One of last year’s stand-out posts for me has to be my review of the SquarePegToys G squeeze. Coming in at Number 3 in my Top 10 Sex Toys of 2021, I don’t think it’d be an exaggeration to say it was also one of the year’s most anticipated reviews, and has since become one of my most popular too. Taking on the often under-appreciated vaginal plug and reimagining it for the future, the only thing that equalled my love for the G squeeze was my desire to try more from the US maker. So when Peepshow Toys reached out to me recently to let me know SquarePegToys had a new release on the horizon that they were exclusive retailers for, I couldn’t have said yes to reviewing it quicker.
The first sex toy ever was estimated to have been made around 29000BC, so to say this industry has been around for a long time is a bit of an understatement. What this means though is that your pleasure is in good hands, because there are countless tried-and-true classics out there that are almost guaranteed to give you a good time. From wand massagers, to bullets, and the simple yet effective dildo, these sex toys have been refined over the years to the point where they don’t get much better. But on the flip side, this also means that new and innovative ideas are a rarity, despite almost every product on the market claiming that’s what they are. I’ve seen a few true instances of this during my time, including the now hugely popular suction toys, but I am always on the look out for more. So when I recently learned about the SquarePegToys G squeeze, a product that has been ten years in the making and really is the first design of its kind, I knew I had to get my hands on it, and thankfully Peepshow Toys were happy to help out.
As our seemingly never-ending lockdown continues here in Melbourne, I find myself thinking about how to support small and local businesses more than ever. Whether it’s a brick-and-mortar store that has been forced to close its doors, or an online retailer faced with demands for refunds due to delays out of their control, it’s a tough time to be in business. So in addition to my own financial support, I’ve been working to find new ways to promote and highlight small businesses on my social media over the last few months, and it was through this that I first learned of Montréal-based manufacturer Désirables. An independent maker of some of the most beautiful hand-made products I’ve ever seen, Désirables immediately stood out to me through their use of porcelain as a medium for their toys, which is something I haven’t seen before. So you can imagine my excitement when I recently found out that one of my favourite local retailers, Nikki Darling, was not only about to become the first Australian stockist of their exquisite and unique toys, but that they also wanted me to review them!
I’ve been reviewing vibrators from Chinese white-label retailers, such as Bestvibe, Adorime and Paloqueth, for many years now. While their designs may be pretty out there and websites often lack proper translation, the products themselves are typically great quality for the amount you pay. Plus, at the end of the day, these sorts of budget options that are primarily sold through sites like Amazon are always going to be much more widely purchased than the hundred-dollar sex toys I often find myself reviewing. But there has been one aspect of all of these stores that I have avoided till now, and that is their range of dildos. Dildos, unlike vibrators, are much more likely to be secretly made from non-body safe materials, and I have never quite trusted that this won’t be the case with these retailers. More and more lately I’ve been receiving messages from readers who have noticed my affiliation with these sites though and want to know my thoughts on their “silicone” toys, and it just hasn’t felt right that I continue to support these companies whilst also harbouring these kinds of concerns. So, that was when I decided it was finally time to take one for the team, and I requested the Realistic Dildo from Bestvibe. I figured, if it is silicone then it’ll be a great budget-friendly option to recommend to people, and if it is not then I won’t be able to test and review it anyway, plus I’ll know to cease my support.
During the burst of confidence my review of the Uberrime Ripley Alien gave me a few months back that saw me asking SheVibe to review the Uberrime Dr. Manhattan, I decided to also try my luck with another of the brand’s toys: the Spiro. Smaller than the Dr. Manhattan but larger than the Ripley Alien, the Spiro has a maximum diameter of 4.4cm / 1.75″, which is a size I am quite familiar with as it features on many of my favourite dildos, such as the Tantus Vamp Super Soft and Tantus Uncut #1. However, other than the beautiful colouring, this isn’t a toy I was drawn to initially as I found the shape of it super unusual, particularly the idea of having the most girthy part of the toy halfway down its shaft. But I wouldn’t be a very good reviewer if I didn’t try new things, and it turned out resisting its vibrant colours was harder than I thought!
The first dildo I ever reviewed was the Tantus Splish, and until like most products that I reviewed when I first started, this toy has really stood the test of time and is still one of my favourites. With a diameter of only 2.5cm / 1″ and a length of 11.4cm / 4.5″, it is far too small to be used as a regular dildo though, and instead has found a place in my home for anal play and as my partner’s alternative to fingering. I loved the drip-like design and noted in my review “Its texture is simply marvellous [for anal], and I know I just need to get my hands on a Splash now so my vagina can have a similar experience”. The Splash was the Splish’s larger cousin and I was eager to get one, until Tantus discontinued them both. Those were some sad days in sex toy land… until recently when I noticed Tantus had announced two new products. They have a different name and a new colour palette, but sure enough the Magma and Mini Magma are the reincarnations of the Splish and Splash.
