Review: Uncover Creations Tentacle Grinder II

Going from never trying a grinder before to reviewing six of them at once last year in my Grinder Round-Up was certainly a risky decision, but one that I’m so glad I made, with this new style of sex toy being one of the highlights of 2022. Since then, I’ve reviewed three more, (the luxury Vibe Pad and innovative Godemiche Grind Ring in Pyramids and Bubbles), and with another three now on the way (Banana Pant’s Bumpher, Shagger & Honeybunch), this exciting new trend is showing no signs of slowing down. Of course, today’s review is also on a grinder, and this one is a real beauty. The Tentacle Grinder II from small business Uncover Creations is certainly a sight to behold, with its large singular tentacle protruding from the ocean depths that is its base.

The Brand

Uncover Creations is an indie maker based in the UK who recently came onto the scene with their beautiful takes on fantasy toys. Started by two friends who were frustrated with the usual process of shopping for sex toys and how boring and mass-produced they all looked, they set about creating their own store filled with fully customisable products featuring a range of shapes and colours. Whilst they have a wide range of silicone fantasy options (as well as a few realistic toys), with everything from sheaths to ovipositors, they are best known for their tentacle-themed toys, for which they have quite a few designs. When ordering, Uncover Creations allow you to choose between different colour, firmness, and upgrade options for your toy, and they will then make and ship it to you wherever you are in the world. Plus, with fast turnaround times and a 30-day returns policy, they make the made-to-order model easy.

Product Description

While Uncover Creations offer three different tentacle grinders, aptly named the Tentacle Grinder, Tentacle Grinder II and Tentacle Grinder III, I couldn’t resist how different the singular tentacle of the II looked, especially considering I have already tested a mass tentacle grinder in the Darque Path Maera. The largest of my fully silicone grinders, with a base width of 19cm / 7.5″ by 14.2cm / 5.6″ and a height of 5.8cm / 2.3″, every inch of this toy has been intricately designed, which results in a product ideal for any lover of texture or fantasy. Whilst the wide, flat base could easily be blank (since, admittedly, it’s difficult to incorporate during play), Uncover Creations have instead applied a coral-like pattern, with the occasional addition of seashells and even a fully detailed starfish. The large tentacle is then covered in two rows of gorgeous suckers, and has an organic curve that results in a tall bump mid-way before ending in a tapered point which sticks in the air. In each corner of the base there is then an open slot, just like on the Darque Path Grind, and the idea here is that you can attach a strap so that it may be tied down to objects or body-parts to make it more secure. Although unlike the Grind, the Tentacle Grinder II actually comes with two black nylon straps featuring quick side release buckles, and these both have a length of 70cm / 2.5ft.

When it came to the Tentacle Grinder II’s customisation, I wanted the whole shabang. Whilst the firmness can’t be changed, with the toy only coming in Uncover Creation’s 0040 super soft silicone, for the colours (of which there are five styles with tiered pricing), I chose a blue and green marble (however, I do not know which shades were actually used), as this is always my preference when it comes to tentacle toys. I then got the toy with its vibrating bullet attachment, which not only includes a bullet vibe, but puts a hole in the base of the toy so that it can be inserted, effectively turning your grinder into a vibrator (although I wish there was a cheaper option to add the hole without purchasing the bullet, for those who already own one). Finally, I also got the Tentacle Grinder II in its Silky Smooth Upgrade, which is new to me and the thing that most intrigued me about this toy. To achieve this, Uncover Creations use an additive derived from Durian tree nuts, which gives the silicone a subtle, nutty smell (and also means it shouldn’t be used if you are allergic to durian, tree nuts, tree nut derivatives or musk thistle seed). This absolutely makes a difference, with it being easily the silkiest silicone I have ever felt, which is a factor I particularly value when it comes to grinders. However, whilst the smell is subtle, I find that I can always smell it whenever I am in the same room as the Tentacle Grinder II and due to this I have grown to dislike it, making me unlikely to ever order a toy using it again, no matter how smooth it is. Overall, all these extras took the already fairly pricey product from $106 AUD / $75 USD to $205 AUD / $143 USD, making this the single most expensive indie toy I’ve ever owned.

