The Icicles No. 13 is listed as an anal probe, but it's more like a prostate stimulator or, for some, an anal plug. It starts with a teardrop-shaped plug, which is about one inch in diameter and tapers quickly to a narrow first neck. Then the toy quickly rounds out to a spherical bulb about 1 3/4 inches wide. Finally it tapers to a second neck before widening out to a two-inch-wide circular handle. The toy can be inserted into the anus and rocked or gently pushed against the sensitive spots inside the rectum, or, if it stays put for you, left in during other things such as intercourse.

Because of the difference in size from one bulb to the next, paired with the fact that the toy is glass, I recommend this for users who are intermediately experienced or advanced in anal play.

Whatever you do, DO NOT THRUST WITH IT THIS TOY. It can be very slowly inserted and removed, but thrusting with it at all could cause some very serious damage. If using it on a partner, please be careful, use enough lube, and investigate any signs of discomfort immediately.

The Icicles No. 13 is made out of solid tempered or Pyrex glass. As such it is waterproof, completely sterilizeable, and is great for temperature play. It's smooth and has no friction when lubricated, which is a huge plus considering the size of the second bulb. The firmness of the glass allows it to be tilted perfectly against the P-spot.

This toy is not realistic in any sense. It does not look or feel like a penis. It is also odorless and tasteless, and completely non-porous, which makes it safe for sharing (after disinfection, of course). It's also very heavy, so if you don't like heavy things in your butt, this toy is not for you. And remember, due to the extreme hardness of glass, this toy will feel bigger than it actually is.

When I first saw this toy on Eden, I loved just looking at it. Now that we own one, I have trouble putting it away, just because it's so pretty. You can even read through it. The first bulb is easy to insert and comfy, the second however takes a lot of patience and tolerance. I found that our Icicles No. 13 is actually a quarter-inch bigger than it is supposed to be, in the second bulb. That made it almost too big for me to take, but I'm a trooper, and eventually it did fit.

This toy is only discreet in the way that any other anal probe or plug is discreet. Either the person looking at it knows what it is, or they don't, and you never know which one your bag checker will be. I suggest only traveling with it if you don't mind the possibility of someone seeing and recognizing it.

I think the best thing about this toy is the first, teardrop-shaped bulb. It slips in easily and the tip gives some very pinpoint stimulation to the P-spot (or back of the G-spot if you're female). The worst thing about the toy is the handle. I don't mind that it's a circle, although a regular base would be easier to use; it's the way the handle faces that gets me. Because of its positioning, it causes the toy to try to rotate while inserted, so that it can nestle between your butt cheeks. This means that you must constantly have your hand on it to keep it in place. If the handle were rotated ninety degrees to the rest of the toy, this would not be a problem. Also, it kept slipping out of my boyfriend's bum; I did not share this problem, it stayed in fine for me.

Cleaning: Like all tempered glass toys, the Icicles No. 13 can be boiled, bleached with a 10% bleach solution, or placed in the dishwasher (top rack, no soap, please!) to keep it sterile. For a quick wash you can use dish soap, hand soap, body wash, toy cleaner, or even Windex, though I suggest sterilizing it after every use because it is, after, an anal toy.

Storage: Unlike most glass toys, this one does not come with its own storage pouch. You can purchase one here at Eden, or you can do what I did: Make one! It even matches the one I made for our Icicles No. 8. The most important thing is to protect your toy from chips, cracks and scratches. If these should develop, THROW THE TOY AWAY IMMEDIATELY. Better safe than in the hospital.

Thus handled, your toy should last you a lifetime.

The Icicles No. 13, like all other Icicles toys by Pipedream, came packaged in its own special, very beautiful, box. The box has a glossy image of the toy on a matte background and the word "ICICLES" on the front. That front is actually a flap with a magnetic closure, and when you open the flap you are greeted on the left by a brief description of the toy (which is identical to the back of the box), and on the right with a window into the box actually showing you the Icicles you just purchased. Inside, the toy is set into a piece of foam that has a cutout in it the shape of the actual toy. It's very nice for storing the toy in, but because I can't let my parents see how "perverted" we are (that's how they'd see it, not me), I was forced to hide the lovely box and make a pouch for it to store it in.

This was not necessarily the most comfortable toy I have ever inserted into my anus, although it did lead to quite a lot of fun for both of us eventually, but my boyfriend liked it right off the bat. The only part that frustrated him was when it kept trying to slip out... And probably how long it took me to put it in.

