Today I’m going to be looking at a product which I really didn’t want to review, because frankly it just doesn’t work for me at all. Never one to renege on my obligations, however, here we go, so enjoy the ride!
Category: masturbators
Electrastim Jack Socket and XL
March is upon us, the days are getting longer, and Spring feels as though it could be right around the corner, well except for one little hitch… The entire UK is currently under a blanket of freak snow, so let’s grab a cup of hot chocolate and dive right into a new review.
I’m going to kick off the month with something a little bit different, in the form of the ElectraStim Jack Socket. This is something that I’ve been interested in reviewing for a while, but somehow never got around to trying one until this past month, so let’s go and seen how it checks out!
Pulse III Solo
Happy New Year to all my lovely readers, and what better way to kick off 2017 than with a brand new review for everybody’s favourite ‘guybrator’ manufacturer, and XBIZ Award-winning Boutique Pleasure Products Company of the Year, Hot Octopuss!
Sticking to what seems to be their two-year development cycle, the guys at Hot Octopuss have just launched the third iteration of their much acclaimed Pulse, and they’ve kindly sent over a Pulse III Solo for me to test out. So, without any further ado…
The original Pulse first launched back in 2013, as a challenger to then market leader in male vibrators, the Cobre Libre by Fun Factory, and it quickly became one of my favourite toys. The following year, reinforcing that competition drives innovation, we were treated to Fun Factory’s answer in the form of the revamped Cobra Libre II, and then only months later Hot Octopuss returned to us with their line up of new Pulse II models. I remarked back then that 2015 was a good year to own a penis, and indeed it was, but two years down the line the question is what new heights are Hot Octopuss about to take us to with the Pulse III? I know I’m excited to find out.
The Pulse III builds directly on the advancements of its immediate predecessor, the Pulse II, and represents a straight evolution of the original concept, though this time the change is far less of a leap than from the Pulse to the Pulse II.
The biggest shake up in the previous generation was that it introduced separate “Solo” and “Duo” models aimed at slightly different markets, and the Pulse III maintains this distinction. The original Pulse offered multifunctionality aimed at couples play, while still primarily being a toy for the man, and it did this by offering a secondary point of vibration which could stimulate a female partner during use. The Duo models represent the point of continuity with this concept and are most consistent with the original design, while the Solo units have dispensed with this aspect altogether, instead moving towards a focus solely on individual pleasure.
Today I’m going to be once again looking at the Solo version of the latest Pulse, which has the welcome advantage of being slightly less expensive than the Duo. I’m pleased that they’re maintained this divergence in the design, because who wants to be paying for a feature they won’t be using?
So what exactly is the Pulse III Solo? I’ve been speaking so far with the assumption that everyone has read one of my earlier reviews and has a general understanding of the nature of these products, but for the benefit of those coming to this afresh. The Pulse is a vibrating male masturbatory aid, or a ‘Guybrator’ to use the term they’ve coined, and it’s one of the very very few vibrators aimed specifically at men. It differs from nearly all other male masturbators on the market, such as your Fleshjacks and Tengas, because it takes the conventional thinking about how men get off and turns it on its head. Most male sex toys aim to replicate the natural sexual experience as closely as possible, that is they involve the penis being thrust inside something in order to stimulate it to the point of orgasm. The Pulse on the other hand requires absolutely no motion on the part of the user, and brings him to climax via the use of powerful vibrations targeted directly at the most sensitive part of the penis. For any man who’s experienced the joys of vibrator use before then it probably doesn’t seem that revolutionary, but within the realm of male sex toys it really is.
The design of the Pulse III closely follows on from the Pulse II, employing the same shape and the same materials, and with no notable difference in the size. Unfortunately that does mean that it maintains Pulse II’s smaller opening into which you place your penis, compared to the original model, which is something I’ll come back to. The central channel is where the “Pulse Plate” lies, and this is the piece of technology which produces the vibrations, or to be more accurate, the oscillations. It’s strategically located to make contact with the sensitive underside of the penis, where the nerve-rich frenulum is located. The channel isn’t entirely enclosed, and is flanked by two flexible silicone “wings” which adapt to accommodate the size of penis placed between them. It’s quite a stylish toy on the whole, and it’s well made from quality body-safe materials such as silicone and ABS plastic.
