Review: Banana Pants Bumpher, Shagger & Honeybunch

Despite being a relatively new kind of sex toy, the idea of the grinder is extremely simple. Humans, particularly those with vulvas, already enjoy grinding upon things for stimulation, and these small pieces of silicone just offer a tool designed specifically for it. Coming up with a variety of textures to differentiate them then gives the opportunity for themes, with tentacles for those looking for something otherworldly or flowers for those wanting to keep things a little more discreet on their nightstand, and they can be as unique as you fancy too, with many stores offering them in custom colours. But some makers are taking this simple idea and continuing to innovate. We saw it with the Uncover Creations Tentacle Grinder II and its straps for added security and with the Godemiche Grind Ring and its ability to be attached to dildos and massagers. And now today we’re taking a look at yet another new interpretation, this time with Banana Pants’ range of dildo base cushions.

The Brand

Banana Pants are a new-ish sex toy brand that launched in 2018 with their innovative Bumpher, a toy primarily designed to cover the base of a dildo in order to give added stimulation to strap-on users. They have since expanded to four more designs, all with the same overall concept, and I’ve been eager to try them out for quite some time now. Non-binary/woman owned and based in the USA, these toys double as a way to prevent pubic bruising, and with such a simple idea I honestly can’t believe there wasn’t something similar available till now. Plus, thanks to Nudie Co, not only will I be covering the OG Bumpher today, but the Banana Pants Honeybunch and Shagger too.

Product Description

With the core idea of Banana Pants’ grinder collection being for the toys to attach to the base of a dildo, the Bumpher and Shagger both feature a hollow interior and a hole on the back so they can literally cover the base, whilst the Honeybunch does things a little differently by just featuring a flat tacky-textured back which can instead grip to the base of toys. Outside of this, what differentiates them is the variety of textures, with the Bumpher featuring two wide bumps, the Shagger offering a row of raised flaps, and the Honeybunch showing off its pronounced ridges which vary in height. Plus, since the Honeybunch isn’t hollow like the others, it also has a hole designed for a bullet vibrator. Both the Bumpher and Honeybunch are then made of a silky smooth body-safe silicone and as you’d imagine from the “dildo base cushion” term, they are very soft and squishy. Although the Shagger unfortunately seems to use a different silicone, being slightly rougher and more firm, and also features a prominent seam that runs right through all of its flaps. Banana Pants then have some great colour options, with multiple choices for each product, and I chose the Honeybunch in “Sunshine” yellow, the Shagger in black, and the Bumpher in purple “Plush”. Finally, while all of these toys do have their intended use, they are all very versatile as well, and since I don’t partake in much strap-on sex, I plan on trying them out for solo play with my favourite bullet vibrators and wand massagers.

Packaging

My order with Nudie Co for the Banana Pants Honeybunch, Shagger and Bumpher was placed on the 19th of January and I promptly received it on the 23rd. The package was then fully discreet, with no mention of the sender or what was inside, and as always Nudie Co had beautifully gift-wrapped it and included some dried flowers and candy for an amazing customer experience. Each of the Banana Pants’ products then comes in its own little cardboard box, which feature plastic windows to see the toy prior to opening, alongside plenty of information and even a diagram to make sure you know exactly how the items work. Inside these the Honeybunch, Shagger and Bumpher then rest safely in plastic, and no other additions come with them. Overall, I’m happy with all of this, and it all feels quite high-quality despite the low price of the toys.

My Experience

Bumpher

The Bumpher (and Shagger, for that matter) is designed to fit dildo bases up to 8.25cm / 3.25″ in diameter. This works well, stretching to fit snugly over many of my dildos, and they even fit over extra large bases like that of my Godemiche Morpehus without any issue. However, while they both work nicely combined with a dildo in my harness, providing added stimulation whilst also gently cushioning my pubic bone, this isn’t how I typically use toys, so I had other plans in mind for the Bumpher. The main one, was that ever since I first saw Banana Pants’ range, I’ve thought they looked perfect as wand massager attachments. Initially I figured they would only fit over mini wands, such as the Doxy Die Cast 3R and Magic Wand Mini, but I was over the moon to find that the Bumpher actually fits over my favourite toy of all time, the Magic Wand Rechargeable. Now, since this isn’t how it’s intended to be used, there is the chance it may tear or rip, which you should keep in mind if you want to do something similar. Although across all of my testing so far, I have experienced zero issues. Instead, the Bumpher stretches right over my Rechargeable, and this perfectly transfers its vibrations through to my clitoris whilst adding a whole new level of pleasure. Because the Rechargeable is very flat, it can only offer broad stimulation, but the Bumpher allows for pin-point vibrations for the first time due to its tapered tip, and I love it. Not to mention the dual pads that are provided, as something about this just hints all the right notes when I’m grinding upon it. In fact, even when I hold the massager still, I continue to experience new sensations, with the squishiness of the pads offering a welcome change to the Rechargeable’s much firmer silicone.

Even without the Magic Wand Rechargeable, the Bumpher is still a pleasure to use. Something about the design and layout of its texture feels incredibly good against me, and it’s enjoyable to grind against whether I’m on my back or riding it on my Liberator Jaz. I’ve also found that inserting a bullet vibrator, such as the Doxy Bullet, into its hole works well too, as even though it doesn’t offer the same control and pressure as a wand, it does provide vibrations which the Bumpher is a brilliant conduit for. As for using it inside a harness, I find that it acts more of a subtle cushion rather than something that is overly stimulating, especially compared to the other two toys, since it is the flattest of them all.

