The best way to use the Tantus Elements Theta is -- well, what are you in the mood for?

First, the basics: the Tantus Elements Theta is a 100% silicone, sinuous, curved, non-representational dildo with a bulbous head. She comes with a one-speed bullet vibe, watch battery included, to place in the hole at her base. Vibrations travel nicely along the shaft, but not much into the head; a stronger bullet might correct this. This quiet bullet is perfect for me, and I'm super-sensitive to vibrations, so most vibration-lovers will likely want to replace it with a stronger one.

Theta is not a traditional dildo. She neither looks nor feels like a penis, and if you try to use her as a traditional dildo, you'll probably be disappointed. Though she can give good results from heavy thrusting, she works better at stroking and massaging.

Use Theta right-side up, upside-down, sideways. Bend her to hit your clitoris and g-spot at the same time. Lay back, close your legs, and let the vibrations from the bullet in the base stimulate you. Whatever position you take, she'll conform to your body. Use her on your partner, or let your partner use her on you. She's gentle, so someone else isn't likely to hurt you with her accidentally. I'm sure you'll find ways to use her I haven't thought of.

I don't enjoy toys anally, but Theta's flared base and 100% silicone make her safe to use in the bum, though of course if you want to use her vaginally afterward, make sure to disinfect her first. I found her very easy to hold inside my vagina, hands-free, so I think she'd make a friendly toy for double penetration. One caveat: the head is sometimes a little tricky to get out of one's vagina, so it might cause problems for anal play.

Since Theta is silicone, she's waterproof, though the bullet vibe she comes with is not. Since she's only compatible with water-based lubes, it's not likely you'll want to insert her in the bath, with the water washing away your natural lubrication. However, I liked how her size and texture felt externally in the bath. Inserting her in the shower is far easier, and since she's so easy to manipulate in whatever position you choose, she's a great companion for shower play. Just remember to always remove the bullet before taking Theta into the water, or replace the bullet with a waterproof one, like the Iconic Bullet.

One of the many things that isn't obvious from looking at Theta is how good she is for Kegel muscles. I found myself exercising them when she was in me automatically, without planning to or thinking about it. Something about her makes those muscles want to get in on the action.

Theta is made of 100% body-safe hypoallergenic silicone, with no odor or taste and, of course, no phthalates. Her texture is slightly matte, enough to give her a little bit of grip, but she feels smooth when used. She's flexible, a little squishy, and somewhat springy. She's just firm enough for stimulation. Her body has a lot of give, and is definitely beginner-friendly.

The gentle curve of Theta ends in a flame-like "head". She looks like a bent torch, or a tulip. The head is about one inch long, 3/4 inch across at its widest point, and tapers to a point of about 1/4 inch. I was afraid that the point on the top of her head would poke, but it simply lets her slide in easily. I couldn't even tell the point was there when she was inside me. The point does make for some fun clitoral stimulation, though.

Theta has an insertable length of five and a half inches, and a base 1/4 inch thick and three inches long. The shaft grows from a diameter of 1/4 inch under the head to 3/4 inch atop the base. Theta's curve fit my body perfectly, and I think, because of her flexibility and unintimidating size, she would fit nearly anyone's. Her flexibility and slim size allow one to put the head nearly anywhere inside, while bending the shaft so that it massages the vaginal entrance and clitoris. I can't imagine a more user-friendly dildo.

The bullet is 1/2 inch diameter and three inches long, and fits tightly into the cavity in the base of the dildo. I've read countless reviews of rabbit vibrators that hit all the right points for some people but not for others. Theta is one excellent solution for this problem: let the user decide. Put your favorite half-inch wide bullet in and presto, a rabbit vibe you can bend to fit your body.

When I travel with Theta, I'll wrap her carefully and place her in checked luggage, somewhere she won't get squished out of shape. Explaining what she is to airport security does not sound like the most fun way to begin or end a trip.

The best thing about Theta is that the user can control the experience so directly. You can decide what kind of orgasm you would like to have with her -- clitoral, vaginal, g-spot? Or maybe you'd just like to play, use her as a warm-up, fool around a little? She's happy to provide.

While Theta is harness-compatible, I think her flexibility makes her better for hand use than in a harness.

Silicone toys like Theta can be cleaned with soap and warm water, and sanitized with a 10% bleach solution, by boiling them for three minutes, or by washing them in the top rack of the dishwasher (minus soap). Silicone attracts everything, so unless you have a dust bunny fetish, make sure to store Theta somewhere clean and dry, in her own bag or cloth. I like to wrap my silicone toys in microfiber cloths, then stick them in plastic bags. Do make sure not to store silicone toys so they're touching other toys, as this can damage them. Also, use only water-based lubes with silicone toys, as they react badly to silicone and oil-based lubes.

Theta comes in a clear plastic box, showing the dildo and bullet vibe inside clearly, and advertising the safety of Tantus' silicone. It's inoffensive and gets the job done, but isn't anything special. There are no instructions, unfortunately. The package isn't good for storage. It would be easy to wrap, however.

"Theta", the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, was used by ancient Greeks as a symbol of death. A French euphemism for an orgasm is "la petite mort" -- the little death, leading to new life and insight. This little Theta has given me many little deaths, and prepared me for more.

I wasn't terribly surprised that Theta allowed me to hit every spot I wanted her to while she was in me. Her flexible, ergonomic shape prepared me somewhat for that. What I wasn't prepared for was how she would make sex feel after I was done with her. When my boyfriend and I had sex a short while after I used her, I came in about 2 minutes flat, if that, and it was not a small orgasm. That's about 1/5 of the time it normally takes me to climax. I felt extremely sensitive the whole time, in a very good way. I've done this a few times now, and gotten the same results each time. I haven't had this experience with any other toy, and I don't know what about Theta makes it happen, but I do know that she's going with us on every vacation from now on.

A high-quality silicone toy, giving this much pleasure, at this price, is a phenomenal bargain. If you absolutely need a large or hard dildo, Theta is not for you. But if you're looking for something a little bit different, something whose shape you can manipulate to fit your body, something that will contort itself to please you, I can't recommend Theta enough. For beginners, those who like slim toys, those who like non-representational toys, and those who like to experiment: Congratulations, you've found a new best friend.