To use the Pulse III you first begin by inserting your penis into the channel, and what’s quite beautiful about the whole way the product is engineered is that doesn’t really matter what state your penis is in, be it hard or soft, circumcised or intact, with the foreskin retracted or not. It’s functional in all situations, which is beneficial to anyone who might suffer from erectile dysfunction or a tight foreskin, for example, which limits their ability to use other toys, or be intimate with a partner. One thing that does carry over from the Pulse II is that the channel is still on the smaller side, and that bodes less well for more endowed men, specifically men with more girth, or in this case a wider penis. The flexible silicone wings feel noticeably snug around the penis, and they have the same problem as in the first two models, whereby they’re only flexible in their top half. I’m going to briefly quote myself as explanation.
One thing I did notice though is that the “wings” are flexible mainly at the top half, and not towards the bottom, so while the top section can become almost infinitely wider the bottom of the channel always retains the same semi-circular shape. Where this could cause an issue is that most penises don’t have a completely circular cross-section and are wider from left to right than from top to bottom, so depending on the size and shape of the penis you may find that once inserted to the fullest extent the shaft may hover above the Pulse Plate without actually making direct contact. This probably won’t be an issue for most people, but if your penis is very wide in one direction, and not so much in the other, then it’s worth bearing in mind.
Like many I happen to have a penis which is wider in one axis than the other, and the narrower channel does exacerbate the issue of flexibility with the wings. Instead of my penis lying completely level and flat along the channel, the pressure from the wings causes it to twist to try to conform with the narrow space, breaking optimal alignment with the Pulse Plate. The only way to really deal with this is to manually push the head of my penis down into the Pulse Plate and hold it in place, which works but which isn’t ideal if you were going for a hands-free experience. From my experience this size of channel is less than optimal, but again perhaps there’s some evidence which shows it’s more suited to the penis size of a greater number of people, and it’s not enough to be a deal-breaker either way.
To turn the Pulse III on you hold down the button on the left hand side and it jumps into a constant vibration mode at its lowest intensity. It’s a very powerful deep rumbly vibration, and from here you can either adjust the strength of the intensity using the + and – buttons on the right hand side of the Pulse, or as with the Pulse II you can cycle through 5 different vibration patterns by pressing the power button. There’s also a brand new “Turbo Function” whereby you can skip directly to the most powerful vibration setting. The strength of the vibrations is truly impressive; they penetrate deep into the shaft and can be felt all the way down to the pubic bone, and they even have the effect of making the penis appear blurry at times because the whole organ itself begins to vibrate. This “total vibration” is one of the most unique features of the Pulse III, because although the vibrations are being applied directly at the frenulum, they don’t simply feel localised here, but can be felt all over. Feeling every inch of your penis vibrating is fascinating, and entirely new, not to mention intensely pleasurable. It’s miles away from conventional masturbation, and it’s this whole new world of sensation which makes it all the more interesting. What really makes it special though is the patterns; the ability to experience a good rhythm of vibrations takes the experience to another level, and you have a choice of slow or faster, as well as a couple of more elaborate patterns. Because the vibrations from the Pulse are so strong it does run the risk of overwhelming you at times – especially as the Pulse III is now 25% more powerful – so if you want a long drawn out session of pleasure, then you have to be careful that it doesn’t push you over the edge too soon. If you do manage to get it just right, and have an extended period of foreplay with the toy, then the orgasm that it rewards you with is quite explosive at the end, and definitely worth it.
The one major drawback of the toy is the noise. It’s not a subtle device at all, and that could be problematic for a lot of people. It sounds like a little lawnmower engine chugging away, and is liable to rouse suspicion if you live in close quarters with others. I know I’d have trouble relaxing if I was using it and I knew there was someone on the other side of a thin partition wall. The noise has been an ongoing issue with the Pulse since the very start, and frankly it’s a little disappointing that it’s not something they’ve been able to address. It was easy to overlook in the very first model, less so in the Pulse II, but by the third generation it’s hard to excuse.
Another point I do want to raise about the Pulse III is regarding the buttons. They’re smaller than on the original Pulse, and much stiffer too, which can make them awkward to push. The upside is that they’re less likely to go off in your luggage, but they can be a struggle to operate while your penis is in the device, and this goes doubly if your penis doesn’t quite fit in it properly and you’re already using one hand to secure it in the right position. I mostly raise this with the thought of people with dexterity issues, however, because for everything the Pulse does to aid those who struggle sexually the buttons could trip them up.
