Review: Vibe Pad

My passion project for the last few months, a huge round-up of some of the industry’s best grinding sex toys, is now out to the world. But with such a diverse range of products already making up this emerging trend, there was more than a few toys I was interested in including that just didn’t make the cut. One of them had to be the intriguing Vibe Pad from ORION Wholesale, which one of the round-up’s main contributors, Nudie Co, had just recently gotten in stock. However, whilst very much a grinder just like the toys in that post, it was at the same time completely different, and ultimately it was left out, feeling too unique to be adequately compared to the others. Thankfully for everyone though, Nudie Co were still kind enough to send one out, so that I might give it a review of its own!

Product Description

Out of the hundreds of sex toys in my collection, the Vibe Pad stands out as something totally new and different. The idea was first coined by fellow sex blogger Tabitha Rayne, who in 2015 released the Ruby Glow with Rocks Off. I still remember how big of a deal a hands-free “seated vibrator” was at the time, and it rightfully won awards and praise for its wonderful level of accessibility. These days, however, it has become the inspiration for a number of other rideable vibrators, and the Vibe Pad is the first I have had the chance to try. The big difference here, though, is the “Pad” element, which ORION take quite literally with a wide piece of thin silicone surrounding the vibrator to improve grip.

With two prominent bumps, one being larger than the other, amidst an otherwise flat surface, the Vibe Pad is effectively a contoured saddle designed to fit your body. Two motors, one in each bump, are then present, allowing you to choose your preferred direction or use both at once for an all-over experience. With a length of 29cm / 11.4″ and a width of 20.5cm / 8″, it is then quite large, despite only having a maximum height of 4.5cm / 1.8″, and in this case it is somewhat reminiscent of the Sybian-style sex machines you can buy. Although the reason I have never tested one of those is due to not having enough space for it in my small apartment, and so the Vibe Pad essentially works as a much more compact version, perfect for people like me. Silky smooth PU-coated body-safe silicone then covers the surface, although the bumps are completely firm, and underneath you’ll find the Vibe Pad’s charging hole, logo, and a single button. Considering this placement, it is then a good thing that the toy also comes with a two-button wireless remote, so you can actually control it during use. A downside is then that the only colour it comes in is purple, but the upside is that it is fully waterproof for play in the bath or shower. Finally, the Vibe Pad is USB rechargeable and it is designed to be used by anyone, regardless of gender.

The Brand

Since it is my first time reviewing a toy from ORION, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about them before continuing on. Traditionally a wholesaler of adult products for the European market, ORION offers a number of my favourite brands, from Doxy and Hot Octopuss to SVAKOM and Snail Vibe. But they also manufacture a few toys themselves, and the Vibe Pad is one of them. One of their most anticipated toys, it launched to the German company in late 2019, and has recently been succeeded by the Vibe Pad 2, which includes a warming function and a small tongue-like flap to provide licking-style stimulation (which I personally don’t love the look of). Whilst consumers cannot buy directly from ORION, their website is always a great place to find new and popular types of toys, many of which you’ll then be able to purchase at your local sex toy retailer.

Packaging

My order with Nudie Co for the Vibe Pad was placed on the 20th of April and I received it on the 28th. The package was then 100% discreet, with no mention of what was inside or who sent it, and as usual Nudie Co had beautifully gift wrapped it, with the box containing a handwritten thank you card, some candy, and dried flowers. Being my first product from ORION, I then wasn’t sure what to expect from the box of the Vibe Pad itself, and what I found I definitely could not have anticipated. Coming in a large cardboard box, which is understandable since it’s a big toy, the packaging features full-body nudity on both the front and inside, which, while fine, isn’t something I am use to seeing and gave me a surprise when unboxing it live on Instagram! A mix of German and English then covers the box, and the front can be opened up to offer a look at the toy through clear plastic on one side and read its instructions on the other side. Once the top is opened, you can then access the Vibe Pad itself, alongside its remote control, charging cord, manual (although this is more like a generic ORION safety booklet and does not feature any information specific to the Vibe Pad), and a battery for the remote. Overall I am happy with this, although obviously if you’re looking for discretion, this is not it. Plus, having the instructions written on the box, and next to a very NSFW image at that, is definitely a bit awkward, as its size means it’s probably not the sort of thing you want to keep. Finally, the Vibe Pad also comes with a one year warranty.

Charging

Since the Vibe Pad is USB rechargeable, charging it is easy. Simply flip it over to access the charging hole on its underside, and plug one end of the charging cord in here and the other end into a USB port. When charging a light next to the hole and on the top will begin to flash, and these lights will become steady once complete. Charging should then take 120 minutes, and will give you approximately 130 minutes of play time, however I have had it run out of charge during testing much sooner than this.

As for the remote, this is battery powered and takes one A23 battery, which you’ll need to insert by sliding off the back cover. This is included with the toy, however after only two testing sessions with the Vibe Pad (totaling maybe under an hour of use), I found that the provided battery no longer worked. This is quite frustrating, especially since A23 isn’t a very typical battery type, so I had to make a special trip just to find a replacement. I presume that I may have just gotten a dud, although something that might have contributed is that once you turn the remote on, there is no way to turn it off again without it first being connected to the Vibe Pad. But the last time I used the remote before the battery died, I was unable to connect the remote to the toy since the Vibe Pad had also ran out of charge, and so I had no choice but to leave it in standby mode. For how long this lasted I am unsure, but apparently long enough to drain whatever was left of the battery.

