Bsoft Massager: vibrator review

What an odd shape -- that was my first thought when I received my Bsoft clitoral vibrator from Eden Fantasys sex toys. After 67 years, I thought I knew my female anatomy, and this didn't look like it would match anything that I knew.

 One side is mildly concave, the other is ridged. One end is pointier than the other. The whole thing vibrates!

 I wasn't sure how to hold it -- which side was "up"? Nothing seemed sized or shaped the way I was.


The manual didn't help--it's for various products and in many languages, with no specifics about using it, and in such small type that no one can read it anyway.

So I decided to experiment and see what I liked. I'm sure that the reason for the lack of direction is to encourage us to do just that, since there's no wrong way to use it. It was fun to experiment, but ultimately unsatisfying.

The name "Bsoft" led me to believe that this toy would be softer -- more cushiony or flexible -- than it is. It's hard. There's nothing soft about it, and as I explored different positions and pressures, I got mad at its misnomer.

I found more to dislike than to like, even if I were to be forgiving about the name. If I pressed with the end where I was feeling the strongest vibrations, it sort of pinched delicate tissue. The concave position was too light for sensation, and the ridge was more irritating than stimulating.

Usually if I don't like a toy personally, I try to figure out who would like it. If it's too light for me, would it be good for a first timer? Not with this complicated, non-intuitive shape. If it didn't fit my physiology, would it fit someone else's? Darned if I know. (Let me know if you found it just right for you.)

I ended up turning it off and reaching for my dependable Hitachi Magic Wand. What's a woman to do?

Even though I couldn't find much to like about using the Bsoft, it does have its attributes: rechargeable, waterproof, easy-to-use controls, easy to clean. very lightweight for travel.

Thank you, Eden Fantasys for sending me the Bsoft -- sorry I didn't like it better!

Mini-Wahl - only one speed: ferocious!

I had a Wahl as my first vibrator in my thirties.  I bought it at Macys in the "personal care" department -- it was a (wink-wink) massager for tight muscles and for giving the face a rosy glow. It did that, all right! I loved it and named it Wally.

Over the decades, I discovered the Hitachi and other wonders of the world, but Wally really taught me about my sexuality in my youth, when sex was easy, available, yet confusing. I was sad to discard my Wahl at about age 50 when all the plastic attachments had cracked and crumbled and it ran dangerously hot.

When EdenFantasys announced the arrival of the new Mini-Wahl, I couldn't wait to see how it had been reinvented! This model is lightweight in ounces but not in vibrational intensity -- it's a strong vibrator!

It comes with a bunch of pop-on massage attachments for scalp and sore muscles (seriously), and although I tried every one for my -- ahem! - purposes, the only one I liked was this maze-like, round shape that targeted the clitoris and sort of radiated out to a larger area. I found all the attachments rather hard, not the soft rubbery feel that might be more appealing.

The Mini-Wahl recharges by plugging it in and sitting it in its base (if you want -- you don't have to use the base) for a while. Then you don't have to deal with wires or batteries. It's quite unattractive, but maybe that's okay, because it looks so much like an ugly old muscle massager that you don't have to hide it.

It's shaped for ease of holding. The neck of the holder looks like it should bend, but it's actually not very flexible. The Mini-Wahl is really noisy, and if you try to make it bend, it gets noisier.

I've tested many vibrators that have multiple speeds and modes and I just turn the thing all the way up, so it didn't bother me that this vibrator has only one speed: ferocious. If you like a more gradual build-up, you might want to use one of your other toys first until you're close to blast-off.

If you've encountered vibrators that are too strong for you, this one probably wouldn't please you. In fact, some women complain that it's too strong and even "numbing." But if you are among those of us who require extra intensity, the strength is a good thing.

I recommend the Mini-Wahl if you want a strong vibrator that you don't have to hide, and especially if you want to massage sore muscles in addition to playing with it sexually.

Compared to other vibrators I've used and love, though--click here for my other reviews (keep scrolling to "older posts" -- I've reviewed dozens of them!) -- it rates maybe 3 stars out of 5. It does the intended job efficiently, but others do the same job while being prettier, quieter, and more comfortable. It's less than half the price of some of my favorites, though, so do consider it if price is a consideration!

Thank you, EdenFantasys, for sending me the Mini-Wahl for review.

Jimmyjane Form 4: How do I love thee?

I have a new lover. He teased me in the shower, and then I took him to bed with me and had my way with him. His name is Jimmyjane Form 4, but I'll call him Frankie because his full name sounds too formal and boring, and he's anything but boring. He's a luxury vibrator, and I think I'm in love. Thank you, Kama Sutra Closet, for introducing us!

