I first tried Maximus over five years ago, upon recommendation of a friend who was far more experienced with anal sex. I balked upon seeing the price tag--I was a broke college student at the time, and it seemed a bit expensive. He encouraged me to try it anyway, and I reluctantly purchased a bottle.

Once I tried Maximus, however, I understood why it was worth the expense. Thick and slightly sticky, this lube has excellent staying power. New to anal play, I had limited experience with lubricants and found that KY and Astroglide were a bit runny and thin, and they therefore needed to be frequently and copiously applied. In addition to being messy, stopping to relube had been annoying and prevented me from fully immersing myself in the moment, which made it difficult to accommodate a single finger. Feeling the cool, slippery feeling of Maximus on my skin for the first time, I noticed that it stayed where it was applied, and continued to work even after many minutes of exploration had occurred. The anus is a sensitive region of your body, and this lube seemed to activate and soothe every nerve. Knowing that I had found the right lube for the job, I could relax (pun intended).

Its water-based formula is ideal for use with silicone toys, which for me was a necessity, as many of my vaginal and anal toys were and still are made of that material. Additionally, while the lubricant stays in place well, it is easily cleaned off of skin or toys when the time comes, needing nothing more than soap and water. Whether using a drop at a time for clitoral stimulation or a more liberal amount for anal sex, a single bottle of Maximus lasts through many uses and is worth the slightly high up front cost.