First things first, the silicone used for Ako is amazing: it does not drag on skin, it is absolutely soft to the touch and it is very easy to clean. I'd strongly advise against boiling this vibe since it has electrical parts. Just a good wash with soap and water, or some regular toy cleaner and you're all good to go.

It merely feels like a tickle when this vibe is at its lowest speed setting. However, its higher speeds do deliver more stimulation. Although I usually find myself using the medium/high speed settings, I believe some users who are new to vibrators might like the lower speeds a bit more. And if you need that extra oomph, pairing Ako up with a trusty, in my case, dildo is loads of fun too. I imagine Ako would pair up well with just about any other toy you tend to favour. Ako's size allows for easy manoeuvrability without being a clumsy partner!

I've already mentioned the speeds, but where there's speed and vibration, there's noise. Yet even on the highest settings, you really can't hear a thing. However, any sound is easily muffled by playing with Ako under the covers. That's really all it takes to keep your play discreet, which is good news for people living in shared housing! And I say this as someone who lives in an apartment with the thinnest of walls.

Now for some bad news. You see, with such a compact toy, there's little room for button placement that's both accessible and still out of the range of fire. So, unfortunately, Ako's button placement is a little less than ideal. Changing speeds and modes during use isn't impossible, but it definitely is annoying. With some practice, you'll be able to switch it up one handed in no time, but I will admit to it being a pain.

Though the downsides are annoying, they really aren't off-putting enough for me not to recommend this. I've owned a few other vibes, but the Ako has wormed its way up to the top of my favourites list.

Editor's note: The reviewer used British spellings in this review, which are not to be considered as misspellings.