The Bullet

Despite a relatively low add-on price of just $45 AUD / $32 USD, the Uncover Creations Tentacle Grinder II’s optional bullet vibrator is quite comprehensive, being remote controllable, waterproof and USB rechargeable. Coming in black, this small vibrator is made with a completely firm ABS plastic and measures 7.5cm / 2.9″ in length, making it the perfect size for most bullet-compatible products. A magnetic charging cord comes with it (although the connection strength is quite poor, making it difficult to attach), and once fully charged it should last you two hours (however the charging times are not listed), with the remote instead using an included CR2032 battery. A button at the end of the bullet can be held down to turn the toy on, which will put it in stand-by mode, and then clicked again to cycle through ten vibration settings, three of which are steady speeds and seven of which are patterns. Alternatively, you can press the remote (which is supposed to work to 10m / 32.8ft) at any time to control the vibrations through it, and you can also hold the single button on this down to return the bullet to stand-by mode. After use, you’ll then need to manually turn the toy off by holding down its button again, although it does also turn itself off after a couple of minutes in stand-by mode. Unfortunately though I not only find the vibrations buzzy, but they are also incredibly loud, almost unimaginatively so for such a small toy. Due to this, while I do think having a remote controlled bullet is the right choice (and finding one for this low a price isn’t easy), I can’t deny that this particular vibrator weakens what is otherwise a wonderful product, and further reinforces the need to have a bullet hole option without being required to pay for something that is likely worse than what many customers already own.

Packaging

My order for the Tentacle Grinder II was placed with Uncover Creations on the 3rd of October, although it was not shipped until the 18th, which was a fair bit longer than their 1 to 6 working day turnaround time (although still quite quick for a custom-made toy). It then finally arrived on the 27th, but unfortunately it was not discreet, with the contents being listed as a “Silicone Toy”. However, this was by far not the worst part of my experience receiving the Tentacle Grinder II, as the package that rocked up was almost entirely destroyed, with the cardboard box it was in practically ripped in two and barely held together with some flimsy tape. Easily the worst condition I’ve ever received a sex toy in, I would say most of the fault is in the Australian postal service, although I do think Uncover Creations need to be using a sturdier box to reduce the chance of this happening again, as I am frankly surprised my toy was still inside. I then found the Tentacle Grinder II wrapped in some black tissue paper, alongside a small thank you card listing who my order was made by and offering me a discount code for my next purchase. In addition, the bullet vibrator was also included and came in its own small unlabelled box, and inside this I found the toy and its remote, a charging cord, and a small instruction manual in both English and Chinese. Frustratingly though, the manual is riddled with typos and sentences that barely make sense, and while I know that Uncover Creations didn’t write it, it still leaves a bad impression, so I really think this is something they need to replace if they want to include this item with their luxury-priced toy.

The Straps

After resorting to using the Lovehoney Oh! Silky Bondage Restraints on my Darque Path Grind last year, which were not ideal, I was so happy to see that the Tentacle Grinder II comes with adjustable straps free of charge. However, whilst they arrived all set up and attached to the toy, one of the first things I did was take them off for cleaning and photos, and it was then when I tried to put them back that things started to go downhill. I’m sure some people would know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to attaching buckles, but I am sadly not one of them, and I was left fruitlessly searching Uncover Creation’s website and social feeds for some kind of guide, as otherwise I was unable to get them to maintain their grip, ultimately falling off. After about an hour of struggle and research, I did eventually figure out a solution I am quite happy with, although I still have no idea if it’s correct. Due to this, while I like the straps now, it really felt like some kind of guide should have been included to avoid people having the same issue as me.

