When my friends over at Va-Va-Voom contacted me about testing the Nexus iSTIM I was elated since electro-stimulation is so, well, stimulating. The thought of shocking people brings-out the sadist in me faster than you can say “electron flow”. So Va-Va-Voom sent me the Nexus iSTIM kit, the Nexus Glide plug/prostate massager, the Nexus iSTIM Attachments for use with the Glide (and other plugs and toys) and the Nexus C-Ring cock ring.

For those unfamiliar with the Nexus iSTIM, it is a TENS unit, a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator which stimulates the nerves with electrical impulses. The iSTIM is more to the point an erotic electro-stimulation device, also known as e-stim or electrosex. TENS units are non-invasive, safe nerve stimulation devices.

Not really Scribonius Largus because they didn't have cameras in 63 CE, but we'll pretend for this article, okay?

Using electrical current for pleasure (more to the point the reduction of pain) goes back to 63 CE and my ancient uncle and court physician to the Roman emperor Claudius, Scribonius Largus (not intended to be a factual statement since I couldn’t find anything on Ancestry.com). Uncle Scribonius discovered that pain relief, and thus pleasure, could be had by standing on an electrical fish at the seashore.

The first recorded uses of electric stimulation devices being used for sexual stimulation and pleasure occur in the 1740′s and by the late 1800′s electric current belts were being advertised as cures for impotence. In the 1920′s the American Medical Association investigated electrical stimulation devices and concluded that they were “more or less mechanical masturbation” (Author’s note: Sounds like a good thing to me). Modern electro-stimulation devices became more mainstream by the 1950′s being advertised to stimulate and relax muscles to relieve back and other areas of pain (isn’t that how vibrators got  their start, also?).

By the 1970′s ingenious kinks were making their own electro-stimulation devices by playing music on a phonograph and applying bare speaker wires to their genitals and other body parts, producing electrical impulses with the music (Author’s note: Rumor had it that The Who was the favorite of 8 out of 10 kinky hippies). More sophisticated kinksters (those that went to vocational schools) were making machines with copper plumbing parts and other metal bits and pieces, while using resistors to control the current being applied to the skin. With portable medical TENS units becoming available by the mid to late 1970′s, using electricity for erotic electrical stimulation became a much easier and more precise form of kink play.

On to the Nexus iSTIM itself.

Nexus iSTIM Base Kit

The case the Nexus iSTIM comes in is fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sex-oriented device packaged in such an uptown way. The hard plastic case has slide-locks to keep it closed and can withstand the weight of H2 Hummer (also not intended as a factual statement since I didn’t have access to a Hummer to test this theory). The base kit includes the iSTIM unit, a 9-volt battery, sticky electro-pads, leads and a snap connector that attaches the red lead to the Nexus C-Ring cock ring. From there, you can buy any number of attachments, plugs and dildos to use your Nexus iSTIM with. As mentioned, Va-Va-Voom sent me the Nexus Glide butt plug and Nexus C-Ring cock ring.

Nexus iSTIM Impluse Intensity Controls

The instructions have a very good overview of all the different functions of the iSTIM, such as how adjusting intensity (“bite” of the impulse), frequency (the length of time between impulses) and width (controls the size of the area that you feel the impulse) of the electrical pulses. The iSTIM has six pre-loaded stimulation programs as well as a full manual mode. Intensity and frequency of the electrical impulses can be fine-tuned with the preset programs also. The instructions are very good in this respect. But, the instructions are lacking respect to the actual use of the unit and it’s accessories. Rummaging around online I discovered that I was not the only one who thought so, either. But, with a basic knowledge of electricity it was not difficult to figure-out.

Nexus iSTIM Contacts Connected to Electrode Pads and Glide Prostate Stimulator

Always remember, all electrical connections need power and a ground. So two electrode pads or an electrode pad and the accessory will always be needed. For instance, if you are using the Glide butt plug you will need to attach the power lead (red) to the butt plug and the ground lead (black) to an electrode pad stuck to your butt cheek or thigh. When using the Nexus C-Ring cock ring the red lead goes to the cock ring and the black lead to an electrode pad attached to your thigh or pubic area.

My partner, Liquid Jade, and I started testing the iSTIM on her (of course because she’s a masochist and I’m a bit of a sadist). We first applied four pad as shown in the instructions on each of her inner thighs and began by letting the machine do it’s thing with the pre-installed programs and then messing around with the intensity and frequency of the electricity. Depending on the intensity the width, Liquid Jade compared the sensation ranging anywhere from a warm vibration to a feeling akin to being lightly tattooed in more sensitive areas (and she is heavily tattooed over much of her body). Although producing some pretty intense stimulation it wasn’t doing much for her arousal, so we moved the electrodes up to her pubic area, placing them on both sides and just above her clit. That did the trick and we were now on our way toward orgasm.

