Tag: hot octopuss

Header image for Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen review

[Toy Review] Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen

Published on by Amy

Those of you who have been floating about in the sex geekery space for some time may remember the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee which hit the market in 2017. Hot Octopuss rose to fame for their Pulse, an innovative penis toy which draws on medical technology that uses oscillation to enable ejaculation in people with severe spinal cord injuries. Pretty cool no? The Pulse can be used on either a hard or flaccid dick and was a major breakthrough in accessible toy design that centres disabled people.

Following that success, Hot Octopuss naturally wanted to offer something for vulvas, too. That’s where the Queen Bee came in. Unfortunately, the Queen Bee – while great in theory – fell short in a number of key areas. It was loud as fuck, kinda ugly, and stopped working if you applied any significant pressure. I didn’t hate it as much as some bloggers did, but I was highly underwhelmed.

For all these reasons, when I learned that Hot Octopuss had released a brand new and improved toy for vulvas, I couldn’t wait to try it out. Meet the Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen.

What is the Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen?

Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen

The Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen is described as “the world’s first wand with PulsePlate Technology™.” It’s not really a wand in the traditional sense, and its shape is similar to that of many clitoral suction toys. It is a clitoral stimulator that uses high-amplitude oscillations rather than vibrations to deliver deep and rumbly sensations.

The Pulse Queen is made of body-safe silicone (with a plastic control panel on the back) in an attractive shade of turquoise – one of my favourite colours! It is rechargeable, waterproof, and comes with a storage bag.

What I Like About the Pulse Queen

Buckle in, because I have a LOT to say about the things I love about this toy.

Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen

  • The deep, rumbly stimulation makes me cum fast and reliably and hard. It’s like all the best things about a super rumbly vibrator, only… better. Mains-powered wands are the only other type of toy I’ve ever tried that provide stimulation like this. The orgasms I have with this thing feel inevitable, like it’s going to pull them from me even with minimal effort on my part. Without putting too fine a point on it, heartbreak-induced depression hasn’t exactly been making me feel very sexy lately. But with this toy I can push through that and have an orgasm even when my head isn’t entirely in the game. A vibrator might not directly help me to get over a broken heart, but a good orgasm makes me want to curl up and die slightly less for a few minutes. So that’s something.
  • The shape of the oscillating head. It tapers to a gentle point, offering targeted clitoral stimulation. Prefer a broader sensation? Just tilt it slightly to the side and use the edge rather than the tip.
  • The toy is light and the curved handle makes it comfortable and ergonomic to hold. I can use this for much longer than I can use a wand before I start getting hand or wrist cramps. Senior sex expert Joan Price, one of my absolute heroes and an icon in the sex ed and sex positivity world, specifically calls out this toy as “good for arthritic wrists.”
  • The dual speed controls mean you can scroll up and down through speeds as you like, and a third button allows you to switch between oscillation settings. There are six patterns as well as constant oscillation. I could live without the patterns but, thanks to the easy and intuitive controls, I don’t hate that they’re there. Each setting has an impressive 9 intensity levels to choose from.
  • The buttons are well placed, easy to press, and satisfyingly clicky. They’re also large enough and have distinctive enough shapes that it’s easy to feel for them without looking and press the right one. No risk of hitting the wrong one at the wrong moment and accidentally ruining your orgasm.
  • It is fully waterproof. This means it’s easy to clean as well as enabling you to use it in the bath or shower, if you want to. (Not really my thing, but it might be yours!)
  • Though it’s designed with clits in mind, I am reliably informed it also feels great on penises.
  • It’s really pretty! Seriously, did I mention how pretty it is?

Anything I Didn’t Like?

The Pulse Queen is significantly quieter than the Queen Bee, but it’s still pretty loud. Something to be aware of if you have family or roommates at home. It’s probably no louder than a typical wand but for some reason it feels more grating to me. It might be the frequency, or it might just be the dissonance of the toy’s small size with its noise output. Either way, I can live with it but I don’t love it.

Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen

The battery life isn’t great, offering around 40 minutes of runtime on a full charge. It’s not a huge problem considering that this thing typically gets me off in under five minutes. But it does mean you’ll need to remember to charge the toy regularly if you’re using it a lot (which, erm, I am!) It may also be a problem for those who take longer to reach orgasm.

It’s also worth noting that, like the Queen Bee, the Pulse Queen also stops oscillating if I press it too hard against my vulva. This is probably just a feature of this type of technology and basically unavoidable. It’s worth noting if you prefer a lot of pressure, though.

I also have to have a small gripe about the gendered language here. Does it really have to be called a “Queen”?

Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen: Verdict

The Pulse Queen is, despite some small issues, one of the best new sex toys I have tried in a very long time. It’s an incredible upgrade on the Queen Bee in every way. Honestly I’m hesitant to even call it an upgrade. Naming conventions and passingly similar concept aside, it’s pretty much an entirely new toy. And it’s so, so, so fucking good.

This is how you do an oscillating toy for vulvas.

The Hot Octopuss Pulse Queen retails for £99.95 (and $99.95.)

Thanks to Hot Octopuss for sponsoring this review. This means that they paid me to write a fair and balanced review. All opinions and writing are, as always, my own.

