The Icicles No. 27 is a large and heavily textured glass butt plug designed for anal use by experienced players. Beginners to anal penetration should steer clear. It's also possible to use the Icicles No. 27 vaginally, but the shape makes it less than ideal for that situation.

Due to the firmness of glass, it's always advisable to use a little extra caution with a glass toy, as an overly enthusiastic thrust could result in discomfort, or even bruising. All anal toys require two things for safe use -- a flared base, which this toy does feature, and adequate lubrication. As the anus and rectum do not produce lubrication of their own, like the vagina, it's very important to use a lubricant that will last throughout the play session.

Glass is firm, and this particular glass is strongly textured, making it best suited to experienced users. Beginners to anal play should start with something smooth, preferably in a softer material such as silicone, and certainly of a smaller size than this plug. Even more advanced users will likely require warmup with this toy, a fact that more experienced users are likely to already guess, but it bears saying -- this plug is on the larger side, and the texture is pronounced.

Since it's non-porous and free of dangerous chemicals like phthalates, as well as potential allergens such as latex, glass is a fantastic choice for sex toys. It's tasteless, odorless, and easy to keep clean.

The Icicles No. 27 is definitely on the large side, measuring barely shy of six inches in circumference, and that fact is made even more apparent by the pronounced texture. It's therefore unsuitable for beginners.

The Icicles No. 27 is also moderately discreet. It's not particularly phallic, and those unfamiliar with sex toys might not recognize it as such. Since it's big and textured, and not quite traditional in appearance, even some more worldly folks might think it just happens to slightly resemble a sex toy, blaming their own dirty minds on the thought.

When traveling with sex toys, be sure to wrap them first in something see-through, like a sandwich bag or plastic wrap, before hiding them within more discreet containers. If TSA sees something suspicious on an x-ray, and it's tucked into one of your socks like it's trying to hide, they will open the luggage. You'll want to keep their grubby stranger hands off of your intimate goodies. Plastic will let them see that this is a sex toy, rather than a bomb, without handling the toy directly. If that scenario troubles you, then you might think twice about traveling with a large glass butt plug that resembles a grenade.

It takes quite a bit of warmup to successfully use the Icicles No. 27, at which point the extreme texture comes into play. Even the slightest movement produces strong sensations. Those who don't enjoy texture would be wise to avoid this toy entirely. The same is true of anyone who has second thoughts about the size -- if you have concerns, follow your instincts. Between the hard material and the extreme texture, every millimeter of this thing counts. Whether that's a plus or a minus will depend on the user.

On the definite plus side, once inserted, it stays put.

As for vaginal use, the shape is awkward at best. There are definitely better toys for that purpose.

Glass can be washed in hot, soapy, water, or with toy cleaner. It can also be wiped down with a toy wipe or baby wipe prior to use, to be sure that it is lint free. For sterilization, glass can be run through the dishwasher -- top shelf, no detergent; or boiled, with a tea towel in the bottom of the pot to protect it from scratches; or rinsed in a ten percent bleach solution. It can also be wiped down with rubbing alcohol. Just be sure to thoroughly rinse away any chemicals before introducing the glass to your nether regions.

For storage, the Icicles No. 27 should be wrapped well enough to prevent it clanking against other glass toys, as the textured portion is particularly susceptible to chips. Either use a padded pouch, or wrap it in a towel, or even some clothing.

Glass is compatible with all lubricants.

All of the Icicles come in attractive, secure packaging, featuring a picture of the toy on all sides, and a flap which opens to reveal the toy itself, which is safely nestled in styrofoam.

This toy was just plain too big for me. It measures a quarter of an inch larger than the product specs claim, which leads me to believe the circumference was measured without counting the texture, which is significant. So while the toy is good quality, that small issue has left me unimpressed.

I suspect this toy will live at the bottom of my toy trunk for the rest of its life, or until such time as I have a partner who is more adventurous than myself.