reviewed by Ann Regentin
(12/19/2007)
When I was a kid, I used to love it when there was a big box with my
name on it under the tree. Gift bags were less popular then, but the
effect is still the same, as is my delight, so this kit from Babeland
inspires the same kind of grin. It comes in a good-sized bag and it's
full of fun things: a small bottle of toy cleaner, three Inspiral
condoms, a lovely glass bottle of Entice lube, and a Form 6 vibrator.
Try to imagine a perfect vibrator. It would be hypoallergenic,
versatile, water-resistant, cordless, rechargeable, powerful, reliable,
and cool-looking. When it comes down to it, most women compromise on at
least one aspect of this, and the point of a luxury vibe is to
eliminate the compromises. They're expensive, yes, for the same reason
a Rolls Royce is expensive. They don't cut corners.
I've never owned a luxury vibrator before. I've never even had
vibrators until quite recently, when I had to go on Cymbalta, one of
the serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and my responses got
scrambled. Until then, vibrators were overkill. Now, they're
necessary.
So there I was, looking over this sculpture of violet silicone and
stainless steel that cost ten times the price of most drugstore
vibrators. I knew what I disliked about drug store vibes -- they're poorly
made and don't pack much punch -- but I still had an unanswered
question. What can a sex toy do that makes it worth this much money?
It can live up to its promises! First of all, it's made of silicone and
stainless steel, two of the most non-reactive materials out
there. Silicone is non-porous and a lovely heat conductor, which makes
it a cinch to disinfect and extremely comfortable to play with, as it
warms to body temperature very quickly, even in my chilly bedroom.
It's also rechargeable. My household has a Nintendo Wii, so I have a
clear understanding of how much demanding electronics can cost in the
long run through their appetite for batteries. Granted, some
rechargeable batteries aren't great, as my cordless vacuums have
repeatedly demonstrated, but others, like my phones and my epilator,
have given good service for years, and I have reason to believe that my
Form 6 will do the same.
Even better, it recharges without a cord. The stainless steel bits are
the contacts, and it clicks quite nicely into its charging cradle. The
lack of a plug hole or battery case, plus its sealed construction,
means that the Form 6 is water-resistant, just the thing for a long,
hot shower.
The Form 6 also delivers on power. Even better, it delivers in several
different ways. Women who require less buzz can have that, as it has
five intensity settings on both ends. Yup, this thing has two
vibrating nodes, not one. It also has six different types of
vibrations, ranging from a steady hum to a pulse, and six digital
vibration modes that incorporate both ends. Between one thing and
another, it can take a while to cycle through all of the
options. Thankfully, the Form 6 remembers its last setting when it's
shut off and will return to it when it's turned on again, so you don't
have to start from scratch each time.
Does this thing have a downside? Not really, more like a few
limitations. It shuts itself off after twenty minutes, a safety feature
that's only a problem if you need a continuous twenty minutes of
vibrations. It can always be turned back on if it cuts out.
There are also some care issues. Silicone is relatively fragile, and
needs to be kept clear of sharp things. This is another toy that I wish
came with a bag. Also, this vibe cannot be used with silicone lubes,
because it can melt. Silicone toys remind me of a cat I once had: very
fond of humans, but not so thrilled with her own species.
All in all, it's really more of a tool than a toy, powerful and
versatile enough to do the job, and elegant enough to not visually
screech its function from the rooftops, the kind of thing you can put
in a suitcase without raising too many eyebrows, especially since it
takes a firm, two-second press to turn it on. Not everyone is
comfortable traveling with an electric penis, or with something that
has buttons that can be accidentally pushed.
Could it be used on a man? No reason why not, although it's not
suitable for anal play. Thankfully, the prostate gland isn't the only
sensitive part of the male anatomy, and the Form 6's varied settings
might be fun to experiment with, although I'm not in a position to try
it.
Speaking of my unpartnered state, there's still the little matter of
the atypical condoms. I've heard of Inspiral, but I've never had the
opportunity to use them, so I have no idea what they feel like. I still
have no idea, even though I now own three of them.
I'd also like to add that I'm growing quite fond of the Entice lube. A
little goes a long way, and it plays very well with my own
lubrication. It's odorless, colorless, doesn't dry out quickly, and
washes away easily when you're done. Not much more I could ask.
This is a lovely,
even decadent gift kit for a woman who
relies on her lube and vibrator the way many men rely on a bottle of
thick lotion and their dominant hand. It offers solid construction,
reliability, and variety all in one elegant package, making for a very
happy holiday indeed.
