Review: Snail Vibe

As a sex toy tester, I hear terms like “innovative”, “first of its kind”, and “revolutionary” a lot when looking at products to review, with every company seemingly trying to “reinvent” the vibrator. The thing is, they really don’t need reinventing. Sure, new features like app compatibility and Smart Silence are great, and motors can always be improved upon, but designs like wand massagers and G-Spot vibrators are classics for a reason, and don’t need entire overhauls. The exception to this, and the one product where I do think there is room for change, however, is the rabbit. Despite their popularity, these dual-stimulation toys are well known to be very hit-and-miss depending on how the user’s body matches up to the toy’s typically rigid measurements, and often considered a big risk to purchase. In fact, after seven years of reviewing them, the recent We-Vibe Nova 2 is the only one I feel even remotely safe in recommending to people, but even that doesn’t work for everyone. So when I heard about an entirely new type of dual stimulator that had just won an award for its universal design, I was excited. At least I was, until I saw it…

Product Description

The Snail Vibe is truly something else, and I doubt many people would even realise it’s a sex toy at first glance. With a completely original design, calling this a reimagining of the classic rabbit vibrator is an understatement, so much so that for a long time I shrugged it off as some weird idea that surely couldn’t actually be any good. But then the praise for it started… and didn’t stop. Until I finally decided it was time to check it out for myself, which Nudie Co were kind enough to help with. Living up to its namesake, the Snail Vibe really does look like a snail (albeit a bit of an elongated one), and seems to be UK designers Spiritus & Co’s answer to the age-old problem of how to maintain constant clitoral contact whilst using a dual stimulation toy, which is the same as We-Vibe’s goal with their Nova 2. Where it differs to the Nova though, is in every other aspect. Highly unusual, the Snail Vibe features two large bulb ends, with one being connected to a straight arm and the other being connected to a curved arm. When unfurled, this curved arm combines with the straight arm to make one thick penetrable arm, and as this is moved in and out of the vagina the curved arm will continue to furl and unfurl so that the bulb can maintain contact, with it effectively staying in one place whilst the rest of the toy moves around it. You can view an example of how that all works here, and I’ve got to say: it’s genius.

As strange as the Snail Vibe is, it offers all the features you’d expect from what is a luxuriously priced sex toy. Fully waterproof, made with 100% body-safe silicone, and USB rechargeable, Spiritus & Co. might be new to the industry but they certainly know what they’re doing. Dual motors can be found in the tip of the insertable end and the clitoral bulb above it, whilst the other bulb acts as a handle. Here you’ll also find the toy’s four buttons, with two corresponding to each motor, and a hole for the charger on the back. The Snail Vibe logo then appears debossed on both sides of each bulb (so four times total), but this looks more like some kind of spiral detailing than anything else. In addition to the strange shape, I was also concerned about its unusually large size when I first saw it. Despite a tapered head, the Snail Vibe has an internal diameter of 1.4″ / 3.5cm, and this combined with a completely firm shaft means this is a fair bit larger than the average vibrator. Not to mention the insertable length, which has a total of 5.5″ / 14cm. Coming in both pink and purple, I have the purple edition (which is all Nudie Co currently stock), and these done-to-death sex toy colours look almost ironic on such an otherwise original design. Finally, while this toy is anal safe, it is not designed for this purpose.

The Sender

Before we jump in, I wanted to give a quick shout-out to Nudie Co since it’s my first time working with them on a review. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Nudie Co are a relatively new online retailer of adult toys who already have an impressive range of curated products. Stocking everything from big brands like Satisfyer and Hot Octopuss, to independent makers that can be tricky to find in Australia, such as Désirables and BS Atelier, all of their toys are body-safe and well regarded. With a mission to provide a safe and positive space for people of all backgrounds and body shapes to feel empowered and confident about their pleasure, Nudie Co also aim to offer a personalised experience for those who want to learn more. The layout is refreshingly non-gendered and minimal, with categories listing items by body part and pleasure, and other items such as educational books and wellness products are also available. They offer Afterpay in addition to worldwide shipping, and all packages are 100% discreet, with those over $89 AUD being shipped around Australia for free.

