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Not that long ago I reviewed the awesome redesigned Crave Duet, which I loved. The company responsible for the Crave Duet has released a new vibrator. Based on my experience with the Duet, I have very high expectations for the new Crave Solo.
There are many similarities between the Crave Duet and the Crave Solo. Both are small, lightweight, external vibrators made from high quality silicone and electroplated metal. Like the Duet, the Solo is waterproof for easy washing, and charges discreetly via USB. The vibrator splits in half and the metal portion plugs into any USB port that provides power. It looks like a large fancy flash drive so no one will have any idea you’re charging a sex toy.
I think one of my favorite things about the Crave Solo is that it can be engraved. You remember how cool the engraving is on my Crave Duet, right? See below if you don’t. Having a personalized vibrator is pretty great. It also comes with a sleek, zippered, black leather storage pouch that fits easily into your handbag, luggage, or bedside table. The Solo has four levels of intensity and four patterns, and if it is as quiet as the Duet, it is very quiet.
The main difference between these two vibrators is the tips. The Duet has the dual tips while the Crave Solo has a single tip, so it is more of a traditional clit vibrator. I love my Crave Duet so much, it is hard to imagine replacing it, but I would totally try out the Solo to see if it’s as good.
Just two weeks ago I reviewed the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator. In that review, I mentioned I would be reviewing two other vibrators in the KEY line. This week it’s the Jopen KEY Vela Massager, and it is quite a bit different than the Charms Plush.
The Jopen KEY Vela Massager is a full-sized vibrator that can be used both internally and externally. It is 8.25″ long, with approximately 4.75″ being insertable, and 1.6″ in diameter. The shaft of the Vela is made of the same soft and smooth silicone of the Charms Plush, except in this case, my Vela is a gorgeous two-tone blue. The silicone is a thin layer over a hard interior so there is absolutely no give to the Vela at all. I really feel all 1.75″ of girth inside me, unlike softer vibrators. It has a sort of wavy texture that I feel easily with my hand but not so much when the vibrator is inside me. The base is made of ABS using a two color injection process that gives it a shiny, glass-like appearance. It is really quite pretty and I love the color.
As I mentioned, the silicone of the KEY Vela Massager is particularly smooth and therefore does not attract lint, which is great. It is latex and phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, and body-safe. Though it does not have as much drag as many of my silicone sex toys, it is still important to use a water-based lubricant with it for penetration. This will allow the vibrator to slide in comfortably and provide a much more enjoyable experience. Steer clear of silicone-based lubes though, as they can break down the silicone of the Vela and permanently damage your vibrator.
The KEY Vela Massager has an o-ring inside the battery compartment, making it waterproof. This makes cleaning easy. I usually wash mine with warm water and antibacterial soap, but you can also use a sex toy cleaner, or wipe the silicone portion down with a 10% bleach solution. This will disinfect the silicone and allow you to use the vibrator amongst non-fluid bonded partners. Do not use the Vela Massager anally as does not the necessary flaring at the base to make this safe.
This video provides a bit of information about the KEY Vela Massager.
The battery compartment is accessed by twisting the base of the KEY Vela Massager to the left. It does not unscrew like most vibrators. To close the compartment, you line up the two pieces correctly and twist once to close. Inside the battery compartment is a great little battery cartridge that easily pulls out. This cartridge holds the required (but not included) four AAA batteries. The cartridge is clearly marked to show you how the batteries fit inside. This makes storing your batteries super simple. You can just keep them in the cartridge and quickly pop it in and out. You always want to remove the batteries from the Vela after use to lengthen their life and that of the vibrator. Never store it with batteries inside. The cartridge is great because you don’t have to fumble around with the batteries when you are ready to play, you just slide it into place. While I really like the battery tray, I find the battery compartment difficult to close. Getting the base of the vibrator in perfect alignment with the shaft is quite a challenge, at least for me.
