Ruffled Sheets

The Charmer was my first Tantus toy.

I remember searching for it online.  Not it specifically, but for a new toy in general that fit a particular description.  I was always fussy about materials so it had to be something safe, preferably silicone, and I didn’t want anything too big.  I also wanted something that would feel good on my prostate.

I hadn’t purchased anything from Tantus at the time (or indeed from many companies, this was one of my first toys) but I’d heard of them and of their reputation for producing 100% body safe products so I had a look at their range.  The Charmer immediately jumped out at me.  It wasn’t too big, it came in purple (possibly my favourite sex toy colour!) and it had those wonderful prominent ridges that looked like they’d hit the spot.  So I bought it…

As soon as it arrived I couldn’t wait to use it.  I’d had bad experiences with a few other toys before (see my reviews of the Aneros MGX and the Rocks Off Rude Boy) but was confident this one would be better.  And it was!

This was the first toy I bought that really felt good, right from the first time I used it.

I remember using it for the first time.  Unlike the majority of other toys, the head is the largest part of the Charmer so I lubed it up, relaxed and tried it out.  To my delight it was easy to insert.  Partly due to the shape of the head and partly due to being crafted from Tantus’s super smooth silicone.  It’s reasonably firm, but not so firm that you can’t squash it (much softer than a Lelo toy, for example) and the surface is very smooth (so it doesn’t attract dust like a Fun Factory toy).  Once the head was inside, inserting the rest of the toy was a breeze.

Slipping the toy inside though is just half the fun.

This toy is a thruster.  The ridges on the Charmer are there for a reason.  They separate this toy from all others.  Pulling the Charmer out feels as good as pushing it in and repeating this over and over feels even better.  However, it’s not for hard, furious pounding.  No.  It’s quite a thin toy and very flexible so it’s more designed for you to lie back, relax and slowly, gently, delicately move it in and out.  This isn’t a toy for a ‘quickie’, it’s a toy that’s meant to be savoured.  Treat it not like a shot of Victory Gin, designed purely to intoxicate you as quickly as possible; but like a fine wine, fermented for you to enjoy slowly, to prolongue the experience.

Treat it well, use it wisely and you won’t regret it.  I still enjoy using mine.  It’s the ridges that provide a unique experience.  Pointing them towards my stomach feels fantastic when I slide it in and out as I can feel them running back and forth.  It’s more of a tease than other toys as it doesn’t directly stimulate my prostate but gently runs over it again and again.

This was the first product I bought that really excited me about sex toys and is one I still enjoy using to this day.  You can buy one here!

This is my first urethral toy. Well, that is to say my first of two toys that I have been kindly sent to review from Titus Toys.

This particular toy is a surgical steel princes wand. A long, slender tube that slides down into the urethra, attached to a ring that sits around the head of the penis. A little hardcore for a first urethral toy? Possibly. But never let it be said that I am not up for a challenge!

Before I describe what it’s like to use the toy, I need to note just how well it is made. Build quality is important in all toys of course, but especially so in products that are inserted into the urethra. Tiny seams can be unnoticeable in dildos or plugs, but when using a toy in an area so sensitive, one cannot take any chances. To that end, this product delivers. It’s superbly crafted from end to end. It’s entirely uniform and there are no imperfections. At all.

The first time I used this toy, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’d heard good things about urethral play and had been keen to try out a sound or wand for some time. When I opened up my parcel from Titus Toys to see this shining in front of me, I couldn’t wait to try it out.

Leaning back comfortably with my ‘Very Deep’ lube and Princes Wand to hand, I was ready. Keen not to cause injury, I applied a generous amount of lube to the entire wand and also to the tip of my penis and began to slide it in.

It felt a little unusual to start with but not unpleasant. Like the first time you insert an anal toy, strange but not at all uncomfortable. I took it slow and held my penis pointing to the ceiling so I could let gravity pull the wand deeper, whilst I stabilised it with my other hand. It was after a couple of inches or so that I began to feel a familiar sensation…

I stopped as soon as I felt it. I wasn’t was I? Really? After so short a time and with so little stimulation?

The feeling I’m referring to, of course, is the sensation of an approaching orgasm…

So I stopped. Briefly. It subsided. I stated again and immediately began to feel it once more. This time I carried on. The deeper it went, the more I felt that familiar sensation except now it didn’t feel like it was approaching any longer. It actually felt like a long, slow orgasm. But nothing happened… I didn’t ejaculate. I didn’t feel any muscular contractions, involuntary or otherwise. My penis wasn’t even fully hard. So what happened?

I wasn’t sure, but after such a pleasant sensation, I wanted to try more. By this time, the wand was deep in my urethra, as far as it would go. I tried to flex my PC muscle and it pushed the wand out just a little bit. I relaxed and it slipped back inside. More of the same. That familiar feeling. I wasn’t ejaculating, but it felt so similar, the feeling of something sliding up and down my urethra. I gently pulled the wand out a few more inches and it felt even more like a tiny, controlled orgasm.

