Bottomtalk - stuff for the anally erotic

Stretch Your Bootie! Anal stretching, training and even warm-up

2012-01-04T10:23:00.001-08:00

Anal stretching and anal training are not-uncommon thoughts among people who like playing with their butts (how can I get something a little bigger in? How can I get this so it feels better?), but often the thoughts of anal stretching or anal training are linked with pain or BDSM. What is anal stretching? First let's ask what is it not: it's not the rack. You're not trying to pry open an unwilling anus with power tools. What is commonly referred to as “anal stretching” or “anal training” is a combination of a lot of learning to relax with a little stretching of the sort you used to do in P.E. It's always gentle, always slow, and (probably the biggest difference between anal stretching and P.E.) always well-lubed. It's nothing more than anal warm up on a larger scale, and many of the techniques are also applicable to anal warm-up. So what's anal training? "Anal training" is often linked with BSDM more than any of the others, but it's simply a program of anal "stretching" (really relaxation) with the intent of letting someone take larger items into their anus.

Why would you be interested in pursuing anal stretching? The most obvious reason is if you're trying to take a larger item than you're currently comfortable with, but anal stretching is also great for warm-up and for enabling you to take a current toy more easily.

What do anuses and the elephants of adages have in common? They never forget. Truthfully this isn't strictly accurate, but what is true is that it takes a lot of work to make an anus (and the person connected with it) forget a painful experience. Yes, it sounds odd for me to talk about a person and their anus as both having memories in the same sentence, but I do it for a very good reason: the anal area has both consciously and subconsciously controlled muscles, and you need to get them both to cooperate in order to have anything more than the most basic buttfun. Any time you're engaged in buttplay do your best to ensure that there won't be any painful experiences for either to remember.

There are two main approaches to anal stretching, insertive stretching and removal stretching. For both of them you'll need lube, toys, a comfortable place to put yourself, and plenty of time.

Before you get ready give some thought to your preparations. I find to start with a position that enables me to completely relax is best, often lying on my back with my legs propped up against something. The other thing that I find helps are warm toys. A bowl full of warm water with the toys in it is a good way to accomplish this. Before playing at all with your bottom it's best to make sure you aren't worried, because worry = a tense anus. One thing to address is the fear of mess. Make sure you've gone to the bathroom recently and put down a towel or newspaper. If I'm using oil lube or am otherwise concerned about mess I put down some paper towels on top to they protect the fabric. If you would feel more relaxed knowing you're clean then you can clean out before with a small enema or glycerin suppository.

The last thing I'll say before we get started is be careful of the genitals. Yes, most people love to stimulate their genitals, but in most cases genital stimulation leads to anal tightening – so don't, at least while you're actively stretching. You can do a little play once a toy is in place, or as a diversion between thrusts, but stop and give your anus time to relax again before giving your toy another push.

I'll start off with insertive stretching first, because it's the place where everybody starts and also is required for removal stretching. At its most basic it is simple: lube something up and shove it up your ass. Even though it sounds simple, there are still some tricks that make it work better.

First is to start off with an anal massage. Lube up your fingers and rub around your anus. Enjoy the feelings and start to relax. Eventually you can insert a finger or two. Then move on to toys.

There are two ways to approach insertive stretching: the first is step play. In step play you start with a toy you know you can handle, play with it a while, then move to a bigger toy, play with that, etc. It's a good way to warm up, but when you're near your limits the steps between toys feel much bigger. Many dildos or probes provide step play, as do fingers.

The second method uses tapered toys, often buttplugs. Take your time with these, lube up well, and insert to where it just starts to feel like your limit. Rest it there a while, back off a bit and do mini-thrusts, twist the toy, gyrate the toy, whatever you feel like, but concentrate on relaxing. As your anus opens up let a bit more go in and start again. If you reach a limit go ahead and take a break for a minute or two, then try again. “Pushing out” like you're going to the bathroom can help, but make sure you don't push the plug in too much - remember about elephants and anuses...

The other strategy, one I fancy myself on elaborating if not devising, is what I call removal stretching. Removal stretching does the bulk of the “opening” when the toy is coming out. For this a buttplug is the best tool, because they have tapers on both the tip and the neck side of the body.

Removal stretching takes advantage of the physiological operation of your anus. When feces accumulate in the rectum they bump against the inside of the anus, triggering relaxation and a need to use the toilet. By using the relaxation reflex, removal stretching can be easier to accomplish. In a nutshell, what you do for relaxation stretching is insert a plug and then pull slightly on the base so the body taper is pulled up against the anus. Eventually the anus will relax enough for the plug to come out. Don't hurry it too much, otherwise you'll hurt yourself and elephants and anuses(...) - what you want is a gradual opening of the anus until the plug comes out on its own. Once it comes out gently reinsert and let the process repeat until you can easily and gently thrust the plug in and out, then if you want move up to a larger size and repeat.

I'm sure that everyone has seen the potential problem by now. In order for a plug to slide out of the rectum it must first be inside the rectum, and in most cases this means that you have to be able to push the plug through the anus, which requires an anus that can open that much, which means it needs to be stretched already ... and so on. Though it sounds circular you can use this method to open up in two different ways.

First, the repeated relaxation from the inside helps the anus to take a larger plug afterwards, so you can start with something you can insert and move up from there in the step play manner. The second is choosing a plug that can be tweaked in order to have it be smaller going in than going out. While an inflatable plug seems ideal for this, I haven't tried one out yet because I don't like the look of most inflatable plugs – cheap materials and questionable durability have kept me from these. The other option is to try a toy such as the Doc Johnson Sexy Spades or Sasha Grey Signature plug, where it can be inserted at an angle for a slightly smaller maximum body circumference. Personally, I use my Sasha Grey Signature Large to work up to the Tantus A-Bomb and it seems to work quite well with the removal method.

The Doc Johnson Sexy Spades Medium

The Doc Johnson Sasha Grey Signature Large - similar design

Finding a good toy for stretching can be difficult. The ideal toy for insertive stretching is a gentle cone with a base that takes you up an inch in diameter over about 7” of length, but there are few of these, especially in the larger sizes. Removal stretching toys can be easier to find, but again things get hard when you're over about 2” of diameter. There are some insertive probes with nice graduations, for instance the Tantus Cowboy, but of such a length that you might be pushing your limits for both depth and width – never a good idea. Always stick with one at a time. What toys have you found that you like for stretching/training/warmup?

The Tantus Cowboy - one big chunk of silicone, but it does feel good.

It's been a while

2012-01-04T09:49:00.001-08:00

I look at the timestamp on the last post and see that time has marched on. Between job and family I haven't had the time that I used to for writing articles, and unfortunately that seems as though it will continue for a while. Updates to Bottomtalk will be likely few and far between, but they will come. I've always tried to run this more as a website than a blog, with articles written to be useful over a long period of time, so I hope that you still find it useful as a reader.

Prostate massage and health

2011-05-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

"Massage your prostate for better prostate health!"

You don't need to look too hard to find someone making this claim. Sometimes they're trying to sell prostate massagers, other times it's just someone encouraging people to try out prostate play. No matter what the motivation, there's still one problem: it isn't entirely accurate.

There have been studies that show a correlation between frequent ejaculation (between once a day and approximately twice every three days) and a lower incidence of prostate cancer later on in life among the sample. The reductions noted by the researchers were significant - between about 32% for men having around 21 ejaculations per month to around 50 percent for those in the once-a-day club.

This is by no means bad news. Think about it - you can possibly cut your cancer risk by doing something fun. The problem is reading too much into it.

Firstly, the study is only correlative. It doesn't prove that frequent ejaculations work, but only suggests a relationship. Granted, if you're safe and sane about your ejaculations there's not much of a downside to this therapy, but you still can't take it to the bank yet. I also don't know exactly what they controlled, so it's possible that the study has further limits.

Secondly, the study really doesn't say anything about prostate massage at all. Sure, prostate massage can give you a very pleasurable orgasm and ejaculation, but so can other means. While I'm a strong proponent of buttfun in general, including prostate play, you shouldn't try to pressure someone into something using spurious health arguments. It didn't work when your parent told you to "eat this, it's good for you", so why should telling your partner "bend over, it's good for you" make them like it?

For those guys out there who think this might be just the way to get their partners to play around down there I'd also recommend avoiding it. Think about what you're saying: "Honey, play with my butt. If you don't want to that's OK, but please promise me you'll put flowers on my grave every month after I die from prostate cancer because you were afraid of getting your finger a little dirty". Guilt works for moms, but it really shouldn't be used to get sexual favors in a relationship.

Does this mean I'm now all of a sudden against prostate play? No way! Careful prostate play can feel great and add a new dimension to your sex life - you just should get into it for the right reasons. Give it a try because you're willing to experiment with pleasure in a new way, not because you're trying to follow the latest health rage.

This also doesn't mean that prostate massage doesn't potentially have health benefits. While there haven't been any studies showing benefit all that means is that there haven't been any studies showing a benefit. A studiy on prostate massage won't be a glamorous study, and it's not likely to be one that will lead to a big payout, so there aren't many researchers rushing to sign up. Similarly it would likely still be difficult to find subjects in a statistically valid manner, so I imagine that a true study of the health effects of prostate massage is still many many years off. It's possible that massaging the prostate can help keep it working better, but it hasn't been shown yet. Until it has any claims for special curative powers are unsubstantiated. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy some prostate play in the meantime (and perhaps hope that it helps) - so go ahead, but don't make claims for prostate massage that aren't there yet (though you can feel free to try to get a study going on it).

References: Something missing from so many discussions!

Here's the most recent study: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2008.08030.x/abstract;jsessionid=C3C8E7F91A2AD654A05E82BC2D44EAAC.d02t03
It isn't as clear cut as the earlier studies, but then again it is backwards looking (taking people who have had prostate cancer and looking at their ejaculation history). Here's the more famous JAMA study from 2004 that was forward looking (questionnaires taken every two years and then correlated with later diagnoses): http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/291/13/1578

Post link: The World According to Woman on Masturbating (including buttplay)

2011-01-24T18:33:00.000-08:00

Just saw this, looks like a nice short rundown on how masturbation and anal play can be fun and healthy for both sexes (though it concentrates on men).

Full story here: http://theworldaccordingtowoman.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/gentlemen-let-a-woman-meet-your-rear/

The Vixen Astro Vibe kit: Almost heavenly (sponsored by Vibrator.com)

2011-01-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

The sex toys purveyors at Vibrator.com was kind enough to send me the Vixen Astro vibrating dildo kit for review (and also kind enough to put up with this review being a little late because of personal issues - thanks!). For those of you who are not familiar with the Astro, it is a large nonrealistic dildo built for aggressive stimulation, as it has a pronounced curve, hooked head, and three very noticeable ridges spaced along the shaft. It's available in one color only: an iridescent lime green that is really quite pretty and heightens the nonrealistic look. Chances are when you see a good picture of the Astro you'll think two things - firstly that it's a very pretty color, and secondly that it is way too scary to let anywhere near your anus. For a while I thought that too, and my thoughts were definitely not helped by looking at the specs. The Astro has a maximum size of two inches, and an insertable length of nearly six and a half. Combine that with those very noticeable ridges and it is easy to see why the Astro makes it on many people's "not gonna do it" list, at least for anal use.

Eventually it made its way off of my "not gonna do it" list, and thanks to Vibrator.com it made its way into my hands (as well as other parts of my body). I learned really fast that the Astro isn't anywhere near as scary as it sounds or looks in the pictures.

There are several reasons that the Astro is a good anal dildo in spite of the scary look. Firstly, it's made out of Vixen's soft, plushy silicone, so the ridges flatten out a bit during thrusting and the dildo bends to fit your rectum. It's still stiff enough to be easily inserted and very stimulating with every thrust, it's just not stiff enough to irritate or bruise. The second reason has to deal with the measurements. Everyone is being completely truthful when they say that the maximum diameter of the Astro is two inches and the circumference is 6-1/2", because it is. The part that the numbers don't tell you is that it only hits 2" at the bottom of the dildo, in the last 1-1/2" of usable length. The rest of the dildo is much more manageable, with the narrowest diameters of 1.5"x1.25" (note that the Astro has an oval cross section over most of its length, so there are two diameters), and 1.5x1.5 in the second to the last segment, 4-1/2" from the tip. Yep, you heard it right: the scary, 2-inch monster with jagged sawtooth edges is really a mostly-manageable near-1.5" dildo over much of its length equipped with soft undulations. If you're somewhat experienced and careful how deep you thrust almost anyone can enjoy this dildo.

The base and last section of the dildo, showing the flare to 2" diameter.

If you take the plunge you'll probably love it as much as I do. The design of the dildo is excellent, especially if you're blessed with a prostate. Not only do you have the hooked tip, but also the three ridges which are definitely noticeable both at the anus and inside. Since the Astro is silicone you can thoroughly clean it after anal use and enjoy the same features vaginally, where they target the G-spot. If you're interested in using the Astro in a harness it will oblige, as the base is sturdy enough to give a secure hold in any O-ring harness with a 2" ring.

You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned the vibrating feature yet. That's because the vibrations are one of the things on the very short list of stuff that Vixen didn't quite do right on the Astro. The vibrations are provided by a removable silver bullet that can be put in a vibrator pocket in the base of the Astro. Vixen did their usual good job with the vibrator pocket, ensuring that the bullet was fully recessed so it doesn't poke or get unexpectedly switched on or off, but the fact remains that the Astro is a big chunk of silicone and a silver bullet is kind of small. Yes, you can feel the vibes when you have it turned on, but they aren't much. Fortunately the deep pocket and standard vibrator size means that you have other options. If you like vibration you can get a stronger bullet, and it will fit just fine in the deeper pocket. I tried it with a Rocks Off RO-80MM, and while the vibrator did stick out a bit it was securely held and definitely more powerful. If you choose to forgo the vibrations the vibrator pocket can be put to other uses, and the size of the Astro's base means that the absence of the vibrator doesn't weaken the toy. I like to use my Astro with either a Tantus Suction Cup attachment to turn it into a suction cup dildo, or I put my finger in the hole to help drive and control the dildo.

The Astro with Tantus Suction Cup. Yes, it's stuck to the wall.

The finger in the hole helps to stabilize the dildo from rotating and helps to counter the other big "mis-feature" of this dildo. In common with many other toys Vixen has a plain, unmarked circular base. It's very easy to hold onto and to clean, but when the toy rotates during use there is no way to figure out which direction the tip is pointing. If you're the "getter" you can make a guess based on how it feels, but I usually don't want to do that much thinking during sex or toy time. The Astro would be much better if there were a visual and tactile way of figuring out where the tip was pointed.

So how did the Astro work for me? Unfortunately it wasn't quite perfect, but it is good enough. If you've been with Bottomtalk for a while you probably know that my favorite dildos had been the Tantus Captain/Squirt and the Fun Factory Tiger. Shortly after the Astro's arrival the Tiger was demoted back to the toybox. Astro doesn't do everything that the Tiger does, for one thing it is shorter and, unless you have an attachment such as the Tantus Suction Cup, cannot be stuck to a surface. The defining reason that Astro supplanted Tiger was what it didn't do: The Astro was as stimulating as Tiger, but it never led to soreness. Sometimes I found that the Tiger left me sore after use, but Astro didn't cause soreness even when I thrust it with reckless abandon. Hail to the new king of the jungle.

If you want an Astro you can check them out at Vibrator.com, or look there for other vibrating dildos. Vibrator also offers a blog at http://blog.vibrator.com/ with sex tips and articles.

(note: the Captain was not as direct a comparison as the Captain is a smooth dildo whereas the Astro and Tiger were both textured with ridges.)

Rundown:

Vixen Astro:

Pros: Highly stimulating, soft, vibrator pocket can be used for many things, inexpensive large silicone dildo

Cons: Included vibrator not powerful enough for a dildo of this size, no visual/tactile markings for tip direction.

Final rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Summary: A generally very good large dildo. The Astro's soft silicone and tapered construction make it usable for almost any person with moderate anal experience, and the curve combined with the texturing makes for a very stimulating ride. Unfortunately it's sometimes easy for the Astro to spin around and be pointing in an unknown direction, and the included vibrator really isn't powerful enough for a dildo of this size.

Review sponsored by

With Vibrator.com you get discreet shipping and no embarrassment.

Handling transitions from anal: the "Ass To" problem

2011-01-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

Unquestionably anal play can be a fun activity, but there are times when you might like to combine anal play with other sexual activities. Transitioning from another activity to anal is easy - just make sure that you're warmed up and have plenty of lube. Transitioning from anal play to a different activity is more difficult. The anal canal, rectum and entire lower intestine are the home of bugs that can wreak havoc if they move to other locations. When bugs that quietly go about their business in your colon get into your mouth, vagina, or urinary tract you can wind up with an unpleasant infection.

Why not just clean out? Take an enema or two and you'll get everything out of there that could cause a problem and then you can do whatever you want, right?

There are two problems with this, both connected with misunderstandings about how effective an enema is. Anyone who has had to go in for a colonoscopy or intestinal surgery will tell you that the prep procedure is much more involved than an enema or two. Even then you don't get the bacteria all out - their numbers are much reduced, but they're still up there and waiting for a chance to multiply again.

The only truly safe way to move from anal play to other sex acts is to wash or use barriers to make sure that no object that is contaminated by anal play (yes, I know that sounds bad but it's best to just think of it as contamination) comes in contact with another sensitive area before it has been cleaned.

With toys this is easy. It's just a matter of making sure that you have more than one toy and can easily tell the butt toys from the other toys during a play session. If you have toys in varied colors and shapes this is easy, if not you can always find a way to "tag" your toys. Colored tape or rubber bands put on a toy in a way that doesn't interfere with play works, or you can use a permanent marker. While it won't last forever on many nonporous materials (such as silicone, glass or metal), it will last for a session.

If your toys are nonporous they can be scrubbed, possibly even sanitized and then reused any way you want. Look over the information about your toy to find out ways you can clean or sanitize it - common ones are either boiling it in water or soaking it in a 10% bleach solution. Note that some toys can't stand boiling water and/or long exposures to bleach, so it is important to check things out first.
Porous toys are much more difficult. These have small channels that organic matter and pathogens can get embedded in, making cleaning and sanitization difficult or impossible - think about a sponge shrunk down to microscopic size. If a porous toy can't be boiled it can't be considered clean after anal use, and unfortunately most of these toys can't be boiled. As a result you should either use a condom (but see the next section) or have separate toys for buttplay and other play and for each user (unless you're fluid-bonded).

Condoms are another possibility for toys, but do note that they can be difficult to keep in place on some toys and it can also be very hard to find condoms large enough to completely cover the larger toys. If a part of a toy that isn't covered with a condom comes in contact with the anus/rectum or anything that comes out of the anus/rectum, such as used lube, it is contaminated and needs to be cleaned. Don't bother trying to cover larger toys with anything homebrew such as Saran Wrap, either - I've tried that and it's both clumsy and very uncomfortable.

What about body parts - fingers, penises and the like? Since they're on the body you don't have the luxury of getting another one for buttplay, so you need to find ways to use what you have. The basic rule of thumb is use a barrier or wash before putting it anywhere else. The one exception for this would be external skin contact after anal play, such as starting with anal and finishing with a handjob or breast sex.

Stopping to wash can be a big inconvenience when you're in the middle of having some fun, so using barriers is the most convenient way to mix buttplay with other sex fun. Stopping to switch condoms or gloves isn't always the hottest thing to do, and it can definitely throw your groove off, but it is the safe thing to do. Keep in mind an infection will throw your groove off for a lot longer, so safety is worth it. Besides, there are some ways to use barriers that allow you to minimize the amount of switching necessary.

One way for hands is to keep track of what hand goes where. Have a butt hand and an other activities hand, and make sure they don't get mixed up. If you're not sure about your ability to keep track of which hand is for the butt during the heat of passion you can investigate some of the newer colored gloves. Get gloves in pink, blue, or whatever your favorite color is for buttplay and you can easily remember which hand is which. While I'd like to take credit for this idea it's not mine - I got it from Tristan Taormino.

One idea that I can claim is the one that laid the foundation for this post. On the forums at EdenFantasys someone asked if there was a way that you could move back and forth between anal and vaginal sex safely. Without barriers there isn't - there's just no way to make sure that your butt is clean. Using condoms could work, but the best way by far makes use of the Reality Female Condom so you don't have to deal with stopping and changing condoms at every transition. Information on how to use the female condom for anal sex is available on-line, one source is Brown University's Health Center. Note that the biggest problem with the Reality when used for anal sex is slippage, so the receptive partner should probably hold it in place for each penetration.

Aneros MGX - sponsored by Babeland.

2010-10-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

Already a happy owner of an Aneros Progasm (the largest Aneros prostate massager model) and a Peridise (PC exerciser and anal stimulator), both of which I like, I was intrigued by the other members of the Aneros range. According to the Aneros website, the enhanced mobility of the smaller toys are supposed to make up for the reduction in size.

I was vacillating on buying one when Babeland offered to send me one for review. If you haven't been to Babeland you should - I took a "field trip" and bought my first real sex toy at a Babeland store. It was a long drive, but worth it (I managed to link together several errands that had been needing to be done). Babeland stores are clean and welcoming, and I have always been impressed by the balance the staff showed between discretion and being willing to offer help. The store was not sleazy by any definition, which seems to be a benefit of Babeland's women owners. Not only do they sell toys, but they also host workshop sessions and lectures. In short, if you are anywhere near a Babeland store it's a nice excursion, and if not there's always the website which comes with many (though not all) of the same benefits.

The model I tried is the Aneros MGX, one of the midsize models and good for just about anyone. All of the Aneros prostate massagers are designed for handsfree operation and work by converting the movements of your PC muscles ("Kegels") and anus into stimulation of the prostate - both internal stimulation from the body of the Aneros and external stimulation from the perinium tab.

The Aneros is made of a hard plastic similar to Delrin, and has no uncomfortable ridges anywhere on the body. Gently rounded contours and a one-inch maximum diameter make the MGX a toy that can be used by anyone, whether or not you're experienced with anal play. The plastic can be cleaned with soap and water, but it is hard to truely sanitize it as the two common methods, boiling in water or soaking in 10% bleach, can degrade the plastic.