The control panel of the KEY Vela Massager consists of one stainless alloy push button on the bottom of the battery compartment. This button is easy to press and has good feedback, but requires enough pressure that you must intentionally press the button to change modes. It’s difficult to do accidentally. To turn the Vela on and to cycle through the different modes, press the button. Press and hold the button for three seconds to turn the Vela off. The KEY Vela Massager has seven modes. They are (as named by Jopen) as follows:
1. High- steady vibration
2. High 2- very fast pulse
3. Wave- roller coaster
4. Pulse- slow pulse
5. Throb- two long pulses three short
6. Flutter- faster pulses
7. Tease- ramp up
In use, the KEY Vela Massager is very different from the KEY Charms Plush. The vibrations are much deeper and rumblier, so I definitely prefer them. They are also quite strong. With that added strength does come a significant amount more noise. However, with the Vela inside me, it cannot be heard through the bedroom door. Although the KEY Vela Vibrator has seven modes of vibration, it has only one power setting, and this setting is high. This is an issue for me. I like to start on lower levels of strength and work up to more power. This strong of a vibration right off the bat is too much for my nipples’ and clit’s comfort. Therefore, I really need to use my fingers or another vibrator to warm up to the point where I want that strong of a vibration. To me, this is a design flaw. To give Jopen some positive points for design, the bottom of the base of the Vela has an angled shape that makes holding it in my hand with my thumb on the button very comfortable when thrusting.
The packaging of the KEY Vela Massager is more or less the same as the KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator. The exterior of the box is blue and black, like the color of my Vela, and has images of the vibrator and some basic information on it. The top half of the box slides off, leaving the black box underneath. Neither box is very discreet considering the images and words “Surrender yourself to the luxurious KEY Vela vibrating massager”. They are sturdy though, and can be used for storage if you have the extra space. The black box has a door that opens to the side, providing access to the vibrator in a black foam cutout. There is a black ribbon attached to the top of this foam, allowing you to easily pull it forward to find the Vela instruction manual, warranty information, and storage bag. The black satin storage bag is the same lower quality satin of the KEY Charms Plush’s bag, but it does the job so I’m happy with it. It certainly gives you another storage option.
KEY Vela Massager Pros:
• Nice Girth
• Angled base makes for easy use
• Reasonable price point
• Very attractive
• Smooth silicone
• Waterproof
• Easy to use
• Not a lint magnet
• Storage bag
• Battery cartridge
KEY Vela Massager Cons:
• Only one level of strength
• Slight scent to silicone
• Somewhat challenging to close battery compartment
The KEY Vela Massager has some excellent qualities. I like the girth, and the angled shape of the base makes pressing the button during use very easy and comfortable. It is waterproof and easy to use, and does not attract dust and lint. I really like the way it looks and think the price point make it a good option for many people. I also think many people will like the depth and strength of the vibrations. I just think some others will have the same issue I do with the one power level and think it’s too much without sufficient warm up. For this reason, I really have to downgrade the KEY Vela. Another troublesome issue is the slight smell to the silicone. It’s not terrible and I do have to hold it close to my face to smell it but I find it disconcerting when silicone products smell. It makes me think they are not 100% silicone. The final thing that is a bit annoying about the Vela is the closing of the battery compartment. Perhaps it’s just me but I find getting the two pieces of the base to line up perfectly in order to close the compartment a bit challenging. It’s not a big deal and I don’t deduct any beans for this little issue.
Overall, I like the Jopen KEY Vela Vibrator but I cannot love it. Even though I like the patterns, the lack of varied power levels kills it for me. Considering I’m already feeling grumpy about this, the smell does not help. However, if you have a clit of steel and really like power right out of the gate, the Vela does have a number of things going for it. I’d probably give the KEY Vela 3.5 beans if it had a lower power setting, but since it doesn’t, I have to take off one full bean because I see this as major design flaw.
Recently, Lovehoney came out with a cool little USB rechargeable vibrator called the Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Mini Vibrator. Again with the long names, Lovehoney. I was so excited that I immediately posted a Spotlight on the Lovehoney Flash. I was really hoping I could get my hands on one for review and I was lucky enough to have a Lovehoney Flash sent to me by Lovehoney.
The Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Mini Vibrator is an adorable little vibrator that is only 3.75″ long and .25″ in diameter. Yes, I called a vibrator adorable and I’m sure it’s not the first time. It’s just so compact and stylish looking. As the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is waterproof, I suppose you can insert it, but that seems pointless to me. It is so short and thin it really wouldn’t provide much stimulation. It is definitely meant to be an external vibrator.
