These advanced-size silicone anal beads by Tantus are the best beads I've tried thus far in my sex toy explorations. They have some major advantages over plastic or rubber beads due to the safety that is always synonymous with silicone, plus they are perfectly designed and shaped for anal probing or simple anal warm-up.

I have always felt that the cheaper, jelly-like, rubber and plastic beads are exactly as their price denotes: cheap. Too often they come with rigid seams that run the length of the toy, making insertion uncomfortable, and flimsy connector strings that break after a mere few uses. And another thing: anal toys should always be made of a safe and long-lasting material. They shouldn't leach dangerous chemicals, and they shouldn't harbor bacteria and germs. Tantus' Advanced Anal Beads are an awesome alternative to these unwelcome and sketchy products. They are made ENTIRELY of premium grade silicone, and there are no extra connecting parts or seams. Silicone is a FAR superior material to rubbers and jellies. It is hypo-allergenic, free of phthalates, and non-porous. Unlike jelly, it has no funky plastic smell or slimy feel. Ultimately, it is the safest material available for anal play. On top of the obvious health advantages, silicone is also very easily disinfected. There are several options to choose from: it is safe to place in the dishwasher, to use with household cleansers like soap or bleach, and it's also safe to boil.

One important note: Silicone toys will react with silicone lubricant and, therefore, should only be used with water-based lubes.

Put bluntly, silicone is also incredibly comfortable to have in your rectum. It is quite soft and yielding, not rigid like plastic or squishy like jelly. It also warms to the body, allowing the skin to adapt quickly to the sensation of foreign objects making sudden and formerly uncomfortable appearances.

Thanks to good design, these beads are quite comfortable to use. The top two beads are smaller, and for experienced anal fans, they act as warm-up. The third and fourth beads are slightly larger, not as thick as most dildos though. The real size here is in the length. At 9 inches long, these beads remind you, then remind you again, that the body is not a straight, hollow, tube. But because the silicone is soft and flexible, the toy will bend and eventually snake its way as far, or not so far, as you want. It`s a very strange but also enjoyable experience.

One great safety feature that deserves to be noted is the flared base at the bottom of the toy. Unless you have a 3-inch wide anus, this base will keep the beads from disappearing up inside you. This will save much worry and unwanted embarrassment in the emergency room should a toy get lost up there. It's never happened to me, but I hear it's a very real thing.

I loved the sensation of the beads slowly moving deeper inside me. I`m not new to anal play, but inserting a toy as far as 9 inches was something I had previously not done. Other thicker, firmer toys have always been too rigid to conform to my body`s internal shape. But these beads were different. It was slow going, but after 15 minutes or so of gradual insertion, these beads were able to stimulate parts I never knew I had.

The only weakness I can think of is that I wish the beads were slightly longer. Once I got as far as 9 inches I wished for 3 to 5 more, just for the sheer thrill. Some extra girth near the bottom couldn't hurt either.

While still an occasional whim in our sex toy arsenal, the advanced silicone beads by Tantus are simply not as satisfying as a thicker, more sturdy silicone dildo. The beads are still fine for anal warm-up, foreplay, or as accompaniment to oral, but they just don't cut it as the main attraction.