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What are the Best Vibrators for Long Distance Play?

Published on by Amy

I’m not in a serious long distance relationship at the moment (though I do have a lovely long distance play partner). But until a few months ago, I had a partner who lived in a different city. We saw each other about once a month, and kept in touch using various methods in between. We texted, sexted, had virtual dates, and – yes – occasionally played with remote vibrators.

Sales of high-tech, remote-capable sex toys boomed in the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic. Whether you’re temporarily separated by travel restrictions, one of you is travelling for work, or you currently (or permanently) live apart, you can enjoy sex from anywhere in the world with the right remote sex toy.

This is just one of the use-cases for the large, and growing, market for sex toys that can be controlled over long distances. If you enjoy the thrill of wearing a sex toy out and about and handing control to your partner, a long-distance vibrator can also be a good investment. They tend to be much more reliable than the ones with short-range handheld remotes.

Remote sex toys are now available in just about every iteration you can think of, from the common wearable toys to strokers, rabbits, clitoral suction toys, and more. There are even app-controlled chastity devices, believe it or not!

Another popular use-case for long-distance vibrators is for those who do online camming. Say you’ve set up your custom Chaturbate profile and built a loyal following, what’s next? Many performers find that using a remote vibe, and allowing fans to take control of it in exchange for tips, is a fun way to boost their earnings. Lovense toys are specifically designed with this functionality in mind.

But what are the best vibrators for long distance couples, cam models, and anyone else who needs a toy with remote control capability? Turns out that’s not a simple question to answer. Here are a few things you might want to consider to help you choose the best long-distance sex toy for YOU.

What’s Your Budget?

App-controlled and long distance sex toys are becoming more accessible, price-wise, as more and more companies are making them. You might say that sex tech has gone mainstream! Even so, there are products available at a wide range of price points. Lower priced products in this category tend to start at around the $80 mark, but you can easily spend hundreds of dollars for high-end products from some brands.

Before you start shopping, decide on your budget. You might need to compromise on some features, depending on how much you want to spend. Which brings us to…

Which Features Matter Most to You?

You should also consider which features you want your toys to have and what matters the most to you. For some people, the most important feature will be the toy’s level of power. Though there are exceptions, many people who use sex toys tend to prefer strong, rumbly vibrations over weaker, buzzier ones.

App reliability is another big factor to consider. You don’t want the connection to keep dropping in the middle of your hot virtual sex date! And if you’re into the idea of semi-public play (or live with family/roommates), the volume of the toy might also be important to you.

When it comes to power, volume, and app connectivity, the best thing you can do is read honest reviews like the ones you’ll find here and on other sex blogs. Good sex toy bloggers test things robustly and call it as we see it when we give our verdict on a product.

Some app-controlled sex toys are more feature-rich than others. At the most basic level, app control will allow your partner to switch the toy on and off and scroll through a pre-set range of speeds and patterns. More advanced products have all kinds of fancy bonus features. For example, some toys allow you to draw your own vibration patterns, sync the vibrations to music, or even use your wearable toy as an alarm.

The Lovense Connect app
App: Lovense Connect

If you’re non-monogamous or do (for example) camming or phone sex, the option to give control to different people at the touch of a button might be important to you. Some toys only let you add one partner to their apps at a time. This means that you have to delete and re-add every time you’re playing with a different person.

The Most Powerful App-Controlled Toys

Two of the biggest players in app-controlled sex toys right now are Lovense and We-Vibe. These products are popular for a reason – they are, in the main, high quality, reliable, and powerful vibes. But they are far from the only options on the market. Other options include Lovehoney’s Desire range as well as products from brands like Kiiroo, Svakom, and Lelo. I strongly suspect that over the next few years, most of the major sex toy brands will start bringing out app-controlled toys, if they haven’t already.

From a personal perspective, I have found We-Vibe’s products to be the most consistently powerful app-controlled toys I’ve tried. Lovense products are also generally pretty powerful. Interestingly, however, I found their most iconic and popular product (the Lush) rather lacklustre in the power department.

Consider Privacy

I am far from a digital privacy expert. I do know that some people with far more knowledge than me have expressed legitimate concerns over the privacy aspect of app-connected sex toys. Ultimately, you must do your own research and decide your level of acceptable risk. If you’re concerned, read the privacy policy of the company you’re considering buying from. You can also check out reviews from sex tech experts to see what they have to say about the privacy aspect.

A Few Specific Recommendations

As you can see, it’s not easy to give a blanket answer to the question “what are the best vibrators for long-distance sex?” Ultimately, what’s best for you will depend on your personal preferences and the various factors I’ve discussed in this piece.

But from a personal perspective, here are a few of the app-controlled sex toys that I like the most:

  • Lovense Ferri, a fabulously powerful-yet-discreet knicker vibe.
  • Lovense Domi, a genuinely brilliant wand. You don’t see app-controlled wand vibrators very often, which makes this one even more appealing.
  • We-Vibe Nova 2, an app-controlled rabbit vibe with a fantastic clit-friendly design.
  • We-Vibe Chorus, designed for clitoral stimulation during penetrative sex but also ideal for hands-free long-distance play.
  • Hot Octopuss x Kiiroo Pulse Solo, a high-tech update to the innovative masturbator inspired by medical technology.

