Basic breathe-easy ball gag provided for review by Eden Fantasys

Joseph

This is my first experience with a manufactured gag. I mean, I can’t say that it is my first experience with a gag because arguably anything that can be crammed in a mouth is a gag and I’ve had so many things crammed in my mouth….you don’t even know.

As first experiences go, it was a pretty great one. I opened this product up and popped it in my mouth right out of the bag (lets hope the person that put it in there washed their hands) because I wanted to see if it really was easy to breathe through. It is! Though after some heavy breathing it gets a bit…slobbery but as anyone that has every played a wind instrument knows, there is really no way around that.

Because the ball is made from 100% silicone, it is really easy to clean and phthalates free which are both great things. If you can’t tell from the pictures, the nylon straps are held onto the side of the ball via metal snaps and there is an adjustable clasp closure. The ball itself is 2” long by 1 ¾” wide with 1 ¼” insertable length. For reference…it is slightly larger than a ping pong ball.

The clasp is the only thing about this product that I don’t like. It has to be threaded each time the gag is put on which makes it very easily (unavoidably) adjustable, but can be somewhat annoying and cumbersome. My thinking is that the only reason one would need an enclosure type that needs to be adjusted every single time is if you are with several different partners quite frequently. For someone using it on the same person most of the time, it seems like a clasp like on a bike helmet or Timbuk 2 messenger bag would be easier to manage. You’d have to adjust it once and then you could just clip it shut.

You're a bad girl, shut u-oh..hold on...effing strap...damn it...THERE. Shit.

That is a relatively small complaint though. This is still a very well made and easy to use product.

Mimi

I have used cloth for gags in the past, but generally the consensus amongst myself and lovers has been to let me have free use of my mouth. It may have something to do with how much I enjoy kissing and biting, or my propensity for being loud and saying barely coherent things (can you say, “ego boost”?). I don’t know, and I don’t really care. However, I do enjoy having things put into my mouth – forcefully (though consensual) or not – and I have long wanted to try a ball gag.

So why has it taken this long to get my hands on one? No, it’s not because I’m a starving artist in training. It’s because I have problems with my jaw, which can make chewing, blowing dick, or dentist visits painful. I do all of these things anyway, so of course trying out a ball gag was an option, it was just a matter of finding the right one to start with. My poor, spoiled little bitch mouth needs to take a baby step, not a leap.

And baby step we did! The Basic Breathe-Easy ball gag is not very large, comfortable, and easy to use. Oh, and it doesn’t smell or taste bad. It’ll stay that way provided that you clean it properly, which should be easy peasy because the gag itself is silicone. If you’ve been reading our reviews, you know that silicone is amazingly easy to clean – boil it for about 10 minutes or put it in your dishwasher’s top rack without soap. As for the nylon, metal, and plastic straps that you may get saliva on, wash with with soap and hot water in the sink. No big deal.

The reason I’m telling you all of this personal information is because I’d like you to understand that if you’re coming from a similar perspective, for whatever reason, then this ball gag is probably your perfect gateway gag. Beginners, mild BDSM-ers, TMJ-ers, and those with sensitive gag reflexes or prone to colds and congestion. No excuses! Gag yourself before I harmless internet threat all over you! Raawwwwwww!!!!

The Naked Truth

Aesthetics: 4 out of 5 stars

Functionality: 5 out of 5 stars

Craftsmanship: 5 out of 5 stars

Ease of Installation: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Discretion: N/A

Safety: 5 out of 5 stars

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Also, you can be a clown. Everybody loves clowns. Like John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

Basic Essentials Softee provided for review by Eden Fantasys

Joseph

Marketing Guy 1:
What do chicks love?

Marketing Guy 2:
My Dick!

MG 1 & 2:
WOOOOOAAAAAAHHHHH!

MG 1:
No seriously, though…they love pink…and….and….

MG 2:
My Dick!

MG 1:
Textures! Let’s make a vibrator that is pink and covered in texture of some kind.

MG 2:
But let’s make the texture removable so I can put it on My Dick!

MG 1:
Um..sure…

Expert tip for guys — don’t turn the sheath inside out and try to use it as a sleeve. Just don’t.

And they made it in China cause it is cheaper and put “SOLD AS NOVELTY ONLY…This product is intended for use as a novelty product only. For external use only.” Yep. It is a vibrating dildo that is not meant for internal use.

Ok, so that endearing disclaimer aside, let’s talk material. The outer sheath is made of TPR which is pretty easy to clean (assuming it doesn’t have a million little bumps all over it) but can not be disinfected. The vibrator itself is ABS, a mix between elstomer, rubber and hard plastic. Same story there, easily cleaned but impossible to disinfect. It is, however recyclable (probably not with the motor in it, though).

