The Tenga 3D is a newcomer to the upscale but more affordable arena of male masturbation sleeves. Having tried and been disappointed by highly rated very expensive ones, like Tenga's own Flip Hole Black, and less expensive ones, like the Beauty Sleeve, I was really eager to see what types of cool sensations the pile texture could produce, and if it could out perform my usual go-to; the Fujiko Velvet Touch. I am happy to say that Fujiko may have finally met her match!

Tenga's new 3D line of textures are a new twist (literally) on some of the traditional and tried and true textures that many current masturbation sleeves use, opting for some much more radical and technical features. You can choose from five different textures that offer everything from the truly unique Pile, the random feel of Module, or an all-out stimulation overload with Zen. I chose the Pile since it seemed to have the most interesting looking texture.

As the name implies, the Pile features a soft triangle shaped randomly ribbed texture that gradually increases in frequency and "piles up" as you go from the top (closed end) to the bottom (opening) of the toy. This produces a much different sensation than typical toys that have a consistent or evenly spaced texture throughout. Instead of having the same sensation or same level of intensity, the pile mimics a more/less principle as you stroke. For some, this can produce a much more explosive orgasm since you don't get tired of the sensations, and have that little extra intensity near the opening to take you over the edge when you want it.

When the package arrived, I ripped open the box and found the toy encased in a sweet looking see-though plastic dome and black pedestal with the toy turned inside out. There stood the toy in all it's glory; it's texture taunting me from inside. I quickly succumbed to the Pile's mind game. I grabbed some lube, got comfortable, and started my...homework.

The shape and design of the Tenga 3D is remarkable. One look at the textures alone is enough to make you drool. Since the toy ships inside out, you must turn it right side in before you begin. When you do, the outside of the toy takes on a dumbbell like shape. This allows you to easily place the center in the palm of your hand while the two bumps on both ends help keep it from unexpectedly slipping away when you're going 60mph or faster.

I must admit, I have historically not been a fan of closed-end sleeves. While many men have claimed the suction feel was what made them really stellar, it's never done it for me. In my own experience, I've often found that the closed-end toys were noisier and less discreet, since the air couldn't escape, or that all the lube would get trapped at the top instead of where it really needed to be. That said, the Tenga 3D exceeded my expectations in this department. It did not have the usual loud annoying sucking noises, and the lube stayed in the grooves of the textures instead of collecting at the top. Woohoo! That said, always make sure you've got plenty of lube on hand to make your play time pleasurable, and so you avoid damaging the toy or getting rubbed the wrong way.

The overall length is nice, about 4 1/2", which gives it many advantages. First, the smaller length and diameter makes it easy to hold in one hand, and easy for women to use as well. This is a clear advantage over the Flip Hole, which can be awkward or require two hands to operate. Second, it's easy to store. This can be stashed in a bag, drawer, or discreetly hidden in an undisclosed location much easier than a Fleshlight or Flip Hole. Third, it will fit just about anyone. While some extremely large men may opt for a larger toy for more coverage, the average to below average man can enjoy this easily without having to buy more texture than you'll ever get to enjoy.

The girth of the Pile is also well suited. The flexible material can accommodate almost anyone by either stretching out, or by giving it a little extra squeeze with your hand. Girthy men will enjoy that they won't feel like they're cramming a jackhammer into a pinhole, and skinnier men won't feel like they're probing a needle into a cavern; you get the idea.

By now, I'm sure you're asking "how the heck does it feel?" In a word: amazing.

When I slipped into the Pile for the first time, my initial thought was "this is interesting." The Pile texture was definitely not like any of the others I've tried, and the new texture was sending my cock into total stimulation confusion; it wasn't sure whether to hide, or stay for more.