Packaging

My order for the Snail Vibe was placed with Nudie Co on the 26th of January and I promptly received it on the 28th, which was great. Plus, the package was fully discreet, with no mention of what was inside or the sender. Inside the compostable postage bag I then found the Snail Vibe beautifully gift-wrapped in tissue paper and sealed with a sticker that read “It’s all yours”, alongside a small thank you note. Dried rose petals were also included throughout, and while this did get a little messy, I’ll absolutely be saving them for my next bath. As for the Snail Vibe itself, this arrived in a rather basic cardboard box, which just features some images of the toy and info on how to use it. I must admit I was starting to doubt whether something like this was appropriate for a toy of its price, until I opened it up to a big surprise. In addition to the vibrator, the Snail Vibe also comes with a high-quality storage case, which is made from a thick sturdy exterior and luxurious fabric interior (in fact, it actually looks a lot like a Nintendo Switch case). Featuring the Snail Vibe logo on the front, the matching colour of your toy, and twin zippers, indents of the vibe are then provided within to help keep it steady, whilst a small velcro brand can also be found here to house the charger. On that note, here is where you’ll also find the toy’s charging cable and instruction manual, which is all it comes with. Overall, while the initial packaging of the Snail Vibe is a bit boring, I am absolutely over the moon with its case, which is easily one of the nicest I have ever received with a sex toy.

Charging

Charging the Snail Vibe is easy as it is USB rechargeable. Simply plug one end of the cord into the back of the toy, and the other end into a USB port. When charging a LED light will flash on the toy, and this will become solid when complete, with Snail Vibe offering one hour of play on two hours of charge. Fully charging it prior to first use is recommended.

Controls

Whilst the Snail Vibe has four buttons, controlling it is simple and intuitive thanks to them being grouped together so that each pair only relates to one of the toy’s two motors. Those closest to the insertable end controls its vibrations, whilst the pair further back controls the clitoral arm, which makes the most sense when using it. Any button can then be held down for three seconds to turn the corresponding motor on or off, and after this you can use the button with the plus symbol to move through the vibration speeds, and the button with the wavy symbol to activate and control the pattern modes. There are five speeds and five patterns, with the patterns being adjusted by the speeds, and the dual motors can either be used separately or together. This all works really well and is easy to remember, so it’s a shame that I still haven’t had the best time using it. You see, whilst the buttons are in the perfect location (easy to access and see during use), I find they require a lot of pressure to actually press. Not to mention that the raised area of silicone next to them (which is what your finger automatically seeks out) doesn’t actually have the button under it, and that when you hold one of the buttons down to turn the toy off, it instantly switches to the next corresponding level (which doesn’t sound too bad, but it’s not fun to be at your limit and try to turn the toy off, only for it to instead increase in speed). All of this contributes to a toy that is sadly difficult to control, and even more of a problem when you go to turn it off, especially as there is no quick way to turn off both motors at the same time.

First Impressions

Like most people, I value good clitoral vibes far more than internal ones, and thankfully it seems Snail Vibe (unlike some other brands) got the memo. While both motors are meant to be good, their external one is promoted as having twice the power. In fact, it’s even described as being on par to a wand massager, albeit this seemed a little far-fetched. Turning it on for the first time though, I was actually quite surprised at the vibrations, which are deep and rumbly just like I like them to be. There is an obvious difference in the power levels between the two, with the external head featuring far more powerful vibrations, just like they described, and while it doesn’t really compete with top-tier massagers like the Magic Wand or Doxy, I can certainly understand why they feel they can compare the Snail Vibe to a wand, with the vibrations absolutely being reminiscent of these types of toys. Plus, compared to the We-Vibe Nova 2, which is the closest toy I own to the Snail Vibe and my current favourite dual-stimulator, is it way more powerful, and it’s almost hard to believe they’re in the same category of product (but, of course, having a much larger motor will do that). The flip side of this, though, is that it does mean the Snail Vibe is rather loud, especially compared to a toy such as the whisper-quite Nova 2, and so this is something to consider if you need to be discreet.

