We are a couple in our late 50s who have been in to pegging for about 13 years. Right from the get-go we were looking for dildo/harness arrangements that gave my wife good physical stimulation. To this end we have tried the Julie Ashton kit, the Vixen Nexus double dildo, the Feeldoe in both Original and Stout versions as well as the original Fun Factory Share. The Share XL is our latest, and currently favorite dildo that we have been using for just over 3 years.

We have never found any dildo to work well 'strapless' so all the dildos above, the XL included, have been used with some form of harness for support. A harness seems especially effective in the case of the Share and Share XL because the wide saddle of the toy presses on the clit/pubic mound so holding the dildo up with a harness projects the toy up and forward giving a bit more 'reach' and making firm thrusting possible without the dildo being pushed back too far. A harness, especially of the thong type with a central back strap also helps to make sure that, as the toy slides back while thrusting, the saddle pushes the bulb deeper into the wearer.

The XL comes in the same packaging as the Share, which adds to the initial impression of size as it bulges slightly to accommodate this chunkier version. We like the packaging, which is in Fun Factory's usual restrained style - white and red with silver trim-line and magnetic catches. It does not shout 'sex toy' from the other side of the room and is all the better for it.

After getting over the initial shock about the size we were struck by the quality of the silicone molding. It has a very uniform light satin finish all over except where the Fun Factory name is molded into the side. The material is a soft-ish grade of silicone that lends the toy some 'give' - something we like as it allows for easier insertion of a big toy while allowing it to give a satisfying feeling of fullness when inside. The downside of the softness is that the narrow neck of the 'bulb' of the toy is very flexible and the toy has a distinct tendency to droop under its own weight.

To be fair, this is a common problem with this type of dildo: the Feeldoe Stout, for example, is made from a much firmer grade of silicone but again it has a very narrow neck to the bulb which can't really support the weight of the receiver's end. For us, this is a non-issue because of the use of a harness.

We use a 'ringless' harness that we made, fashioned rather like a strong leather thong that simply supports the dildo firmly against the clit. Many commercial harnesses would probably achieve much the same result so long as they can be adjusted low enough, have a through-hole at the ring, and a ring of at least 40mm to take the girth.

The bulb at the wearer's end is rather large - significantly bigger than that on any of the other types we have used - and with a fairly pronounced ridge which my wife assures me she can feel and is an improvement on the un-ridged bulb of the original Share. The receiver's end is also rather large and was a significant challenge despite my being quite experienced at pegging. The softness of the material made it easier to receive than the firmer Feeldoe Stout, which is similar in girth. However, The rippling of the shaft means that there is a ridge well positioned to stimulate the prostate however deeply the dildo is inserted. I find this works well for me as I orgasm more easily when getting the feeling of fullness from deep penetration combined with prostate stimulation. With a conventional 'headed' dildo much of the prostate stimulation seems lost once the dildo head is inserted beyond the prostate.