My Experience

Due to the large size of the Uncover Creations Tentacle Grinder II, riding on top of it is my preferred method of use. The straps obviously help immensely with this, and I was so glad to find out that they fit over my Liberator Jaz (although only just), which I use all my grinders on. Between these and the silicone on the Jaz’s material, there is then no chance of the toy going anywhere, and I am able to really go to town on it. The middle bump, which is perfectly curved, is where I spend most of my time, and the fact that this is a solid piece of squishy silicone makes grinding on it absolutely amazing, and quite unlike any other grinder I have used which are all much flatter. Plus, even if it’s not turned on, the bullet acts like the firm core of a dual density toy, which I really enjoy and think I would miss if it wasn’t included. Then, when I want to switch things up, I can simply lean forward to enjoy the tapered end of the tentacle, which manages to find my entrance with ease. This works perfectly for the fantasy scenario, as it has the sense that it has entered me out of its own desire, rather than me needing to manually insert it like with a dildo, and I find this incredibly hot. As for the bullet, the buzziness of the vibrations is dampened somewhat, and so I do enjoy using it alongside the Tentacle Grinder II, although in contrast it’s like the silicone of the toy and Jaz somehow amplify the noise it makes, and I’ve even had to consider if my neighbours can hear me when using it. This is ultimately made up for by the remote, however, as without this it would be practically impossible to adjust the speeds whilst riding the toy.

While not really designed for it, I also enjoy using the Tentacle Grinder II on my back. The wide base surprisingly provides a good handle, and the middle bump is still very effective. Plus, I actually think I am able to appreciate the texture more this way, as it is easier to feel all of the suckers in action. I also tend to use it with the raised tentacle facing down, which usually ends up providing some extra anal stimulation during use, and again I quite enjoy the included bullet and its remote, although switching to something superior such as the We-Vibe Tango X or Doxy Bullet is easier in this position (I just wouldn’t recommend no bullet if you have the space for one, as the silicone in this area is so thin it’ll probably rip in use without one).

Cleaning & Care

Cleaning the Uncover Creations Tentacle Grinder II is easy since it is fully waterproof and primarily intended for external use only. Simply soak it in some warm soapy water, before rinsing and leaving to air dry. If fluids have dried, or if you’ve used the tip for internal stimulation as I’ve described here, you may also want to give some of the textured areas an extra once over with a spare soapy toothbrush. Similarly, the bullet (which should be inserted into the toy with lubricant to avoid it getting stuck) can be cleaned in the same way since this is also waterproof, and I’d recommend first removing it from the toy for cleaning and storage. After this you can simply store them all in a ziplock bag to keep clean, although one of the benefits of the Silky Smooth Upgrade is that the Tentacle Grinder II doesn’t attract dust, so this isn’t completely necessary. Finally, do make sure to not use silicone-based lubricants with this toy, as they may damage the material it is made out of.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes I’ll test a sex toy, thoroughly enjoy it, and then go off to write a review that winds up sounding overly negative. That is sadly what has happened with the Uncover Creations Tentacle Grinder II, because at the end of the day, I’m here to review all aspects of a product, not just what it feels like during use (although it’s obviously up to you, the reader, to decide what matters most). So while I have no complaints about the actual silicone work that Uncover Creations are so clearly highly skilled in, it was almost every other aspect where I found faults. The packaging was not discreet and came almost destroyed, the included bullet was loud, buzzy, and featured poorly translated instructions, the straps required either an included or online guide, and the Silky Smooth Upgrade was a tad too stinky for my tastes. But the good news is that all of these problems are fixable, and I really hope this review helps Uncover Creations improve their processes for a better customer experience in the future. As for the Tentacle Grinder II itself, this is without a doubt my new favourite grinder for riding, with its prominent bump and tapered tip being the thing tentacle fantasies are made of, and I for one cannot wait to jump back on.

You can get the Tentacle Grinder II directly from Uncover Creations starting at just $107 AUD / $74 USD!

I received this product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Affiliate links have been used in this post.