This post was sponsored by Designurbate, a tool that allows you to customize your Chaturbate profile and stand out from the crowd. All writing and views are, as always, my own.

PleX with Flex review header image, woman's butt in fishnet stockings

[Toy Review] Hot Octopuss PleX with Flex

Published on by Amy

Do you all remember the Kurve vibrator from Hot Octopuss? I raved about the Kurve because of its dual “treble and bass” motors, which allow the user to customise not just the intensity level of the vibrations, but also where they fall on the buzz-rumble scale. Well, a new Hot Octopuss toy has arrived, and it uses the same tech. But this time, it’s for your butt. Meet the PleX with Flex.

What is PleX with Flex?

The PleX with Flex is a vibrating butt plug by Hot Octopuss. It measures 5.5″ in total length, of which around 5″ are insertable, and 1.7″ in diameter at the widest point. The plug sits on a wide base. As the name suggests, it’s ultra flexible, bending up to 90 degrees in any direction.

My PleX with Flex arrived packaged in Hot Octopuss’s signature, sleek black packaging with a picture of the toy on the front. In the box you’ll find your plug, a little square remote control, a branded storage pouch, a charging cable, and an instruction leaflet. I do appreciate that Hot Octopuss always include a storage bag with their toys. It’s such a small thing but it really does help a more expensive product feel like value for money.

PleX with Flex vibrating butt plug in its box

The PleX with Flex is made of smooth and body-safe matte black silicone. It is also fully waterproof, though the remote control is not. It’s rechargeable via the included USB cable.

What I Liked

By far my favourite thing about the PleX with Flex is its shape. The smooth, tapered shape makes insertion comfortable, and the ultra flexible nature of it means you can position the toy exactly how you want. I don’t have a prostate but for people who do, I’m informed that the curved shape of the PleX with Flex makes it ideal for targeted prostate pleasure.

PleX with Flex black silicone butt plug from Hot Octopuss

The PleX with Flex’s motors are also fantastic. It houses a rumbly (“bass”) motor towards the bottom of the shaft, and a buzzy (“treble”) motor towards the tip. With independent controls (we’ll talk more about the and five available pattern settings for each motor, you can create an enormous range of different experiences and sensations. Best of all, each motor is powerful. I’m not a big fan of buzz, so I eventually found that the sweet spot for me was to have the buzzy motor on low and the rumbly motor on a higher setting.

PleX with Flex vibrating prostate massager

The large base, which essentially functions as a handle, also makes it possible to thrust with this toy, if you want to. That’s unusual in a butt plug style toy. For that reason, I’d recommend this one if you’re working up to anal penetration with a penis or a larger dildo.

The PleX with Flex also isn’t too loud relative to its vibration strength. Even outside the body it’s pretty quiet, and when it’s inserted the sound is muffled still further. You might not want to use it out in public, but there’s no way you’ll wake the neighbours!

The PleX with Flex is also easy to keep clean. I recommend using a body-safe sterilising wipe then wash it thoroughly in warm water and gentle soap.

Anything I Didn’t Love?

The PleX with Flex is fundamentally a well designed toy. Its shape is dreamy and its motors are excellent. With that said, there are a few things I think could be improved.

My biggest complaint lies in the buttons and controls. Placing the controls on the bottom of the toy’s base is an odd choice for this one. This makes it impossible to see the buttons when the toy is inserted. So you have to either rely on touch alone (possible but not ideal), ask your partner to change the setting for you if you’re using the toy together, or take it out to change the setting and then reinsert. None of which is ideal.

PleX with Flex silicone prostate massager buttons

I could forgive this if the remote control was brilliantly designed, but it’s… not. Hot Octopuss’s remote controls are inexplicably tiny. I think they’re going for discretion but, unless you’re going to use the toy in public (which, as I’ve said, I don’t recommend) I’d rather have a slightly bigger control that’s easier to use. Being so small, it’s difficult to hold and easy to lose. I much, much prefer the wrist strap design offered with toys like the Pulse Solo Lux.

Remote for remote control vibrating butt plug PleX with Flex

The battery life is also a bit of an issue. It lasts about an hour on a full charge. But with a charging time of 4 hours, I would have liked its run time to be a little longer.

From a personal experience perspective, another downside is that the PleX with Flex is slightly too big. It took me a long-ass (ha) time to write up this review, partly because my butt is rarely up for taking something of this size. This is less an objective criticism, admittedly, than a personal preference. I’d really love to see them release a mini version alongside this one, for those of us who prefer a smaller anal toy. So if any Hot Octopuss designers are reading…

The PleX with Flex isn’t really a leave-in toy. Given the size of the base and the location of the buttons, sitting or walking around all day with it in isn’t really possible. This isn’t really a downside as such, just something to be aware of. This is a toy

Verdict

It’s a mixed bag for me with this one. Ultimately, the PleX with Flex is a toy that meets specific needs well. If you’re looking for a butt toy with strong motors and an ability to experiment with buzz/rumble as well as power level and patterns, this is the one for you. I also recommend it if you’re looking for a vibrating anal toy you can thrust with. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more akin to an “insert and leave in” anal toy, this is not it.

