It’s been a very long time since I have reviewed anything BDSM related. I figured it was about time to take a break from vibrators and dildos and review something else. When it comes to BDSM, even if you’re a beginner, you want to have good basics. One of the very basic items you need is a good set of restraints, like the Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit.

The Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit is part of Liberator’s Black Label collection and more or less what you might guess from the name, a kit consisting of cuffs and a blindfold. However, this kit is a bit more complete than some others I have seen. Contained in the kit is the following:
• 2 wrist cuffs
• 2 ankle cuffs
• 1 blindfold
• 1 bow-tie choker
• 4 tethers
• 1 storage bag

Cuffs can be made from many different materials, leather, metal, satin, etc. One of the things that makes the Liberator Tensionier Kit unique is that the cuffs, blindfold, and bow-tie choker are all made from a dark wash denim. This is the first time I have run across denim cuffs. That doesn’t mean there aren’t others out there, just that I haven’t seen them. The dark wash denim is stitched with a contrasting white thread. This and the silver-colored hardware make these items quite attractive. Each of the four cuffs has a clip and a D ring that allows you to attach them to each other, the tethers, the bow-tie choker, or anything else you come up with. Each of the tethers also has a D ring that can be attached to the cuffs’ clips. The bow-tie choker also has a D ring so you can attach the cuffs, a leash, or something else with a clip. In fact, the only thing in this kit that does not have a D ring is the blindfold.

Speaking of the blindfold, it actually works better than I expected based on its looks. My experience with blindfolds that are cut similarly to the one in the Liberator Tensionier Kit have not been very good. Usually this design lets a lot of light in around the nose. However, due to the elastic band at the back of the blindfold, it fits securely and though it does let a bit of light in, it’s really not bad at all. The downside of the blindfold is that the after a while the pressure on the bridge of my nose from the elastic band becomes uncomfortable and I need to remove it. It is also snug enough that I really need to keep my eyes closed while the mask is on. No biggie, right? After all, there’s nothing to see under there. Still, some people don’t like that kind of pressure against their eyes, so I thought I’d mention it.

Oh, there is actually another issue with the blindfold, with the entire kit actually. The denim has an unpleasant odor that reminds me of glue. All of the pieces smell badly. Granted, it’s not like you can smell them across the room, but I can definitely smell the blindfold when it’s on my face. Yuck. It is also not adjustable, which may be a problem for some people.

I realize the bow-tie choker is meant to be a cute collar, but I am not a big fan. I think it’s just kinda silly looking. It’s about 20″ in length so it can fit a wide variety of neck sizes. I find it rather thin, especially if something heavy is attached to the D ring in front. This can drag the bow-tie choker down and cause some discomfort at the the back of the neck. Keep in mind that I have a chronic pain condition and frequently have pain in my neck so I am probably more sensitive to this than many people.

The wrist and ankle cuffs are more or less the same, with the ankle cuffs being somewhat larger. Both the wrist and ankle cuffs are 2.5″ wide. The wrist cuffs can be adjusted up to approximately 10.5″, thus allowing for them to fit most people who are not The Hulk. The ankle cuffs can adjust up to about 17.5″ so they are significantly larger than the wrists restraints. Liberator calls these cuffs self-tightening, but I have not had that experience. If I struggle enough, the cuffs loosen somewhat. In fact, there is a slight amount of give to the denim material. However, it is not stretchy by any means. One issue I have with both the wrist and ankle cuffs is that the piece of denim opposite from where the restraints tighten slips and slides around and does not always stay beneath the strap. It’s a bit annoying to have to keep straightening it out when you are putting the cuffs on.

The four tethers included in the Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit are made from heavy duty 1″ wide nylon, the kind you find on duffle bags and backpacks or seat belts. It is extremely durable and has absolutely no give. The tethers are 55″ long and adjustable. Each one has a plastic clasp that allows you to wrap the tether around something and secure it.

