When it comes to body-safe pleasure products at affordable prices, Blush toys are hard to beat. Let’s look at the most recent one I received to try: the Ruse Jammy, a realistic dildo with a large girth size.
Blush Toys Ruse Jammy: Large Girth Realistic Dildo
Image: Blush Toys
The Ruse Jammy is a dildo for those who like their toys girthy. This toy measures 7.5″ in length and 2″ in diameter.
The Ruse Jammy has a realistic veiny shaft, a subtle natural curve, a pronounced coronal ridge and head, and lifelike skin texturing. The level of detail is impressive for a toy at this price-point. It is made of 100% silicone, available in purple or black. The base is a suction cup, making it suitable for anal play, strap-on sex, or hands-free pleasure.
Blush Ruse Jammy In Use
There’s a lot to like about this Blush toy. The silicone is soft, velvety and not too matte, with a nice glide especially when you add a little lube. The curve is just about perfect, and the shaft is fairly dense while still retaining some flexibility. Its pronounced head stimulates the opening of the vagina or anus on insertion, which some people find pleasurable.
I have to be honest: I’m not a “size queen” (someone who prefers very large penises or toys.) A challenge can be fun occasionally, but most of the time small to medium is more than enough for me when it comes to penetrative pleasure. I also find anything touching my cervix intensely painful.
The Ruse Jammy by Blush isn’t exactly an ultra-giant toy, but it’s on the edge of being too much for me. I find that I get the most out of it when I use just the first two or three inches of the shaft, rather than trying to insert the whole thing.
Blush Toys Ruse Jammy: Verdict
If you’re looking for an affordable yet body-safe girthy dildo, the Ruse Jammy is a great choice. Considering that some toys this size run to £100 or more, the under-$50/£38 (at the time of writing) price-tag makes this one a budget-friendly alternative.
Sex toy kits are a fantastic idea in theory, but usually significantly less amazing in practice. Too often, they’re little more than a collection of cheap and poor-quality products shoved together in a pretty box and sold for a premium price. I’ll nearly always tell my readers to forego a kit and spend a bit more on just one or two quality items. However, I try to keep an open mind, which is why I agreed to review the Take Control Bondage Kit for beginners from Lovehoney.
Take Control: A Beginners’ Bondage Kit by Lovehoney
It’s been a very long time since I was new to BDSM. I’ve been doing kinky shit for well over a decade and have accrued a sizeable collection of toys, from basic staples to custom collars, premium impact toys, and more. So a beginner kit is not something I would ever buy for myself.
Therefore, I am trying to step back in time ten years or so in my mind, and view this BDSM starter kit through the eyes of someone who is just starting out, collecting their first beginner BDSM toys, or maybe wondering if they’re even kinky.
Lovehoney Take Control Bondage Kit: First Impressions
The Take Control Bondage Kit comes in one simple box, with all the products clearly displayed on the front so you know exactly what to expect. The packaging is brightly coloured and fun, reducing the intimidation factor for nervous new kinksters.
There’s a LOT of information on the box, too. I appreciate that Lovehoney has provided a brief description on how to use each item as well as some basic information on safety and consent. The box reminds players to use safewords, never leave a bound person alone, and have a non-verbal safe signal if someone is gagged. It’s pretty 101-level stuff, but that’s also what a complete newcomer to kink is likely to need. Top marks for that.
I wasn’t delighted with the way the box was packed. Everything was just sort of piled in, each item wrapped in a cellophane wrapper. It’s a lot of unnecessary single-use plastic.
There is no real leather in this kit, making it vegan-friendly.
What’s in the Lovehoney Take Control Bondage Kit?
With that said, I think this is overall a decent beginners’ bondage kit. Many BDSM starter kits and sex toy kits generally are filled with things that aren’t even safe, let alone of good quality.
Let’s take a look at what’s inside, shall we? Just for fun, I’ve included a fun tip or an idea to try with each item in the Take Control kit. As always, pick the ones that resonate for you, leave the rest, and add your own ideas as you explore.
1: Blindfold
This blindfold is super comfy. It’s also thick and padded, meaning I couldn’t see a thing when it was on. The band is stretchy, too, so it should fit most people comfortably.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Blindfold your partner and stroke different items across their body – a silk scarf, a piece of velvet, the tails of your flogger – and have them guess what each item is.