Retailing at £89.95, it’s not a cheap toy. While its body-safe materials, well-designed shape, and powerful motors work in its favour, there are notable downsides that make it hard to give an unqualified YES to this one.

PleX with Flex banner from Hot Octopuss sex toys

The PleX with Flex is available from Hot Octopuss, who sent me the product in exchange for an honest review. All views are mine. Affiliate links appear in this post.

Header image for a review of the Hot Octopuss Kurve

[Toy Review] Hot Octopuss Kurve

Published on by Amy1 Comment

Every now and then, I get my hands on a sex toy that is so pretty that it delights me just to look at it. Even more occasionally, that toy is as good in function as in form. The new Kurve by Hot Octopuss is one such toy.

Meet Kurve

Kurve is a new vibrator for folks with vulvas from Hot Octopuss, pioneers of sex toy innovations. At first glance, it looks like a fairly standard, curved G-spot vibrator – but it is so much more than that.

Hot Octopuss Kurve g-spot vibrator

The Kurve features dual-motor, patented Treble and Bass technology, the same technology used in the Jett (a wonderfully creative toy for penis owners.) But instead of sitting in two separate pieces, Kurve brings both motors together in one creative and

As I mentioned, my first impression of the Kurve is just how pretty it is. The silicone body is a rich burgundy colour, and the plastic handle fades from burgundy to black. When I held it up to show my partner and metamour on camera, they declared it “essentially the aubergine emoji in a sex toy!”

The Kurve is just over 7.5″ in length, of which around 5″ is insertable, and 1.6″ in diameter. It weighs 189g.

The Kurve is fully waterproof, USB rechargeable via the included cable, and comes with a silky black storage bag with Hot Octopuss branding.

Let’s Talk About That Shape, Tho…

Curved toys are usually a big hit with me because they’re fabulous for targeted G-spotting. Kurve’s, well, curve is near perfect. Not only that, but the bulbous head is soft and squishy while the rest of the shaft is rigid.

Hot Octopuss Kurve g-spot and clitoral vibrator

Even before we bring the vibes into the equation, Kurve won me over as a G-spotting dildo alone. Bonus: the plastic handle is comfortable and ergonomic to hold and manipulate.

When it comes to curved vibrators, though, I often find myself complaining that the shape is great but the vibrations are shit. Would the same be true of the Kurve?

All About That Bass (and Treble)

So here’s where things get really fun! The Kurve’s unique selling point is based on its two motor, treble and bass design. What does that mean, exactly?

The toy contains two distinct motors. The “treble” vibrates at a high frequency, while the “bass” gives a deeper sensation. In common sex-toy-reviewer parlance, we might think of the treble as the “buzz” and the bass as the “rumble.”

The beauty of the Kurve is that you can use the two motors together or separately, and at different levels. So if you want a little buzz and a lot of rumble or vice-versa, you can do that. If you want a lot of both? Yep, that’s available, too.

I’m not a big fan of buzzy vibrations generally – as a rule, I’m all about the rumble. But holy shit, this toy when they’re both on together…. wowwwww. The multi-layered stimulation is super intense and I’m super here for it. I actually found that it felt best when I laid it along one side of my vulva and allowed the vibrations to thrum through my labia to my clit.

Controls

Kurve’s controls require a little getting used to, though they’re fairly intuitive once you learn which button does what. The treble and bass controls are conveniently marked on the handle.

Hot Octopuss Kurve vibrator for g-spot and clitoral stimulation

There are also two small buttons, one that turns both the treble and bass off simultaneously, and one that switches between patterns. The Kurve has 5 patterns and each motor has 5 speeds.

The buttons are raised, making it easy to find them without looking, and easy to press. Once you’ve memorised which side is treble and which is bass, you can operate the toy completely by feel.

Final Verdict

The Kurve is a damn good toy.

I do have a couple of small complaints that I hope will be ironed out in subsequent versions. Most notably, the seam between the silicone shaft and plastic handle is uneven in a way that is a little unsightly on an otherwise luxurious looking toy (not to mention a potential bacteria trap.) It would also be nice to be able to control patterns independently for each motor, as well as speed.

In the scheme of things, though, they’re small issues and this is a great product that I heartily recommend and that has earned a place in my quick-grab toy basket.

The Kurve retails for £99.

Thanks to Hot Octopuss for sending me this product in exchange for an honest review. All views, as always, are mine. Affiliate links appear in this post.

Header image for Hot Octopuss Jett review

[Toy Review] Hot Octopuss Jett

Published on by Amy

I find myself in an interesting position: reviewing a toy designed for people with penises, when I myself do not have a penis. I’ve had the Hot Octopuss Jett sitting in my to-review pile for a ridiculously long time. Fortunately, the team have been incredibly patient in waiting for me to get this out.

Let’s jump in, shall we?

The Hot Octopuss Jett

The Jett, by Hot Octopuss, is an interesting cock-ring/vibrator combo. It consists of a three-part silicone sleeve. One hole is for the penis to go through, and the other two fit the Jett’s two removable bullet vibrators. The bullets are attached with wires to the remote control, which also houses the batteries.