All the pieces of the Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit are quite lightweight due to the denim fabric, but the hardware is heavy, maybe a little too heavy to be supported well by the denim. The contrast can make the cuffs a bit unwieldy when putting them on but isn’t as noticeable once they are secured.

The packaging of the Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold kit is simple and stream-lined. The cuffs, bow-tie choker, blindfold, and tethers come in a handmade denim storage bag that is very discreet. The only hint that something nefarious is inside is the Liberator tag on the outside that says “Bedroom Adventure Gear”. Otherwise, it looks totally innocuous. The denim storage bag securely closes, like a sleeping bag, and comes inside a clear plastic bag which does have the name of the product on a sticker on the outside. With all the pieces of the kit stuffed inside the storage bag, it is surprisingly heavy due to the hardware. Other than the shipping box, there is no additional packaging wasting resources, which is a good thing.

Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit Pros:
• Very sturdy
• Vegan
• Material is comfortable
• Attractive
• Good storage bag

Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit Cons:
• High price point
• Blindfold is not adjustable
• Has odd glue-like scent

In looking for a set of restraints, different people look for different things. I always want mine to be comfortable, secure, and durable. The cuffs in the Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit are all three. They also have the added benefit of being lightweight and vegan. I have used leather restraints in the past and they can feel very luxurious. They can also be hot, feel heavy, don’t react well to sweat, can chafe, and are made of animal parts. For these reasons, the denim fabric of the Tensionier cuffs is great. The odor, however, is not. In fact, it’s quite bad and I have no idea what’s going on with that. Maybe it’s a chemical used in the treatment of the denim. maybe it’s a fluke. I don’t know but I don’t like it.

While the Liberator Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit does come with 11 pieces technically, I find the price point rather high for denim restraints, a bow-tie collar, and a blindfold. It’s certainly not something those who are new to BDSM will want to spend when they’re just experimenting. It also doesn’t seem like BDSM experts would want to drop that much on cuffs made of denim. Of course, I could be wrong. While the cut of the blindfold works, the fact that it isn’t adjustable is likely to create issues for some. What really kills it for me is the scent. My sensitive nose cannot take it. Hopefully, it’s just my set and not all of them out there.

Head over to Liberator to check out the Tensionier Cuff and Blindfold Kit for yourself.

Bean Fiddler Rating:

About a month ago, Lovehoney released a handful of new vibrators in the Tracey Cox line. At that time I posted a Spotlight about the new Tracey Cox dare! Sex Toys. As I am always curious about new products, I was hoping I would have an opportunity to review one of these vibrators and Lovehoney was kind enough to make that happen. Considering I have been suffering a great deal of neck and back pain recently, I decided to go with the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator, as I was hoping it would handle double duty as both a massager for my back/neck and a pleasure object.

The Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator is part of the dare! line of sex toys from Tracey Cox. This line of vibrators is meant to focus mainly on toys that can be used by couples. These toys were designed by bestselling sex author, Tracey Cox, hence the name.

Made from ABS, the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager contains no latex or phthalates, making it body-safe. The silky smooth plastic material is compatible with both water-based and silicone-based lubricants. It can also be used with massage oil to enhance a body massage. This particular ABS is super smooth and sleek and slides along my skin with no drag at all, so oil is not a necessity but can certainly add to the massage experience. The Power Massager is splash proof, so it can be easily washed with warm water and antibacterial soap or a sex toy cleaner. However, it is not waterproof so do not submerge it.

At 10.5″ in circumference, the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager fits very comfortably in the palm of my hand. The round shape with the indented button makes holding onto it during use very easy. The button must be pressed very firmly in order to power the vibrator on and off, as well as to cycle through the different modes. This means that it is very unlikely you will accidentally press the button. It has great feedback and makes a fairly loud clicking sound when pressed.

