Yes, I own the toy that inspired this one, and it was a disappointment. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much this one rises above the hype and heritage, and performs beyond its namesake. My first impression when I opened the package was how similar this toy is to the toy that inspired it, only in a prettier color, and also how much lighter it is than I expected it to be. If you enjoy wand massagers and aren't a fan of the boring white option, this is certainly more vivid and colorful.

This is a wand massager, so it is intended for external use, mainly clitoral stimulation. So, this one is mostly going to appeal to the ladies. It can be used for external genital stimulation, or on sore muscles in your neck or your back. You could use it to stimulate the base of your partner's penis or for external anal stimulation as well, but it really is designed for clitoral play.

Several companies make attachments for wand massagers that allow for different types of internal or external stimulation. Attachments made for the Hitachi will fit this toy. But, as a standalone toy, you won't get any internal satisfaction.

This toy could be used solo or with a partner. It's very user friendly and non-threatening, so it would also be a decent toy for a beginner, or for introducing toys in a new relationship. It has the added bonus that you could claim it was just for your sore neck if you leave it out and someone stops by, and you don't want to explain how much you use and love sex toys.

I was very pleased at how well this toy performed as a clitoral massager. I also own the Hitachi, and found it too loud and the vibrations too shallow. This wand has a nice deep rumble, has multiple settings, is nice and light and you don't have to mess with any cords while you play. The fact that it's rechargeable is nice; it means you aren't tied to an outlet.

As a neck or back massager, it feels great. It gives a nice deep tissue massage, and really relaxes sore or tired muscles. It's light, so it's easy to hold and doesn't make your arm tired.

There are two materials that make up the bulk of this toy, plastic and TPR silicone.

The handle is made of hard plastic, which rates 8 out of 10 on the Eden safety scale. It is firm and has no bend or flex to it. There is a gloss to the surface, but it is easy to grip and hold. The coloring is a nice shade of a color between pink and purple. Although there are grooves and seams, the handle portion is unlikely to come in contact with your body or any fluids that could collect there, so it isn't something to worry about.

The neck has a nice amount of flex to it, and enables you to press firmly in a way that is comfortable and easy. Above that flexible neck, sits the head of the massager. Over a plastic core, there is a thick, cushy layer of dense, rubbery foam, which is beneath a sheath of TPR silicone. The purple head you see on the product page is the cover of the foam padding. It isn't terribly thick, but it is thick enough that I'm not concerned about it breaking or tearing from use. There is no texture to the head, aside from the standard Hitachi style inset ring that runs along the head of the toy near the tip.

Although I rarely use lube with this toy, you certainly could, and get a bit more slipping and sliding of the head where you wanted it to go. I did notice a very minor "new toy smell" when I opened the package, but that faded very quickly and there is now not smell to the wand at all.

There is certainly no surprise in the visual aspects of the design. It looks nearly identical to its namesake. What is surprising are the ways it was improved upon.

It is much lighter, which allows for more flexibility in how and for how long you use it. The body of the wand gets larger in diameter as you near the head, but I found it sat nicely in my hand and was easy to grip. The buttons are easy to press, but not easy to press accidentally. It isn't the most discreet toy on the market, as you certainly couldn't stick it in your pocket, but it's not phallic and could be passed off as a massager for sore muscles, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was discovered when you didn't want it to be.

The fact that it's cordless means you aren't fighting the cord both over and under the sheets, and you can take it anywhere you want to use it (except in or around water, as it isn't waterproof). It comes with a USB charger, so it can be charged by plugging it into the USB port on your computer. The cord it comes with is sturdy and attaches snugly. It charged up fairly quickly (about an hour and a half) and I was able to get 3 solo sessions in before it needed a recharge. That's pretty impressive if you ask me.

It's an approachable toy in function and design. It's girly and pretty, and it backs up its good looks with a solid performance.

The vibrations of the Hitachi Style Wand are located just where you'd expect, in that large head. I don't experience any numbing, tingling or itching in my hand while I hold it, even during extended use. The vibrations impressed me. A deep penetrating rumble, it is nothing like the Hitachi. These vibrations aren't shallow and they won't numb you or make you feel like your teeth coming loose. They are exactly what I look for in a toy.

There are two buttons which control the wand. The first is a basic power button, which won't begin the vibrations, but simply turns the toy on. Once it's on, you press the function button to cycle through the steady vibrations and patterns. You can't go back if you skip the setting you like, you need to cycle all the way around and come back to it. It also doesn't remember the setting you were on when you turn it off, but begins each time at the first setting.

There are three steady settings and five patterns. They are:

1- Low Steady
2- Medium Steady
3- High Steady
4- Escalating
5- Rapid Pulse
6- Slower Pulse
7- A series of pulses, a few fast then once extended pulse
8- A combination of the pulse and escalating patterns

It has strength, and rivals any other 4-5 Vroom toys I have. It also isn't very loud at all, and can just barely be heard through the door on the higher settings. A bit of music or the television would easily mask the noise it produces.

It isn't waterproof, so be sure to keep it away from your shower or bath. Also, keep any lube use to the head, and be sure to avoid getting any lube in the neck area or near the charging port.

The Hitachi Style Wand is simple to clean. It can be wiped clean with a lightly damp cloth. You can use toy cleaner on the head of the toy, which is really the only place cleanup is likely to be needed. Above all, remember that you need to keep the area where you charge the toy clean and dry. Once cleaned, it can be stored nearly anywhere. It doesn't tend to collect much lint or hair. As it didn't come with a storage box or pouch, I keep mine in a plastic bag.

If you choose to use lube with this toy, you can use either silicone or water based lubes. Either is compatible with the TPR head of the wand.

There is no packaging to speak of for this toy, as mine came in a basic clear plastic bag. Of course, it doesn't really need a complicated storage system, and for the price, I can't complain.