2. Nipple suckers
I really liked these little suckers! They’re a great gentle introduction to nipple play, and perfect if you want some sensation but without the pain of nipple clamps or clothes pegs. They work for all chest sizes, from flat chests to large breasts, and most nipple sizes. If you flick or hit them too hard, they will fly off, but they can withstand some gentle manipulation.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Tell your partner to fetch you something from another room with these on. They’ll have to move carefully, though – they’ll be spanked if one falls off!
3. Ball gag
Full disclosure: I hate ball gags. I fucking hate them. They make my jaw hurt, they make me drool, and I can’t kiss my partner when I’m wearing one. They’re basically a soft limit at this point. With that said, this is a fine ball-gag if you do like them. The holes make it breathable, and silicone is a non-porous and hygienic material. I also like how adjustable this gag is. With 9 buckle holes, it will fit most people comfortably.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Make your submissive try to repeat words back to you while gagged.
4. Flogger
This is a stingy little fucker! Don’t let the small size fool you, this flogger can pack a wallop. The falls are made of thin rubber, which delivers a vicious sting when you put some force behind it. If pain isn’t your thing, you can drag it sensually across the skin for a gentle tickle. I would have liked the handle to have a bit more width and weight to it.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Try gently flogging the vulva or penis if your partner is up for it. Remember to clean your flogger thoroughly afterwards to remove any bodily fluids.
5. Wrist and ankle cuffs
These were the weakest part of the Take Control kit by far, for me. They’re quite thin and made of nylon, with no padding, which means they chafe if you put any pressure on them. They’re fine for exploring the feeling of being restrained, but if you want to pull against them at all I recommend getting some quality BDSM cuffs.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Restrain your partner then make them watch you masturbate in front of them.
6. Under-bed restraints
These are great, except for the tiny detail that they don’t fit my bed! We have a Super King bed and these restraints fit up to King Size. So they’ll be fine for the vast majority of people, but if you have a ridiculously giant bed like us, they may not fit.
These restraints are strong, durable, and easy to both set up and tuck out of sight when you’re done, if you want to. The little clips mean you can easily add any set of cuffs to them.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: when your partner is restrained, run a cube of ice along their body or drip low-temperature candle wax onto their skin.
7. Silicone suction cup dildo
Wow, a body-safe dildo in a BDSM kit! This shouldn’t be a pleasant surprise, and yet it is. This dildo measures 6″ in length and has a diameter of 1.5″. The slight curve is ideal for targeting the G-spot or prostate, and the silicone is super soft and silky. The suction cup and hollow space for a bullet vibrator are great additions.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Tease your lover’s entrance with the dildo until they beg to have it inside them.
8. Strap-on harness
This is the same harness that Lovehoney sells as part of their basic strap-on sex/pegging kit a few years ago. It’s comfortable and the rings are interchangeable so you can use it with any dildo with a flared base. However, it’s a pretty basic harness and you’ll want to upgrade to a higher-quality harness if you find you enjoy strap-on play.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: If you have a vulva, insert a wearable vibrator before you put on your harness. This will stimulate you while you penetrate your partner.
9. Wired bullet vibrator
I was fully expecting this bullet vibrator to be awful. While it’s far from the strongest bullet vibrator in the world and it is a little buzzy, it’s not a bad basic bullet for the size and price. It has several patterns as well as steady vibration speeds.
I don’t love that it’s wired rather than cordless, but the wire is long enough for one partner to control the remote while the other holds the vibrator against their genitals. The bullet takes 2x AAA batteries, which are not included.
Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Switch it off just when your lover is on the edge of orgasm and make them beg for release.
Lovehoney Take Control Beginners’ Bondage Kit: Verdict
On the whole, the Take Control Bondage Kit is a very solid basic beginners’ set for the price. If you’re brand new to exploring your kinks, you get a lot of bang for your buck here.
Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me this kit in exchange for an honest review. If you choose to purchase this or anything else from Lovehoney, please buy through my affiliate links – it supports the blog at no extra cost to you!
