Sterling collection sleeves - review by PurpleReign

There are countless varieties of sex toys out there. Even within each category there's a stunning number of interpretations. This particular minor and inexpensive product type - 'Sleeves' - arrived in a box about the size of a pack of Cracker-Jack and sported the California Exotics label. Embossed on the front, in white metal leaf, was the word 'Sterling'. No, these items are not sterling, they are TPR. Sterling Collection is the name of this particular CE line of clear, stretchy sleeves and compatible family of vibrating bullets and eggs.

So far there are three CE sleeve offerings, and this is set number 1. Each set has a unique pair of designs & textures. Set 1 has a 'Nubby sleeve with 60 stimulating love nubs [2.25” x 1”]' and a 'Pinpoint sleeve with a unique angled tip [3” x 1”]'

When I opened the box my wife was looking over my shoulder, and she picked them up and asked 'What are these? Finger puppets?', and started to animate them in a little dance. 'Or maybe they're some sort of hip shot glass?' Up to that moment, I'll admit that made as much sense as anything to me; when I saw their small size, I quickly understood they weren't penis sleeves. They fit the pointer finger snuggly, so I mused...'OK, we have some sex toy puppets here. We can work with that'. My wife then noticed some difficult to read text on the back bottom of the packaging: 'Use independently Or With Bullets'. That made a bit more sense.

The TPR used is completely odorless, though it seems to have a barely visible coating of some sort of powder that needs to be washed off. If not removed completely, I noticed that the clear TPR would cloud, and even sort of foam up or become creamy with lube.

I went to give them a cleaning (not completely thorough, as I learned), fished out one of the extra single-speed bullets we have from a pile of Tantus toys, and started to figure out how effective and useful these little guys were.

The 'nubby sleeve was the first up. I put it on my first finger, where is was a secure but not too tight fit, and brought it into action after some light kissing and fondling. I put a generous dollop of water-based lube on the sleeve (recommended on the package), spread it around and between the 8 rows of 'love nubs', and began to play with my wife's labia and clitoral hood. She found it had her interest, and found it a diverting change of texture while teasing her vaginal entrance and g-spot tissue. Replacing my finger with the bullet vibe, she found it different and still interesting again, though not as flexible and effective around her g-spot as the finger puppet version.

Later, I managed to stretch the TPR of the sleeve over the head of a smooth glass dildo. Though it was a bit of a slow to start for her, she found that it was a decent change, though again, internally not as pleasant as a finger.

The second sleeve is thinner TPR, and there's no texture on it. The head is angled back, a bit like the pad of a large finger or small thumb. There was a noticeable casting line running through the middle which marred what should have been a smooth surface. The thin neck of this one made finger use difficult as it flopped around; the same thing happened with the smaller, stout bullet we had. I believe it requires a slender, longer bullet to help prop up the head and provide directed buzz to be useful. With that, the design (which seems made for clit stimulation) would work. As it turned out for us, the nubby sleeve clearly overshadowed this design.

Because these sleeves are TPR, porous and difficult to disinfect, we did not use these for any butt play. They seem better suited for vaginal play; if wanted for anal play, they should be kept separate in the toy box for this purpose. I imagine used digitally or with a vibe they could provide a nice massage and tease the perineum and shallow anal mouth...but I'd be very cautious; I doubt they'd be ripped off a finger or a well-fitting vibe...but, stranger things have happened!