The First Time Mini-Vibe is actually very well named. It is small, sleek, and completely non-threatening. It's a rather ideal starter vibe for those ordering their first toy or transitioning from standard dildos to vibrators without knowing your tolerance for vibration.

The First Time Mini-Vibe is a rather standard torpedo vibe with a dial base and runs off 1 AA battery. It can be used to stimulate the clitoris and labia well enough with the gently rounded tip and is also easy for penetration (it's just barely an inch in diameter).

One thing that the Mini-Vibe has going for it in spades, though, is noise level. Many torpedo vibes, especially on the lower end of the price spectrum, tend to sound something akin to a leaf blower or a jackhammer (and are decidedly more bark than bite). The Mini-Vibe, with its gentle, sweet vibrations never reached better than a sultry purr, even at it's highest setting. Definitely ideal if you're in a roommate situation or simply don't like noise.

It claims to be waterproof, but I would caution that it's really more "splash proof" than anything. The velvety plastic body and dial base unscrew and are cushioned by a rubber washer that can keeps the battery compartment dry. Even so, I wouldn't get too adventurous in a tub or pool if I were you.

The Mini-Vibe is composed of velvet-finish plastic.

For those who are not allergic to plastics, it's a very safe material and fairly hypoallergenic because it is easy to clean and store. An antibacterial wipe or rub down with some antibacterial soap after use and the mini-vibe is ready to be put away until you're ready to pull it out once more.

This particular vibe is practically odorless. I had to press the plastic actually up to my nose and really inhale before I got a whiff of any sort of 'toy' smell. For people with sensitive noses, it's definitely something to consider because at least you're not going to be overpowered by some unpleasant chemical scent that can occasionally accompany plastic toys.

The texture of the velvet finish, however, is something I wanted to mention. Many companies push the whole "velvety" thing and typically for me it ends up falling flat. The material is either too sheer, or it's matte rather than 'velvety' and tends to drag on skin and absorb moisture (requiring reapplication of lube and so on). Not so with the mini-vibe! It is actually incredibly pleasing to just touch and hold, running it along smooth skin such as thighs or the underside of forearms was quite relaxing and very pleasant.

As mentioned previously, the Mini-vibe is a fairly standard torpedo vibe. For anyone who has not heard this term before, it merely refers to the shape of the vibrator, typically one that is long and cylindrical with one end that tapers to a point and has a flatter base. The base typically is a dial control which screws off to reveal the battery compartment.

This is exactly what the mini-vibe is. It was larger than I had anticipated but that being said? It was also incredibly small. When I used it for penetration I didn't feel anything, really. It was about as simple and sensation-less as putting in a tampon.

Being that it is a quintessential torpedo vibrator, however, I cannot call it discreet. It is small and easy to hide, though. At only 5.5" in length, the mini-vibe is concealable in pillow cases, purses, luggage, even a rather roomy pocket.

For me this is not ideal, but I have known several women over time who could likely have benefited from a first time vibrator this size. They might not be intimidated by larger vibrators, but their anatomy simply won't accommodate. In this way, I think that the First Time Mini-Vibe actually shines because it seems like it would be successful for its target audience. The smaller shaft diameter enables women who have narrower or tighter vaginas to work with their anatomy without any extreme discomfort or pain. The vibrations aren't anything to be wowed by, but if it's someone's first vibrator that might be considered a benefit as well.

1 AA battery is all that is required to power the mini-vibe. That should tell you what to expect in terms of maximum power, but it never hurts to elaborate.

The mini-vibe is multispeed in the same way any dial-base vibrator is. Turning the base turns the vibrator on at its lowest setting and continuing to turn it will gradually (or quickly, depending on your rate of turnage) increase the intensity of the vibrations until you reach the limit. This makes it a remarkable simple design and nice for anyone that doesn't like to be bothered with remembering awkward button sequences while in the middle of masturbating.

The Mini-vibe registers at about a 1 on my personal VROOM scale, although I know I am rather skewed. Being generous, I'd say with fresh batteries it can claw its way up to a 2, but it's not likely to stay there long. I was using the mini-vibe for less than 10 minutes before there was a noticeable drop in intensity. Something that can sap energy that fast typically isn't up my alley, if only because I hate buying batteries weekly.

That being said, the Mini-vibe gets another 1 from me, although this time it's definitely a positive. A 1 for BUZZ, because this is possibly the quietest vibrator I own. Bullets are louder than this by a wide margin, luxury vibrators padded in expensive silicone are MUCH louder. If sound is a concern and you require only gentle vibrations to carry you through to orgasm? Definitely worth looking into.

Being a splash resistant plastic torpedo, the First Time Mini-Vibe is, again, actually fairly ideal for beginners in terms of maintenance.

Unlike jellies or PVC, anything complicated and porous, the Mini-Vibe is a solid plastic shaft with a plastic cap. When you're done having your fun with it, just hop on over to your bathroom and give it a quick rinse down and gently scrub with antibacterial soap. The hardest part will be trying to clean it if you have the cap off, in which case you are advised to do your best not to get moisture into the battery compartment (or else risk a dead vibe).

Because the velvet-finish is not matte or high-gloss, or any other plastic finish it does not attract lint or dust at all. I actually left mine in a cardboard box for nearly two weeks while I was rearranging my room and when I pulled it out again the mini-vibe hadn't attracted so much as one spec of dust. For those in a house with smokers or pets with dander, anything that doesn't attract lint, dirt, or hair is always a godsend.

While this was not an ideal toy for me? I know a few women I'd likely recommend it to. I am not a beginner and this was not my first vibe (not by a long shot). However, had I been a beginner? This might have been a nice introduction. I honestly do recommend it to any woman who feels most vibrators or dildos are either overpowered and/or too large to fit with your personal anatomy. There's no reason you should be left out!

Conversely, for those women with pretty much any experience? You're best passing on this one. Unless you know a great girlfriend who could benefit from a friendly introduction to an excellent new pastime.

Even though the mini-vibe was unable to bring me to orgasm, I don't really want to mark it down. Just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it wouldn't be able to work for other women. I feel that it would be effective for its target audience: women easing themselves into the realm of sex toys.

My personal experience mostly involved me using this to gently massage and relax rather than to get myself excited and bring myself to climax. Sometimes, relaxing, gentle feelings are just as valuable as teeth-rattling, earth-shaking power tools.