. From there, use the “+” or “-” to turn it up or down. There’s also a pulse setting activated by holding down the power button for two seconds, then releasing, but I have to admit that I didn’t bother with that.
What can I say? It works hard, and it works quickly, even for this almost 71-year-old, slow-burning woman.
I generally prefer vibrators that are easy on arthritic wrists — this one is not. It’s heavy, it’s huge, and I would be in pain from trying to hold it for any length of time. However, that’s irrelevant, because it works so fast that my wrist barely notices. Yes, it’s that good.
“But how does it compare to the Magic Wand?” you’re asking. It’s bigger. (“Bigger?! No way!” Yes, bigger.) And heavier. The cord is longer. All those sound bad, but it’s not bad because all that size is necessary for the power it delivers.
As far as intensity goes, the Doxy feels stronger, but it may just seem that way because the head is larger and covers more territory.
I also like Doxy’s head more than the Magic Wand’s because Doxy is more cushy. Strong and soft are a great combination.
The head is made of medical grade PVC, according to the tiny, mini-font instruction booklet. I didn’t know that PVC plastic can be medical-grade, but I looked it up, and it’s phthalate-free and used for things like oxygen bags, drainage bags, and medical tubing. I know that doesn’t sound very sexy except to my fellow sex geeks who get excited at learning about sex toys made of body-safe materials.
You can use water-based or silicone-based lubricants with Doxy, but not oil-based lubes.
No pouch included, which is shameful. An expensive sex toy should always come with its own pouch, especially since you’re not likely to have anything around large enough to store it in. Maybe a knee-high sock, if you happen to have a spare. Doxy comes in a cardboard box that’s even more enormous than it requires — not the best storage solution unless you have a large, empty drawer.
The mini-instruction booklet has all the requisite warnings — don’t use under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or on inflamed skin, or if pregnant, or in water, etc. The warning that makes no sense to me is this: “Do not use… if you are under the age of 16.” Why the heck not? I wish I had owned this vibrator when I was 15!
Thank you, Roylin and Trystology, for sending me the Doxy Wand, highly recommended for all of us who need extra power in our sex toys and have room in our drawer for a 15-inch-long vibrator! Available in white or black.
Amorino: a twisted sex toy
When I first saw a photo of the Amorino, I was mystified. Why put a twisted rubber band on a vibrator? Bondage is one thing, but on a vibrator? What an odd sex toy — I had to try it. Fortunately, the good folks at Good Vibrations were eager to send me one.I discovered with pleasure that this strange little vibrator can be used in a variety of ways, and I had fun experimenting with it.
Let’s start with the bare vibrator. Without the band, the medical-grade silicone mini-vibe can be used as a “rabbit”-style vibrator for dual stimulation of the clitoris and vagina.
The insertable length is only 3 inches, and the width is just 1.25 inches. This smaller size suits many of us older women just fine. The surface is smooth, and both tips are soft and a bit flexible, another plus.
So why the yellow band? I was skeptical at first: Why would anyone want to add a rubber band to a vibrator?
Actually, I discovered, the band adds a strange and quite pleasant sensation, almost like it’s “strumming” your vulva. Instead of inserting the shaft fully, just insert it shallowly (or not at all) and let the band play over your clitoris and labia. Pleasant, fun (it’s made by Fun Factory, after all), and sexier than you might imagine.
How do you attach the band?
1. You can loop it around the vibrator (there are indentations to keep it from slipping).
2. You can loop it over the top, twist it once, then loop it over the bottom.
3. You can twist it twice.
Experiment and enjoy! In case you’re wondering what havoc that twisted band might wreak on pubic hair, I was happy to discover that it did not catch or pull. Your experience may vary.
The Amorino may also be used anally, but only without the band.
Is the Amorino strong enough to bring older women to orgasm? You may not need the intensity I do, in which case the small but mighty Amorino will make you very happy.
For me, it felt good, very good, but it wasn’t quite strong enough. I’ve come to enjoy several of my feels-nice-but-not-quite-strong-enough-to-get-me-there vibrators for a yummy, slow arousal. Then I grab one of my stand-bys (Magic Wand, Eroscillator, or — my recent find — Palm Power) for a happy ending.
The Amorino comes with a USB charger. Once charged, no cords. And it’s waterproof!
