Review: Tantus Anaconda

He Says:

Firstly, I have a couple of things to get off my chest. Everytime I hear the name of this dildo, I cannot help but think of the phrase "trouser snake". I don't know whether this was deliberate on the part of the otherwise lovely people at Tantus, but I wish they hadn't named their dildo this, as it is a horrible phrase. The other thing this name makes me think of in rather gruesome detail is the fact that an Anaconda is a constrictor snake, killing its prey by crushing it in massive, powerful muscular coils. Of course the exact opposite process takes place in the use of this dildo.

At least this dildo is massive and powerful. Although the concept of a dildo with a handle is not new, I have never before seen it implemented in silicone. It is an intriguing proposition, so I was very pleased that Lovehoney generously sent us this to review.

As a prelude to what is about to come, I would like to declare that I am a massive Tantus fanboy. I think that it is pretty clear from the long section of our toy list that is dominated by the name Tantus. But although no disaster, this dildo falls short of the usual exceptional standards of this brand.

The problems start with the material. Rather than the typical smooth, glossy finish I would associate with a Tantus product (and which is present on the head of this dildo), the company has elected to go for an extremely matte, almost rough, finish for the shaft of the Anaconda. This causes high friction to the touch nevermind in use. The surface also doesn't seem to grip lube very well, with a couple of different brands I normally find really good for anal play virtually rolling off.

Being silicone, this dildo has the advantage it can be thoroughly sterilised by boiling for a few minutes, but it is a little tricky to clean the grooves under the glans of the Anaconda.

In use this dildo is brutal. Sometimes this is a good thing. The handle allowed Lucy to savage me with this on one particular occasion, and I hugely enjoyed that. However, most of the time I find this a bit much. This is a big dildo, x cm around the head puts this firmly in the girthy camp, and it reduces only slightly from the point. but this is not really my problem. I could probably take the larger Tantus General from a standing start on even an average day if I put my mind to it. But the comparative bluntness of the head of this toy, and above all the roughness and firmness, mean I don't enjoy this most of the time. This is a shame, as the handle makes thrusting considerably less effort in several positions.

As I've already said, the handle is great fun. I would bet money that every single review of this has mentioned the desire to use this as a weapon. Just the feel of waving this wildly about in your hand, like a bizarre truncheon or cosh. I will happily admit to giving Lucy countless whacks on the head with the Anaconda during the course of our testing. Sadly, I think this might be the most fun I have had with this toy. I really don't understand the rationale behind the choice of finish to this (and it clearly was a concious choice, as the head shows), but it has pretty much ruined this for me. However, I think the main feature of the Anaconda, the handle, is actually a success, and I would certainly be interested in other models with handles in the future if they decided to change the texture.

She Says:

I have to say, my thoughts on this dildo largely echo those of Alex's. Tantus is one of my favourite sex toy brands, but this one just doesn't tick all the boxes.

I'll start with the size and shape. The Anaconda is pretty girthy and definitely wouldn't be classed as a beginner's dildo; it is too large for me to use anally at the moment. Strangely it tapers from a large head down to a smaller base, the opposite to what you would usually expect; meaning that it is the initial insertion that is the most difficult. As Alex has already explained, it has a strange matte finish which adds a lot of texture and increases friction whilst in use. Personally I prefer a smoother glossy finish for use vaginally, especially when using a larger toy. Even with copious amounts of lube I found this particular finish a bit uncomfortable after being in use for just a short amount of time. 

Now onto what makes this one different: the handle. I actually think that this a fantastic ergonomic development. For years now I have often chosen to use a double-ended dildo for a bit of self-loving, purely for the fact that the other end works as a great handle and can make light work of a good thrusting action.  This handle works even better than that, as the narrow diameter means that it is easier to grip and causes less hand cramping than a double-ender or normal dildo would. I have also thoroughly enjoyed using this dildo on Alex, it certainly allows me to give him a good pounding! Another potential market that I see for a handle like this would be for people suffering from arthritis or weakness in their hands; maybe it should become part of the occupational therapists tool kit!?

So in summary, I love the handle but don't really rate the dildo itself; and I'd love to see this design incorporated into a more conventional dildo.

Thanks again to Lovehoney for sending us this product in exchange for a fair review.

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Related Posts:

1. Review: Tantus Acute
2. Review: Tantus General
3. Review: Tantus Silk Large
4. Review: Babes n Horny Angela

Review: Lovehoney G-Spot Happy Rabbit

We present to you, the all new Lovehoney G-Spot Happy Rabbit!