With its one button, the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator is simple to use for newbies and experienced users alike. You turn the vibrator on by pressing the large button once and continue pressing the button to cycle through the different modes. To turn off the Power Massager you hold the button down for approximately two to three seconds. The only challenge I find with the power button is my own issue. I have rather long nails, and because the button is indented it is a bit difficult to press it. People with shorter nails are not likely to have this problem. The Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager has three levels of intensity and three vibrational patterns, as follows:
1. Low steady vibration
2. Medium steady vibration
3. High steady vibration
4. Ramp up
5. Three short pulses, one long
6. Medium pulses

The Power Massager is somewhat loud, though not horrible, especially for a massager. It is not as powerful as I was expecting, though it is not weak either. It’s about mid-range as far as power goes. It will be plenty for some and not at all enough for others. The vibrations themselves are also mid-range, not very deep and rumbly, but not buzzy either. The vibrations are really not strong nor deep enough to penetrate my muscles, but I may not be the best test subject, as I have chronic pain. It is certainly enough to create a relaxing sensation, especially when being used by a partner who can provide more pressure with the massager than I can on my own.

I like the design of the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager very much, but I find it more effective as a massager than a vibrator. Though I find the strength of the vibrations to be sufficient, they are too diffuse to bring me to orgasm due to the shape of the Power Massager. Diffuse vibrations are great when massaging a large area, like the back, but they do not provide enough direct stimulation to my clit. However, I discovered that these diffuse vibrations are pretty great for nipple stimulation, which is an unexpected bonus. At 8.5 ounces, I find the Power Massager to be slightly heavy for longer periods of use, but my Fibromyalgia has been seriously acting up so most people probably won’t find it overly heavy. It may not be the best option for people with carpal tunnel or other hand and wrist disorders.

The packaging of the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager is simple. The exterior consists of a cardboard sleeve with a window through which you can see the vibrator. There is an image of a woman on the front and back of this sleeve. I am assuming the woman is Tracey Cox, the designer of this vibrator. Considering it’s a massager, someone unfamiliar with sex toys may stumble across the box without raising an eyebrow. However, I do not find the packaging very discreet and think many people would know it is also a sex toy. Once you remove the sleeve, you’ll find the Power Massager held in place by cardboard. Underneath this cardboard is a little user guide with basic information about the toy. The packaging is sufficient and can be used for storage, though it is not that sturdy and will take up more room than the Power Massager on its own.

Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator Pros:
• Great nipple stimulation
• Fits comfortably in hand
• Button has good feedback and does not allow for accidental pushing
• Silky, smooth plastic
• Can be used with all types of lubricants
• Can be used with massage oil
• Easy to open and close for battery insertion

Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator Cons:
• Long nails hinder the ease of pressing the button
• Does not bring me to orgasm
• On the heavy side

I love sex toys that can serve multiple functions and the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator does just that, though not in the way I expected. I thought it would serve both as a massager and a clit stimulator, but as I mentioned above, the clit stimulation isn’t super effective for me. To be fair, it provides a fair amount of tease, but I do need another vibrator to actually orgasm. I really like the nipple stimulation it provides and wish I could find something similar in an actual nipple clamp or something along those lines. Using the Power Massager on my nipples with another vibrator on my clit is fairly awesome. As a massager, I find it about average. It is not meant to provide a deep tissue massage, but more of a stimulating erotic massage, and it is capable of doing so.

The ABS is particularly silky and smooth and feels great sliding along my skin, making massage without oil totally feasible and comfortable. I do have trouble holding onto it for long periods of time, but that is very likely due to my current health status rather than the Power Massager actually being too heavy. Overall, it has some very nice features and should please many users.

Head over to Lovehoney to check out the Tracey Cox dare! Power Massager Vibrator for yourself, and remember, Lovehoney will ship your entire purchase for free!