The Pulse III is a fully rechargeable toy and it comes with a USB cable which now clips onto a magnetic charging port at the rear. This is a really convenient feature and a welcome upgrade, and the other advantage is that it’s 100% waterproof, which makes it far easier to clean afterwards.
I have to say that on the whole the Pulse III feels like a huge leap forward compared to the original Pulse, but only a relatively minor step up from the Pulse II, and therein lies the dilemma. I’m impressed by how the guys at Hot Octopuss keep on working to improve their device, perfecting it a little more each time, but you have to wonder who it’s aimed at. If you don’t already have a Pulse, then I wholeheartedly recommend that you buy the Pulse III. If you own an Original Pulse, then the Pulse III is well worth the upgrade. If you have the Pulse II, however, I honestly can’t say that there’s enough there to justify buying a new one. The Pulse III is more like a Pulse 2.5 in this regard, it tinkers around the edges, but there’s nothing added which you absolutely need to have. It’s not like a smartphone where there’s a genuine incentive to make the transition every time.
The Pulse III is once again a more polished device, and I love the strong vibrations and exciting patterns it offers. I definitely think that every guy should try one. My only caveat would still be to guys with a thicker (wider) penis, because if the original Pulse or Pulse II felt too snug for you then the Pulse III will only maintain that frustration.
Thanks to Hot Octopuss for providing me with the Pulse III Solo to review, and you can buy it directly from them, as well as any of the fine retailers I have links to on my blog, Including SheVibe, Lovehoney UK, Bondara, and Lovehoney U.S.
Fleshlight Quickshot Vantage
Happy New Year everyone! To kick off 2016 I’m starting with an all-new Fleshlight review, courtesy of my friends over at Fleshjack. Towards the end of last year Fleshlight unveiled a brand new product called the “Quickshot“, immediately catching everyone’s attention with its two different designs, and they were kind enough to send over the vantage model for me to review. I was lucky enough to have mine arrive just before Christmas, which goes to show that it’s not only Santa who knows exactly what every boy wants to play with on those long Winter nights.
Catch the review below!
The Quickshot marks the most significant change to Fleshlight’s masturbator design since the company’s inception back in the 90s. It eschews the traditional large bulky case for something much more compact, and akin to some of the other “pocket pussys” you see on the market. The first time I saw it though, I couldn’t help but think back to a viral video from last year where a lady by the name of “Auntie Angel” taught the world how to turn a grapefruit into a sex toy, and gave everyone watching it a good laugh in the process. I like to think of the Quickshot as the professional evolution of that concept.
The Quickshot is available in two different versions: the Vantage and the Boost. The difference between them is largely cosmetic, with the Boost having a black case and a metallic-grey insert, while the Vantage has a clear case and a clear insert allowing you a clearer view of the action, but there’s also a slight difference to the internal texture. One of the things that might come to mind if you have any prior experience with Fleshlights / Fleshjacks is how the clear inserts tend to be more tacky to the touch compared to other colours. In this case I can say that it’s a moot point when comparing the Vantage to the Boost, as the grey insert is equal in its stickiness, so it needn’t be a factor in your purchasing decision
The basic design of the Quickshot looks a bit like a barrel, and with its caps on it measures 4 3/8″ tall by 2 3/4″ wide, making it the sort of size you can conveniently store in the top drawer of your bedside table. With an end cap removed it does look a lot like a traditional Fleshlight, only sans the anatomical orifice, so if you prefer the more discreet Flight approach then it’ll appeal to you. The Quickshot does in fact have two end caps, both of which are intended to be removed during use, and the orifices are identical on each side, though this does seem a little bit like a missed opportunity to incorporate some variety. In the absence of the caps the body of the toy is reduced to essentially a band of black plastic, with the Superskin insert held inside rather like an elongated doughnut. The openings in the insert are around 3/4″ of an inch in diameter, promising to be nice and snug, and this size continues through the internal canal of the toy, with the exception of the textured areas. The texture is formed by columns of semi-circular nubs, separated from each other by shallow channels, which gently spiral down the length of the canal. There are five columns in total, each comprised of five individual and evenly-spaced nubs, for a total of 25 overall. It’s quite a unique texture compared to the others that I’m familiar with, seemingly crafted especially for the Quickshot.
