Exploring Intimacy » Blog Entries

The Tantus T-Rex

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:26:27 +0000

Sometimes, what you really need is a great big dildo. Maybe you need it to accessorize for your next party, maybe you need a little something masculine for your altar, or maybe that special someone just knows what they like! No matter what, you’ll be ready to give it to ‘em with the Tantus T-Rex and a lot of lube.

Toy: T-Rex (sent by Babeland.com for review)
Type: (Very big) Dildo
Manufacturer: Tantus
Material: Silicone
Price: $99
SMT rating: N/A

The Tantus T-Rex lives up to its name

Let’s get the obvious, most important point out of the way first: the T-Rex is big. This high-quality silicone dildo by Tantus measures 2-1/4″ across and 6-7″ insertable length. I think that numbers don’t really communicate the massive-feeling girth of this toy, so you’re well-advised to check out the video above so you can see how it looks in relation to other objects, like a hand (I can’t even get mine all the way around it!).

So, other than its hulking presence, what else is there to know about the T-Rex? Well, it’s by Tantus, and that means it’s high-quality. It is also quite lovely, and could be considered a functional piece of art. It’s nicely detailed, with some well-formed ridges, ‘veins,’ and other flourishes, enough to make it semi-realistic, but not enough to make it uncannily so. Since it’s made from high-quality silicone, it’s easily cleanable (like most Tantus toys)–you can boil it, run it through the dishwasher without soap or bleach, or wash it with antibacterial hand soap. It’s also fairly heavy, around 1.5-2 pounds. Since it’s got some attached balls, it’s harness-compatible, but be aware that you’ll need a larger ring than most other harness-compatible dildos, and a stretchy one at that. It has a nice bit of flexibility, but is still firm enough to be usable for anal play.

Bottom line, make sure you’re really looking for something this large and get a sense for how thick it is. If you do want a large toy, this is a fantastic one, because it is difficult to find high-quality toys in this size. If it’s what you’re looking for, you’re very likely to be happy with the T-Rex. And, hey, even if you don’t know anyone who can take it, you can wear it around to make one hell of a first impression.

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This post, The Tantus T-Rex, originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on April 10, 2012. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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Review of Babeland’s Obsession Bullet Vibe

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:31:24 +0000

There’s something to be said for the simple things in life. Sure, sometimes we want a toy with lots of attachments or tons of moving parts, but sometimes we want the comfort of something that only does one thing and does it well. That’s the joy of bullet vibes: these compact little vibrators are easy to use, versatile, and affordable. If the only experience you’ve had with these small packages of buzzing pleasure is the cheap metal ones that are handed out like candy, however, with the little button that’s hard to push and their lackluster vibrations, you may be a bit underwhelmed. Good thing Babeland is here with the Obsession, a powered-up bullet vibe that’s entirely waterproof. So whether you want some buzzy fun in your bed, in the shower, or anywhere else, the Obsession’s there to make sure you’re not left wanting.

Toy: Obsession (sent by Babeland.com for review)
Type: Bullet vibrator
Manufacturer: Babeland
Material: ABS Plastic
Price: $28
SMT rating: 0 (Nice and rumbly vibration)

The Obsession is a Powerful, Waterproof, and Affordable Bullet Toy

The Obsession is a plastic bullet vibrator with a small hand-held control unit. The bullet, cord, and control unit are all totally waterproof. It runs on 2 AA batteries (not included). The bullet is about 2 1/4″ long and 1 1/4″ wide at its widest point; this means it’s slightly larger than the more common metal bullet vibes you tend to see.

While some people may prefer the compactness of a cordless bullet vibe, I tend to find that the ones with a control unit have better control and are more powerful than self-contained bullet vibes. The Obsession has a nice, rumbly buzz at its higher levels, and has 7 different speed/patterns. The controls are simple: one button to turn it on/off, the other to scroll through the different settings. One nice touch is that the toy has function memory–when you turn it off and then on again, it will restart on the same setting it had when it was turned off. So if you find a particular speed or pattern really hits your spot, you don’t need to scroll through to find it again next time you play. On its low levels, it is quite quiet, and on the highest setting it has an audible buzz, but not as loud as an electric toothbrush or similar item. When it’s under the blanket or pressed up against/inside a body, it’s nice and quiet. The control unit makes it easy to adjust the toy without having to remove it or stop the stimulation, which is nice. It’s an excellent toy for clitoral stimulation, and since it’s plastic, not silicone, it’s safe for use with silicone lubricant as well as the other usual lubes. It can also be used vaginally, and tends to nestle nicely against the G-spot for many women. As with any other toy that can only be really retrieved by the cord, I do not recommend the Obsession for anal use. While the cord seems nice and strong, an embarrassing emergency room visit can await the unlucky vibe-user who happens to have the cord pull out while trying to retrieve the toy.

