The intended use of this product is as a back/body massager, and I use it like that all the time. At the end of the day, when I come home all tensed and stressed, I reach for my Hitachi and treat myself to a little back and shoulder massage. And man, do I feel good afterwards. Sometimes, after that, I take it a little bit lower. Well, a lot lower. If I wasn't relaxed by the back massage, I sure will be by the time I get done downstairs.

The Hitachi is really only suitable for external use. I definitely do not recommend playing cave explorer with this beast. If you really want to use it internally, either buy one of the many attachments out there for it, or use a silicone toy that conducts vibrations well and press the Hitachi up against the end of it. It makes for a fantastic stimulator around the vulva and outside the anus, and of course, around the clit. For me, it's a little too strong for sensitive areas like my nipples. The vibrations are NOT for beginners or sensitive users. Some may want to use this over clothing or wrap a small towel/dish cloth over the head to muffle the vibrations a bit. I generally use it over panties or my PJs.

You can use the Hitachi by yourself or with a partner and give them a "full body" massage. If you plan to go all Han Solo with this thing, know that it is EXTREMELY loud. Make sure you're in a place you can make some noise without disturbing or being disturbed.

The long handle is made of hard, smooth plastic, while the head feels like a hard rubber. The neck is pretty flexible, but be careful not to bend it too much or it may break. The Hitachi did have a sort of rubbery smell to it when I first pulled it out or the box, but that wore off pretty quickly. The head has a sort of bumpy texture, but that's not all that noticeable once you start using it. I'd be careful keeping it stored in hot places. Mine has a little melted spot on the head that I'm guessing got there from my vigorous usage. The material feels pretty quality, so if you're not too rough with it, you might be able to get years of life out of it.

At about a foot long, this vibrator is a mammoth. That makes it difficult to hide, but luckily its simple design makes it easy to pass off as just a back massager (which is what it actually is anyway). The large size of the head doesn't make it very useful for pinpoint vibrations. That really wasn't a problem for me, though. If that's a deal breaker for you, there are always attachments out there that work pretty well.

The Hitachi probably is not the best for travel, what with it being so huge and all. Also, the plug is set up for US power outlets, so if you're traveling anywhere else you'd have to use a converter, and that runs the chance of breaking your toy.

The only controls on this is the little switch about half way down the shaft. The placing is pretty convenient, at least for me. I haven't had any trouble with accidentally hitting the switch while using it. It has a high setting, and a low setting. The low setting is probably what most of you are going to want to stick with. The vibrations are more than enough for anyone. But, if you really need some big time vibes, the high setting will probably satisfy you. As I've mentioned, the Hitachi is very, very loud. I mean, hear it through the door and down the hall loud. If you live in an apartment with thin walls, your neighbors may begin to hate you. What I do to hide the noise is to turn on some music and the TV, and have a fan or my air conditioning running. That works pretty well. I'm sure only having music on or whatever else would be fine, too.

Also, the Hitachi is in NO WAY waterproof. I strongly advise only using it in dry places.

This is a very low maintenance toy. A quick wipe-down with a wet washcloth or your favorite toy cleaner will do. If you want to use a lubricant with it, both water and silicone are fine. It does stain, though, so keep that in mind.

It comes in a long cardboard box with a picture of it along the side, plus pictures of a woman using it as a muscle massager. You can keep it in the box if you'd like, but it really isn't all that great for storage. It also probably isn't the best for a gift box for gift giving as is, but some wrapping paper can change that. With a picture of it on the side and the pictures of the woman, some might not find it all that discreet. So do bear that in mind.

This toy does come with a sheet of instructions, telling you all of the do's and do not's. Basically, it tells you to keep it away from water, let it get some air while running, and how the switch functions.

Definitely the best investment I've ever made! At $55, I was a little apprehensive at first. I hemmed and I hawed for a while over whether or not I should get it, and boy am I glad I did. When it first arrived, I'll admit it seemed a bit intimidating. I mean, the thing is huge! And then there's those extreme vibrations. I don't dare put that thing on high. That thing would vibrate my ladybits right off. I used it through clothing until I got more used to it on its lowest setting, and I still find I prefer to use it over my panties or PJ pants.

Never had I had such an intense orgasm. Hitachi completely rocks my world. I climax three or four times a row with this baby, and by climax I mean a full body orgasm powerful enough to make my teeth chatter for ten minutes afterwards. The only downside to it is I have to take "sensitivity breaks" every now and then and go a week or two to get sensitivity back in my whatnots. Too much use and you start to lose feeling. That, and now I'm completely jaded when it comes to other clitoral stimulators, which make up the majority of my toybox. Absolutely nothing compares to the Hitachi.