Using the Quickshot is very straightforward and requires no special preparation other than a bit of waterbased lube. It’s worth applying a squirt of lube to the exterior of the orifice, as well as internally, as this’ll aid with initial insertion. The Superskin is a wonderfully soft and stretchy material, and you can feel it expand as you enter the toy, but it still feels pleasantly snug. The thing that restricts just how much the insert can adjust to accommodate you is the diameter of the plastic band, as this is where the toy feels tightest. What was interesting to me was that on the whole the Vantage felt less tight than the Boost, and in my case that was a bonus. Thrusting felt much more fluid and not as though I was having to fight against something, so I’d say the Vantage is far more suited to anyone packing a little more girth.
There are a number of techniques you can employ to make the most of the toy’s design: you can focus entirely on the head of the penis, leaving it in the toy at all times, you can employ long strokes so that the penis goes in one side and pops out the other, or you can use the toy mainly around the shaft, occasionally teasing the head. It’s also very well suited as a couples toy if you wish to incorporate it with a blowjob. The texture of the Vantage is highly enjoyable during thrusting, and with every stroke I could feel the semi-circular nubs flicking up and down across the head of my penis, and especially along the all important frenulum. It even created a rather nice massaging action when used solely against the shaft. Again it’s a significant difference to the Boost which really didn’t impress me all that much. To be realistic it’s still not up at that incredible level that you can expect from the long and varied textures inside something such as the Flight, but it’s still very very enjoyable, and those stimulating little flicks from the nubs will have you regularly coming back for more. The other factor of course, and a unique point for the Quickshot, is that sensation of the head emerging out of the end of the tight orifice, and then being pulled back through it in reverse. It really does encourage you to make long strokes to get that whole combination of sensations in sequence as that really magnifies the pleasure.
In terms of prolonged use the Quickshot does have some drawbacks over the traditional Fleshlight, namely with regard to lube. Because the Quickshot isn’t a closed environment, a significant area of your lube-covered penis will be exposed to the air at any time, where the moisture will rapidly evaporate. For this reason it really is important to experiment with the lubes you own to find which lasts the longest under these conditions. Naturally the longer you use the Quickshot the more times you’re liable to find the need to reapply lube, as it will get a bit stubborn when things aren’t slick enough. The other thing to consider is that when you climax with the Quickshot you’ll want a tissue handy, as it doesn’t catch anything in the way that a regular Fleshlight would, but that does bring me onto my next point.
One of my favourite things about the Quickshot is that it’s so easy to clean, and that’s not something you’ll hear anyone say about Fleshlight’s other masturbators. It’s as simple as popping the SuperSkin insert out of the plastic case, submerging it in a basin of warm water, and agitating it a little to remove any lube etc. After that it’s just a matter of leaving the insert somewhere to dry before you reassemble it, and it dries ever so quickly thanks to the open-ended design and relatively short body. It has to be the most hassle-free product that Fleshlight have come up with, and that’s a major selling point for it. You’re able to use it as frequently as you like because there’s no need to worry about the clean up afterwards. As much as I love my other Fleshjacks, there’s always a debate that goes on before getting one out “do I want a really good orgasm enough to go through the washing, cornstarching, and days of mould-preventing ventilation afterwards?” On the subject of cornstarch, it’s entirely optional with the Quickshot. As I mentioned earlier the material is sticky, but it still pops back into the case easily enough that it’s not a big deal. Personally I don’t bother.
In terms of quality I do have one minor point to raise, and that would be that the internal texture of my Vantage is slightly deformed in places. Two and a half of the semi circular nubs are missing off the bottom of one of the columns, and one and a half off the top of another, leaving those areas almost completely smooth. The reason I classify this as minor is because I wasn’t even aware of it during use, I only noticed it whilst washing it prior to writing the review, so it clearly had no impact on how it felt. The other reason would be that it’s actually the first time I’ve encountered anything like this in all the many Fleshjack products I’ve reviewed, so they have a very good track record in my book.