The Basic Essentials Softee takes one AA battery and has an adjustable speed dial at the base to control the speed of vibration. It is water proof and oh-so-pink.

Don’t buy it.

Mimi

When EdenFantasys offered the Basic Essentials Softee to us for review, I accepted the offer thinking our experience could go one of two ways –

1. It would be a simple toy that is surprisingly exciting and novel in its sensation.
2. It would be uncomfortable and oh so ho-hum.

After getting its soft, nubbed pink body out of the packaging, I immediately tested the dial-control for vibration range, intensity, and ease of use. I found it promising. Plus, there’s something about the physical sensation of turning a dial that I really enjoy. Don’t try to make sense of it. I’m just mentioning this because the dial turning may be the thing I like most about this toy.

(Oh yeah, it’s like that.)

Joseph removed the TPR shell – the nubby sleeve which reminds me of art history freshman year – exposing a much more simplistic, “traditional” vibrator beneath. Still pink. Still could go either way.

I could see being excited about the idea of having two toys in one, but really this is more like getting no toys at all. And then crying.

Why? Well….

Most of the intensity is in the “head”, which is smooth, not nubbed like the rest of it. I guessed the point of the nubbiness then was to stimulate the vulva in a new way. Guessed wrong. It feels like a lubricated gelatin mace is groping me.

Although the vibration did feel good, it wasn’t really strong enough to push me over the edge. So it might be good for some warm-up foreplay or orgasm control, but otherwise it’s a big fat disappointment.

While it was inside me I kept thinking, “This might feel good without those nubs.” It wasn’t painful, per se. It was just uncomfortable. Yes, I know – you can remove the nubby texture. The problem with the intensity is still present.

Since the Basic Essentials Softee has a removable sleeve and it’s waterproof, cleaning is easier than it would be if… say… there were no water in the world anywhere ever and you were dead. Okay, I’m exaggerating. However, it’s no exaggeration that cleaning the TPR nubby sleeve is a pain in the ass. In fact, considering the Basic Essentials Softee cannot be sterilized in any way, you may want to go ahead and use a condom with each use anyway. Voila! Clean-up is easier.

Or buying a different toy altogether. That might be easier.

The Naked Truth

Aesthetics: 2 out of 5 stars

Intensity: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Volume: 4 out of 5 stars

Ease of Cleaning: 1 out of 5 stars

Functionality: 2 out of 5 stars

Overall: 1.5 out of 5 stars

(Bad) Dream of the Sex Toy Reviewer’s wife

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

Toy Covers provided for review by Eden Fantasys

Mimi

Safer sex is something very important to me and Joseph. The cleanliness of our toys is also important to us. When it comes to anal play or the possibility of sharing a toy with another partner, it’s best to protect yourself. Toy Covers, a product of California Exotic Novelties, is a non-lubricated condom designed specifically to do just that.

Since the soft pink latex condoms are lubricant free, it allows you to use your silicone or water based lubricant of choice. This also means that the Toy Cover is less likely to slip out of place while you’re using the toys. Being non-lubricated is perhaps the biggest selling point for Toy Covers. Okay, other than the fact that you can slip a new Toy Cover over your “traditional size” dildo or vibrator (whatever the hell that is), lube it up, use the toy on a partner, slip the condom off, and then use it on yourself without fear of… contamination.

Technically speaking, having Toy Covers can make post-sex clean up faster and easier, but I am not one to advocate the continual creation of unnecessary waste. If you can’t really clean your toy adequately within a reasonable amount of time, you don’t need Toy Covers, you need a better sex toy.

Yes, it serves its purpose quite well. Do you hear a “but”? I do.

At this time, for me and my relationship with Joseph, it’s not worth it. The toys we use for anal play can be and always are sanitized. We don’t share any toys with other partners because we are currently monogamous. Both of us have been tested and both of us are healthy. The presence of Toy Covers in my life essentially equates to a shrug at most. However, I could see this product meeting the needs of other individuals. As always, you should keep in mind your own needs before purchasing.

Covered up toys…

Joseph

I have a big problem with this product. Namely, there is no reason for its existence. Toy Covers are just unlubricated condoms except…you can’t use them as condoms. It says right on the box that they should not be used for intercourse. That warning would make me a little nervous. Why can’t they be used as condoms? Do they not provide an effective seal? Are they not strong enough? If the answer is yes to either of those questions, wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of putting them on your toys to share with someone else?

While you can use a regular unlubricated condom as a toy condom (and know the condom is doing its job) , it does not work the other way around. You see what I’m getting at here? Just. Buy. Condoms.

“But they come in different sizes,” you say. SO DO CONDOMS.