Nexus iSTIM Adjustments for Mode, Time, Impulse Width and Impulse Rate

We messed around with the settings until we found the frequency, intensity (about 6 on the dial) and width settings that was moving her closer to orgasm, but after quite a while it just didn’t happen (author’s note: Liquid Jade is not a woman who cums on card tricks and it takes a while to bring her to orgasm in any situation). So out came the Hitachi Magic Wand.

The Hitachi directly on her clit working with the electrical impluses from the Nexus iSTIM produced a mind-blowing orgasm within minutes. The sensations of the rythmic pulsing of the iSTIM combined with the direct clitoral stimulation gave her an orgasm unlike one she’d experienced up to this point. Was it better than other orgasms? Not necessarily. As she put it: It was different and awesome in it’s own way. It was not at all like orgasms from other toys or methods. An orgasm she wants to experience over an over again. The Nexus iSTIM definitely added intensity as well as a new dimension to my Liquid Jade’s orgasms. The trick is finding which combination of intensity, rate and width really do it for you. I’m sure there is one or more that will work for Liquid Jade, but it will take more time to find it, and getting there is half the fun, right?

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our review where we try the Nexus C-Ring cock ring and the Nexus Glide butt plug/prostate stimulator.

KinkLabs wrist and ankle cuffs

As part of March being BDSM Month at Va Va Voom the good the good folks over there sent me a set of KinkLab wrist and ankle Bondage Basics cuffs and a riding crop to try-out.

They arrived from Va Va Voom via UPS and boxed very discretely.  Even my kids had no idea, and they’re really nosy when it comes to things that come in packages.

KinkLab cuffs are available in red or black and are made of a nice, heavy leather.  Both the wrist and ankle cuffs are 2″ thick , the wrist cuffs adjusting to fit wrists from 6.5″ to 9.5″ in circumference and the ankle cuffs fit ankles from 7.5″ to 12″ in circumference (Kinklab’s website says different, but I measured the adjustment range myself).  The cuffs enclose around the wrist or ankle with a small U-like loops riveted firmly to the cuffs that push through one of many slits cut in the cuff to adjust for the size of the wrist or ankle.  A strap of

Cuff with 5mm snap ring

leather then pulls through the exposed metal loop to keep the cuff from sliding off the loop and coming apart.  A quick and attractive way to keep the cuff closed.  A small lock can also be used for more secure keeping of your subject if need be.

The attachment loops are small, though, and require a trigger snap or something of similar small size to clip the cuffs to any spreader bars or other anchor points.   I found a 5mm carabiner did the trick well as well.

The cuffs were quick and easy to get on my partner and with the snap-rings were easy to connect to a spreader bar.  They stayed put throughout our play, even when she struggled the hardest.

Although KinkLabs offers cuffs with larger D-rings than these, they are in nylon, which while a great anchor and quick and easy to put on and take off, in my opinion nothing replaces the feel, smell and look of leather. The KinkLab leather cuffs are available in black or red.

24" riding crop

The riding crop is the 24″ Deluxe Riding Crop, which has the two-piece “slapper” paddle end to it.  Although the slapper doesn’t do much more for sensation, the extra sound it makes is great for psychological effect on the one being paddled, and attracts onlookers at parties or scenes.

First off, a little test on myself.  After a few hits against my own ass and thighs I found it stings pretty well at first, but leaves the most delicious after-effect and sensations.  Really, really nice.

The crop is well balanced and the leather paddle end is firm, so I recommend a couple of soft warm-up slaps before hitting too hard with it.  It does sting a lot if hit to hard, too soon.  You may be more the sadist and go straight to the hard stuff, but the warm-up is half the fun right?  The spanker gets the fiendish excitement of drawing-out the inevitable and the spankee waits longer for it.  It’s all in good, naughty fun.

Okay, on to my friend’s ass.  After a proper warm-up this little crop did some big-time redness and welting in the most delicious of ways.  Her ass was truly a sight to behold and almost made me sad to move on to a broader paddle.  It was a really fun little instrument of evil.  I’ll be using this a lot more.

To make it even more interesting, add an adjustable spreader bar to the cuffs and riding crop and you have a night of D/s fun at your disposal.

For these and other playtime needs, be sure to visit my friends over at Va Va Voom.  They have a great selection of toys and lubes at great prices and are quick to ship. Just click on the link to the right.

