The SinFive Ilo Silicone is a long vibrator with unique undulations that run along the shaft. This waterproof vibe can be used for external stimulation of the body and for internal vaginal stimulation. Due to its lack of flared base, internal anal use is not recommended.

The Ilo puts out strong vibrations for a toy that uses 2 AA batteries. Its vibes are felt most strongly near the middle of the shaft, around the bottom-half of the textured portion. The vibes don’t reach the end of the shaft very well, which makes more pinpoint stimulation difficult. The valley between the ridges might make a nice home for the clitoris when used for external stimulation.

The majority of the Ilo is made of smooth, seamless silicone, while the white SinFive ring and battery cap are hard plastic. The end of the toy is nearly flat, which might make the end feel larger than it really is during insertion. Most of the shaft is firm, while the last inch or two toward the end is somewhat squishy. The shaft is flexible, but too much bending can cause the motor to slow down during use.

The Ilo is a fairly long toy at 8” total, with 6.5” being insertable. There’s plenty of handle left on this toy for easy maneuvering. Since the battery cap screws on pretty tightly, it’s unlikely that it will come off or even turn during use.

Because of the ridges along the shaft, the surface area of the end of this toy is quite large. You might want to have additional water-based lube on hand even though this toy is not particularly thick (1.5” diameter). Insertion may be a bit difficult since the end is not tapered.

The Ilo functions as a dildo, providing fullness and gentle g-spot stimulation. The bendable shaft allows for more targeted pleasure, and the flat end should be friendlier to sensitive cervixes than pointier toys. The unique ridges along the shaft provide sensations through thrusting, turning, or some delicious combination of the two.

Of course, you might want to use Ilo as a vibrator. And you’re in luck, because Ilo comes with its own batteries! Unscrew the bottom of the vibrator, and insert the two AA batteries. Screw the cap on tightly, and you’re ready to go.

To access the vibration features, use the + and – buttons near the white SinFive band. Push and hold the + button to access the lowest of the six vibration levels. This first level is thuddy and deep; the higher levels increase in buzziness. Pressing + guides you through the six vibration levels and into the patterns. The Ilo has a slow oscillating pattern (low-high-low-high), a fast oscillation, and a random vibration pattern. The random function truly goes all over the place at various intervals, and will likely keep you guessing. This function could be used to tease yourself or a partner.

The – button decreases the level of vibration when pressed, or brings the toy back to a steady vibration if you’re on a pattern. Holding the – button for one second will turn the toy off completely, no matter what vibration level or pattern it’s on. This feature is quite handy for silencing the vibe, switching it off after orgasm, or stopping if you feel uncomfortable.

The Ilo is made of a special type of silicone that has antimicrobial properties. The surface of the Ilo has been modified so that if bacteria or other microbes are on it, they basically die. Rest assured, the toy will not disrupt the natural bacteria in the vagina. To clean the Ilo, wash with soap and water, or wipe with a 10% bleach solution. Don’t boil it because that would likely damage the inner workings. Since the Ilo is silicone, please only use water-based lubricants with it, since silicone-based lubes will ruin the surface of the toy.

The packaging for Ilo is tasteful and mostly recyclable. A soft, matte cardboard sleeve features the Ilo on a black background, and inside is the main, white cardboard case. The case has a peek-a-boo window on it, where you get your first glimpse of the toy. It’s easiest to remove the toy by opening the top of the case, and sliding out the plastic housing. The housing also contains the batteries, and additionally you’ll find the product instructions, warranty information, and a little info slip on the antimicrobial silicone.

The Ilo is my first toy with these odd, intriguing “vertical” ridges, and the sensations they provide are a bit hard to describe. When I rotate the toy while it’s inside me, I feel like the width changes depending on how the end is oriented. Rotating the toy allows me to stroke my g-spot side-to-side, which is incredibly erotic, and difficult to do with most other toys. The only bad thing I’ve noticed about the vertical ridges is that when I rotate the toy, it tends to “wipe off” the lube from my insides. The lube seems to gather in the ridges, or end up deep in my vagina, which leads to a bit more friction than I’d like. I recommend using gentle motions at first because my initial “windmill” mindset had me grabbing for the lube a lot. Overall, this toy is very well made, pretty easy to use, and should please both sensitive and more power-hungry users.