Review of Bendybeads - Anal beads with loop handle discontinued

Bendybeads, by the ever quirky and lovable Fun Factory, is a hybrid of sorts between anal beads and anal probe. It combines the serial popping sensation of traditional beads with the added control and potential for thrusting of an anal probe.

Solo use of the Bendybeads can proceed as follows:
1. Start with a clean toy, as always.
2. Apply adequate lubrication to the perianal region and to the inner and outer portions of the anus itself. A long-lasting water-based lubricant is recommended.
3. Apply lubricant to the Bendybeads themselves. I recommend gripping the toy by its looped base with one hand, applying lube with the other hand. This makes for easier navigation later. A thick lubricant is recommended as it will cling better to the toy.
4. Warm up with finger(s) if you wish. It's always a good idea to do this, though the first bead or two are pretty forgiving.
5. Start by holding the looped base with your lube-free hand, and guide the tip of the probe with your other hand. This toy lives up to the "bendy" in its name, and is quite flexible, therefore requiring some direct, close-proximity guidance from the user.
6. Slowly insert one bead at a time, relaxing appropriately and never forcing things. If you had difficulty with the previous bead, it is better that you don't attempt the following one right away. The last bead is especially big, so proceed with caution.
7. Once inserted, feel free to enjoy the full sensation, or to proceed directly to removing the beads. Unlike regular anal beads, the Bendybeads are better suited to reinsertion because of their stalk format. Reapply lube as necessary and enjoy.
8. Once finished, clean the Bendybeads; since they are silicone, regular soap and water will do. Further cleaning instructions can be found below.

Bendybeads are made of 100% silicone of high quality and soft finish. They are pretty rigid when it comes to silicone, being difficult to compress considerably, but still very flexible along the length of the toy. You will notice that there is no smell when you remove them from the package, and there was no discernible taste for me. It's completely non-porous, phthalates-free and body safe, and can be sterilized in a number of ways as outlined later in the review.

The texture is a soft, velvety one. This allows for better holding onto of lube (unlike the beading that occurs with shiny-smooth toys), and provides more stimulation with the slight drag it induces. There is a bit of a raised area swirling along each ovoid bead. Overall, it's quite stimulating, though not overly so. The toy's surface shouldn't pose any problems for people who are not accustomed to large amounts of texture.

The Bendybeads are well-designed, and quite unique as is characteristic of Fun Factory's products. I love how each oval-shaped bead is almost wrapped in a helical ribbon that swirls along the length of the toy. Each bead is a little bigger than the last, tapering up in size gradually and innocuously. The handle, a "royal curl", allows the user to grip the base through the loop. The design of this handle also discourages the toy from being swallowed into the rectum.

The beads range in size from that of a fingertip to about 1.25" diameter at largest. The toy is about 7.5" insertable, which may cause discomfort for some (like myself), but this is negated if you are gentle with insertion.

The increasing sizes of the beads allows for gradual working-up to a larger girth, which is a plus. You don't have to fully insert this toy to enjoy it thoroughly. Beginners may have some difficulty with the larger beads, but they can slowly work their way to accommodating larger sizes. This fact makes the Bendybeads both a good "training" toy and also good for warm-up.

Bendybeads do not look realistic, unless we're talking martians or something. That's what I like about them, though. Despite this, I wouldn't call them discreet... I wouldn't leave them on the coffee table, at least not with friends like mine. In any case, the Bendybeads should be suitable for travel due to their lack of metal and mechanical parts and their easy storage. Wrapping them in a cloth and putting them in your suitcase should be sufficient.

