The Tool, by Doc Johnson, is a platinum silicone dildo. Pliable and flexible, this toy has an almost flesh-like quality, while still maintaining the solidness of silicone. With a flared base and handle to grasp, this toy is appropriate for men, women, and couples alike.

The Tool is O-Ring compatible, and can be safely used for anal play and strap-on play. Although I have been unable to test it out with a strap-on, I am unsure as to the stability that this dildo would command; the base does extend for strap-on usage, but it is a very small flare, so you may not have the kind of command that a strap-on requires, especially while pegging. Even so, this is a great dildo for hand-held usage vaginally or anally.

As soon as I removed the Tool from the package, I was certain that I smelled grape markers--I'm sure this was all in my mind, due to the beautiful purple hue of the Tool, but I thought it should be worth mentioning. After washing, the Tool is completely odorless, and tasteless.

Silicone is non-porous, phthalates free, latex free, hypo-allergenic, food-grade material, so those with sensitivities will find silicone to be a great alternative to jelly or cyberskin toys.

The Platinum silicone the toy is made of is very pliable, you can bend it completely; with the base of the toy on a table, you can bend it in the middle so that the tip of the Tool touches the table as well. However, even though it's incredibly flexible, it isn't too squishy; I find that it is definitely firm enough to insert with no issue.

The silicone does have quite a bit of drag to it when it is unlubricated, so you may find that lubricant is required for your own comfort.

Due to the nature of the material, The Tool picks up lint very easily, so you should take care when storing to try to keep it away from the nesting places of your furry friends.

The Tool is 7" long (with 6" of that being insertable) with a modest diameter of 1 3/8"; the smaller size of the toy makes it an easier ride both anal and vaginal usage. I found that, aesthetically, the toy looked like a shimmering purple stake (the kind used for nailing tents or tarps down) and as such, it is a little more subtle than other dildos with more lifelike/realistic designs; if privacy is a concern, this may be a better choice than penis shaped dildos.

The tool is completely seamless and texture-free except for the drag of the toy and the small "Doc Johnson" stamped into the handle/flare of the dildo.

Although the size is on the smaller end, I found that it felt bigger once inserted, especially when minimal lubricant was applied. I loved the smoothness of the toy, I felt that the texture made each thrust count more because it was easy to handle. And, speaking of handles, the toy's handle makes it easy to grip and thrust with.

It also transmitted vibrations well through the silicone; the base is flat and as such a vibrator can be pressed against it to send vibrations up to the very tip of the toy. The Tool also held on to heat well, and warmed up nicely, reaching body-temperature quickly.

The Tool can be used anally, as well, but if you intend to share it between partners or orifices it should be sanitized rather than cleaned, or a condom should be used to prevent diseases and infections.

The Tool is easy to maintain, but, as I mentioned earlier, it does attract dust, hair, fluff and lint, so it should be cleaned both before and after usage; luckily silicone is easy to maintain and care for, and can be completely sanitized in a myriad of ways. Silicone can be fully disinfected by boiling it for 3 minutes or by throwing it into the top rack of your dishwasher (skip the detergent!) For routine cleaning, antibacterial soap and water cleanings are fine, because there is no mechanical component this dildo is waterproof.

The only caution against silicone that there is, is that it can't be stored with other silicone toys and cannot be used with silicone lubricants.

The Tool comes packaged in an attractive box reading, "Doc Johnson, Platinum Premium Silicone." The back of the box has some information about the properties of silicone in six languages (Russian, English, German, Italian, French and Spanish). It also has a stamp certifying it as being made in the USA. The box has a bit of Styrofoam in the front, extending it so that it can be displayed; the packaging also stands upright and is very attractive, so it would be easy to use for gifting. You could use the box for storage, and you can remove the extended front part so you save on space.

I'm still completely convinced that it smells like a grape marker, but it's not an unpleasant scent, and at this point I'm not sure if it's from my soap or it's actually in the silicone. The base of the toy is completely odorless, though, so if you are very sensitive, you may want to be cautious. I believe the odor has to do with the fact that it's made of Doc Johnson's Platinum silicone, rather than traditionally odorless silicone.