The Ass Berry is best used as an appetizer in anal play. The vibrations are intense enough to be worth the while, and the toys is of the right size that it could be inserted by someone moderately experienced in anal play, with little to no warm-up. Being about the same diameter as my smallest dildo, I either went straight for the Ass Berry or warmed up with a couple fingers first.

Unfortunately, the base of the Ass Berry is not well-designed for anal play. The base, at its widest point, is actually slightly more narrow than the widest point of the bulb of the toy. Also, the base is not abrupt like most anal toys, instead it is gently tapered from the neck down. While it is still possible to enjoy the toy, I didn't feel confident enough in the base to let it out of my hands for long. While it wouldn't just slip in by itself unprovoked, sitting down on the toy could cause this to happen. Additionally, the base isn't quite large enough to hold onto while inserted, so I could easily see a partner accidentally losing it in his or her playmate's ass while handling it. For these reasons, I think the Ass Berry is best used as an external vibrator.

The Intramed material is interesting. The description page claims that Intramed is similar to silicone but is more easily recyclable. In terms of density, it is slightly more firm than the silicone used by Tantus and Vixen in their normal lines (not O2 or Vixskin). While a little bit more firm than silicone, it is still soft enough to feel more accommodating than hard materials (glass, plastic, etc). I also really liked the appearance of the texture on the Ass Berry; it's actually a pretty good representation of a berry, albeit a little bit larger...and matte black.

Regrettably, I found that the Intramed material doesn't perform quite as well as the silicone it's compared to. The material has a significant amount of drag and doesn't seem to lube up well with water-based lubes. Compared to matte or gloss silicone, it seems to "dry out" really quickly, making insertion play uncomfortable. Silicone lube (which is compatible with Intramed) solved the drying out problem, but the surface of the Ass Berry still felt rough and not very slick.

I got this toy for review first and foremost because it looks like a berry. I (and many others, I'm sure) think food can be really erotic, but generally food shouldn't be put in holes other than your mouth. I know people do otherwise, but safe practices are preferable. So anyways, I got the Ass Berry primarily for the sexual-food tie-in. And it doesn't let you down, it really does look very berry-like (except for the base, and the vibrating bullet sticking out of it). The size of the Ass Berry is medium-small, and would likely be quite reasonable for anyone who has enjoyed other plugs, dildos, or otherwise in his or her ass. Unfortunately, I can't recommend inserting the Ass Berry, as it's base is not secure enough for safe anal play. I would seriously advise external use only.

I think feasibly this toy could be considered discreet and appropriate for travel, provided that you keep it separate from the removable vibrating bullet that gives the berry its buzz. The logo on the toy is just a stylized capital "B" and does not scream "ASS BERRY"; so points for discretion.

Good: The look of the toy was done well. The resemblance to a berry is pretty great for a sex toy. The included RO-80 bullet vibe is powerful for its size and is fairly quiet. When the vibe is in the toy, the vibrations are evenly felt from the base to the tip.

Not-so-good: The Intramed material does not stay lubed as well as silicone does and cannot be boiled to sterilize. The base is not substantial enough for safe anal insertion.

As the Intramed material is non-porous, care is simplified. However, it cannot be boiled or put in the dishwasher for sterilization. The only option for sterilizing the Ass Berry is to use a 10% bleach solution. To my knowledge, there are no compatibility issues with other toys so I store them together with this one; I haven't noticed any issues with this. Intramed is silicone lube compatible, as well. However, you should not use it with oil-based lubes (petroleum or vegetable-based).

The packaging was nice. It ships in a hexagonal cylinder of clear plastic with purple endcaps. The packaging does have the name "Ass-Berries" in large font on the front, so it wouldn't be advisable to leave the packaging out. The packaging includes directions about working the batteries in the bullet, but leaves actual use up to the user's imagination. There are, however, lots of puns about berries and juice on the packaging. Regrettably, the instructions to not specifically spell out lubricant compatibility or cleaning directions.

The packaging could easily be used for storing the Ass Berry between uses, as it is compact and of durable construction.

I found that the best use for this toy was to use it externally around the ass. The vibrations are more than enough to travel through the toy and make it a pleasant massager for erogenous areas. When I did try to wear the Ass Berry as a plug, I found it got uncomfortable quickly, and was in turn replaced with a more comfortable plug from my collection. I think that the Ass Berry could be a great warm-up toy for food enthusiasts, especially if coupled with the Oh Oui! banana vibrator.