Smart Balls material question

Contributor: LovingBookworm LovingBookworm
Related to: 
Blah, I mistakenly posted this as a reply to another question on the Smart Balls site. But I'm really curious, so I'm posting it again:
I'm wondering what I should recommend to a friend when it comes to vaginal balls. I'm happy with the Desi, but I still wish it were entirely silicone. The Smart Balls are listed as silicone (yay!), but on the first review link the Product Specialist said that they were made of elastomed with a silicone finish. What does this mean? Could my friend sterilize them? It seems like the Smart Balls are safer than the other options on the site, but I just wanted to ask someone who knows more than me!
07/11/2008
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Contributor: GingerAnn GingerAnn
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07/11/2008
Contributor: Alt Alt
Well as for the best recommendation to a friend for specifically vaginal balls then I would most likely say these Smart balls, but this is dependent on her purpose and what task she is trying to accomplish:
If she is looking to strengthen kegels (PC Muscles) then these are a good option but, balls in general are not going to be the best. The best option for PC Strength is a weighted dildo (such as Glass or Steel).
If her purpose is to have an orgasm with these, then again I don't think balls are the best option. In this case it would be best to go with a vibrating egg or bullet (2-3 would be best if she is looking for a massive orgasm) 1 on clit, 1 vaginally, and 1 anally (optional, but could really enhance the pleasure)
If your friend is looking for a method of foreplay and neither to get off, or just starting to strengthen PC muscles then the balls would be the best option. (and the best balls would probably be Smart Balls)

I am pretty sure these balls are actually listed as the wrong material, since they are not 100% silicone. Doing some googling research on these balls, they are actually made of elastomed which is basically elastomer. They will soft like silicone but semi- porous. Even if they do have a silicone “coat” I wouldn’t risk sterilizing them in boiling water, but indeed they can be washed with soap or toy cleaner. (I would be sure to try and try them well to ensure that not a lot of water is left behind in the small pores.)

As for the safeness of SmartBalls, I am unable to judge on that, but just looking at these makes me think the center line would snap, especially if used anally.
-->” It seems like the Smart Balls are safer than the other options on the site” Hmm, compared to what? I am not really sure if you are comparing them to other Smartballs (which indeed these would probably be the safest) or if you are comparing them to other toys (in which there are much safer options out there than these. Ex: 100% silicone Tantus dildos & plugs, anal specific objects, weighted dildos, quality vibrating eggs/balls)

You also might want to find out what your friend’s purpose is and I can further help you (Ex: if she wan’t a toy for vaginal, anal, or both usage, what she intends this toy to do for her --> (Orgasmic, Exercising, For play, Experimentation, etc)

Hopefully this helps, and if you post back with any info, then the next time I check out the forums I will try to help you further. Due to sometimes my forgetful mindset, once you post a reply back, feel free to send me an email and say something like “hey please reply here:” just so I remember to check back here, and don’t abandon you for a month .
Email = app.exe@gmail.com
07/13/2008
Contributor: LovingBookworm LovingBookworm
Quote:
Originally posted by Alt
Well as for the best recommendation to a friend for specifically vaginal balls then I would most likely say these Smart balls, but this is dependent on her purpose and what task she is trying to accomplish:If she is looking to strengthen kegels (PC ... more
Wow, thanks for the response. She's thinking specifically vaginal balls--exercising rather than exciting. I'm just really confused because Smart Balls are listed as silicone but don't seem to have more than a silicone coating? I'd like to recommend her to something that can be sterilized (even though she won't be sharing, so something like the Desi could work, even though it has non-silicone parts). But with so many people such big fans of the Smart Balls I'm mostly wondering--are they silicone? Elastomed? What are they, and what does it mean (are the reviews correct, can it be sterilized, etc.)?
And if they're not silicone, shouldn't the listing be fixed? *is perplexed*
07/13/2008
Contributor: Bulma Bulma
Fun Factory's website lists it as being elastomed, which is a high quality elastomer. It is cheaper to make than silicone but more expensive than most other materials and elastomers. This area seems kind of fuzzy on the sterilizability of toys made from elastomed. Also my research suggested that elastomed toys are body friendly (no phthalates) but I couldn't find anywhere if they can be sterilized, so my assumption would be that while you can boil elastomed, it can't be truly sterilize. You can still sanitize them though, just use a good quality toy cleaner that is antibacterial. I love my Before and After toy cleaner, unlike some of the others you don't need to rinse it. Just spray it on and wipe it off.

