For those who are new to butt plugs, the Severin can look intimidating. It's glossy black, has those wicked flares, looks more like a fetish item than a harmless anal toy. I'm here to dispel such impressions, starting with the material and color.

I know pink is less threatening than biker black, but really, for something that goes up your rear end... black is best. Silicone doesn't stain (at least, pure silicone, I can't speak for composite products), but if you're not totally clean back there... let's just say it's less noticeable when your partner pulls it out, and less likely to dampen the mood.

Now, this product is made out of pure silicone, which means that it's odorless, tasteless, and hygienic, to boot (at least when clean, of course). You can sterilize it by boiling for a few minutes, wiping it down with an alcohol or bleach solution, or putting it through the dishwasher. I boil, myself, not having access to the other three methods, but hey, at least I CAN sterilize it, unlike all other materials except metal and glass. And silicone is relatively soft compared to those two, I would say with as much firmness and give as the real deal. The texture is really quite smooth and slippery, which helps it not catch going in or out, a major concern when dealing with the delicate anal tissues.

As for the performance part... Like I said earlier, the Severin is great plug for beginners. The tip is very small, not much bigger than one of my fingers. The first bulb isn't so bad either, I'd be very surprised if you've never had something that big, ahem, naturally go through your anus. Then there's the neat "staging area" or "rest spot", as some people call it. If you're tight back there, this is a great place to hang out at, as it will stay in place pretty well. The next bulb is a little large, but if you can make it, you've got another staging area to relax onto.

Here, I had a bit of an issue. After slipping this guy in, I decided to cook dinner and see how it felt for a long-term butt plug (for the uninitiated, this means wearing your plug around town [which I HIGHLY suggest... errands have never been more fun]). I had an issue with it sliding out a bit, and didn't feel at all safe if I had to sneeze or cough. This toy requires something extra to keep it in - chastity belt, thong, whatever. Most of us do wear underwear out and about, but still, it's nice to just have the security built into the toy's design. The flaw I think that causes this is the length of the stem, which is what your sphincter clamps around at the end. It's just too long, and slides in and out.

As a double penetration aid, I found this to be pretty good. It's just not secure enough to tuck back there and forget about, though. People with tighter anus's than mine might not have this problem, but for those who can really stuff it, you might want to look elsewhere.

As a triple penetration aid... it's just a bit too long to sit in my mouth comfortably. The tip tends to poke the back of my throat like a stiletto, which isn't sexy at all. I'm still looking for the perfect fit I used to have with my old Doc Johnson plug, which was sadly retired due to the latex breaking down.