The L'Amour beaded probe is designed for anal use, but it could also be used vaginally if you desire. This probe isn't large or intimidating, so it would be great for beginners or anyone else who isn't looking for a big toy. The probe works best for thrusting, since it doesn't like to stay in place on it's own.

The L'Amour probe is made from silicone, which is a great material for anal toys since it's non-porous and can be sterilized. Mine is a bright, cool pink, and it also comes in purple. The silicone has a smooth, matte finish and is firm with very little give. The areas between the beads and the handle have some flexibility, but this is not a floppy toy. If I hold the handle the probe will stick straight out. The shaft will bend to a 45 degree angle when a moderate amount of force is applied.

The design is a combination of anal beads and a probe. It has five beads of graduated sizes, but the area between them is thicker than most anal beads, which allows for thrusting. The design differs from most other similar toys because the beads are offset, forming a slight zigzag shape. I didn't notice any difference in feel compared to a straight toy, but I do think it looks nice.

The beaded area is 5" long, and the curved handle is 2". The beads range from 3/4" to 1 1/4" wide, with a maximum circumference of 4".

The graduated beads make this a great beginner toy, since you could start with the smallest bead, which is about the same size as my finger, and work your way up til you are comfortable with the largest one. I'd say I'm an intermediate anal player and I found this toy very easy and comfortable to insert with no warm up. I would have preferred it to be slightly thicker, but the shape added stimulation and helped make up for a lack of size.

The area between the beads is about 1/2" wide between the first four beads, and 3/4" wide between the fourth and fifth beads. The area after the last bead where the handle begins is 1" in diameter. The thin area between the beads allows the anus to almost fully close, but since the area after the last bead isn't much smaller than the bead, it doesn't make a great resting spot. This makes it easy for the last bead to slip out.

The handle is hooked, but tapers. It is slim and somewhat flexible. I haven't had any issues with the handle slipping inside, especially since the last bead tends to slide out, but if you are worried about it you can always keep a grip on the handle as an extra precaution.

As I mentioned, I was hoping the L'Amour would be a good toy for double penetration with a partner. I enjoy the beaded shape of my Rhapsodia, but find it a little too large and hard to use that way. Since the L'Amour is narrower and silicone has some give I thought this would be a great choice to add some extra stimulation without being overwhelming or painful.

Since the L'Amour tends to pop out when not being held in place, it really doesn't work the way I wanted it to. It does work well for thrusting since it is less flexible than many other anal bead type toys. Thrusting gives a repeated popping sensation which can be enjoyable. I find this toy a little small to use on it's own since it doesn't give me the full feeling I prefer. The best use I have found for this probe is to use it for thrusting while a vibrator is stationary in my vagina. The L'Amour conducts vibrations well from the other toy so that they can be felt in both areas.

The probe can be washed with soap and water or toy cleaner. If you want to share between partners or go from anal to vaginal use, sterilize your toy with a 10% bleach solution or by boiling it for 3 minutes. Remember not to use silicone based lube because it can damage silicone toys.

The probe came packaged in an attractive, clear, plastic box. It has a bit of product information on the back, pointing out the toy's material and features, and providing measurements. The box is too flimsy to work well for storage. It is not discreet since you can see the toy through the front, but I did notice that the packaging doesn't actually mention anal use.