Controls

Controlling the Vibe Pad is relatively simple, although due to the lack of indication regarding what the buttons do, especially on the remote where the dual controls feature the same symbol, it can be a little tricky when getting started. Plus, when I was initially having trouble I tried referring to the instructions, which do not contain any relevant information, and it was only later that I realised the actual instructions are on the box, even if these are also quite confusing. Basically though, to turn the toy on, you must press the button on its back once, which will place it in stand-by mode. Continuing to click this button will then activate both motors simultaneously, and let you cycle through their seven modes, with three being steady speeds and four being patterns. Alternatively, at any time when the toy is on, you may switch to controlling it with the remote, which is much preferred since you won’t be able to access the manual button during use. Here, you can turn the remote on by clicking either button, and then use the button at the top of the remote to control the larger bump, and the button closer to the toy’s logo to control the smaller bump. You’ll then have access to the same number of vibration modes, but it will mean you can control the two motors independently of each other. Finally, to turn the toy off you can hold down any of the three buttons for three seconds, but do keep in mind that if you turn it off with the remote, you’ll need to get off and use the button underneath the Vibe Pad to get it back on again. Overall I am happy with all of this, and I would say the only downside is not having the toy return to standby mode when turned off with the remote, so that you can pause and unpause it without having to move from your seat.

First Impressions

Being my first toy from ORION and my first rideable toy, I really had no idea to expect from the Vibe Pad. But I figured there wasn’t much room for excuses, since there is ample space for two well-sized motors. Turning it on, I was then quite impressed, finding powerful and rumbly vibrations within. Between the two bumps I would say the motors are the same, despite the size differences, but this works well to keep things feeling consistent. As for the noise level, this is then quite reasonable, especially considering the size of it and how strong the vibrations are, and it also lessens once pressure is applied during use. So while I wouldn’t go so far as to call the Vibe Pad “whisper quiet”, I think with a closed door and maybe some music, any housemates would be none the wiser.

My Experience

Until my recent Grinder Round-Up, I had not masturbated upright in years, so I was quite excited for the chance to take it up another notch with the Vibe Pad. The first thing I did was lay it on my bed for use, but it quickly became obvious that I wasn’t able to sit on it properly like this. So, taking note of the in-use pictures on the box, I decided to instead place it on the corner of the bed, so that my legs could hang over the edge. This worked perfectly, allowing me to sit directly on it and use my legs to help grind if I need to, and has since become my favourite place to use the Grind Pad. The saddle-like bumps are then quite comfortable, fitting my body perfectly, and also provide a great anchor to ensure it can’t slide away from me. Next up it’s time to turn the vibrations on, and this is equally as great, being super rumbly and strong enough to really stimulate me, and by sitting on it I am still able to achieve the usual force that I am use to, although if I do want more then it is very easy to pull the front towards you. My main focus is then on the clitoral vibrations, which I use the larger of the two bumps for, and while I haven’t really found the smaller bump to offer much on its own (it is located just under my anus), having the vibrations on for this as well just adds to the whole experience. You can then sit and let the vibrations do their thing (which is so freeing in a way, as it requires zero effort on your part), or you can grind against it for even more sensation, and either way strong orgasms are sure to follow. Plus, another aspect of the Vibe Pad I have enjoyed (especially since it is winter where I am), is that it is able to be used whilst wearing clothes. So this, combined with how little effort it requires in general, has to make the Vibe Pad the easiest toy to use that I’ve ever tried, and certainly goes to show why these types of toys are so often lauded for their accessibility.

While I don’t usually test toys in the bath unless it’s a particularly prominent part of their abilities, I thought I would give the waterproof Vibe Pad a go considering this cold start to winter has me having a lot of them anyway. Unfortunately though, the toy ran out of battery just as I was about to start using it, so I didn’t really get to try it out. In the short time I did have it in the water though, I noticed a pretty glaring issue. The moment the Vibe Pad was submerged, the remote could no longer connect to it and control the vibrations. So this might be something to keep in mind if you are planning to use it underwater, as you won’t be able to easily change the vibrations or turn off the toy.

Cleaning & Care

Cleaning the Vibe Pad is easy since it is waterproof. Simply wipe it down with some warm soapy water, rinse, and then leave to air dry. As for the remote, I’m unsure whether this is waterproof, so I’d suggest just giving it a light wipe if it’s gotten messy too. Also, don’t forget that since this is made out of silicone, you cannot use silicone based lubricant with it.

Final Thoughts

Trying out new types of toys for the first time can be a real mixed bag, but the simplicity of the Vibe Pad has made it a real winner in my eyes. Feeling as if it’s something that should have existed for a lot longer, it takes all the fun of a Sybian / Cowgirl (at least the external versions) and provides it in a size and price that is both accessible and convenient for the masses. Not only was it a fun way to shake up my regular masturbation, but using it was as easy as just sitting down on a chair and pressing a few buttons. I didn’t even need to take my pants off! And I can only imagine what this would mean for people with limited mobility or who have trouble using regular vibrators for whatever reason. While it wasn’t a perfect toy, from my issues with the remote to it not holding its charge as long as expected, I do feel these things can be forgiven, as I’ve had a great time testing it regardless. Plus, while there’s no doubt it’s expensive, I also think that it’s a good price considering how unique an item it is. So, while I hope to see more seated toys in the future that improve upon the Vibe Pad, I can happily recommend it to anyone looking to invest in a hands-free vibrator now.

You can get the Vibe Pad from Nudie Co for just $179.90 AUD / $125.40 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.