I found the Aneros to be very pleasant in use, at least at first. After lubricating both the Aneros and my anus, I was able to easily slide the Aneros into place. I could tell that the tip of the toy was contacting my prostate, and contracting my PC muscles caused it to move as designed, giving me a comfortable and stimulating prostate massage. In general the Aneros lived up to its design as a hands-free toy, staying put almost all of the time during tests. Once it started to rotate, and at one point it did start to slide out, but neither happened often enough to cause me to question the hands-free nature of the toy.

The biggest problem that people have with the Aneros-type toys is the stimulation not being as strong as expected. To use the Aneros as intended (as a hands-free prostate massager that is able to initiate a "super-O") requires both strong pelvic muscles as well as practice using the Aneros and interpreting the sensations it gives. Even though I'm a pretty experienced Aneros user I even find myself wanting "a little more" from time to time, and I was pleasantly surprised with the MGX's handle when I grabbed it to give myself "a little more".

The handle is a curved, springlike extention that comes off the back of the base. When you grab it the springiness of the plastic allows you to give yourself a bit of added stimulation, but it doesn't poke uncomfortably during use as the spring modulates the force.

There are several differences between the MGX and my Progasm. One of them is the MGX's texturing along the "neck" of the toy. The MGX has slight, rounded ridges over about one and a quarter inches of the neck's length. These provide a bit of anal stimulation as well as giving your anus something to grab during hands-free operation. They work well and definitely add to the toy.

The other difference is in the external stimulators. The Progasm has two ball-shaped stimulators, one to the front and one to the back, whereas the MGX has a single disk-shaped front perinial stimulator. The loss of the back stimulator is no big deal, as it doesn't stimulate anything on many people (myself included), but the different front stimulator design was noticeable. I can use the Progasm for an hour or so without any irritation, but after about a half-hour the disk stimulator on the MGX started to irritate my perinium. This is the only noticeable flaw I found with the toy, but I do wish that Aneros would redesign their entire line to use the Progasm's ball-type stimulator.

While I generally don't go long enough to experience a "super-O", I enjoy my Aneros toys, especially the fact that their hands-free design really works without hands, enabling them to be easily used to add an extra dimension to partner sex without needing to have a spare hand ready to push a toy back in if it starts working out.

In conclusion the Aneros MGX is pretty good, ranking 4 out of 5 stars, with the only major fault being the possibilty of irritation from the perinium tab. The MGX does what it says it will do - stimulating the prostate and functioning hands-free, and it is good for both those seeking a super-O as well as those who want a little extra during sexual activity. Wander on over to Babeland (either the store or the website at www.babeland.com) and take a look at the MGX or one of their other good choices for sex toys.

Epiphora's 2-year anniversary contest

2010-10-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with non-Bottomtalk things for a while, but Epiphora hasn't been neglecting her blog. Indeed, she's celebrating it's second anniversary in style - with a contest.

You can trot on over to http://www.heyepiphora.com to figure out how to enter. Naturally I'm shooting for the Maverick (which has been on my wanna-try-and-review list ever since I heard of it), so it would be very helpful if you went for some of her other great prizes, such as a Wahl, Jollies Jollet, Fleshlight, SETI toyfriend, Fairy Mini Wand, $100 gift card or a porn flick. Sadly many of you are probably equally interested in the Maverick, but I can hope, right?

Pleasurists #93

2010-09-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #92? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #94? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday August 29th at 11:59pm PDT.

Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Fetish Fantasy Ultra Cuff Set Deadline: August 31st.

100th Post Giveaway Deadline: August 31st @ 11:59pm Central.

Add Some Sizzle to Your Summer Deadline: August 31st.

Michele’s A-Day LELO Siri Giveaway Deadline: September 6th.

Eden Fantasys Gift Card Giveaway Deadline: September 6th.

CBW Contest! Deadline: September 21st.

11:11 Designer Condom Cases Deadline: September 30th.

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?

e[lust] #18

Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Editor’s Pick

njoy Fun Wand by Elodie

I already adored my new toy before I knew how the end with three bloops felt in my butt. When K used the Fun Wand in my rear (with plenty of lubricant), it was a revelation.

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

L’Amour Tripler Dual Stimulation by Mistress Kay

L’Amour Tripler Dual Stimulation by Jessie Beth

Fun Factory Sinfflut Benjamin Bond by Rayne

Tuyo by Marilyn

Rhythm “O” Triple Kiss by Isabel0329

Rhythm “O” Triple Kiss by Jane Blow

Rechargeable Power Wand by Dr. Ruthie

We-Vibe II by Juliettia

We-Vibe II by Kate

Blue Venus by Bitchin’ Babe

Black Diamond by buzzvibe

LELO Siri by Alan & Michele

Zen Calm Massager by Jessie Beth

Wand Vibrator Comparison by Dr. Ruthie

Calypso 2 by Lucy Lemonade

Reflections Bliss Nirvana by Vanilla Kinks

The C-Spot by Alan & Michele

Chippendales Diva by Pretty Power Tools

Evolved Croupier by Pretty Power Tools

Dildos

Crystal Delights Epiphany Baton by Isabel0329

njoy Fun Wand by Elodie

Tentacle Jr. by True Pleasure

Vixen Creations Spur by Elodie

Jollies Jack by Pretty Power Tools

Anal Toys

Crystal Delights Plug by Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

LELO Bob by Dr. Ruthie

Tantus Ripple by Vanilla Kinks

Silicone Explorers by Kynky Kytty

Fun Factory Flexi Felix by Red Vinyl Kitty

Toys for Cocks

Tenga Flip Hole by Cooper

Blossom Sleeve by Red Vinyl Kitty

Studded Extender Sleeve by Pretty Power Tools

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Durex Play Utopia by Lucid Obsession

Earthly Body Waterslide by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

BabeLicious by Vanilla Kinks

BabeLube by Saraid

Babeland Naked Organic by Dr. Ruthie

Pink Unity by Kynky Kytty

System JO Wild Clitoral Stimulation Gel by Femenina Deliciosa

BDSM/Fetish

Rachel’s Play Pak by Jessie Beth

Pink Plush Cuffs by Kit O’Connell

Mini Cat-O-Nine Tails by Mistress Kay

Fetish Fantasy Series Bamboo Beater by Lucy Lemonade

Wartenberg Pinwheel by buzzvibe

Pinwheel by Mystress Lady Evyl

Spank Ties by Mistress Kay

Under the Bed Restraints by Missy

Adult Books/Games

A Smart Girl’s Guide to Porn by Alan & Michele

Pleasure Bound by Mistress Kay

Secrets of Prostate Massage by Joanna Cake

Sexually Dominant Woman by Mistress Kay

Fast Girls by Mistress Kay

Fairy Tale Lust by Alan & Michele

Sex Toys 101 by Alan & Michele

Adult DVDs & Porn

Tristan Taormino’s Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men by Mistress Kay

Desperate Husbands by Chops McGruff

Ultimate Surrender #15 by J.D. Bauchery

A+ by FrzKey

Justine Joli LOST by J.D. Bauchery

Couch Surfers 2 – Trans Men in Action by The Porn Librarian

Speakeasy by Jessie Beth

Inmu Vol. 1 & 2 by FrzKey

Feeling It… Not Faking It by Jessie Beth

Storage

Small Black Vibrator Case by Mistress Kay

Miscellaneous

Vibrating Velvet Corsette Harness by Essin’ Em

Celtic Wreath Nipple Jewelry by Isabel0329

Good Vibrations Soft Pack by Mistress Kay

Trojan Fire & Ice Condoms by Lucid Obsession

Spareparts Theo Harness by Pretty Power Tools

Tantus Cody - sponsored by Vibrator.com

2010-08-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Tantus makes excellent butt plugs. Not only are they 100% bodysafe and hypoallergenic (as are all of Tantus' toys), the plugs also demonstrate Tantus' attention to detail in design and quality in manufacture, as well as being available in a range of styles and sizes to suit almost anyone. The range extends from the 3-1/2 inch long by 7/8 of an inch in diameter Little Flirt and 1" by 4-1/2" Slim to the large A-Bomb and gigantic Tex (at 5-1/2" by 2-1/2" and 5-1/2" by 3" in diameter, respectively), and almost all points in between. This review is on the Tantus Cody, a plug that fits in the midrange of Tantus' offerings with a total length of 5-1/2" (4-1/2" insertable), and maxing out at 5-7/8" circumference (1-7/8" in diameter). Cody is being reviewed courtesy of the folks at Vibrator.com who sell a whole bunch of sex toys, shipped discreetly.

While it is towards the middle of Tantus' line, the 5-7/8" circumference of the Cody puts it at the entry to the large plugs category, as most full size plugs are 4-3/4" of circumference (1.5" diameter) at the widest point. This means that it probably isn't a good choice for a first anal toy, but if you can comfortably take a 1.5-inch diameter Tantus has put a lot of work into making Cody an easy next step.

While the largest part is almost two inches across, Tantus has given you three stages (and 3 inches of length) to get there. The first stage (the tip), maxes out at 7/8" in diameter and is about 7/8" long. The next bump goes up to 1-1/2" of diameter over an additional 1-1/4" of length. The design of this stage makes it easy to stop here and let yourself get used to the plug size before attempting the last bump, which goes up an additional 3/8" over about an inch of length.

Once you clear the wide part it's smooth sailing as the plug comes to rest with your anus around the comfortable 1-1/4" diameter by 1" long neck. As this is happening any men using it will probably notice another benefit of the Cody's "high bulge" design as the two bumps of the body will rest against and stimulate the prostate. Women aren't left out either - though indirect there is a bit of G-spot stimulation, and if you wear Cody during sex it can add to the fun of both partners. For the man it changes the feel of the vagina, and for a woman you get the anal stimulation as well as the plug pressing the penis up against the front of the vagina.

The plug is easy to keep in once inserted, thanks to the long neck and over 1/2" difference in size between the body bulge and neck. The long body and high-bulge design will give you more of a "full" feeling while using the Cody then you get with a low-bulge design such as the Tristan, but at no point did I feel that the Cody was in danger of slipping out. The moderately soft silicone used for Cody also aids comfort by minimizing the chance of poking during use, no matter what you're doing while using it. Once you're done using Cody it's easy to remove, since Tantus made the taper between the neck and the body almost as gentle as the taper at the tip.

The only reason why I would not recommend Cody for mid to long-term wear is the base. Cody's base is large and circular. It does an admirable job of keeping Cody from sliding all the way inside your rectum, but it is by no means discreet under clothing and, at 2.5" in diameter, definitely makes its presence felt. It doesn't poke or chafe, but you do know it is there. If your bottom cheeks tend to press together you might have more of a problem with the base.

While not the best choice for long term wear, the large, sturdy base does have its benefits. It's great for active play, since it is easy to grab if you want to thrust Cody in your or your partner's anus, and it gives great leverage for wiggling play. If you're sitting it makes contact with the chair, enabling you to do a very stimulating wiggle dance, and though I haven't tried it I imagine that it would also work this way for a lap dance on your partner. The base also serves as an easy to find target for light slaps or spanks, though you do need to be careful that they are light so you don't have any internal bruising or damage.

I like my Cody quite a bit. It's not a universal plug for any situation (none of them are), but it is very versatile, good as a solo toy or as warm up, for short to mid-term use and as either an active or a put-it-in-and-forget-about-it toy. A base similar to what Tantus uses on the A-Bomb would probably make it better, but it's still pretty good and gets 8 out of 10 stars. Thanks to Vibrator.com for sending out Cody

Tantus Cody plug

8/10 stars

Pros: Soft silicone, gentle taper with three steps, comfortable, long neck, good prostate stimulation.

Cons: Base not good for long-term wear and may be uncomfortable for some people.

Use: can be used by both men or woman. Designed for anal use, but if it is cleaned and sanitized it could be used for vaginal use if desired. Compatible with water or oil-based lubes, might be useable with some silicone lubes (see the Tantus website for more information on silicone lube compatibility).

If you like the Cody you can buy it (or other sex toys) direct from

Like Vibrator.com on Facebook to read other reviews and receive notification of new sex toy releases, contests and promotions.

Article Index

2010-08-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

Now that the number of articles on Bottomtalk exceed the amount that I'm comfortable putting in the "Hot Bottomtalk" list I'm going to set this post up as an index into all the articles that I've written for Bottomtalk. This will be linked in the "Hot Bottomtalk" sidebar, and I will continue to put direct links to popular articles there as well. To start with the articles will be listed in alphabetical order, later I'll start adding topical groups.

Index to Bottomtalk articles:

Buying your first butt toy

Giving myself a hand (experiments in fisting)

Handling transitions from anal activities to other activities

Interested in prostate stimulation? Try a G-Spot vibe!

"It slipped inside!! What do I do now??" - what to do when you loose a toy inside

Keeping Clean - The Poop Problem

Learning the lay of the land

Lube Tests - behind the scenes

Lubricants: The good, the bad, and the homemade

Playing with longer toys - "How do I get it all the way in?"

The Review Process -or- "why do yo have so many highly rated products if you're unbiased?"

The sensuality of butt plug design part 1

The Sensuality of Butt Plug Design, Part 2: The Inside Job

Starting out with anal eroticism

Thoughts on choosing a dildo for anal play

Stretch Your Bootie! Anal stretching, training and even warm-up

"It slipped inside!! What do I do now??" - what to do when you loose a toy inside

2010-08-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

It happens to many people. You're playing with a toy and everything is nice and slick with lube, the way it should be. Things are starting to feel good and you're loosing yourself in the sensations when the toy gets away from you or your partner and the next thing you feel is your anus closing down as the toy slides all the way up and in. Your eyes fly open (if they were closed), and your thoughts immediately turn to the toy and how you're going to get it out. You might even start to panic - what's going to happen to your body? Are you going to die? Will you wind up with a colostomy?

The first thing to do is not to panic.

Well, actually it isn't. The first thing to do is one that you should do before you slide anything into your anus in the first place. You need to evaluate the safety of the toy for anal play. The best toys have something in their design that prevents them from being fully inserted. This most often is a flange or base that is wider than the toy and abrupt enough to prevent the anus from easily opening up around it. You can see various flange bases in my reviews and articles, for instance this photo of buttplugs

Or a circular flange on a dildo (this type of base also enables it to be used in a harness for pegging)

Note that the bases don't need to be this obvious. A bend at the base, "balls" on a dildo (even if they're only on one side), or even something such as the finger hole handle that Ophoria puts on their Rapture #5 (as long as you have your finger through it) can keep a toy from going all the way over to the dark side. Some toys don't have flanges and rely on other methods to keep the toy where you can keep your hands on it. Three other toys that I like - the SSA Glass Sapphire Falls dildo/probe, the Je Joue G-Ki and the Tantus G-Force probe - fall into this category. Two of them (the Sapphire Falls and G-Ki) rely on their shape to prevent them from negotiating the twists and turns of the rectum far enough to get lost, and they do a good job (though I recommend that you test both first to make sure that they stay outside on you). The other toy, the Tantus G-Force, relies on its length (13") to prevent it from going all the way, and again it is mostly successful. If I really try at it I can maneuver it to where it could go in, but as long as I am not trying to push myself a good 4 inches of handle stay outside where I can grab it.

Let's face it though. There are times you want to go on the wild side. There are toys that you really like even though they don't have a flanged base (I have them - look at my review of the Touche Epona) Sometimes you might even want to improvise a toy. In those cases you need to look for other clues to how safe the toy would be even if you did loose it.

The #1 thing to ask yourself is "does this toy have any sharp (or sharpish) edges, or could it break in such a way to create sharp edges?" If the answer to either part is yes then don't use it. Period. Your rectum, anus, and other parts down there are very delicate and can easily be damaged by anything sharp, even if it isn't sharp enough to cut your skin. If an edge is slightly painful if you press it against your lips it is too sharp for your bottom. Likewise if a toy is made of glass or anything else breakable you should be very careful. The only glass that can be recommended are the commercially made smooth-edged tempered glass toys, and even then you shouldn't use them if they have noticeable scratches. Other glass products can break and/or shatter, and you do not want to find about removing glass splinters from your personal rectum. If by some chance you did loose something inside you that's sharp and/or breakable during play go get medical help. If you try to get it out and it breaks things get really bad really fast - you can bleed to death through your intestines, and there are bugs living in there that can kill you if they get into your abdominal cavity.

The other thing to watch out for is large hard objects. It's possible that an object could press part of your intestine up against a bone or something else hard and impair circulation. It's not a likely scenario, and if it does happen you do have some time to deal with it before things get bad, but it is something to be aware of.

If you have a toy you love and is pretty safe but just doesn't have a base you can get some plastic lace or other thickish, easy to clean cord and tie it securely around the toy. Make sure that the end of the lace isn't sharp just in case and voila, you have an emergency retrieval cord just in case.

So now I'm back where the article started. I'm playing with a safe toy, one that's not sharp or likely to break, but it doesn't have a flange. In the heat of passion my grip slipped, and now the toy has gone over to the dark side. I can feel it inside and wonder what plots it's hatching, so what do I do now?

Now we're back to "don't panic". The motto of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books serves us well here also. When you panic your muscles tense up. This includes the muscles of your lower digestive system, and when they tense up they pull the toy further inside and make it harder to remove. Relax and think about how you chose a safe toy and nothing bad is going to happen. Get up, breathe in and out, and relax.

The reason you don't have to worry is the way your digestive system works. All of the muscles and tubes comprising your colon are there for one big reason: moving things along through the large intestine and out through the anus. If you relax and give your body some time chances are very good that your muscles will pop the toy out on their own. After you're relaxed try squatting and pushing (the bathtub is a good place for this). If the toy has a loop handle you can try to get a finger through it, but if not don't worry about grabbing the toy yet. If it doesn't come out now then keep relaxing and letting your gut work, then try again in a little while.

One other thing - even though you may have been close it's probably better not to go ahead and orgasm. While orgasming with a toy inside your butt probably won't cause damage, it will likely take longer for the toy to pop out. If you're worried it's best to get the toy out first and then go back to the fun.

If the toy hasn't come out in a couple of hours (you can probably wait up to overnight if it's a soft toy such as a silicone dildo) then you might want to start to think about seeing a doctor. It's rare that they have to do full out surgery, and they probably have seen it all, and remember that doctors are professionals who aren't going to gossip about you. As long as the toy isn't breakable, sharp or unusually large you probably don't need to go to the emergency room, just get a same-day appointment at your doctor's office or one of the urgent-care centers. Later on re-evaluate your toys. If they're safe but can get fully inserted (and you still want to use them) you might want to tie a string around them.

Tristan 1.5/Tristan Anniversary Edition shipping

2010-08-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

I just got news from Vixen Creations that the Tristan Anniversary Edition plug (the Tristan 1.5) is now shipping to Vixen's wholesale customers. Direct retail sales from Vixen will come as soon as they roll out their new website.

Pleasurists #88

2010-07-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

Washed Up by bubs84

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #87? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #89? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday July 18th at 11:59pm PDT.

Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Kinky Bondage Gear Giveaway! Deadline: July 29th.

BonBon Vibe Contest Deadline: July 31st.

Fairy Pocket Mini Giveaway Deadline: August 1st.

Ask Amanda Anything! Deadline: August 1st.

Grab Yourself a Party Favor! Deadline: August 2nd @ 11am Central.

Special giveaway – Tenga Egg Deadline: August 8th.

Birthday Celebration Contest Deadline: August 14th.

Add Some Sizzle to Your Summer Win an Ophoria Combo Pleasure Pack Deadline: August 31st.

Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?

e[lust] #17

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Racing Heart Ele by Jessie Beth

BonBon by buzzvibe

BonBon by Sammi

Sex A Peel by Red Vinyl Kitty

LELO Nea by Jessie Beth

Ophoria Bliss 2 by Jonsbabydoll

Tuyo by Jessie Beth

Vibratex Rabbit Habit by Rayne

Emotional Bliss Femblossom & Womolia Heat by Payton

Evolved Fleur de Lis Delight by Vanilla Kinks

Monica Mayhem’s Butterfly Buddy by buzzvibe

Lil Teaser Pixie by Jessie Beth

Lia Magic Wand by Rayne

SaSi by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Lil Teaser Dotty by Mistress Kay

Love Lips by Elodie

Love Lips by Sleeping in the Wet Spot

Fun Factory Laya Spot by Sammi

Evolved Short & Sweet Spice by Missy

Dildos

Tantus Purr by Jonsbabydoll

Ophoria Pleasure No. 6 by Wilhelmina Wang

Hardwood Dildos by Mistress Arabella

Anal Toys

Vixen Creations Tristan 1.5 by ScottA

Vixen Creations Tristan by Hamilton Hexx

LELO Bob by Mistress Kay

Toys for Cocks

Tenga Egg by Femenina Deliciosa

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Pink Water by Jessie Beth

Gun Oil by Vanilla Kinks

Fun Factory ToyFluid by Juliettia

Dr. Love by Mistress Kay

Astroglide Natural by Joanna Cake

Pink Silicone & Gun Oil by Slyce

Pot de Creme by Femenina Deliciosa

BDSM/Fetish

Fetish Fantasy Zipper Head Hood by Rayne

Lover’s Headgear Advanced Eye Mask and Ball Gag by Rayne

Pipedream Products Spread ‘Em Bar Kit by Mistress Arabella

Sportsheets Neck and Wrist Restraints by Rayne

Master’s Choice Sr 28″ Rattan Cane by Mistress Arabella

White Delrin Master’s Choice Jr Cane by Mistress Arabella

Red and Black Leather Collar by Mistress Kay

“Love me” Black Leather Strap by Mistress Arabella

Heart 2 Heart Cuffs by Luscious Lily

Romantic Restraint Kit by Sleeping in the Wet Spot

Adult Books/Games

Foreplay Connect Four by Mistress Kay

Kama Sutra Game by Alan & Michele

Kama Sutra Game by Elodie

Fisting: Care, Responsibility, and Trust by Mystress Lady Evyl

Jack Morin’s Anal Pleasure and Health by Rayne

The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage by Mistress Kay

Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories by Alan & Michele

Best Women’s Erotica 2010 by Luscious Lily

Adult DVDs & Porn

Vampire Sex Diaries by Jessie Beth

Billy Castro Does the Mission by Mystress Lady Evyl

Buttwoman Vs. Slutwoman by The Porn Librarian

Fetish Fairy Tails Volume 5: The She Wolf & The Dirty Little Pigs by FrzKey

Girls Seducing Girls by J.D. Bauchery

Fucking Machines #5 Featuring Penny Flame by The Porn Librarian

Greek Holiday Part 2: Cruising Mykonos by FrzKey

Storage

The Original ToiBocks by Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

The Sneaky Sack by Rayne

Sex Furniture

Wedge Air Pillow by Kit O’Connell

Fetish Fantasy Pleasure Pad by Jessie Beth

Sportsheets Sex in the Shower Footrest by Rayne

Inflatable Bondage Chair by Sleeping in the Wet Spot

Lingerie

Lacey Bra & Thong Set by Sea of Neptune

Miscellaneous

Intimate Basics Juno by Nadia West

Girl’s Night In Kit by Jonsbabydoll

Sportsheets Vibrating Velvet Harness by Vanilla Kinks

Durex Pleasure Pack by Juliettia

Soft Pack by Isabel0329

RFSU Condoms by Slyce

Pleasurists 87

2010-07-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

The Old Passion by ~JogiART

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #86? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #88? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday July 18th at 11:59pm PDT.

Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Contest: Win a Tenga Egg! Deadline: July 22nd.

TabuToys.com “Economic Stimulus” Contest Deadline: July 23rd.

Kinky Bondage Gear Giveaway! Deadline: July 29th.

Fairy Pocket Mini Giveaway Deadline: August 1st.

Ask Amanda Anything! Deadline: August 1st.

Grab Yourself a Party Favor! Deadline: August 2nd @ 11am Central.

Birthday Celebration Contest Deadline: August 14th.

Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?

e[lust] #17

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Ophoria Pleasure Pack by Tonia

Ophoria Beyond No. 1 by Marilyn

Love Lips by Red Vinyl Kitty

Hitachi Magic Wand by Outspoken Clitic

Vibrating Dilator Set by Mystress Lady Evyl

Mini-Max Makeup Brush by buzzvibe

Fairy Pocket Mini by Femenina Deliciosa

Twisted Hearts Lust by Elodie

Vibratex Mystic Wand by Toys in Love

Dildos

Tentacle by True Pleasures

Pixie Curve by Red Vinyl Kitty

Rose G-Spotter by Isabel0329

Anal Toys

Fun Factory Flexi Felix by Mistress Kay

Fun Factory Flexi Felix by Isabel0329

LELO Bob by Wilhelmina Wang

Tantus Big Flirt by Femenina Deliciosa

Tantus Flirt by Missy

Toys for Cocks

Tantus Cock Sling by Mistress Kay

Wave Rider by Miami Pepper

Smart Easy’s Vol 2 by True Pleasures

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Jimmyjane Beyond Euphoric Lotion by True Pleasures

Jimmyjane Beyond Euphoric Lotion by Femenina Deliciosa

Jimmyjane Beyond Euphoric Lotion by Isabel0329

System JO Wild Clitoral Gel by Missy

Astroglide Glycerin and Paraben Free by

buzzvibe

Bikini Kitty Shaver by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Gun Oil by Missy

BDSM/Fetish

Pink & Black Double Strand Nipple Clamps by Jessie Beth

Incoqnito Leather Handcuffs by DominaDoll

LELO Intima by Dr. Ruthie

Adult DVDs & Porn

iSpankMyself.com by Garnet Joyce

Tight Places – A Drop of Color by J.D. Bauchery

Wired Pussy #2 Featuring Sydnee Capri by FrzKey

Crushing On Kleio by The Porn Librarian

Secrets by J.D. Bauchery

Straight Guys for Gay Eyes – Dexter by FrzKey

Heads Up – The Official Guide to Fellatio by Femenina Deliciosa

Tristan Taormino’s Expert Guide to Fellatio by The Baltese Falcon

Storage

For Your Nymphomation 10 Incher by Toys in Love

Miscellaneous

Sheer Glyde Dams by Bailey

Clone-A-Pussy Kit by Joanna Cake

Mia Rose Cardboard Cut-Out by Mistress Kay

StreemMaster Mini Syringe by ScottA

Girl’s Night In Kit by Isabel0329

Vixen Creations Off With Your Head by Britni TheVadgeWig

PStyle by Dr. Ruthie

The Review Process -or- "why do yo have so many highly rated products if you're unbiased?"

2010-07-17T15:20:00.001-07:00

Looking over my reviews both on Bottomtalk and elsewhere, I noticed that most of them rate the products pretty highly. Since I tend to play "devil's advocate" with myself I found myself wondering "If you say that you give impartial reviews, then why do you rate so many of the products so highly? If your reviews were truly unbiased, then wouldn't you have a more even spread of high and low ratings?" I'm not sure if anyone else asks that question of reviewers, but it seemed valid, and as I have a lot of pull with the author of Bottomtalk I was able to get him to address the issue.

Yes, my reviews are unbiased. I'm not paid to say nice things about any of the products, and the companies that sponsor a review by sending me the product know that they aren't guaranteed a positive review. I do try to make my criticism constructive, but I don't hold back. To be absolutely blunt, the reason that so many reviews are positive is selfishness.

Yes, selfishness, but possibly not in the way you're thinking. Reviews take time - lots of time. The writing takes a couple of hours, and while putting a product through its paces is fun there's also work involved in doing what can be truly called research for the review. Like most reviewers and blog writers, this is a free time activity for me, and free time is a precious commodity. I'd much rather spend a couple of hours reviewing something that I really like than spend the same time reviewing something I hate. Now that I've been writing sex toy reviews for several years I have a pretty good idea of what things I'll like and what to look for. Combine that with my inner selfishness of wanting to try out good toys, and you have a pretty good recipe for a "biased sample" that leans towards highly-rated toys even though the review process is unbiased.

There are other things that come into play when choosing products to review, too. I'm sensitive to chemicals, so I limit myself to bodysafe materials and paraben-free lubes. While I think that bodysafe sex toys are a good idea for everyone, my choice to not review them here is actually a choice in favor of eliminating bias in reviews. It's hard to do a fair review of a product if you have trouble using it. I have reviewed these products in the past, and I think I did a good job of being fair, but I'd much rather spend my time reviewing toys that I'm pretty sure I'll like.

I'm selfish that way, and not likely to change.

Vixen Creations' Tristan 1.5 vibrating plug (sponsored by Vixen Creations)

2010-07-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of Vixen's Tristan plugs. I've reviewed the entire current line and loved them all, from the standard-sized Tristan plug (1-1/2" (4cm) in diameter, review here) to the much larger (2" (5cm) in diameter) Tristan 2. There's a noticeable gap in between those toys - 1/2" (1cm) of diameter, which translates to your anus having to open up for 1-1/2" (3cm) of extra circumference. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a plug in the middle, one for people who were comfortable with 1-1/2" diameter plugs and wanted a little more? Wouldn't it be nice if that plug was made from a very comfy, slightly squishy, completely safe material such as Vixen's silicone, and in a design that was comfortable and stayed in well?

There once was, and hopefully will be again soon.

Vixen Creations and Babeland teamed up a couple of years ago to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the original Tristan plug with the Tristan Anniversary Edition, a plug that neatly split the difference between the Tristan and Tristan 2's diameter at 1-3/4" (4.5cm) while keeping the excellent materials and design of its parent plugs. After being distributed by Babeland for a bit over a year the Anniversary Edition quietly slid off of Babeland's catalogs. I fervently hope that Vixen has plans for this design, since it's deserving of them, and I suspect that they do because Vixen sent me a sample of what's currently called Tristan 1.5 to test.

The family resemblance to the other Tristans is unmistakable in the picture, and the Tristan 1.5 certainly has their positive attributes. It stays in place once inserted very well, and the base is extremely comfortable and has the Tristan trick of picking up movements from your buttocks and legs, causing the plug to move around slightly for a delightful sensation. Made from the same pillowy-soft Vixen silicone as the rest of the Tristan line, the Tristan 1.5 is extremely comfortable during use and insertion (which is best done by gently pressing while wiggling the base a bit). Note that the taper of the Tristan 1.5 is a bit more abrupt than the taper on the original Tristan, so you'll probably want to warm up with a finger or something else before use. It's worth a bit of warm-up, though - not only does the Tristan 1.5 feel great on its own, it also can has an (optional) secret.

Eagle-eyed readers have probably noted the black cord or string in the photograph and may be wondering what it is. No, it isn't a mistake - it's one of the advantages of the Tristan 1.5's slightly bumped neck size.

The Tristan 1.5, in common with the larger Tristan 2, can be bought as a vibrating plug. If you get a vibrating model Vixen puts a pocket in the neck of your Tristan and includes a battery-operated bullet vibe (the string in the picture comes attached to the vibrator to help you remove it). Vixen has done a great job of addressing the problems of vibrating plugs, making the Tristan 1.5 vibrating plug the first vibrating plug I've had that I can say I really like.

The vibrator pocket, at 2-1/2" (6.5cm) deep, is deep enough to completely enclose the vibrator and leave about 3/8" or 1cm of extra depth. This prevents what is probably the #1 complaint about vibrating anal toys: "I roll over or sit down and it turns off". I was able to sit, stand, lie down and roll over with the Tristan 1.5 never ceasing to vibrate. Do make sure that you put some lubricant on the vibrator before putting it into your Tristan, as removing an unlubricated vibrator from any silicone toy is difficult and the Tristan's deep pocket makes it even harder.

The deep vibrator position offers a second benefit. Most vibrating anal toys put the vibrator near the outside of the anus. This positioning is OK, but the vibrations rapidly die away, especially when the anus is clenched. The Tristan 1.5's vibrator is positioned with a bit over 1/2" (1cm) of the bullet located inside the rectum, so the vibrations are much stronger at the inside of the anus and prostate than with designs mounting the vibrator further out. Don't worry about the outside of the anus being left out with the Tristan 1.5's layout, as the vibrations are equally strong on the outside and inside.

With the hole in the neck for the vibrator you might be a bit concerned about how well the Tristan 1.5 vibrating plug would work without the bullet. The neck is noticeably more squishy to the hands with the bullet removed, but pulling the bullet didn't have any effects on the functionality of the Tristan 1.5 plug other than requiring a bit more care during insertion to prevent the neck from bending. I did notice that the neck felt a bit squishier as I clenched my anus around it, but the feeling of squeezing the neck slightly was pleasant and did not compromise the Tristan 1.5's ability to stay put or stimulate.

As the Tristan 1.5 is made out of silicone, it's 100% safe and care is easy. You can use any water or oil based lube you want with it, and cleanup after use can be with soap and water or toy cleaner. If you wish to sanitize the Tristan 1.5 you can either use 10% bleach solution or boil it in water for 10 minutes, and storage is easy because of the inert nature of silicone If you want, Vixen ships the Tristan in a reusable plastic tube that you can use for storage.

How does the Tristan 1.5 compare visually with the rest of the family? It's about as long as the original Tristan but with an extra 1/4" of diameter. Stacked up next to each other in a family portrait the Tristans look like this:

A few more shots. I'm not sure whether or not the plugs could be accused of mooning the viewer in the last picture, but it shows the relative size of the bases well.

You may be wondering about the color of my Tristan 1.5. While the black Tristan and the purple Tristan 2 are production plugs, the Tristan 1.5 is pre-production, so Vixen apparently made it with some leftover silicone. The two-tone effect of iridescent blue body and black base is a nice effect, but when Tristan 1.5 is in production it will be made with Vixen's normal color range.

Undoubtedly the Tristan 1.5 is a great product in an unfortunately neglected size. Hopefully Vixen is set to release it soon to satisfy everyone who wasn't able to pick up a Tristan Anniversary Edition plug while they were around. Check to see if it's listed on Vixen's Products page, and if not drop them an e-mail - contact info here.

UPDATE: The Tristan Anniversary Edition plug (Tristan 1.5) is available now. Vixen is currently (8/12/2010) shipping it to wholesale customers. It won't be available for order on their website until a redesign goes live.

Vixen Tristan 1.5 Vibrating Plug:

Summary: The Tristan 1.5 plug brings the excellent design of the Tristan line to a plug well sized for people interested in moving beyond the "standard" 1.5" diameter plug size but not wanting a 2" plug yet. The vibrating option works well, delivering constant vibrations both outside, inside, and at the prostate, and the on/off switch is protected from being accidentally triggered.

Pros: Vibrating feature works well, vibrator doesn't get turned off accidentally. Comfortable, easy to retain plug. Base causes plug to move when you do for added stimulation.

Cons: All minor - a little too large for an anal beginner and the taper is a bit more abrupt than the original Tristan.

Rating: 10 stars. The excellent implementation of the vibration feature combined with a well designed plug tips the Tristan 1.5 over the edge to excellence.

StreemMaster Mini anal douche/enema -Sponsored by StreemMaster

2010-07-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

As some of you who have been reading my posts on Bottomtalk and various forums know, I haven't been a big fan of the bulb syringe for enemas/ anal douches. The bulbs I have tried tended to be hard to use and hard to clean, and in the end I'd go back to my gravity system when I wanted to clean out. Until now.

Callow Innovations, makers of the StreemMaster shower mounted anal douche/enema system (see AveryDragon's excellent review here), were kind enough to send a sample of their StreemMaster Mini bulb syringe for me to review. Their well-thought-out design addresses almost all of the problems that bulb syringes tend to have.

When filled full, the bulb of the StreemMaster Mini holds about 8-1/2 fluid ounces (250 mL) of water, and an ordinary squeeze delivers between 7 and 8 fluid ounces (207-237 mL) Screwing on (and filling up) the large nozzle adds about an ounce of water to the total capacity, but the amount delivered remains the same. The bulb is 2-1/2 inches (6.5 cm) in diameter at its widest point and 5 inches (13 cm) long, small enough to fit comfortably in most hands. A wonderful feature, sadly lacking on many other bulb syringes, is the large ring around the bottom that allows the StreemMaster Mini to securely stand upright when full. Made of medical-grade PVC, the StreemMaster Mini's bulb is both latex and phthalates-free.

The Mini is available in your choice of three colors: black, dark blue and pink. I chose the dark blue, and it is rather pretty. The bulb is finished in a matte texture with three raised ridges so it is both easy and secure to hold.

The StreemMaster Mini syringe comes with two comfortable nozzles, a smaller nozzle that's 7/16 of an inch (11 mm) at the tip tapering to 5/16 of an inch (9 mm) at the base. The nozzle has a single eighth-inch (4 mm) opening in the middle of the rounded tip, and has 3-1/8 inches (8 cm) of insertable length.

The larger nozzle is three-quarters of an inch (2 cm) in diameter and almost untapered, with 4-1/2 inches (115 mm) of insertable length. The hemispherical tip has five one-sixteenth inch (2 mm) holes in the tip for comfortable insertion. To make things easier the five holes in the nozzle all squirt forward so you don't have water spraying all over the bathroom when you're trying to fill the syringe, and the nozzle has a uniform internal diameter so there aren't problems with air being trapped inside.

Both nozzles are completely smooth, so a little lube will go a long way. As they're made of hard plastic they're compatible with all lubes, so you can use your favorite without fear. The nozzles are comfortable too, with all the edges smoothly rounded and no ridges big enough to feel during use. Since the nozzles are hard you do need to take a little care when inserting since they won't bend to track the rectum, but the round tips ensure safety if a reasonable amount of care is used (don't force them in). The tips slide in the anus easily, and the size of the holes is well chosen, keeping the flow down to a comfortable level when the bulb is squeezed.

Filling the StreemMaster Mini was easy and can be done in multiple ways. With the nozzle unscrewed the bulb can be held under the faucet for rapid, convenient filling if you use water. Unfortunately there's a bit of air left in the nozzles if you use this method, but in most cases this is not a problem. If you want to eliminate the air you can partially squeeze the bulb to expel the air and then draw in more water, either from the tap or from a bowl.

You can also put the water or other solution (water with a little salt or baking soda might be a good idea if you douche often) in a basin and fill the StreemMaster Mini in the more conventional manner of squeeze-dip-suck. Sometimes it's helpful to put your thumb over the end of the nozzle as you're flipping the syringe to put it under water, and the StreemMaster Mini's small nozzle is easy to block with the thumb. The rounded end of the larger nozzle, while comfortable to insert in the anus, was a little too large for me to easily cover all the holes with my thumb, but the palm of my hand worked well.

The best part of the StreemMaster Mini's design has to be clean-up. Finally I have a bulb syringe where the manufacturer gets it. Unscrewing the tips leaves a three-quarter inch (2 cm) diameter access hole into the bulb, and the nozzle bores are open and straight so you can get a small brush inside both the bulb and nozzles for cleaning if necessary. If there's any question about the state of the syringe's inside you can get a flashlight and take a look. Unfortunately, the PVC material is difficult to disinfect, so it's best not to share the StreemMaster Mini. If needed you can soak it in a 10% bleach solution for occasional disinfection, but the bleach may damage the plastic if you do this regularly or soak it for long periods of time.

There are two good features of a well-designed bulb that a gravity or shower system doesn't have, and the StreemMaster Mini benefits from both. A bulb syringe's definite volume enables you to easily regulate how much water is inserted, making it much easier to keep from getting water up above the rectum. Keeping the water "low" allows it to come out much faster and reduces the likelihood of any hiding out in the upper reaches to possibly come out at an inopportune time. A smaller anal douche or enema also minimizes the douche's effects on the colon, reducing the possibility of adverse effects. The second benefit is convenience - a anal douche with the StreemMaster mini can be a 5-minute operation, making it an option to use before unplanned activities.

Getting the StreemMaster Mini has caused me to re-evaluate my antipathy towards bulb syringes for quick clean-outs. StreemMaster has managed to address all my concerns about cleaning and convenience while still keeping the main advantages of a bulb: convenience of use and ease of controlling the volume of water injected. While I'll still keep around my gravity system for when I need more thorough clean-outs, I expect that I'll be using the StreemMaster Mini for the quick rectum and anal canal clean-outs that suffice for most buttplay.

Rating: 9/10

Best features: Stands up on its own when full and is easy to clean. Nozzles are comfortable and bulb easy to use.

Downsides: Difficult to disinfect, so you should be careful about sharing.

If you want to try out the StreemMaster Mini you can get it directly from the manufacturer at the StreemMaster Store or through one of their many resellers, some of which are at their Retailers Page

Pleasurists #84

2010-07-01T17:52:00.000-07:00

via Mario M.M.

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #83? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #85? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday July 4th at 11:59pm PDT.

Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Beat the Heat – Win a Toy Deadline: June 30th.

Win Ophoria K-Balls Deadline: June 30th.

Win An Amazing Hot Heart Massager Deadline: June 30th.

June’s Sexy Contest: Explore Your Fantasies with KinkAcademy & Dr. Ruthie Deadline: June 30th.

Celebrate True’s 3 Years of Wedded Bliss and Get WET! Deadline: June 30th @ 11am Central.

Dangerous Lilly’s Milestone Giveaway Deadline: July 1st.

Two For You Deadline: July 2nd.

Intimate Organics Cleansing Gel and Body Souffle Giveaway Deadline: July 4th.

Sharing the Vamp Love with You Deadline: July 4th.

In Need of a Girl’s Night In? Deadline: July 5th @ 11:59pm Central.

Win a $50 Gift Card to Eden Fantasys! Deadline: July 8th @ 11:59pm Central.

Hot Summer Nights Giveaway Deadline: July 11th.

Lustre Vibe Giveaway! Deadline: July 15th.

Editor’s Pick

Raquel vs. Niagara: The Showdown by Outspoken Clitic

Editor’s Note: The most epic dildofight ever! You know you want to see two pink realistic-feel dildos battling it out set to Ennio Morricone music and wearing black cowboy hats. I mean… come on! What’s not to love? There’s also a review, so be sure to click the link.

Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?

e[lust] #16

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Babeland Remote Panty by Shay

Tulip by Mistress Kay

Tulip by Darling Dove

Tulip by Kynky Kytty

Tulip by Gardenvy

Roly Poly by Red Vinyl Kitty

Jimmyjane Iconic Smoothie by Jessie Beth

Ophoria Bliss No. 8 by Luscious Lily

Gino by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

6″ Power Bullet Breeze by Screaming Violet

Fun Factory Delight by Mistress Kay

Extase Liberte by Alan & Michele

Le Reve 3-Speed Bullet by Mistress Kay

Evolved Bet On Black by Red

SinFive Ilo by Carrie Ann

OhMiBod Freestyle by Luvasaurus

Evolved Croupier by Missy

Dildos

Vixen Creations Woody by Britni TheVadgeWig

Natural Contours Energie by Marilyn

Vixen Creations Raquel & Tantus Niagra by Outspoken Clitic

Vibrating Glass Twister

LELO Ella by Hamilton Hexx

Njoy Eleven by Carrie Ann

Anal Toys

Njoy Pure Plug by buzzvibe

Crystal Delights Plug by Toys in Love

Crystal Delights Plug by Sundae

Ophoria Rapture No. 6 by buzzvibe

Tantus Alumina Revolve by Britni TheVagdeWig

Vibrating Butt Plug by Mystress Lady Evyl

Tantus Infinity Royal by Sammi

Rascal The Inmate by Red

Vixen Creations Tristan by ScottA

Toys for Cocks

LELO Tor by Toys in Love

Tenga Egg by Cooper

SuccuDry Fleshlight by Phallicity

Si-X Type N by Alan & Michele

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Wet Naturals Beautifully Bare

Oral Pleasure Lip Gloss by Mistress Kay

Kama Sutra Love Liquid by Cooper

Moist Lube Dispenser by Mistress Kay

Pink Water by Jonsbabydoll

Pink Water by Holly

Sliquid H2O by True Pleasures

Love Essentials Kit by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Intimate Organics Foot Foreplay Lotion by Vanilla Kinks

Sliquid Swirl Green Apple Tart by Gardenvy

Strawberry Moist by Gardenvy

Wet Pheromone by Gardenvy

Babeland Body Lickable Oil by Sammi

Kama Sutra Body Souffle by Carrie Ann

BDSM/Fetish

Heart 2 Heart Cuffs by Sea of Neptune

Heart 2 Heart Cuffs by Juliettia

Heart 2 Heart Whip by Darling Dove

Babeland Bondage Tape by Red Vinyl Kitty

Black Drip Candles by Mistress Kay

Advanced Nipple Suckers by Kinky_Turtle

Large Black Rubber Whip by Vanilla Kinks

Pink Medium Rubber Whip by Elodie

Spartacus 18″ Crop by Kit O’Connell

Wrist to Thigh Cuffs by Mystress Lady Evyl

Adult Books/Games

Position of the Day Playing Cards by namelesschaos

Position of the Day Playing Cards by Alan & Michele

Kidder Kaper Sex Is Fun! by Cooper

Hurts So Good by Mistress Kay

Adult DVDs & Porn

Heads Up: The Official Guide to Fellatio by Jessie Beth

Tight Places: A Drop of Color by Kate

Looks Like Fun by The Porn Librarian

Wall Street – Disc 1 by FrzKey

Hot Box by The Porn Librarian

A Time to Screw by FrzKey

Tru – A XXX Parody by The Porn Librarian

Billy Castro Does the Mission by Britni TheVadgeWig

Storage

Just in Case by Mistress Kay

Lockable Large Vibrator Case by Mystress Lady Evyl

Miscellaneous

Mystic Wand Attachment by Garnet Joyce

Black Lite Body Paint Kit by Mistress Kay

Cater to Me Kit by Kate

KegelMaster 2000 by Joanna Cake

Sportsheets Hump Bump & Vibe by mina

Vixen Creations' Tristan plug - sponsored by Vibrator.com

2010-06-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, long ago, a noted anal sex expert couldn't find a buttplug that she liked. She looked all over the kingdom without success - none of the plugs did what she wanted. Some had trouble staying in, popping out at the most inopportune times (she remembered with horror the incident at the banquet for the young Duke), or requiring such anal exertions to retain that she strongly felt others were left with the impression that she was suffering from severe constipation. Some plugs were just plain uncomfortable, and many had large bases that poked her hindquarters and were anything but discreet.