Bean Fiddler Rating:

Happy New Year and welcome to Bean Fiddler’s Best of 2012. I remember having a really tough time writing my Best of 2011 post last January. I had reviewed so many great products over the course of the year. This year it’s a slightly different issue. I don’t seem to have loved nearly as many products in 2012 as I did in 2011. I don’t think this is necessarily a comment on the quality of sex toys and sensual products in 2012, as much as it has to do with me being less cavalier about handing out those five bean scores. In fact, I only rated one product a full five beans in 2012. Shocking!

Due to the way things played out in 2012, I am doing something a little different than last year. I decided to go with 10 different categories and choose my favorite product of the year in each category. So, without further ado, on to Bean Fiddler’s Best of 2012.

LELO Insignia Tiani 2

Best Sex Toy for Couples: LELO Insignia Tiani 2
In 2011, I reviewed the original LELO Insignia Tiani and thought it was OK. Certainly, I thought the new technology was cool but there were issues with the actual vibrations of the toy and communication with the remote. LELO did a very quick turnaround on revamping the Tiani and came out with the LELO Insignia Tiani 2 which has much stronger vibrations and communicates very well with its remote. They included two g-spot attachments and you can also use the wearable part of the Tiani 2 on its own without the remote, which was not possible with the original Tiani.

Jenna Haze Swallow Fleshlight

Best Sex Toy for Men: Jenna Haze Swallow Fleshlight
This really in Beanpole Fiddler’s category and I know he only does a review here and there so there’s not a lot of competition in this category. Still, the Jenna Haze Swallow Fleshlight was his favorite toy that he reviewed last year. He loved the feel of the Fleshlight Superskin material and found the Swallow texture to be very enjoyable. He also really liked the experience of looking down and seeing Jenna Haze’s lips wrapped round his cock. He reported that when warmed up, the Jenna Haze Swallow Fleshlight was pretty great.

Pjur Original Body Glide

Best Lubricant: Pjur Original Bodyglide
Pjur Original Bodyglide Lubricant is the first, and so far only, silicone-based lubricant I have reviewed. A big part of this is that the majority of my sex toys are made of silicone, and if you read my reviews you know that using silicone-based lube with silicone sex toys is generally a bad idea. The silicone of the two can interact with each other and cause a chemical reaction that leaves the toy feeling tacky. Nevertheless, I do have a handful of toys in materials such as glass, plastic, and metal, and decided it was high time to review a silicone-based lube. I was thoroughly impressed with Pjur Original Bodyglide. It is soft and slippery and provides a variety of perks aside from just using it sexually.

LELO Smart Wand

Best Wand: LELO Smart Wand
There was a lot of fanfare about the brand new LELO Smart Wand being released last year. I think due in part to the fact that it was the first “massager” type of product released by LELO. It comes in two sizes and three colors. The Smart Wand is rechargeable and sleek, and though I wanted it to be stronger, it is very effective. (I might actually pull it out and use it on my neck which is in a lot of pain right now.) I liked that it has multiple uses and didn’t really look like a sex toy. I was also impressed that some mainstream stores, like Brookstone, have started stocking it.

Tantus Cush Dildo O2

Best Dildo: Tantus Cush O2
While I do want to give a shout out and honorable mention to the Fleshlight Freaks Drac Dildo, I must say my favorite dildo of the year was the Tantus Cush O2. With its dual density squashy outer layer and firm inner core, the Cush O2 was a new experience in dildos for me. Not only did I love the color, but it just feels awesome during play. I must agree with all those fans of dual density out there and say I really do prefer it overall to regular old silicone dildos. Not only is the Cush O2 a great dildo, Tantus is a great U.S.-based company that makes all of its products on site in Nevada.

PAPAYA Toys Tattoo

Best Traditional Vibrator: PAPAYA Toys Tattoo
My pick for this category actually comes from a very recent review. The PAPAYA TOYS Tattoo is a good-looking, not to mention flat out good, vibrator. It has great rumbly and strong vibrations that my body loves, wrapped in vivid green silicone. The PAPAYA Toys Tattoo is waterproof and has a very cool memory chip that allows it to turn on at the same level of intensity and same mode it was in when you turned it off. It’s a bit girthier than a lot of traditional vibrators out there and its shape keeps it from being average. The head creates a nice popping feeling during thrusting and the silicone is particularly nice. Though it is a bit noisy, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives for me on this one.