Shagger

Even though the Shagger is made a little differently to the Bumpher, its stretching ability is pretty much the same, and so I was able to test it out in all the same ways. Unfortunately though, my experience was quite different due to the alternative texture. There’s two things I favour most when it comes to grinders: pin-point stimulation and squishy padded areas. The Bumpher has both, the Honeybunch has one, but the Shagger has neither. While I like the idea of its flaps, there is no real variation in height to allow for pin-point stimulation, and because of this they all seem to just merge into one during use on my back and not offer much in the way of stimulation, especially when compared to Banana Pants’ other two offerings. Plus, with a firmer silicone, I also don’t get the same alternative density when using it with my Magic Wand Rechargeable. Being slightly higher than the Bumpher, it is more noticeable when using it in a harness or riding it though, and using it from above on my Liberator Jaz is the time when I most get to enjoy its flaps, as I really have the ability to use a full range of motion on them, and this combined with a bullet is my favourite way to use the Shagger.

Honeybunch

Rather than Banana Pant’s traditional dildo base hole, the Honeybunch instead opts for a tacky-textured silicone on its back to help it grip to whatever it is applied to. This allows for a lot more freedom when used in a harness, as you’re not limited by size factors and can place the grinder wherever feels best, and also means a toy like the Magic Wand Rechargeable can be used on the back of it too. But the most important feature of this toy to me is its bullet hole, which is designed to fit traditionally shaped bullets up to a size of 1.8cm / .7″ in diameter and 8.5cm / 3.3″ in length. Plus, to make things easier, it even has a smaller hole at the other end to allow for some airflow so that the bullet doesn’t get as easily stuck, which is a great idea since this is a problem I run into often. Now, whilst I own plenty of cheaper bullets that would work with the Honeybunch, unfortunately nothing in my current favourites list fits the criteria. The closest I have is the Doxy Bullet, which is a fair bit larger than Banana Pants’ recommends, but just like with the Magic Wand Rechargeable, I was surprised to find that it actually fits. In fact, I’ve even taken to pushing the end of the Bullet through the Honeybunch’s smaller hole, as while this is not what it is intended for (and once again all of this does risk damaging the grinder), it works so well that it almost looks like the Bullet and the Honeybunch were made for each other. With this in, the Honeybunch feels great and also offers some protection from the Bullet’s otherwise relentless metal, and I enjoy it almost as much as the Bumpher x Rechargeable combo on my back, providing some of the squish I’m looking for and all of the pin-point stimulation with its single protruding nub. Honestly, even without the bullet, the Honeybunch is still very enjoyable, and more comfortable to hold than the other grinders in the collection.

Something else that separates the Honeybunch from Banana Pants’ other dildo base cushions, although not as noticeably so, is that it is a lot thicker since it doesn’t have such a large hollow area. This makes it far more prominent than the others when used in a harness, and this, combined with the ability to freely move it around and the vibrations from an inserted bullet, has made it my favourite choice for actual dildo base use. I have a similar experience when using it from above on my Liberator Jaz, as being so much higher than the others makes for much more intense stimulation, and it also grips far better on this (perhaps even more so than on the dildo bases) than the Shagger and Bumpher, which tend to slide around. With this in mind, whilst the Bumpher is still my pick for play on my back (making it my overall favourite, since that’s how I tend to use toys most), I find that the Honeybunch is the best for everything else.

Cleaning & Care

Since the Banana Pants Bumpher, Shagger and Honeybunch are all 100% silicone and waterproof, they are very easy to clean. Simply wipe them down with some warm soapy water after use, before rinsing and leaving to air dry. You can also use a spare soapy toothbrush over any hard to reach areas (such as between the Shagger’s flaps) that may have gotten dried bodily fluids on them. The only downside is that because of the Bumper and Shagger’s holes, water may get stuck here, and so you’ll need to make sure to shake all this out before storing them, which you can do however you wish, although I recommend a zip-lock bag for the Shagger as its more tacky silicone attracts dust. Finally, make sure not to use silicone-based lubricants with these toys as it may negatively affect the silicone they are made of, and Banana Pants’ also recommend boiling them for three minutes if sterilisation is needed (such as when switching between partners).

Final Thoughts

While I might not be in the market for harness accessories, I am always after a good bullet and / or wand attachment, and I couldn’t help but see the potential of Banana Pants’ products when they recently came into stock on Nudie Co’s website. Whether they actually worked with my two favourites, the Magic Wand Rechargeable and Doxy Bullet, was another thing entirely though, with both products being much bigger than the brand recommends. So I am over the moon to report that they do, and as such these three have more than earned their place in my toy box. Whilst the winner in terms of on my back pleasure was absolutely the Bumpher, which I adored and I suggest everyone who enjoys this sort of play get (especially when you consider its low price, which is just $45.90 AUD / $30 USD at the time of writing), the Honeybunch was a close second and definitely the recommended option if bullet vibrators are more your thing, absolutely excelling when used within a harness or as a rideable grinder. Then, as for the Shagger, whilst this wasn’t for me, it did provide a brilliant alternative for those wanting a subtle yet still stimulating texture during harness play, as it worked as a perfect middle ground between the Bumpher and Honeybunch. Whichever you choose, I’m just so happy these toys finally exist, and I can’t wait to see what designs Banana Pants comes out with next.

You can get the Banana Pants Bumpher, Shagger and Honeybunch from Nudie Co starting at just $45.90 AUD / $30 USD, plus use my code GRACE10 to get 10% OFF your total order!

This post was sponsored by Nudie Co, but as always, all opinions are my own. Affiliate links have been used in this post.