Persnickety penguin - butterfly strap-on vibrator discontinued by Cal Exotics - review by GeekWife

This was my first, and to date, one of my most adventurous vibe purchases. Great for playing alone, or for having a partner tease you, although it does not lend much to playing together other than one with the penguin and the other with the remote. Great stimulation for clit and anus. The beads can be good for vaginal fun, but honestly they work much better in the backdoor than up front, as they don't actually vibrate themselves.

While I do like the smoothness of the jelly material, I will admit it is a total pain to get it really clean. Either it's picking up lint from being hidden in my "fun" drawer, or it has a few little crevices that are near impossible to reach when cleaning up afterward. There are little textured nubs on the penguin's belly that are good for external sensation, but BAD for clean up. There is also one entry point for the wired remote to connect, and I find that sometimes stuff can get in there and it's pretty unlikely you'll ever get it out. Also, if any of your juices sit on it for too long, the toy tends to get sticky quickly.

The straps are decent as far as strength and stretchability, but they don't wash up well either, and they will tend to get a little messy if you get really into your playing. Plus they're a little rough. Some padding or covering on them would have been a little nicer. They kind of leave you with that old-underwear-elastic feeling. And when taking the straps off, watch those snaps! Like I said, they do stretch pretty well, and when letting go of one, an elastic strap with a hard metal snap on the end packs quite the wollup. First timers take heed of that!

I did buy this when I was young, so a beginner will find it to be an exciting addition. I will admit that when I was skinny that the sizing of the penguin was a little overdone. It was hard to get it all into the right spots for good feelings. You either got the beak in the right spot, or the little nubs on the tummy, but it was rare that both were hitting the right places at the same time. As I got older, and sadly rounder, the penguin has begun to fit in place much better than it did when I bought it.

The beads are a nice addition, but really only if you're into anal play. I've done both ways and anal is about the only way I can feel any vibes at all with the beads. Plus, the way the penguin's body is, getting the beads into your vagina or leaving them out all together tend to make mister penguin veer away from his clit obligations. I will also say that having the beads in the backdoor actually does help the penguin stay put where he's needed.

The straps need to come with some semblance of instruction as to how to put them on the first time. I found myself wondering for a few minutes on this one. They do adjust, but as I said before, getting them just right is a bit of a challenge.

As far as being discreet, if you keep it in the box it comes in, there's no mistaking what it's to be used for. If you take it out though, it's pretty compact overall and can easily be wrapped up in a pair of panties and taken on vacation. If you're looking to keep this toy on the sly, get rid of the box.

Now the control itself is another sticking point for me. In my opinion, if you're going to have a control like this, PLEASE make the wire longer! I usually end up setting it to my liking and having to leave the remote on my tummy. The remote itself is kind of big, and if you're having a solo frolic, you occasionally forget it's there and roll over on it... ow. Also, as I mentioned previously, the point where the wire actually goes into the penguin tends to have the propensity to get stuff (namely lady juices) stuck in it.I also think it would have been a more exciting toy if the remote was wireless.

The beak does provide a nice little punch, especially with fresh batteries in the control. The majority of the vibes come from the head of the penguin. Now supposedly the beaded "tail" and the wings offer stimulation, but I never got much from either of those locations (the beads do work nice for insertion though). The beads are pretty soft and comfortable, especially for anal play. They aren't huge either, and therefore actually do make a decent anal beginner's toy. The top bead is pretty much impossible to insert anywhere though, unless you're okay with the penguin's butt following suit, and therefore his beak leaving it's post at your clit. The second to top bead is also a little difficult to get anywhere. Basically, the beads are more for insertion play than actually providing any sort of vibration though.

The control is pretty self explanatory. Turn the dial, vibrations get more intense. I have found that having fresh batteries makes a world of difference in the effectiveness of the toy. I would almost suggest storing it without batteries in it just so you're forced to find a fresh set every time. It really does remain one of my more intense vibrators.

Discretion is not on this toy's agenda, by the way. I don't think this is one of those strap-on vibes that you can wear out to dinner and not have people notice. It's not quiet when on full blast. You'd probably hear it before you heard your cell vibrating in your purse. Plus, the penguin itself is kind of bulky. Walking with it on is kind of difficult, and I think you'd look like you were sitting on a rock if you sat up straight with it in place.

I don't recommend it for shower use either. While all the vibrating pieces are encased in the toy entirely, the remote is far from water resistant. Unless you want someone else standing outside of the tub or shower to hold onto the control, I suggest skipping this toy for water play.

The lower level vibes are pretty weak. I usually start off with turning it up half way, and that quickly gets boring. I think it would benefit from having different vibration patterns available, or even from having more than one center of vibration. Overall for me, the toy is for one kind of play only... the kind where I put the beads in the back, turn it all the way up, and get a good, quick O out of it. I don't see it being much else for others either.

Cleaning overall is easy with soap and water, but expect to leave it lay out to dry the straps before you store it away. Also, as I've mentioned several times, it's going to take some decent detail work to get it spotless. Keep an old toothbrush for this purpose. I don't have any experience with toy cleaners on this one though.

As far as lube use goes, I suggest a good liquid-y water based lube. Jellies or silicone based ones, while you can still use them and not damage the product, tend to make it quite sticky very quickly, and therefore pretty uncomfortable.

Storage won't be a problem if you get rid of the box. It's not a sturdy box anyway, so I'm sure no one will have a problem pitching it and opting for something else to keep it in. It's not very big if you wrap the wires and straps up, so you can keep it pretty much anywhere. The jelly does pick up some lint, so a toy bag might be a good option for storage. I personally wrap it in a raw silk scarf before tucking it away.

The toy comes in a cardboard box, wrapped in a little plastic cellophane bag. While the model on the box is fully covered, it's not a mystery as to what's inside and what it's used for. I wouldn't recommend using it to store in, because the box is much larger than the toy, and it will wear out pretty quick. I guess you could use it as a gift box, as long as you're okay with the idea that the recipient will know exactly what it is as soon as the wrapping paper you put it in is removed. Probably not a good idea for a bridal shower where Grandma is present. The good news is that the box itself is recyclable, if you can get away with putting it in the bin and missing the eyes of the recycle truck pick up guys.

This was my first "wild" toy purchase when I was still very young (18 or 19). For a first timer, it gave me a good ride. It's still a go-to toy if I want a quick O, because now that I've had it for several years, I know just how to place it to get the right stimulation I like. I will admit I'm impressed at how long it has survived and continued to be a good working toy. I've had a few others crap out on me long before this one did. It's also a decent price point for someone looking for something adventurous but not too pricey. Once you get past the learning curve, it can be a fun little friend.

One thing this toy is NOT good for is partner play. The penguin is big enough to get in the way of anything like that. My husband does like to help push mister penguin into the right places and turn the dial for me, but that's the extent of the involvement. Also, if you enjoy insertion, I suggest getting a small dildo or second vibe to fill that void. The jelly does provide nice padding to keep from hearing a jarring rattling noise.