Good day my lovely deviants, and welcome yet again to Jack’s Sack, our toy review series. Miss the last entry? You can catch it here. Today, we’re going to be talking about price points and why it’s always worth it to go a little extra.
Deep Pockets, Deeper Holes
You know, we’re in a golden age of sex toys.
The market is enormous. Every taste, sexuality and need is usually accommodated for. While the market is still dominated largely by hetronormative concepts of sex (meaning penetration), the simple wealth of options available means everyone at some point can likely find something to get them off. If you can’t find it through a major retailer, there’s always smaller shops crafting works every single day.
Yet the one constant I run into constantly when recommending toys to people remains: Good toys cost a grip. While lower cost options exist, their overall durability, longevity and simple ability to meet the needs of users greatly varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Not to mention their environmental impact as they eventually wear out.
The $30 you spend getting a Tracy’s Dog knock off flesh light doesn’t always translate into that same value with a Doc Johnson stroker. It makes consumers second guess themselves before hitting “buy”, especially if it’s with a brand they’ve no experience with before. In doing so, it begs the question of how good a premium priced toy really can be if you can acquire something similar for much cheaper.
I am an enormous advocate for thrift-spending. The very laptop I’m typing this upon right now was pulled from the garbage. Parts were donated. All of the furniture in my house is second hand, my TV came from a pawn shop. Yet in the years I’ve started this series and in all the endless thrusting I’ve done, I’ve came to accept that sometimes you have to spend a little bit more in order to get something that’s going to last, fill your needs and be a source of personal enjoyment.
And smart people never buy sex toys pre-owned.
As such, today I’m going to be reviewing a much more expensive stroker than I normally do. The Tenga Flip Orb clocks in at just under $80 US after shipping and is the latest offering from industry giant Tenga, who themselves offer diverse lines to fit every wallet. The Flip Orb is one of the most expensive toys I’ve received to review, and every single part of my experience with it reflects that.
Research and Developement Costs Get Passed On
The thing a lot of consumers don’t realize with premium priced toys is that often the cost isn’t the raw materials themselves, but the research and design work that went into creating your toy. That giant werewolf knot you enjoy? Somebody had to sit down and create every curve in AutoCad for the mold. Body safe silicone and medical grade rubber had to be sourced. Test units had to be created (and perhaps practiced with). Time and effort went into designing every aspect of your toy, and with premium units, it shows.
The Tenga Flip Orb is such an example. Crafted with a soft plastic shell, it splits down the middle to reveal an intense interior. It’s lined with nodules that can have pressure applied from the user on the outside, and seals with a clip that serves as both it’s drying stand and stabilizer (it keeps both halves wound tight on your girth) when in use. This makes the flip easy to use, easy to clean and what’s more-an absolute joy to fuck.
The interior sleeve is composed of the same medical grade rubber that should feel familiar if you’ve ever used a Tenga product before. However, the difference here is within the interlocking contours, which seamlessly fit together until your cock parts them. By virtue of interlocking with either side, what you get is one of the more rushing experiences you’ve had with a toy. Make no mistake, this tenga is going to milk you without pause.
I’d know.
I actually filmed myself using the Flip Orb for the first time over on my Fansly page. Normally when I film, I wait until the second time I’ve used a toy so I’m properly ready to perform for my audience. This time I figured it would be much more exciting if they got to see my completely natural reaction to the toy. During filming, I actually got so entranced by the interior sleeve that I began vigorously fucking. I bucked so hard the clip which held the unit together went flying off, only to be found later when I wasn’t panting as hard.
The toy is incredibly well made and a joy to use-but that clip, that’s my one complaint. Tenga’s split toys all have alternating means of keeping the unit together in use. Some operate on a rail-stand system, the flip opted for the clip. As someone who fucks very hard sometimes, I’m still awaiting a method that can take the force of my thrusts. In the mean time, simply gripping the toy tightly (which you’re likely intuitively doing anyways) will work fine. I believe part of the issue was the head of my cock was pushing towards the back, knocking against that artificial end and seeking to go deeper. As such, larger sized consumers may take issue with this as well.
Final Thoughts
Overall, was it worth it?
For me, absolutely. The Tenga Flip is a step in the right direction for strokers, making cleaning up even easier than before without sacrificing quality or feeling. While it’s not as discrete as others and the clip is still something Tenga needs to work on, this is a product well worth the sticker price. Just ignore those reviews on Amazon-I have no idea what’s going on there, but I received a genuine product sealed from the factory in the mail.
However if the $75-80 dollar price tag makes you choke, I actually recommend any number of the more wallet-appropriate options from tenga as well. I’ve been thoroughly pleased with everything from them, and they’re one of the few companies with options truly in a range all can enjoy.
Take care.
-j