The Hot Octopuss Jett

On a person with a cock, the toy is designed to be worn against the frenulum, just below the tip of the penis. Like this:

The Hot Octopuss Jett on the Godemiche Adam dildo
Stunt cock: Godemiche Adam

The stretchy sleeve expands as the penis engorges, and the toy purports to deliver hands-free orgasms to penis owners. Not having the required anatomy, I cannot comment from personal experience, but other reviews I’ve read imply that this is an accurate summary.

The Hot Octopuss Jett requires 4 AA batteries, which are not included. It comes with a silky Hot Octopuss branded storage bag. The Jett is not waterproof.

All about the Bass (and Treble)

So here’s the ridiculously cool thing about the Hot Octopuss Jett: the two vibrating bullets vibrate at different frequencies! In sex toy parlance, that means that one of the vibes is super deep and rumbly, while the other is more surface-level and buzzy.

Because you can control the speed of each bullet completely independently, you can adjust them until you find the combo that’s perfect for you. It’s basically two vibrators in one. Each bullet has six intensity settings.

The buttons are large plus/minus symbols, easy to press and easy to feel without looking. Pro tip: before you start playing, take a second to work out which button is controlling which bullet. The last thing you want is to turn the wrong one down at a critical moment!

The Hot Octopuss Jett control panel

The Jett also has 10 vibration patterns you can scroll through using the small button in the middle of the remote.

Care and cleaning

The Jett is made of a combination of two body-safe materials: silicone and ABS plastic. Add a bit of water-based lube for added comfort and enjoyment!

As the Jett is not waterproof, you’ll need to clean it carefully. The best way to do this is to wipe the bullets down with a body-safe medical wipe. You can sterilise the silicone sleeve using either the boil method or a 10% bleach solution.

Take the batteries out in between uses and they’ll last longer.

So how did I get on with it?

There’s never just one way to use a sex toy. (I mean, sometimes there are zero ways that make any sense, but I digress). Therefore, being the creative sex blogger that I am, I thought I’d set out to find ways to use the Hot Octopuss Jett as a vulva toy.

The most obvious use is to simply detach the bullets from the sleeve and use one or both of them as a clitoral vibrator. I tried this first, and hoooooooly shit.

The rumbly bullet (that’s the “Bass” side) is packing some serious power. I’m not exaggerating when I say this is the most powerful and rumbly battery-powered toy I’ve ever tried. Many rechargeables cannot hold a candle to this. If you like power and rumbles, and don’t mind some slightly fiddly wires, look no further.

The Hot Octopuss Jett brought me to orgasm in under 5 minutes, which is an extremely impressive feat for anything that isn’t a mains powered wand.

Naturally, I tried the buzzy side (the “Treble”) too. It wasn’t bad, as buzzy vibes go, but I’m just not really a fan in general. If you like more surface-level vibrations, though, it might suit you fine.

The other way for vulva owners to use this toy is to keep both bullets in the sleeve and press it against the clit. The advantage of doing it this way is that you can use the cock ring part as a little handle, or even slide two fingers through it and hold the toy in place that way.

The Hot Octopuss Jett in a womans hand

This method was a success, too. The silicone dampens the intensity of the vibrations a little, but not too much. This is the best way to use this toy on a vulva if you want to make the most of the treble/bass combo and the combined power of both bullets.

One little complaint: one of the wires tends to come loose during use, causing one of the bullets to cut out. Luckily it’s the buzzier bullet that has this issue on my Jett, so I don’t care as much, but it’s still kinda annoying.

Do I recommend it?

I’m really, really impressed with the Hot Octopuss Jett. Between this and the awesome Amo, this company are absolutely knocking it out of the park lately.

I heartily recommend the Jett. Yes, it’s designed with penises in mind, but it’s brilliant for vulvas too. New to sex toys and not sure if you like buzzy or rumbly vibes? The Jett is a great and relatively inexpensive way to try both and see what you prefer.

The Jett retails for a reasonably priced £49.95. If you buy from Hot Octopuss directly using my affiliate links, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Hot Octopuss Jett was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. All views, as always, are mine.

Fingers touching an orange suggestively. Header for a Hot Octopuss DiGiT and Amo review

[Toy Review] Hot Octopuss DiGiT & AMO

Published on by Amy

I received these products in fairly quick succession, so I decided I’d do something a bit different and try a compareview (that’s a comparison/review!) of Hot Octopuss’s two new toys, the DiGiT finger vibe and the AMO bullet. And, because I enjoy a bit of friendly competition, I’m going to award a point in each section of the review and finish by telling you which one I recommend more!

What’s all the buzz?

Hot Octopuss burst onto the adult industry scene in 2013 with the Pulse III, a toy for penis-owners that utilises PulsePlate, a patented technology based on medical science (read more here if you’re a dork, like me. It’s fascinating.) Since then, they’ve branched out, with including an oscillating toy for vulvas, vibrating cock-rings, and a mini version of the Pulse. Their latest two offerings are DiGiT and AMO, pictured above.