Temperature play: Some places suggest using the microwave or freezer to heat or chill your glass toys... I'd say only do that if you want to cook your rectum or freeze the toy to your wet innards. Otherwise please stick to using the refrigerator or hot (not boiling!) or cold water.

Once again, I ordered a toy to use on my boyfriend at a time when it would be a couple of weeks before I could get over there and use it on him. (I only live there part-time.) We finally arrived at our apartment around three in the morning, and I figured he would be too tired to play that night, but he thrust the box into my hands and stripped down quickly, laying on his belly on the bed. I giggled and ripped off the packing tape to find the Pipedreams box inside, which was visually stunning in and of itself. I decided I would have to admire everything at a later date, because my boy whimpered softly and waggled his bum at me. I stripped too, and joined him on our bed.

After warming him up and lubing the toy and his anus, I popped the first bulb in rather quickly and smoothly. But I enjoy teasing him, so I didn't push it in any farther, instead angling it toward his navel and hitting the spot I am now extremely familiar with as his P-spot. He moaned softly and pushed back lightly, and soon he was rocking himself on the toy. I was no longer doing any work, just holding the toy so he could rock it against his prostate, and already he was leaking just a bit.

I told him to slow down and spread his legs a little, I was going to push in the second, much larger bulb. I pushed slowly but steadily, but with it less than halfway in, he gave a slightly pained whimper. Immediately I backed off, and lifted his hips so he was now on his hands and knees. This way was much easier, and after quite a bit of work (the pain had tightened him back up a little) finally had the whole second bulb resting inside him. As it settled in his ass he gave a long, shuddering sigh and collapsed down onto his belly again, hissing softly as the handle forced the toy to rotate as it settled between his cheeks. I fixed the toy's position and began to rock it again, and he flipped onto his back so I could watch his face like I like.

Soon he was once again rocking against my hand, which again was found only holding the toy as he moved against it. It was a very cute sight, and he seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. Suddenly he shifted up toward me, and I found myself underneath him as he positioned himself to enter me. Then there was a soft thump on the bed. The toy had slipped out. We continued trying to have intercourse after re-inserting it, and finally after several attempts he ended up practically kneeling back with my hips on top of his so it would stay in while he fucked me. He said it still felt amazing, but that was quite frustrating for both of us.

A few days later for the sake of reviewing the toy from my own point of view as well, I decided to use it on myself while the boy was at work. Generally we find that my anus stretches much easier than his, requiring little to no warm-up for even our biggest toys, but this one is definitely our new widest. (Remember I mentioned ours ended up larger than the description.) I decided to play it safe by inserting a smaller glass toy for a while, and I am glad I did. As I lay on my back, the first teardrop-shaped bulb slipped in quite easily, and as my boyfriend had, I rocked it against myself. It hit the back of my G-spot and I almost was done right then and there. I decided to stop that and move on. For science, of course. Never mind that I love some edge play...

Nervously I began to push the toy deeper into my nether cavity, and found that I still was not relaxed enough to get it all the way in my first go. I got up on my knees, which always helps with other toys and during anal sex, and tried again. I simply could not get the second bulb past its widest part without pain. So I pulled the toy out, heaved a sigh of mixed disappointment and relief, and used our next-biggest toy to help relax me further. Finally I returned to the 13 and, with a little trepidation, got back onto my knees on the bed and inserted the first bulb-and-a-half. This time it felt good, so I pressed further. About three-quarters of the way in, there was a sudden burst of oh no it's too big! I couldn't stop it from slipping in the rest of the way, and from that moment of panic until it settled in properly, there was a moment of "It hurts it hurts it hurts ooooohhhh my goooood it feels so good!"

The neck in between the smaller and larger bulbs fit perfectly against what I consider the back of my G-spot, and even the slightest movement was amazing. It was like the toy was made for my anus (which I guess indirectly, it was). The tiniest rock or push against it sent pre-orgasmic quivers through my body. I was worried when I shifted onto my back again that it would pop out as it had with my boyfriend, but no matter what I did it stayed in place nicely. It was only a short time, in which all I had to do was rock against the toy, until I had a serious orgasm. This experience of using the toy by myself, combined with his reaction when I used it on him, has me convinced that I can probably get my boyfriend to have his first prostate orgasm using the 13 alone. I can't wait to get it out again!