Fun Factory’s Yooo is good for all genitals

Mar 212011
 

Fun Factory has always had a unique and light-hearted design ethic that I really like.  Maybe it’s our shared German heritage, but the smooth, round lines and bright colors are a reminder that sex toys are meant to be fun.  Recently, they’ve been moving toward waterproof, rechargeable vibes of a more premium quality.  Although I miss their old mid-range items, I have to say that it’s really nice having waterproof rechargeable products from them with the same thumpy, hearty vibration as always.  The Yooo, by Fun Factory, is definitely unique in a surprisingly functional way.  I’ve been calling mine “Bubbles,” but that doesn’t really do it justice.  Anyway, check out the video and see for yourself what makes this one special.

  • Toy: Yooo (sent by Babeland.com for review)
  • Type: Rechargeable vibrator, outtie, waterproof
  • Manufacturer: Fun Factory
  • Material: Silicone and plastic
  • Price: $119
  • SMT rating: N/A (Would be an SMT 1 if it were an innie; multiple levels of vibrations and throbby pulsation modes.  Has 2 vibrators inside, making it even stronger)

The Fun Factory Yooo's cute, unique shape make it an excellent outtie vibe for women and men

The Yooo is a pleasantly shaped outtie vibrator made of three bubbly spheres.  It’s about 4.75″ long and 2.5″ wide, and is made from silicone and ABS plastic.  Like most Fun Factory toys, it’s rechargeable, and its charger uses magnets to attach to the toy.  Since this means there isn’t any sort of hole for a cord to go in, the Yooo is entirely waterproof.  It has two motors inside, and has strong, thumpy vibrations, particularly on its higher pulsation settings.  Besides the usual “Plus” and “Minus” buttons to control the speed and setting, the Yooo also has a “Turbo” button that, when pressed, sends the toy into a high, strong vibration for when you need that extra little kick to push you over the edge.  The button area is backlit and seems to light up even when merely jostled (instead of only when a button is pressed), which is cute and makes it easy to find the buttons even in the dark.  The Yooo is an outtie-only vibrator, meant to stimulate the clitoris, vaginal opening, labia, or even the penis and scrotum in your life.   It shouldn’t be used as an innie vibrator, but it’s excellent for what it’s meant to do!

Since it’s Fun Factory, it goes without saying that the Yooo is high-quality and has captured my heart.  It’s cute and non-intimidating and comes in a variety of adorable colors.  The bulbous shape makes it easy to grip, even for those with poor hand strength.  Its shape lends itself equally well to stimulating a clitoris as stroking up and down a penis.  It has lots of strong levels of vibration, and all the pulsation settings are pleasantly strong.  The Turbo button is an excellent additional touch that other toy manufacturers could learn from.

I have very few complaints about the Yooo.  Foremost would be that the buttons are all small and a bit hard to press, especially the Minus button.  For those who are visually disabled, if you can’t see the magnetic charging attachment light up when correctly aligned with the toy, it may be difficult to tell when the toy is charging correctly and when it is fully charged.  Finally, it’s disappointing that the Yooo isn’t being marketed toward men as well as women, because it makes a perfectly enjoyable boy toy!

Overall, the Yooo is yet another well-made, interesting and original toy from Fun Factory that is high-quality and enjoyable.

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The Tantus Mark shows there’s nothing wrong with average

Mar 202011
 

Sometimes, a girl wants a big, sparkly, crazy, purple schlong to wear while parading around the house as a mystical unicorn.  Other times, she knows that the best silicone dildo is one that blends in with the crowd by being delightfully realistic, of average size, and a lovely combination of form and function.  Glitter and swirls have their place, but if you’re looking for a high-quality dildo that has those realistic attributes and won’t intimidate your crush when you stand next to him at the urinal, this might be just the one you’re looking for!

  • Toy: Mark (sent by Babeland.com for review)
  • Type: Realistic dildo, harness-compatible
  • Manufacturer: Tantus
  • Material: Silicone
  • Price: $83
  • SMT rating: N/A

It may be average in terms of size, but for realism and delightfulness, the Mark is anything but

The Mark dildo by Tantus is in some ways a breath of fresh air in the world of sex toys: it’s surprisingly difficult to find a good, realistic dildo that isn’t significantly larger-than-average in terms of length and/or girth.  Thankfully, Mark is not only incredibly realistic looking and feeling, it’s also of a nice, average size, making it pleasant to use and to wear without being intimidating or requiring extensive warm-up.