Finally tiring of her fruitless quest she contacted the noted sex toy smiths at Vixen to discuss the problem. They were open to her suggestions, and after many hours in the design shop and hours spent sweating at the forge, turning out model after model from red-hot silicone, the design was ready and lo! it was well received by the anal erotics of the whole world. The new plug was christened Tristan, in honor of the expert who caused it to be made, and it is available to this very day.

While it is unlikely that many children will hear that particular fairy tale, the toy that inspired it is well known to many as the Vixen Tristan plug, designed by Tristan Taormino herself. Made to be a comfortable plug for both long and short term use, the Tristan delivers in both the comfort and security departments.

Vibrator.com was nice enough to send me a sample of the legendary Tristan for review. Made by Vixen Creations using their wonderfully soft silicone, the Tristan is a midsized plug with a 1-1/2" diameter bulge and 1" diameter neck.

The Vixen Tristan plug is a well thought out mix of good design decisions for most uses. Long-term wear, short-term wear, something to add a little extra to sex or something to add a little extra to vacuuming (or even a trip to the grocery store) - the Tristan stays in place securely and is very stimulating. Indeed, there are probably more uses that the Tristan is good for than things that it isn't best for, so I'll start off by listing the few reasons you may not want a Tristan plug.

If you're looking for the feeling of fullness (read about the different feelings here) the Tristan might not do it for you. The Tristan was designed to enable easy long-term wear, so its body is short. Sine it doesn't take up much space in the rectum, you don't get the "full" feeling. The short body and lack of a full feeling are intentional, as the full feeling can easily turn into the "gotta go" feeling, which isn't good if you're trying to discreetly enjoy a plug.

Speaking of discreet use, the Tristan probably isn't the plug to wear under tight pants or with a bathing suit. The base does a pretty good job of staying out of the way, but it can cause embarrassing bumps if your clothes are tight (ordinary pants or skirts should be fine - just no Spandex).
Finally, the Tristan isn't the best plug to use for a first-time anal toy. While not a reason to avoid the Tristan, it is a reason to wait a little if you're just starting out with anal play. The Tristan is a full sized butt plug with 1-1/2 inches (diameter) of pure silicone at its widest point. Vixen and Tristan did a good job of design, as the curved bullet shape of the body puts a gradual taper on the last 1/2" of width, but the plug rapidly gains the first inch. It's a good idea to wait on Tristan until you have a bit of experience, and even those who do should consider playing a bit before insertion and definitely use plenty of lube.

After thinking about it for a while these are the only things I could come up with against the Tristan. It's a great plug, very secure and easy to wear. The long neck and short body help the Tristan to comfortably stay where you put it instead of popping out unexpectedly.

Insertion is easy as well. The slight point at the head helps Tristan find the middle of your anus during insertion, and the pillowy Vixen silicone feels great when inserted. Since it's so soft make sure you use plenty of lube. otherwise the plug can bend when you push. Once inserted the Tristan gives good sensations of stretch, and sphincter bump, and the soft silicone is very nice to clench around. While not targeted as a prostate toy, the Tristan does give a bit of P-spot stimulation to those guys lucky enough to be using it when fully inserted.

The base makes it impossible for the Tristan to accidentally slip all the way inside, and the cutouts and soft silicone make it very comfortable to wear and gentle on the buttcheeks. During use the base snuggles up enough to be practically invisible under most clothes, and has a delightful trick up its sleeve to enhance the Tristan's stimulation: when you walk or otherwise move around the Tristan's base is bumped and wiggled by your buttocks, causing the plug to stimulate the anus from both the inside and the outside. This wiggle sensation from the Tristan family is much stronger than in any other plug I've tried.

Silicone is an excellent choice for anal toys. It is 100% bodysafe and will not leach any chemicals into your body and is easy to take care of. You can use any water-based or oil-based lube you want on the Tristan, but do pay attention to how well the lube works long-term if you're planning to wear it for an extended period, as dry plugs are a pain to remove. You should exercise caution with silicone lubes, as some silicone lubes have been known to react with some silicone toys. I love Vixen's silicone formulation because it's soft and a bit squishy.

Cleanup after use is a breeze, as silicone toys can be washed with soap and water, toy cleaner, or even run through the dishwasher if you so desire. They can also be sterilized if you're changing partners or just for an added degree of protection, the most common methods are disinfecting them in boiling water or a 10% bleach solution for 5-10 minutes.

The Tristan was introduced in 1999, over 10 years ago. The fact that it's still going strong is a testament to the excellence of this design. You can get a Tristan at Vibrator.com, or look at one of their other butt plugs. If you want something a bit bigger Vixen and Vibrator.com have you covered with the Tristan 2 - it's the same great design scaled up to 2" in diameter and 3-3/4" long.

Best features: The Tristan stays put well for long term wear and is comfortable for both long and short term wear. Comfortable base enhances stimulation by picking up body movement. Can be worn discreetly under most clothing. Silicone.

Potential problems: Tristan's body expands rapidly to 1", so it's not a good first anal toy. Base can show though tight clothes.

Overall rating: 9 out of 10.

The Tantus Pro-Touch - a good start.

2010-05-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

Tantus makes toys for a wide variety of audiences, from beginners to those able to use the 3-1/4" diameter Tex plug. Today's toy is the Pro Touch, a 4-3/4" long, thin vibrating anal toy that could be a good toy to start with if you're interested in exploring anal play (see specs and other reviews at EdenFantasys).

The Pro-Touch is a pure silicone toy that resembles a finger in both size (1-1/4" diameter maximum size, but the first two sections are 5/8" and 1" respectively) and shape, with three bulged sections angled at the joints in the classic "come here" crook recommended for prostate stimulation. The shape is great for a first anal toy, as the small start slips in easily once it's lubricated and the waists or necks between the sections provide a spot to rest and get ready for the next section. There is one possible surprise area if you're not careful, as the body of the Pro-Touch rapidly expands from the 7/8" of the second "staging area" to the maximum width of 1-1/4" in only about half an inch. Fortunately the Pro-Touch offers plenty of play potential if you're not ready to make that leap, with about 3" of the body length coming before the bulge.

The Pro-Touch is an extremely safe toy, a benefit for not only beginners but for everyone. The 100% silicone material is completely nontoxic and bodysafe, soft enough so you don't have to worry about causing internal damage, and easy to take care of. Cleaning can be accomplished in many ways: soap and water, alcohol, toy cleaner, or even running the Pro-Touch through a dishwasher. After cleaning, it can be disinfected by boiling or soaking in 10% bleach water. Best of all, it's compatible with almost any lube out there, important because using enough lube is vital to safe and pleasurable anal exploration. You can use any water-based or oil based lubes with the Pro-Touch, and even some silicone lubes are safe to use with Tantus silicone. Personally I avoid silicone lubes with silicone as even the high quality lubes that don't ruin the toy's surface are difficult to clean off.
Not only is the material safe, but the design is also safe. The Pro-Touch is smoothly contoured for comfort and safety, and the base of the toy is wide and strong to prevent it from being fully inserted in the rectum, where it may get lost.

There is only one part of the Pro-Touch's design that I don't understand, and it is the 1-1/4" diameter ridge about 2/3rds of the way down the shaft. My guess is that Tantus was trying to make the Pro-Touch into a butt plug, but the ridge really isn't big enough to allow the anus to get a good enough grip on the toy to hold it inside. The ridge is big enough and abrupt enough to be noticed, especially if you are tense anally and attempt to slide the whole toy in rapidly. If you take some time to play with the first part of the toy and relax the ridge shouldn't be a problem.

The ridge is big enough to hold the Pro-Touch in for short periods of time if you really clench, but it's not really satisfactory for hands-free use. Even when I was able to keep the toy inside me without hands it generally turned around so the tip was no longer stimulating my prostate. When the Pro-Touch turns around it can be corrected easily without taking the toy out, as the Tantus logo on the base (which you can easily feel) should be facing away from the prostate for maximum stimulation, so a quick feel-and-twist fixes the problem.
All things considered it's best to use this toy somewhere where you can hold it in, either with hands or some object. Indeed, Tantus doesn't categorize the Pro-Touch as a plug on their website, rather it's listed as a vibrator.

So how does the Pro-Touch work as a vibrator? It includes a silver bullet vibe powered by 3 button cell batteries that is supposed to kick up the stimulation, and with a few limitations it succeeds.
The most obvious limitation has to do with Tantus' choice of vibrators. The vibrator included with the Pro-Touch is certainly powerful enough, but the on/off pushbutton is located so it sticks out of the base of the Pro-Touch when it is installed, which means it can't readily be used while sitting down, and you'd best be careful during partner play if you don't want unexpected power switch activity. A replacement vibrating bullet with a twist or remote power control fixes the problem entirely, and often replacement vibes are a bit more powerful to add to the fun.

A second limitation (or is it a feature?) of the Pro-Touch is that the vibrations aren't strong at the prostate unless two conditions are met. The toy needs to be fully inserted, and the anus needs to be relaxed. If the Pro-Touch isn't fully inserted then the vibrations remain at the anus, and if the anus is tight it tends to dampen the vibrations at the prostate. I'm not putting these in as negative points for two reasons - first they're very minor, and secondly they have a positive side - to help you relax your anus and remember to keep it relaxed, and a relaxed anus is important for anal play.

Even if you don't use the vibrator the pocket can still enhance your play. It's the perfect size to slip the Pro-Touch on your finger or thumb for easy hand-held play. When used this way we didn't have a problem with it rotating during use.

While intended as an anal toy (and it's fun for either men or woman that way), you can use the Pro-Touch vaginally to stimulate the clitoris, vaginal lips, and G-spot. Used this way it's more of a foreplay toy, as stimulation is not very intense, bu tit can be fun.

In general, I'd recommend the Pro-Touch to people who are starting out with anal stimulation, as it's a good toy to begin with and you'll probably be using it for quite a while (except for the vibrator it will last a lifetime if properly cared for). If you're already anally advanced you might want something a little bigger, and if you're interested in prostate stimulation you might want to look at toys that provide a bit more stimulation, such as the Tantus Prostate Health and G-Spot or the Aneros or Nexus products. For the beginner the Pro-Touch will likely be very rewarding and an easy way to start exploring anal stimulation, easily winning 4 stars. Thanks to EdenFantasys (http://www.edenfantasys.com) for sending it to me to review.

Reader feedback - I love it!

2010-05-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank those who leave comments or send me e-mails. It's nice to know that you appreciate this blog, and I do like answering your questions. In fact, there have been several of these blog posts that were written in response to questions, e-mails or comments. If you have anything you're interested in or would like to see covered more on Bottomtalk go ahead and comment or e-mail - the posts do take some time to write (many hours for the longer ones), and I like to know that the direction I'm taking Bottomtalk is useful for my readers.

Thoughts on choosing a dildo for anal play

2010-05-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

Dildos are one of the great sex toys, and deservedly so. Ancient in origin, dildos begat many of the many current families of toys, including probes and plugs. Even if you ignored all that, there's no way to ignore the fact that dildos used anally feel great, and almost every anal-erotic either has dildos or is looking at getting some (or looking to get some more).

The challenge lies in the getting. There are thousands of dildos out there, with different designs, dimensions, and materials. Where do you start if you're looking for your first anal dildo? Most people have an idea of size and price range, and possibly style, but even that doesn't help narrow the field much. Since life is so much nicer when your first dildo is one you really like, I thought I'd write a guide for people interested in acquiring a first (or a second, or just another) dildo. It's pretty long and involved, so if you're just interested in the beginner's recommendations in brief I'm going to stick with my common practice and you can scroll down to the end.

For many people, the first question that they answer about their dildo is realistic vs. non-realistic. For many this is a visceral reaction: some people just aren't comfortable putting something that looks like a penis in their anus. For others it is almost the opposite - they can't conceive of having a dildo that doesn't look like the real thing. There can be advantages to either design (see below for details), but it is important that you realize your feelings are important. If you aren't comfortable with your choice of dildo than it is harder to relax your anus. If you aren't at least 90% relaxed (normally 100% would be better, but 100% usually means you're asleep or unconscious) you won't enjoy anal play as much as you could have. Especially for a first dildo it's important to get something you're completely comfortable with, so let your feelings influence your decision.

Safety

While realistic vs. non-realistic is usually one of the first questions people consider, it is definitely not the most important. The most important thing to consider with a dildo is safety. There are two things essential to a safe dildo, materials and base design. The base design is easy: get one with a flared base. Since dildo play usually involves thrusting and/or grinding it's important to have something to keep the dildo from going all the way inside. While the flare is less of an issue on vibrators (because you hold onto them all the time), it is important for plugs and dildos.

The second safety point concerns materials. You're putting this toy in a very delicate region of your body, one that is separated from your bloodstream by a very thin mucous membrane that is set up to allow for easy transfer of stuff into the bloodstream. Not only is your rectum chemically delicate, it's also physically delicate and can be damaged easily (not to mention there being organs in close proximity that can be bruised). There's no doubt about it, safety for anal play goes beyond choosing a toy that won't get lost.

If you can afford it I highly recommend silicone. The advantages of silicone are many, and the drawbacks few. The short list of advantages: it's 100% bodysafe. There are no chemicals leaching into your body and the material is hypoallergenic and non-irritating. It's also nonporous and can be easily cleaned and sanitized, even between partners. Finally it's soft. Soft toys can follow the curves of the rectum without bruising or tearing. For those of you who are wondering, the drawbacks I have come across are the price (but remember it can last for life), the tendency of silicone toys to pick up lint (a quick rinse gets it off), the fact that water lubes often bead up (once you start using the toy the problem goes away), potential incompatibility with silicone lube (quality silicone toys used with quality silicone lube often do not have problems), and for some people the fact that silicone doesn't feel very real (if you want real-feel, try VixSkin or Tantus O2 - real-feel 100% silicone).

Less ideal, but still OK, are the TPR/TPE (thermoplastic rubber/elastomer) compounds. These are soft and they are phthalate-free (one of the chemicals in sex toys that many people are concerned about), but often the formulation is secret so there is a possibility that there is some compound in there that can cause problems.

If you don't get silicone then do use condoms. Condoms help keep any chemicals that might be in the toy away from your body. They also keep bacteria and other biological material out of porous materials (where it is difficult to clean them out).

Another option for the advanced player are the hard dildos and probes, made with stainless steel, glass, ceramics, wood, or hard plastics. Many of these are bodysafe, and most (with the exception of wood and some plastics) are nonporous and sanitizable. However they are stiff and unyielding, and unless you are familiar with your body it is much easier to injure yourself with one of these toys than with a soft silicone dildo. Don't get me wrong - a hard probe used right feels great and is fun, but you do need to know what you're doing.

Now that we have dealt with safety issues we can look at how the design of dildos can influence how well they work anally. Design is one of the areas where your individual taste and experience trumps any generalizations I can make, but I will attempt to discuss the major design elements (curve, head design, and texture) and how they interact with your body.

Curve

Straight toys suffer from several disadvantages when used anally. The main disadvantage is one of insertion: the rectum is curved, and a straight dildo can be harder to insert than one with a curve in it, as the dildo will tend to bump up against the walls and folds of the rectum. A curved dildo can be rotated slightly to ease its passage into a meandering rectum, but it may not have to be. The arc in a curved dildo means that it takes less force for the dildo to curve more as it works its way into a rectum. This is especially noticeable if the dildo is being used with a harness. The second advantage of a curved dildo is that it is easier to direct the stimulation to where it feels good, again it is very noticeable in harness use.

Heads

Whether or not you like a head on a dildo is a matter of personal choice. In my personal stash of favorite dildos I have some with heads and some without, but to be honest the dildos with heads outnumber the dildos without. I find that heads on dildos are nice for several reasons.

Heads on dildos increase internal stimulation. The wider diameter creates a spot of slightly increased pressure that feels very nice as it runs past sensitive spots inside. While headless dildos can be designed with curves that serve a similar function, a head does it pretty well and is simple.

Secondly, a head is a rangefinder. It provides a convenient mark on the dildo letting you know you're almost all the way out and you'd best think about changing direction. While a dildo's head isn't going to keep the toy inside during a hard and hot pegging session, it does help you to get a feel for how far you can thrust in and out before you start to go to town. This is true for hand-held dildoing as well - when you're getting warmed up you can use the head to see and feel when the dildo is almost out.

Lastly, dildos with heads often are tapered more at the tip than dildos without heads. A tapered tip can make initial insertion much easier than a dildo of equal size without a taper. This isn't a deal-breaker by any means, since warm-up with fingers or other toys can smooth the way for a blunt dildo, but it is something to consider.

The main point in favor of dildos without heads is that the head area puts extra girth on a dildo right at the tip, and if you're trying to work a dildo in without any warm up the extra width can make it a bit harder. This consideration is more important for newcomers to anal play or for people who are trying to push their limit, but it is something to consider. If you have adequate warm-up time and choose a dildo that doesn't push your limits too much I wouldn't consider the added girth a deal-breaker either. If you like the toy and you know you can take it than go for the head - often the benefits outweigh the little extra bump.

Texture

Texturing is another one of those characteristics that are very personal. Some people like heavy texturing, others like a little, others like a completely smooth dildo. Often people will sometimes like some texture but other times want a smooth ride. Looking at my favorite dildos some have a texture, others are smooth, so I'm definitely in that camp. Even though texturing is a matter of personal taste, there are some basic guidelines that are pretty much guaranteed to work.

The first of these is to start smooth. The anus and anal canal are very sensitive to texture, and it's easy to irritate them and make play painful. When your anus tenses up around a textured toy it can get irritated very fast, ruining an otherwise fun play session. For your first several dildos I strongly recommend getting something with a smooth finish to make it easier for you while you're still learning to relax your bottom and keep it relaxed. Once you have mastered the art of anal relaxation you might want to try a textured toy, but until then relax and enjoy the smooth road.

Once you have made the decision to try a textured toy there are many options to choose from, in both realistic and non-realistic flavors.

On the realistic end there are the over-realistic massive vein networks running up and down the side of some dildos, such as the Tantus Throb

through the more natural look (but still with noticeable veins) of others such as the Tantus Hank.
(pictures of Throb and Hank courtesy of Tantus, Inc)

You can also get dildos where only a portion of the shaft is textured, such as the Vixen Creations' Tex, which has a bit of texture near the head and then becomes smooth for the rest of the shaft. (Tex image courtesy of Vixen Creations)

On the non-realistic front there are even more options for texturing, from toys covered with small textures (such as the Whipspider Jellyfish), to toys with fewer, more pronounced ridges such as the Tantus Charmer or Fun Factory Tiger. Of the two types I personally prefer the larger ridges with fewer of them, since for me they seem to be easier on my anus. I also find, somewhat counter intuitively, that I feel them more as they pop out through my anus and work their way over my prostate. Texturing choices are very individual, and you might find that you prefer a different style. If you think you might like it, it's probably worth trying.
(Tiger image courtesy of Fun Factory)

Stiffness/Density

Stiffness or density is a difficult property to get a feel for unless you are holding the dildo in your hands for many reasons. The first is that few, if any, mail order companies give any concrete information about how stiff their toys are, and the second is that a toy becomes stiffer as the diameter increases even if it is made with the same material, so a dildo that's 2" in diameter will be much stiffer than a dildo made of the same material that's only 1-1/2" in diameter. The good news is that for a beginner density is not super important, you should just get something middle-of-the-road (most silicone dildos are medium density, except for some of the real-feel ones which are a bit softer). A toy that is too soft can be difficult to insert (especially if you're not warmed up) and hard to use for directed pressure (such as against the prostate/P-spot or G-spot). A toy that's too hard can poke, be uncomfortable or even bruise (though this is unlikely for flexible toys) if used incorrectly. Once you get a feel for your body and dildo play you can decide if you want to go harder or softer.

There are advantages to both stiffer and softer dildos for the more experienced player. Harder toys provide more stimulation of the internal organs, while softer toys follow the internal curves of the rectum more easily, making larger toys more comfortable.