By this point, I knew I wasn’t actually approaching or experiencing orgasm, but it didn’t matter. This was so good. Different and unusual, but fantastic. I carried on sliding the wand deep into my penis, then out until it was barely penetrating the tip, then back in again. Over and over. At this point my eyes were rolling back into my head. Even someone like me who likes to tease out orgasms, making them last as long as possible, wasn’t used to such a long sensation. I was used to orgasms lasting about ten seconds but this went on and on. Between thirty seconds and a minute I carried on sliding it in and out.

It’s a strange feeling, the first time you use one of these. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting something so intense or so akin to that of an orgasm. Ok, it’s not exactly the same. It doesn’t peak like an orgasm and you don’t experience any involuntary muscular contractions, but it’s the closest thing I’ve felt to an orgasm without actually having an orgasm.

The feeling doesn’t become old, either. I wondered if it would feel less impressive the second time I tried, but not a bit of it. Thinking about it now, why would it? Jacking off and masturbating doesn’t become old, so why would any other kind of self stimulation? I’ve used this a number of times now and haven’t been dissatisfied once.

I know what you’re thinking. “It can’t be perfect, Andy!”. You’re right. There are a couple of things you need to bear in mind.

Firstly, the loop at the top is a little small for me. I really can’t mark Titus down for this though, as they just sent this to me on a whim without knowing my size. If you’re thinking of buying one though, check that you have the correct size.

Secondly, using one of these is a little advanced and requires a little more effort than most other toys. It’s not like jacking off. You can’t really just do it anywhere. You need to be relaxed, sober, with a steady hand and plenty of time to take it slowly.

Thirdly, this particular wand is quite wide. I found it a tight fit. Not too tight, but a fraction smaller may have been slightly easier for my first time.

Other than those three minor points, I can’t recommend one enough. You don’t just have to use one the way I have described, either. There is a perfectly drilled hole through the centre that enables you to urinate through it, should you so wish. Instead of concentrating on the sensations felt by moving the wand, it is very pleasurable to stroke yourself (or indeed be stroked) whilst it is fully inserted. I’d advise against masturbating furiously when it is inside, but slowly bringing yourself to orgasm is very pleasurable and, due to the hole in the middle, entirely possible. It’s also possible to stroke slowly with no intention of reaching orgasm and just enjoying a state of near orgasmic bliss.

Thank you so much Titus for sending it to me. I now have a strong desire to order a complete set of urethral sounds! If you’re interested in urethral play, then please check out this CloneZone page, who sell the complete set of Titus products that includes a number of urethral toys, including this one for £29.99.

The Butt Boy is a million times better than the Rude Boy.

I wanted to start with that as my Rude Boy was one of the most disappointing products I’ve tried. I’m still astounded that it ever made it into production,which my last review said in no uncertain terms. Sure, you can use it in a way other than intended and it can sorta work, but that’s like giving a radio a good review because it makes a good paperweight…

This, on the other hand, is far better. It probably won’t revolutionize the way you jack off or give you mind blowing orgasms, the likes of which you’ve never seen, but it does what it’s supposed to and it works.

With the Butt Boy, Rocks Off have away from their previous formula of prostate toy shapes. This one is shorter and isn’t curved, rather it’s cone shaped, which works. Their previous designs were all too long and too curved. The only way to use a Rude Boy to stimulate your prostate is to use the perineum massager as a handle and wield it like a Pure Wand. The issue with that approach though, is that the bullet vibe just makes your hand buzz and, well, that’s not what you bought the toy for anyway.

All the toys in this range are designed to be inserted fully and for the vibe to massage your perineum. As far as I can tell, this is the only one that enables the user to do that comfortably. I certainly wouldn’t even advise trying with a Rude Boy, lest you wish to injure yourself and risk an embarrassing trip to Accident & Emergency.

With the Butt Boy, you can do just that, however. It can easily be inserted all the way in, leaving the vibrating portion resting snugly against your perineum. From here you can, well, do whatever you like as you will have both hands free, which has its advantages… All toys in the ‘Boy’ range are designed so you can insert them, sit down and then rock back and forth to experience changes in pressure internally (specifically on the prostate). Whilst this is certainly possible, it felt a little awkward to me. This isn’t because of the toy. For me, sitting down and rocking just feels a little awkward, anyway. Whether my legs are outstretched or crossed, when I’m sitting upright, I don’t feel like I have enough access to play. For me, a far better position is with my legs open wide and when I’m leaning back. Everything is then exposed and can be reached easily without contorting my wrists. This is how I use most plugs and this one is no exception. I have found myself holding it in place and pushing the base against my perineum for a little more sensation but it can easily be used completely hands free.