Like the Vixskin Bandit, the Mark is made from two layers of silicone: a hard silicone inside, and softer, more flexible silicone outside.  This gives it a surprisingly realistic feel, and the carefully detailed outside (complete with veins and faux urethral opening) match the texture with lifelike visuals.  At about 6″ long and 1.5″ wide, the Tantus Mark is quite close to the average American penis size.  It has a flared base that is strap-on harness-compatible.  Since it’s made from silicone, it’s easy to clean and sterilize and is safe to use with any water-based lubes (but don’t use silicone lubes with it).

Thanks to the dual-silicone nature of the Mark, it’s realistic feeling.  This also gives it some flexibility, so it’s easy to get the angle right and find a comfortable fit for the toy.  (For comparison with the Vixskin Bandit, the Mark felt a little firmer and less flexible than the Bandit; however, since the Bandit is much larger than the Mark, it’s difficult to tell whether that’s due to size or brand.)  Again, it’s difficult to overstate how nice and realistic the toy looks and feels.  The only slightly unrealistic look to the toy comes from its shiny head, but this may be a plus for people who don’t want their toy to look too real. The shininess of the head also makes it a nice attention-drawer.  The flared base makes the Mark perfect for putting in a strap-on harness, as well as making it safe for anal play.

The only downside that you might find with the Mark is if you’re looking for a realistic harness-compatible dildo that also has a realistic scrotum and testicles, since Mark lacks these attributes.  But if you don’t like that sort of thing, then their absence is a plus.  Other than that, the Mark is a nice, basic, realistic and nicely average-sized dildo with the added complexity and enjoyment of the double-silicone layers to give it a sexy feel.

 Babeland Products, Blog Entries, Reviews, Toys  3 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Je Joue MiMi is a strong and quiet vibe in a small package

Mar 032011
 

Je Joue makes great stuff, so when they sat down and decided to make a super-powerful little clitoral vibrator, they made sure to make an amazing one.  Sure, you’ve been seduced by cute little outtie vibes before, only to be left wanting more.  This smooth, disceet little number is different; it has a powerful enough vibe to practically knock you out of your panties while still being whisper quiet and easy on the eyes.

  • Toy: MiMi (sent by Babeland.com for review)
  • Type: Outtie vibrator, waterproof, rechargeable
  • Manufacturer: Je Joue
  • Material: Silicone
  • Price: $80
  • SMT rating: N/A (settings from a hearty rumble to a strong buzz, would be an SMT 1 if it were an innie)

The small but mighty Je Joue MiMi

Je Joue continues to impress with their high-quality toys.  The MiMi is their new outtie vibrator and it’s a delightful small powerhouse of a toy.  It’s an oval shape, about 3.5″ long and 2″ wide at its widest.  It’s made from velvet-textured silicone, with plastic pad and metal buttons on the base; since the buttons are on the “bottom” of the toy with the charging contact, they’re less likely to get bumped in the heat of the moment and change your settings at an inopportune time. The MiMi has five different vibration speeds and vibe pulsation patterns, controlled through its two plus/minus buttons.

Of course, the important question with a small toy like this is: Is it powerful enough? Some small travel-sized toys don’t seem to have the punch necessary for people who like a good buzz, but thankfully, the MiMi averts this trend.  It has a very, very strong motor and its settings range from a decent rumble to a serious buzz that is surprising for an outtie of this size.  Through all the settings, it’s still very quiet.  And, as stated before, it’s fully rechargeable with a magnetic charger that attaches right to the base.  Plus, it glows when it’s in use (to keep you from losing it in the sheets, I guess?).  Unlike some other toys that combine silicone with plastic or metal, there aren’t grooves in the toy that would be difficult to clean between the silicone and plastic.

The only one major concern with the Je Joue Mimi is the buttons; they require a fair amount of hand strength to press, and are pretty small.  While people with full finger functionality shouldn’t have any major problems, people with reduced finger mobility may have trouble pressing the buttons. Due to the small size of the buttons and the fact that they could be slick with lube, it would be difficult to operate them on the side or corner of a table as I sometimes suggest.  On the other hand, the slightly more difficult buttons do reduce the chance of bumping your settings in the heat of the moment, so for those that have the finger strength and dexterity, this may actually be a plus.