Additionally, the density of the dildo material changes how the dildo feels when it is inserted. A stiffer material doesn't have any give when you clench your anus down on it, providing more of a "filled" feeling. A softer material (especially the real-feel materials) is a bit squishier, allowing you to clench around the dildo and feel it squeeze. Both are fun in my opinion, but you might prefer one sensation over the other. Note that the squishiness of a soft toy can make it easier to take a wider toy, whereas a stiff toy feels bigger than a soft toy of the same size.

(7) realistic vs non-realistic

As I said earlier, realistic vs non-realistic is primarily a matter of what you're comfortable with. If you're not mentally comfortable with a dildo, it will be harder to have a good time with it anally. That said, there are some points in favor of realistic design, and some points in favor of non-realistic design, generally speaking.
A realistic design gives you certain features that can feel good when used anally. Among them are the head. Having a head often makes a dildo feel better. It presses against things inside (such as the prostate if you have one), helps you keep the dildo inside, and sometimes provides a satisfying “snap” feeling on insertion. Many realistics have a curve, which is a definite plus for anal use. Realistics often have a bit of surface texture, which can be a plus if you can keep your anus relaxed and enjoy the stimulation.
Some realistics also have balls, which can provide a nice, strong handle for hand-held use.

Non-realistic dildos have the advantage that they don't have to look like anything in particular. Cylinders, squiggles, sea creatures - it's all O.K. This allows a designer with a knowledge of anatomy to come up with something that feels really good. The downside is that many don't have heads, and sometimes they're too gimmicky to be really good. Non-realistics are definitely worth a look, though, and there are many that are great for first dildos (such as the Vixen Smooth Operator and the Tantus Silk medium). Two of my favorite dildos are non-realistic: the Tantus Captain/Squirt and the Fun Factory Tiger.

Size

There is one major size commandment: Don't get a dildo that's too big around. It's hard to open up around a dildo, since they usually get big too fast, and you'll wind up with something that's uncomfortable and doesn't get used. At the same time I caution against getting a very small beginner's dildo, since you're more likely to outgrow it. I recommend you play with fingers and other toys (such as plugs) until you can comfortably take a dildo of about 1-1/4" diameter (4" circumference) - 1-1/2" in diameter (4-3/4" circumference). A toy this big around that is at least 5-1/2" in insertable length will serve you for a long time, especially if it's silicone, and allow for many different activities, from hand-held play to harness use.

Recommendations in a nutshell:

If you're looking for a first anal dildo, I'd recommend a smooth, moderate density silicone dildo of between 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" diameter with a curved shaft and flared base. If you think you might want to use it in a harness you should look for one with an insertable length of 5-1/2" or more. Whether it is realistic or non-realistic and whether or not it has a head is up to you.

Squirt and Captain back on Tantus' closeout page

2010-05-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

Good news! The Squirt (only in iridescent pink) and the Captain (only in black) have returned to the Tantus closeout page for only $24.99. If you can take a larger dildo (1-7/8" across, 5.33 circumference, 6-3/4" long) this is a great toy for anal or vaginal use. Get 'em while they're still around since Tantus has stopped making them.

I know it's been a while since there's been a "real" update, but I'd rather wait until the piece is good instead of posting junk, and things are busy now.

Carrie Ann talks about O2 vs VixSkin

2010-03-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

The next two articles (a series on pegging and at least one on prostate massagers) are taking much longer than expected, so here's a link to someone else's work: Carrie Ann at EdenFantasys has put together a YouTube video where she compares Vixen Creation's VixSkin to Tantus' O2, a head-to-head of the dual-density "real-feel" silicone materials so to speak.

See it here: http://www.edenfantasys.com/sex-toy-reviews/dildos/raquel-my-darling

Playing with longer toys - "How do I get it all the way in?"

2009-12-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

A reader recently sent me a question via e-mail:

Any advice on how to take a longer dildo? After 6 inches it becomes uncomfortable. Can you learn to take more or is this just the way it is? I assume it is the internal sphincter that is causing this?

Bottomtalk reader (identity kept confidential)

This is a great question. So much time is spent talking about anal relaxation and getting something through the "outer gates" that we often forget about the internal layout of the rectum and colon and the challenges this creates for using longer toys. If you're interested in why there's a problem, read on - if you just want the solution then scroll to the bottom of the page.

There are several parts of the anorectal anatomy that can cause problems for the anal erotic. The good news is that by the time you encounter them you'll have mastered the most difficult part (relaxing your anus), and you'll also have practice relaxing, which is one of the keys to successful play in the deeper, darker regions of your butt. Most of these problems can be solved through relaxation and trying a different angle.

You might notice your first difficulty once toys are inserted about 3-5 inches into your anus. This is where the middle and upper Houston's valves lie. While they can't close off the rectum entirely, when tensed they do project into the rectum somewhat, making it more difficult to insert a toy. The good news: once the toy gets in, the muscles are quick to relax and generally don't get into the way again. The best way to get past Houston's valves (if you have a problem) is taking a few deep breaths, relaxing, and combining short, gentle thrusts with wiggling the toy around. The upper valve is at about 5-6.5 inches inside the rectum. Just in case you were wondering, there is usually a lower Houston's valve. It's about 2" inside, but generally doesn't cause a problem with toys. As with many body things, though, this is variable - some people might have more than three Houston's valves, some may have none.

In the average person the rectum is about 4-1/2 to 5 inches long. Combine this with the anal canal (about one to 1-1/2 inches long) and a toy comes to the top of the rectum when it's been inserted about 5-1/2 to 6-1/2 inches. Sound familiar? Many people have problems at this point because there are several things going on once you hit the end of the rectum.

The reader noted the sphincter that lies at the junction between the rectum and the sigmoid colon, and this does need to be relaxed in order for toys to comfortably pass higher. It isn't nearly as strong as the anal sphincters, so it isn't as hard to get past. Slow massage with the tip of your toy works wonders. Do keep in mind that once you pass into the sigmoid colon you're much more likely to run into poop, though, so if that could be an issue (it's an issue if you're worried about it and not able to relax) you might want to consider taking an anal douche or enema first.

The other factor that causes problems with long toys is the general layout of the rectum. The rectum is best described as "slightly straight". There's a moderate bend right at the bottom where the rectum joins the anal canal, and from there the rectum straightens out until almost the top. At the top of the rectum the digestive tract takes a sharp, almost right angle bend where it joins with the sigmoid colon. While I haven't found an excellent picture that I have permission to post, this one from a public domain version of Grey's Anatomy (found courtesy of Wikipedia) shows the bend pretty well.

The good news is that the sigmoid colon is able to move around the pelvis very easily, so once you get a toy past the curve things usually rearrange themselves so that you can get a pretty good ride and still be comfortable.

If you just want the answer scroll to here!
How can you get a long toy comfortably inserted? There are several things you can do to get past these various obstructions, twists and turns.

If you're having problems with Houston's valves (difficulty at around 3-5 inches insertion), make sure that you get a toy with a thinner rounded tip. Relax and insert the toy as far as you can, then pull back a bit and start wiggling and thrusting. Once you get the toy past Houston's valves they usually relax very quickly, so you can start using a different toy if you want without worrying about how thin the tip is.

Once you reach the top of the rectum things get a little harder. You potentially need to negotiate the bend into the sigmoid colon and relax the third sphincter and at the same time. The first thing to look at is your toy. I find that a curved toy is invaluable for deep insertions, since it tracks the rectum and colon better than a straight toy. Sometimes a thinner, rounded end might help as well, but the curve is what helps me the most. For deep insertions I always use a soft toy (usually silicone), since there's less of a risk for injuring yourself - but you still need to be very careful when exploring your limits.

When I'm having difficulty with deep insertions (which is fairly often), I insert my toy as far as I can comfortably, usually it goes to the top of the rectum with ease. When it starts to bump into things I twist the base back and forth a bit (15-40 degrees), which causes the head of the toy to move around and line up with the next segment of the colon. I combine the twisting with gentle, short thrusting and short periods of rest to help relax the third sphincter and line everything up.

Usually I can bottom out on a 6-7" (insertable length) dildo within 2-5 minutes using this method. Once I'm bottomed out, I just let it sit up there for a couple minutes as everything rearranges itself. After that I can go to town and thrust as hard and fast as I want. There's only one other thing to keep in mind. Sometimes as I near orgasm the muscles in my pelvis start to contract and make it difficult to take the full length of the toy.
You can either back off a bit and open things up again, or simply accept a shorter insertion and ride on to orgasm.

After all this you may wonder why. After all, the anus and lower rectum feel pretty good when you play with them, and the prostate (if you have one) is only a few inches inside. Why try to put 5+ inches of toy up your bottom?
The anus and prostate feel great when they're stimulated, but deep inside there are other points that feel phenomenal when they're stimulated along with your anus and possibly prostate. It's worth a try if you're interested, believe me.
Enjoy yourself, but be safe - if it doesn't feel good, back off or stop.

Essay on Pegging (link)

2009-12-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

I was out trolling the electronic ocean when my rod started to bob up and down. A bite! Fortunately surfing the web is not at all like The Old Man and the Sea, and I was able to land Jason's essay "On Pegging" rapidly and entirely intact. There's plenty of good eating on this beast, too (intellectually speaking).

I had not come across Erosophilia before, but it seems to be a philisophical exploration of ideas, both sexual and non-sexual. "On Pegging" is, naturally, sexual, but it does not cover the materials and mechanics of the act. It is an exploration of why, an address on common fears (both acknowledged and subconcious), and an examination of the benefits that pegging can have.

All in all a good read, and I highly recommend it. See it here:
http://erosophia.blogspot.com/2009/09/on-pegging.html

Edit: Just after I posted this I was told that Jason has just posted his followup essay. The new essay addresses the genderplay that can come into pegging if the partners want it to. Link here:
http://erosophia.blogspot.com/2009/12/on-pegging-2-gender-play.html

November 17th Pleasurists

2009-11-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

Pleasurists is a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days.

Did you miss Pleasurists #53? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #55? Submit it here before Sunday November 22nd at 11:59pm PST. Please re-post this list on your own blog if listed.

Want to win some free swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Jimmyjane Massage Candle Giveaway Deadline: November 17th @ 5pm Eastern.

Happy Blogiversary to Me Contest! Deadline: November 18th.

The Big, Bad, Banner Contest – win some Njoy! Deadline: November 21 @ 11:59 pm.

Gender Carnival! Deadline: November 21st @ midnight Eastern.

ToyDemon.com Gift Certificate Giveaway Deadline: November 30th @ noon Eastern.

The S Spot Sexy Short Story Contest! Deadline: November 30th.

Luxury Sex Toy Scavenger Hunt Deadline: December 12th @ midnight Pacific.

Tons of Glass Contest! Deadline: December 27th @ 11:59 Eastern.

Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Editor’s Pick

LELO Ella by Victoria

People may have no idea just how much pleasure and perfect g-spot stimulation that unassuming hunk of silicone provides. (Those fools!)

Also, you may want to use Ella as a pretend phone, or let your other toys argue with your cats about it. Just a little suggestion of my own.

Note: While there were many wonderful reviews this week and the EP was a difficult choice I was won over by the wonderfully amusing and fantastic pictures that accompany this review. Talk bubbles, kitties, and attempts to use a sex toy as a phone (among other amusing antics) set the review apart while the text gives you more of the usual toy information. I love it.

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Evolved Flutter by Beautiful Dreamer

Thumbelina by N

The Eroscillator by Shay

Classic 7 Function Monkey by Amanda

The Wave by Amorous Rocker

Papaya Toys Candy Stick by Ashley

Vibratex Mystic Wand by EffinSara

i10 Dancer Salsa by Amy

Dildos

The Vamp by Beautiful Dreamer

Candy Colored Glass Dildo by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Don Wands Candy Cane by Scintillectual

The Vamp by Amber of DivergentDance

Tantus G-Force Wand by Toygirl

Anal Toys

Amber Plug by Cinnamon

Crystal Chic Wand by True Pleasures

Tantus Little Flirt by EffinSara

Toys for Cocks

SuccuDry Masturbation Sleeve by Shay

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Intimate Organics Cleansing Gel and Body Souffle by Wilhelmina Wang

System JO Anal Silicone Lube by ScottA

Strawberry Shortcake Body Butter by Eliot Bodem

B-Warm Massage Candle by Eliot Bodem

Babeland Massage Bar by Shay

Dr. Love Silkening Lube by Carrie Ann

Earthly Body Massage and Body Oil by Sexorcism

Intimate Organics Foot Foreplay Lotion by Carrie Ann

BDSM/Fetish

Heart Lock Collar by Mistress Kay

Chrome and Leather Crop by Undressed Reviews

Alligator Nipple Clamps by Wendy Blackheart

Leatherbeaten Dragon Silk Wrist Restraints by Laruel

Adult Books/Games

Best of thee Best Women’s Erotica by Amber of DivergentDance

Truth or Dare by Beautiful Dreamer

Truth or Dare: A Game of Passion by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Adult Movies/Porn

Courtney Trouble’s Seven Minutes in Heaven by Beautiful Dreamer

Midori’s Guide to Sensual Bondage by Beautiful Dreamer

Manuel Ferrara Does Them All! Vol. 2 – Disc One by The Porn Librarian

Ultra Flesh by FrzKey

Queer Manor by J.D. Bauchery

Love On the Highway by The Porn Librarian

Belladonna’s Strapped Dykes (Disc 1) Scene 1 by J.D. Bauchery

The 8th Day by Eliot Bodem

Lingerie

Liberator Personal Secretary by Sinclair Sexsmith

Darque Nurse by Beautiful Dreamer

Coquette Polka-dot Mesh Corset by Sleeping Dreamer

Bondage Bettie by True Pleasures

Storage

Tunti Illuminating Boudoir Toybox by Undressed Reviews

Miscellaneous

Pjur Med Clean by Undressed Reviews

Talking Sheep Love Doll by Tales From the Porn Store

JimmyJane Indulgences Set by Sammi

The Ultimate Sex Bookshelf

2009-11-15T14:22:00.000-08:00

While sex is a learn-by-doing activity, there's no denying that good information is important. Through books and other media you can learn how to do something you're interested in trying, learn how to do something you already do better, and be exposed to new ideas and activities that you might like to try out.

There are many sources of information in the modern world, but this post is going to deal with books, both print and E-books (don't worry, a future post will deal with the top web resources). I'm going to post a few of what I think are the top books and why, and I'd invite you to put your favorites (and why, please) in the comments. The recommendations don't have to be confined to anal, either - feel free to post all of your favorite books (please give the subject, though - for instance anal, oral, general sexuality, etc.)

I'll start with my favorite anal books, both because this is an anal-themed site and because it's the easiest category for me to find my favorites.

My Favorite Anal books:

The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women
Tristan Taormino. San Francisco: Cleis Press, 1998.

Yes, the title says that this is the ultimate guide for woman, but this is a great guide for anyone who is interested in anal activities, whether or not you have experience. Tristan covers pretty much everything with enough detail to enable someone who's interested to give that activity a try. Don't worry guys- even though the title says it's for women, Tristan covers the anal possibilities that the male anatomy affords, including the prostate. Fingers, fists, tongues, toys, pegging - whatever you're interested in is probably in here, and everything's covered tastefully so if you come across something you're not interested in trying you won't be grossed out. The book is illustrated with line drawings that are only as explicit as they need to be, so if you're avoiding pornography this book is probably OK. There are some quotations from erotica and interviews that Tristan has printed in here, but they're set off in block quotes and italics or boxes so they're easy to skip if you don't want to read them.

Anal Pleasure and Health, 3rd edition.
Jack Morin, Ph.D. San Francisco: Down There Press, 2008

This is a fantastic book, the only problem is finding it, since print runs seem to be small and it sells out fast.

It's a big book, with 275 pages that take you on a journey to discover your anus and the pleasure that you can get from it. The main idea of this book is that we can't just dive into anal activities and attempt to enjoy them, rather we need to be psychologically and physically ready, and any attempt to force the process can lead to pain and damage. If you're new to anal eroticism get this book. If you're experienced, get it anyway. Morin does not stop at exploring the sexual possibilities of the anus, but he also covers the health benefits of managing anal tension. You'll probably want another resource to cover the tips and tricks of the various anal-erotic activities, but Anal Plasure and Health is a great resource on getting to know your ass and getting ready to have fun down there.

Cunnilingus:

Both of these books are targeted towards those with less experience, but they are pretty good if you're new to going down or need to improve your techniques.

The Lowdown on Going Down
Marcie Michaels. New York : Broadway Books, 2005.

Marcie stuffs a lot into this book, everything from pre-head exercises to make sure your mouth is in tiptop shape to tricks to toss it up a bit.

She Comes First
Ian Kerner. New York : ReganBooks, 2004.

If this book were merely about going down, it probably wouldn't make it in this list. What sets it apart is the additional information on female sexual anatomy and response.

I'll probably add more books later. Please tell your nominees for the Ultimate Sex Bookshelf!

There's another thread on this that I posted on the Edenfantasys' Forums pages. Read the contributions of the EF group at http://www.edenfantasys.com/sex-forum/lounge/blogs/ultimate-sex-bookshelf/

New anal douche/enema system from StreemMaster

2009-11-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: StreemMaster sent me a StreemMaster Mini to review. The review is posted here on Bottomtalk

I was trolling around on the 'net and noticed that Callow Innovations, the makers of the StreemMaster douche setup that AveryDragon reviewed, has introduced a new bulb douche/enema setup. Unfortunately it's not silicone (the shower mounted StreemMaster is), but it is much cheaper, under US$20, and it looks really well designed. The product page is at the StreemMaster website, but I had some more questions so I e-mailed them.

I recieved a nice response from Callow Innovations that answered all my questions. I thought about paraphrasing it, but then decided why not quote it?

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your email and the posts.

The Mini Douche is a product we've designed from a clean sheet of paper.

The bulb is 11oz and is made of Medical Grade PVC so it's latex and Phthalate free. We engineered it to have a very secure virtually water tight connection with the nozzle without the need for a rubber o-ring or seal.

Our large adapter insert (this is what the nozzles crew into on the bulb) uses a standard NPT thread so you can even use it with any fetish nozzle that attaches to a shower hose.

The large diameter of this opening makes it easy to fill the bulb under the tap or by pouring your favourite solution from a bottle, no need to use suction to draw in the water. This also allows you to fill it to the top which makes the device significantly more effective. The other benefits are in hygiene, where the unit is easy to wash out and air dry.

Both nozzles are the same nozzles on the StreemMaster kit. The comfort nozzle is made of medical grade PE a high grade plastic that won't shatter but will bend. It's called the comfort nozzle because of our "very rounded" tip which ensures that the anus doesn't catch on the inside of the nozzle reducing the likelihood of little tears and scratches which can cause bleeding. It also has a reverse taper allowing you to squeeze down with your sphincter on it and hold it in position.

All our nozzles have large water flow paths allowing easy irrigation and quick cleaning.

The unit stands quite secure upright on the base. We recently launched this product in Europe and we are pleased to so say that the feedback is unanimous, and this is that the Mini is the best made/designed syringe douche on the market.

I hope this is helpful, please contact me if you have more questions.

Best regards,

Stephen Callow, President

Callow Innovations Inc.
35-2 Thorncliffe Park Drive
East York, Ontario
M4H 1H2

Office (416) 429-0006

The nozzles do look very comfortable, and I like both the capacity (11 fluid ounces) and the fact that it's easy-clean and stands upright on the bulb.

System JO Personal Anal Silicone Lubricant - sponsored by System JO.

2009-11-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

It’s been quite a while, but I’m back to working on the paraben-free lubes tests.

System JO was kind enough to send me a handful of their “System JO Anal” lubes, both water-based and silicone-based. Since the water-based lube has parabens in it, I concentrated on the System JO Anal Silicone Personal Lubricant.

First the disclaimer: I haven’t tried vary many silicone lubes. All of the silicone lubes I’ve tried so far have been thin: great for vaginal sex and handjobs, OK for sliding a finger or two in the behind, but too thin for any serious anal work. The System JO Anal Silicone is noticeably thicker than the other silicone lubes I’ve tried, but as it traveled 8.5cm in the timed viscosity tests it isn’t nearly as thick as Maximus or Boy Butter.

What System JO Anal Silicone lacks in viscosity it makes up for in slickness and coating ability. It's much slicker than water or oil-based lubes. In the hand test, 1.25cc (half the usual amount) of System JO Anal Silicone lube lasted for over 10 minutes. It also coats well, resisting beading up on glass and silicone surfaces. Unfortunately there are some situations (such as large toys/objects) where nothing can replace a thick lube, and in these situations System JO Anal Silicone doesn't work as well as a truly thick lube.

System JO Anal Silicone lubricant is a 100% pure silicone lube. All of its ingredients are silicones (in the case of System JO Anal Silicone they are inorganic siloxanes). While this is an indicator of quality, it also brings up the silicone toys and silicone lubes question.

Silicone lubes are generally not recommended for silicone toys. There is a concern that the silicones in the lube will bond to the surface of the silicone on the toy, resulting in a gummy and generally yucky coating on the toy. This was taken as gospel until several companies (headed by Tantus) checked it out and determined that many high-quality silicone toys work OK with high-quality silicone lubes. With this in mind, I tested two of my toys (Tantus and Fun Factory dildos) with the System JO Anal Silicone lube. Neither toy sustained permanent damage. The Tantus dildo developed a “welt” where the lubricant was applied, but this went away after a day. The Fun Factory toy did not show any reaction at all. I did notice that the silicone lube just didn’t seem to be as slick on a silicone toy as it was on a glass toy, though – indeed, I found myself going back to Probe Thick and Rich in the middle of a session with my Tiger. If you want to use System JO Anal on silicone toys, you’re best off using a condom. In any event, it is strongly recommended that no silicone lubes be used with the silicone “real-feel” materials such as Vixen VixSkin and Tantus O2, as these are more likely to bond to the lube.

System JO Silicone Anal had no problem on glass toys, evenly lubricating my tested glass plug (Doc Johnson Sexy Spades Large) for both insertion and removal several hours later. It also worked very well on skin, although it isn't quite thick enough for a good fisting lube.

