Anal 101 intro beads - anal toy by Cal Exotics - review by crookers

As with any anal toy, you're going to want to use some lube here. Being a jelly toy, these beads a bit picky when it comes to lube, as only water-based will do. These beads are pretty versatile and can be used for foreplay, masturbation, or a long, subtle tease.

The pull ring is pretty wide, so it's probably not a safety issue, but it's also very soft. Technically, you can bend the ring so that it's not much wider than the cord itself, but I can't imagine this happening by accident during normal use of the product.

Wow, jelly stinks! It smelled absolutely terrible once I got it out of the packaging, but after several washes the smell has faded enough that I can't really smell it unless I stick the beads very close to my face. The material is firm, with a bit of give and a lot of flexibility, which means it doesn't poke at you uncomfortably if you move around while it's inside. One thing to keep in mind with jelly toys is that they might contain phthalates, chemicals whose safety is more than a little dubious. People who want to limit their exposure to them can cover the toy with a condom before use. This also makes for easier cleanup!

Even though this was my first anal toy, I found the first several beads far too small. By the time you get to the beads wide enough to actually feel, the smallest one is a couple inches in. I know the designers were probably trying to create something as unintimidating as possible, but I found the deepness to be a much more uncomfortable / odd feeling than the girth. I think the design would be much better if the first 3-4 beads were simply removed.

There is a seam along both sides of the toy, but it's quite small and not sharp, so I don't notice it at all. Still, the toy is ten bucks, and clearly designed and manufactured with that price point in mind. I take good care of them so I haven't seen much sign of wear and tear, but they're probably not the most durable beads around.

I found a few fun ways to use this toy. One is to simply stick it all the way in and leave it there. You can leave them in while masturbating for a pleasant feeling of 'fullness'. I also like to slowly pull out and push in the few largest beads, or pull them all out at once for more stimulation. The ring is flat and the beads are flexible, so you can even go about your business with them inside, and nobody's the wiser. This can be a fun and naughty way to get yourself revved up for fun later in the day.

It can be cleaned with soap and water or a toy cleaner. I keep mine in a drawer, inside a bag to separate it from my other toys. (Apparently, jelly toys can react with each other and melt, which doesn't sound like fun to me.)