The Bendybeads were my first bead-style toy, and therefore threw a bit of a learning curve at me. However, the stalk format of the toy provided some familiarity, making things a bit easier to grasp (literally, as well as figuratively).
I found that the Bendybeads surpass typical anal beads in a number of ways. First, being made of one piece of silicone makes them more hygienic than strung beads; furthermore, they are more seamless and slightly more forgiving than their plastic ball counterparts. They also graduate steadily in size, and offer a variety of sizes that suit beginners and intermediate users well. The stalk format allows for easier insertion/reinsertion and limited thrusting capability.
The handle, like the rest of the toy, is well-crafted, ergonomic and visually appealing; it's also safe, preventing full insertion of the toy (unless one tries really hard to lose the toy inside of themselves, which is just asking for it). The texture is also very nice and holds onto lube well.

My biggest complaints about this toy are pretty unavoidable; being made of silicone, the beads do not have the required firmness for much thrusting activity. Insertion may be difficult without some manual guidance as the tip of the toy may "flop" in the wrong direction. However, once inserted, I didn't find this to be a problem.

I think that Bendybeads are quite suitable for couples seeking to explore anal play. They can be sterilized, for one, and they are likely easier to use if you have a partner to insert them for you. I'd imagine they can make for a great experience in partner play.

Bendybeads are made of Fun Factory's 100% silicone, which is non-porous, boilable, bleachable, dishwasher-safe and generally very easy to clean.
Cleaning of this toy can generally be done with plain soap and warm water, unless one wishes to sterilize, which is recommended if sharing with someone else. Sterilizing your toys periodically is a good idea, anyway!

Boiling this toy for three to five minutes should sterilize it just fine. Because it's silicone, it resists higher temperatures, but if you can, avoid touching the bottom of the pot during the process (such as by supporting it with tongs)... Just to be on the safe side.
Bleaching your Bendybeads can be done with a 10% bleach solution. Just spray or wipe on, let sit for a few moments, and rinse off. I always wash toys after bleaching just to be safe... And also because I can't stand bleach smell.
Dishwasher cleaning can be done on the top rack, no soap; It's best to keep dishes out at the time, too, especially sharp things like knives. To be environmentally friendly, dishwasher-clean your dishwasher-safe toys all at the same time... like a party in your dishwasher!

Moving right along, storage is pretty simple. Keep it in the nice packaging it comes in, wrap it in a cloth, put it in a toy bag or box... Really, it's not a picky toy. I recommend keeping it away from certain materials that might interact. Generally, anything with an Eden safety rating of 10 should be fine. Avoid storing it near jelly, silicone composites, and the like as they may react.

Bendybeads come in a lovely sturdy cardboard package with a molded plastic "window". It's got a magnetic flap that yields some general instructions when lifted. The box contains the toy, a sample of Fun Factory's "Toyfluid" lube, and some information regarding other FF products. It's really colourful and fun packaging, and makes for a good gift box... But it's not terribly discreet, so give this gift in private unless surrounded by open-minded friends.

I use the box for storage, as it keeps the toy neatly tucked away from lint and hair, which it can attract. It's not quite as suited to storage as, say, Njoy's packaging, but it's quite good nonetheless.

While the Bendybeads threw a slight learning curve at me since I had never used beads before, they were a great introduction to graduated anal beads. Their design is so unique and fun, and they performed well. If you're looking for a thrusting beaded toy, the Bendybeads may not be exactly what you're looking for, but if you want an effective hybrid between probe and beads, they should fit the bill nicely.

As I mentioned before, the Bendybeads required a little learning on my part because I was new to anal beads. I expected it to be more probe like, so I was a bit disappointed when it bent and flopped about as I tried to insert it holding only onto the base. Even so, they performed well once I realized that I would have to insert the beads while holding onto each one.
The sensation was pretty nice; it didn't give the same fullness of a butt plug, and I did feel a bit of discomfort from the length prodding some internal anatomy. All the same, removal was the best part, as is typical of anal beads.
One thing I would like to note (and I apologize to the squeamish) is that the groove created by the "ribbon" encircling the beads can pick up some... "debris". I guess one should expect that from anal play, but it is more a risk with textured toys. All the same, the toy cleans up beautifully.