Would a 1-5 scale of rigidity for dildos be useful?

Set alerts

Updates

FemmeFlo

I've bought quite a few toys lately, and I think something that I would find useful when shopping is a material rigidity scale of 1-5. My reasoning for this is that the rigidity of a material can vary greatly from company to company even, and I don't always know if the toy I'm considering is going to be very hard, or rather soft.

Silicone is the material I have this issue with most often. For example, my Lelo Ella is extremely rigid silicone, with very little bend or give. My Astrovibes Pisces can be bent in all directions and is very plush. Yet both are 100% silicone.

The scale I suggest:
5- Glass, wood, or metal toys
4 - Toys with very little give, such as hard silicone or plastic (ie, Lelo Ella)
3- Toys that can be bent and have some plushness (ie, the Astrovibes Pisces)
4 - Toys that can be bent completely in two, very soft (ie Mantric Beads)
1 - Toys that are totally squishy (ie fleshlights)

What say you? Would you find a scale like this useful?

Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):

Yes

Rossie , CoffeeCup , Kkay , Howells , ellejay , Nothere , Clandestine , Rarity , Missmarc , Alan & Michele , Ryuson , FemmeFlo , null , eeep , zeebot , Pixel , Love Perpetua , Lummox , poetprincess , guro , Tessa Taboo , jacki , Shellz31 , DeliciousSurprise , slynch , Breas , P'Gell , PeppermintFuntimes , Ghost , leela , Rin (aka Nire) , Stagger13 , Cherry21 , darthkitt3n , Sunshineamine , tlaskowski , allinonekid , voenne , Mihoshi4301 , Lucky21 , HouseWench , Owl Identified , Kitka , namelesschaos , The Curious Couple , Gunsmoke , LavenderSkies , ZenaidaMacroura , jedent , Gracie , RonLee , cburger , PurpleCat23 , Maxx , llellsee , SelectZen , Kallisto , November , Do-Re-Mi , Ninja Wolf , wafflewendy , leanright69 , GonetoLovehoney , bdvnt , Cookie Monster Mike , Mxd , lalapetitee , RavenWolf88 , OroNomi , Megan Jean , CrystaCat , SMichelle , Jake'n'bake , Ms. N , chibi1091 , Kush , ksparkles16 , potstickers , MamaDivine , Zombirella , K101 , BobbiJay , ghalik , EvilHomer , GS500 , hall5885 , LoneOokami , Ouroborean , Lady of the Lab , Marie Hanna , Creepellah , married with children , surreptitious , melissa1973 , CharmCity , lilyflower , ashboo32 , sophia430 , sunflower , icyqueen

100 (96%)

Ms. Spice

1 (1%)

I have a different suggestion. (explain below)

Rawhide , Rainbow Boy , kat17

3 (3%)

Total votes: 104

Poll is closed

11/08/2011

All promotions

Kynky Kytty

I think that silicone toys are usually of the same density, except for a few exceptions, the Lelo Ella being one of them. I own a LOT of silicone toys - think over 40ish dildos/vibe/plugs/prob es - and the normal differences aren't that pronounced in general.

But you do bring a good point with that suggestion, buying online can bring a few surprises, and I believe it's the reason why EF tries to present the toys in videos so that we can see how the items moves and bends. I also know that Bad Dragon has a scale for their silicone densities.

11/08/2011

CoffeeCup

A good idea, but I think perhaps something like a 1-7 scale would make for more accurate descriptions.

11/08/2011

Kkay

Usually the material gives a good guideline, but silicone can vary from toys sheathed in silicone to those like the Vixskin. I think it could be useful.

11/08/2011

Howells

I support the idea! Some time ago when I was trying to figure out how squishy is a vibrator I had to look for a video review and that's part of how I found Eden. But it shoulnd't only be for dildos, it should be for vibrators as well. Could be a nice new feature but who'd enter the data for all the products currently on the site?

11/08/2011

Nothere

I love this idea! Squishyness/rigidity is a huge deal when I look for a toy and I have a hard time finding out the rigidity!

11/08/2011

Clandestine

Rigidity is such an important factor in toys. While some things, like steel and glass, are always super hard, materials like silicone can vary, especially with the newer formulations (such as O2 supersoft, Vixskin, etc.).
It would be nice if Eden could add something like this to the review forms, perhaps in the same section as Vroom/Bee.

I agree with CoffeeCup's point, too... Maybe even a 1-10 scale with comparison points... Or is that too Mohs-esque?

11/08/2011

Missmarc

I think this would be a very useful feature. The times I ordered dildos, they always seemed to be a lot more softer than I was expecting from the pictures.