Overall the Quickshot Vantage is a great little toy, and I love the fact that they’ve incorporated all the Fleshlight technology into something so convenient and much more accessibly-priced. Somewhat amusingly my two main criticisms of the Boost were the tightness and the texture, both of which have been fixed with the Vantage, so it’s simply a matter of picking the right model, and I’m grateful that I was able to try both. If you’re looking to upgrade your masturbation session to something beyond just your faithful hand, then the Quickshot Vantage is a great way to do that without a lot of hassle and without breaking the bank. It’s really pleasurable and well designed, so I’d definitely recommend it.
Thanks to Fleshjack for providing me with the Quickshot Vantage. You can grab one now from their website, and they’ll ship it directly to you direct from their Locations in the U.S, the E.U., and Australia.
Fleshlight Quickshot Boost
Happy December everyone, and this month I’m back with an all-new Fleshlight review, courtesy of the folks at Lovehoney. A few weeks ago Fleshlight unveiled their brand new product the “Quickshot” and naturally I wanted to give it a whirl, so I got in touch with my friends at Lovehoney and they kindly agreed to send me one to review. Believe it or not this is actually the first new Fleshlight mastubator I’ve reviewed in almost three years, since the Sword back in January 2013.
Catch the review below!
The Quickshot marks the most significant change to Fleshlight’s masturbator design since the company’s inception back in the 90s. It eschews the traditional large bulky case for something much more compact, and akin to some of the other “pocket pussys” you see on the market. The first time I saw it though, I couldn’t help but think back to a viral video from last year where a lady by the name of “Auntie Angel” taught the world how to turn a grapefruit into a sex toy, and gave everyone watching it a good laugh in the process. I like to think of the Quickshot as the professional evolution of that concept.
The Quickshot is available in two difference versions: the Boost and the Vantage. The difference between them is largely cosmetic, with the Vantage having a clear case and a clear insert, while the Boost has a black case and a metallic-grey insert, but there’s also a slight difference to the texture. One of the first things that came to my mind is how sticky the clear inserts tend to be, so the Boost seemed to be the safer option on that front, but I can confirm that this isn’t actually the case. Interestingly the grey insert appears to be just a clear Superskin with a lot of tiny metallic particles mixed in with it, rather than being a proper solid colour like the traditional Fleshlight-pink, but I’ll talk more about that later.
The basic design of the Quickshot looks a bit like a barrel, and with its caps on it measures 4 3/8″ tall by 2 3/4″ wide, making it the sort of size you can conveniently store in the top drawer of your bedside table. With an end cap removed it does look a lot like a traditional Fleshlight, only sans the anatomical orifice, so if you prefer the more discreet Flight approach then it’ll appeal to you. The Quickshot does in fact have two end caps, both of which are intended to be removed during use, and the orifices are identical on each side, though this does seem a little bit like a missed opportunity to incorporate some variety. In the absence of the caps the body of the toy is reduced to essentially a band of black plastic, with the Superskin insert held inside rather like an elongated doughnut. The openings in the insert are around 3/4″ of an inch in diameter, promising to be nice and snug, and this size continues through the internal canal of the toy, with the exception of the textured areas. The texture is formed by intermittent horizontal ridges laid out in groups of three, and punctuated occasionally by a shallow nub between the rows. It’s something of a unique texture compared to the others that I’m familiar with, seemingly crafted especially for the Quickshot.
Using the Quickshot is very straightforward and requires no special preparation other than a bit of waterbased lube. It’s worth applying a squirt of lube to the exterior of the orifice, as well as internally, just harking back to my earlier point about the material being quite sticky, as this’ll aid with initial insertion. The Superskin is a wonderfully soft and stretchy material, and you can feel it expand as you enter the toy, but it still feels very snug. The thing that restricts just how much the insert can adjust to accommodate you is the diameter of the plastic band, as this is where the toy feels tightest. I’d go as far as saying that anyone with a girth above 5 1/2″ should probably consider another toy, as that’s about the max it can take before you find yourself getting into difficulties. [Update: see my review of the Vantage for a less-tight Quickshot]. There are a number of techniques you can employ to make the most of the toy’s design: you can focus entirely on the head of the penis, leaving it in the toy at all times, you can employ long strokes so that the penis goes in one side and pops out the other, or you can use the toy mainly around the shaft, occasionally teasing the head. It’s also very well suited as a couples toy if you wish to incorporate it with a blowjob. The texture of the Boost is fairly enjoyable during thrusting, but if I’m honest I wasn’t all that blown away by it. The issue is that these little individual ridges get pushed over as soon as the penis makes contact with them, and then if you’re quite girthy they just get squashed into the side of the canal. It’s just not possible to feel them all that much, so while it does feel good, it feels good in the way that the smooth Fleshlight feels good, rather than in the way that the dozens of nubs inside the Flight can drive you wild. Occasionally part of one of the ridges, or one of the shallow nubs, will catch you right on the frenulum and feel extra good, but you have to play around with your technique to achieve this consistently. What is pleasant though, and a unique point for the Quickshot, is that sensation of the head emerging out of the end of the tight orifice, and then being pulled back through it in reverse. It’s definitely not an imitation-sex toy, but for a masturbatory aid it’s an enjoyable step up from using your hand.
