Tag: rechargeable
Pulse III Solo
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Lelo Loki Wave Prostate Massager
A mere month ago Lelo released a trio of exciting new prostate massagers which I reviewed here on this very blog, and now today they’ve gone and announced one more to add to the mix.
Clearly they work fast over at Lelo, and I was lucky enough to receive one to review, so let’s go ahead and see what I made of the Loki Wave!
Those of you with keen eyes and a comprehensive amount of Lelo product knowledge may have noticed that, much in the same way as the Loki looked an awful lot like the Lelo Mona, the Loki Wave has an uncanny resemblance to the Mona Wave, and this does seem to be a trend of Lelo upcyling their most popular G-spot vibrators into prostate massagers. Personally I’m all in favour of this and think it makes sound business sense. I’ve long heard my female reviewer friends rave about the Mona 2 and Mona Wave, and honestly if someone had sent me one I’d have used it in a flash, but it’s nice now to have specifically anal-safe versions for guys to try.
In total there are 10 different modes to choose from, and they all control a number of different variables. You can have the Wave Motion active or not, you can have the internal motor active or not, you can have the motor in the perineum arm active or not, and you can either be in constant vibration mode or experiencing a pattern. It’s a really great selection, but it’s also quite a lot to be thinking about as you’re cycling through them using only up and down arrows, trying to find just the one you want. Luckily the toy does remember your last setting when you turn it off, so if you have a favourite then it’s easy to stick with.
The real star of the show here though is the Wave Motion, because if you only wanted vibrations then you’d just buy a Loki. The motion technology is what takes the Loki Wave to a whole other level. When it’s activated the main bulb of the device moves towards the perineum arm and then back again, like a robotic hand making a squeezing motion. Inside the body it has the effect of gently applying pressure repeatedly to the prostate, just as though you were attempting to massage it with a manual toy. It’s actually quite an amazing effect, especially in conjunction with the strong vibrations. It’s honestly like nothing I’ve felt throughout hundreds of reviews. One good feature about the presence of the perineum arm is that it does provide leverage while the toy is in motion, and ensures that it’s actually the internal portion that’s moving, and not just the handle wagging around outside the body. I make this point because it’s not the first time I’ve tried a prostate massager with motion, if you’ll recall the Nexus Revo 2. In that case it employed a completely different rotary motion, but most of the time the part that moved was the base outside the body, and not the internal arm. With the Loki Wave it’s not strictly necessary to hold the handle during use in order to feel the effect of the motion, but it can alter the sensations slightly if you choose to.
What’s actually nice about the Wave Motion is that you don’t have to do a thing with the toy, it’s the ultimate lazy man’s pleasure. With the Loki I’d often find myself wanting to thrust a little with it to get that extra touch of manual stimulation, but now that’s completely taken care of. You just select your favourite pattern and vibration strength, then lie back and let it go to town. The whole combination of effects just feels incredible, from the deep vibrations simultaneously penetrating the perineum and prostate, to that methodic back and forth motion, prodding and squeezing your prostate, like it was a piece of dough being kneaded by a strong-armed Swedish baker. It’s one of those toys that makes you think again of the mythical prostate orgasm, and wonder once more if you might be able to reach it. If you just let it do its thing then it does seem possible, and feels great just like this, but coupled with regular masturbation you’re guaranteed one of the best orgasms of your life.
Lelo Hugo and Bruno Prostate Massagers
Lelo Loki Prostate Massager
Pulse II Solo
Note: this product has since been replaced by an updated version, the Pulse III Solo
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.