As someone who is both very queer and loves bright colours, Pride Month is kind of a dream. Not only is it tremendously affirming to see celebrations of queer people and who we are, but there are rainbows on basically everything. Fuck rainbow capitalism from corporations that couldn’t give a damn about us the rest of the year, of course, but if a brand I already like and trust releases something in a pride colourway I’ll at least be a little bit tempted. Like this flexible, silicone rainbow dildo from Blush Novelties, the Avant Pride P1.
The Avant Pride P1 rainbow dildo is a fairly petite little thing. It measures 6″ in total length and 5.25″ insertable length, with a diameter of 1.4″ at widest point. It has a distinctly curved shape, a bulbous head, a flexible and bendy shaft, and a suction cup base. Made of body-safe silicone, the P1 sports the six colours of the classic rainbow LGBTQ+ pride flag.
Avant Pride P1 Dildo In Use: Slimline and Flexible
First, the good. I very much like the shape of the Avant Pride P1 rainbow dildo. The bulbous head is great for stimulating the G-spot, while the slimline shaft makes it comfortable to insert and the slightly wider bottom stimulates the vaginal opening. It’s also anal-safe, if that’s your thing, and imagine it would work similarly for the prostate and the anal opening.
Overall, though, this dildo is a little too flexible for my preferences. When I try to thrust with it, the ultra-bendy shaft means it’s likely to end up hitting the wrong spot or popping out of me entirely. It also means I need to use a lot of lube to even get it in at all.
At first glance, I thought this dildo would be perfect for strap-on sex. However, in reality, that’s really not the case. Though the wide base (sans balls) makes it harness-compatible and the slim shaft could be ideal for beginners or anyone who prefers less girthy insertables, the bendiness makes it far from an ideal dildo for either vaginal or anal strap-on sex.
P1 Rainbow Dildo: Verdict
Though I love the aesthetic, functionally this is a dildo that’s just okay. Where it excels is as a warm-up toy, or as a toy to insert and then leave in while other things are happening (such as clitoral play.) If you like very soft and flexible dildos it might suit you perfectly, but give this one a miss for either strap-on sex or harder thrusting.
Update 2022: the Lifelike Lover 8″ dildo in silicone is still available, but this particular colourway is not. Otherwise, the toy remains identical.
Readers often ask me to recommend good quality and body-safe lifelike dildos at affordable prices. There are many wonderful realistic silicone dildos on the market, but premium brands tend to be expensive. Vixen Creations are pretty unbeatable, but not everyone can afford to drop £100+ on a toy.
That’s why Lovehoney created Lifelike Lover, a range of realistic toys at affordable prices. There are a few different products in this line, some of which are made from body-safe silicone, others of which are unfortunately made of porous and potentially toxic materials such as soft plastic and PVC. Always double-check to ensure you’re buying the silicone versions.
This Lifelike Lover silicone dildo measures 8″ long from base to tip, with an insertable length of 7″ and a diameter of 1.59″ at the widest point.
The Lifelike Lover design really is very, well, lifelike! It has a natural curve, a pronounced head, realistic veins all down the shaft, textured balls, and even a meatus (don’t you love that word?) It also has a suction cup base.
What I Like About This Dildo
The Lifelike Lover dildo is slightly curved, which is ideal for G-spot stimulation. The silicone is soft and pliable, meaning you can angle it just right for your body’s preferences, but still firm and dense enough to provide plenty of internal pressure.
It’s worth noting that this toy is single-density silicone, meaning you won’t get the realistic “movement” that you can get from a dual-density or triple-density toy. That’s the trade-off for the affordable price.
Its suction cup base makes it ideal for hands-free use as well as making it anal-safe. The suction cup is seriously strong; affix the toy to a firm surface and it won’t move until you want it to. The Lifelike Lover dildo is also technically strap-on harness-compatible, though I find toys with balls much less ideal for this purpose as the balls tend to get in the way.
Lifelike Lover Dildo Review: Verdict
The 8″ Lifelike Lover in silicone retails for £39.99 UK/$54.99 US. If you’re looking for a quality realistic dildo that won’t break the bank, you can’t go far wrong with this toy.
Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me this product to review. All views are mine. Affiliate links appear in this post.