What do I love about Frankie? His vibrations are strong, and just the type I like: throbbing and rumbly  rather than buzzy. The shape, which looks rather odd, is a lovely fit lengthwise against the whole vulva, with the business end (the smaller end which houses the motor) covering the clitoris and the rest of the vibrator pressed down for extra stimulation. At least that's my favorite way to use it.

If you prefer, the smaller end can be inserted to stimulate the G-spot. I'm enjoying Frankie so much externally that I haven't wanted to switch. It's about 1.5" diameter at the bulby part of the smaller end, then tapers in, then expands again to a 2" diameter at the biggest part, which I can't imagine inserting. 

I love the velvety silicone -- a matte finish that is smooth but with a little drag for friction. Use lube, of course -- non-silicone is best for use with silicone toys. It has a little flexibility, making it easy to position and not have to crook an arthritic wrist uncomfortably.

It charges by sitting in its charging seat. Once charged, it's cord-free and battery-free. It's completely waterproof -- not just splash-proof, but immersible. Hence my shower foreplay.

I have to chide Jimmyjane for making the controls impossible to read unless you're wearing reading glasses and standing in bright sunlight. Fortunately, once you've learned where the three controls are and what they do ("+" for more intense; "-" for less intense; a wavy squiggle for changing function), you can do it by feel.

Be careful that the side with the controls is facing away from your body, or you might accidentally press a button with your thumb that changes the action at the wrong moment, and that's a sad event indeed. 

Shouldn't a luxury vibrator come with its own lint-free storage pouch? I think so. But Frankie arrived in a plastic case that clearly was meant for recycling, not for storage.

Never mind the case and the buttons -- Frankie is a dream lover of a vibrator.

Thank you, Kama Sutra Closet, for bringing us together. Right now Kama Sutra Closet is offering the Jimmyjane Form 4 for $116 (regular price $145!). Put in the code Better15 for a 15% discount on any other, regularly priced item.

I-Vibe Rabbit: "It's not you, it's me"

"It's not you, it's me," I said to my I-Vibe Rabbit, a dual-action vibrator made by Doc Johnson and sent to me for review by the nice folks at SexToy.com. There's a lot to love here, but it's not my perfect toy.

I loved the shape and cuteness of this vibrator. I liked that the shaft has a penis head and isn't too girthy, and the clitoral part (shaped more like a dolphin than a rabbit, though vibrators of this type are called "rabbits") is flexible.

But for other reasons, this toy won't be one I reach for often.

It's a handful -- 10 inches total length (5.5 of that is insertable) -- uses 4 AA batteries, and becomes a bit heavy for arthritic wrists when we need to keep it going for a long time, as we seniors do.  That may or may not be a problem for you -- it was for me. It made me wonder why we weren't designed with longer arms, then I wouldn't have had to extend my reach and crook my wrist to hold it properly angled. Like I said, it's me -- if you have longer arms proportionate to your torso length, you'll wonder what I'm talking about.

Another problem for me was the "pearls" that rotate in the shaft. This initially seemed like a good idea -- the penis head rotates (it seems to wave, actually, very cute) and the pearls jump around. But before long, the pearls were irritating. Fortunately, the clitoral and shaft vibrations have independent levels of intensity, but even at the lightest level, the pearls became unsexy, and I ended up turning off the shaft vibrations altogether.

The control panel that looks complicated is actually easy to use. There are three different functions: F1 vibrates the clitoral stimulator (I'll call this part the "ears") fast and rotates the shaft. F2 vibrates the ears slowly and swings the shaft front to back and side to side. F3 pulses the ears and rotates the head and reverses directions. Each function can be powered to go faster/more intensely or slower/less intensely.

Don't worry if all this seems to be too much to figure out -- just try pressing buttons, and find what you like. If you're operating this vibrator in the dark, you'll get a laugh from all the lights -- I felt like air traffic control guiding the I-Vibe home. I didn't manage to capture the light show in the photo, but it's showy.


The I-Vibe is supposed to be waterproof, though I didn't try it in water. Let me know if you try it in the tub. (I don't have a tub, so I rely on my readers for this and much more!) As with all vibrators, be sure to remove the batteries when not in use.

Thank you, SexToys.com, retailer of Sex Toys, for sending me the I-Vibe.

No Squeals for the Sqweel

I wish I loved the Sqweel. It's a great idea -- a rotating wheel of fluttering mini-tongues lapping away for your pleasure. I knew it wouldn't/couldn't really feel like a lover's tongue, but I hoped for sensations close enough for my fantasy to take over. Nope, didn't happen.