For weeks now we've been holding our tongues about the brand new range of rechargeable silicone Happy Rabbit Vibrators brought to you by one of the leading sex toy retailers in the UK. Today the embargo is lifted so we're finally able to spill the beans on what to expect...

She Says:

Wow, well Lovehoney have certainly pulled out all the stops with this little (or in fact, not so little) beauty. The design is clean, modern and sexy; it's what you would expect from a top of the range luxury sex toy manufacturer. I love the sophisticated black and white design, a very welcome step away from the pinks and purples of the sex toy world which we are all so familiar with. The black silicone has a matte finish and is reasonably firm. Being black silicone it does have a tendency to pick up airborne lint (a photographer's nightmare!), but this is easily dealt with for normal use by running the shaft of the rabbit under warm water beforehand. The white base is made from a glossy white plastic, the type you would expect to see featuring on an Apple product. The power controls are in the shape of an exclamation mark, another fun and quirky design feature. 

As for power, the rabbit has three internal motors. One for the ears and two in the main shaft. The dot of the exclamation mark controls the ears. You press it once to turn it on, then keep pressing to cycle through the three settings: low, medium and high continuous vibrations. To turn it off you press and hold the button. One feature of the controls which I think is extremely useful and quite advantageous over similar toys is that when you turn the vibrations on, they come on at the setting you were on last. This means you don't have to keep cycling through the settings to get to the one you want, particularly useful if like me you like to have little rests in your masturbation session as you get closer to orgasm.  The main shaft of the rabbit is controlled by the dash of the exclamation mark. The button works in exactly the same way as the one for the ears, but this time there are five settings to choose from; low, medium, high and two pulsating settings. 

The Happy Rabbit is slightly different to most other rabbits when in use. The vibrations in the ears themselves aren't the strongest I've ever felt in a rabbit vibrator, in fact they were not enough when used alone to be able to make me cum. I think the main reason for this is that they are quite long, so the vibration has further to travel from the motor before it gets to your clit, thus losing some of its power. However, the  vibrations in the shaft are very strong. Normally internal vibration doesn't really do much for me, and in the past I have almost always used rabbit vibrators with only the ears turned on. But the combination of the vibrations internally and externally via the ears was enough to easily tip me over the edge. I have to say it was a very different sensation compared to most rabbits, not what I was expecting at all. I don't want to say that it's better, because I don't think it is, but it's definitely not worse. Just different. As for the g-spot shape,  you may have heard me say before that my g-spot isn't particularly sensitive, so you might wonder why I chose the g-spot rabbit? Well, I have never tried a rabbit vibrator particularly aimed at this area before, but more importantly I liked the sexy black colour! I'm not sure if this really hits my g-spot or not, I'm really not the best person to judge this toy from that perspective. But it must be doing something right, as it is the first internal vibrator I have enjoyed using. 

So its ears might not be the best ever, but this rabbit does have two major selling points in my opinion. Firstly it's rechargeable, which is just fantastic. Secondly, it is made of silicone, which is the best body-safe sex toy material around. In this respect the Happy Rabbit certainly lives up to its name - silicone toys make me very happy. 

For the second time recently I am actually going to discuss packaging (something I usually don't bother with), because I think this well thought out packaging deserves some credit. The rabbit comes packed in a sturdy black gift box, there is a slip on cover over this which is glossy white with an image of the rabbit on the front (see top photo). It is well thought out, stylish and in no way offensive or off-putting to an inexperienced sex toy purchaser. This box (minus the sleeve) could easily be used as discreet storage for your buzzing buddy. But it doesn't stop there. Inside the box you will also find a black silk drawstring bag, so if you would rather store it in a sex toy or knicker drawer, you can be assured that it will stay hidden and the silicone will be protected. I have to say, I am very impressed with this extra effort, it would make such a perfect romantic gift.  

Overall this is a really great product; the design is absolutely beautiful. The only negative thing I have to say about it is that the vibrations in the ears aren't particularly strong when used alone, but when combined with the internal vibrator it results in a fantastic sensation. If you're looking for a new body-safe, silicone rabbit vibrator I can certainly recommend this to you. 

He Says:

I get so jealous when I see such a sexy looking toy, and can only imagine what it would be like to use. I guess I should just invest heavily in male masturbators and prostate toys but somehow it's just not the same!

