The O2 Max is just as its name suggests, the “Max” of the O2 stable. Drawing on the successful “third generation” Luke, the Max stretches the Luke's length by an extra 1-3/4", producing a toy that's great for those who like big or will use it in a harness.

O2 has a firm core that provides structure and stiffness that is covered by a soft silicone surface. The effect is excellent, with the dildo having enough stiffness for easy use, while the squishy top coat is great to squeeze down on and enables the texturing to be stimulating yet not irritating, even when used anally.

As in other O2 products, the soft coating is asymmetric, with more “squish” on the side that would be the bottom if you were “wearing” the dildo. The core is about 1-1/2" in diameter, covered by 1/8" of soft silicone at the top and close to 1/2" at the bottom. The total shaft diameter only exceeds 2” at the base, for the rest of the toy's eight insertable inches it's 1-7/8” diameter. The stiff core ends at the base of the soft and squishy head – nice for play or insertion. The asymmetric design closely mimics the texture of an erect penis, squishier on the bottom then the top.

The head is stylized, smooth, and shiny. The coronal ridge is noticeable and stimulating, but at about 1/8” of protrusion it's not enough to catch on a pubic bone or the folds of the rectum. Right underneath there are some “wrinkles” of silicone which may be intended to be a small foreskin, but they also do a great job of adding a bit of stimulation and further protection against the coronal ridge “catching” on anything. From here down on the shaft of the O2 Max the texture is minor, provided by the matte silicone surface and four veins cast in the soft silicone layer.

The shaft of the O2 Max is straight. When used with a harness the effect is not quite as “perky.” It's still very functional, and the lack of a curve means that the O2 Max will work equally well in any position rather than having “favored” positions. All things considered I don't see this as a downside.

If anyone may have thought that this might be semi-realistic, that ends as soon as you see the base. This dildo is well-hung. “Suspended” about two inches below the dildo and cast in the soft material, the balls do add to the realism substantially. The density of the soft material is just about right for a real feel, though the surface is smooth rather than wrinkled (for easy clean-up). Between the balls there's a thin ridge of soft silicone, and it's a good idea to be careful with this, as it's the most likely spot on the toy for tearing to begin. I have yet to have any problems with mine.

The peanut-shaped base is very easy to hold and manipulate, the base shape enabling you to easily tell which way is “up.” The base is flat – there is no suction cup included, nor is there a provision for mounting a removable one such as the Tantus Suction Cup. The stiff “core” silicone extends throughout the base (over 3/8" deep), enabling the O2 Max to stand up on its own. The combination of stiff base and the extended portion with the “balls” can make the O2 Max an excellent choice for harness use as long as you have a large O-ring and a harness that can work around the balls (Sportsheets' Latigo Leather or Aslan's Commando both work). You might have some trouble if your O-ring connects to a back pad, as the balls may get in the way. If your harness will hold the base then you'll have good dildo support.

This is an advanced toy, but if you're ready for it it's ready for you, no matter how you want to play. It's safe and feels great vaginally, anally, orally (the 100% silicone is flavorless and odor-free), or elsewhere. Clean-up is a breeze - you can wash it with soap and water and sanitize with bleach or boiling water. You can use almost any water or oil-based lube with it, but it's best to avoid silicone lubes. After use, protect it in storage because of the soft surface. If you get a dusty or hairy dildo, a quick rinse or rub down with a wet cloth is the best way to clean it up for use.

Many people wonder how O2 compares with VixSkin. Materials-wise they're very similar, the main difference being the O2's asymmetric core. The soft coating on VixSkin is noticeably thicker than on O2, with between a quarter and a half an inch all around. The dildo designs that Vixen and Tantus make in their materials are different, so here I'm going to compare the O2 Max with the similarly-sized Vixen Maverick.

If you take off the balls and look closely then it's obvious that the Maverick is actually the more realistic dildo of the two. The head is much more realistic, with a much more defined corona and meatus. The shaft is also more realistic, with a bulge for the urethra on the bottom, sculpted bulge on the top for the retracted foreskin, and an excellent texture that runs down the shaft composed of small, irregular depressions that hold lubricant and feel great. The Maverick also has a curve in the shaft for increased prostate or G-spot stimulation.

The downside of the Maverick is the corona, which tends to catch on the pubic bone or interior folds of the rectum. Indeed, if I'm not careful anal use can lead to some bleeding. I have never had, nor heard of the head of the O2 Max catching on anything inside. The base of the O2 Max is also easier to hold onto. Vixen puts a suction cup in the Maverick that isn't present on the O2 Max, but I found it was quite sensitive to the surface it is stuck to, and if the surface isn't absolutely smooth and clean it pops off soon.

In general, though I like many things about the Maverick (especially the shaft texturing), the better head of the O2 Max makes it my go-to recommendation for a large real-feel dildo because you don't need to worry about uncomfortable catching. The easy-grab base makes play simple, and cleanup afterwards is a breeze.