I wouldn’t recommend the Amorino as your first or only vibrator, but if you’re a connoisseur of sex toys, as — ahem! — many of us are, I think you’ll find this an entertaining and pleasurable addition. Or, as some reviewers do (hello, Dangerous Lilly!), you may find it too gimmicky. I’m in the first camp — I like it. I don’t love it, but I like it a lot.
Thank you, Good Vibrations and Fun Factory, for providing me with the Amorino in exchange for an honest review from a senior perspective.
“Oral Sex” in a vibrator? LELO Ora review
“Oh, please, please, please let me review the LELO Ora!” I begged the wonderful folks at Good Vibrations. A toy that simulates oral sex, made by the luxury vibrator company LELO, sounded like a winner.The description and video (bottom) made it sound lovely: silicone, beautiful design, with a nubbin that worked as a simulated tip of the tongue — swirling and flicking. Lots of patterns — some with all-over vibrations plus the “tongue,” some alternating, some just the tongue — and an intensity setting that claimed to be 30% over the manual settings.
Great idea, lovely design, but Ora doesn’t live up to the claims, at least in my bed. The tongue flicks and swirls are very nice, but the nub is so small and the motions are so delicate that they don’t come close to doing the job for me. You might love it, if your clitoris is so sensitive that light flicking and swirling are all you need, but I I found the “tongue” way too subtle for any more than a nice warm-up. The vibrating patterns felt really good, especially at the strongest settings (which weren’t turbo, but still very enjoyable), but at the highest vibrations, the flicks and swirls were barely noticeable. (See update #4 below.)
The box and the marketing messages claim an “ultra-intense power setting at the touch of a button.” I couldn’t find any “ultra intense” setting, because as many times as I pressed the “+” button, the highest setting was intense, but not what I’d call “ultra intense.”
So maybe, I told myself, I didn’t understand how to find that highest setting.
I turned to the “user manual” and quickly became cranky: The so-called manual had warranty, safety and charging information for all LELO products in 12 languages — but nothing specific to this product and no instructions!
Finally I found it — all but illegible with its itty bitty grey font on grey paper, it said to go to LELO.com and click on Customer Care to download the manual. Come on, a $169 toy can’t have a page of instructions? A luxury sex toy company makes the “go to” notice practically impossible to read? Hello, LELO, I hope you’re listening.
Here’s where the LELO manuals are, so you don’t have to hurt your eyes trying to find it. Except — whoops! There is no manual for the Ora! I wrote to LELO:
Where is the user manual for Ora? It’s not listed, and the included “manual” has no information whatsoever about using this specific product.
I had no problem figuring out how to turn it on, cycle through the patterns, and turn the intensity up or down. But how do I access that mysterious “ultra-intense power setting at the touch of a button” that the box advertises?
I got a prompt but unhelpful response from LELO, telling me how to turn the Ora on and off and cycle through the patterns. I knew that — as I had told them. I still wanted to know where the “ultra-intense power setting” was that was supposed to gives 30% increase on the standard maximum power at the touch of a button. If we were just supposed to cycle the “+” button until it could go no higher, then tell us that!
Undaunted, I wrote to LELO again with that question. I added:
I have many sex toys, including many LELO products. I
wonder how someone receiving this product as a first-timer would know how to
use it when there are no instructions included, and the promised manual is not actually there.
2/10 update #1: LELO wrote me this:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Thank you for your email.
If you press the center button, it will change mode, but
if you press and hold it for 3 seconds, it will change to the ultra-intense
power setting.
Aha, there’s what I wanted to know. Why isn’t this in the instructions? Oh, right, there are no instructions. Then why isn’t this printed on the box? We’re just supposed to intuit that we press and hold the center button for 3 seconds?
I’ll try it and get back to you. Didn’t want to make you wait for this piece of the puzzle.
2/11 update #2: LELO answered my “Why isn’t this information provided on the box, in the instructions (whoops, there are no instructions), or in the video? How are users supposed to know this?” with this:
Our intention was let our customers “discover” it, however I will suggest our departments do some changes about the instruction in case more customers cannot find it.
2/21 update #3: Just received a lovely, personal email from Kathryn Catney, Communication Specialist at LELO, who actually read my review here (and is a “big fan” of my blog). She apologized for the lack of instructions and the useless responses from the Customer Care rep. She said that I must have received an early sample (true), and that all the purchased Oras come with a full “How to Use” manual, which is now online here.
