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Review: Tenga 3D Spiral

When I first started reviewing I told my partner that I’d keep an eye out for toys that he might enjoy. We share some things, plugs and clamps, floggers and cuffs. If I can ever get a decent harness (my grumpy review of my current one is coming) we’ll venture further into the world of pegging. But for all the toys that I get to enjoy, I wanted to get something just for him. So when I was offered the Tenga 3D Spiral for review I was ALL OVER IT.

First, some specs: The Spiral, like all other Tenga 3D textures, is made entirely from body safe TPE (care info). It is porous and cannot be sterilized, but can be used with silicone or water based lube (I’d suggest water, because it’s easier to clean). It comes with a stand for storage and drying after cleaning, this will also keep is from getting dusty or dirty. The toy can be seen through the plastic, and despite the fact that most people won’t have a clue what it is, it isn’t particularly discreet. It does, however, remind me of a DNA Helix, which is pretty badass. The sleeve is said to stretch from 1/3″ to 3″ in diameter and from 5″ to 9″ long. I believe that it will easily accommodate most men, it easily fit on both my partner, and a larger dildo I tried it on. If you are extra long, it just may not go all the way to the base of your cock, but the part that is in would still get the benefits of the design.

The Spiral is one of five textures, and is one of the more mild ones. It has very small ridges in a tight pattern running all through the inside. The TPE is VERY soft, when it first arrived I kept poking, squishing and petting it… it feels NICE. To use, you remove the cover from the stand, and then take the sleeve off it’s post. It arrives with the texture side out, so you should flip it inside out and add some lube. In the bottom of the stand there is a compartment that comes with a decent set of instructions and a small packet of lube (which, sadly, contains parabens). Once the sleeve is lubed, it is ready for use.

He and I had neither one ever experienced a masturbation sleeve (I hope to one day procure a legendary Fleshlight for him), so this was all new to us and we were going based on what we’d read and heard from other people. I kept seeing how important it is to use enough lube, so we dumped the contents of the whole packet into the sleeve. I immediately stuck my fingers in it to see how it felt, and let me tell you, it was awesome. Now, I’m not going to say it “felt just like the real thing” because, no, nothing really does. But I did say, out loud, “it feels real, like a vagina.” Had it been warm (and they do sell a warmer) I think it would have been even more convincing. The reason I thought it felt somewhat realistic is due to the tiny ridges, they give it a subtle but noticeable texture, not unlike a vagina. However, what it feels like to my fingers is unimportant, what we need to know is how it feels to a penis. What happened that night may well be the stuff of legend for the him and I.

I slid the sleeve down over his cock, he shivered and twitched, he’s super sensitive. I asked if it felt good, and he said yes, but that it was weird. I began working the sleeve up and down, applying pressure and just watching him to gauge his reaction, and it was good. I kept checking to make sure he wasn’t in pain, apparently it was overwhelming enough that I couldn’t read his body language. Suffice to say, he was enjoying himself.

But eventually my arm was getting way tired, and he took over, but he still couldn’t reach orgasm. Despite how good it felt, and despite how hard we tried, it just wasn’t happening. He stood up, and every time I thought he was about to cum, he didn’t. He came around the other side of the bed, I suggested that he stop using it and try fucking me to finish off. Again and again he came close to finishing in the Tenga, but couldn’t. Giving up on the sleeve, he started on me instead. One position after another, one orgasm after the next… for me. Still, he couldn’t reach orgasm. This is a first for him. Usually I’m the one who can go all night, while he makes up for his occasional lack of stamina with enthusiasm and ability to come back for subsequent rounds.

By the end of the session we’d gone through more positions than I think we’ve ever used, certainly the most we’ve tried in one evening. There was moaning, squirting and convulsing on my part. He finally wore himself out, and never was able to orgasm. The joke became that this toy was the best thing that ever happened… to me.

That week, I left him with instructions to continue trying the toy. I wanted him to try with less lube, different techniques, etc. I was determined for him to find a way to make the 3D work for him. Checking in, he’d still not reached orgasm using the sleeve. While it felt great, he couldn’t get there. I was disappointed. He said he’d used it in the shower, so I suggested again that he try it in bed, with less lube.

One evening I received a text message “Guess who came in the Tenga.” ‘Lo and behold, using less lube helped! Turns out, he needed a bit more friction for it to get him over the hump.

So what is the final verdict? It’s pretty easy to clean and care for, easy to store in it’s stand/cover. It feels great and he’s actually continued using it past the testing period. Success! It won’t replace other favored methods of masturbation, but it does offer an excellent break from the routine. When I ask what it feels like: “mini waves/ripples, feels like a vagina.” So there you have it. It also offers some suction, thanks to the closed end, but you will have to “burp” it (as he says) and work the air out at insertion.

After figuring out how to make the 3D work for him, I can’t wait for him to try other Tenga products. I’ve got my eye on the Eggs or Flip. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced sleeve, with multiple texture options, the Tenga 3D might be a good choice for you!