Made of soft and smooth silicone, the shaft of the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is solid and firm, while the tip is smushy and flexible. Even with the flexibility, I am still able to apply enough pressure to my clit during play. It is not flimsy in any way. The silicone is latex and phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, and body-safe. It does have some drag, so adding a drop or two of water-based lubricant is wise. Stay away from silicone-based lubricants with this vibrator because the silicone in the lube can react with the silicone of the Lovehoney Flash and cause it to become tacky.
Cleaning the Lovhoney Flash Vibrator is a breeze. You can wash it with antibacterial soap and warm water or a sex toy cleaner. You can also wipe the silicone down with a 10% bleach solution. The bleach solution will disinfect the Lovehoney Flash so you can use it with non-fluid bonded partners.
As you may have guessed by the full name of this vibrator, the Lovehoney Flash is rechargeable. What is very cool about this is that it charges via USB so you can plug it into your computer or USB hub, or any USB cable that plugs into the wall. This gives you a variety of charging options and makes the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator a great travel companion. The first time I charged mine it took about 90 minutes, and a full charge should provide up to three hours of use. I have not yet run mine down, so I cannot report on how much actual play time I am getting out of a single charge, but it will depend upon the level of intensity used.
To charge the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator, simply pull on each end to separate the halves and expose the USB plug. When charging, the white control button on the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator flashes. In bright daylight, it is very difficult to see so I kept thinking mine was all charged up already, but it was not. I had to cup my hand around it to determine if it was flashing. At night, or in lower light, the flashing white LED is very visible. Once the LED stops flashing, the Lovehoney Flash is fully charged and ready to go. When reattaching the pieces, make sure they are snugly together to maintain the waterproofness. (I know it’s not an actual word.) When the Lovehoney Flash’s battery is low, the LED will blink red to let you know it’s time to recharge.
With only one push button, the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is simple to use. To turn it on you press the button and to turn it off you press and hold it for approximately three seconds. To scroll through the seven modes, you just press down on the button. You need to press firmly, so you won’t change modes accidentally, and the button has excellent feedback. The Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is supposed to have three steady vibration modes and four patterns, but I can only discern three patterns and four steady levels of vibration. I’m not sure if it’s just me, my particular vibrator, or a misprint. Regardless, the modes (as I feel them) are as follows:
1. Medium steady vibration
2. Low steady vibration
3. High steady vibration
4. Highest steady vibration
5. Roller coaster
6. Fast pulse
7. Four fast pulses and one slow
It’s weird that my Lovehoney Flash Vibrator seems to have swapped the low and medium intensities of the steady vibration, but that’s how it feels to me. It is cool though that the Lovehoney Flash has a memory chip so it starts on the same pattern it was on when you last turned it off. Now, the vibrations themselves are powerful for a vibrator of this size, and all the patterns are at the highest level of intensity. It certainly has enough power to get me off. However, the vibrations are very high-pitched and buzzy, which was a great disappointment. As soon as I turned on the vibrator I became concerned because they even sound high-pitched. Unfortunately, they feel the way they sound. Speaking of sound, at least the vibrations are relatively quiet. If you have some heavy blankets they might cover the sound completely. If not, a little music or TV will go a long way. I definitely cannot hear the Lovehoney Flash through my closed bedroom door.
The Lovehoney Flash Vibrator has some great characteristics, but (and this is a big but) it the vibrations are so terribly buzzy that I find them bordering on painful during use. They aren’t actually painful, but they’re close. I can orgasm, but it’s a challenge. The vibrations are too strong and buzzy for me to use on my nipples, which is another place I like to use a vibrator this size. It’s just too uncomfortable. I also really feel the vibrations in my hand, during use and after a while this can lead to buzzy hand syndrome, which is quite unpleasant. On the positive side, the angle and slight pointiness of the tip of the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator allows it to slips very nicely in between my labia to provide pinpoint pressure on my clit. This would be pretty awesome if the vibrations didn’t make me so unhappy. The tip also makes nipple stimulation easy, but again, unhappy vibrations.
The packaging of the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator is the more or less the same as some of the other Lovehoney sex toys I’ve reviewed. It comes in a simple box with an image of the vibrator on the front and some basic information on the side. Inside the box the vibrator is held in a paper sleeve type thingy and there is a small user manual. The information provided in the manual is minimal but sufficient. The box is not great for storage as it didn’t hold up very well during shipping. It just isn’t that strong. Not a big deal though. The Lovehoney Flash is so small it can fit into a snack size ziploc bag for easy storage.
Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Mini Vibrator Pros:
• Excellent tip shape
• Good price point
• Great size for travel
• Low battery warning
• USB rechargeable
• Silicone
• Waterproof
Lovehoney Flash USB Rechargeable Mini Vibrator Cons:
• Buzzy vibrations
• Can feel vibrations strongly in hand
• Lint magnet
I was really excited about trying out the Lovehoney Flash Vibrator so I am extremely disappointed with its performance. There are a lot of things I like about this vibrator. The shape is great, the size is good for travel, it has a low battery warning, and it’s waterproof. It even charges via USB, which I love. However, I cannot get past the buzzy vibrations. They are just too unpleasant for me to want to use this vibrator when I have other options. If it were my only choice, I would put up with it, but it isn’t and I don’t have to do so. If you like buzzy vibrations or don’t mind them much, this may be a good vibrator for you. It does have some serious pros. However, if buzzy vibrations make you want to throw it against the wall, stay away.
I try to keep my eyes open for new and interesting products to bring to your attention. Sometimes the products happen to be beautiful as well as interesting. Recently, Lovehoney began carrying a new line of very attractive glass sex toys called Glass Intimo.
Glass Intimo is a line of German glass dildos and butt plugs which, for some reason, have Japanese names. Regardless, they are some of the prettiest glass sex toys I have seen in some time. Glass Intimo toys are made from borosillicate glass, which you may be familiar with as your Pyrex oven dishes. There are several reasons glass is a good sex toy material. Most people do not have any allergy issues with glass so it can be used by almost everyone. You can also use any kind of lubricant with it, so you are not limited to just a water-based lube, as with some sex toy materials. Additionally, glass can be sterilized for use amongst multiple partners.
What causes Glass Intimo products to stand out to me is their gorgeous colorful swirls and patterns. Some of the toys also have unique textures, like the Glass Intimo Kaori with Silver Sheen Glass Dildo. Though this dildo may seem rather plain compared to it’s brethren, the metallic sheen is unique for glass sex toys. There are many glass sex toys on the market, but these handmade dildos and butt plugs from Glass Intimo stand out due to their craftsmanship and designs.
Jopen is a manufacturer I have written about more than a few times. Over the past two years they have been busy releasing several new product lines. In January I posted a Spotlight on the new Jopen KEY sex toys. I was hoping to get my hands on one to review and was lucky enough to get three. The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator is the first one I have tested.
The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator is a cute little vibe measuring 3.75″ long with a 1″ diameter. Theoretically, you can insert as much of the KEY Charms Plush as you want, you just want to be sure to maintain your grip. Really though, it is meant to be used as an external vibrator, on the clit, labia, and even nipples, testicles, and perineum. Do not used this vibrator anally. It does not have a flared base and its small size could easily allow it to slip up inside your anus, possibly requiring a trip to the emergency room to have it removed. Not fun, I imagine.
There are actually two pieces to the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator, the actual vibrator and the silicone sleeve. The mini vibrator is made of ABS with a stainless alloy button with the word KEY on it that gives it a classy look. The silicone sleeve is a very smooth and slick textured silicone. This silicone glides across the skin more easily that other silicone sex toys I own and does not attract lint and dust like most of them. It is latex and phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, and body-safe. As it does not have a significant amount of drag, I find that only a small amount of water-based lubricant is needed during play. Be sure to use water-based lube as a silicone-based lubricant can react negatively with the silicone sleeve causing it to become tacky.
Being waterproof makes cleaning the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator simple and straight-forward. I wash mine with warm water and antibacterial soap, but you can also use a sex toy cleaner. The silicone sleeve can be wiped down with a 10% bleach solution making it shareable between non-fluid bonded partners. This silicone sleeve is removable but it is not easy so I don’t do it unless I really need to do so. Other than trying it to just to see how hard it was, I have had no reason to remove the sleeve. Putting it back on is no cake walk either, so I don’t recommend removing the sleeve just for kicks.
The following video provides more information about the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator.
