What we used: Beginners Basic Anal Beads (purple)
From: Lovehoney
Price: £6.99
Material(s): PVC
If you’re new to anal play, this review may be for you. Lizzie and Thomas roadtest a set of anal beads from Lovehoney’s Beginners Basic range.
First thoughts …
Lizzie
Anal toys. There are so many to choose from. Plugs, beads, dildos, hooks – from the small and slender to the eye-wateringly enormous, the choice can be both overwhelming and daunting. Although Thomas and I have played with butt plugs and anal dildos in the past, we’ve never owned a set of anal beads. These were unchartered territory. We’d heard lots of good things about them, though – in particular the effects they have when extracted at the point of orgasm. So this little sex toy road-trip was quite exciting for us – and a product orientated towards first-time users seemed a logical place to kick off our adventure.
Thomas
I’d never used anal beads before but I had heard many a story of their effectiveness when extracted during an orgasm. Since these anal beads are quite a small toy (in butt terms) I was interested to see if their performance would equal their reputation.
The packaging …
Lizzie
Really simple. The beads come in a disposable Lovehoney Beginners Basic-branded blister pack. (After removing our set from their packaging, we washed and sterilised them before transferring them to a clean snap-lock bag, ready for use.)
How they look …
Lizzie
The beads are a really attractive purple – think the lovely rich hue you see on red grapes. This particular set of anal beads is constructed from latex- and phthalate-free PVC, so they’re body-safe as well as flexible. I have to say the do have a very faint plasticky-odour, which you don’t get from silicone toys, but it’s not over-powering (to smell it, you need to hold the beads up to your nose).
Interestingly, these beads have been designed in reverse, by which I mean that the largest bead (which has a tapered tip) is at the top and the sixth and smallest bead is at the bottom, near the extraction loop. Most strings of anal beads are designed the other way around, with the smallest bead leading the way.
Thomas
The look of the beads and of the toy in general is fairly innocuous. The beads are quite small compared so some I have seen. (On initial inspection, the ones at the base seemed very ‘economy sized’ and I wasn’t sure if they would have any effect at all when used.) The loop at the end is large and secure (you don’t want to lose your new friend) and the beads are nice and smooth and sturdily connected, which is also rather important: what goes in must come out again.
In action …
Lizzie
For various reasons that I won’t bore you with, I prefer anal toys to be on the smaller side. As this set of beads has a diameter of three inches (7.62 centimetres) and a diameter of one inch (2.54 centimetres), they fall well within my comfort zone. I did wonder whether having the bigger bead at the top would make them more difficult to insert but because the lead nodule has the aforementioned tapered tip, it didn’t create any issues for us. (Thomas used loads of lube and his fingers before attempting to insert the beads, so I was properly relaxed and warmed up by the time we got to the main event.)
The beads felt really, really nice as they went in as they created gentle and intermittent feelings of pressure. The sensation was very different to that created by a plug, which gives a feeling of constant stretching during insertion. I liked that I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sensation. The back-to-front design also made it easy for my body to hold the beads in place.
Thomas waited until I was actually climaxing before pulling the beads out and, unquestionably, the feeling of them being removed definitely enhanced my orgasm – although I must admit it did feel a little odd and unfamiliar the first time around. Not at all unpleasant – just unusual. I also liked that the most intense sensation came last, as the biggest bead was withdrawn.
Thomas
The beads are easy to insert, provided your partner has been suitably warmed up and lubed to within an inch of their life (always the golden rule of anal play). At around six inches long, they’re not hard to control – and they are flexible so shouldn’t present any problems going in or coming out. Once in place, they are easy to remove at the point of orgasm thanks to the large loop, which is very easy to hold on to. Just be gentle on removal unless you’re an anal veteran – more of an easy action than trying to start a lawnmower, etc.
These did have the desired effect on Lizzie when removed at the critical moment, and on the second or third removal (they are easy to reinsert once your partner’s acclimatised to them) she was really ‘getting in the mood’ as far as this toy was concerned. A case of familiarity breeds enjoyment, so to speak.
Any downsides?
Lizzie
Other than the vague PVC smell, no.
Thomas
Not sure the small beads do much. Make sure you buy some toy cleaner and keep them scrupulously clean.
The verdict?
Lizzie
An inexpensive set of anal beads that are perfect for those who are new to anal play or like their anal toys on the more modest side. There’s some ‘give’ in the PVC and the reverse design is excellent; having the biggest bead ‘first in and last out’ really makes this toy stand out.
Thomas
A nice little toy. Good for beginners and in no way threatening.
In summary
Things we liked:
- The price. Sub £10.00.
- The design. Placing the largest bead at the head of the toy really enhances sensations – particularly at the point of extraction.
- Ease of cleaning. Can be washed with anti-bacterial soap and coated with toy cleaner.
Things we weren’t so keen on:
- The smell. These aren’t entirely odour-free.
Tickle your fancy? Click here to buy this item from Lovehoney.
