In the realm of male masturbation sleeves, there isn’t much deviation in terms of use. Aside from hands free, the basic use is for enhanced sensation during traditional stroking. Maven is no different, operating as a standard stroke based masturbation sleeve with little variation between other sleeves.

In order to use the sleeve, the penis must be liberally lubed (check materials for lube information) and a squirt or two of lube should be applied to the shallow entrance of the sleeve. Once the lube is applied to the front of the opening, squeeze it to spread the lube around the opening. Do not push the lube to the end of the sleeve, as lube quickly travels to the rear, making this a veritable lube waster.

Penis stimulation is the only use for Maven, but that doesn’t mean its options are limited to only masturbation. The Maven, as with any penis sleeve, is easily utilized for couples play for anything from hand jobs to foreplay. Due to the phallocentric nature of the Maven, it is not recommended for single women or lesbians as it does not provide any female stimulation.

Maven is made of elastomer, a relatively common material for sleeves (it’s the same material as the Tenga 3Ds). They are only slightly porous, but porous none the less, so they shouldn’t be shared unless with a condom or other method of protection. This material may be used with only silicone or water-based lubricants.

The actual texture of the Maven is immersive, but intense. The interior nubbles are small and numerous enough to massage and stimulate the penis intimately, unlike toys with larger nubbles that just seem to rub against the penis without any actual stimulation. The downside is that the material can border on mild scratching at times, especially if there isn’t enough lubrication.

The actual interior of the sleeve is firm and slick, with a tendency to be frigid. The nubbles, regardless of lubrication, always feel somewhat slick and are always solid preventing any fun that may be derived of the materials displacement.

This is probably not the best sleeve for those just starting to use male masturbators as its strong, rough stimulation may be too overwhelming. Maven is best used for intermediate to advanced users as a secondary sleeve. A sleeve that is easily cleaned and doesn’t require a lot of effort for a quick masturbation session, in contrast to say a Fleshlight, which is more time intensive, both in terms of maintenance and use.

The shape and design of the Maven leaves a lot to be desired. Aside from its unoriginality, (it’s large, blue and shaped like a rod) the opening is too narrow, it isn’t discreet, again, large blue rod, and it is difficult to store. That’s not to say there aren’t advantages, it’s very accommodating for larger users, is flexible and grips easily.

The diameter is two inches and the opening is about ¼ of that, but many sleeves have opening that are only around 1/10 of one inch. The larger opening deprives users, at least average sized users, of the all-encompassing feeling of a tighter sleeve. On the flip side, it’s quite accommodating for wider users, able to fit up to a two inch thick penis.

There’s also the size and design of the Maven. At 7 inches long with a 2 inch diameter and .25 inch circumference it’s quite large. This puts the maven out of range for many lockboxes and smaller storage areas, although not as much as Fleshlights, or other sleeves. With great length, come great accommodations, as longer users will find themselves at home with the Maven, especially considering that elastomer stretches. All but the longest of users should be able to utilize Maven without complaint (in regards to length at least).

The firm, dull surface prevents unwanted friction when handling, providing the user with complete control over the stroking. Other sleeves become slippery and difficult to handle if used with a lubricated hand, but the Maven remains stable, even if the hand has been doused in lubrication.

Finally, as a long, blue penis shaped sleeve it’s not very discreet. While not as indiscreet as a sleeve with a vagina, mouth or butt modeled at the opening, it is still clearly a sleeve. Further, its size makes storage difficult, so it’s not recommended for travel, especially air travel, and storage should include a lockable case.

There’s an important issue of performance that must be discussed: the Maven is a lube guzzler. During use, the stroking motion propels lube from the base, where the penis is inserted, to the rear of the sleeve. In differently designed sleeves this isn’t an issue, but for the Maven it’s a major hindrance.

The Tenga 3D has the same problem, but its shortness allows the lube to accumulate in an area where the penis can still utilize the lubrication. When the lubrication travels to the back of the Maven, it’s there to stay, which not only makes cleaning more difficult, but requires constant lube reapplication. This may be the Maven’s biggest flaw as it quickly depletes a user’s lube supply, which could get expensive, especially for those who use the more expensive lubricants.

The Maven’s lube guzzling tendencies make it a secondary sleeve at best. Even if the sensation was less abrasive, it would have to feel just short of magical to justify the expense of the needless squandered lube. While this cost is somewhat offset by the Maven’s relatively low price, $30 in comparison to a $45 Tenga 3D or a $70 plus Fleshlight, it will eventually cost far more than the original cost.

Care and maintenance is one of the areas where the Maven shines. Elastomer is an easy to clean material that can be washed with hot water and either soap, or toy cleaner, although boiling will only cause damage. There are two ways to clean the Maven, reversing or flushing.

While the Maven is reversible, it is not something I have attempted myself. This is a personal tendency, as I’m paranoid that reversing the sleeve will tear it apart. For those more experienced with reversing a sleeve, simply do so and place in a tub of warm, soapy water and then scrub.

Flushing, the method I prefer, is placing a small amount of liquid soap in the opening of the sleeve, flush the soap out with hot water and then place the toy in a tub of warm soapy water. Once in the water, proceed to squeeze the Maven so that it takes in soapy water and then displaces it, cleaning the sleeve. This method is more time consuming than reversing, but is less likely to result in ripping.

One final note on cleaning is related to Maven’s lube guzzling tendencies. Semen and lube will accumulate in the tip, so when cleaning, that’s the area to focus on. The small nubbles may also prove difficult to scrub between, which is why the tub of water is recommended.