Good news first: It's cleverly designed. The soft tongues are on a wheel that rotates inside a case that you hold. Press the tongues gently against the clitoris, and the stimulation begins.The controls at the end (off, low, medium, high)  are easy to use without looking.

The tongue wheel comes out easily for cleaning and snaps in securely for use.  The case has a cover section for storage.

Use plenty of lube, especially if you have pubic hair (yes, many of us still do!), because otherwise the rotating tongues will grab your hairs. Another reviewer described "rug burn" when she didn't use enough lube -- my guess is that she didn't have public hair.

It takes three AAA batteries, easy to insert. Remove the batteries when you store it -- I didn't, and the batteries were dead when I picked it up a month later.

My disappointment was twofold:

(1) The vibrations aren't strong enough -- sort of mid-strong, but not super-strong -- and pressing harder makes the wheel slow down, so you have to avoid pressing. If you don't need super strong, it might be just fine for you.

(2) Because the Sqweel is so large and covers so much of your personal real estate, there's no space left if you want to add an insertable toy at the same time. Sorry, but that's a deal breaker for me!  Babeland's description says it can be used during couple sex ("hold it against your clit during penetration"), but I can't imagine how this might be done. Let me know if you've managed it. I suppose you could hold it sideways instead of up-and-down, but the sideways sensation was too odd for me.

I know many reviewers love this toy, so don't dismiss it if my personal objections don't hit home with you. It's not a bad toy, it just doesn't work for me.

Thank you , Babeland, for the opportunity to try the Sqweel!

Size My Sex Toys, Please!

 Women have their choice of sizes for bras and shoes, which is a good thing, because obviously our breasts and feet are all different shapes and sizes. So why haven't sex toy designers/ manufacturers realized that our genitals are all different shapes and sizes, too?

Okay, it's obvious that we are, and it's also obvious that good sex toys would cost even more than they do now if they either came in a variety of sizes or were made to be adjustable.

But let's say we're buying a "rabbit" vibrator -- a.k.a. "dual action" -- which means that one vibrator has an innie for vaginal/g-spot stimulation and an outie for clitoral stimulation. Since I review sex toys, I get to try many different varieties, and I've sampled at least a dozen rabbits that don't work for me at all. If they hit the spot internally, the clitoral-stimulator doesn't land where I want it, and vice versa.

Unfortunately, the information details on the retailers' sites generally include only length and circumference or diameter of the insertable part, but no way to gauge how close the two parts are, or anything else that might impact our enjoyment of a particular toy.

Besides, how many of us know our own measurements? Can we ask our gynecologist, "Hey, could you measure the distance from vaginal opening to clitoris?" And since I can't bear a cervix battering toy, I'd also ask, "While you're in there, how deep is my vagina from entrance to cervix?" (Readers: don't tell me to insert a ruler, please, and yes, I know we're expandable, but still....)

This rant started out as the prelude to a review of an absolutely gorgeous and expensive vibrator that fits all wrong, but I think I'll stop here and see what you have to say. 

Your comments are welcome. (Please don't use this as an opportunity to promote vibrator retail sites other than the ones I endorse on this blog, though. I delete comments that try to hijack my readers to sites I haven't checked out and endorsed.)

Enjoy my other sex toy posts here.

I first posted this in November 2010 and am posting again, hoping to get more comments from you. Any sex toy designers who want to work with me, please let me know!

I Can't Ride the iRide

Sometimes a sex toy looks like more fun than it is. When I saw the iRide, I begged Eden Fantasys to send it to me for review. Since Eden Fantasys appreciates knowing how their toys work from a senior perspective, I received it quickly.

I had to laugh unwrapping it -- it's a boat of a sex toy!

Designed for mounting, it has a pink penis ("probe" is the technical term) and a clitoral "bump." It's huge (the launch pad is 13" long), bright fuchsia pink, funny to look at, and rather intimidating. Do NOT buy this toy for a novice sex-toy user!

And don't buy it for girth-challenged, older women. The pink penis is 1.6" at the widest part. It's not long -- 3.5" insertable length -- but the width made it uncomfortable for me. Maybe it's just me, but my maximum width for an insertable toy is 1.5" and this 1.6" wide (it doesn't sound that much bigger, but past the max is past the max), hard rubber penis stretched my limits and felt too hard and uncomfortable.

I've read other reviews from women who enjoy bouncing on the iRide but found the clitoral bump too hard. I can't imagine bouncing on it, and I couldn't even get far enough onto it (or it into me) for the bump to find my clitoris. You can't get close to the clitoral knob unless you're all the way impaled, something I didn't manage to achieve. (No, I will not make a video of my attempts, as comical as they were.)