In terms of prolonged use the Quickshot does have some drawbacks over the traditional Fleshlight, namely with regard to lube. Because the Quickshot isn’t a closed environment, a significant area of your lube-covered penis will be exposed to the air at any time, where the moisture will rapidly evaporate. The longer you use the Quickshot the more times you’ll need to reapply lube, because it does get quite stubborn when things aren’t slick enough, and that tightness and the texture create a lot of friction together. It’s not a huge deal, unless you’re very frugal with your lube, but it can disrupt your rhythm a little, and after a number of reapplications things can start to get a little messy. The other thing to consider is that when you climax with the Quickshot you’ll want a tissue handy, as it doesn’t catch anything in the way that a regular Fleshlight would, but that does bring me onto my next point.
One of my favourite things about the Quickshot is that it’s so easy to clean, and that’s not something you’ll hear anyone say about Fleshlight’s other masturbators. It’s as simple as popping the SuperSkin insert out of the plastic case, submerging it in a basin of warm water, and agitating it a little to remove any lube etc. After that it’s just a matter of leaving the insert somewhere to dry before you reassemble it, and it dries ever so quickly thanks to the open-ended design and relatively short body. It has to be the most hassle-free product that Fleshlight have come up with, and that’s a major selling point for it. You’re able to use it as frequently as you like because there’s no need to worry about the clean up afterwards. As much as I love my other Fleshjacks, there’s always a debate that goes on before getting one out “do I want a really good wank enough to go through the washing, cornstarching, and days of mould-preventing ventilation afterwards?” On the subject of cornstarch, it’s entirely optional with the Quickshot. As I mentioned earlier the material is sticky, but it still pops back into the case easily enough that it’s not a big deal. Personally I don’t bother.
Overall the Quickshot Boost is a nice little toy, and I love the fact that they’ve incorporated all the Fleshlight technology into something so convenient and much more accessibly-priced. For me it would benefit from having a slightly larger version to reduce the snugness, and I can picture some textures that I’d prefer, but these things aren’t deal-breakers [Update: the Vantage model solves these issues]. If you want to upgrade your masturbation session to something beyond just your faithful hand, then the Quickshot is a great way to do that without a lot of hassle and without breaking the bank. For those reasons I’d definitely recommend it.
Pulse II Solo
This week it’s time for a review of a new product from my friends at Hot Octopuss: the Pulse II Solo. It’s the follow-up to their wildly successful original ‘guybrator’, The Pulse, which launched back in 2013 to much acclaim. I was a huge fan of that toy, so let’s see where they’re taking us now!
Note: this product has since been replaced by an updated version, the Pulse III Solo
With the launch of Fun Factory’s Cobra Libre II late last year, and now a brand new Pulse model, it couldn’t be a better time to own a penis. For those of us who enjoy all things vibrational, it would seem that for the first time we’re almost spoiled for choice, and I for one am relishing this new trend.
Having only launched two years ago, it might appear somewhat soon for an upgrade to the Pulse, so having first heard of this new model I was immediately gripped with anticipation to see what reworkings had taken place to justify it, and more importantly from a reviewer’s perspective, whether any of it had been the result of our feedback
Possibly the biggest shake up to the Pulse is that it’s become the Pulses, plural, with the introduction of “Solo” and “Duo” models for the Pulse II. The original Pulse offered multifunctionality aimed at couples play, while still primarily being a toy for the man, and it did this by offering a secondary point of vibration which could stimulate a female partner during use. The Pulse II Duo represents the point of continuity with this concept and is most consistent with the original design, while the Pulse II Solo is the new kid on the block, dispensing with this aspect altogether and focussing solely on individual pleasure.