The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator requires one AA battery, which is not included. This is a departure from the previous Jopen product lines, which are rechargeable. It is easy to operate with the single stainless alloy push button on the base of vibrator. To turn the vibrator on, you press the KEY button once. You cycle through the five different modes by pressing the KEY button. You turn off the KEY Charms Plush by pressing and holding the KEY button for approximately three seconds. The KEY Charms Plush modes (as named by Jopen) are as follows:
1. High- steady vibration
2. High 2- very fast pulse
3. Tease- ramp up
4. Pulse- slow pulse
5. Throb- two long pulses three short
The instruction manual has helpful pictorals that provide a very good description of the patterns. I think the order of patterns is odd. Normally you find similar patterns next to each other, so I’d expect the pulsing patterns to be side by side. The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator does not have a memory chip so each time you turn the vibrator on it begins on the first mode, regardless of what mode it was on when you turned it off. The KEY button is extremely easy to press and does not require much pressure, so it should be relatively comfortable even for people who have strength issues in their hands.
Opening and closing the battery compartment of the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator is slightly different than most of my vibrators, as the base does not screw on and off. You simply give it one twist and pull it off to open it. Closing it is a wee bit more challenging as you have to line up the base with the body of the vibrator just right to push and twist it into place. What causes it to be challenging is how the sleeve hangs over the edges of the battery compartment which makes it difficult to see how to line the pieces up properly.
The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator is easy to use, which is a good thing, especially for beginners, the targeted users. I prefer a two button control panel so if I miss the mode I want accidentally, I don’t have to scroll through all of them to get back to it. Still, there is something to be said for ease of use. The vibrations are surprisingly powerful for such a small vibrator, likely due to the AA battery. They are also moderately quiet. You can hear them under the covers but not through a closed door. However, they are also quite buzzy, which I don’t like. Due to the small size of the KEY Charms Plush, they travel throughout the vibrator, though my fingers do not get as buzzed as I would expect. My other issue with the KEY Charms Plush is that all modes are the same level of intensity, which is unusual. Most often, there will be at least low and high steady vibration modes. Not the case here. I really need those different levels as I don’t require as much power when I first start using the vibrator but usually require it to get off, as my body adjusts to the vibration and needs a bigger push to get over the edge.
Jopen’s KEY packaging is quite nice, and I prefer it to their Vanity packaging. The exterior is a colorful raspberry (the color will correspond with the color of your KEY sex toy) and black cardboard sleeve with an image of the Jopen KEY Charms Plush Vibrator on both front and back, along with some basic information about the vibrator on the back. This sleeve lifts off to a black box underneath. The black box has a flap that opens, providing access to the Charms Plush sitting in black molded foam inside. There is a bit of black satin ribbon attached to the top of the foam that allows you to pull it away from the back of the box. Underneath the foam is the instruction manual, warranty pamphlet, and black satin storage bag. The instruction manual is for all the vibrators in the KEY Charms category, which consists of five different sleeve types. For such a small manual, it is very thorough and tells you what you need to know about the KEY Charms Plush. The storage bag is not the highest quality satin in the world, but it is sufficient, so kudos to Jopen for including it.
Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator Pros:
• Strong for a mini vibrator
• Reasonable price point
• Very attractive
• Smooth silicone
• Waterproof
• Easy to use
• Not a lint magnet
• Storage bag
Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator Cons:
• Buzzy vibrations
• Same level of intensity across all modes
The Jopen KEY Charms Plush Mini Vibrator is a cute, petite waterproof vibrator with silky smooth silicone. These qualities, along with the fact that it is easy to operate and does not attract lint, give me reasons to like this vibrator. As a battery operated vibrator rather than a rechargeable one, the KEY Charms Plush has a significantly lower price point than Jopen’s other sex toys, which makes it an attractive buy. However, those who like to warm up with different levels of intensity during play will be disappointed with the lack off choices the KEY Charms Plush offers. While it does have five different modes, all of these modes run at the same moderately powerful intensity. This limits the versatility of the vibrator somewhat.
Marketed as a starter vibrator, the KEY Charms Plush both hits and misses the mark. Certainly the price point, ease of use, and straight-forward instructions are totally appropriate for a beginner early in their sex toy exploration. However, the lack of different intensity levels makes it a harder sell for me. While I enjoy power, I also don’t necessarily want my nipples and clit to be hit with the strongest possible buzz straight out of the gate. I like and need to warm up. The vibrations are also very buzzy, which is never my preference. Though the KEY Charms Plush has some very good qualities, the buzziness of the vibrations and the lack of lower intensity modes force me to give it a lower rating than I would like.