If you have no problem enjoying 1.6" girth, you may enjoy this a lot. The control buttons -- one for the penis, the other for the bump -- are easy to find and use, and the vibrations are intense. Hint for older women with arthritic knees: Prop the whole iRide up on a pillow before you straddle it.

The iRide takes 4 AA batteries behind the battery door, easy access and well away from lubricant and clean-up splashes as long as you're careful.  Eden Fantasys sent me some Afterglow toy wipes for simple clean-up.


Thank you, Eden Fantasys, for letting me review the iRide. Sorry it didn't work out for me!

(If you're in or near Sebastopol, CA, and you are screaming, "Joan! Let me have your iRide!" email me.)

Yooo: the cutest sex toy ever

My Yooo vibrator looks like a bubblegum-colored Mickey Mouse head. It's the cutest sex toy I've ever seen!

The Yooo has three silicone balls, two piled on top of the third, and it covers the vulva with a delight of vibrations coming from two motors. (The three "o"s in the name "Yooo" represent the three balls.)

I love the diffused feeling of vibrations and pulses all over the clitoral area -- not just the clitoris itself, but the labia and mound, with my anatomy, anyway. I can't imagine inserting any of it -- the balls are too big and wouldn't get in very far if even you can accommodate the girth-- in case you're asking.

The Yooo is wonderfully strong--just how we seniors like it! I especially like the rumbly vibrations. It's also waterproof and reasonably quiet -- not silent, but your grandkids in the next room won't hear it, and no one will know you're using it in the shower.

It's a quality product made of medical grade silicone. I like the cushiony feel -- I often complain that some vibrators are too hard. (I'd enjoy it even mushier, if you're asking me to design the perfect sex toy.) The matte surface gives a little drag or pull when it's moved around, which is a nice sensation as long as you use enough lubricant. I like my bubblegum pink color (I'm tempted to chew it), and it also comes in dark blue, orange, and green. 

Like many of the new Fun Factory toys, The Yooo is rechargeable -- no batteries -- just stick it to the magnetic plug, and once it's charged, use it and enjoy. Although there's a note on EdenFantasys that it can be difficult to charge, I found it supremely simple. The magnet just grabs onto the right spot and stays there.

The one weirdness is that the instructions say to press "the button on the control unit" to turn it on. There are three buttons on the control unit. With a few seconds of experimentation, I learned to hold down the "+" button until it starts rumbling. Keep pressing the "+" button, and the vibrations get va-va-voom strong and/or change modes. With motors in both top bubbles, you can explore how you want them to mix or match. For example, one mode alternates between the two motors, revving up one ball, then switching to the other.

The daisy button is a "turbo charge" when you're ready to go over the top. Woo hoo!

Oh yeah, you could also give an awesome shoulder or penis massage with it! Or, men, would it be too strong?


My only reluctance in giving this adorable toy a billion-star rating is that the buttons aren't easy to press. You have to bear down hard on them, even to change modes or intensity, and after a few minutes of experimenting my thumb was tingly, which wasn't my goal. It also doesn't come with a storage pouch, which is shame given the quality and cost of this toy. Since it collects lint (and, in my house, cat hairs) easily, you'll want to store it in a non-linty bag.



Thank you, Eden Fantasys, for sending me the Yooo for review. Such fun and pleasure!

Bcurious by Bswish vibrator review

I like that vibrator designers are experimenting with shapes that fit the contours of female anatomy and hit the pleasure spots without a preconceived notion of what a sex toy has to look like. The Bcurious is a plastic/silicone clitoral vibrator with a curved shape that cups the vulva.

The Bcurious is 4" long and 1.5" wide, fitting easily in the hand, lightweight, and reasonably quiet. It's smooth and hard, with very little drag from the texture. The 7 vibrational patterns are accessible by pressing a button which is easy to see and feel. It's  rechargeable and when it's in use, there are no cords. It's waterproof!


The whole toy vibrates, with the most intense vibration focused at the pointy tip, giving a pinpoint focus on the clitoris.

I guess that's my problem with it -- I prefer really strong vibrations, but diffused over the clitoris and surrounding area. If I select top intensity, it isn't quite strong enough if I rub the whole area, but it's too "sharp" feeling if I aim the pointy part right on the clitoris. Other reviewers I've read, like Epiphora, have loved the pointy shape, so it's just me.


Since it isn't quite strong enough, I tend to press down, and it feels a bit too hard. I'd like a little more "give" when I'm pressing down, and stronger vibrations.

And you? That's why multiple reviews are important. Once you find a reviewer who seems to like what you like -- strength, shape, form, function -- keep reading her reviews. Comment, too -- it's lovely to discover we're not singing in the wilderness!