2/26 update #4:
I’ve retested Ora twice with the new knowledge of how to find the “ultra-intense power setting.” Yes, it’s better with that setting, definitely. However, the shape of the vibrator, while gorgeous and enabling it to stand upright when not in use, prevented it from working right for me. The “tongue tip” section is recessed. I would have preferred that it balloon from the vibrator rather than recede. The vibrating ring of the vibrator was very nice, but the “tongue” part was still barely noticeable. Sorry, LELO.
We’re all different shapes and sizes, including our genitals, so this might be just right for you. Clearly a lot of research, development, and attention to design went into this lovely product. It felt nice, yes, but in the end, it didn’t do the job.
All in all, I think the Ora is a great idea, but if your idea of the perfect vibrator is the Magic Wand (reviewed here), you’ll be disappointed. However, if you prefer a lighter touch and the idea of subtle swirls and flicks makes you quiver, the Ora might become your new best friend.
Thank you, Good Vibrations, for sending me the Ora and always being supportive of older-age sexuality.
Original Magic Wand + Accessories
You’ve read so many vibrator reviews from me where I say, essentially, “It’s good, but it’s not the Magic Wand.” Time to tell you exactly what is the Magic Wand (and about some great accessories!).The Magic Wand has been around since the 1970s, almost as long as I’ve been having vibrator-assisted orgasms, and it’s been responsible for a good many of them. It was called the Hitachi Magic Wand until recently. (I reviewed it here.)
Now, after Hitachi sold distribution rights to Vibratex, it’s the Original Magic Wand. Hitachi still manufactures it, but doesn’t want its name on a tool for female orgasm anymore, if I understand right. Vibratex rescued the Wand from being discontinued, which would have led to dire and ugly consequences.
So the new Magic Wand is called the “original,” probably to assure us that it’s the same product (it is — thank goodness!) and to distinguish it from the knockoffs that rattle around. Don’t be fooled. Buy it from a reputable retailer.
The two models are identical in these ways:
-
- The strongest vibrations of any popular sex toy.
- Two intensities, labeled low and high, but actually high and yowza-high.
- Big — a foot long, with a head the size of a tennis ball.
- Heavy. Noisy. But you won’t care once you feel what those vibrations can do.
- Need to be plugged in. A hassle, but that’s what a motor this size requires.
- Really, really stimulating. (Did I already say it?)
- Silly diagram for how/where to use it, ignoring the real reason/location that we’re using it.
- Oh yeah, it’s a great massager for sore muscles, too, and we do get those.
Here’s how the models are different:
- Controls have different appearance and the new one has a more ergonomic feel.
- Vibratex says the new one will last longer (the old ones lasted 20 years!) and is quieter (not that I can tell).
- The head is made to be a little lighter and last longer.
- Several internal features have been upgraded to make it work even better.
Now here’s another cool idea — if you like the Magic Wand, but you’d like to subdue the vibrations a little, or have a way to turn your Wand into a penetrating toy, check out the Pop Tops and the G-Spotter. These are silicone attachments that fit on the Magic Wand and add versatility.
I tried the three pictured. I like the soft, cushioning layer that the Pop Tops give the Wand and I love the ease of washing them. But they did diffuse the strength a little, and personally, I want all the strength I can get.
The G-Spotter was a surprising pleasure. The whole attachment vibrated strongly but not wildly, and not in a pounding way that I would not have enjoyed. The little bump that’s supposed to stimulate the clitoris while the G-Spotter is inserted did not land right for me, but it might for you.
To get one on, just stretch it apart and push and pull a little for a perfect fit. (Don’t put lubricant inside the attachment or it won’t stay put as well. Do use plenty of lube on the outside, though.) It removes easily when you’re ready just by stretching and sort of peeling it up and wiggling it around. It’s easier than it sounds.
These accessories also make clean-up easier. You can’t remove the Wand’s head for cleaning, and you have to be careful not to get anything wet but the outside of the head. You can’t sterilize it, so it’s not wise to share it with different partners. But with these attachments, you can pop one on, use it at will and with whomever, then pop that top off. Being silicone, these attachments are nonporous and can be washed easily with toy cleaner or in the dishwasher.
You can get any of the attachments separately, or in a kit with or without the Wand. See the options here. Enjoy!
I bought my original Hitachi Magic Wand in the 1970s, and it lasted a shockingly long time — decades! — until the head started to get hard and discolored. Good Vibrations sent me a new Hitachi wand in 2009, which is still going strong, but of course I owe it to you, my readers, to review the latest model.Thank you, Good Vibrations, for sending me the Original Magic Wand, plus these delightful accessories.
