Astro vibe kit - strap-on dildo by Vixen Creations, Inc - review by Owl Identified

Vixen Creation's Astro Vibe "Kit" is somewhat dubiously named. Apparently these days throwing in a cheapie little silver bullet turns a dildo into a kit, eh? Okay fine, have it your way. Honestly this thing is so cute that they could call it almost anything they want and I'd run with it. It is so GREEN, people!

This kit includes one wonderfully made and very dayglo dildo with a small hollow designed to hold the included single speed bullet with a retrieval cord meaning. What does this mean for you? It means that by inserting a bullet vibrator into the nook at the base you can use it as a vibrator, or by removing it you can simply use it as a plain old dong. The broad flange at the bottom of this toy makes it great for strap-on play and 100% safe for anal use.

Of course, the Astro is made from 100% medical grade silicone as all of Vixen Creation's dildos are. In fact, I just tested this baby with a gigantic grill lighter since I had one on hand and of course it passes the flame test. True, pure silicone can go under a lighter's flame no problem because its melting point is 600 degrees Fahrenheit! Kind of useless fact, but it's a great way to test the purity of your so-called silicone if you're in doubt. Now, why should you care so much about being a silicone purist? Do we really care if it's only 90% silicone? Well, I do! Why? Because pure silicone is also completely non-porous, meaning that microbes cannot penetrate its surface and collect or breed and then later leech out into your body (gross!) This makes it a great material for sex toys because by simply sanitizing the surface between uses you can safely share them with other partners or use them anally without trouble.

Silicone is also fantastic because it can be such a diverse material. This particular toy happens to be made from a slick, glossy (as opposed to matte) and medium density silicone that leans toward the squishy side. When squeezed between your fingers you can feel it yield to the pressure fairly easily, and it can be bent in half without much effort. In spite of this, the Astro maintains a nice solid form and provides very direct pressure to all the right spots when in use. This may be a result of its size, which adds a puts a little extra oomph behind its cuddly, squishy figure. This material also has no scent or taste, although scents can collect on its surface. To help rid your toy of any smells that may latch on to it, simply wash it thoroughly with soap and let it air it out in the open for 24-48 hours.

One thing I love about this toy is what a great sense of humor it has. Yes, I believe sex toys can have a sense of humor, and my Astro is a very funny fellow. Just take his goofy, antenna-like appearance, or the way that he wobbles when you wave him fervently through the air. And his silly bright Popsicle green sheen with light periwinkle swirls marbled throughout. This is a fun, ridiculous looking cock that could easy sit in the background of a children's show set and never look out of place. On your dresser? Lying out on your bed? Much easier to peg as a dildo, but still, it lacks the realism of many other dildos. If you're not into realism, or you just happen to love the crap out of whimsical designs.

The Astro is no baby though, in spite of all the cutesy baby talk I've been slinging its way on account of how adorable it is. Seven inches from top to bottom, about six of those insertable and an impressive 1.75" in diameter at its widest point make it a substantial challenge for most of us. The base is nearly three inches wide and is perfect for harness play, though you may want to measure your O-ring if your harness has one just to make sure this toy will fit. This toy comes with a small, quite weak little one speed bullet that is operated by touching an on/off push button. Quite buzzy and high pitched, the vibrations can scarcely be felt at the tip of the dildo and the vibe also gets in the way if you are using this for strap-on play. To its credit, however, the retrieval cord on the bullet makes removal very handy although I would still recommend coating it with a little water based lube before insertion to aid removal!

Really, I love everything about the toy except...agh, the texture. It's the ridges. The ones that kind of make this look like an earthworm or a bug antenna or something. Those ridges bug ME! I love the thickness of this toy and I love the slickness, I love pretty much everything but these ridges. When I have this inserted and angled at my G-spot the middle ridge sits uncomfortably between my inner labia and just irritates the crap out of me. Even the ridge closest to the tip provides an uncomfortable sensation when I slide it in and out, and not that yummy POP! sensation you get from the big, juicy head of a nicely sized cock. This is decidedly unpleasant and something I've had to make a concerted effort to ignore with this toy. My partner also dislikes using this for anal because the texture is not comfortable for him. Something about the whole is affair is too sharp or something, I just can't get into it.

Being made from silicone the Astro Vibe is very easy to care for. Its surface can be sanitized by wiping down with a 10% bleach solution or by boiling in hot water for 3-4 minutes. For regular day to day cleanings when you're using this solo and not going back and forth between anal and vaginal, a quick lathering with some antibacterial soap and warm water does the trick quite nicely. Please be kind to your new silicone toy by using only water or oil based lubes with it, as silicone based lubricants will bond to your dildo leaving behind a gummy mess. Also, to preserve other soft toys made from materials like jelly, TPR, TPE, rubber, etc. please keep your silicone toys stored separately! Silicone can melt or warp these materials!

Like nearly all of Vixen Creations' toys, this dildo comes in a roomy, reusable transparent plastic canister with a bright red lid. It's relatively space efficient and also allows you to "ooh" and "ah" at your Astro when you open your toy drawer or chest!