This is, theoretically at least, a G-spot vibrator; it’s right there in the name. Now, I’m not the sort of person who can get off from G-spot stimulation alone, but I like it enough that I decided to invest in a toy designed specifically for that purpose. Unfortunately, for reasons that I will delve into later, this is not really a good introduction to G-spot stimulation. In an effort to salvage the situation, I tried using the iTap as a clitoral vibrator, with even more mixed results. At its highest setting, it’s powerful enough that I could probably eke an orgasm out of it, but frankly, there are way better toys if you’re looking to stimulate your clit. I would definitely NOT use this as an anal toy; there’s no flared base and it’s so thin that you could easily lose hold of it. So while I’ve wracked my brains, I can’t really think of any demographic that that the iTap might appeal to; no matter what kind of stimulation you like, I guarantee there’s a better option available.

I’m a fan of Velvet Cote, so the texture was possibly the best thing about the iTap. I’m sure it’s partly psychological, but regular plastic feels really hard to me; Velvet Cote definitely isn’t squishy, but it’s soft to the touch and less slippery, which goes a long way with me. It’s also non-porous and phthalate-free, so it’s a pretty safe material.

I have nothing to complain about in terms of the iTap’s appearance. There’s nothing particularly remarkable about it – it would be nice if more toys would branch out into colors other than pink, lilac, and white – but there’s nothing objectionable about it either. I have a weird aesthetic aversion to shiny plastic, so I appreciated the fact that the iTap has a matte finish.

The iTap is also average in terms of discreetness. It’s certainly not a realistic vibrator, but if I saw it on a coffee table, I would be hard-pressed to think of what non-sexual purpose it could possibly serve – particularly since it tends to turn on and off with every passing breeze. I wouldn’t leave it lying around, but it’s not very large (about 7 1/2” long), so it’s easy to hide in a drawer.

Actually, the size is one of the better things about this vibrator. It has a diameter of 1” so it’s quite slim; I’d even go so far as to say that it’s small enough to be used comfortably by someone who has little to no experience with penetration, or for people like me, who just have very stubborn anatomy. Sadly, the pointiness of the tip cancels out a lot of the comfort provided by the iTap’s size. It doesn’t look that bad, but trust me: when you’re putting it somewhere as sensitive as your vagina, it definitely feels like you’re being poked rather than touched, stroked, or massaged. Unless you know for a fact you like this feeling, I’d get something with a more rounded head.

By far the most frustrating thing about the iTap is that in trying to be easier to use, it has become infinitely harder. A vibrator activated solely by touch may seem like a good idea – it certainly did to me when I bought it – but there are several problems with the execution. First of all, it’s almost impossible to screw the base on with the battery coil fighting you the entire way; if you don’t get it lined up just right, the base will fly right off. This is a problem I’ve rarely had with other toys, so I’m not quite sure what to make of it, but I’m sure it could be easily solved by changing the screw-on cap so that it’s a bit easier to line up.

In any case, getting the base on is only half the battle. The iTap is extremely sensitive to touch; you don’t need to tap the base so much as brush it for it to turn on or switch settings. Needless to say, it is incredibly irritating to be getting into the rhythm of a particular setting only to have the vibrator change gears when your pinkie accidentally touches the base.

You might think that this problem could be easily solved by holding the toy closer to the head, but you’d be wrong, because the iTap also has the annoying habit of switching on and off if you jostle it, turn it upside down, or exert too much pressure. Yes, it generally turns back on in a second, but worrying about whether my vibrator will suddenly and unexpectedly bow out is pretty much the last thing I want on my mind when I’m using it. I don’t think that my iTap is defective, either, because it does seem to work better depending on how I screw on the cap; unfortunately, I can’t figure out what I’m doing differently those times that the vibe is more consistent.

With regards to the actual vibration – well, if I’m going to use a toy with so many problems, I expect the pay-off to be pretty amazing, which it wasn’t. The vibrations aren’t bad per se, they’re just not good enough to justify all of the hassle needed to get the thing running. The first setting is constant, gentle vibration – it felt weak against my clit but somewhat nice internally. The second is constant, stronger vibration, which was pleasant, but not any more powerful than the vibrations you can get from dozens of other battery-operated vibes. The other three settings are all different pulsation patterns: short short long, steady (short) pulses, and a stronger pulse followed by a weaker one. Again, these were okay but not great. I actually sort of liked the last one, but by then the iTap had switched off so many times that any break in vibration made me think it was about to drop out again, so I couldn’t relax and enjoy it. It also seemed like, regardless of setting, the vibrations were not as strong in the tip of the toy, but rather in the section of the shaft near the head, which will annoy anyone who likes pinpoint vibrations.

The iTap is very easy to clean. You can use soap and water on it, provided you don’t actually submerge the whole toy (particularly the base). I usually unscrew the base, take the batteries out, and rinse off the shaft of the toy, being careful not to get any water inside of it. Of course, you can also use toy cleaner if you own it. The “Velvet Cote” that it’s made from is technically non-porous, but it can’t really be sterilized, so if you want to share the toy, plan on using a condom. It’s also compatible with water- or silicone-based lubricant, which is convenient.

The iTap comes in a pretty standard cardboard box, but considering that it’s manufactured by California Exotics it’s a pretty discrete container – no naked people in sight, at least. It’s definitely clear what it’s used for, though, and I immediately tossed the box in the recycling bin, so it’s nothing particularly memorable either.