There’s really very little bad to say about the Je Joue MiMi besides the button difficulty.  This is a fantastic little outtie clitoral stimulator.  It’s sleek, small, whisper-quiet but quakingly strong.  It’s yet another great toy from Je Joue, and gets a hearty recommendation.

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Hook your fingers into the Alia

Jan 122011
 

While innies are great, there’s something special about a good outtie vibrator that hits the spot just right.  In the same aesthetic vein as the Soraya, the Lelo Alia is a sleek silicone-and-chrome outtie that is easy to handle, powerful for its size, and pleasing to the sight as well as the touch.  Find out more about this cute, sexy little egg-shaped vibe below and in the video above!

  • Toy: Alia (sent by Babeland.com for review)
  • Type: Outtie vibrator, waterproof, rechargeable
  • Manufacturer: Lelo
  • Material: Silicone and ABS plastic (metallic-coated)
  • Price: $119
  • SMT rating: N/A (strong side of moderate)

The Alia is a flirty and fun outtie vibe

The Lelo Alia makes the perfect complement to the Soraya from the same line.  While the Soraya was a delightful innie/outtie vibe, the Alia, on the other hand, is an aesthetically similar and cleverly shaped outtie-only vibrator that’s small and perfect for slipping into a suitcase, purse, or pocket!  Like the Soraya, the Alia has a beautiful, striking look with silicone and chrome-painted plastic.  This toy is an egg-ish shape with a nice hole in the center, perfect for slipping a finger or two into to give a firm grip.  It’s about 3.25″ long and 2.5″ tall, and is both rechargeable and waterproof.

From what I could tell, the motor for the Alia seems to be in the slightly pointed tip, though the vibration (which is a fairly strong moderate buzz) really transmits through the whole toy fairly equally.  The strength of the vibration is quite decent for a toy this size, and it’s very quiet even on its highest setting.  The greatest plus for the Alia is, of course, its unique shape, that gives it a lot of varied possibilities for how it can be held or used.  Those who don’t like to have to hold onto a possibly-slippery toy with a whole-hand grip will be grateful for the nice finger-hold the center whole makes, which makes rubbing the toy along the vulva, clit, or anus easy.  If you do like to wrap your whole hand around something, the Alia is thick but it’s still quite possible to hold it in your hand.  You can loop the toy over a couple of fingers and let the buzz travel down your fingers to give you a vibrating touch, or maybe use it to make your whole hand vibrate lightly for a more stimulating handjob!  For those who are into more kinky activities, the loop-hole in the middle is just begging to have the Alia added to some rope bondage.  And, like other Lelo toys, the Alia’s power and vibration-pattern controls are separate, meaning that it gives you a lot of flexibility in personalizing your experience with it.

As usual for Lelo, I have little of concern to say about the Alia.  I’ll note that while the Soraya’s recharge port was so tiny as to be almost invisible to the eye, my Alia’s recharge port was wide enough that I could see into it; I’m not sure if or how much this affects the waterproof-ness of the toy.  But since Lelo has a 1-year warranty on all their toys, you should be able to get a replacement if it turns out that the toy can’t survive the sexy hot tub fun you might be planning!  Other than that, I will echo my comment on the Soraya that cleaning with the Alia might require a little more diligence than with some other toys, since the edges around the buttons and where the silicone meets the chromed plastic are slightly indented and so have an easy time building up dried lube or other materials.

Overall, the Alia is a sexy-looking and -feeling, portable, and easy-to-handle outtie vibrator.  While I’d particularly recommend it for those with a hard time gripping due to hand strength or other problems, it’s an excellent toy for anyone looking for a new, classy outtie vibrator (and it comes with jewelry, to boot!).

 Babeland Products, Blog Entries, Reviews, Toys  1 Response »  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Feast your eyes on the Soraya

Dec 202010
 

Seduction may use all the senses, but we all know that first impressions are key.  For a toy, that means that sleek, elegant, and beautiful designs can make all the difference in winning their owner’s heart!  Lelo’s Soraya is one of those toys that catches your eye from the moment you open its box, and holds your gaze with its smooth lines and metallic highlights.  The optical seduction continues once you put it to work, as it lights up during play!  Plus, nothing says “I want to please you” like giving someone a present, and this innie/outtie combination toy does just that by coming with a little brooch in its packaging.  Find out more about this premium toy from Lelo below!