Didn't find exactly what you're seeking? Enjoy my other sex toy posts here.

Many thanks to EdenFantasys for providing the Bcurious by Bswish for review.

"How do I know what I want? " Choosing your first sex toy

Joan surrounded by toys at Good Vibrations

On another site, a woman of our age wrote,

I went into an adult sex shop for the first time and I was so confused that all I could do was make a quick lap around the store and get out of there as fast as I could. How in the world do I know what I want?

 I answered there, and am repeating myself here in case more of you have this question. Being a sex toy reviewer at ease with toys, including handling them in a store, I don't want to forget that many women (and men!) our age are not accustomed to sex toy shops or even to sex toys in general! Here's what I said, and I welcome your comments: 

Sexuality shops can be intimidating first time around! Thre are so many types/sizes/shapes/functions of sex toys these days that it's understandable that you'd be intimidated. Once you get to know what you like, you'll appreciate the variety. Until then, though, educate yourself in these ways:

1. Read some "first timer" articles such as "Why to use and how to choose vibrators" from A Woman's Touch.

2, Figure out what kind of vibrator you want: clitoral? vaginal? both? strong? mild? Does noise matter? Shape? Size? Do you want waterproof?

3. Then read reviews of various vibrators that fit your specifications. Of course I recommend my own plentiful reviews because they're written from a senior perspective. You can find them here. (Keep scrolling down to "older posts," because I've written many of them!")

4. Once you've found a few that entice you, read more reviews by Googling the name of the toy + "reviews" and you'll learn more. Different reviewers have different likes and dislikes, so once you find a reviewer whose choices (and reasons for choices) you like, keep following that reviewer.

Now you're ready to return to that sex shop -- or shop online -- and you'll feel much more at ease! A good, woman-friendly sex shop has staff ready to assist, so try to get past the shyness and ask questions. Believe me, you'll never come up with a question they haven't heard many times before!

Hope this is helpful,
Joan

Soraya and Alia: two elegant vibrators from LELO

If you can afford a luxury item for yourself or for a woman you love, one of LELO's elegant, uniquely shaped intimate massagers (as LELO refers to them) is a Valentine's Day gift that's sure to please, and I mean that in every sense of the word. They're smooth and beautiful, made of high-grade silicone, rechargeable, quiet, and waterproof. And did I say beautiful?

The Soraya  is designed to give clitoral stimulation with the "bump" section while you insert the elongated part for vaginal stimulation. The hole in the widest part is for holding -- you slip a thumb or a finger or two in the hole, and it's easy to hold and manipulate with no need for gripping.

The goal is the same as a "rabbit" vibrator, but this dual-action work of art is so far from "rabbit" looking that it's difficult to include it in the same class of vibrators.  Each pleasure point has its own motor, so you can adjust how much and what kind (8 modes!) of vibration you want. Most modes rumble or twitch from one section to the other, though you can get steady vibration in either or both  and even turn off one motor if you prefer.

As much as I wanted to love the elegant Soraya, I had trouble trying to make the clitoral bump land where I wanted it when the long part was inside. Although the bump is flexible, I couldn't position it comfortably without the innie changing its position and becoming less stimulating or downright unpleasant. For example, if I tried to rest the bump along my clitoris and follow my natural contour while inserting the long part, it went too deep and too far forward. If the innie was comfortable, the bump just grazed the clitoris if I bent it in, and that wasn't conducive to pleasure, either.

This isn't a criticism of the Soraya really -- it's a statement about how we're all built in different shapes and sizes, and that applies to our genitals as well as the rest of our bodies. Unless a fully adjustable vibrator comes along (I wish!), sizing and contouring them will be hit-or-miss. From other reviews I've read of the Soraya, most women don't have this issue and find the hot balance easily and eagerly.


My fit issue with the Soraya made me even more eager to try the  Alia, a clitoral stimulator with a unique shape: oval, with holding hole in the middle.

There's no one "right" way to use it -- experiment. You might want to lay it flat against your vulva, or hold it perpendicular if you prefer direct rather than diffused stimulation.

This vibrator has 6 modes from the control buttons that, while practically hidden to the eye, are easy to locate by feel. If you want to share the experience with a lover, the Alia is couple-friendly.

I really enjoyed the shape of the Alia and the ease if use. But it was just a tad too mild for perfection. It's strong -- plenty strong for most women -- just not super-wow strong as I prefer.




Thank you, LELO, for sending me these two gorgeous products for review.

Not exactly what you're looking for? Enjoy my other sex toy posts here.