Ripple - probe discontinued by Tantus - review by ariel-

As someone who had not engaged in anal play before, I was looking for a toy that would be easy to take yet still leave me feeling full and thrilled. Intrigued by its bubbly beads, I went for the Ripple Small. The plastic packaging wasn't much to write home about but it did its job keeping the toy secure until I could get it home. The toy itself is kind of cute. It's purple with a little bit of iridescence to it with its cute, graduated beads that begins with a bead around the size of a fingertip and ends with a bead with a 1" diameter before finishing with a study neck and a large, circular base (more on that later). As with most Tantus products, its medical-grade silicone is smooth to the touch, completely lacking the unpleasant "toxic" smell you can get with lesser quality toys made of poorer materials. The 100% silicone formula means that it’s non-porous and easy to clean--just wash it with warm water and antibacterial soap once you're done. You can even share it by sterilizing it in the dishwasher, with a 10% bleach solution, or by throwing it into boiling water for three to five minutes. I was also really eager to support Tantus; their sex-positive mission and innovative toys makes them a company that I am happy to patronize.

I lubed up with a thick, water-based lube (don't use silicone lube unless its high-quality and you've spot tested it on the bottom of your toy's base, ensuring that there isn't a tacky melting of the lube on to the toy. Tantus claims that Pjur lube does not tack up its products) and slid it in. The feeling of the beads slipping inside of me added another dimension of pleasure that I wouldn't have gotten with a straight-shaped butt plug. It wasn't hard to take at all; this toy is very much made for beginners. I was left feeling full and, up until that point, I was satisfied with my purchase.

However, the longer it was inside of me, the more I realized that this toy is far from perfect (at least for my body). I had always been advised to generously lube up when playing with the anal region, but this toy shouldn't be overly lubed as its small size means that it has a tendency to slip out. In order for this toy to stay, I have to apply nothing more than a small dot of lube, applied to my hole and never the toy, in order for it to stay. Even then, it still ends up falling out if I add any sort of vaginal penetration into the mix. As someone who suffers from frequent UTIs, this is a concern as it causes the anal bacteria milieu to mix with my vaginal/urethral region and make me even more susceptible to infections.

Another problem is with the base. This might not be a problem with all bodies, specifically those that don't have my sizable derriere, but the base hurts when it’s left in for a while. It presses and rubs against my cheeks, leaving imprints and pain in its wake (and not the fun kind). As a result, I doubt I'll ever go for a toy with a circular base again. If I could do it all over again, I would've gone for the Casanova beads/plug or something else with a rectangular base that would've been a snugger, more comfortable fit for my butt. This, in combination with its tendency to slip out, does not make it a toy for extended wear or wearing around town.

Overall, I'm happy with my purchase, even though I think that another toy might've been better suited for me. As a result, I don't think I'm going to upgrade to the larger Ripple.