My mission was to find something for vaginal play, either solo or with my husband, and I liked the Throb from the moment I laid eyes on it. It's semi-realistic, 100% silicone, has rich texture, and a bulby head. All pluses in my book, so into my shopping cart it went.

There was a tiny bit of buyer's remorse while I waited for it to ship - I began to worry that it might be too textured, and just how big was this thing? - but the minute I opened the EF box all my fears were quelled.

The Throb arrived in a see-through clam-shell-in-a-box that was very easy to open. Elegant and classy, it has only text on the box - no nude models or orifice close-ups - though I couldn't find a number on the plastic for recycling purposes.

Getting the Throb in hand took just a few seconds, and what a delight! The silicone was velvety soft, the head was deliciously squishy, the veins were pronounced yet softly rounded, and the whole package was modestly sized.

After a quick cleaning - I always clean toys, no telling what the factory conditions are like - I took it for a solo maiden voyage...

Il me mouiller! I found the Throb soft enough to be comfortable without lube (for vaginal use), and at the same time firm enough to penetrate and lightly thrust. Letting it sit under a running tap for a few moments gave it a nice warmth which it retained for some time. The head felt great going in, and the veins were raised enough to keep the ride interesting, yet comfortable. The length is not too long, not too short and the flared base makes for a decent hand grip. Put simply: an immediate favorite.

Clean up was super easy. The veins obviously needed a little extra attention, but nothing especially time consuming or difficult.

I didn't use the Throb in all manners possible, but I did make a few mental notes: the flare of the base is about 1/2" so it should meet the specifications of a few harnesses; it's well sized for anal use, provided a liberal amount of lube is used; with the right amount of humidity it will stick to smooth surfaces, though it definitely lacks the adhesion of a suction cup.

The Throb is definitely worth the price, and if this is the type of quality Tantus delivers, I need to buy more of their stuff.

My heart still throbs for this toy. It has held up to boiling and bleaching and is still as much fun as the day it came out the box. The veins feel fantastic when it's inside, and the bulbous head on this dildo is better for me size-wise than The Big Giant Head™ that tops the Tantus Echo. It's excellent for playing solo or on those occasions when my husband likes to lend a hand. The Throb is not a hard silicone dildo, but it is firm enough to thrust without frustration.

According to Tantus "with a little care it will last a lifetime" and so far I trust in its longevity. The deep charcoal color hasn't faded and the silicone remains flexible and odor free. It still attracts lint like a dog attracts fleas, but I don't mind rinsing it before use.

Unlike the Echo there is no opening for a bullet — that would have destabilized the base — but I find I don't miss having vibrations. The texture of the Throb provides enough stimulation for me.

I recommend it to anyone who values texture over size, or is interested in trying a Tantus toy.