Anal beginners that are interested in broadening their horizons, or more experienced anal players that are looking for a good warm-up toy are both very well suited to this cute, unimposing anal probe. The Encore is best used alone as a probe to slowly and safely stretch the anus a bit, or with a partner to gradually relax the anus before more intense anal play. Its design includes a narrow, rounded and very comfortable base that fits snugly between the buttocks and prevents it from slipping too far into your bum. And with a series of bulges in the shaft, the Encore is well equipped to provide unique feelings of pleasure during insertion and wear. This toy isn't a thruster; ease it in with your favorite thick, water based lube and enjoy contracting your rectal muscles around it for subtle but wonderful sensations. It can be equally enjoyable either alone or used during a masturbation session in combination with other forms of frontal stimulation.

The Encore is made out of firm, seamless matte silicone with a dull, lusterless look to it. Mine came in a marbled violet which I can only describe as "smokey" in color. Being made of 100% silicone this toy has no smell or taste to it, although after use it can take on butt smells. Silicone is, of course, completely non-porous so if left out in the open air for 24-48 hours those smells should dissipate (as they have not penetrated the toy itself, but rather are lying on the surface).

While this plug is made of a firm silicone, it has a bit of give to it and because it's a relatively thin toy, it is rather bendable. I think it's a pretty lovely balance; it's soft enough to be comfortable for extended wear, but it's stiff enough not to slip every which way during insertion. There is also little to no stimulation added to play through the texture of this toy. The shape is really what provides the ooh's and aah's here, although there is just the slightest bit of friction created due to the matte material. If you like your toys highly textured this may not be the best option for you, although I find that the "beads" compensate plenty for whatever the material's texture may lack in the way of stimulation.

The design of this toy definitely, as other reviewers have noted, makes this better suited for use as a probe or warming up before anal sex than use as an anal plug. The Encore is about 6 inches long, about 5.5 of those being insertable. The beads (in descending order from the top down) are the following sizes in diameter: .75", 1", 1.25" and the neck returns to about .75" in width. Its base is actually ideal for use as a plug; it is slender enough to sit with relative comfort between the cheeks, and in my experience both larger and smaller bodies are accommodated by the shape. The edges of the base also seem to have been filed down, making them less sharp than they perhaps would be. So this aspect of the toy (which is crucial for any plug) is actually excellent; wearing this for a long period of time is very comfortable. The neck and the body of the toy really are the problem, as they are not practically designed for extended wear.

Encore's neck is a little less than an inch in diameter, and the largest bead (directly above the neck) is a little more than an inch. The difference between the two is so little that moving around too much during wear allows for the toy to easily pop out. If you are wearing this during sex you can expect this to slip free well before the orgasm unless you are perhaps in a sitting position where you have a mattress or something to push back against the plug. And once this slips past the largest bead, you can bet this probe will quickly slip away past the smaller beads.

This toy's design flaws have addressed the negative performance aspects of the Encore, but it's certainly not all bad. In fact, it's not bad at all --I actually love my new little probe.

Okay, so yeah, as a plug? Not so great. But as a probe, maybe used solo by a beginner looking to step their game up to an intermediate level? Or maybe just a little warm-up for more experienced players before they turn to girthier toys? The Encore is pretty great. As long as you aren't turning somersaults during your play session, the Encore will mostly stay where you put it, albeit with the occasional guidance of a helping hand. I really like using this alone just to train my anus to relax and accept girthier toys, and I love that there are three distinctly different beads to allow for a gradual increase in size. The first bead is about the size of a finger, give or a take a little depending on the size of your hand, so it's very comfortable for nearly all beginners. You can slowly work your way down to the largest bead, and then resolve back to the slightly tapered neck and take a breather there.

So really I thought this toy really performed well. If you're judging it by the standards of a plug then it may not be your top-ranking toy but as a probe I think it's truly excellent.

Happy Valley's Encore is incredibly easy to care for as it has no seams or ridges for lube or waste to get caked in. For solo use, washing thoroughly with antibacterial soap and warm water should be sufficient, with an occasional boiling to get sanitize it. If you plan on sharing this with other partners, or going from anal to vaginal use with it, you must sanitize it thoroughly by boiling it in hot water for 3-4 minutes or wiping it down with a 10% bleach solution. Remember that sanitizing does not guarantee that 100% of all microbes will be killed, so if you are sharing and want to be extra cautious you may want to use a condom on this toy.

Silicone does not play nicely with silicone based lubricant; the lubricant has a tendency to bond to the toy leaving a gummy mess behind. For this reason it is best to use an oil based lubricant or a water based lubricant with the Encore. Silicone also has a tendency to attract pet dander, dust, hair, and other free floating particles, so it's most convenient to store your probe in a plastic baggie or some other storage pouch.

Coming in Happy Valley's traditional packaging of a plastic bag sealed with a cardboard fold-over flap bearing the Happy Valley insignia, this packaging is low on waste and heavy on practicality. I tend to recommend storing silicone toys in plastic bags for cheap and convenient storage, and Happy Valley is one step ahead by including the bag with it. Both the plastic and the cardboard are recyclable as well. If you prefer luxurious storage you won't find it here, but if you are like me and enjoy simply, practical storage then you'll be pleased with the packaging from Happy Valley.