Raquel, by Vixen Creations, is a soft and flexible silicone dildo well suited to both solo and partner play. It's strap-on compatible, with a core firm enough to offer control, and the squishiest head I've ever encountered.

The softness makes it easy to safely thrust with enthusiasm, either with a harness or manually, and it's large enough to feel quite filling without being difficult to insert.

The large base and body-safe, easy-to-sterilize material make it safe for anal play as well.

Vixskin is a variety of silicone meant to mimic real skin, and it delivers. When dry, it has a slightly tacky feeling that attracts lint like a magnet, but a quick rinse in the sink, and it feels very realistic. It lacks any kind of odor or taste.

The Raquel is the most plush toy I've ever handled, softer even than the Tantus O2 Revolution Ice or the Whipspider Tentacle. The surface is smooth and texture free -- add a little lube and it glides like silky skin.

Like all pure silicone, Vixskin is phthalates free and body safe. In my opinion, any toybox would benefit from the addition of a Vixskin toy.

While the diameter exceeds an inch and a half, the Raquel is so flexible and squishy that it does not feel as challenging as firmer toys of even a slightly smaller size. While beginners might need to take their time with it, I don't feel it necessary to warn against trying this one. Know your own body, and proceed accordingly.

The Raquel feels incredibly realistic in use, but lacks a realistic appearance. The simple shape and cheerful pink coloring makes her quite feminine. As far as discretion, though, she is clearly a dildo, and only the most gullible snoop will believe she's meant for removing cat hair from the couch.

For travel, she'll spare you any embarrassing incidents with sudden, unwanted vibrations, but her case takes up a bit of room in your luggage, and her purpose is obvious. If you choose to travel with Raquel, I recommend hiding her cannister inside a wine bag.

Raquel provides a fun and satisfying experience in use. Her squishiness makes enthusiastic thrusting a safe possibility, and for me, she worked well in a palm harness, so I'm prepared to believe that she'd work fabulously for strap on use, and she's also easy to grip without any accouterments.

The squishiness is comfortable and cozy, and the smooth texture makes for a realistic feel. It did massage the g-spot, but with less intensity than the firmer toys in my collection, giving it gentler massage and therefore a slower build-up.

The Raquel can be washed in hot, soapy water, or toy cleaner, between uses. For sterilization, three minutes of boiling is recommended. Before use, Raquel should be rinsed under warm water, rather than wiped down, as the fibers in baby wipes will cling to the Vixskin -- I have not noticed that effect with other varieties of silicone. If your playtime will regularly lack access to running water, you might want to consider another toy. However, if the inconvenience will be minimal, it's well worth it for the performance of the Raquel.

As for storage, Vixen Creations recommends storing the Raquel in its container, because it will very easily dent if resting against other toys. The see-through tube isn't particularly discreet, but it does fit nicely into a cloth wine bag (a reusable bag meant for gifting bottles of wine) if discretion is required.

The Raquel is silicone, and therefore requires water based lubricant. Never use silicone based lube with a silicone toy -- the ingredients that liquefy the silicone in the lube will liquefy the toy, resulting in a permanently sticky and tacky toy.

While the Raquel is more high maintenance than my other toys, it is still easier to care for than cyberskin or other realistic feeling materials.

The Raquel arrives in a relatively heavy clear plastic tube, with care instructions and other vital information on the back, even contact information for the manufacturer. It's useful for storage, although not particularly discreet. Depending on your circumstances, you may wish to disguise it.

As for gift giving, the packaging neither adds to nor detracts from the presentation. In my opinion, if the relationship in question is intimate enough that a dildo would be an appropriate gift, this package would be acceptable, however I would strongly recommend against unwrapping it in mixed company.