Today I’m going to be looking specifically at the Pulse II Solo, and I have to say that I’m quite pleased with this divergence in the design. It’s not because I had any particular issue with it in the old model, it’s just that it was redundant for all those but heterosexual couples, and by stripping out the redundancy from one half of the new Pulse II pairing they’ve also managed to make the Solo £20 cheaper than the Duo. I’ve always felt that affordability is massively important for consumers, and after all no one wants to be paying for features they’re not using, so this is a positive development right off the bat.
So what exactly is the Pulse II Solo? I’ve been speaking so far with the assumption that everyone has read my earlier review and has a general understanding of the nature of these products, but for the benefit of those coming to this afresh. The Pulse is a vibrating male masturbatory aid, or a ‘Guybrator’ to use the term they’ve coined, and it’s one of the very very few vibrators aimed specifically at men. It differs from nearly all other male masturbators on the market, such as your Fleshjacks and Tengas, because it takes the conventional thinking about how men get off and turns it on its head. Most male sex toys aim to replicate the natural sexual experience as closely as possible, that is they involve the penis being thrust inside something in order to stimulate it to the point of orgasm. The Pulse on the other hand requires absolutely no motion on the part of the user, and brings him to climax via the use of powerful vibrations targeted directly at the most sensitive part of the penis. For any man who’s experienced the joys of vibrator use before then it probably doesn’t seem that revolutionary, but within the realm of male sex toys it really is.
The design of the Pulse II closely follows on from the original Pulse, employing the same shape and the same materials, with the only real difference being the size. The Pulse II is ever so slightly larger over all, and mainly in terms of length. What’s unusual though is that one area does seem to be smaller, and that’s the opening where you place your penis, but I’ll talk more about that later. The central channel is where the “Pulse Plate” lies, and this is the piece of technology which produces the vibrations, or to be more accurate, the oscillations. It’s strategically located to make contact with the sensitive underside of the penis, where the nerve-rich frenulum is located. The channel isn’t entirely enclosed, and is flanked by two flexible silicone “wings” which adapt to accommodate the size of penis placed between them. It’s quite a stylish toy on the whole, and it’s well made from quality body-safe materials such as silicone and ABS plastic.
To use the Pulse II you first begin by inserting your penis into the channel, and what’s quite beautiful about the whole way the product is engineered is that doesn’t really matter what state your penis is in, be it hard or soft, circumcised or intact, with the foreskin retracted or not. It’s functional in all situations, which is beneficial to anyone who might suffer from erectile dysfunction or a tight foreskin, for example, which limits their ability to use other toys, or be intimate with a partner. One thing I did notice, however, is that the channel definitely is smaller, and that bodes less well for more endowed men, specifically men with more girth, or in this case a wider penis. The flexible silicone wings felt noticeably snugger around my penis, and they had the same problem as in the original model, whereby they’re only flexible in their top half. I’m going to briefly quote myself as explanation.
One thing I did notice though is that the “wings” are flexible mainly at the top half, and not towards the bottom, so while the top section can become almost infinitely wider the bottom of the channel always retains the same semi-circular shape. Where this could cause an issue is that most penises don’t have a completely circular cross-section and are wider from left to right than from top to bottom, so depending on the size and shape of the penis you may find that once inserted to the fullest extent the shaft may hover above the Pulse Plate without actually making direct contact. This probably won’t be an issue for most people, but if your penis is very wide in one direction, and not so much in the other, then it’s worth bearing in mind.
Like many I happen to have a penis which is wider in one axis than the other, and the smaller (narrower) channel does exacerbate the issue of flexibility with the wings. Instead of my penis lying completely level and flat along the channel, the pressure from the wings causes it to twist to try to conform with the narrow space, breaking optimal alignment with the Pulse Plate. The only way to really deal with this is to manually push the head of my penis down into the Pulse Plate and hold it in place, which works but which isn’t ideal if you were going for a hands-free experience. From my experience making the channel smaller is an unfortunate change, but perhaps there’s some evidence which shows it’s more suited to the penis size of a greater number of people, and it’s not enough to be a deal-breaker either way.