After a few more strokes, my thoughts quickly changed from "this is interesting" to "this is niiiiiice!" The new and unpredictable sensations became much more exciting and enjoyable. Pile's texture was somewhat unpredictable, and I enjoyed the increase and decrease of intensity as I slid it up and down the head and shaft. I especially enjoyed experimenting with it while changing the tightness and stroking pattern, and found that a corkscrew like stroke produced an extremely intense feel. Ultimately, Pile's love triangles prevailed, stimulating the head of my cock until I couldn't take it anymore.

Care and maintenance is very easy, but you must exercise some care in what products you use with it. Since the Tenga is already infused with a silver based anti-microbial agent, it will help stay grime free as long as you clean it regularly. This also means it can react to certain types of lubes.

Before initial use, I'd suggest rinsing it off to eliminate the very slight new odor, and to make sure no debris is inside. After use, thoroughly wash the toy inside and out with your favorite antibacterial soap or toy cleaner, and rinse with water. Since the toy is closed on one end, be sure to either pat the toy dry inside and out, or flip it inside out (with texture side out) and return it to its stand to air dry. Try not to store the toy until it has dried completely to avoid unwanted moisture problems later.

A WORD OF CAUTION!
After a recent chemical reaction we experienced with the toy, I want to warn those of you who also frequently use an arousal/tingling/warming lube. During use with one of our favorite lubes, Colt Slick, we also decided to add a little Clitoral Arousal Gel to spice things up. This didn't go as planned.

After a few minutes of use, the lube turned from slick and smooth into a off-white almond paste like/sugary toothpaste consistency. At first, we weren't sure what to think of this. But after turning the toy inside out to clean it, we found a new surprise. The inside of the sleeve had a half-dollar sized bright pink spot near the front. We attempted to wash it with just water, and a second time with soap, but the spot did not subside. Eventually, the reaction spread through the wall of the toy, making it visible on the outside of the sleeve as well. We dried it thoroughly and let it sit for a few days. It's still pink.

It's worth noting that the Tenga suggests using water based lubes, which both are, but do not list any items to avoid in the instructions, or online. Since we're not chemists, we're assuming it was a chemical reaction between the silver infused anti-microbial agents in the toy, and either the menthol or other anti-microbial agents in the arousal gel. We are going to submit this occurrence to Tenga for review so that they can further investigate this and possibly update their user recommendations. That said, Eden has been fabulous in helping with an easy exchange of the toy, and we'll make sure we omit the arousal gels during future uses until more information is available.

As noted before, the Tenga 3D comes packaged in a sleek and stylish minimalist black pedestal container with a clear see through dome top. This allows you to clearly see the texture of the model you've purchased. A hidden compartment under the pedestal contains a sample pack of "real" feeling Tenga lube (good for 1-2 uses), and a set of very brief care and use information. The folks at Tenga pretty much assume you can figure out how to use this toy without much instruction. If you do need details, you might just want to return to using your left hand.

The packaging is very well thought-out and sturdy enough for shipping, but I don't think it's really designed for long term use. For most people, the stand will probably not be your permanent storage location. Yes, it is nice looking and functional for air flow for drying, but it is certainly far from discreet with its see through dome. As others have mentioned, the unique texture of the Tenga is certainly interesting to look at and doesn't scream pocket pussy like some of the more realistic models, but I still would not leave this out in the open ever! The last thing you'll want to do is to explain the "interesting looking calamari-textured white tube" sitting in the corner of the room to the wrong audience.

For those of you who travel, the original packaging is definitely not travel friendly. Once the security stickers are removed, you cannot lock the container lid shut. I would recommend getting a small toy bag to store it instead. Since we have other more discreet storage options, like drawers, boxes and toy bags, the packaging quickly made it's way to the recycle bins.

I can't believe how sweet this toy is! I really, really wish Tenga had released these sooner. I probably could have saved myself years of let-downs and a considerable amount of cash for sure! Despite the odd chemical reaction, I can't wait to experiment with (and review) the other new textures. In fact, I liked it so much that my favorite sleeve, the Fujiko Velvet Touch, has just been replaced with this!