Jopen Vanity Vr5.5

Best Rabbit Vibrator: Jopen Vanity Vr5.5
After my less than thrilling experience with the Vanity Vr3 and the Vanity Vr10, I was pleasantly surprised by their newer cousin, the Jopen Vanity Vr5.5. Not only is it rechargeable, but it is waterproof and fully immerseable. I had high hopes but strong doubts about the Jopen Vanity Vr5.5, because while the shape looked interesting, it didn’t really seem like it would effectively hit my clit. Turned out that what I liked best about this redesigned vibrator was how deep and rumbly the vibrations are, and how perfectly its unlikely shape fit my body. Jopen did a great job with this one, even if it does come with an unnecessarily ginormous storage bag.

LELO Nea

Best Clit Vibrator: LELO Nea
I realize this is the third time LELO has shown up on my Best Of list this year and I don’t want to be a LELO whore or anything, but what can I say? Their toys work for me. Not only that, but they’re made of high quality materials. In general, I prefer silicone vibrators and I love LELO’s silicone in particular. Nevertheless, I just happen to adore the LELO Nea’s plastic body. The flowery design is adorable, but more importantly, the plastic is perfectly slippery and slidey for a clit vibe so I don’t need to use lube. I also find the vibrations to be both rumbly and strong enough to get me off quickly, and the small size of the LELO Nea fits perfectly in my hand without causing it to get buzzy or crampy.

Leaf Fresh

Best New Product: Leaf Fresh
I was lucky enough to be amongst the early testers of the new Leaf line and apparently even luckier to select the Fresh. From what I heard around the water cooler, it seemed not all of Leaf’s vibrators were winners. Fortunately for me, the Leaf Fresh is a pretty great little vibrator, and I do mean little. It’s almost as small as the LELO Nea, which is tiny. The atypical shape of the Fresh fits comfortably in my hand and nestles right up against my labia to hit my clit. Oh, did I mention that it’s made of green silicone?? Any sex toy that’s green is already a step above the rest. I was so pleased the Fresh actually lived up to its potential.

Liberator Fascinator Throe

Best Standout Product: Liberator Fascinator Throe
The only review product to get a full 5 beans from me in all of 2012, which is quite something considering all the beans I handed out in 2011, was the Liberator Fascinator Throe. The Liberator Fascinator Throe is a great all around item to have in your arsenal. While it really doesn’t double as a comfy throw blanket like I hoped it would, it is a must have for all your reindeer games. It truly works as promised and has saved my sheets from many a mess, keeping me from having to change them at an awkward/exhausted moment. It washes and dries well, and is soft and silky to lay upon. If it was just offered in smaller sizes it would make storage, solo play time, and tossing it in the back of the car a lot easier.

Considering the shift that seems to have occurred from 2011 to 20912, I am very curious to see what happens in 2013 with my review choices and how I approach rating products. As always, I hope these reviews are helpful and provide clarity to my readers. Thank you to all those who have made my reviewing these great products (and even the not so great ones) possible. Let’s hope that 2013 brings some interesting and exciting new products to our attention! So far, so good considering my first review of the year, the Whipspider Rubberworks Jellyfish Dildo. **Spoiler Alert** I may have already found my favorite dildo of 2013.

I notice that I focused much more on sex toys than sensual products last year, and reviewed more vibrators than any other sex toy. My focus appeared to be on clit vibrators, with a handful ending up with 4 and 4.5 bean reviews. I only reviewed one anal toy in 2012, which is astonishing to me, and did I not review any nipple toys. 2012 was a very different year when it comes to reviews.