DiGiT is a finger-vibrator, with two plastic loops at the base. You pop two fingers through these loops and the shaft of the vibe rests against the length of one finger, essentially becoming an extension of your hand while you play.

AMO is a more traditional bullet vibe, with a shaft that widens at the top and offers one side that has a gentle curve and one with a pinpoint tip for more targeted stimulation.

Stats, Size and Other Important Things

DiGiT and AMO are both USB rechargeable, giving around 40 minutes of running time on a full charge. I would really prefer a longer battery life – it often takes me 20-30 minutes to reach orgasm, which functionally means having to charge the toy before every session.

Both toys are USB rechargeable and waterproof.

Size-wise, there’s not much in it either. DiGiT is slightly heavier (58g to the AMO’s 43g) while AMO is a little longer (9.5cm vs DiGiT’s 8.7cm.)

The Hot Octopuss DiGiT and AMO vibrators lying on a white sheet.
Left: DiGiT. Right: AMO.

The main shaft of both toys is made of soft and body-safe black silicone. The bases (and, in DiGIT’s case, the finger loops) are plastic. A generous slather of water-based lube will improve your experience! They’re a bit small to easily use with condoms, though you could if you felt so inclined. Because these toys are waterproof, you can clean them with gentle soap and warm water. To sterilise them more thoroughly, use a body-safe medical wipe before washing normally.

These toys are designed to be used externally. You could use them inside the vagina if you wished, but they are not anal-safe (especially AMO, which has nothing at all to stop the toy disappearing inside – just don’t risk it, please.)

Thus far, it’s a draw.

Innovation

Now, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking a tried-and-true formula and doing it well! Bullet vibes are pretty much a staple in the adult industry – almost every major toy company I can think of have one in their product line. AMO does, however, have an edge over the standard bullet vibes that are everywhere, in that the unique shape really does add something extra (more on that later!)

DiGiT is a more unusual idea. While wear-it-on-your-finger vibrators do, of course, exist elsewhere, all the ones I’ve ever tried have either been made of unsafe materials, had such weak vibrations that my finger could do a better job by itself, or both. The two-loops design is also something I haven’t seen before and makes the toy more comfortable to wear.

DiGiT wins the innovation round!

Aesthetics

Hot Octopuss toys have a distinct style to them, and these two are no exception. DiGiT’s base and finger loops are a kind of brown/bronze colour with a gold band separating the base from the shaft. The Hot Octopuss name is stamped into the silicone on the side of the toy and the crown logo is embossed on one of the finger loops. After just a couple of uses, though, this logo started to rub off. AMO’s plastic base is a dark red at the bottom which fades to black where it blends with the main body at the join. The company name is embossed on the side of the base. Both toys have the Hot Octopuss crown logo stamped on the bottom of their base.

The base of the Hot Octopuss AMO vibrator with the company's crown logo stamped into it.

Aesthetics-wise, AMO wins for me. They’re both perfectly attractive toys but the red and black is such a stylish and sexy combo.

Settings and Controls

On both toys, the on/off/change setting button is on one side of the shaft and the up/down speed buttons are on the other.

The button placement is kinda awkward on the DiGiT. Because it was attached to the fingers of my dominant hand, I could only change the settings by either curling my thumb under at a really unnatural angle or bringing my other hand into play.

The Hot Octopuss DiGiT on s woman's hand.

Full disclosure, though: I’m left-handed. I did also try the toy on my right hand and this does, indeed, make the button placement feel somewhat more intuitive (the up/down buttons are perfectly placed to press them with your thumb). It loses points for me, though, for being significantly less accessible and user-friendly for lefties like myself.

The button placement is much less of an issue on the AMO simply because of the way you use it. When I used it in my left hand, the speed buttons were well placed to easily push with my index finger.

DiGiT has five speeds and five patterns, while AMO has six speeds and five patterns

AMO takes the point again for user-friendliness and for that one additional speed.

Which is more powerful?

They’re… honestly identical.

I haven’t confirmed this with Hot Octopuss directly but I would be stunned if it was not the exact same motor in both toys.

To a power-queen like myself, these toys are what I would define as middling-powerful. The vibrations are strong and reasonably rumbly, but not blow-your-socks-off. They’re both slow-build toys for me; not powerful enough to get me off in five minutes, but certainly not “vainly smooshing it against my clitoris and vainly hoping I feel SOMETHING” either.

It’s a draw on this one.

My experience in use

I enjoyed using both of these toys. However, I don’t see myself reaching for the DiGiT for solo play very often in the future. AMO, though, has joined the pile of regular, reliable toys which lives in the easy access basket by my bed.

The reason for this is simple: the shapes! DiGiT’s smooth surface felt perfectly nice, but AMO’s pinpoint tip really blew me away. Unless the vibrations in a toy are EXTREMELY powerful, I tend to need fairly concentrated clitoral stimulation to get maximum enjoyment out of it. The AMO’s shape is perfect for angling against my clit for just the right level of direct stimulation. Mmmm!

No contest in this one: AMO wins hands-down.

Price

DiGiT retails for £59.95 directly from Hot Octopuss, and AMO retails for £49.95.

The price difference here makes this an easy one – AMO takes another point.

So which one should I get?

