Club vibe - strap-on vibrator by OhMiBod - review by lilyofthewest

The Club Vibe can be used as a basic multi-speed bullet vibrator, but its real appeal is its sound-reactive modes. Use it at a club or concert, while listening to sexy music, or to add a new layer of sensation to a BDSM impact play scene. The bullet vibe will probably wind up focused on most people's clits, but you can put it anywhere you like vibration.

Both the bullet and the controller are hard plastic with a velvety texture to them. Included panties are a cotton/poly blend.

The controller for the Club Vibe looks kinda like a beeper or an insulin pump, including a (somewhat stiff and brittle-seeming) belt clip. There's a switch on the side to select which of the three modes you want to run it in, a headphone jack and intensity dial on the bottom, and the front face has controls to change the non-sound-reactive vibration patterns.

The plastic housing is sturdier and higher quality than a lot of bullet vibes, but, it could be better. The switches and buttons also feel as though they could be of higher quality. In particular the "x" & "o" vibration pattern controller buttons don't have good tactile feedback -- they depress mushily and don't always react.

The bullet attaches to the controller with a pin jack of the same variety as most of the Doc Johnson bullet and egg style toys, which gives you the bonus of being able to use other vibrators with the controller or to simply replace the bullet if the controller outlives it.

The bullet itself is a really shockingly bright pink. It is smaller than a "standard" bullet, but larger than most micro bullets.

The panties that come with the Club Vibe are cute, but nothing special -- they don't have a special pouch or anything, just the standard cotton crotch liner that most undies have. I usually wear size 7 underwear and they fit me about the same as other thongs in a similar style that I own. They'd also probably fit a 6 or an 8 well.

The Club Vibe has three different modes.

1. Headphone jack/mp3 player. Plug the included cord into your mp3 player, laptop, stereo or other device with a hole for a headphone jack; headphones (supply your own) and the Club Vibe plug into the other end. The vibrator reacts to the music. You can adjust the intensity of the vibe's reaction with the scroll wheel on the bottom of the controller. The scroll wheel is pretty smooth; there aren't any obvious jumps in the degree of intensity.

2. Plain/standard bullet. In this mode the Club Vibe acts like most multi-speed bullet vibrators. Push the "o" button to turn it on (low), press it again to cycle through the other vibration patterns (medium, high, and a couple of roller coaster or scales style patterns). The "x" button shuts it off. The "x" and "o" buttons that control these functions are mushy and don't have good tactile feedback to make it clear whether you've successfully and sufficiently depressed the button.

3. Ambient noise. On this setting the built in microphone makes the vibe react to ambient sound like speech, club music (hence the name), or BDSM impact play.

Ambient noise is the function that I find I get the most use of -- the Club Vibe may not advertise itself as a kink toy, but it definitely is! My partners have all really enjoyed turning the sounds of spanking/flogging/punching/paddling into vibration and genital stimulation.

The microphone isn't sensitive enough so that it is particularly reactive to normal conversation, quiet music, or other background sounds. It has to be a relatively loud and/or sharp noise that is very distinct from the background level of ambient noise.

The vibration from the included bullet is surprisingly strong for running off two AAA batteries. It is a very high-pitched buzzy vibration that has almost a tinny sound to it. On the low and medium settings it is incredibly quiet -- inaudible under clothing. The sound reactive modes, high speed, and patterned vibrations are quite a bit noisier.

Neither the bullet nor the controller are at all waterproof or even splash-proof, so use caution cleaning them off. Wipes or a damp cloth are the safest way to go. If you want to share this toy you might consider getting multiple pin jack bullets to go with it so everyone can have their own.

Be sure to take the batteries out for storage or it will manage to drain them! If it is left on the ambient noise mode then any little noise will slowly drain your power. On the mp3 mode touching the hole that the headphone jack goes into sets it off. The "x" and "o" buttons are really easy to accidentally depress when it is in standard bullet controller mode. Just take the batteries out.

FYI, when the batteries are starting to run low the toy acts rather oddly -- all of the modes and settings produce constant low-level vibration. I thought at first that mine had broken; it took two more sets of batteries to figure out that it consistently behaves like this when the batteries are wearing down.

It's compatible with water and/or silicone-based lubes, but I'd stick to water since it isn't easy to thoroughly clean the toy.

The toy comes with a little velvet storage/travel bag with the OhMiBod logo on it. It fits the toy and all cords comfortably. However, if you want to fit not only the toy, but also some panties, headphones and an mp3 player, then space will be tight.