The one sex toy I can't live without

My favorite use for the Hitachi is clitoral stimulation; although I've seen videos of people using it for insertion or for nipple stimulation. I don't personally find it useful for these things. The vibrations are too powerful for nipple stimulation to have much effect for me, and the Hitachi head itself is not made for insertion (though some use it that way). For safer penetration, purchase plastic Hitachi attachments. Personally, I don't find vibrating penetration very pleasurable, but I often use the Hitachi on my clit while using a dildo for penetration - this provides the most powerful orgasms.

The Hitachi is wonderful for partner play or solo play, and perfect for forced orgasms in BDSM play. It can be used as part of a long masturbation or sex session, but it's also the best vibrator I've ever found if you just want a quick few orgasms before bed - no frills, just a quick stress reliever. The Hitachi is also a full-body massager and can help relieve aches and pains all over the body.

The Hitachi has a large, solid, heavy body made out of smooth, hard plastic. The head is attached to the body by a semi-flexible piece, and the head is made of slightly more textured plastic. The material is very safe, and the Hitachi can be used through a thin layer of clothing to protect the skin if there are concerns about safety or sharing toys. It's sometimes sold with more flexible, smooth plastic attachments meant for insertion.

The size and design of the Hitachi can be rather intimidating. It's huge and heavy - it is a full-body massager as well as a vibrator, and it's definitely built like a full-body massager. For those new to vibrators, I'd recommend starting out with something smaller.

The body/handle of the Hitachi is about nine inches long and gradually increases in diamater. The blue semi-flexible connecting piece is about an inch long, and the head is two inches long and two inches in diameter. The entire thing is about a foot long!

The Hitachi gives very intense vibrations that are pleasurable but also often cause numbness over a wide area of the genitals, since the head is rather large. Although I've experienced temporary numbness, I've used the Hitachi for years and have not experienced any long-term loss of sensation. The design keeps the vibrations for numbing your hands - if you hold it by the smooth plastic body, you don't end up with the same discomfort in your hands that you might from a vibrator that doesn't have a handle.

The toy is not easy to hide - however, since it doubles as a full-body massager you can easily pass it off as a normal household item if a guest happens to spot it, or a medical/comfort need if you are traveling. I've never had any difficulty traveling with it when flying, even though it's rather large. It fits snugly in my rolling carry-on.

The Hitachi is a plug-in vibe which is one of my favorite things about it. No more batteries dying two seconds before orgasm! However, this means it's definitely NOT waterproof. It's also not insertable (although you can purchase insertable attachments for it).

The long plastic body/handle is attached to the bulbous head, and the entire head vibrates. This sometimes makes it difficult to center vibration on the clitoris. I've found that using light amounts of pressure causes the best vibration for clitoral stimulation - putting too much pressure can cause widespread numbness.

The controls are very convenient. The Hitachi is operated by a button on the handle; you press it in one direction to turn on the low setting and the other direction to turn on the high setting. The low setting is very high-powered compared to a normal vibrator, and the high setting is out of this world!

The vibrations are very loud - the low setting can't be heard from under covers and through a closed door, but the high setting can. I've used this toy with roommates, but if you are really worried about discretion, I would be careful (or you can lie and tell them you're using it as a full-body massager).

The Hitachi is very easy to care for. You can unplug the toy, wipe down the head and body with mild soap or toy cleaner, rinse, and dry. Be careful not to immerse it in water. It can be used with any kind of lube - just be careful to keep lube away from the cord and button.

For additional safety, or to minimize any discomfort and numbness from the strong vibrations, you can use the Hitachi just as effectively through a thin layer of clothing (I frequently use it while wearing underwear).

To store the Hitachi, I wrap the cord around the body. You can put it inside a plastic bag if you're worried about dust or dirt.

For most of my life, I was an avowed sex toy minimalist. Even though I have become an enthusiast, the Hitachi is still my favorite toy and if I were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one toy, this would be it (as long as there was an electrical outlet!).