As we’ve seen, these toys are functionally quite similar in a number of ways. I enjoyed using both of them, and will certainly use them again. However, thanks to its aesthetic, that delicious pinpoint tip, and the slightly cheaper price, I personally recommend AMO over DiGiT.

A special discount just for you…

From right now until 23 December 2019, my readers can get 20% off both DiGiT and AMO! Just buy directly from Hot Octopuss using my links and enter code CAK20. You’re welcome!

Thanks to Hot Octopuss for sending me these products to review. All views are, as ever, completely my own. Affiliate links are contained within this post.

Header image for Hot Octopuss Atom review

[Toy Review] Hot Octopuss Atom Cock Ring

Published on by Amy

Remember that terrible cock ring I reviewed (read: made fun of mercilessly) a few months back? This is… not that.

I adore Hot Octopuss. Their innovative products, their anti-stigma work and their community-minded stance all put them firmly in my “Amy’s Favourite Companies” list.

I’ve previously reviewed their Queen Bee and Pocket Pulse, and was thrilled to receive the new Atom Cock Ring to test.

Let’s Take a Look, Shall We?

The purpose of cock rings is to keep blood in the penis in order to make a person’s erection harder and bring about a stronger climax. Vibrating rings have the added bonus of providing clitoral stimulation during penetrative sex. It’s a simple premise, but one that is so often executed really badly.

Hot Octopuss Atom cock ring

Hot Octopuss describes Atom as “the next generation in cock rings”. It retails for £49.95 directly from the manufacturer.

The Atom is a stretchy black silicone ring, with a large contact area with a raised nub to sit against the clitoris. It is adorned with a simple metallic-coloured ABS band with the company’s crown logo, on which the up/down speed buttons sit. The company name is also stamped into the silicone. The aesthetic is minimalist, masculine, and sexy as hell. Also provided is a useful little drawstring storage pouch.

The Atom is rechargeable via a USB cable, and completely waterproof – useful if shower sex is your thing! It is controlled via three simple buttons, and has six settings in total – constant vibrations and five different patterns. Each one of these can be adjusted up or down in intensity.

A word for the girthier penis-owners: you’re gonna need lube, friends! This ring’s diameter is only about 1.5″ so, though it is nice and stretchy and should sit comfortably once it’s on, you should be sure to use plenty of lube to slide it into place without discomfort. As ever, use water-based lube with silicone toys.

Body-Safe and Easy to Clean

The entire surface of the Atom is coated in super soft, silky silicone. The decorative band is ABS plastic. This means it both feels lovely and is completely body-safe and non-porous. As it’s waterproof, it is also easy to clean with warm water and some gentle soap. For a quick clean, as ever I recommend toy wipes or body-safe sterile wipes (I buy in bulk from medical supply sites).

When it comes to cleaning, the only issue is the seam where the band connects to the main body of the toy. This area could be a germ trap, so take extra care when cleaning it.

Oh, and a quick note on matte silicone: as a material, it picks up lint and fluff like nobody’s business. Expect to have to give your toy a quick rinse before use if it’s been in storage for a while. It’s generally a good idea to do this anyway.

What We Loved

The Atom boasts by far the strongest vibrations I have ever felt from a cock-ring. They are powerful, rumbly and on all levels, immensely satisfying. My limited experience with vibrating cock-rings in the past has been that they are so weak as to be either pointless or annoying. No such problems here! The vibrations are more than strong enough for even my power-queen clit. Finally, Hot Octopuss have made a cock-ring that will actually give the clitoris-owner some pleasure when used during PIV sex!

It was also tight enough to actually have the desired effect of giving my partner a stronger, harder and longer-lasting erection.

Of course, I also love that it’s body-safe, well made, and from a company whose ethics and business practices I trust.

What We Didn’t Love

The biggest problem with this toy from my perspective is in the placement of the buttons. They are, as I mentioned, situated on either end of the ABS band across the top of the toy. (The on/off/change pattern button is separate, and is embedded into the silicone just below the “down” control). This button placement means that changing the settings during sex is difficult and will almost certainly interrupt your flow. We had to pause to look more closely at which button was which, and then to change between the settings. The single biggest improvement Hot Octopuss could make to this toy, should they bring out a second edition, would be to include a remote control.

There are no other major issues. We do have the issue that Mr CK likes patterns while I like constant vibrations, but that’s definitely an us problem (/excuse for him to torment me, because I have a teasing and denial kink).

Atom or Atom Plus?

Hot Octopuss actually released two cock-rings last year, the Atom and the Atom Plus. I have not tried the Plus personally; however, I will tell you what I know about it so that you can make an informed choice about which to get.

Whereas the Atom features one motor primarily designed for clitoral stimulation, the Plus has two. (“The world’s first cock-ring to house dual integrated motors,” according to Hot Octopuss. Exciting!) The second motor offers intense stimulation of the perineum, the area between the testicles and anus which is extremely pleasurable for many people. So if you’re into this kind of stimulation, you might want to get the Plus. If you’re not fussed, you can stick with the Atom. The Atom is worn just around the shaft of the penis, whereas the Plus goes around both the penis and balls. The Plus is, of course, physically bigger and more expensive – it retails for £69.95.