I think as far as elastomed goes, somebody should contact fun factory and ask for more details concerning the material.

If you want something that can be truly sterilized try a kegel bar bell made out of steel. I have the kegelcisor enhansor, and really love it. Sleeping Dreamer did a really good review for it as well. If your friend specifically wants a vaginal ball type of toy, I would say there are quite a few really good choices. Many many people love their smart balls, sadly I have yet to receive mine due to them being out of stock for over a month.

I really hope someone can clear this up for a fact. From my research, I conclude that elastomed is a body safe material, but is definitely not silicone. I'm not even sure if it has a silicone coating from looking at fun factory's website.
07/13/2008
Contributor: LovingBookworm LovingBookworm
Quote:
Originally posted by Bulma
Fun Factory's website lists it as being elastomed, which is a high quality elastomer. It is cheaper to make than silicone but more expensive than most other materials and elastomers. This area seems kind of fuzzy on the sterilizability of toys ... more
Thanks so much! You know, I didn't think to go to the Fun Factory website--I googled it and got answers all over the board. Which might explain part of why Fun Factory's site says one thing and this site says another... but I like to know that I can (and generally do) trust this site, so I hope that this does get cleared up.

The steel bar is so attractive; it just wish it cost less money. My friends and I are a bunch of broke college kids--for me it was a big splurge to get an Acuvibe, and that was with my reviewer one-time discount (which I'm now beating myself up for not using more dramatically).
07/13/2008
Contributor: Bulma Bulma
Quote:
Originally posted by Alt
Well as for the best recommendation to a friend for specifically vaginal balls then I would most likely say these Smart balls, but this is dependent on her purpose and what task she is trying to accomplish:If she is looking to strengthen kegels (PC ... more
The smart balls should NEVER be used anally; they are a vaginal specific toy and are not safe for anal play. Also just FYI, a weighted dildo is not a good choice for training vaginal muscles as they are generally too large. Once a person gets stronger down there, you need to have a smaller object to hang onto and it is more difficult to grasp than a large object. Also you have to take into account the way the vagina is built. Take a look at the kegelcisor enhansor and you'll get a better idea of what a vaginal exerciser should look like.
07/13/2008
Contributor: Essin' Em Essin' Em
I have the smart balls, and have boiled and dishwashed them. I don't know, after reading about the elastomer, whether I would share them, but they can definitely be really well clean. And Bulma is right; NEVER EVER use them anally!

Also, the middle section in reinforced under the covering, so you don't have to worry about them breaking (and even if you did, for some reason, you can't permanently lose objects in the vagina; it's capped by the cervix!).