I have now been exposed to so many sex toys that something which would have blown me away when I first began this journey may now seem very blah. The longer I review sex toys, the better I get at distinguishing quality toys from those that are merely mediocre. I think this maturation as a reviewer is a very good thing for you readers. My exposure to all these products allows me to provide you with a better understanding of how well a sex toy actually works for me, as well as assisting me in answering many of your questions, on and off the site.

Additional honorable mention is deserved by the following sex toys that received 4 and 4.5 bean ratings:
LELO SIRI
Jimmyjane Form 2
Lovehoney Realistic Oh! Rabbit
Lovehoney Tapered Prober Orgasmic Glass Dildo
Tantus Goliath Vibrating Dildo
Toyfriend Starlet

In mid-2012, Doc Johnson released a new line of waterproof, silicone vibrators based on Alice in Wonderland characters called the Wonderland Collection. I spotlighted this collection around that time. I thought it looked interesting and unusual. Vibrators based on Alice in Wonderland are a pretty cool concept. Doc Johnson is at it again, this time with their Wonderland Collection of Cock Rings, which can be found at Good Vibrations.

Kinky Kat

Heavenly Heart

White Wabbit

Pleasurepillar

Mystical Mushroom

The Wonderland Collection of Cock Rings echoes the earlier collection of Wonderland Vibrators with its five different cock rings based on the same characters. There is the Kinky Kat Vibrating Cock Ring (my personal favorite), the Heavenly Heart Vibrating Cock Ring, the White Wabbit Vibrating Cock Ring, the Pleasurepillar Vibrating Cock Ring, and the Mystical Mushroom Vibrating Cock Ring. Each of these cock rings has a corresponding Wonderland Vibrator, which would make a lovely gift set for any couple. Well, maybe not any couple, but certainly there are couples out there who would get a kick out of these adorable sex toys.

The Doc Johnson Wonderland Cock Ringa are made of stretchy waterproof silicone that expands up to approximately 5″, thus accommodating most men. These cock rings include a waterproof bullet made of ABS that has 10 different vibration modes.

While I am not a fan of cock rings and find they generally do nothing for me, I still think this a very cool collection. I love the Alice in Wonderland theme as much as I did with the Wonderland Vibrator Collection, and especially like that they match. It’s just nifty. If I was a total Alice in Wonderland geekgirl (which I’m not) or I collected sex toys just for the hell of it (which I don’t), I would totally want the complete set of Wonderland Vibrators and Cock Rings.

You can find the Wonderland Vibrators at several sex shops. Check out my Spotlight on Wonderland Collection Vibrators for those links. As of right now, you can find the Kinky Kat Vibrating Cock Ring, the Heavenly Heart Vibrating Cock Ring, the White Wabbit Vibrating Cock Ring, the Pleasurepillar Vibrating Cock Ring, and the Mystical Mushroom Vibrating Cock Ring at Good Vibrations. Head over there to sneak a peek and be sure to look at the Wonderland Vibrator Collection as well.

When it first came out back in October, I reviewed the LELO Tiani. There were some things about it I liked and some things I didn’t. One good thing about LELO is that they really do listen to customer feedback. After hearing comments and complaints about certain aspects of the LELO Tiani, LELO upgraded and updated it and recently released the new LELO Insignia Tiani 2.

The LELO Insignia Tiani 2 looks the same as its predecessor but there are some very significant changes. Check out my review of the original LELO Tiani if you’re not familiar with it. LELO claims the Tiani 2 is 50% more powerful than the the original, while being quieter. It is definitely more powerful and quieter, especially the remote. The Tiani itself wasn’t terribly loud but the remote was on the loud side. This is much improved with the Tiani 2. I also find it easier to get off with the LELO Tiani 2 than I did with the original Tiani due to the ramped up power, though getting off with it still isn’t the easiest thing in the world for me.