From that little moan you can probably tell I like the look of this thing. The only (tiny) imperfections are that you can notice a slight mould line bisecting the rabbit, and the fact that the Lovehoney logo printed on the bottom is smudging slightly. Both of those fall straight into the nit-picking category though.

Lovehoney have made a big deal in their press of this being quiet, and I would agree it is pretty quiet for the power; certainly more so than any other rabbit we own. As a silicone toy it should be body-safe and easy to clean. There is a slight complication in this regard in that the Happy Rabbit is not waterproof, so cannot be boiled to sterilise in the way many silicone toys can. Still, wiping it down with sex toy cleaner or a dilute bleach solution should be fine.

Being a rechargeable toy, I am also impressed with the environmental credentials on display here. To be frank, I am like the majority of people in that I profess to care deeply about the environment until it in some way requires me to put my money where my mouth is, or alter my lifestyle in any appreciable way. But I will take that warm fuzzy feeling as an added bonus. If you were buying this, you could also trade in an old rabbit using Lovehoney's fantastic rabbit amnesty scheme.

I have not tried it out myself, so ultimately can't judge this toy on the most important criterion: performance. But the Happy Rabbit has everything going for it, and I kind of shudder to think how much success I suspect Lovehoney will have with it. And of course thanks again to Lovehoney for sending us this toy in exchange for our honest opinion.

The Lovehoney G-Spot Happy Rabbit will be available alongside two other models next Tuesday (8th May 2012) to coincide with their feature documentary on Channel 4, which you can read all about here.

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Related Posts:

1. Review: Rampant Rabbit Thruster
2. Easter Bunnies
3. Review: Lovehoney Mains Powered Deluxe Magic Wand
4. Review: Lovehoney Powerful Pocket Vibrator

More Sex Please, We're British

Did you hear? Lovehoney are going to be on TV! Needless to say we are very excited. 

Channel 4 are airing a one off documentary called More Sex Please, We're British, on Tuesday 8th May at 10pm. The show will go behind the scenes at one of our favourite online sex toy retailers, Lovehoney. We'll not only find out more about what goes on at their HQ, but also more about the sex habits of the nation. 

It's great to see programmes like this going mainstream. We can't wait to tune in, and we're looking forward to hearing the general reaction to it afterwards. 

Find out more about the show here on the Channel 4 website. 

Review: Tantus Severin Large Butt Plug

He Says:

Sex toys, more than most things I can think of in life (excluding marmite, obviously) give people an instant, visceral "love it or hate it" reaction. It can be difficult to overcome one's initial gut reaction. But I would like to report on a rare case where this happened.

When I first saw the Tantus Severin Large butt plug, my instant reaction was a mixture of amusement and disgust, owing to a couple of associations which immediately and unfortunately seared themselves into my mind. To me it looks like a) A giant nipple or b) A dummy (aka a pacifier for our international audience). One of these I would normally associate with sex, the other, thank goodness, I would not (but of course each to their own). Neither of them I particularly desire to stick up my ass.

Review: Lovehoney Powerful Pocket Vibrator

Shes Says:

The Lovehoney Powerful Pocket Vibrator is one of the best selling toys on the Lovehoney website - and I can see why.  I've had my pocket vibrator for several years now (in fact, I've got two) and I have to say, it is a fantastic little budget toy.  We've tried absolutely loads of cheap bullet and egg vibrators over the years, most of which we end up throwing away because the vibrations aren't strong enough for me.  Luckily this little lovely lives up to its name - it's powerful and it is small enough to fit in your pocket.

Review: Rascal Strapping Anal Beads

He Says:

Most anal beads are fairly delicate little things and although fairly long (which can cause difficulty if they are fairly rigid) are not normally too wide. However, the Rascal Strapping Anal Beads could not by any stretch of the imagination be described as delicate. I would perhaps venture "hefty" as a better one word description. Robust would probably also fit the bill.

Review: Lovehoney Mains Powered Deluxe Magic Wand

She Says:

I've been lusting after a wand vibrator for several months now.  It's fair to say that I found it hard to control my excitement when I received an email at work from the lovely people at Lovehoney informing me that a Lovehoney wand was on its way to me in the post for testing!

The Lovehoney Mains Powered Deluxe Magic Wand, is as the name states, mains powered.  For me this is a massive selling point.  I am a bit of a vibration junkie – I like my vibrations to be continuous and strong, so the power appealed to me in that sense.  Also, we get through a ridiculous number of batteries (re-chargeables never get up to the full power of one-use ones in my opinion), which not only costs us a lot of money but is also pretty bad for the environment.  It comes with a 1.8m long lead, which is fairly long making it easy for most people to access it’s immense power from most locations in their house.  However, if like me your house is pretty sparse in plug sockets, a longer lead would be a useful addition to it’s design. 

