The Tristan 1.5 is a new addition to the Tristan line, sized halfway between the Tristan and Tristan 2. The Tristan line is a unique design among butt plugs. Somewhere between the classic spade design and the some of the more modern curvy designs, the Tristan is characterized by a rather long neck (almost a shaft) and a short bulged head. One could compare the Tristan to a short dildo with an extra-large head and base.

The material of the Tristan 1.5 is pure silicone, a safe material that is stable and sterilizable (boiling, dishwasher, or 1:10 bleach:water solution). Just remember the old standby from general chemistry, that like dissolves like, which means that silicone lubes are incompatible this toy. The density of Tristan’s silicone is what I would call medium. It is more squishy and flexible than regular Vixen silicone or Tantus’s regular silicone. It is not, however, as soft as Vixskin or O2 dual-density silicones. The finish is a semi-matte (like other Vixen silicone toys), retaining just a bit of gloss to reflect the light.

The coloration of Tristan is quite interesting. It appears that the picture on the product page is only an example of what you might receive. Though the same colors, mine is quite different in presentation of them. Rather than the flowing ribbon look of the product page example, my Tristan features a heavy use of black, such that about one third of the head and neck is completely black, another third is swirls of black and shimmering blue, and the final part ribbons of blue with mother-of-pearl white. Unlike the blue base of the example, my base is mostly white with a dynamic pattern of blue and black. Though most of the Tristan is matte finish, the bottom of the base is super glossy which beautifully displays the patterns of the base. It reminds me of a polished cross-section of metamorphic rock.

Quality
The Tristan 1.5 is yet another example of the excellent workmanship found in products by Vixen and other high-tier sex toy manufacturers. In addition to its complex color patterns and unique styling, the Tristan 1.5 is completely free of seams. Even the bottom of the base is cut at a facet to eliminate the edge. The unit I received had no rough spots or small tears, either. If you like smooth refinement, in can be found in this one. One detail I particularly like is the Vixen logo, a small version of which is embossed on the top of the base. The marking is distinct, but not at all intrusive as the relief is very close to flush with the surface.

Miscellany
The packaging of the Tristan 1.5 is Vixen’s traditional clear tube with red endcaps. It’s tasteful and not explicit (aside from using the word ‘sex toy’). Instructions about care are cleaning are provided on the label. Vixen recommends storing the toy upright in its container to maintain its shape; however, this method is a bit bulky and I find that the caps on the container can be difficult to remove (especially if your fingers have already touched lube in the course of play). I keep Tristan upright in my bedside toy box and have not noticed any ill effects. However, I keep only pure silicone toys in the box; if you have silicone-blend toys, such as silicone-TPR, in your collection you should keep Tristan in the packaging to prevent contact melting

Making the Grade: Good Design
Tristan’s proportions are a bit different than most other plugs. There is a girthy head and also a fairly long and relatively thick shaft. The steep slope between the head and the shaft serves to hold the plug in, while the smooth shaft allows some in and out motion. I found that I could use my PC muscles to move the Tristan around and provide a nice amount of prostate stimulation. The combination of a relatively thick shaft and squishy material makes squeezing Tristan very enjoyable.

Security. It’s a big deal when talking about butt plugs. A primary reason for owning anal toys is because other household objects (and other styles of sex toys) are just not safe for anal play; aside from being of improper materials or construction, a big concern is that they lack a substantial base that keeps the toy from getting “lost” inside of you. Without going into the details of why losing a toy is bad news, it stands that a big base is a good thing in anal toys. Fortunately, the Tristan has a large base that feels absolutely secure in place.

Comfort. It’s also a big deal with butt plugs. Butt plugs are meant to be worn (like a BMW is meant to be driven?) and should be comfortable to do so for more than just a few minutes. While the previous goal of security, which requires a substantial base, may seem at odds with comfortable wear, I was happy to find that Tristan pulled it off. The highly flexible design of the large base allows it to conform to your cheeks and flex as you move. I found the base to be quite comfortable while performing household task, lying down, and even while sitting. To really put comfort to the test, I inserted the Tristan just before going to sleep; I awoke about 8 hours later to a very happy ass and a very substantial hard-on.

So far, I’ve reported that Tristan’s design allows the plug to stay in well, regardless of activity. However, there is one particular activity that outdoes the plugs best effort: coming. 2 out of 3 times I’ve come with Tristan in my ass, I’ve managed to pop it out somewhere in the middle of orgasm. Maybe it just means that Tristan leads to some very intense orgasms. However, it’s one of those things that a butt plug really shouldn’t do, as right before orgasm one should never have to be concerned about a plug popping out. I feel like a slightly more substantial ridge between the head and the shaft would eliminate this problem. I think this could be done without changing the overall dimensions of the plug if the shaft were to be made a bit concave just where it meets the head.