It all started with a tweet. A tweet about boy butter. Now, my first thought was boy butter was just like man chowder, but I was quickly set straight by several of my Twitter followers that informed me that boy butter is indeed Boy Butter, the personal lubricant. Then, the good folks at Va Va Voom offered me a tub of it to test and give my opinion on. Now being a huge anal sex fan I was more than happy to oblige.

When I received the sample Boy Butter from Va Va Voom I was immediately smitten with the packaging: it looks just like a tub of your favorite margarine. The packaging alone had me and I couldn’t wait to try it out. But first, some Internet research on Boy Butter’s website. I had to make sure what I was smearing on my member was member-worthy.

I discovered not only the history of Boy Butter from it’s humble origins in 2002, but that the original Boy Butter with which I was provided, is made from simple ingredients and is mostly natural: coconut oil, organic silicone (as used in hair detanglers) and a couple other ingredients to give it it’s creaminess. It’s all whipped together and is much like whipped margarine.

Because Original Boy Butter does have coconut oil in it, it isn’t safe for use with latex condoms, so only use the Original formula with someone you are fluid-bonded with and know for sure is safe and clean. Boy Butter has also come-out with Boy Butter H2O: You’ll Never Know It’s Not Boy Butter, which is reported to be the first cream lubricant that is both water-based and condom safe. Get some of that also for those adventuresome times when you’re getting some strange.

Personally I like lubes, for stimulation that is either too dry or too vigorous without lubricant will leave me very sore the next day. So a good lube is usually part of my regular play with partners, anyway.

First-up was a solo test because, well… I wanted to try it right now, and there wasn’t any available partners to be had at that moment. However, at first getting into the tub was a bit confusing for a horny guy like me since with every margarine tub I’ve ever opened the lid pulls-off. Not so with Boy Butter, it looks like a margarine tub, but the top screws-off (mental Post-IT Note: remember this in the heat of the moment, too). Well, I got it to pull-off anyway. Silly me. I’d never used cream lubricants before, and with the first dip of my fingers I immediately liked the feel. Smeared all over my cock was even better. The slickness of Boy Butter is fantastic and I had quite a good time with myself.

Next-up was getting a hand job by a willing assistant. Worked fantastic with someone else controlling the action too. By now I was sold on cream lubricants in general and Boy Butter in particular.

Now to find a willing partner to A) let me test it on her, and B) let me write about it for the whole world to see. A few phone calls to some girlfriends later and I was in business. My lady friend was not an anal virgin, however had never really enjoyed anal with anyone she’d had it with, so it was a bit of a stretch for her to say “yes”, but I think she was more saying “yes” to being with me, regardless of the events. So it was a date.

Because of bad past experiences we took things even extra slowly, lubing-up her ass with a good glob of Boy Butter and not attempting to insert my penis until she was comfortable with having two fingers in her ass. Amazingly, with Boy Butter is was only minutes before I had three fingers in her and she was thoroughly enjoying it. So we went for it, lubing-up my cock with some more Boy Butter and with just a little pressure and a slight sigh from her lips, I was in, slowly stroking back and forth and she was in no discomfort whatsoever. Here I discovered another nice quality of Boy Butter: besides being very slick, Boy Butter doesn’t dry-up quickly like other lubricants, making for more comfortable sex and little chance of having a break in the action to add more lube.

And then it happened… she came. Yes, the woman who at first was very timid and unsure about anal, came. She was as surprised as I was, and downright giddy. After a short rest we went at it a second time and when all was said and done, we both had an incredible time.

After we cleaned-up we laid there and talked about how she like anal sex and most importantly the Boy Butter lubricant. She said she had an incredible time and that the Boy Butter cream lubricant was so slick that there was very virtually no discomfort and most importantly to me, she wants to add anal as a regular part of our playtime now. Lucky me.

Which brings me to another fantastic thing about Boy Butter: clean-up. Unlike many other lubes I’ve tried, Boy Butter washes off of both skin and fabric with water alone, which makes cleaning-up after sex not only a breeze, but you don’t have to worry about staining those fancy sheets you put on the bed to impress your lover. And to make things even better, Boy Butter is priced better than most other lubricants, which is a consideration if you want to get laid in today’s economic climate and not go broke doing it.

I highly recommend Boy Butter to both anal veterans and anal virgins alike. Especially to anal virgins. You’re first time could make or break it forever more, so make it a good experience the first time.

To get some of your own, visit my friends over at Va Va Voom. They’ll take good care of you.