Like all Rocks Off products, it’s very well made. The silicone is firm, but not hard and it’s well constructed. The bullet is sufficient but not really that powerful (like most bullets, sadly). The base of the toy would actually fit a much larger bullet inside. I’m not really sure why Rocks Off choose their smallest bullets for the products. An immediate improvement to all toys in this range would be to use their bigger, more rumblier bullets. The one provided does the job however, and you can feel the vibrations internally, all the way to the top of the toy.

To summarise, this is the best Rocks Off‘ toy in the range. It’s the best shape, the best size, the best design. If you’re thinking about buying a dual prostate/perineum toy and want something a little bigger then this is probably the only one you should look at. Go buy one, here!

To end, I’d just like to thank Alice at Lovehoney for sending this toy to me. I wrote in my last Rocks Off review that I wanted to try one of these out and, after reading it, she sent me one! Thank you so much

I’d like to start by stating that, in spite of everything I write after these first few lines, there are some good aspects to the Rocks Off Rude Boy. It’s well made, the silicone is quite nice, the bullet isn’t bad (as bullets go). All things that are important in a toy. There is however, one thing that is of paramount importance to any toy and that is the shape. This, sadly, is where Rocks Off have blundered.

This was my second sex toy. After trying this and the outstandingly bad Aneros MGX, I think I would have been forgiven had I not wanted to try another anal toy out for the rest of my days. Fortunately, I persisted and became the sex toy addict & reviewer I am now but this particular one didn’t do me any favours whatsoever.

I remember seeing this advertised on the Internet, watching videos of people dropping the vibe in water, listening to people rave about how good it was. I instantly wanted one. It was the first prostate toy that seemed to be mainstream. Even Ann Summers stocked them. I remember working in the centre of London and popping into Ann Summers to actually have a look at them. I was so glad that I could actually see one before buying, after the complete non-experience I had with the Aneros.

I didn’t buy one at first, though. It looked a little strange to me. Too curved. So I hesitated. Would that really feel good inside? I really wasn’t sure. I walked out of Ann Summers without one. Disheartened, I read another couple of reviews and checked the diagrams issued by the manufacturer. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was missing out on a fantastic new anal toy. So I ordered one, against my better judgement. This is the point where I’d like to say I was proven wrong, that it was an amazing toy and that I’d never looked back. Sadly….no.

No, the prostate isn

As it turned out, my instincts were correct. To sum it up, the Rocks Off Rude Boy is poorly designed. The idea of a toy that curls round to hit the prostate is good, in principle, but the Rude Boy is too long and too curved. It has about 7″ of toy you need to insert fully to be able to ‘rock’ on the perineum massager but the prostate is probably 3 inches inside. The diagram above is just fiction. The first time I tried it, I found that out. I remember slipping it inside, only to feel it causing discomfort after a few inches. Surely this wasn’t right? I mean, I wasn’t totally new to anal penetration and ordinarily the length & width would have been fine. I tried again, and again. And again. The same every single time. Sure, it didn’t feel terrible up until that point. I could also use the other end as a handle. But that’s not why I bought it and it’s certainly not how the toy is sold. I wanted a toy I could slip inside that left my hands free. I wanted to be able to rock on it, as described on the adverts. I certainly wanted something I could insert all the way without causing pain.

I can’t remember which time I decided to try something different, but after being disappointed many times, I decided to turn it the other way. My knowledge of the human anatomy (musculature aside) wasn’t fantastic at the time but even I thought that the rectum wasn’t shaped the way this toy was. I wondered if it would fit in reverse, with the perineum massager pointing the other way. I tried it and, as I thought, it went all the way in with ease. My initial assumptions were correct. Too long for a toy to be curved that way.

I’m sure the Rude Boy has sold well and I’m sure many people actually use them. Indeed, it is possible to insert all the way, but it’s not comfortable and does not hit the prostate, which is the intended outcome. Toys like this (and the Aneros) often sell well due to marketing and the fact that many people don’t like being negative. There are plenty of badly designed toys out there. I’m just staggered that more research into the human anatomy wasn’t performed before manufacturing it. It could have been fantastic.

I’ve spoken to a few guys about this toy and it appears that I’m not alone. It seems that many have bought it and feel the same way I do. Its a shame that such a prominent toy in the market is so poorly designed. I really cannot recommend it for anyone, which is a shame. There are some great, not dissimilar toys out there. The Nexus Max5 for example, would be a better purchase, or the Fun Factory Bloomy (which I’m reviewing at the moment) is a great shape. Just don’t buy this one as I don’t think you’ll like it.

