The X-10 Anal Beads are advertised as anal beads; in reality they are more of a combination between a set of beads and a probe. The four bulges, increasing in size from tip to base, give the toy a bubbled texture similar to beads, but the thickness of the space between the bulges gives this toy the look of a probe. It's too flexible to be used for thrusting anally. If this toy were used vaginally, it might work for thrusting though. At 8 3/4 inches insertable, this toy is shorter than most other anal beads, but too long for its entire length to be inserted vaginally. The interesting bulges provide some vaginal stimulation, but it doesn't have enough girth for me to get much enjoyment that way. Overall, it is a rather unusual toy for anal enjoyment. It would be a good toy for an anal newbie; the oval-shaped beads/bulges make for smoother insertion than more traditional ball-shaped beads, and the length is not intimidating. They can be inserted anally during vaginal intercourse or while using a vibrator/dildo vaginally. They're intended to be pulled out at the moment of climax to increase the intensity of an orgasm.

This toy is made out of TPR Silicone, which has a safety rating of 6. It is safe with water-based lubricants; silicone lubricants will damage this toy. The suggested cleaning for this kind of material is water and an antibacterial toy cleaner or a mild soap.

The material has a strong odor that can be detected as soon as it is removed from the packaging, but not during use. It's a rather sweet smell. It hasn't gone away after several washes. While it's a mildly unpleasant odor, it's not noticeable during use. I store this toy in its original packaging; storing it another way might get rid of the odor. It tastes sweet and rubbery, pretty much the way it smells.

The texture is smooth. Up close, the toy looks like it has a bit of a grain, but if it does, it can't be felt. I got this toy in grey, since I find the idea of putting something pink in my bum to be unappealing. It's a flat dark grey, but still slightly translucent. This toy is very flexible, too flexible to be used for thrusting, but its flexibility makes it feel comfortable inside as it curves and bends with your body.

The biggest problem I had with this toy was that it had a seam along both sides that was very noticeable when I inserted it. In fact, it caught on my anal walls and felt painful, even though I used plenty of lube. I'm not sure if this was a defect or a feature of the product. In any case, the seam probably wouldn't be noticeable if the toy was covered with a condom. The toy's length allows for that. You may want to use a condom anyways, since it's not 100% silicone and can't be sanitized like pure silicone.

Here is a close-up of the smallest bead so you can see the grain, and the seam:

The X-10 Anal Beads are 9.5 inches long, with 8.75 inches insertable. It has four oval-shaped "beads" that can be more accurately described as bulges on its thick stem. The bead at the tip is smallest, about 1/2 inch diameter, and they get bigger down to the last bead, about 1 inch diameter. There is about 3/4 inches of space between each bead, and the stem between the beads is about 3/8 inches thick, not much thinner than the smallest bead. The handle is perpendicular to the length of the toy. It's very sturdy. I had no worries about it breaking or being swallowed up.

I really like the look of this toy and, aside from the seam, there are no drawbacks to the design. The oval-shaped beads make for smooth, easy insertion. The length and girth are not intimidating for a beginner. More experienced anal users can enjoy this toy for how unusual it is, combining aspects of beads and probe, and for its bumpy texture, but may find themselves wishing for something with more girth.

The toy comes in two colors: pink or grey. I got it in grey, and it was a very nondescript kind of grey. The material is translucent, and when held up to the light, it appears grainy, but it doesn't feel that way. It's not discreet at all; it has no breakable or moving parts, so it would be safe for travel, but it's very obviously a sex toy.

This toy has a great design that had me really excited to try it, but I was very much disappointed when I did. The seam ruined this toy for me. If you cover up this toy with a condom, the seam wouldn't be noticeable. Without the pain of the seam, this toy is a great anal beads/probe with a comfortable girth and flexibility. I could bend this toy in half, and then in half again.

The handle on this toy is really sturdy, unlike a lot of anal beads. I suppose this is because this toy has a thick stem throughout. It was T-shaped, so it was easy to keep a grip on with slippery fingers. Your butt absolutely could not swallow it. The handle sits comfortably between the butt cheeks, but it twists the toy a little against the way the toy's natural curve inclines it to rest. The toy is flexible enough that it still feels comfortable, just a little strange. They're comfortable enough to wear for a while, but the handle might be visible under clothes if it twists to the side or slips out of place. The handle posed no obstacle to using a vibrator vaginally while this toy was inserted anally, and the vibrations traveled well, giving some nice, extra anal stimulation. When I tried walking around, these beads stayed put.

TPR silicone, which is what this toy is made of, is compatible with water-based lubes, not silicone-based ones. Silicone lubes may damage this toy. The recommended clean-up for this toy is water and an antibacterial toy cleaner or mild soap. This toy is not difficult to clean. While it is a lint magnet when stored, the surface rinses clean easily. I had no problem with anything sticking between the beads or in any grooves simply because the curvature between bead and stem is so gentle. I store this toy in its original packaging to discourage lint, but this might be contributing to the smell. It could be stored in a plastic bag instead.

The toy comes in a clear plastic clamshell that pops open easily without scissors. The package can also be used for storage. The insert is bright pink, and it has a man and a woman posed erotically, then the product name and some information about it in white lettering.