Anal training kit - anal kit discontinued by Cal Exotics - review by Hannah Savage

The Anal Training Kit from California Exotics contains two suction cup PVC anal probes. The suction cups will hold tight to hard, smooth surfaces and also allow a wide enough base for safe anal use. The different sizes provided are meant to allow the user to "move up" from the smaller to the larger. This may be difficult for some due to the extreme size difference between the probes provided, although I didn't personally find this to be so. This is a great toy for solo use or with a partner, and has a unisex shape for men and women, though I wouldn't plan on these stimulating the prostate or staying put after insertion. From my experience, I believe this is a great starting toy for beginners.

Both plugs are made of smooth, black PVC. PVC is a jelly/rubber product that is compatible with both silicone and water-based lubes, but is porous and therefore cannot be sterilized. If you plan to share these toys, please cover them with a condom. Also, there is no indication that this product is phthalate-free.

When first taken out of the box, there is an apparent smell of plastic, but that goes away--for the most part--after a few washes with soap & water. Both plugs are hollow, so they're quite squishy and pliable. The smooth texture allows for easier insertion, but in turn lacks the ability to stay put.

Although this toy sticks to anything plastic, it does not feel tacky to the touch (but I have heard that PVC can have a 'greasy' feel), and doesn't pick up a lot of lint or hair.

Both plugs have a suction cup base that holds well to flat, hard surfaces like the bath tub or stainless steel. Suction is not so reliable on other surfaces like walls. This base not only holds suction but also will prevent the plug itself from being sucked into you!

The very gradual diameter changes in the plugs do not keep it held in place, so these are not ideal for use during sex unless you are willing to hold it in. However, these are great for thrusting. Users that are desiring that feeling of fullness that you get with a harder, heavier anal plug will not get that feeling with this set; I believe it is more for the beginner to get used to sensations of the anal sphincter being stimulated.

The best part about this kit was that it left me feeling like a champ after I was able to insert the larger plug, even though I knew most of it was due to the fact that the plug is so squishy. I thought it was great that these didn't function so much as plugs, because that allowed me to get used to the feeling of thrusting. I did not use these with the suction cup attached to anything, but the suction capabilities are very strong, so if you wanted to play with these in the shower there would be no concern about them slipping or popping off. I would say that you need to be sure to not pull on the plug to release the suction so as to not tear it from the base, but simply lift the edge of the cup and it will come off easily.

Although it is not the most hygienic material out there, it is very easy to clean. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the plug and the suction cup are not one solid piece (probably glued together?), so there is a crevice between the two that must be cleaned. Just a simple wash in hot soapy water, followed with Anti-Bacterial Toy Cleaner is how I get them squeaky clean. I always dry my toys with paper towels as opposed to cloth since cloth can harbor bacteria, and then pop them into the provided plastic bag and box them up.

The toy is packaged in Cal Exotic's regular paper box and held in a clear plastic bag. I store the toys as they came, but the box is not discreet so it should be kept put away if this is a concern for you. The plugs are a little difficult to get back into the plastic bag they came in, so if you choose to store them like I do, put them back into the bags with the suction cup first.

Despite the extreme size difference between the two plugs, I feel that this is still a beginner-friendly toy because of the extreme flexibility of the large plug. Having never used an anal plug before this set, and feeling rather intimidated, I was sure that there was no way I could insert the larger one. With a little bit of lube and a fairly short amount of time, it slid in easily, mostly due to the smooth texture and the hollow core.