To end on a semi-positive note, I think Rocks Off mean well. Their products are certainly well crafted, nicely packaged and made from good quality materials. I just think they made a big mistake with the shape of this particular toy. I also think they are beginning to realise they could have made a better toy themselves, as the latest in the rage (the butt boy) is a much better shape. See below.

This is a MUCH better shape.

It’s not harshly curved at all and I’d love to try one out to review. The cone shaped plug is a much better design and coupled with the vibe in the perineum massager, it could be a great dual purpose toy, the toy that this one should have been had the designer bothered to turn up to biology lessons at school…

I was hoping to write a snarky review this time.

Most of my reviews recently have been very positive. Sure, they’ve had their issues. For example, the REV1000 and Oxballs Cocksling are both made from TPR instead of silicone (why? Why would you do that??) but they were essentially both good products. Alas, sexshop365.com sent me the sublime Tantus Alumina Pace for review so my snark will have to wait until another review…!

I knew this one would be good before I even tried it out. It’s not my first Alumina product (see here for my review of the Alumina Flow) and I’ve read other views of the Pace that are all positive. Now with such high expectations it’s often easier to become dissatisfied but this wasn’t the case with the Pace. I could probably end the review here by just stating that there really isn’t anything wrong with it but I’ll elaborate on a number of points to try to illustrate why I enjoy using it so much.

Packaging

Tantus’s packaging is always OK but their Alumina range is in a different league. It’s comparable to luxury packaging by Lelo. You won’t want to throw it away, that’s for sure. Like all Alumina products, this comes in a stylish black box with sculpted foam inserts, as you can see below.

Description

Like all Alumina toys, the Pace comes in two main parts that screw together with a small washer in between. All Alumina products have the same screw fitting you can mix and match them. Of course, you are slightly limited to which ends can be mixed together but any Alumina ‘handle’ will screw into any Alumina ‘end’. Of course, like the rest of the range, the ‘handle’ isn’t strictly a handle. Each toy can be used both ways and this one is no exception.

Like the rest of the Alumina range, it’s exquisite quality and made from anodized aeronautical grade aluminium.  However, it’s slightly different from the rest in that it’s a tiny bit smoother to the touch.  You can feel the texture more in the bigger Alumina toys.  This is slightly smoother so there’s less friction when using it.  It’s 5″ long in total although you’ll only be inserting about 3″ at a time.  The pointy end is 1.25″ wide and the base, 1″.

Using

The Pace is often described as a plug. It’s true that it’s about the right size, but I’d argue that it’s more of a toy to be manipulated with rather than just inserted and left there. I tend to think of plugs as being stationary toys but this really isn’t. Like the Lelo Bob, I think this toy is often misunderstood.

Both ends of the Pace can be used and, indeed, both are enjoyable. My favourite however, is with the pointy end inserted, which is the way it’s intended to be used, I believe. Used this way, it hits my prostate every time with ease. The prostate isn’t as far in as you may think. Mine is about 3 inches inside and I think it’s the same for most. Toys that are 4-5 inches in length can be great but will travel past the prostate if inserted fully. This one is perfect and leaves just enough handle for you, or your partner, to hold on to and manipulate. It’s not really a ‘thruster’, but small movements feel amazing. Particularly if you focus pressure on the prostate.

I believe this is the best way to use it. It can be used as a leave in plug, but there are better products out there for that. The handle sticks out a little when inserted which, while perfect for holding, can make a clang if you sit down sharply on a wooden, glass or metal chair. It also moves around a little, too. This might be something that you’d like but personally I prefer it if plugs stay where they are if I’m going to be going out or walking around.

This, for me, is certainly a toy to be played with. Either with a partner or on your own, moving this one around is definitely the most fun way to play.

Temperature Play

If you own one of these and you haven’t tried fooling around with the temperature then you’re missing out on half the fun. The Alumina range is practically designed for it. This particular product doesn’t hold temperature quite as long as its bigger brothers and sisters but it still does a fine job, particularly as it’s only half the size of the others.

You can heat it up or cool it down in a number of ways but I’d recommend either warming in a basin of hot water (my personal favourite) or cooling in a bowl of ice (if you’re feeling adventurous!). For its size, it holds temperature very well.

Cleaning

Cleaning any Alumina toy is easy and this is no exception. I tend to use soap and hot water but it’s dishwasher safe if you want to pop it on the top shelf along with your silicone toys. It’s not shiny, but I wouldn’t want to use an abrasive cloth. Other than that, you’d be hard pushed to damage it however you cleaned it.

Summary

This is a great toy. I actually prefer it to my Flow at the moment.  It’s easier to carry around with me and feels amazing.  Thanks so much to Paul at www.sexshop365.co.uk for sending it to me!  You can pick one up here for £50.35, reduced from £55.95. It is quite expensive, but if you can find it cheaper in the UK, SexShop365.co.uk will refund the difference and give you an extra £1 for your trouble.