One of the big issues the original LELO Tiani had was the remote losing contact and the vibrator turning off. This was incredibly annoying. Well, LELO has added an intelligent memory chip to the Tiani 2 so if communication between the remote and the Tiani 2 is blocked, the vibrations will not be interrupted. This really works. When the remote is blocked, the Tiani 2 stays on and keeps running. Obviously you cannot change the intensity or patterns or turn it off when this happens. However, the fact that the Tiani 2 does stay on is a huge improvement.

Additionally, the new Tiani 2′s remote is meant to have a range of up to 48 feet. I had a difficult time testing this out as I don’t have that much space in my apartment. It does, however, have much more range than my original Tiani which didn’t work from the other side of the room. The Tiani 2 remote works from at least 20 feet away and through one wall, though it did not work through two walls.

Another improvement LELO has made to the Tiani 2 is that you can now use it without the remote. Of course, if you want to use the SenseMotion feature, you will still need to use the remote. However, if you just want to use the steady vibration and patterns you can do so without the remote. To use the Tiani 2 without the remote, press the button on the clitoral arm to activate it, then the press the button again to turn the vibrations on. Press the button to cycle through the different modes. To turn off the Tiani 2, press and hold the button down for three seconds. Once turned off, the Tiani 2 goes into standby mode for an hour before it it turns completely off, so it will be receptive to receiving signals from the remote during this time. This is a really great feature as you may not always feel like using the remote for whatever reason.

Now we come to the new arm that is now included with the LELO Tiani 2. The original Tiani came with one arm attachment but the Tiani 2 comes with two different g-spot arms. One is the same shape and size as the original and the other is slightly wider, longer, and more square. This is meant to provide more stability and keep the Tiani 2 in place during sex. It is also meant to provide more stimulation to the g-spot during use. While I do find this arm to be quite stable, it really doesn’t provide much g-spot stimulation for me, though neither does the original arm. The Tiani 2 just isn’t a good g-spot toy for my body. The arms are way too soft and smushy to provide the pressure my g-spot prefers. Both of these arms are very bendy and can be easily manipulated.

Like the Tiani the LELO Tiani 2 is made of silicone, with a gold plastic band. This silicone is latex and phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, and body-safe. As it is made of silicone, LELO recommends using only water-based lubricant with the Tiani 2. Using silicone-based lube could cause it to become tacky. The Tiani 2 is waterproof and can be cleaned with warm water and anti-bacterial soap, your favorite sex toy cleaner, or a 10% bleach solution. Even though using this bleach solution will sterilize the Tiani 2, I would be hesitant to use it with non-fluid bonded partners because of the plastic. When cleaning make sure you do not get any fluid inside the DC charging socket.

One noted improvement of the LELO Tiani 2 over the original Tiani is that it is much easier to clean. One of the things I found irritating with the original Tiani was how lube and bodily fluids would get trapped between the plastic band and silicone. When I would unscrew the clit stimulator after use it would be a mess and so difficult to clean even with a fingernail or cotton swab. I’m lazy and it’s so important to be able to thoroughly clean your sex toys so this was a big drag for me. The Tiani 2 seems to have less room around the screw threads, thus sealing more tightly, and this doesn’t happen.

Like all other LELO Pleasure Objects, the LELO Tiani 2 is rechargeable. The remote, however, runs on two AAA batteries, which LELO kindly includes in the box. Though I do wish the remote was also rechargeable, I really appreciate that the remote uses AAA batteries rather than watch batteries or something equally difficult to find. It takes about two hours to completely charge the LELO Tiani 2 and the LED light on the unit will pulse during charging. When the Tiani 2 is fully charged the LED light will glow steadily. To charge, you simply unscrew the g-spot arm from the clitoral attachment and plug the charger into the clitoral piece.

