C-ring intermediate - cock and balls device discontinued by Tantus - review by Owl Identified

Tantus's line of sexual enhancement rings include three sizes designed with separate and distinct functions in mind. Each one is tailored to the unique needs of beginners, intermediate players and advanced cock ring enthusiasts and is made of comfortable, hygienic silicone. Tantus's intermediate C-ring is for, you guessed it, those with a moderate amount of experience with this kind of play. This one is for those that have experienced the light restriction of novice rings made of jelly or even extra stretchy silicone and have moved beyond the stage of cautious flirtation with the idea of cock rings. And I could not say e-state this any more emphatically: Tantus seriously couldn't have made a more perfect ring for your graduation to more intense levels of play. Durable, elegant and user-friendly, this has quickly become a new favorite for my partner and I. When we're too lazy to rifle though the toy chests looking for my favorite vibrator or his favorite prostate massager, this is a convenient, no-hassle way to make our time together more exciting.

As with all Tantus toys, the C-ring intermediate is made from 100% medical grade silicone. It is smooth, although not entirely seamless, and the edges along the inside have been very visibly filed in order to make the surface less pointy 'n' ouchie. My partner doesn't really notice the filed bits when we're putting it on, but when removing it after a fair amount of time engaging in some rather rough treatment of his balls, he's much more sensitive too it. Still, overall it's not terrible and certainly not so noticeable that it's unusable. Silicone has no inherent taste and no smell, and it will not absorb odors either as it is a nonporous material. However, odors can accumulate on the surface of the toy. If this happens, simply leave it out in the open air for 24-48 hours and the smell should dissipate.

Some cock rings are just that: rings designed to go just around the base of the penis itself. But this line? Not meant for that. The cock ring in question would more accurately be described as a cock and ball ring. It's the whole shebang, fitting around both the base of the penis and the testicles all in one go. This hunky toy is available in low-profile matte black, and its simple design makes it easily undetectable to the vanilla eye. Left on a desk it just looks like a cyber-punk accessory out of a post-Apocalyptic zombie film's wardrobe.

The C-ring intermediate is also NOT a very flexible ring. Silicone varies in density from product to product, and in this case it is quite dense. Edenfantasys lists the inside diameter as being 1 7/8" which I found to be about right, and the fully stretched diameter as being 2", which was less than exact in my case. The ring I received actually stretched a little more than that, maybe to about 2 3/8" during removal. Please do keep in mind that this is with a LOT of effort, though! We were able to stretch it that wide when taking it off and putting it back on, but only with my partner's super Hulk-like strength and my deft maneuvering! It is a four hand job to stretch it that far, so if you need anymore than about 2" in order to wear it comfortably I would recommend the
"beginner" ring. Keep in mind that "beginner" doesn't always denote your level of experience, but in the case of a cock ring may just refer to the size of your genitals and what you need to be comfortable. On the flip side of that coin, this ring stays at 1 7/8" at rest. It does not shrink and it will not accommodate you too much on the lower side of 1 7/8". (If this is the case for you, don't worry, Tantus has you covered.)

So is this comfortable? Well, yes, as long as you break out the measuring tape if you haven't yet! It's no fun to invest in a product only to find that it isn't a good fit for you and in the case of cock rings, that kind of disappointment is avoidable. But if you take the extra 30 seconds out of your life to spend some quality time with your tape measure, you'll be in heaven shortly after. Trust me.

Once again, Tantus gets it oh-so-right just by keeping it simple. There are no weird, sparkly antennae or rabbit ears on this cock ring. No flashy colors (though don't get me wrong: I love flashy colors as much as the next toy junkie) and not ornate engravings. And yet, it performs the hell out of dozens of prettier competitors. Armed with modest thick, durable and long-lasting silicone, the C-ring intermediate stands up to bi-monthly boilings, yanking and tugging, and all of my overzealous lube-slathering. It can handle a lot of abuse, and it never looks worse for the wear. My partner, who usually lets me orchestrate the number, order and nature of the toys we use during a session, asks for this one by name. It's one of maybe three toys he does that with. Without causing excessive and un-sexy amounts of displeasure, the ring restricts blood flow enough to help him stay erect during long scenes of teasing and orgasm denial. When he finally reaches the plateau before orgasm, it allows him to stay there for much longer, coasting through that haze of almost-there delight for 5 minutes or even more. Orgasms are far more intense and are also longer lasting. We can engage in some of our favorite activities that are often spoiled by his body's eagerness to release, and at the end? He's rewarded with a very, very satisfying climax.

Silicone is non-porous and therefore will not absorb nasty microbes, but it can still collect germs on the surface. For this reason you should clean your silicone ring with warm water and an antibacterial soap, and if sharing with other partners, try boiling your ring for 3-4 minutes to more thoroughly sanitize it. Silicone is a low-maintenance material although it has a tendency to collect dust, hair and lint. It's best to keep it in a Ziploc bag, especially if you have furry pets, to avoid having to wash it before AND after use. If you plan to store your ring with toys made out of jelly, TPR, TPE or other soft materials besides 100% silicone then you should definitely use a Ziploc bag for storage. Silicone can melt or warp these less stable materials. Please also keep in mind that silicone-based lubricants will bond to this and other silicone toys, leaving behind a gummy mess that is nearly impossible to remove. To keep your cock ring in good shape, only use water or oil based lubricants.

PLEASE make sure you always take breaks when wearing. A good rule of thumb is to remove a cock ring after about 20 minutes of wear in order to take a 5 minute break. You should also remove the ring immediately at any signs of numbness, as this can be a sign of nerve damage. If for any reason you are unable to remove you ring (erection will not subside, etc) a small pair of arrow pointed scissors can save you an embarrassing trip to the ER. Arrow pointed scissors are often sold at beauty store for just a few dollars, so it's worth it to have a pair on hand. Due to their small size they are the safest to use by virtue of being easy to maneuver. They will easily cut through the ring so that you may remove it.

To put your ring on, apply a small amount of water based lube to the inside of the ring, then put each testicle through the ring one at a time. Testicles, being more sensitive, You're all ready to go. Do not try to put your ring on to an erect penis. This can be quite painful and usually isn't successful.