The bugaboo of silicone lubes is cleanup. I had difficulty removing the lube from the Fun Factory Tiger that I used as a test dildo. Knowing the reputation of silicone lubes for messing up cloth, I was extremely careful to not get any on clothes or bedding, so I can’t speak on removing silicone from fabrics. Full-strength dishwashing liquid repeated several times worked OK on the silicone toy, and wiping off the glass toys thoroughly with a paper towel before washing helped cleanup immensely. Rubbing with a towel also helps remove the lube from skin, as silicone lubes do like to stick around and give the “lubed buns” feeling. Washing with full-strength dishwashing liquid or shampoo after wiping with a paper towel seems to be the best cleanup option.

In conclusion System JO Silicone Anal lube is pretty good. It hasn't become my first lube choice because of its difficulty with cleanup, slightly runnier consistency, and my lingering unease about using it on silicone toys, but I'm glad I have some. You can find it directly from System JO or at a local or mail-order reseller.

7 out of 10 stars.

My buisiness relationships...

2009-10-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to write anything really interesting recently (but that should change soon...), so I thought I'd clarify my business relationships that concern Bottomtalk, especially since there are now more links up on the site to manufacturers and retailers.

I do not get paid for anything in money, period. I admit I've thought about it, but it seemed to be a bit too commercial. I don't do this to make money, and I'd rather retain my feeling of impartiality. There aren't any kickbacks from manufacturers for reviews, links, or people who buy something after clicking through a link from Bottomtalk. I do accept free or discounted products for review, but there is no agreement for a good review. Most of my contributed products come from the Edenfantasys review program (OK, all), but I'm definitely open to other offers. The links on the side are in alphabetic order, as are the blog links on the bottom.

Most of the Bottomtalk reviews are good. This is generally for two reasons: firstly, I tend to choose products that I like when I buy them, and secondly some of the reviews are of products that I've already reviewed for Edenfantasys. Since it's much more fun to re-test and write a second review of products that I like, I tend to choose products that I know I like.

Safe and convienient shower-mounted douche/enema

2009-10-03T18:05:00.001-07:00

AveryDragon did an excellent review of a good looking product - the Streem Master Anal Douche system. It's a shower mounted anal douche/enema setup, but it uses a collection reservoir that makes it easy to install. It's also safer, since the pressure is limited to what gravity can produce, and the water in the funnel reservoir helps to buffer any changes in water pressure that might happen from someone turning on a tap/toilet/washer somewhere else in the house.

This is the first such system that I've seen, and the first shower-mounted system I'd feel comfortable using.

One note - in light of recent research into bacterial growth in showerheads you might want to run the shower for a few seconds before hanging up the StreemMaster to clear out anything that might be calling your showerhead home.

Read the full review (and see his demonstration video (not pornographic)) on his blog at http://averydragon.blogspot.com/2009/08/time-to-clean-up-captain.html

Pleasurists Review list

2009-09-30T14:51:00.001-07:00

via latexfetishheels

Pleasurists is a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days from bloggers all around the sex blogosphere. Did you miss Pleasurists #46? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #48? Submit it here before Sunday September 27th at 11:59pm PDT. Please re-post this list on your own blog if listed.

Want to win some free swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Giveaway: Hard Love and How to Fuck in High Heels Deadline: September 25th.

Our First Contest Deadline: Sunday Sept. 27th 12 AM.

Top Five Tuesday – Win 1000 FREE Porn Minutes Deadline: Tuesday September 29th.

Madame Editrix

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Hitachi Magic Wand by namelesschaos

Treeze Wave by Carrie Ann

Sinnflut Benjamin Bond by Carrie Ann

Epona by ScottA

Papaya Toys Rainbow by Toygirl

Je Joue SaSi by Amber from Scarlet’s Letter

Doc Johnson Wish-Bone by Lexi B.

Fun Factory Patchy Paul by Femme Mystique

Petite Couture Silhouette by Femme Mystique

White Nova Bottle Rocket by Carnivalesq

Trinity 10-Speed Vibrating Egg by Domina Doll

Water Dancer by Arron Leone

Dildos

Tantus Alumina Motion by Beautiful Dreamer

Leo by Carrie Ann

Pink Bent Graduate by Carrie Ann

Thrust by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Njoy Fun Wand by Undressed Reviews

Leo by Carnivalesq

Jackhammer Jesus by Domina Doll

Timber Wolf by Domina Doll

Anal Toys

Cody by AveryDragon

Nobessence Romp by Beautiful Dreamer

Toys for Cocks

Fun Factory Loverings by Melen’s Rayne

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Intimate Organics Hydra by The Duchess

Intimate Organics Hydra by Adriana

Swede Fruity Massage Oil by Carrie Ann

Sliquid Sassy by Saraid

BDSM/Fetish

Vampire Gloves by Red

Strict Leather Suede Flogger by Beautiful Dreamer

Zeus Electrosex Power Box by Red

Japanese Drip Candles by Sommer Marsden

Rainbow Nights Paddle by Melen’s Rayne

Spartacus Black and Blue Strap Whip by Melen’s Rayne

Sportsheets Impressions Paddle “Slut” by Melen’s Rayne

Tantric Satin Ties Wrist Cuffs by Femme Mystique

Pipedream Nipple Clamps by Melen’s Rayne

Adult Books

Female Ejaculation and the G-spot by Adriana

Tristan Taormino’s Opening Up by Red

Adult Movies/Porn

Drill Baby Drill by The Porn Librarian

Dark Angels 2 by FrzKey

Autopilot Volume 1 – Dana Dearmond by The Porn Librarian

Crash Pad Series – Episode 22: Brett & Ian by J.D. Bauchery

Strip Bowling by J.D. Bauchery

Sex Furniture

Liberator Cube by Red

Fetish Pleasure Pad by Undressed Reviews

Miscellaneous

Babeland Toy Cleaner by Melen’s Rayne

Vegan Commando Harness by Femme Mystique

The Epona will hook you - Sponsored by Edenfantasys

2009-09-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

image courtesy of Shots Media

The Epona G-Spot vibrator is a mid-sized insertable G-spot vibe, 1-3/8” in diameter and with a working length of 4-1/4” (the additional 2” is for the plastic battery cover and speed control). The material is silicone and plastic (the insertable portion has a soft silicone covering, but the vibrator housing is hard plastic), and it's phthalates-free and body-safe. There's a slight ridge down the middle where the mold separates, but it's not noticeable during use. The Epona has been tested (and rated pretty highly) before for vaginal/G-spot use (see Hotflashes & Wetdreams' review on Edenfantasys here), but I was wondering how well it would work as a prostate toy. Happily, Edenfantasys approved my request to review it.

Since the prostate is generally 2-3” inside the anus the Epona's 4-1/4” of insertable length is more than enough to reach and stimulate the P-spot, and the 1/2” projection at the tip (combined with the dual-AAA powered vibrator) looked like it was just the thing to buzz me to the moon. Since most of the vibrator is silicone it is body-safe and sanitary, and offered the additional option of G-spot use by my partner. The vibrator is sealed, and while I don't think it's recommended for prolonged underwater use it's sufficiently watertight for shower fun and easier cleaning.

image courtesy of Shots Media

The Epona is pretty easy to use if you keep a few things in mind. Insertion is made much easier by “hooking” it in – insert the tip with the vibrator sideways, then rotate the Epona to slowly slide it in and expand the anus. If you don't do this, your bottom is confronted by a blunt and somewhat uncomfortable tip measuring 1-3/4” across the long way. Once it's inserted you should always have someone's hand holding it. The Epona has a slight bulge at the far end, making it unlikely that it would be “sucked” into the rectum because of anal contractions (over the past month I haven't had any problems with it sliding out or in on its own), but there isn't anything to prevent it from being pushed all the way inside. Since the Epona is a vibrator it could get uncomfortable if it were fully inserted.

The Epona comes with two ways to figure out which way the tip is pointed. There's a crown embossed on the side of the silicone, but during the heat of passion it can be difficult to remember if it is on the right or the left side. The second way of figuring out which side is the front is by feeling for the control button. If you are careful when you put in the batteries the button is on the “front” (hook side) of the toy – but if not it can be somewhere else. The good news is that you don't really have to worry about this too much. The Epona is good at staying put. It doesn't spin around easily and it doesn't tend to slide in or out much. It's good at staying put and delivering vibrations exactly where you put it – and I heartily approve of this sort of couch potato behavior in many sex toys.

The included vibrator is quite powerful, and the two AAA batteries give it a long run time. Shots Media calls the design an “ultrasonic motor”, and though I'm not entirely sure what this means I can tell you that it's powerful and quiet. Quiet enough that you don't have to worry about someone in the hall hearing it buzz – especially if you're using it under covers. Under covers you might even be able to get away with using it while your roommate is in the room.

Cleanup with the Epona is reasonably easy, but has a few tricks. The Epona's waterproof and silicone construction makes things much easier than on some other vibrators, but the fact that the vibrator is permanently attached makes things a bit difficult. During use stuff can build up between the vibrator body and battery cap, requiring the use of a damp towel to clean (after the battery cap is removed), being careful to not get the inside of the vibrator wet. Since the vibrator portion is not removable from the silicone sleeve sterilization is also complicated somewhat – boiling and dishwasher methods are out, but you can spray it with 10% bleach solution when the battery cover is on and sealed. It's probably best not to soak the Epona in a bleach bath, though. If I were sharing this toy with partners of unknown STI status I'd certainly use a condom just to be on the safe side, because of the nooks and crannies.

And now for the question on everyones' minds: how well does it work anally?

It works very well.

The tip that is designed to stimulate the G-spot when used vaginally preforms admirably on the prostate. At first I tried to figure out exactly how I should position the vibrator to have the tip pressed up against my P-spot. I abandoned that idea pretty fast. It wasn't that it was hard to position the Epona, it was that I came up with something much better.

Sliding the Epona a bit further in caused the tip to slip around the top of my prostate. Having my prostate cradled by a buzzing vibrator was a new experience, but a very good one. Actually, scratch “very good one” and substitute “WOW”. A “WOW” that I enjoyed for at least 20 minutes. Part of the reason that the Epona was so enjoyable is that it has strong vibrations and it does a good job of transmitting those vibrations along its length, from the bottom of the silicone to the end of its crooked tip, stimulating and exciting everything from my anus to the top of my P-spot. With a slight wiggling of the Epona or tensing of my anus I was able to vary the sensations I was getting, providing even more fun. After the first session I came back for many more 15-20 minute sessions with the Epona.

Fortunately, the Epona seems to be built to last. The only casualty was the included “heavy duty” batteries, which started to leak after the second session. Fortunately I checked during the third session, and was able to get them out before the insides corroded – since it doesn't look like the Epona has a replaceable vibrator.

I'm not sure what to make of the 10 different vibration settings. I have a problem with “getting lost” when there are too many different settings, but the Epona is potent enough to where a number of the fancy programs do feel quite nice. I still get lost in the settings, but wandering through them feels so nice that I don't mind too much. To help make sense of them I'm posting a scan of the page from the Epona's user's guide where they graphically represent the vibration levels.

My final rating for the Epona vibrator is 4 out of 5 stars (8/10). It feels great and works well, the only things knocking it down are the difficulty in cleaning and the fact that you can't replace the vibrator.

Epona G-spot vibrator by Shots media Material: Silicone Safety: $55.99 Buy from EdenFantasys
Rating:	Vroom:	Bee:

Pleasurists Review list

2009-09-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

via allinone

Pleasurists is a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days from bloggers all around the sex blogosphere. Did you miss Pleasurists #45? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #47? Submit it here before Sunday September 20th at 11:59pm PDT. Please re-post this list on your own blog if listed.

Want to win some free swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Contest: Win an Njoy Pure Wand! Deadline: September 16th, 2009 at Midnight Eastern.

Nipplecharms.com Giveaway! Deadline: September 19, 2009 Midnight CST.

Giveaway: Hard Love and How to Fuck in High Heels Deadline: September 25th.

Top Five Tuesday – Win 1000 FREE Porn Minutes Deadline: Tuesday September 29th.

Madame Editrix

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Editor’s Pick

G-Twist by Shanna Germain

The battery housing is slightly confusing — you have to press the sides in really hard in order to open it (I struggled with it for so long, I thought about asking my neighbor for help, but since I’ve not said anything more to him than “hello” and “oh, it’s really okay that your dog barked all night long, no worries,” I figured that showing up at his doorstep with a pseudo-cock, a couple of batteries and a helpless look wasn’t the world’s best idea).

Editor’s Note: While there have been a lot of G-Twist reviews lately from all the new GoodVibes Brand Ambassadors I think this one far surpasses the others (including my own). Not to say the others are bad, perish the thought, but just because this one actually made me smile at times and even chuckle at others.

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Fun Factory G-Twist by Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Better Than Chocolate by True Pleasures

Hitachi Magic Wand by toywithme

Wonder Massager by Domina Doll

Hitachi Magic Wand by Undressed Reviews

Couture Collection – Enchanted by Eliot Bodem

G-Twist by Beautiful Dreamer

LELO Gigi by Sexorcism

LELO Nea by Eliot Bodem

LELO Mia by Alpine Subdreams

LELO Gigi by Beautiful Dreamer

Mini Wanachi Massager by Domina Doll

Evolved French Kiss by Laurel

Delight by Domina Doll

Dildos

Alumina Revolve by Eliot Bodem

RubyGlass21 Princess by Alpine Subdreams

Dai Do #1 by Carnivalesq

Tantus Captain/Squirt by ScottA.Reviews

Anal Toys

Tantus Bronco by Red

Flexi Felix by Undressed Reviews

Aluminum Mini by Alley

Toys for Cocks

Jack Master by Sex Toy Blog

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Inttimo Romance Aromatherapy Massage and Bath Oil by Sarah Estrella

Afterglow Candle: Cucumber Water by AveryDragon

Hot Stuff Warming Oil by The Duchess

Sliquid H2O by Melen’s Rayne

Discover G-Spot Gel by Ansley Agnello

BDSM/Fetish

Under the Bed Restraint System by Essin’ Em

Vacuum Cupping Set by Domina Doll

Under the Bed Restraints by Arron Leone

Adult Books

Opening Up by Thursday’s Child

Healing Sex by Nadia West

Sue Johanson’s Sex, Sex, and More Sex by Domina Doll

Adult Movies/Porn

Champion by Undressed Reviews

The Opening of Misty Beethoven by Domina Doll

Behind The Green Door – The Sequel by J.D. Bauchery

Her Porn Volume 1 – Disc 1 – Scene 2 by The Porn Librarian

Girls with Guns by FrzKey

Raw Live Cams by J.D. Bauchery

The Intern by FrzKey

Sex Furniture

Zeppelin Cocoon by Carnivalesq

Lingerie

Polka Dot Mesh Corset by Beautiful Dreamer

Miscellaneous

Pjur Med Clean Wipes by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Babeland Toy Cleaner by Beautiful Dreamer

Streem Master Anal Douche System by AveryDragon

Leopard Duotone Balls by Alley

Fun Factory Teneo Uno by Sexorcism

Nipplecharms.com by The Duchess

Tickling Bra by Dollfacekilla

The Tantus Captain/Squirt, a big and highly stimulating dildo

2009-09-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

For many months now I have been meaning to write a review of the Tantus Captain/Squirt dildo. Its curves and girth have been giving me pleasure for almost 10 months now, yet I'm only just getting around to writing up my review. The Captain and Squirt are the same dildo, the distinction in names is just a remnant of the days when Tantus offered their “Toys for Boys” line, a set of toys designed to appeal to men. Some of these were separate designs (such as the General), others used the same molds as some of Tantus’ other offerings, but were cast in black and red.

I picked up a red Captain direct from Tantus for about $28 after shipping was factored in, and have been a happy user for nine months now.

Irresistible force. That's the description that kept going through my mind for this big, girthy, smooth dildo while I was planning this review. Sporting 6-1/2” (insertable) of almost 2” in diameter (1-7/8”) silicone, the Squirt is undoubtedly a large dildo, but it's an accessible large dildo – one that an intermediate anal player can use and enjoy. Absolutely smooth, the Squirt is almost an extra-large Silk, with a twist – or perhaps a kink. Set on its base, the Squirt leans forward, ready for action, looking somewhat like a question mark in racer's starting blocks. The curve that gives it a quizzical look is one of the keys to its pleasure potential. These twists harness the thrusts of the Squirt and translate them into strong stimulation for your P- or G/A spots – multiple times per thrust.

Used anally, the Squirt is both gentle and yet quite aggressive. It’s gentleness comes from the smooth surface. Once you get it inside, there’s nothing to poke or rub – provided that you’ve used enough lube. Its aggressiveness comes from the bumps. Once it gets into your ass it finds your prostate and goes after it over and over. If you’re using the Captain vaginally, the same delicious bumps go after your G and A spots. In either case, the size of the Squirt means that whatever spot you’re going after will have a hard time hiding.

I think I might do a video bit at some point to show the action of the Squirt during thrusting, because it’s the first time I’ve seen a dildo with a design this dynamic. When you thrust in, the curves of the Squirt drive the tip up against the prostate. This isn’t merely a dildo that’s easy to point at your favorite spot, either – it works to channel the force of the thrust into force up against the prostate or G-spot. With every thrust of the Squirt you get stimulated twice – when you bottom out there’s another bump just where your prostate is. One thrust, two pleasure shocks. If you're using the Squirt vaginally the same design feature causes intense G-spot stimulation.

There’s another trick up the Squirt’s sleeve, too. If you insert it a little more than halfway up the first curve you can rock it back and forth, driving the tip up against the prostate or G-spot. Great for “milking” (where you stimulate the prostate until prostatic fluid starts to leak out without an orgasm). I don’t like milking all the time, but once and a while it’s fun. The bad news is that there isn’t quite enough length to the top bit to “milk” the A-spot, but vaginally it does reach the G-spot, where it can work its magic equally well

Excluding the curves the surface of the Squirt is completely smooth. A smooth dildo is often a positive for anal use, as texturing can create a bit too much sensation at the anus if you're really thrusting hard. There's no such problem with the Squirt. Stimulation there is aplenty, but it's mostly inside. You can feel the smooth silicone slide through your anus, but I've never had a problem with either irritation or anal overstimulation.

I'm a big fan of curved dildos for anal use. Not only do they improve the stimulation (both for the prostate and also for other internal organs), but they also make it easier to insert the dildo completely – especially when the dildo is a long one. The Squirt's curve makes it easy to enjoy full penetration, but sadly contributes to two downsides to the product. First, the angled head combined with the Squirt's large diameter makes it a little difficult to insert the first time, especially if you haven't warmed up with other toys. Secondly, the Squirt has a tendency to rotate during use. This is both a blessing and a curse – it's nice to have the tip of the dildo stimulate new areas, but it's also a bit annoying to have to twist the Squirt back where you want it. Fortunately Tantus makes it easy to tell where the Squirt's head is pointing. The embossed Tantus logo on the base is at the “back” side of the Squirt (the side away from the curve), so you can quickly tell by sight or feel which way the tip is pointing. Most of the time the rotation isn't a big deal since a firm grip will keep it in place, but the twisting can become annoying if you're using the Squirt in a harness, especially one that holds the dildo loosely.

While the base is more substantial than that used on the first-generation Tantus dildos (such as early Silks or the first-edition Compact/Sport/Luxury), it's still a bit small for a dildo of this size, and the Squirt would undoubtedly benefit from the beefier, oblong base Tantus is putting on their new dildos. For harness use, the Squirt works best in a tightly-fitting harness that holds it firmly- both to help prevent twisting, and to minimize the specter of dildo impotence. While Squirt fits in our Aslan Wonder Woman harness, it can’t be described as “perky” by any stretch of the imagination. The tighter, dildo-to-skin contact of our Sportsheets Latigo Leather harness (without the pad) held the Squirt at attention. During use we needed to readjust the Squirt's direction every once and a while, but not too often. At 1-7/8” in diameter you'll probably have to invest in a larger O-ring to hold the Squirt. It's worth it, though – the Squirt is as marvelous in a harness as it is in a hand.

The Captain ready for action in an Aslan Wonder Woman harness. Configured for doggy-style pegging (the tip points down for maximum prostate stimulation).

Since the Squirt is 100% silicone, it's completely bodysafe, compatible with a large variety of lubes - oil, water, and even some of the highest-quality silicone lubes (but do test first, just in case). Once you're done it can be cleaned with soap and water, and if you want to sterilize it (either from personal choice, or because you're moving between partners or orifices) you can bleach or boil it without any risk. This flexibility (combined with the physical flexibility of the material) makes 100% silicone my favorite sex-toy material.

Sadly, this is not simply a review, it's a eulogy as well. Tantus discontinued the Captain at the end of last year, and they recently discontinued the Squirt as well, moving it onto the “closeout items” page. Time to hang the black crepe on the toybox... The good news is that you can now get either a Captain (red) or a Squirt (in shiny purple) for only $22 + shipping, and Metis says that they have quite a few still in stock. I heartily recommend going to www.tantusonline.com to get some cut-rate bliss, even if it's only for your toy “hope chest”. Practice and relax, and you'll be enjoying the Squirt in no time.

Tantus Squirt/Captain: 9 out of 10
Pros: Highly stimulating, many ways to use this toy. The curves and size make this a phenomenal prostate or G-spot stimulator, either hand-held or in a harness.

Cons: The base is a bit weak for the size of the toy. The curve at the head makes anal insertion a bit difficult

12/01/2010 -
Bad News:

The Captain/Squirt has been absent from Tantus' pages for a couple of months now, and I fear that that means that we've seen the last of them unless Tantus decides to start making them again. It's a pity, as it is a very nice dildo design, but Metis says that it didn't sell well. If you want a large, stimulating, non-realistic dildo you might want to look at the Vixen Astro. It's not as stiff and there is some texture, but all in all I'm highly impressed with my model.

Interested in prostate stimulation? Try a G-Spot vibe!

2009-09-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

The latest butt toy I'm reviewing for Edenfantasys isn't available in black or red, doesn't have the no-nonsense "I'm going to make you come hard so you might as well cooperate" male sex toy look, and doesn't even make a mention of the prostate anywhere.

It's a purple, swirly, silicone G-spot vibrator. Not super feminine, but definitely not the sort of thing designed to be carried by the manly man set.

