The Ripple by Tantus was my very first anal toy, and I can say that I am still finding out how to get the most out of it. I'd just finished reading The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women when I accepted this assignment and I was ready to put some of the theory into practice. The four graduated ripples that make up the toy, running from 0.6" in diameter to 1" in diameter(between 1.88" to 3.14" in circumference) allowed for some warm-up before moving on to the next level. For me, this made the Ripple the best beginner anal toy because there was no need to be able to take x amount of inches for it to feel good.

On the other hand, I can see where this toy may be too small for some to get much enjoyment from it. And honestly, anyone with a well-padded rear end may have some problem with the base sitting against their cheeks before the last ripple even approaches the anus. I did find a solution to this, but it wasn't graceful. If you've a partner in your sexcapades, this is not an issue because you don't need to find a way to hold your buttocks apart and thrust at the same time. I will say this, with the base, it would be a challenge to lose the Ripple to a hungry asshole.

The Ripple is a prime example of Tantus's soft, premium silicone. The toy has quite a bit of give to it, and the shaft of the probe is so flexible it can be folded back onto itself. Taking it out of the packaging, I was pleased that it had no smell or taste, and was a bit impressed with the drag that the silicone has, even though the surface is exceedingly smooth.

Because of the give in the silicone, this is a very comfortable toy to use. Though the flexibility can make it a bit more difficult to insert the first bulge of the Ripple. I found it most effective to hold it higher up on the shaft to start the process, but once the first ripple is in, the rest follows right behind.

For the most part, I love the design of the Ripple. The four ripples that make up this probe increase from 0.6" in diameter to 1" in diameter(from 1.88" to 3.14" in circumference). This worked best for me because I was an absolute beginner to anal play, but I liked the idea of an anal toy that would give me room to expand. The ripples give such a wonderful feeling when slowly thrust in and out. The size of the last bulge is still a bit of a stretch for me, and gives me that wonderful "pop" sensation when thrust. I could see that those who are more experienced in anal pleasure might find the Ripple to be a little too small to be more than a warm-up. My Ripple is 5.25" long with about 4.5" of that insertable, including the neck, and I think that it would have worked a little better for me, had that neck been longer.

The one thing about the design of this toy that did not work for me was the length of the neck. From the fattest point of the last ripple to the base it is 1" which meant that the base sat snug against my buttocks before the last ripple even approached my anus. And, honestly, being an anal novice I wasn't exactly sure what to do about it. For people who, like me, have a bit of junk in the trunk, having a longer neck on the Ripple would be a major improvement. This isn't to say that I didn't eventually figure out how to get the most out of the Ripple.

This is a probe and not a plug, and I really can't see using it as such. It is designed to work well as a probe and as such it is more about the sensations that can be achieved with some thrusting. When I orgasm, the Ripple goes flying, well not flying but it doesn't stay where I'd put it. This is because the neck is not that much smaller than the fourth ripple (about 0.3" smaller in diameter). Add that to the fact that the base of the toy was not designed for long-term wear, and definitely won't help the Ripple stay put; I'd say that this is a probe that works best as a probe.

Honestly, the first three ripples of this toy seemed to feel very similar to my ass, which ate them up and asked for more. The fourth ripple was a bit more of a challenge for me, and not just because it was on the border-line of too large, but mainly that the base was already nestled against my, ahem, well-endowed buttocks. Being a newbie, it took me a little while to figure out that I was missing out on the last ripple, and then a little longer to figure out how to comfortable hold my ass-cheeks apart and thrust at the same time. Not for the first time did I curse having too few hands to bring myself off gracefully. At this time I found one of the most wonderful features of this toy, for me it's all about the small amount of suction that the flat base will achieve when pressed against a wet shower wall. This was when I finally experienced that wonderful "pop" feeling that has quickly become the whole basis for my anal play. It may not have been graceful getting there, but it was worth it.

The Ripple, like most well-crafted silicone toys, gives you plenty of options for cleaning from dishwashers to boiling pots of water, to a 10% bleach solution. For me, seeing as I am not sharing my toys with anyone else, I usually wash it with some hot water and anti-bacterial soap. Also, I am living with my parents and my grandfather until I can afford rent. This means I can't just pop my sex toys into the dishwasher. I don't ever want to explain to my grandfather why I'm boiling up a pot of "dildo soup", but it is nice to know that those options are available to me.

For storage I put the Ripple in a plastic bag, which cuts down on the lint because it does seem to find and hang on to every speck of lint or loose hair it comes across. Because of this I also give it a quick rinse before I use it. This also plays into the drag of the material which cries out for lube, but only the water-based variety so as to not degrade the silicone.