My Experience

With the Snail Vibe being a bit thicker than the average vibrator, entry can take a little while, and to quicken things up I like to use a smaller dildo like the Funkit Toys NoFrillDo R first. Once inside though, you immediately start to notice the difference between this and regular dual-stimulation toys. I think perhaps the most important change that Snail Vibe have made is not actually the original design or the unique method of maintaining constant clitoral contact, but removing the need for G-Spot stimulation. Because while every other rabbit features a short, curved internal arm in order to try and achieve this, Snail Vibe instead have the freedom to go the opposite route, and while it might still work for your G-Spot, it is no longer the goal. This then helps to remove any concern that the toy won’t work for you, as you’re no longer trying to match it up to these two stimulation points. And boy, does it work. With the large external bulb sitting comfortably over my clitoris, the ergonomic shape then works a treat, and thrusting the toy in and out of me is surprisingly easy, requiring very little force or work on my part. Perhaps the easiest toy to use in this regard that I’ve ever tried, it is a big change from the sore wrists I usually get after using an internal toy due to the angle I must hold them in order to achieve G-Spot pleasure. Vibrations from both motors then feel great, with the external arm going above and beyond, and Snail Vibe’s ultimate goal of maintaining clitoral contact is absolutely achieved. Plus, while I did initially think I would miss having my G-Spot stimulated, the force I am able to put into thrusting the toy completely makes up for this, instead bringing me A-Spot stimulation and some powerful orgasms. Finally, in comparison to the We-Vibe Nova 2, I can’t deny that the G-Spot stimulation it offers is out of this world and certainly something I enjoy that the Snail Vibe cannot offer. But not only do I find the Snail Vibe more comfortable and less of a strain on my wrists, but the superior vibrations and pleasure it provides makes this easily my favourite of the pair.

In regards to using the Snail Vibe as an external toy only, this absolutely works due to how powerful and rumbly the vibrations are. Although I am unsure why the promotional pictures displaying how to use the toy in this way show the handle facing away from the body, as not only would this mean you can’t control the vibrations, but if you tried to place any pressure at all on your clitoris with the vibrating external bulb, it would just roll away. Instead, I’d recommend holding the handle towards you, and while it may be a little less steady than a traditional wand massager, it’s just as good.

Cleaning & Care

Cleaning the Snail Vibe, as you can probably guess from the shape of it, is one of the worst parts of the toy. But considering how effective the design is, it gets pass from me. Plus, it’s still not as bad as some of the overly textured dildos I own, and being 100% waterproof helps significantly. To clean, you can simply soak it or wipe it down with some warm soapy water, making sure you scrub over any elements that may hide bacteria (such as the Snail Vibe logos and the gap between the internal arm) with a spare toothbrush. You can then rinse it, leave it to air dry, and return it to its storage case. In addition, make sure to not use silicone-based lubricant with this product, as it may react badly to the silicone it is made of, but if you do then first perform a spot test.

Final Thoughts

To say the Snail Vibe exceeded my expectations is an understatement. At first I just thought it looked like another novelty design, and even when I started to hear good things, I was sure it still had a long way to go before I tried it. After all, sex toy brands have been trying to create a dual-stimulator that works for everyone for decades, so if they couldn’t do it, why should Snail Vibe? But I suppose sometimes a fresh perspective is all you really need, because their out-of-the-box thinking has led to what is not only one of the most innovative sex toys in years, but the best. My new favourite rabbit vibrator, the Snail Vibe excels with its rolling-bulb for constant clitoral stimulation and powerful vibrations, whilst its forgoing of the traditional G-Spot shape frees it up to offer far more versatility than ever before, making this the first dual-stimulator that I can confidently say should work for any user with a vagina. Plus, while I can certainly identify improvements to be made, such as updated controls and a slightly smaller size, these things didn’t really have that much of an impact during use, which is a little hard to believe when considering this is a brand new company! Overall, I cannot recommend the Snail Vibe more, and not just to people looking for a quality rabbit vibrator, but for anyone looking to get their hands on a good all-rounder.

You can get the Snail Vibe from Nudie Co for just $229.90 AUD / $167 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.