That's no reason to not consider it, though. G-spot vibrators are great for prostate play, especially when they're made of silicone. Most G-spot vibes are powered by AA or AAA batteries, which makes them pretty potent and definitely long-lasting, and they're long enough to easily reach (and in some cases wrap around) the prostate, giving great sensations. Not only that, but they can be used (after cleaning) as a G-spot vibrator if you or your partner is so equipped.

Since these are hand held, you are in control of how much pressure is put on your prostate, and since they pack a powerful punch as vibrators you don't need to worry about mastering how to use the toy for best effect, like you need to with the Aneros or Nexus products.

G-spot vibes don't entirely replace purpose-designed prostate toys, but they're a great way to try out prostate play, since there are many other uses and they're often a bit less expensive than some of the more advanced options.

Even if you do have a Aneros or Bad Boy you might still want a G-spot vibe. They're often quite powerful and can be used for thrusting play as well as stationary play.

I'm certainly glad I got one.

Keep posted for the full review of my Epona G-Spot vibrator soon. If you want to see the specs, you can find it here at Edenfantasys

The comment settings are now right!

2009-09-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

I'm slowly learning the ropes of the blogspot setup, and I found the selection that limits comments to registered users. Knowing the nature of this blog, I suspect there are people out there with questions or comments who don't necessarily want to register, so they couldn't leave comments before.

I fixed that. Comment away.

Dangerouslilly is giving an opportunity to win a nJoy wand!

2009-09-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Lilly, of DangerousLilly.com, is giving away an Njoy Pure Wand courtesy of EdenFantasys! The Pure Wand is a high-quality stainless steel double-ended dildo for either G-spot stimulation or prostate stimulation. It is 24 ounces of solid medical grade stainless steel, and polished to a mirror shine. Lilly loves her Pure Wand and wants to spread the love to one lucky winner!

To enter the contest just visit her blog to find out the rules and entry methods. You can enter even if you don’t have a blog, it’s easy! The contest deadline is September 16th, 2009, at Midnight Eastern Standard Time.

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My comments: Many people already know about the nJoy toys, both their excellent Pure Plug series and their wand series. They're highly polished steel, and an object of desire for many people. The Pure Wand is the sort of toy that anyone can enjoy - it's great anally or vaginally, and really does a number on the G-spot, prostate, or whatever sensitive bit it encounters. I really wish I had one, but finances have not made that possible...maybe someday.

There are many ways to enter, you don't need to have any sort of blog or Twitter account, so go over there and put your name in the hat! Even if you don't want it you can make someone's day - heck, you could even send it to me.

Last August Pleasurist list

2009-09-02T09:29:00.001-07:00

Pleasurists is a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days from bloggers all around the sex blogosphere. Did you miss Pleasurists #43? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #45? Submit it here before Sunday August 30th at 11:59pm PDT. Please re-post this list on your own blog if listed.

Want to win some free swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Get Creative and Win! Deadline: September 4, 2009.

One Year Anniversary Contest! Deadline: September 4, 2009 11:59pm Eastern.

BBG’s Big Bad Contest Deadline: September 11, 2009.

BBG’s Big Bad Contest- The Grand Fucking Prize Deadline: September 12, 2009.

Anal Pleasure Kit Contest Deadline: September 14th.

Top Five Tuesday – Win 1000 FREE Porn Minutes Deadline: Tuesday September 29th.

Madame Editrix

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Editor’s Pick

Fresh Chain Leash by AveryDragon

Humiliation on its own seems petty and mean; this I do admit. However, humiliation is the key for lust and passion when the person being humiliated secretly enjoys it. [...] Fresh uses bright pastel colors that a guy might get his girl to ease her into the idea of BDSM by showing it can be cute but still strong. In my case, when there are two guys involved, I make my boy take one for the team and work with products he never dreamed of being in.

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

G-Twist by Carnivalesq

I Rub My Fishie by Ginger Leigh

Armor Piercing Bullet by Sommer Marsden

Couples Vacation Pleasure Kit by Amorous Rocker

Nexus G-Play by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Tongue Joy by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

G-Twist by Essin’ Em

LELO Mia by Alisa

California Exotics Intimate Foreplay Kit by Alley

Dildos

Tantus Feeldoe More by Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Anal Toys

Treeze Redwood Medium Tear Drop Plug by Wilhelmina Wang

B Bomb by Carnivalesq

Tantus Protouch by Miss KissThis

Luna by Epiphora

Tantus Ripple Small by AveryDragon

Tantus Ripple Large by AveryDragon

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Sliquid Splash Honeydew Cucumber by Melen’s Rayne

Probe Thick and Rich & Silky Light by ScottA

Inttimo Shave Creme by The Duchess

Daring Lemongrass Anal Relaxing Spray by AveryDragon

Babeland Toy Cleaner by Sexorcism

Astroglide glycerin and paraben free by Saraid

Sliquid Splash Fragrance Free by Sexorcism

BDSM/Fetish

Tantric Satin Ties Pleasure Whip by AveryDragon

Vibrating Nipple Clamps by Carnivalesq

KinkLab Spandex Hood with Built-In Blindfold by AveryDragon

Under the Bed Restraints System by Epiphora

Adult Books

The Bottoming Book by Essin’ Em

Female Ejaculation and the G-Spot by Domina Doll

Adult Movies/Porn

Sexual Sushi by J.D. Bauchery

Stavros by FrzKey

San Francisco Lesbians 5 – Scene 1 by The Porn Librarian

TMSleaze by J.D. Bauchery

Sweet Summer by J.D. Buachery

Rough Sex by Epiphora

Not the Bradys XXX: Marcia, Marcia, Marcia by Domina Doll

Nina Hartley’s Guide To Great Sex During Pregnancy by Domina Doll

Miscellaneous

Liberator Stage by Marla Singer St. Syr

Upstairs Maid Costume by Sleeping Dreamer

Liberator Fascinator Throe by Domina Doll

Probe Lubricant - sponsored by Davryan Labs

2009-08-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

Final rating: 9 out of 10

Davryan Laboratories was kind enough to send me a whole bottle of each of their formulations of Probe Lubricant to test - Thick and Rich and Silky Light. This allowed me to really put Probe through its paces, and at the end of testing I had a very positive impression of Probe overall.

My first use of Probe was a revelation: sex lubes didn't have to hurt! This probably sounds silly to most of my readers – after all, I'm supposedly an expert, but every single commercial lube I'd tried had caused burning whenever it made it's way inside. This left me in a sort of mock Morton's fork when I wanted anal play: did I want to try and do it with spit (not enough lubrication to be called a lube), did I want to drag out the Crisco/coconut oil mix (with its clean-up difficulties and restrictions on use), or did I want to pull out the real lube and grin and bear the pain (which usually went away after a short while, but was definitely present at insertion). Once I started using Probe things got much more fun.

Probe has a short ingredients list, containing only water, glycerin (vegetable-derived, so it's vegan friendly), polyethylene oxide, and grapefruit seed extract as a preservative. It's unscented, and almost tasteless. The glycerin gives it a hint of sweetness, but not much. Probe doesn't have much glycerin in it, so unless you have a known problem with yeast infections you probably won't have any issues with Probe. The glycerin helps to retain moisture when the lubricant is used on mucous membranes, giving Probe a long lifetime. Anal users don't need to worry either - there is not enough glycerin in Probe to give a laxative effect.

The first time I opened Probe I discovered the odd thing about it: it's texture. Most sex lubes are thin liquids or gels, but probe has an unexpected, slightly natural consistency: it's very much like male sexual fluids. It's a little slimy and a little stringy as it comes out of the bottle. It's unexpected, and makes for a difficult first use, but I rapidly learned how to use Probe without the texture getting in the way. While the texture is noticeable in both versions of Probe, it's definitely more pronounced in Thick and Rich. To go back to the body analogy: Silky Light is like a watery pre-cum, whereas Thick and Rich is more like the white stuff. The stringiness stays around when Probe is used outside the body (such as when it's used as a jack-off lube), but isn't noticeable after insertion.

Probe's two formulations showed their differences readily in the lab viscosity trials (for more info on what tests I ran see this post). Probe Thick and Rich traveled 3.5cm down the glass plate in 30 seconds, whereas Probe Silky Light traveled 26.5cm in the same time. The differences in viscosity didn't have much of an effect on the length of time Probe kept its lubricity in the palm trials, though, with Silky Light lasting 6 minutes and 15 seconds and Thick and Rich lasting 6 minutes and 30 seconds before becoming too thick and sticky. When the Probe lubricants dried out they did leave a film, but it was easily rubbed off. without needing to be washed.

When used anally the two different formulations of Probe readily demonstrated their niches. Probe Silky Light was excellent for external stimulation, use with fingers, and small toys. When used with fingers, the thin consistency of Probe Silky Light made it easy to feel the texture of the finger, whereas Probe Thick and Rich tended to coat the finger more. The higher viscosity of Thick and Rich worked much better with moderate and thick toys, though. While it doesn't stick well to silicone toys initially (a trait shared with all water-based lubes), Probe Thick and Rich successfully lubricated my test dildos for 15+ minute tests rides. The tested dildos include Tantus Hank (whose textured, matte surface doesn't always want to hold lube), Tantus Captain (a smooth, shiny finish), and Fun Factory Tiger. Probe Thick and Rich was thick enough (barely) to lube my Tantus A-Bomb buttplug for “cold” insertion, but I did have to reapply the lube once because it rubbed off on my anal area and buttocks while I was working on inserting the plug.

I did not have a problem with Probe drying out during anal use. Probe does a good job holding water (the glycerin helps), allowing me to use dildos for a very satisfying 20-minute session without reapplication. When used as a jack-off lube I did have to add water twice during my 15-minute test period, but this again is a fault that is common with most water-based lubes. Probe did rapidly rehydrate, though, without any dry bits.

For vaginal use we preferred the Silky Light formulation, as it allowed for more sensation. There was no problem with it drying out.

Cleanup was easy. A damp rag removed most of the residue on my genitals and anal area readily. Because of the texture, cleaning up with a dry tissue required more work than some other water-based lubes, and Probe was definitely noticeable at the beginning of hand and toy washing, making it difficult to hold onto objects and becoming slightly stringy again, but it rapidly rinsed away

Probe has rapidly become my normal water-based lube, as it is a good thickness for both general and anal use and does not cause any burning at all. If you have a problem with being sensitive to the chemicals in many water-based lubes you should try it. Best of all, it's inexpensive - a 250mL bottle costs about $10, and you can get it from many retailers or direct from Davryan Labs' online store

I'll show you mine...

2009-08-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Avery Dragon issued a "show your stash" challenge, starting by posting pictures of his collection on his blog. I rose to the challenge, and photographed my (smaller) collection to post here. Sadly, I borrowed a camera and was a bit unfamiliar, so it's not perfect, but here's most of it:

Hopefully you can see most of the interesting stuff, and it's loosely grouped by category (the big exceptions being the white toys on the black fabric and the bottom right corner, which is the toys that I don't use as much). Naturally I discovered a few omissions: the Contour ceramic massage stone and the Crystal Wand. I also realized I didn't include any clothes.

If you see anything you have a question about or want a review of, post a comment.

Pleasurists Review list

2009-08-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

via sexy_photo

Pleasurists is a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days from bloggers all around the sex blogosphere. Did you miss Pleasurists #42? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #44? Submit it here before Sunday August 30th at 11:59pm PDT. Please re-post this list on your own blog if listed.

Note: No Editor’s Pick again this week, instead enter one of the many many contests that are going on!

Want to win some free swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Fairy Mini Wand Giveaway Deadline: August 27th at noon Eastern.

Steal our Blog and win $100 Deadline: August 28th.

Interview Question Contest Deadline: August 30th.

Aural Sex Contest Deadline: August 31st at 11:59pm.

Summer Love Contest Deadline: August 31st 2009.

Hello Kitty Vibe photo contest Deadline: September 1, 2009.

Get Creative and Win! Deadline: September 4, 2009.

One Year Anniversary Contest! Deadline: September 4, 2009 11:59pm Eastern.

BBG’s Big Bad Contest Deadline: September 11, 2009.

BBG’s Big Bad Contest- The Grand Fucking Prize Deadline: September 12, 2009.

Madame Editrix

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

G-Twist by True Pleasures

Burning Angel’s 7.5” Waterproof Vibe by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

LELO Elise by Mystyfi

Pocket Rockets by Carrie Ann

Womolia Heat by Essin’ Em

JimmyJane Form 6 by Red

LELO Gigi by Valyn

Pink Leopard Vibe by Carnivalesq

Icegasm Kit by Sexorcism

Silicone Flexi-Power Rod by namelesschaos

LELO Mia by Saraid

Intimate Diver by The Duchess

Cyberskin X-tacy Vibe by The Countess

Pocket Rockets by Domina Doll

Dildos

Crystal Crescent by Domina Doll

Tantus Curve by Coy Pink

Ophoria Beyond No. 3 by Domina Doll

Anal Toys

Triple Crown Vibrating Anal Beads by Carnivalesq

Aneros Peridise by ScottA.Reviews

Toys for Cocks

Tribal Cock Ring by Beautiful Dreamer

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

Sliquid Organics Stimulating O Gel by True Pleasures

Lust for Double-O by Carrie Ann

Ceduxion Massage Candle (Orange Vanilla) by Sommer Marsden

BDSM/Fetish

Clover Clamps by True Pleasures

Wartenberg Pinwheel by Ansley Agnello

Clover Clamps by Kyle

Fox Fur Paddle by Alpine Subdreams

Six Channel Deluxe Electrosex Power Box by Red

Zeus Electrosex Cock and Ball Strap by Red

Adult Books

A Tango in Subspace – A Romantic Journey of Erotic Submission by Allison Buckley

A Tango in Subspace – A Romantic Journey of Erotic Submission by Lux Zakari

Adult Movies/Porn

Hard Love & How to Fuck in High Heels by Sinclair Sexsmith

Nymphetamine Solamente by The Porn Librarian

Content by FrzKey

Anytime, Anywhere by J.D. Bauchery

Porn Star Legends – Little Oral Annie by The Porn Librarian

Spanish Heat by The Porn Librarian

Naughty Neighbors by FrzKey

Screw My Wife Please!! 69 – Nina Kelly Girl On Girl by J.D. Bauchery

Sex Furniture

Liberator Escape Wet by Alpine Subdreams

Miscellaneous

Smart Balls by Ginger Leigh

IceMan Ice Lugez by Alpine Subdreams

A Journey to Peridise - sponsored by Edenfantasys

2009-08-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

After making their mark with a line of prostate massagers, Aneros has introduced an anal toy designed for everyone: the Peridise Unisex PC toy, and I was lucky enough to be able to review it for the online toy store Edenfantasys. Like the other Aneros toys the Peridise is made of nonporous acetal and is surprisingly small. I often find myself slipping into the “bigger = feels better” mode of thinking, and once again I have been reminded that “bigger = feels better” isn't always true. The Peridise comes as a set of two toys, one larger in diameter than the other. Edenfantasys carries the "beginner's set", with one 22mm and one 16mm Peridise, both of which have 3" of insertable length (4" total length).

What exactly is a PC toy? The answer is somewhat surprising. The Peridise is a combination sex toy and exercise machine. Unlike other sex-exercise fusion devices (such as the bicycles with attached dildos), the Peridise is well designed, functional, and eminently usable, both as an exercise device and as a sex toy. Best of all, the combination of exercise and pleasure makes it much less likely that the Peridise will become a dust gatherer.

As an exercise device, the Peridise helps you strengthen and control the PC muscles. Strengthening your PC muscles has long been known to be a way to improve your sexual performance (think Kegels), and the Peridise can help you strengthen them. Kegels can strengthen them too, and don't need you to buy something. So why would you want the Peridise?

You can do Kegels on your own, but the Peridise is more than a “Kegel machine”. Sure, it helps you locate the right muscles, but it does more. Since the Peridise is a small toy, it's easy for even a beginner to insert, and repeated use will help you develop both PC muscle strength and an awareness of your anus that can help if you want to move on to other types of anal play. Let's face it, though: the real reason you'd want to own a Peridise is because it feels good. Really good. As your muscles contract and relax the Peridise moves around inside you, , stimulating the sensitive anal canal as the Peridise moves around and around and in and out.

The Peridise instructions recommend that you move your bowels, relax and lubricate your anus well before playing with the Peridise (the Peridise can be used with any lube - water-base, silicone, or oil). Having done that, I lay down on my back with my knees bent up and took the Peridise for a run.

The instructions say to insert only the head and use your PC muscles and anal sphincter to draw the Peridise up into the rectum. I was skeptical, figuring that I'd have to push it all the way in (it had those bumps, after all), but gave it a shot. I got the hang of it pretty fast, and the Peridise was soon all the way inside me.

I'd started out with the bigger toy (because of that hard-to-kick prejudice), but I eventually decided to try out Aneros' assertion that the smaller 16mm wide toy was the “advanced” model. It might be advanced in the sense of giving you a better workout, but would it really feel better? I doubted it.

And I was proved wrong again. Not only does the smaller toy give you a better, more controlled workout, it feels better, too. It moves around more, stimulating more of those very sensitive nerve endings. It stimulated enough to drive me wild but – sob – not enough to drive me over the edge. In a erotic haze I reached down to grab the handle and drive the Peridise with my hands, hoping to hit my prostate and give me the little bit extra I needed, and I ran into the Peridise's fault: the handle is very thin and it's very hard to get enough of a grip on the Peridise to direct it. It's not a big failing, indeed it could be considered a plus as it encourages you to use the Peridise the way the directions indicate. The handle is great for everything else, it doesn't poke and it's small enough that you can use the Peridise comfortably and discreetly while doing work, sitting down, driving, whatever – in public or private. It's really a very good handle I realized, just not good for directing the Peridise for strong prostate stimulation.

The difficult-to-hold handle and small size of the Peridise also makes them less than ideally suited for vaginal simulation, although running the larger Peridise around the vulva and into the vaginal opening can be fun.

Once you're done with the Peridise it cleans up easily with soap and water, and since it's nonporous that's enough most of the time. If you want to sanitize it you can dip or spray it with 10% bleach solution, It's best to lmit contact time and rinse the Peridise off afterwards, as long-term contact with bleach can corrode acetal, but for home use you should be able to do this many times (DuPont shows no change in Delrin after 30 days exposure to 5% bleach solution).

It takes work to learn how to use the Peridise for maximum pleasure and benefit, but it's worth it. Once you learn how, the Peridise helps to keep your pelvic muscles in shape, and definitely gives you positive feedback and an incentive to continue on the program. Another 5-star product from Aneros, and you can get it here from Edenfantasys.

$57.99Aneros peridise

Anal kit by Aneros

Material: Plastic

Safety:

Buy from EdenFantasys

New polls for favorite positions

2009-08-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a bit of informal research on anal sexuality right now, and I've started with a few position polls for those who do partner penetrative anal sex (either penis-anus or pegging). Please fill them out if you're willing - I've posted them on Edenfantasys so they will get a bit more exposure than if they were on this blog.

Here's the URLs, sorted by activity (kind of)

Pegging (M/F, woman penetrating a man with a strapon)

Women: What are your favorite positions for pegging (for the girls)?

Men: What are your favorite positions for pegging (for the guys)?

Women: What are your favorite positions for receiving anal sex (for the girls)

Women: What are your favorite positions for giving anal sex (for F/F couples)

Men: What are your favorite positions for having anal sex (as the penetrator) for guys having anal sex with girls?

Men: What are your favorite positions for having anal sex (as the penetrator) for guys having anal sex with guys?

Men: What are your favorite positions for receiving anal sex (from men) (for the guys)

Thanks for your input

Lube Tests - behind the scenes

2009-07-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

Over the past month I have been in the process of reviewing several different lubricants for Bottomtalk. Wanting to add an element of objectivity, I have been trying to come up with some quantitative methods of comparing lubricants in addition to discussing how well they worked in personal trials. I'm about ready to start putting up reviews, but I thought I'd start out by discussing how I tested these products (at a risk of sounding like a popular consumer magazine).

Quantitative procedures: The goal of quantitative procedures is to come up with a number that accurately expresses an aspect of what you're studying. After a bit of thought, I settled on two quantitative tests to do on the lubricants: viscosity and length of functional lubrication, which were then carried out in our very own BottomLabs.

A picture of my highly specialized lube viscosity testing device. Stopwatch and ruler not shown.

Viscosity tells how thick the lube is. To measure viscosity, I set up a test jig that held a glass plate at a 45°angle. To measure the viscosity, I applied .25cc of lubricant near the top of the glass plate and measured how many centimeters the lubricant flowed in 30 seconds (measured on a stopwatch).

My second quantitative experiment involved taking .25cc of lubricant and applying it to a 3cm by 5cm patch of my palm. I passed my finger over it at the rate of approximately one cycle (2 passes) per second and counted the amount of time until the lubricant was judged to not be lubricating any more. Afterwards I let the lubricant dry out and described the resulting residue.

After conducting the lab experiments, I then proceeded to determine how well the lubricant worked in the “real world” (a.k.a. the fun part). These tests changed a bit depending on the character of the lubricant, but I generally had several specific ways that I used each lube.

I tried out each lubricant as an external “jack-off lube”. In general, the water-based lubes tended to require re-activation with water at least once for a 10-minute session, and usually more than once. This test (and indeed the length of lubricity from the lab experiments) is somewhat limited, as many sex activities won't cause the lube to dry out as readily.

I also tested the lubricants with my Tantus A-Bomb plug. The A-Bomb is Tantus' large plug, slightly over 2.25” in diameter, and has a “velvet”-type finish. In this test I lubed up the plug and inserted it “cold” (without any other insertive anal play). This was a test of the lubricants' ability to remain on the surface of a toy, since I find that the lubricant around the bulge of the A-Bomb tends to be “squeegeed off” by the anus when I attempt to insert it cold.

Following the A-Bomb test, I used the lubricants with a dildo anally for at least 15 minutes to test how well they work for long-term insertive sex. I had a variety of dildos that I used, including my Fun Factory Tiger (long, textured), Tantus Captain/Squirt (large, smooth, shiny finish), Tantus Hank (midsize, textured, velvet finish), and with a buttplug (either the A-Bomb, Nexus Tristan 2, Doc Johnson Sexy Spades Large, or Luxotiq Anal Plug) for a long-term lubrication test to answer the question “will it still be slick when I take the plug out?”. Some of these tests, sadly, had to be modified because I was sensitive to components in some of the lubes.