If she's not so into the balls, I recommend a vaginal barbell like the Energie or the Juno, as a good starter.
07/14/2008
Contributor: Cock Wrangler Cock Wrangler
Definitely, Smart Balls are the most cleanable vaginal balls out there. They aren't pure silicone (and I was nervous about boiling them, personally, but I guess it's fine), but they are high-quality durable material. I would go with dishwashing/bleach solution methods, and not share without a condom (they're small enough to fit in one).
The connection in the middle is strong, and will not break.
As for sensation- I think they're pretty dandy for exercise and for play. I'm sure a barbell type thing with more weight might give more immediate exercise results, but these used regularly over a longer-term period definitely do so as well.
07/15/2008
Contributor: Alt Alt
JW, isn't the kegelcisor weighted?
07/15/2008
Contributor: Bulma Bulma
Quote:
Originally posted by Alt
JW, isn't the kegelcisor weighted?
yep, .3 lbs. But it isn't a dildo. It is super small (shorter than my finger) and has the ball ends to grip. Shape is pretty important.
07/15/2008
Contributor: Bulma Bulma
Quote:
Originally posted by Bulma
yep, .3 lbs. But it isn't a dildo. It is super small (shorter than my finger) and has the ball ends to grip. Shape is pretty important.
let me edit that. Kegel specific toys are designed to allow a woman to strengthen her muscles faster and get better results. Using a regular dildo will help some, but just not to the degree that an exerciser will. Just like regular kegels are enhanced by sticking an object in the vagina so you have something to squeeze on. If you lifted the bar with no weights you would plateau, where as if you add more resistance you will keep getting stronger. The vagina just has to work harder to grip something that is littler. Hope that was a little clearer.
07/15/2008
Contributor: Alt Alt
Hmm, doesn't seem that small: link

Actually now that I look at it there are 2 things that this company makes: link
and the smaller one actually is quite small.

Hmm although I bet it would feel good anally
It's not as shiny as nJoy toys, but I bet it would feel like a Straight Pure Wand. I've been considering buying that, although I am really not liking our economy right now, and I need to get some more $$ first =].
07/18/2008
Contributor: Bulma Bulma
Quote:
Originally posted by Alt
Hmm, doesn't seem that small: linkActually now that I look at it there are 2 things that this company makes: linkand the smaller one actually is quite small.Hmm although I bet it would feel good anally It's not as shiny as nJoy toys, but I ... more
The Kegelcisor Enhansor is what I specifically referred to earlier, as this toy was designed after the original Kegelcisor and is meant to be more effective (thus the thinner size). It is literally the size of my index finger when it comes to length. Check out the "actual size" feature on the product page (located directly below the product picture). link

Please don't put this toy in your butt. I wouldn't want to hear of you making a trip to the emergency room to get it removed. It really is way too small and the large ball would very easily get sucked up inside. There is a warning in the instructions to never use it anally, and I totally agree with that. I can't say for the original Kegelcisor, as I do not own one, but it doesn't look safe for anal use going off of the pictures. It is really important that the ball or flange or whatever that is at the base of the toy be significantly larger than the shaft or "neck" of the toy. I don't trust toys with handles; seems like my ass is stronger at sucking toys in than my arm can handle. Just not a risk I am willing to take.

I have been using my exerciser for about a week and a half, and am already noticing some good results. Previously I always did kegels without any resistance or with just using my fingers or a smaller dildo (sometimes a cock when I had access to it ), and the difference is quite significant. The other methods I used before, just do not compare to the smaller better designed Kegelcisor Enhansor. I've been doing kegels for over 4 years now, and I can say with confidence that I am doing them much more effectively now than I was.

Also, about them not being shiny, this is actually part of the design. The exerciser I have actually has a little pattern etched onto the smallest ball, this is so the vaginal muscles have something to grip onto.

I am waiting until I am at least halfway through the exercise program before I write my review. I can definitely handle 10 minutes a day every other day
07/18/2008
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by LovingBookworm
Blah, I mistakenly posted this as a reply to another question on the Smart Balls site. But I'm really curious, so I'm posting it again:I'm wondering what I should recommend to a friend when it comes to vaginal balls. I'm happy with ... more
Bookworm, I don''t think you can sterilize them in boiling water or in the microwave. From what I can discern, Elastomed is a polymer, which I THINK is made with silicone (but I could be wrong about that, Babeland.com was down and I couldn't find the complete explanation of what this is, but is is NOT the same as "ElastoMER" AFAIK.)

The toy is covered by a silicone skin, which is good enough for inert capabilities, but as they are hollow, (to hold the inner balls) and said to be only "Splashproof" I wouldn't submerge them in water.
06/22/2010