Elements Delta - strap-on dildo by Tantus - review by Antipova

Sitting on your nightstand, the Delta looks like a pearly pink piece of coral. The lone dual stimulator in Tantus' Elements line does not look like a traditional dildo, and you'll enjoy it most if you don't approach it as one. Its body consists of two parts: the prong and the petal---the prong does its best work inserted either into the vagina or the anus, and the petal shines pressed against the clitoris or the perineum.

The body of the Delta has a hole for a vibrator, and Tantus includes a one-speed, watch battery-powered bullet. The silicone transfers these vibrations very well, leading to a buzzing feeling through the prong and a fluttering feeling through the petal. The tip of the base can be bent up as well to apply extra vibration.

These vibrations are mild, not enough to bring me to orgasm alone, but they do carry through the Delta completely, providing an incredibly fun and pleasant sensation throughout the genital region, whether the user is male or female. Because the Delta is not goal-oriented, this sculpture would not make a good first toy, but it is definitely a plaything that I am glad to have added to my arsenal.

Tantus has been a driving force in creating body-safe sex toys, and their platinum-cured silicone has been the standard-bearer. Silicone is hypoallergenic, odorless, tasteless, chemically inert, and can be sterilized. Tantus silicone is all of these things, and comes in beautiful colors: the Delta is a soft pearly pink (attractive even though I usually don't like pink things because it suits the Delta's coral-like shape).

The Delta is moderately squishy---I can change its shape easily with my hand, but it holds its shape well while in use. It is not strong enough to apply pressure, so don't expect the prong to pinpoint your g- or p-spot. It is strong enough to hold its position, so do expect the petal to nestle cozily atop your clit or daintily across your perineum. It also carries vibrations surprisingly well.

The surface of the Delta is texture-free. It is not quite as slick as Tantus' Silk line, but it is not quite as matte as LELO silicone. That is, there is a small amount of drag, but not enough to need lubricant (especially given the non-girth of the prong).

The included bullet is made of a silver-colored plastic, which has an O-ring.

The Delta is not large. I knew it was small when I ordered it and the Echo (crossing my fingers that Tantus will make an Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Foxtrot some day), but when I opened my package, the Delta was much smaller than I'd expected, while the Echo was much larger than I'd expected. If you don't include the bullet, the Delta could hide behind a large grapefruit. It is 13cm tall, with the petal 4cm and the prong 12cm from base to tip, or 8cm from petal stalk to tip. I insert the prong all the way to the base when using it vaginally. The prong at its widest point has a very slender diameter of 2.3cm.

The design of the Delta renders the size unimportant. The clit petal is brilliant. It's perky, it applies light pressure across the clit without interrupting the labia, it lends a gentle pressure to the perineum. The shape is perfect, it guides vibrations all the way to the tip. The part facing the prong has a small spine running up it, which somehow focuses the vibrations even more.

The watch battery that Tantus includes vibrates at a pretty high frequency, and if you're holding it apart from the silicone form, it feels quite buzzy. If you insert the bullet into the Delta (with a drop of water-based lube) and hold it by the bullet, almost all of the vibration goes into your hand. Don't dismay, though! Just stop holding it by the bullet. Wrap your hand around the prong and both the prong and petal will vibrate really nicely. When the prong is inserted (vaginally or anally) the vibrations up the prong continue, and the petal hums along marvelously.

The best part of the Delta's vibration-channeling, for me, is that the petal stalk and the petal stimulate the opening of the vagina, the labia, and the clitoris all together. I'm not an expert of anatomy, but this is a very good feeling. The petal is providing near-pinpoint stimulation to the clit, but the stalk from which the petal sprouts is paying attention to nerve endings that many dual stimulators neglect.

I can't comment yet on battery life. The base of the toy is harness compatible, but the bullet sticks out so much that you can't use it in a harness and as a vibrator at the same time, and I think vibrating is essential to the enjoyment of the Delta. With most Tantus toys that come with a hole for a bullet, I'm tempted to say "Amazing, amazing, amazing. Oh. And I guess it vibrates, or something." But with the Delta, the vibrations are the whole point. The included watch battery is good enough for me to get full enjoyment from them, though if you're a vibration connoisseur you might want to upgrade the bullet to your preferred vibe.

Tantus' silicone is easily cleaned and will outlast you if you care for it well. Simply wash with mild soap and water to clean before and after general use. If you're going to switch partners, or switch from anal to vaginal use, give the Delta a 10% bleach bath or boil it for 3 minutes (after removing the vibe, of course).

On the topic of the bullet, it's best to add a drop of water-based lubricant to the Delta's bullethole before positioning---this eases removal. Before positioning the Delta in your body, you may wish to add lube. If you prefer a silicone lube, it's best to do a spot-test under the base before lubing the whole sculpture up.

While the Delta picks up less lint than the slickest silicone toys (like the Silks), it still catches more than the mattest, so I store my Delta in a Ziplock bag.

Personally, vibrations have never done as much for me as for most women, but I really enjoy the vibration-channeling performed by the Delta. I think if I had a Little Chroma or another bullet-sized but better-quality vibrator to usurp the included bullet's hole, I would enjoy the Delta even more. Still perhaps not orgasmically, but very enthusiastically nevertheless.