11/08/2011

Alan & Michele

I agree, that would be totally useful, especially when it comes to silicone toys. There is a huge difference between some of them and we always wind up relying on the reviews to get an idea of how firm they are. It's tough when an item only has few reviews and nobody thinks to mention it.

11/08/2011

Ms. Spice

i feel like that would be redundant, since most people are familiar with the hardness of a material (i'm pretty sure most of us are familiar with how solid metal or wood is). the only thing that might change is silicone, and i don't think a number scale would be necessary. just a brief description of how it feels and most reviewers do that already.

11/08/2011

FemmeFlo

Quote:

Originally posted by Clandestine

@Clandestine - That was exactly what I was thinking, something like the vrooms and bees section in a rating.

I also agree with CoffeeCups' point. A scale of 1-5 might be too limited to give an accurate depiction. 1-7 or 1-10 might be better.

11/08/2011

null

I think I 1-10 scale would be really useful. Bad Dragon uses a 1-10 scale, with stock choices for 3, 5 or 8.

11/08/2011

zeebot

Oh, that's a great idea, I love it!

11/08/2011

Pixel

Quote:

Originally posted by Clandestine

Ooh, yes. I'd definitely love to see this as an option in reviews beside Vroom/Bee.

11/09/2011

Love Perpetua

I can definitely see how that would be useful! I usually get this information from reviews, but it would be pretty nice to see it at a glance.

11/09/2011

guro

i support this idea; being given a general knowledge of how bendable or firm something is before purchase would be great.

11/09/2011

Tessa Taboo

Quote:

Originally posted by Kkay

Usually the material gives a good guideline, but silicone can vary from toys sheathed in silicone to those like the Vixskin. I think it could be useful.

This is true, but for someone new to toys, they may not be familiar with all the various materials. And then there are toys that are coated with certain materials, but have hard plastic underneath, making them not as flexible. I was just dildo shopping the other day, and it was pretty annoying to have to search for ones with video reviews so that I could make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted.

11/09/2011

Shellz31

Yes, I think this could come in very handy. I have bought a toy or two that was ultra hard silicone and it's not something I want to make the mistake of buying again.

11/09/2011

Breas

I think it's a cool idea and would be useful yes, but usually I just try and put this information in the reviews with photos of me "bending" or "smushing" the toy if I can.

11/09/2011

P'Gell

Quote:

Originally posted by Kynky Kytty

Yeah, but a silicone vibrator with a solid core for the battery case is usually more rigid than, say, a Tantus O2 dildo. Also, depending on where the battery case is, the rigidity of the vibrator is different from vibrator to vibrator. I find my Ella fairly bendable, because it is so thin.

My Boss Lady (by FF) can be bent quite easily, to a 45 degree angle to reach my clit when it is inserted, but my The Body (JoyDivision) and my Ilo by SinFive aren't able to be bent as much. Also, I have TPR/silicone toys that are truly "squishy" and have toys like the Taffy Ticker, with a large battery case (contains 2 C batteries) that is as rigid as can be for a soft outer case.

11/09/2011

P'Gell

Quote:

Originally posted by Ms. Spice

TPR and TPR/silicone have a lot of variation in strengths and vary in rigidity, from unbend-able to truly squishy!

Also, toys made of everything from Sil-A-Gel, to jelly (which can be very squishy or almost as hard as acrylic) to PVC to so many plastic, not to mention all the "name brand" materials like O2, Sensafirm, Vixskin etc. have a lot of variation in rigidity from other materials, and not "everyone" is familiar with these different materials and all their properties.

Remember, we are writing our reviews for many regular people who just cruise by the site looking to buy what will be one of one or two sex toys they buy in their lives. We aren't just writing for other "experts" in the field of toy-o-logy.

Before I started using sex toys just a few year ago, I certainly had NO idea what the rigidity of a silicone vibrator or dildo felt like in the least. Most people are in this group.

11/09/2011

Sunshineamine

A scale like that would be helpful.

11/19/2011

tlaskowski

i like this!

11/19/2011

allinonekid

This is a great idea. If EF was to put a scale like this in it would be VERY useful.

11/19/2011

Mihoshi4301

I think that's an awesome idea

11/19/2011

voenne

Quote:

Originally posted by FemmeFlo

I would find this scale very useful! This makes having to read through reviews to find the answer easier.

11/19/2011

Rin (aka Nire)

That'd be awesome. I've had one or two instances of ending up with a dildo that was harder than I thought it would be, because I didn't realize that rigidity varies even within the same company.

11/19/2011

Lucky21

That sounds like a great addition to the info section.

11/19/2011

Owl Identified

This might be a good optional addition. It won't apply to all products, so it might be good to have it as an elective.

11/20/2011

The Curious Couple

I think this is a great idea!

11/20/2011

Total posts: 61 Unique posters: 56

Make a post