You’ll recall that with the Honi, another bullet vibe I reviewed a couple months ago, I was troubled by the places on the toy that were difficult to clean. Thankfully, the Obsession has no such problems; it’s nice and smooth with no weird crevices for stuff to build up. And since it’s totally waterproof, it’s particularly easy to wash without having to worry about hurting the battery case.

There’s few negatives about the Obsession. Other than the aforementioned warning about anal play, the only other real qualm is that if you pass by a setting you like, you have to scroll through all the settings to get back to it, since it only has a single function button. But this is a trade-off with the simple nature of the toy, and those who want a toy with very few buttons to figure out will likely be happy to do a little extra scrolling in return.

Overall, the Obsession is a high-quality, enjoyable bullet vibe. It’s affordable, but not of cheap quality, it’s easily cleanable, it’s waterproof, and it has a nice buzz for a toy its size. If you’re looking for a simple bullet vibe that isn’t a wimpy disposable, the Obsession makes a great choice.

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This post, Review of Babeland’s Obsession Bullet Vibe, originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on March 4, 2012. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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The New Female Condom

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:13 +0000

In 2009 a new version of the female condom was introduced. The Female Condom 2 is made of synthetic nitrile, instead of the old polyurethane. Why did they change the material? Is anything else different about this version? Dr. Ruthie and FunWares.com tell you about the switch over and show you more about how to use Female Condoms.

Tweet @DrRuthie to ask a question today!

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This post, The New Female Condom, originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on December 16, 2011. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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Surviving the Holidays (Part 2)

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:00:13 +0000

This is the second half in my wet of Holiday Survival guides with FunWare.com. Give yourself the gift of a happier, more sane holidays for you and your relationships.

Got a question? Tweet @DrRuthie now!

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This post, Surviving the Holidays (Part 2), originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on December 15, 2011. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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Surviving the Holiday (Part 1 of 2)

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:00:58 +0000

The holidays can be a stressful time for singles and sweeties. Dr. Ruthie and FunWares.com bring you this two part series to help you keep your erotic energy intact!

Email Dr. Ruthie now with your questions!

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This post, Surviving the Holiday (Part 1 of 2), originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on December 14, 2011. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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Oral-Anal Sex

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:00:29 +0000

Rimming, tossing the salad, or whatever you want to call it… it’s more popular than you might guess! What’s the deal with oral-anal sex? Is it safe? Is it healthy? Dr.Ruthie and FunWares.com have the answers you’re looking for!

Got a question? Ask Dr. Ruthie now!

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This post, Oral-Anal Sex, originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on December 13, 2011. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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Pubic Hair Care

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:24:45 +0000

Wondering how to shave, wax, trim, or zap your pubic hair or if it’s something you even need to be worrying about? Dr. Ruthie and FunWares.com give you a review of the options, with tips on how to decide. Not interested in removing your bush? We’ve got you covered with handy grooming suggestions for folks who love to wear it natural, too.

Tweet @DrRuthie with your questions!

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This post, Pubic Hair Care, originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on December 12, 2011. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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Not So Sweet on the Honi

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:04:23 +0000

The Honi is a cute, larger-sized bullet vibe, but it’s just not sweet enough to be worth the effort. It could use a bit more power, unless you’re a light touch, and (in what seems to be a pattern for the Picobong brand and, to a lesser extent, its parent brand, Lelo), it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to ease of cleaning.