To turn the Pulse II on you hold down the button on the left hand side and it jumps into a constant vibration mode at its lowest intensity. It’s a very powerful deep rumbly vibration, and I am inclined to say that it feels slightly stronger than the original model. From here you can either adjust the strength of the intensity using the + and – buttons on the right hand side of the Pulse, or for the first time you can cycle through 5 different vibration patterns by pressing the power button. The strength of the vibrations is truly impressive; they penetrate deep into the shaft and can be felt all the way down to the pubic bone, and they even have the effect of making the penis appear blurry at times because the whole organ itself begins to vibrate. This “total vibration” is one of the most unique features of the Pulse II, because although the vibrations are being applied directly at the frenulum, they don’t simply feel localised here, but can be felt all over. Feeling every inch of your penis vibrating is fascinating, and entirely new, not to mention intensely pleasurable. It’s miles away from conventional masturbation, and it’s this whole new world of sensation which makes it all the more interesting. What really makes it special though is the inclusion of the patterns finally, because their absence did let down the original Pulse. Now with the ability to experience a good rhythm of vibrations it takes the experience to another level, and you have a choice of slow or faster, as well as a couple of more elaborate patterns. Because the vibrations from the Pulse are so strong it does run the risk of overwhelming you at times, so if you want a long drawn out session of pleasure, then you have to be careful that it doesn’t push you over the edge too soon. If you do manage to get it just right, and have an extended period of foreplay with the toy, then the orgasm that it rewards you with is quite explosive at the end, and definitely worth it.
The one major drawback of the toy is exactly the same as with the original Pulse, and that’s the noise. It’s not a subtle toy at all, and that could be problematic for a lot of people. It sounds like a little lawnmower engine chugging away, and is liable to rouse suspicion if you live in close quarters with others. I know I’d have trouble relaxing if I was using it and I knew there was someone on the other side of a thin partition wall.
Another point I do want to raise about the Pulse II is regarding the buttons. They’re smaller than on the original Pulse, and much stiffer too, which can make them awkward to push. The upside is that they’re less likely to go off in your luggage, but they can be a struggle to operate while your penis is in the device, and this goes doubly if your penis doesn’t quite fit in it properly and you’re already using one hand to secure it in the right position. I mostly raise this with the thought of people with dexterity issues, however, because for everything the Pulse does to aid those who struggle sexually the buttons could trip them up.
The Pulse II is a fully rechargeable toy and it comes with a USB cable which plugs into a port in the rear. The port is sealed by a little silicone stopper which stays in place much better than on the original Pulse. The other advantage is that the Pulse II is now 100% waterproof, which makes it far easier to clean afterwards.
At the start of the review I mentioned the Cobra Libre II, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t make some attempt to compare the two, but the difficulty is that the two really are apples and oranges, despite at least seeming to have so much in common. The Cobra is a lovely polished piece of design, and as much as I enjoy it, the vibrations feel that much more superficial. The Pulse II on the other hand wins on the sensation front. It may feel slightly awkward to use at times, what with the buttons, and trying to keep the right bits of your penis in contact with the right bits of the toy, but the absolute penetrating power of the vibrations from the Pulse plate are without rival. It’s an incredible new world of sensations, and after using them back-to-back it was the Pulse that my penis was yearning to return to.
I have to say that on the whole the Pulse II feels like a significant step up from the original Pulse. It’s a much more polished device, and while all the design features don’t suit me personally I like the direction in which the company is going. The original Pulse was their first product, and on that basis it was outstanding, but you can tell that they’re learning now and improving as they go along. I’d definitely recommend the Pulse II Solo, but I think the question is, would I recommend it to people who already own an original Pulse? Is it enough of an upgrade to justify buying something so similar? My answer would actually be yes. There’s enough new stuff going on to warrant the purchase. Before I’d tried it I didn’t know what I was missing out on, but now I wouldn’t want to go back. The strength and quality of the vibrations just seems to feel better, and the patterns are the icing on the cake. My only caveat would be to guys with a thicker (wider) penis, because if the original Pulse felt too snug for you then the Pulse II will only add to that frustration.
Thanks to Hot Octopuss for providing me with the Pulse II Solo to review, and you can buy it directly from them, as well as any of the fine retailers I have links to on my blog.