Review: Rocks Off Naughty Boy

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Review: Tantus Acute

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Review: X10 Silicone Anal Beads

She Says:

I really enjoy using anal beads, if you've never tried them before, check out this how to use anal beads article from Lovehoney. The X10 Silicone Anal Beads were the second set of beads we purchased that were suitable to be used by me (Alex also has some ridiculously large ones which aren't going anywhere near my ass... for the time being at least!).

We bought them as a replacement to our original Lovehoney Beginners Anal Beads as we began to lust after silicone replacements for all our existing toys. For those of you who aren't yet convinced on this front, silcone is great because it's body-safe, it's soft, it's non-porous and it's easy to clean - even sterilise in most cases (by boiling for a few minutes in water). There are lots of different types of silicone, some are very soft and flexible, whilst others are more firm. Unfortunately I think that the silicone that has been used to make these beads is too soft and flexible. Maybe you think soft and flexible are good qualities for something you're going to be sticking up your bum? Maybe so for a dildo, but one of the most pleasurable things to do with anal beads is to pull them out just as you're climaxing. I find that as I get closer to orgasm all my muscles tense up, at this point I am squeezing very tight around the beads in my ass. As the material is so stretchy, when I try to pull them out the connecting part between the beads just stretches, the beads are stuck in there, held securely by my tight little asshole. I never had this issue with the previous beads, so I am really disappointed that this is the case with these. I would love to find some beads made of a firmer silicone, or perhaps with a metal/firm plastic core to them in order to avoid this problem but still allow me to enjoy the benefits of silicone.

Review: Rampant Rabbit Thruster

She says:

I decided to treat myself to this rabbit vibrator a couple of years ago after getting a rave review from one of my friends who worked in Ann Summers at the time, she also got staff discount for me... which was handy as I don't usually buy Ann Summers toys as they're pretty pricey for what you get.

The Rampant Rabbit Thruster has now been replaced with Rampant Rabbit The Thrusting One, but looking at it it appears to be exactly the same only re-branded and in a different colour.  You can also get one which I can only assume is from the same manufacturer but with different branding from Lovehoney, the Deluxe Ultra Thrusting Waterproof Rabbit Vibrator.

It is made from a TPE/ABS mixture that is latex and phthalates free, so it should be safe - but it's not up to the standard of silicone toys.  Over time this material hasn't worn well, and despite good storage, we have still been victims to the Dali Dildo phenomenon... with parts of it appearing to be melted (see pic).  However, the material is soft, comfortable and cleaned easily.  The vibrator is waterproof and can be fully submerged, which again helps with cleaning (just use your usual antibacterial spray and rinse under warm water) - but unfortunately it can't be sterilized.

Review: Lovehoney Cosmos Orgasmic Glass Dildo

She says:

Alex bought this toy for me about 2 years ago now. It has been very hard wearing so far and still looks as good as new.  It was my first introduction to glass toys and I remember being very intrigued but also slightly apprehensive about it at the time.  If you've never used glass before, the sensation is very new and intense when you first do - I was in complete bliss the first time I tried this one, and with the help of my trusty vibrator on my clit, ended up coming within seconds!  If you're interested to find out more about my general views on glass toys - I'll be blogging about my experience with them soon!

As for the Cosmos in particular, it is a very beautiful object which has a pleasing shape and design.  The coloured swirl that runs through the centre is rather attractive. It comes in a little velvet drawstring bag which is perfect for storing it in and makes sure it doesn't get chipped up against your other glass toys.

Review: Fun Factory Bootie Butt Plug

He says:

The Fun Factory Bootie Butt Plug is obviously designed for those new to anal play, or looking for something that they can wear comfortably for an extended period of time. It is made of a flexible purple silicone, with a fairly matte texture. My favourite thing about this toy is the base. When inserted it sits extremely ergonomically between my butt cheeks due the thinness of it, and the curvature and flexibility of it means that length wise it conforms very snugly to my perineum and butt-crack (lovely, I know).

This butt plug from what I've seen is nearly universally regarded as adorable.  I have a couple of comments on this. Firstly, it somewhat reminds me of a baby's dummy. This is somewhat off-putting. The second point is that I personally find cute and sexy to be very different things most of the time. E.g. puppies are cute, Natalie Portman is sexy.