“But they come in pink,” you whine. SO DO CONDOMS.

“But I have 0% chance having intercourse,” you correctly point out. Well…you have fun with your pink pseudo condoms.

The Naked Truth

Entertainment Value: N/A

Aesthetics: 4 out of 5 stars

Functionality: 3 out of 5 stars

Ease of Cleaning: N/A

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

I take it back, these are totally useful.

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

The Anal Sex Position Guide provided by Eden Fantasys

Joseph

I found The Anal Sex Position Guide by Tristan Taormino to be fairly excellent.

There is not much explanation required for this one. Taormino likes her titles to be fairly telling of the subject matter and this book is no exception. It is an anal sex position guide.

As with all of Taormino’s work that I’ve seen, she prefaces the bulk of the book with information about responsible and respectful practices. This includes anatomical information, safe sex practices, a chapter about the importance of communication, a dispelling of common anal sex myths, and a good discussion about the importance of warm-up.

After she gives you the tools you need to succeed, Taormino jumps right into the position guide. She simply breaks down the positions with an explanation of how they are done, the pros and cons of each, and any variations to that position. Accompanying each position description is at least one picture of perfect, airbrushed people demonstrating the position and making faces that they think they would make if they were actually doing it. As you can probably tell by the snarky way in which I described them, perfect airbrushed people leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. However, I think they are fairly appropriate for this book. They are for demonstration purposes only so it is ok for them to be mannequins.

About the only issue that I have with this book (I have to have one problem with everything, it is in my nature) is the subtitle: The Best Positions for Easy, Exciting, Mind-Blowing Pleasure. I can agree that anal sex can be mind-blowing and is almost always exciting for one reason or another. However, I just can’t get behind (heh) calling it easy. Asses are finicky and everything has to be just right for anal sex to work and that ain’t easy. Taormino’s book certainly makes it easier, though.

Mimi

My experience with anal sex has been fairly standard in terms of positions – Missionary, Spooning, Doggie Style, Flying Doggie, and Horizontal Tailgate – with me almost always on the receiving end, so Tristan Taormino’s The Anal Sex Position Guide arrived here with a warm welcome. Sometimes a little extra nudge in the way of practical advice and men and women with bodies made of fantasy is what you need to try something new. And where ever you are in your anal sex escapades, The Anal Sex Position Guide is sure to offer you some useful information that is approachable and classy.

Similar to her writing in Opening Up, Taormino’s voice is friendly and casual, yet direct and clear in its attempt to guide. I feel like Taormino is someone I could talk to without feeling embarrassed or intimidated. It’s an excellent balance she creates in her writing. I love how she talks extensively about safe anal sex practices, lubricants, and toys for both men and women. This book will be most useful to someone who is new to anal sex, but it has other advantages for more experienced individuals. It’s also a great tool for instances where one individual in a couple wants to try something, but they don’t know how to bring it up or discuss it.

As you may or may not have picked up on, me and Joseph are gradually moving into anal play for him, which I have a little bit of experience with but hardly enough to count. Prior to our relationship, I was incredibly uncomfortable with the idea of using a strap-on and became squeamish at the mere thought of using one. It’s not me! I can’t tell what I’m doing! That sort of problem. Chapter 11 Anal Pleasure for Men & Strap-On Sex and Chapter 12 Positions for Strap-On Anal Sex were really useful and really comforting. I was open to the idea of using a strap-on with Joseph before reading The Anal Sex Position Guide, but now I am mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared to attempt this new and exciting activity in our lives.

I can sympathize with Joseph about the models, but I also think that, like Taormino mentioned in the book itself, anal sex is in a sense coming out of the shadows and when you’re presenting a concept that can be difficult for a lot of people, it’s important to try meeting them halfway. Glossy pages, sensual and warm colors, using a traditional perception of human physical beauty – these things make a book about putting things in your butt less… like putting things in your butt. I’m not ashamed of my actions – or my pleasure – and I don’t think I should be. I am a clean, healthy, self-respecting individual. Not everyone shares this perspective.

Also, I’m sure young, sexy, you’ll-never-look-like-this-and-you’ll-never-fuck-anyone-that-does-either models help books sell.  And I don’t mind Taormino making a buck. Or a lot of bucks.

In short, The Anal Sex Position Guide has offered me some needed confidence to pursue my interests. It has done so with style yet without pretention. Can’t argue with that.

The Naked Truth:

Design: 5 out of 5 stars

Readability: 5 out of 5 stars

Educational Value: 5 out of 5 stars

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

It’s good to have hobbies.

$19.99The Anal Sex Position Guide Book by Tristan Taormino Format: Paperback Publisher: Quiver Buy from EdenFantasys

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!