  • Toy: Soraya (sent by Babeland.com for review)
  • Type: Innie/outtie combo, vibrator, waterproof
  • Manufacturer: Lelo
  • Material: Silicone and ABS plastic (metallic-coated)
  • Price: $199
  • SMT rating: 1 (rumbly and satisfying when low, throbbing and intense when high)

The stunning Soraya is a classy innie/outtie toy

If there is one thing Lelo knows well, it is how to make toys that are aesthetic and sophisticated-looking.  The Soraya is a gorgeous innie/outtie combination vibrator by this premium toy company, and it absolutely meets their usual high quality standards.

The Soraya is made from silicone (for the pink or black outer portion) and metallic-coated plastic, giving it a sleek design.  It’s about 8.5″ long, with 5″ of that length being insertable, and is about 1.5″ thick at its widest point.  This innie/outtie toy has two vibrating motors, one for the internal portion and one for the outer clitoral stimulator.  It’s rechargeable and totally waterproof, and it runs for about 4 hours on a full charge.  Plus it lights up when running, giving it a cool futuristic look in a dark environment.

The vibration of the Soraya is fairly intense.  In addition, the dual vibrators allow you to have a plethora of pattern options, as you can not only set the toy to buzz or pulse, but also have just one motor on, or have the motors pulse separately, or a variety of other settings.  Even on its highest setting, the Soraya is still pleasantly quiet.  The metallic loop on the holding end makes a great finger-hold (which you should use to avoid hitting the buttons by accident), and this makes the Soraya a particularly good toy of choice for those who have a weak grip and have difficulty handling other toys.

It’s important to note that the Soraya is an entirely firm toy (though the clitoral stimulator can angle up and down to more easily conform to your body) and so may not be appropriate for those who prefer softer, more flexible insertables.  Also, a thorough cleaning of this toy may be a slightly more time-consuming task than with some others, because the thin gaps around the buttons and between the metallic-plastic and silicone will require a Q-tip or similar implement in order to be totally cleaned.  Still, overall, this is a gorgeous and high-quality innie/outtie combination vibrator; yet another thumbs-up for Lelo!

 Babeland Products, Blog Entries, Reviews, Toys  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tango with the Two

Dec 172010
 

The week of unique toys continues!  The Two by Wet for Her is a toy that is the first finger extender I’ve reviewed.  This black silicone finger-dildo can help with solo or partnered vaginal penetration and may be just the thing for people with weak wrists.

  • Toy: Two (sent by Babeland.com for review)
  • Type: Finger extender, vaginal toy
  • Manufacturer: Wet for Her
  • Material: Silicone
  • Price: $39
  • SMT rating: N/A

An imaginative toy that increases your fingers' reach

Penis extenders are fairly common (and generally useless) sex aids you might see in an adult store.  Finger extenders, on the other hand, are something that even I have never come across before this month.  But thanks to Wet for Her, the Two dildo has checked that box off my life list and also provided a fun new method of manual vaginal penetration, whether alone or with a partner.

The Two is a black silicone dildo that fits over the index and middle finger.  It is hollow inside for a large portion of its depth, allowing the wearer to slip it comfortably over their own fingers and increase the length of their fingers by about 2 inches.  It also somewhat increases the width of those two fingers.  By wearing the Two, a woman spending intimate time alone with herself can more easily reach for vaginal penetration without putting as large a strain on her wrist from the awkward angle needed; this may allow a woman to more easily stimulate her own G-spot.  Or her partner could wear it to allow them to penetrate more easily or at a greater depth.  It could even be slipped on upside-down to allow for G-spot stimulation with less wrist strain!  The silicone is thin enough that heat and pressure are transmitted, allowing the penetrating partner to still get some finger sensations from the act.

The Two is a creative and interesting toy that can be particularly useful during female masturbation, but can also add some sexy new possibilities to partnered play.  It is not recommended that you use the Two for anal play, since it has no flared base and could possibly become difficult to remove from the anus.  But for vaginal play, it’s a neat new way to play with manual penetration.

<a href=”http://store.babeland.com/dildos-handheld/wet-for-her-two?kbid=1653″><img src=”http://www.babeland.com/about/affiliates/images/whttwo”></a>

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