Bootie - sex toy by Fun Factory - review by Basalt

Introduction:
My partner and I were looking for our first butt plug. We were looking for a comfortable size and shape with the easy to clean and forgiving nature of silicone. We were also hoping for a plug that would please us for a while rather than purely a "beginner's" plug that would soon be discarded in favor of something larger.

While the Bootie succeeded on some of those requirements, we will be looking for our next plug sooner rather than later for the reasons discussed below in the Experience section.

Material (silicone):
The Bootie is made of high-quality silicone, like all Fun Factory toys. My partner and I like silicone toys because they're easy to keep clean, can be sanitized between partners or between anal and vaginal use by boiling or soaking in 10% bleach solution, and are otherwise chemical and heat resistant. The Bootie is also phthalate-free. Silicone can be used with water-based or oil-based lubes but should not be used with silicone or hybrid lubes because they can damage the toy on a molecular level. The Bootie should also be kept away from other silicone toys because they may stick to each other. The Bootie can be warmed or cooled in hot water or the fridge or freezer.

The Bootie has a velvety texture. This gives it some drag but, more importantly, helps it hold onto and distribute lube better. The silicone is a lint-magnet but we store it in a plastic or lint-free cloth bag. The silicone of the Bootie has no noticeable smell or taste.

Design:
The Bootie has a comfortable shape--the "J"-shape conforms to human anatomy well, the slim and tapered base fits well between butt cheeks, and the silicone is soft enough to have some give but not so soft as to make insertion difficult. The Bootie is probably too small for satisfying vaginal use.

The Bootie is about 3" long including the entire base, with about 2-1/2" insertable. The first 1" of the insertable length is the straight neck, which has a diameter of about 5/8". The neck widens for the next 1" into the bulb-shaped end, which is about 1-1/8" by 1" wide at its maximum (in other words, the bulb widens in both directions and has an oval cross-section, not completely circular). In the last 1/2" of the insertable length, the bulb narrows as it bends around the "J" about 90° and rapidly narrows to about 1/2" by 1/2" diameter before coming to a rounded tip. The base consists of two "wings" extending from the neck of the plug. The wings are about 3/4" wide at the base of the neck, and narrow to about 1/4" wide at the rounded points. The wings extend about 1-1/8" out from the outer edge of either side of the neck or are each about 1-1/2" long in total, measured from the center-line of the neck. The overall length of the base and wings is about 3" (two 1-1/8" wings, plus the 3/4" neck diameter). The wings are about 3/8" thick.

The Bootie has a very slight seam running down the length of the "J" and back, continuing around the edge of the wings of the base, but we could not feel it during use. There is also a shiny Fun Factory logo molded around the lower circumference of the neck. The silicone is soft and the bulb gives about 1/8" on each side when squeezed strongly between the fingers. The neck is stiff enough for insertion, but easily bends about 30° up or down, which means it adjusts to the wearer's body during use.

The Bootie may be inserted with the "J" pointing in either direction. The direction that follows the natural anatomy of the rectum is with the rounded tip pointed towards the spine, but there may be more p-spot or g-spot stimulation with the "J" pointing towards the user's navel.

Packaging:
The Bootie comes in Fun Factory's standard cardboard packaging with a tasteful photo of just the plug and a plastic clamshell inside. Also included are instructions and a packet of lube. The box could be reused for storage if desired.

Similar alternatives:
While I have not found identical alternatives with the unique "J" shape of the Bootie, the Mood Naughty Medium silicone plug is similarly sized and popular, with a more traditional straight shape and well-defined neck.

My partner was new to butt plugs, but found the Bootie's size and design very comfortable. It was easy to insert with water-based lube and the size and insertion was not uncomfortable. The Bootie's bulb gradually increases in size while it does still have somewhat of a pointed tip for easy insertion. However the long neck of the Bootie, with the same diameter for the entire neck, means that the Bootie moves around a little during use. The Bootie slides in and out along its neck, about 1/2" or so until the bulb prevents it from sliding out farther. Some may enjoy that amount of travel but for us it did not feel secure. Further, the Bootie tended to pop out completely for us during vaginal penetration.

For some, the wings may be too long and may pose a problem for simultaneous vaginal penetration if the user's perenium is shorter than about the 1-1/8" length of each wing. We were concerned it would be a problem but it was not for us. The wings, while longer, are narrow and provide a comfortable base for long-term wear versus a round and thick base. They also would likely not be visible under clothes if worn in public.

The Bootie was comfortable and great for us as beginners, however we will be looking for a new plug with a more defined neck that narrows more and locks the plug in place better.

Although I don't regret that my partner and I tried this, we've moved on to other designs. This was just too small and did not stay in place. It may work well as a pure butt-plug, but we were also looking for more internal stimulation during double-penetration.

It's a fine product that is well-made for beginners, but I wish it had a more defined neck. We're also using something larger now.