I'll share the results shortly - keep tuned...

(The results are being posted - check out the Reviews Index under "Hot Bottomtalk" on the right sidebar.)

Keeping Clean - The Poop Problem

2009-07-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Our anuses and rectums are multifunction devices, not existing solely to serve as centers of delight, but also to as a means to deal with the digestive leftovers. This is in a way a good thing and a bad thing. On the positive side, most of us were probably introduced to the delights of our neither regions while we were involved with using our anuses for other, not necessarily erotic, purposes. The downside of the multifunctional ass is that there is the possibility of two purposes colliding, resulting in a mess and potential embarrassment.

The most important way to minimize the mess problem is to become aware of your body, especially your ass and digestion. This also is an important thing to do in order to maximize your pleasures and minimize the risks of injury during anal play in general, and I highly recommend it (Jack Morin's Anal Pleasure and Health is an excellent work to help you become more aware of your anus). Like many things in your body, your digestion has a rhythm, and when it is properly functioning the rectum is almost completely empty in most people. When you become aware of how your body works and listen to it you can minimize the presence of poop in the rectum completely naturally. Listen to your body, go to the bathroom when you need to, and before starting play go to the bathroom and try to go again, but remember it's best not to strain too much. Afterwards take a shower, and you’ll have minimized the mess. When it comes to poop, minimize is not the same as eliminate, though.

There are a few different ways to deal with the trace amounts of poop that may be present in the rectum. The first method is to not worry about it. If everything is going well and neither partner is squeamish, anything that comes out can be dealt with by a strategic wipe, at least in theory. Throws or towels can be used to protect the bed or furniture, and can be bundled off to the washer when necessary. Sometimes this works just fine, but sometimes it doesn’t. Poop is a bit messy, smelly, and can irritate the anus during play.

The “chill out” approach is not bad for solo exploration; while it’s a bit unpleasant to get your fingers dirty they wash. Cleanliness fears can put a damper on partner play, though, so they need to be addressed. If after thinking things through you and your partner decide that the chill out approach works for you, then by all means use it when appropriate.

Safer sex procedures are extremely important when dealing with anal play. Not only are we dealing with bodily fluids and mucous membranes, we’re also dealing with an area of the body that has its own ecosystem that often doesn’t play well with other parts of the body. Poop really shouldn’t make its way into the urethra, vagina, or mouth, and the best way to prevent this is to use barrier devices all the time. Condoms, gloves, and plastic wrap should be right next to the lube in any well stocked assplay kit. Naturally some activities are riskier than others, and I’ll leave it to you to determine your limits, but do think them through. In anal play, barriers have the additional advantage of providing a smooth surface. While many objects are smooth, there are others (such as hands) that benefit greatly from a smooth covering. Barriers also make cleanup easy, allowing you to take the mess off and throw it away.

Sometimes it’s hard to just “chill out”. Sometimes barriers and ignoring just don’t cut it on their own. Sometimes you just want to make sure you’re “clean” so there won’t be a mess. There are many reasons why you might want to clean out; here are a few of mine:

Poop can be irritating rubbing against the anus.

Depending on what you’ve been eating, there can be some rough material in your digestive system

that can irritate the anus if it gets on something that’s being moved around. Small seeds are an obvious offender, but there can be other problem materials, too.

You can relax better if you aren’t worried about mess

If you’re worried about mess, smell, or what your partner will think you’re not going to be able to relax as well as when you aren’t. Subconsciously you’ll be anxious, and your anus will probably tighten up. This is one reason why it’s best to become familiar with your body on your own before trying partner anal play, but even if you are familiar with your body there can still be worry. After years of solo and partner anal play I still find it hard to relax if my wife initiates anal play unexpectedly. I worry about what she’ll find up there. If you’re worried or you think you might be worried, go ahead and do something about it. Especially if you’re a beginner.

Feces do carry bacteria that can cause problems if it gets somewhere else.

Especially if that somewhere else is a urethra or vagina.

I find a side effect is a “wet” rectum tends to have more effective natural lubrication. It doesn't replace added lube, but it helps things to slide along even better.

If you are unsure whether or not you will have a problem with mess, there's no reason to not run a test. Using your finger or a sex toy you can do a dry run in the privacy of your bathroom, penetrating yourself as far as you plan on going and checking to see if the finger or toy comes out clean. If it's clean then you might not need to bother with cleaning out, yet you'll still know that things won't get messy. Whether you clean out or not, it’s important to realize that you’re never truly “clean” down there, so you still need to use safer sex practices even after you clean out.

One thing to keep in mind before doing any clean out is minimizing the risk of dependence on laxatives or enemas. People who habitually use laxatives can have problems having bowel movements on their own, problems with colitis, and other not exactly pleasant happenings. There are ways to make the risk negligible, though. Firstly, never use a stimulant laxative for cleaning out. You don't need to, and these are the most likely to cause problems. Secondly, make sure that you have a natural BM before starting to clean out, so your body maintains its natural defecation reflex. Thirdly, minimize your clean-outs. Don't do them every day, just in case you might want to play. Do them only when you need to.

Ways to clean out:

Enemas or anal douches: the classic clean-out, and very effective. One side benefit that I've noticed is that an anal douche also goes a long way towards eliminating the residual “ass smell” that can stick to silicone toys. While it's not a big thing (dish soap or shampoo will usually take it out), it's a nice side benefit.

While all injections of water through the anus are technically enemas, it’s best to think of what we’re doing as an anal douche. Enemas are primarily intended to treat constipation or flush out a large amount of the bowel, whereas we’re interested in removing the trace remnants of poop from the rectum. We’re not interested in evacuating the entire descending colon or ensuring that the solution enters as much of the bowel as possible, nor are we interested in solutions that intensify the laxative effect, so many of the instructions for giving an enema are unnecessary for an anal douche. A large volume of solution is not necessary for the anal douche, in fact we’re interested in injecting the minimum amount of solution to clean the smallest amount of the bowel necessary.

Equipment: There are many different devices out there to give enemas. They can be roughly grouped into two classes: bulb-type and constant-flow.

The bulb-type enema devices include squeeze enema syringes, ear syringes, and prepackaged “Fleet-type” enemas (replace the solution in these with water before using!). These types generally have a smaller size (6-8 oz, ear syringes are 1-2 oz), are mostly filled through the nozzle, and are squeezed to empty the liquid into the rectum.

Constant flow enema devices include enema bags and “shower-shot” devices. Enema bags are water-tight bags, often made out of rubber, that have a hose and nozzle attached. They usually hold 2 quarts of liquid. Once filled, they are hung up and water causes the solution to flow into the rectum. Shower-shot devices are a tube and nozzle that attaches directly to the plumbing, often like a hand shower.

There’s a third device that sort of straddles these two categories. The Higginson syringe is a bulb type device, but it’s equipped with valves, hoses and a nozzle so you can get a almost constant flow of water by repeatedly squeezing the bulb.

Of all these types, I recommend only a few. The prepackaged “Fleet-type” enema bottles are a great way to start, since they’re inexpensive, controlled-volume, and the detachable nozzle makes it possible to clean them. While they don’t last forever, you can use them a number of times before the bottle cracks. I’m not a big fan of the other bulb-type enemas, since it’s hard to refill them (you need to squeeze the bulb, quickly turn it over and plunge it into the water, then repeat to get the rest of the air out), it’s hard to clean them after use, and they can sometimes be hard to squeeze.

For the consistent-flow enema devices I’m firmly in the enema bag camp here. You can put a limited volume in the bag, it’s easy to control the pressure and flow, and you can find a comfortable place to take your douche without having to worry about where the plumbing is. I’m not a big fan of the shower-shots. They require too much work to set up, are conspicuous unless you take them down, and it’s too easy to get too much water, too much pressure, or have the temperature get too hot.

While I haven’t tried the Higginson syringe yet, I like the idea very much. You can measure the amount of solution going in by counting the number of squeezes, you don’t have to worry about refilling the bulb, and you don’t have to worry about finding a place to hang the bag. I’d like to get one of these to try out, but they’re a bit rarer and I’m not sure who to go to to get a quality one.

When you’re making your douche the menu isn’t nearly as complex as the one at a coffee bar. In fact, there are only two good choices: plain water and a “normal saline solution”. For most people, the plain water will be fine, but if you’re playing many times a week you might want to try the normal saline, as it can be a bit less irritating. For the normal saline, mix 1-1/2 Teaspoons/ 7.5 mL of ordinary salt or baking soda with each pint of water. Keep in mind that the solution in prepackaged enemas is not normal saline – it’s “hypertonic”, containing more salts than your body, so it shouldn't be used as a replacement for normal saline. If you have a very sensitive rectum or are douching every day you might want to investigate “PEG” – polyethelene glycol. You’ll need to get it through a doctor, but it’s been shown to cause less irritation than plain water, although I haven’t seen any results of it being tested against normal saline.

Under no circumstances should you put anything else in the water. Soap, vinegar, lemon juice, or other solutions are often recommended for making enemas, but these irritate the intestines, make later play less fun, and can lead to colitis or dependence if used too often. Play it safe – water works just fine.

Positions: Most of the positions listed in books are for larger-volume cleansing and getting the water in deeper. Unless you’re fisting you don’t need to get that involved, and it's better not to. Choose a position that's convenient and comfortable – I personally like either sitting on the toilet or lying on my back when I'm douching with a bag. There are advantages and disadvantages to either position, some advantages of douching on the toilet are that you don't need to worry about leaking and the fact that the rectum is mostly vertical so the water stays low. Disadvantages to douching on the toilet are that it's harder to insert the hose (and very difficult to use a bulb-type syringe), and the hose can come out and fall into the toilet.

Lying down on my back with my legs slightly folded up is the other position I like. While it's a bit more trouble to set up (since you need a towel for comfort and to catch any drips), it's very comfortable and easy to get at your anus. If I'm using a squeeze syringe I like to stand and slightly bend over. This can be done over the toilet to catch drops and allow for an easy transition to sitting on the toilet..

Once you've injected the douche you do not need to hold it in. Move to the toilet when comfortable and release.

How much water should you use? The answer is simple, yet complex: the minimal amount that does the job. Unless you're aware of your anus and rectum and their feelings it's hard to tell how much water is enough to clean out your rectum (or rectum and pelvic colon if you're going to be inserting things more than about 8”/20cm deep). A good starting spot is about 6-8 oz of water (177-236mL) After taking about two douches you can check with a finger or dildo to see if you're clean enough, if not try a little more.

For anal douches small is better. Injecting more water then needed leads to longer times waiting on the toilet for all of the enema to come back out, and large (or “high”) enemas are more likely to temporarily throw your digestive system out of whack and can lead to dependence if used too often.

When you're making up your solution it's good to shoot for water that's about about body temperature (95-100F, 35-38C) to start with. I find that a slightly cooler solution (75-85F, 24-30C) comes out faster and aids me in feeling how high the enema is moving, but it can also be a bit more uncomfortable. Under no circumstances should you use very hot (over 105F/40C) or very cold water.

Another method of cleaning out, glycerin suppositories, was brought to my attention by a nurse and fellow Edenfantasys contributor Kuuipogal.

Glycerin suppositories are inexpensive (US$2.00-3.50 for 50), readily available, and convenient to use. One or two slipped up inside the rectum clear things out in 15-30 minutes, and the consensus seems to be that they're not likely to cause dependence unless you use them really often. If you go this route remember to get glycerin suppositories, not bisacodyl ones, as bisacodyl suppositories contain a stimulant that is harder on the intestines and will keep them in an uproar for a while. Bisacodyl also is much more likely to lead to dependency than glycerin, which works by drawing water into the intestines. Glycerin suppositories don't clean things out quite as well as a douche, but they do work well enough for most cases. There's a bit of “ass smell” around still, and they generally won't clear out the pelvic colon, but they do increase the amount of mucous in the rectum, which increases the natural lubrication (you still need to use additional lube, though!). Glycerin suppositories are especially good for anal play outside your home, because they're small and easy to carry with you. In addition to the solid glycerin suppositories, there is a product called liquid glycerin suppositories. There work the same way, often a little faster, and are more expensive. I stick to the cheapies, but the liquid glycerin option is there if you want it. If you want a homemade option, you can also get a bottle of glycerin and something to squirt it in with, but this removes much of the convenience factor.

Personally, I'm firmly in the “clean-out when possible” camp, primarily because I find that my body doesn't reliably keep things clean on it's own. Perhaps I'm just not in tune with it enough yet, perhaps it has to do with what I eat, or perhaps it's stress. My guess is that it's a combination of the last two, but in any case I like to have a way to know I'm clean so I can relax completely during play. I keep both the anal douche and suppositories around, and use whichever one seems to fit best. In general, if I really need to be clean I'll ride the hose, though.

Stay safe, stay relaxed, and have fun – both in the sun and where the sun don't shine!

Giving myself a hand

2009-07-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Fisting is an activity that has pulled on my interest from time to time.

I have a collection of moderately large toys that I enjoy using on a fairly regular basis (Tantus A-Bomb, Tantus Ringo, Vixen Tristan II plug and Doc Johnson Sexy Spades Large), and so I guess it’s logical that, having heard of fisting, I’d look at a hand and think of its potential as a living, moving, large sex toy every now and then.

The bad news is that my wife has long fingernails (which she likes), and while I’ve been hinting at the fact that short fingernails are more fun for sex play she hasn’t shown an interest in cutting them. I guess I need to buck up and directly ask her, but I’m still a little nervous about how she’d take “honey, please cut your nails really short because I want you to stick your whole hand in my butt.” Because of that, fisting hasn’t moved beyond the stage of a fantasy that’s been on my “I’d like to give that a try someday” list.

A short time ago, while my wife was out of town for a couple of days on a business trip, I decided to surprise her by doing a little hair trimming in the lower regions. I started with the front, but a bit of mirror glancing convinced me that my rear could use a trim, too. I guess looking at my bottom in the mirror while I was trimming it (and, perhaps, the vibrations of the trimmer) started me thinking about assplay, and for some reason I started thinking about fisting again, and whether I could do it on my own.

A confession first. This isn’t the first time I’ve tried fisting – a while ago I was playing with my A-bomb (when it was still rather new) and thought I’d try and see if I could put my hand in up past the knuckles. Having inserted my hand to the widest spot, I then wound up pulling it out again. It could technically count as fisting myself, but the more I thought about it the more I thought that I could do better. So, out came Ringo, the A-Bomb, and a lot of lube (the shortening/coconut oil mix, if you want to know).

I started with the Ringo (my favorite large warm-up plug, since the taper is pretty gentle) and practiced relaxing. When I got the Ringo to go in and pop out without any problem I moved on to the A-bomb. Using the A-bomb to warm up is a bit different from using it as a plug – you have to hold it all the time and slowly get to where you can comfortably have the bulge at the inner sphincter. When I felt I was ready I started lubing my hand, and then I noticed that I had forgotten about my fingernails. I don’t recommend cutting and filing your nails with greasy hands while squatting/balancing on a halfway-inserted butt plug. It’s difficult and messy, but fortunately doable. That done, I finished lubing my hand and anus and brought the two together for a closer introduction.

The position I chose is one of my favorite general butt-play positions: lying on my back. To get my legs out of the way I positioned myself on the floor with my calves resting up on the bed. Nice and relaxing. To make the hand/hole connection, I tried both reaching around the side of my legs and reaching through them.

My hands are long and narrow, so it didn’t take much additional stretching to get my knuckles inside. I was able to get in almost to my wrist and start to close my fingers into a fist, but there was a little problem. My butt felt OK, but the rest of my body was uncomfortable. I pulled out and tried it again with a slightly different position, but encountered the same problem. I couldn’t really enjoy (or even see if I enjoyed) the feeling of the fisting because the necessary position was so difficult to maintain. I did what I could, clenching and unclenching my fist, wiggling, and reaching my hand in as far in as I could. I kept it up for about 5 minutes of play, so I guess I can now say I’ve been really fisted, but in retrospect it was ...unsatisfying. I liked the feelings from my butt, but the rest of my body was complaining enough to make it hard to listen to my butt and ignore everything else. Fisting, it seems, is just not a single-player sport, for me at least.

So, I guess this fantasy goes back on the “maybe someday” pile.

Anyone else try self fisting? What position did you use, and was it comfortable? Anyone care to share their process for asking their partner to fist them?

P.S. – after having trimmed the hair on my bottom I think I’m going to keep on trimming it. The shorter hair really does make buttplay easier and more fun – long hair winds up wiping off lube and getting messy, and it can get pulled, too. I don’t think I’d want to shave it, but trimmed is nice.

Pleasurists #36 Review Roundup

2009-07-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

by Massimo Innocenti

Pleasurists is a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days from bloggers all around the sex blogosphere. Did you miss Pleasurists #35? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #37? Submit it here before Sunday July 12th at 11:59pm PDT. Please re-post this list on your own blog if listed.

Want to win some free swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Birthday Giveaway! Deadline: Monday July 13th at noon Pacific Time.

Hello Kitty Vibe photo contest Deadline: September 1, 2009.

Madame Editrix

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Editor’s Pick

Striptease Kit by Kara Sutra

Vibrators

Studded Tongue Twister by The Duchess

AcuVibe Mini by Beautiful Dreamer

Lovemoiselle Cecile by CarrieAnn

LELO Iris by Thursday’s Child

Remote Vibrating Thong by The Duchess

Fun Factory Gallant by CarrieAnn

AcuVibe Mini by Miss Mia

Hello Kitty Vibe by Athena Bradford

Orion Bottle Rocket by Dangerous Lilly

LELO Iris by Essin’ Em

Earth Angel by Carnivalesq

LELO Gigi and Iris by HavingMyCake

Slicone Intimate Diver by Adriana

Lovemoiselle Cecile by Exploring Intimacy

Dildos

Randy by Sinclair Sexsmith

Lovemoiselle Noemie by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Savanna’s Spiral Wrapped G-spot Wonder by Amorous Rocker

Glo Smooth by Baby Sinead

Anal Toys

Tantus Ryder by Sexorcism

Tantus A-Bomb by Scott

Romp by Epiphora

Alumina Pace by Epiphora

Toys for Cocks

Tenga Deep Throat Cup by Baby Sinead

Zeus Vibrating Cockring by True Pleasures

Hannah Harper Authentic Love Doll by Red

BDSM/Fetish

36 Inch Spreader Bar by Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Sport Cuffs by HotMoviesForHer Sex Toy Crew

Rubber Ball Gag by Domina Doll

Adult Books/Games

Opening Up by Essin’ Em

Adult Movies/Porn

Fuck Me in the Bathroom #3 by Beautiful Dreamer

Sugar High Glitter City by Nadia West

The Art of Sex by J.D. Bauchery

Rivals Volume 2 by The Porn Librarian

Peters by FrzKey

Not Bewitched XXX by J.D. Bauchery

In Praise of Indecency by The Porn Librarian

Butch Boi Lansing Raw by J.D. Bauchery

Afrodite Superstar by Thursday’s Child

Nina Hartley Private Sessions #11 by Lady Wolfdreams

Lingerie

Cocktail Party Collar and Cuffs by Red

Storage

Just in Case Condom Compact II by Wilhelmina Wang

For Your Nymphomation Bigfoot Case by Red

Sex Furniture

Liberator Fascinator Throe – Microfiber by Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

Liberator Wedge & Ramp Combo by Sarah Estrella

Liberator Black Label Scoop by Thursday’s Child

Liberator Black Label Wedge/Ramp Combo by Dangerous Lilly

Sexercise Me System by Red

Miscellaneous

La Femme by Sleeping Dreamer

Review List

2009-07-02T08:03:00.001-07:00

This is a "Review Index" by category to help in finding reviews I've written. It will be kept up to date as new reviews are posted.

Buttplugs:

A-Bomb (Tantus)
Cody (Tantus)
Tristan (Vixen Creations)
Tristan 1.5 Vibrating plug (Vixen Creations)

Single Dildos:

Tantus Captain/Squirt
Vixen Astro Vibe kit

Double Dildos:

Tango (Happy Valley Silicone)

Enema/Anal Douche equipment:

StreemMaster Mini bulb syringe

Lubricants:

Probe
System JO Personal Anal Silicone Lubricant

Other Anal Toys:

Aneros Peridise

Vibrators:

Touche Epona (Shots Media)
Tantus Pro-Touch

Vixen Creations' Tristan 1.5

Also see my reviews at Edenfantasys

The burn is back (lube)

2009-06-30T11:08:00.001-07:00

My trick to keep the Maximus from burning only worked for about a month, now it's back to "burn baby burn", and not in a good way. I'm having problems now with Gun Oil H20 as well (it has parabens, but didn't seem to have as much of them). I'm not absolutely sure it's the parabens, but there is a strong correlation, leading me to be about 95% sure. I hadn't realized that chemical sensitivity increased quite this fast, but fortunately I can still use them as J/O lubes, and I think my wife isn't sensitive.

I'd like to do a "head to head knockdown review" of paraben-free lubes in anal use, breaking them down by type (water-based, oil-based, and silicone), but I have a problem. Two problems. I need to know what lubes to test, and I need to know how to get enough to test without breaking the bank.

The lube candidates I have so far:

In the Water-based category: Probe Thick and Rich, Probe Silky Light, Toyfluid, Sliquid Sassy Booty, O'My Naturals, and Doc's Anal Lube. All but Sliquid Sassy have glycerin in them, but recent experiments (which I will write about later) suggest that glycerin in the ass isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

In the oil-based category we have the following: Bottoms Up Butt Wax, Boy Butter and Bend Over Betty.

Silicone lubes seem to be mostly paraben-free, but they're expensive so I'm not sure if I will be testing many of them. I'd like to hear suggestions, though.

What I need from you, my readers, is any other lubes I should be testing, and somewhere to get them that is cheap so I can test them (very important, considering that the cost for retail packages would be around $90 for the water-based alone. Fortunately, most companies have sample packs and are being very accommodating in sending them out for free