Toy: Honi (sent by Babeland.com for review)
Type: Bullet vibrator
Manufacturer: Picobong
Material: Silicone and ABS plastic
Price: $34
SMT rating: 0

: The Picobong Honi lacks the power and ease of cleaning necessary to capture our hearts

The Picobong Honi is a fairly standard bullet vibrator. It’s made from silicone (for the vibrating end) and ABS plastic (for the screw-cap/battery case end) and, at 3″ long and 1″ wide, is a little larger than the standard bullet vibe. This larger size is nice, giving bullet vibe users more of a choice in terms of size variety, and is one of the Honi’s strengths. It also has a nice, solid retrieval cord that makes it easy to remove if it’s being used internally. Plus, it runs on a single AAA battery rather than expensive and harder to obtain watch batteries like some of its bullet relatives.

The Honi, however, failed to impress on several levels. First, its vibration felt a bit lackluster, and we would’ve preferred a strong motor. Those who prefer a lighter vibration, of course, may consider this a pro instead of a con. Second, the section where the plastic battery-cap screws onto the body leaves a small ridge that collects lube and body fluids; this section will need special attention during cleaning but this cleaning must be done carefully to avoid getting water in the battery area. Furthermore, the unscrewing cap portion has hollow areas that require a Q-tip to get clean. And, as a lesser cleaning complaint, the engraved Picobong lettering can be somewhat annoying to properly scrub out, as well. On a non-cleaning note, the +/- buttons are hidden in the engraved Picobong logo lettering, which will make them difficult to find for visually-disabled users. Overall, the Picobong just didn’t seem to have a lot of thought put into its design, particularly for cleaning purposes, and wasn’t powerful enough to be worth using, in our opinion.

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This post, Not So Sweet on the Honi, originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on December 11, 2011. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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Get Some Cush-in’ for the Pushin’

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:39:41 +0000

They say that the winter holidays are a time for giving and that giving is more fun than receiving, but I think that you can have fun on either end–or both–with this toy. The Cush is a dual-density silicone dildo by Tantus with a semi-realistic shape and a gorgeous, unrealistic color. It’s on the hefty side of moderate (see the video) and plenty firm with a wide flared base, for fun anywhere you want to put it. In addition to the great feel of the firmer core and the somewhat softer outer layer, this is a uniquely beautiful dildo. It makes use of having two layers of silicone by putting a frosty white color over a rich purple core.

Toy: Cush (sent by Babeland.com for review)
Type: Dildo
Manufacturer: Tantus
Material: Silicone
Price: $62
SMT rating: N/A

: The Tantus Cush is a gorgeous and delicious-feeling silicone dildo

Like the previously reviewed Tantus Bandit and Mark, the Cush is a dual-density dildo; it has a firm silicone core, with a softer, squishier silicone outer layer. As with the Bandit and Mark, this dual-density silicone gives the Cush a deliciously realistic feel. The Cush’s density is a little firmer than some other dual-density toys, making it plenty flexible but not too much so. It has a very nice feel to the touch and is enjoyable to squeeze with a hand or other body parts. The Cush’s 6.5″ are pleasantly smooth with some texturing on the shaft, and its 1.75″ width gives it some nice heft.

The best part, however, of the Cush is how beautiful it is. Unlike the Bandit and Mark, which are flesh-colored, the Cush embraces an unrealistic aesthetic, with a frosted-white outer layer and purple core. The purple of the core peeks through differently depending on the thickness of the outer layer in the given area, and gives it a very pretty sort of “icicle with snow on top” look.

As far as I’m concerned, the Cush doesn’t really have any downsides or caveats to speak of. As usual, it is important to note that since the Cush is a silicone toy, it shouldn’t be used with silicone lubricant. This is particularly important for these dual-density toys, as the squishy outer layer of silicone can be particularly vulnerable to a conflict with silicone lube.

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This post, Get Some Cush-in’ for the Pushin’, originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on December 11, 2011. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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Oral Sex For Her

Dr. Ruth Neustifter — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:00:02 +0000

Oral sex may not be the gateway to her heart, but it sure can’t hurt. Ready to improve your cunnilingus skills? Check out this video guide for the basics on giving her oral, then venture out to explore together and find out what works best for her!

Tweet a question @DrRuthie and look for you answer here soon!

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This post, Oral Sex For Her, originally appeared on Exploring Intimacy on December 4, 2011. Visit the site for much more information! Tweet This
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