The Tantus Ripple is a really great and completely non-threatening starter probe. Beginners will find it a wonderful toy for exploring the world of anal play. Intermediate users will find it a great probe for warm-up play or teasing before potentially moving onto a bigger toy. Couples can use it as part of foreplay before anal sex. Advanced users will most likely find it too small for their tastes, but a single anal toy can't be everything to everyone, and that is okay.

Having no vibrating parts to worry about, this is completely fine to take into the bath or shower if that's your preferred setting for anal play.

While the Ripple technically is a probe, it can pass as a plug in certain short-term situations. That said, the base is a tad uncomfortable for walking with and even less comfortable for sitting on. Still, it is doable if you're in need of a plug in a pinch and this toy is all you've got at hand. And of course, the Ripple has got a good flared base that assures it won't pull a disappearing act up your bum when you aren't paying attention. A vital quality, really.

The Ripple is made out of 100% high quality Tantus silicone, which is really lovely stuff. There's no taste or smell to it at all, and it's completely body safe. The texture of the toy is smooth, but with lots of drag. You're definitely going to want to use lube with this (water-based only!). Once lubed up, it's slick and wonderful with no sign of drag whatsoever.

The Ripple is firm but has a definite squish to it if you squeeze it and is extremely flexible: you can fold the probe completely in half so that the tip touches the base. It's a toy that will move with you rather than making you be the one bending to its will.

As is the case with many lovely silicone toys, this one's a lint and dust magnet. Easily taken care of with a quick rinse, and you're soon back in business with a shiny, smooth Ripple.

The shape of the Ripple is extremely slim, which makes it super easy to insert. The tip has a circumference of only 2" and takes literally no effort to slip in. Even if this is your very first anal toy and you're somewhat nervous, the petite size of the tip should relax you right away; there's no forcing necessary whatsoever with the Ripple.

Each bump on the Ripple's shaft is 0.5" bigger in circumference than the last. This makes the largest bump 3.5" around, as opposed to the 3" listed on the Ripple product page, so you may want to keep that in mind if you're only looking for a very thin probe. I did measure this a whole bunch of times just to make sure I was getting the correct answer, and it does appear that 3.5" is the accurate measurement. This last bump may be a sliiiiight challenge for beginners, but will soon be conquered with just an ounce of patience.

Having such a good flared base, I imagine this is compatible for harness use, but not having a harness myself I can't speak to how well that all works out. You'd have to have a pretty small o-ring to use with it, though. And at 4.5" insertable, it'd be a bit of a shallow ride.

It's not exactly a discreet toy: it looks like an anal probe. Which is what it is. No confusion there. Still, the Ripple's small size makes it an easy toy to take traveling, so long as you throw it in a bag that isn't see-through.

As mentioned, this goes in easily and comfortably. Each bump very adequately prepares you for the next; there's really nothing overwhelming about it at all. The bumps are pretty subtle (especially once you're warmed up a bit), but the last one does gives a decidedly pleasant minor "popping" sensation when thrust in and out. That said, the sensations can be more intense depending on how you use the toy: thrusting rapidly makes it quite a bit more intense, while slower thrusting really lets you feel and enjoy each ripple.

The solid base of the toy throws a wrench into the plans of anyone hoping to easily add some vibrations to the Ripple. If you apply a bullet to any part of the probe's shaft, vibrations do travel pretty adequately through the toy. Applying a bullet to the base, however, does pretty much nothing.

Although this toy is technically a probe, it may be used as a plug in certain situations. The stem of the toy (between the last bump and the base) measures 2.5" around, a full inch smaller than the circumference of said largest bump. I found that as long as it wasn't overly lubed up, it managed to stay in as I did a number of tasks (all in the name of butt plug/probe science, of course). Walking around was fine (although the base wasn't the most comfortable, and even less so when sitting down), and laying down or kneeling was fine. Being a bellydancer, I couldn't help but try some moves out to put it to the test. The Ripple actually did a really good job of staying put for most moves, except the shimmies, which shimmied it right out. Can't really hold that against it, though.

It also stayed put when used in tandem with a vaginal dildo. Not bad plugwork for a probe at all. Still, if a plug is what you want, I do suggest getting a toy that's actually classified as such. The Ripple can do part-time duty but generally shines much brighter doing what it's made for.

A definite plus for an anal toy, the Ripple can be fully sanitized by boiling for 3 minutes or by cleaning with a 10% bleach solution. A less thorough every-day clean can be achieved by washing with warm water and antibacterial soap or toy cleaner after use. As with many toys of the silicone kind, this collects lint and fuzzies, so you'll probably want to rinse it before use, as well. Storing the Ripple in a plastic bag can minimize the lint issue.

And of course, don't use silicone lube with this unless you want a melty, unhappy toy. Water-based should be the go-to kind of lube.

Although I've been into anal play for a few years now, I still tend to like my toys on the thin and small side. I really appreciated the thin size of the toy's tip because it made initial penetration a complete non-issue. My boyfriend and I really liked using this as a warm-up toy for foreplay before anal sex or before working up to some of my slightly bigger plugs. It's a really great tease to get you relaxed and in the mood.

Despite its small size, the Ripple is not necessarily a toy that one would quickly "outgrow." While some may decide to move decisively on to bigger probes, I know that this will be an oft reached-for toy in my toybox for years to come. The quality and design make it a classic that's not easily replaced.