Ripple - anal probe by Tantus - review by ToyBoy

The Ripple is the smaller version of the Ripple Large, which is identical in design but meant for the slightly more experienced crowd. This toy was only the second one I ever used and was perfect for me as a first-timer. The graduated bulbs make taking the full toy easier and less drastic. This really isn't meant for anyone who has taken any toy bigger than 1", if you have, I would suggest trying something bigger as this will probably bore you. If you are a beginner though, this will help you move on to bigger toys and provide great sensation.

With all Tantus toys, the material is unbeatable. It is 100% platinum silicone and is hypoallergenic, phthalate free, nontoxic, odorless, and tasteless. It is pretty much the best material on the market. This toy is completely smooth with no texture of any kind and has a medium firmness; pushing hard, you can reduce the width of each bulb by half. The Ripple has a shiny texture, translating to less drag when in use. These combined factors make insertion and use smooth and comfortable, adding to the appeal for beginners. Now for my biggest issue with this toy, its flexibility. The slim width of the silicone between the bulbs makes this toy way too flexible. You can wrap it around itself and form it into a ball with one hand with ease. The Ripple and Slim were my first two toys I bought, and I planned to use this toy first but the flexibility made it difficult. When I tried to insert it, it buckled and turned away or around. I was extremely tight at this point, so I needed to use the Slim first to loosen myself up a bit before using the Ripple. Once you get the first two bulbs in, the rest is smooth sailing and the flexibility turns into a positive. It bends in your body and makes for a comfortable experience. Lastly, as with most silicone toys, the Ripple is a major lint magnet and you may need to wash it before use.

Obviously, this is designed to be a beginner toy. It is about 4 1/2" inches in insertable length and has 4 bulbs of increasing size. The first one being about the size of a woman's pinky finger and the last being 1" in diameter. Each bulb increases about .25" in diameter and .5" in circumference going down, providing a smooth transition down the toy and making this toy easy to take fully. There isn't any space between bulbs, but they are rather just stacked on top of each other.

Despite what others have said, I found this toy to stay in place pretty well once fully inserted. However, this is not made to be a plug and does not function well as one. The base is awkward between your cheeks when walking around and doing activities. It was designed to be a probe and does that job well. I found the most pleasure when slowly inserting and pulling out the last 2 bulbs.

With this toy, the first two bulbs are not very pleasurable or exciting, and the main attraction is the stretching and popping feeling you get with the third and fourth. So to get the most out of this, I would suggest slowly pushing in and pulling out the largest two bulbs. To reiterate what I've already written, insertion could be difficult if you are incredibly tight. Flexibility is no longer an issue once the first two bulbs are inserted, and thrusting isn't a problem as the base is rigid enough for a firm grasp. The Ripple does not have a suction base, but like most Tantus toys, when the base is wet and pressed against a hard, flat surface, preferably stone, tile, or glass, there is a decent amount of suction created.

Cleaning and caring for silicone is simple and easy. After use, you can clean your toy by washing it with warm water and antibacterial soap, putting it in the top rack of your dishwasher, bleaching it with a 10% solution, or boiling it. I never share my toys so I only wash them with soap and water, but I have noticed a slight lingering smell after washing, so I use a scented soap to overcome it. It also may be necessary to wash the Ripple before use as it is a huge lint magnet. Being a silicone toy, the Ripple is not compatible with silicone lubes, so a thick water based lube is recommended for anal use. Because the packaging it comes in is not great for storage, I keep the Ripple in a basket with my other 100% silicone toys.

The packaging Tantus uses is simple but impractical for storage. It is a clear plastic box that has a molded plastic interior to hold the toy in place. The box is not meant for storage as it is a pain to get in and out and the box tends to fall apart over time; it is recyclable however. There is a decent amount of generic information about Tantus toys on the sides, which is nice if you are unfamiliar with this company and their products.

I purchased this toy about 10 months ago and this was only my second anal toy I ever used. I used to love this toy when I was just starting anal play, but now it bores me and provides nothing special or exciting. It served its purpose in helping me move on to bigger toys but is now retired. My rating is based upon how well it does the job it was intended for, which is to help people explore anal play, but my personal rating for how I feel about it currently is more like 2 or 3 stars. It is a great toy for beginners, but most people will move on from this, and like me, will not use it once they progress to bigger and better toys.