So do we recommend it?

Yes, we do. It’s really hard to find quality, body-safe toys with good motors for people with penises. Hot Octopuss are ahead of the curve in redressing that balance. If you’re a fan of cock-rings and looking for something to take your sex to the next level, or if you’re after clitoral stimulation for you or your partner during penetrative sex, you can’t go wrong with the Atom.

In Mr CK’s words: “hands down the best cock-ring I have ever used!”

A banner ad for sex toy company Hot Octopuss, who sponsored a post on sex and mental health

Thank you to Hot Octopuss for sending me the Atom cock-ring in exchange for an impartial review. I am an affiliate with Hot Octopuss and if you buy any product from them directly using the affiliate links in this post, I will make a small commission. The Atom (and Atom Plus) are also stocked by SheVibe and Peepshow Toys, for my non-European readers. Thanks also, as always, to Mr CK and his extremely patient Stunt Cock for allowing me to do strange things to his genitals in the name of journalism. 

Pictures of product by me, other graphics by Hot Octopuss. 

Header image for the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee review

[Toy Review] Hot Octopuss Queen Bee

Published on by Amy1 Comment

Update 01/03/2021: The Hot Octopuss Queen Bee vibrator is no longer available and has been replaced by the massively improved Pulse Queen. I normally remove obsolete reviews but I’ve left this one up because I think it provides important context on how Hot Octopuss’s vulva toys have evolved.

What is the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee?

I’ve been wanting to try the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee ever since I saw the prototype at Eroticon. With the Queen Bee, HO has created a toy for vulvas using the same “PulsePlate” technology as their revolutionary Pulse toys for penis-owners.

In HO’s own words: “Unlike conventional sex toys, the Queen Bee uses a ‘piston’-type mechanism in order to generate extremely deep and rumbly oscillations.” Basically, the Queen Bee is not strictly a vibrator. It oscillates rather than vibrates.

The Queen Bee is a dark steely grey and looks a bit like a weird, futuristic hairbrush. It’s not a beautiful or even a pretty toy. Its vibe screams “I mean business and I am not here to be decorative.”

Hot Octopuss Queen Bee hairbrush-shaped sex toy with the official packaging
Image: Hot Octopuss

It is made of TPE, which is usually a porous material. However, Hot Octopuss uses medical-grade, non-porous TPE that can be thoroughly sanitised. When I asked my contact about this, they provided a thorough and informative info sheet. This transparency, combined with Dangerous Lilly’s endorsement, gives me enough confidence to say that this toy is made of a body-safe material.

Hot Octopuss Queen Bee Oscillating Vibrator: What I Liked

As a lover of broad and rumbly clitoral stimulation, I was pretty excited to try out the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee. Before I delve into all my issues with this product, let’s look at the things I did like.

  • It’s new and innovative. In an industry where stolen designs, knock-offs and fakes are a constant issue, it is refreshing to see genuine innovation.
  • I find the Queen Bee’s controls reasonably easy and intuitive to use. It has 4 buttons: On/Off, pattern change, speed up and speed down. They’re easy to press and I found it easy to change the setting mid-use without breaking my flow.
  • It has six different settings (constant oscillations and five different patterns) as well as multiple speed options to choose from.
  • It’s very rumbly, especially on the lower speeds.
  • It’s fully waterproof.

Perhaps most importantly, the Queen Bee can get me off (though I need the highest setting to get there, and it’s a slow process.)

What I Didn’t Like

Hot Octopuss Queen Bee with button panel on back showing
Image: Hot Octopuss

Unfortunately, despite its cool tech and innovative design, this is where things started to go sideways with the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee oscillating vibrator. Here are all the things I didn’t like about it:

  • The oscillations almost completely stop when I press it firmly against my vulva. The sensation was much stronger and more satisfying when I held it very lightly. That’s a pretty big problem if you like pressure or being able to push against a toy in use!
  • It has a huge seam where the oscillating plate joins the rest of the toy. Fluids and bacteria could easily get trapped here, leading me to seriously question this product’s hygiene over time.
  • The material isn’t very smooth and has a very grabby texture.
  • It’s advertised as having a “gentle warm up massage” sensation if you use the back of the toy (opposite the PulsePlate) but unless you have an unusually sensitive clit you probably won’t feel anything. Pitching this as a “feature” is a stretch at best.
  • My God this thing is loud! I don’t really need discretion in my toy use, but certain types and volumes of noise tend to sensorily overwhelm me. And seriously, this fucker is enragingly loud. If you’re easily distracted by noise, skip it. If you live with other people and need a discreet toy, skip it.
  • A full charge takes four hours and only gives around an hour of runtime.

Hot Octopuss Queen Bee: Verdict

Meh? I was hoping for more from this, given the amazing reviews of HO’s toys for penises. Though I didn’t hate the Queen Bee as much as some reviewers, I certainly didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. I expect I’ll use it occasionally when I’m in a very specific mood but it’s unlikely to be a regular go-to.

Skip this one if you don’t love very broad stimulation, if you need pressure, or if you want a quieter toy.

Thank you to Hot Octopuss for sending me the Queen Bee oscillating vibrator in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.