This toy was definitely not what I expected, and I couldn't be happier about that. I was drawn to the Pipedream Tender Touch for its spiral texture; however, in action the curved, spiral ribbing feels under-pronounced and more traditional than I anticipated, and I found the straight (although flexible) shaft less satisfying than curved toys. Of course, what didn’t wow me might be exactly what someone else needs, so don’t let my preferences deter you.

The Tender Touch may not have conformed to my expectations, but it surpassed them in another aspect: it reaches startlingly, fantastically strong vibrations at its highest setting. I've been searching in earnest for a good, strong clit vibe, and this guess-I'll-settle-for-what's-available-to-review toy surprised me by being exactly what I wanted. And, hey, it's also waterproof!

The motor is located in the tip, so the vibrations start at their most powerful in the first inch and transfer down through the shaft, where they are less intense but still noticeable. The center of the shaft is hollow, which lessens the vibration strength but allows the toy to be bent. When used vaginally, bending the base down presses the tip of the shaft--with its range from subtle to HIGH vibrations--against the g-spot. I wouldn't recommend this toy for p-spotting as it lacks a flared base and without one it isn't long enough to be safe for anal play (6 ¾ in. long, 5 ½ in. insertable).

This toy is fun for couples of any gender combination to use together. My boyfriend likes low to medium vibration on the base of his dick, and although this toy is much larger than the bullets and rings we normally use, it’s fun for him too.

Some safety tips:

If you’re non-monogamous and want to share the Tender Touch with a partner (no pun intended), using a condom is a safe bet since the toy is made of a semi-porous material.

This toy is made of TPR silicone, a silicone-based rubber compound that ranks at 6/10 on the safety scale. It collects lint, hair, dust, etc. that it comes into contact with, so it’s a good idea to store it someplace clean and dry. The box it comes in is flimsy, clear plastic with an insert molded to the vibrator’s shape, which makes a good storage option.

Don't use silicone lube with silicone toys, as it can cause the material to break down. Eden recommends using antibacterial soap and warm water to clean TPR silicone toys before and after each use. Because of its material and motor component, don’t try to sanitize the Tender Touch by boiling it. Doing so will break it, and then you’ll be bummed that you’re out an awesome vibrator.

The only issues I have with this toy are that the high setting is loud, and that it operates by a twist-dial at the base. This particular dial doesn’t seem to want to stay locked at the highest setting, which is annoying because that is my favorite vibration level. It also turns on very easily--an accidental nudge sets it vrooming against the sheets. For that reason, I’d recommend taking the batteries out of the toy between uses. Mine somehow got nudged into the lowest setting and drained the batteries. I‘m gonna state the obvious here: dead batteries are a super lame discovery to make when your lover is pounding you doggy-style and you’re just a minute or two of vibration away from simultaneous orgasm. So yeah, it’s a good idea to take the batteries out when our pretty purple friend is off.

Trying to determine online whether a toy has the type of vibration you’re looking for is kind of an inexact science, to say the least, and the information in reviews is incredibly relative, but I’m going to try to make a comparison that will hopefully make it a little clearer and give you an idea of how strong the vibrations are/aren’t.

I ordered this toy at the same time as the Hitachi Magic Wand and, being a massager, Hitachi is MUCH stronger, but the Tender Touch Spiral at its highest setting is the most intense I‘ve felt in a traditional vibrator. I can have an external orgasm with each of them, but I find Hitachi numbing sometimes and prefer Pipedream. I have a couple of little vibes touted as “intensity bullets”, and it takes me a lot of effort to get off with those. In order of strength, I would rank them: Intensity Bullet, Tender Touch Spiral, and Hitachi Magic Wand, with a small gap in strength difference between a bullet and the Spiral, and then a larger gap between the Spiral and the Hitachi.

I hope this review gave you a clearer idea of what the Pipedream Tender Touch Spiral is all about, and if you have any questions, you’re welcome to post them here for a public reply or message me privately. Thanks for reading!

This vibe stopped working after only two months of moderate use. There seems to be a problem with the motor - it feels as though the batteries are dying, because the vibration speed flunctuates between going at full power (which has declined in strength from what it was when I first received this toy) and then nearly shutting off. I have tried it with several fresh sets of batteries but the problem remains consistent. It's a big disappointment. I thought I had finally found my go-to clit vibe with just the right amount of power, but it seems the Tender Touch Spiral wasn't built to last. Despite the let-down, I will probably replace it and cross my fingers that it lasts longer the second time.