The Adonis Silicone Rings Hercules presents me with some interesting conundrums. First of all, there's the name. Do I call it Adonis or Hercules? Is it the Hercules model out of the Adonis line from California Exotic Novelties? Second, do I consider it a stretchy ring or a rigid ring? It is not nearly as stretchy as rings made from TPR or TPR silicone, but it certainly stretches more than most silicone rings I have experienced. Maybe it is stretchier than other silicone rings because its width is less or maybe it is just a slightly different silicone formula. Third, to what should I compare it? Maybe this is the most difficult of all since I haven't yet been able to try every cock ring in the world so I don't really know. Guess I'll just have to do my best. Maybe it's in a class by itself which brings me to my last impasse: How do I rate a toy that I have little to compare to? I guess California Exotics deserves some credit for clearing new ground.
All my conundrums aside, this is a semi-stretchy cock ring. With some effort, most guys should be able to get it seated where it will be most effective, behind their testicles. Once there the rigidity of the ring comes into play and provides good restriction of the blood flow so it can be very effective.

The Hercules ring is listed as being made of silicone. This is a very safe and inert material. It also usually doesn't have a lot of give to it. I'm a pretty strong guy, but I don't consider myself Herculean, but I can definitely stretch this thing beyond the 1 1/2" stretched diameter that is listed on the product information page. It certainly takes some effort though and it doesn't have the same "rubber band" feel of softer materials. It also doesn't seem to deform or loose its elasticity from repeated stretching which is nice. I haven't tried to push it to its limits, and while I am sure it could be broken given sufficient effort, breakage doesn't seem likely under normal circumstances. As for texture, there are four sections of thicker, banded areas alternated with the thinner, smooth areas, but the texture was not really noticeable to either me or my partner.

At an unstretched diameter of just 1 1/8", the Hercules is definitely not a beginner's cock ring. The fact that it has quite a bit of stretch for a silicone ring should make it appeal to a wider audience than a truly rigid ring of the same diameter. The amount of stretch it has means that it should fit more guys, but until a guy is comfortable in the knowledge that he will be able to remove a tight cock ring, he may be cautious at first. I imagine that this one wouldn't be that hard to cut either if things really went south.

This is where silicone really shines. Pure silicone is easy to take care of and should last a very long time. Washing with soap and hot water or a toy cleaner is sufficient for day to day cleaning, but silicone can be sterilized for a more thorough option. Common methods of silicone sterilization include wiping with bleach, boiling in water, or putting it through a sterilizing rinse in your dishwasher, if it has that option (top rack, no soap). This would allow you to really clean the toy so you could share it with another partner. Silicone also means that water or oil based lubes are okay, but steer clear of silicone lubes as they may cause material degradation. Oil based lubes aren't good for vaginal sex, but they can be nice for masturbation or other activities in the shower where you want a water resistant lube.

The packaging for the Hercules is discreet and simple. A cardboard insert sandwiched between two sheets of molded plastic designed for hanging. No pictures of scantily clad men or women or people having sex or anything like that. Some information about the ring and general fine print about being careful with how you use cock rings. Very tastefully done, in my opinion.

My experience with the Hercules started with trying to see how much it would stretch. I didn't expect much because of its silicone construction, so I was surprised. Then I held it stretched for a few seconds at a time to see if I could notice any deformation or signs of tearing, and I was surprised to find none. I found the Hercules to be well constructed across the board. It is relatively easy to put on, it certainly takes more effort than a really stretchy TPR ring, but it is easier than a thicker silicone ring. It does a great job restricting blood flow which meant my erection was easier to achieve and it helped me to last longer prior to ejaculation. I found that the Hercules did its job very well. This one I'll keep within easy reach.