The Swirl is a great value toy for anyone who enjoys anal play. It's modestly priced and certainly effective. Because it's designed exclusively for anal use, it's very satisfying to use - comfortable whilst still being menacing.

For a butt plug, I'd say it's moderately-sized; perhaps a little big for the beginner, but could be disappointing for hardcore anal enthusiasts.

For those unfamiliar with silicone toys, the texture is soft but firm, maximising comfort. The toy has a solid form, but with some give, making it easy to insert and remove. Silicone also quickly warms to body temperature.

Its color, bright green, is pleasing and fun. People who like realism may prefer to try the Raging hard-on butt plug by Doc Johnson, but personally I find a toy that's colored like a cock but shaped like a butt plug rather disturbing.

The swirling detail and angled shaft allow you to create a sensation by twisting it, which turned out to be more satisfying than a thrusting motion. Thrusting can be quite difficult due to the width of the bulb.

The wide base makes it easy to grip onto, but it's oblong, so not really suitable for use with an o-ring strap on harness such as The Jaguar. Besides of which, it is a little too short for strap-on fun.

Obviously you'll need to use a lube for any form of anal sex. I recommend Durex Play More which is very light. You could also try Durex 2 in 1 massage oil and really make a night of it.

Silicone is a very hygienic material because it's so easy to clean; a must for any sex toy. It can be boiled or bleached [editor’s note: it can also be placed on the top shelf of the dishwasher with no detergent].

All in all, The Swirl is not for the faint-hearted, but is a must have for any slightly-kinky sex toy connoisseur. However, be sure to keep it locked away because if it falls into the wrong hands, it will be very difficult to make up an innocent explanation for possessing a butt plug-shaped hunk of luminous green silicone!