The Emerald Explorer by SSA Glass is meant for use as an anal probe but can also be used vaginally if you like smaller toys. This toy can be used my men and women equally as the bulbs are meant to provide pure pleasure. The Emerald Explorer can be used solo or with a partner, on a bed or in the shower. If you want to spice things up, use it somewhere naughty, as the Emerald Explorer can go anywhere. Just be sure that you don't drop your toy on a hard surface as it could break being made of glass.

This toy has a handle instead of a base, which makes it easier to manipulate in and out of the body. This also ensures that the toy will not become 'lost' while using it. Since this toy is made of glass you should take caution when thrusting, as you could bruise sensitive tissues inside of you, or if you're using this vaginally, you could bruise your cervix. Always make sure to play safe, as a trip to the ER is never fun.

You can also use this toy for temperature play. If you want something cold, chill it in an ice bath or place in the refrigerator for a short time. If you want to heat things up, place this toy in a bowl of warm water and it should reach a desired temperature for playtime. Never put this toy in boiling water, or in the freezer, as this will result in you burning yourself, and once again, a trip to the ER is never fun. When this toy is taken out of it's package first thing, it will be cool to the touch.

You can travel with this toy as long as you pack it so it won't get broken. It will fit in a purse or carry-on, but make sure that it's nestled in something soft and safe as the pouch provided doesn't have any protection.

The Emerald Explorer is made of borosilicate glass. The brand name for this glass is Pyrex, and it is 100% non-porous, hypo-allergenic, latex and phthalate free. Users sensitive to smells or flavors will be happy to know that this toy has neither of those properties. Glass is absolutely odorless and tasteless, and there are no harsh chemical additives. When you first take this toy out of it's pouch and unwrap it from the bubble wrap it comes in, you'll notice that it is cool to the touch.

The glass itself is smooth and there's no drag whatsoever. This particular toy has bubbles, which feel wonderful when thrusting it in and out of the body. The texture is great for a 'popping' sensation similar to that of anal beads without the dip in between the bubbles. It has an absolutely luxurious feel when the toy is lubricated, and beginners and advanced users alike will love this probe. When lubricated (with whatever kind of lubricant you wish) this toy becomes slick and glides in easily.

The toy is not meant to look realistic, instead it focuses on users love for the 'popping' sensations of anal beads. The texture of this toy definitely adds to the stimulation, as it's meant to. Since this toy is made of glass, it is completely rigid, and will not bend with the body, so users who know they don't enjoy something so rigid should avoid this toy, but if you're new to glass, this toy is perfect for a beginner. The texture isn't too intense or scary for first timers, and it's small enough, but large enough to please even advanced users.

This toy is obviously not harness compatible but couples could still have fun with it.

I was never a fan of anal beads, as I didn't like the spaces between them, and then I saw the Emerald Explorer. It has the same bubbles as beads, but without the string and it's also easier to clean! This toy's handle is perfect for grabbing onto and going at it solo or having your partner wield it for you. It was small enough for a beginner but it's design was perfect for a more advanced user who likes the 'pop' you get from the bubbles. Lubricant made this toy glide, and the handle made it easier to grip even with lubricant on my hands.

This toy has five 'bubbles' making up the shaft, and a ring as the base for easier handling. As people have stated in other reviews, this toy looks like it could be the key to the Emerald City in Oz with it's deep green color and shape. My hands are a bit bigger than other females, so it rests easily in my hand, but to give a size comparison I'd say it's a little bigger than the average hand. Since this toy looks like a key, it does not have a realistic look. The exact measurements for this toy are:

Length: 6-1/2"
Insertable length: 4-1/2"
Circumference: 4"
Diameter: 1-1/4"

This toy is a good fit for all users, and with a bit of lubrication users should have little to no problems inserting it. This toy is not discreet if left out, as anyone could guess that this is a sex toy. Traveling with it should be fine, as long as it's protected in something padded where it won't get chipped or scratched.

The best thing about this toy is, well, everything! I love the design of it, I love that it's easy to clean, and that the ring provides a great grip of the toy when you're playing. The design and the color is spectacular and flawless, and it performed as it should. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this toy at all. I guess if I had to pick a gripe, the bubbles could be a bit bigger round, but other than that, this toy is absolutely amazing.

It doesn't have a suction cup and it's not harness compatible, but that shouldn't sway users away. This toy can still easily be fun with a partner or solo.

Glass is simple to care for. You can clean it in just about any way; boil it, bleach it to sanitize, put it in the top rack of your dishwasher, use a toy cleaner, or a toy wipe, and even simple soap and water will suffice. Remember that if you boil it or put it in your dishwasher that removal will require a glove or towel as the glass will be warm/hot right out of the water/washer. If cleaning with bleach, make sure to wash the toy as well as your hands thoroughly with water, as bleach doesn't do well in any orifice and can make you sick. Use caution and it will save you a trip to the ER.

Note: When washing, be sure to have a firm grip on your toy as it has the potential to slip from your hands, and if it hits a hard surface, it may break. If it does, it should break into large chunks rather than shatter, as the glass was designed that way.

When the toy is clean and dry, you can return it to the pouch provided if you like. I re-wrap mine in the bubble wrap it came in and return it to the pouch so it has a little extra padding. If you like, you could make or buy a pouch with more padding in it so that your toy will be safer. Remember not to let your glass items bump against one another as this could potentially scratch them or worse chip them.

This toy is compatible with all lubricants, but if you plan on using this toy and another as well, be sure that the other toy is also compatible with the lubricant of choice.

This toy comes packaged minimally. It comes wrapped in bubble wrap inside of a red velveteen pouch with no lining or padding. This pouch can keep it from becoming scratched, and reduces the shock when bumped against or stored with other glass items. However, it will not protect it from a fall or drop, and I would suggest buying something with padding to prevent breakage if you're accident prone as I am. I would not recommend gifting this to someone without a gift bag or something nicer, as the pouch is rather cheap, but it would work great as a stocking stuffer since it's red.

As I said, packaging is minimal so this toy does not come with instructions for use, nor maintenance. It is your job to rationalize how to clean and use this toy. The pouch does hide the toy but may attract attention to itself. I suggest tucking this toy away in your toy chest or drawer.