Like the original Tiani, the LELO Tiani 2 has eight different modes of vibration. There are two SenseMotion modes, a steady vibration, and five patterns. As I mentioned before, you must use the remote for the SenseMotion modes, but it is not necessary for the the other six.
1. SenseMotion 1
2. SenseMotion 2
3. Steady vibration
4. Pulse
5. Faster pulse
6. Ramp up
7. Roller coaster
8. Dance Mix

The remote is simple and straight-forward. There are three buttons, the +, the -, and the () buttons. To turn the LELO Tiani 2 on, press and hold the + button for approximately two seconds. To turn it off, press and hold the – button. To cycle through the vibration modes use the () button. In modes 3-8 you can increase and decrease the intensity of the vibration by using the + and – buttons. This doesn’t work in modes 1 and 2 which are the SenseMotion modes.

One thing I find tricky about the remote is getting into it to insert and remove the batteries. It comes with a proprietary key to open it and LELO specifically says not to use anything else to open the remote, such as a coin. I found the Tiani a bit difficult to open, but the Tiani 2 is close to impossible. I don’t know if it’s just my remote, but even with the key I have the hardest time getting it open. You may think this is no big deal because I don’t have to open it very often, but it is best to store the remote without the batteries inside. This will give the batteries a longer life. Therefore, having such trouble opening the remote is really a pain.

Though I did cover the SenseMotion modes in my review of the original LELO Tiani, I will give a brief recap here. When you turn on the Tiani 2 you will be in SenseMotion mode 1. In this mode you control the speed and intensity of the Tiani 2 by moving the remote around. To increase the intensity, tilt the remote toward a vertical position. When the remote is fully vertical, the highest intensity has been reached. In SenseMotion mode 2 you move the remote in any direction. The faster you move the remote, the more intense the vibrations. One thing I really like about the SenseMotion remote for both the Tiani and Tiani 2 is that whatever is happening to the Tiani is also happening to the remote. This allows you to feel in the remote what the person wearing the Tiani is feeling. This feedback is helpful in deciding how much motion to use.

The LELO Tiani 2 remote also has a travel lock. Press and hold the + and – buttons simultaneously to lock the remote. Do the same to unlock. The LED light on the front of the remote will light up while locking and turn off when the remote is locked. When unlocking, the LED light will turn on to let you know the remote is now unlocked.

The packaging of the new LELO Tiani 2 is more or less the same as the previous version, with the exception of the outer box. As you can see, the outer box is slightly different in color and says, “LELO Design Edition,” on it. The inner box is the same as usual, a hard black box that says LELO on it and is perfectly discreet otherwise. Inside this box is the Tiani 2 with its two attachments, charger, the remote control with its key and two batteries, the signature Insignia pin, satin storage bag, a sample of LELO water-based lubricant, the instruction manual, and the warranty booklet. The LELO Insignia Tiani 2 comes with a one year warranty and 10 year quality guarantee. The warranty is standard and the quality guarantee provides an option for the owner to purchase a new LELO Pleasure Object at a 50% discount if the Tiani 2 breaks within 10 years after the one year warranty expires.

LELO Insignia Tiani 2 Pros
• More powerful than Tiani
• Quieter than Tiani
• Can use without remote
• Intelligent memory chip keeps vibrator on
• Easier to clean than Tiani
• Silicone
• Rechargeable

LELO Insignia Tiani 2 Cons
• No g-spot stimulation
• Remote is difficult to open

While I did find things to like about the LELO Tiani, it didn’t live up to the hype. I must say I am truly impressed with all the changes LELO has made to the Tiani 2 and how quickly they revamped it. It really is much better than its predecessor. The LELO Tiani 2 is stronger, quieter, and easier to clean than the Tiani. The intelligent smart chip really does work and keeps the vibrator from turning off when the remote is blocked. The remote also works from farther away and doesn’t lose contact unless I get too many walls in the way. While it isn’t perfect, the Tiani 2 does a much better job at what it’s meant to do than the original Tiani. Many people will be happy with this new Tiani 2 and I can solidly recommend it. You can pick up your own LELO Tiani 2 directly from LELO.

Bean Fiddler Rating: