Thumper is one of three rabbit-style vibrators in California Exotic's L'Amour line. For those who may not know, a 'rabbit' vibrator is one designed to provide simultaneous internal (vaginal) and clitoral stimulation. The clitoral part is accomplished via an 'arm' attached to the shaft of the vibrator, which often looks like a bunny head with ears (hence the 'rabbit.') In Flutter's case, the attachment looks more like fingers than an actual rabbit. Your interpretation may vary:



While the clitoral arm delivers strong and satisfying vibrations, in a variety of patterns sure to please any 'bean' (to borrow a word from middle school), the vibrations in the shaft can barely be felt while inserted. Hence, this toy is not for women who crave internal vibrations or g-spot stimulation.

As stated on the packaging, Thumper is made of "premium silicone." As to what the word "premium" means exactly I cannot say, but I can tell you that the toy has absolutely no smell or taste whatsoever. To me, this is a very good thing and indicates a body safe toy. No one wants something that smells like a hazmat manual inside of them (unless that's your thing.. That's not your thing, is it?)

The feel of the material is very soft and velvety. When in use, it does have silicone's characteristic drag, so plenty of lube and regular re-applications, depending on the length of the session, are needed. This is a welcome tradeoff for the reassurance of a safe and quality toy.

The shaft is basically smooth with a few random grooves. They cannot be felt when inserted (at least not to me, and I have a pretty sensitive vag.) The toy has a fair amount of give to it-it's not completely rigid, but not really flexible either. For that reason, I'd say this toy would be a good choice for a beginner. It would be pretty hard to bruise yourself with this toy, even if you like intense thrusting.

The Thumper is a moderate-sized toy, weighing in at 9.7 ounces, and measuring 5" insertable length, with a 4 1/4" circumference. The insertable part (to the base of the clitoral arm), is a little smaller than an average penis, which is another reason it's a good choice for a beginner or even a virgin. Because of the moderate firmness, it feels about the same size as it looks (with a firm material like glass, it can feel larger because there's no give.) This means that size queens will probably be disappointed with the lack of filling sensation. For me, and probably for most women, it will be fine.

Thumper doesn't appear to be designed to stimulate the g-spot very much-there's no curve, except in the tip where it tapers to a point. I suppose this is intended for pinpoint stimulation, but since the motor is about two inches away from the tip, it doesn't do much for me. On the other hand, the tip doesn't feel "pokey" inside at all, which is definitely a plus.

I've heard that rabbit toys can be a hit or miss, among women due to differences in anatomy, (i.e. how far the clitoris is from the vagina.) For me, I have no complaints. The Thumper reaches my clitoris with minimal effort. My only complaint-and it's an easily remedied one-is, that the "fingers" on the clitoral arm don't do much for me. They don't feel "pokey" in an uncomfortable way, just sort of annoying. I just re-adjust the vibrator, so the main part of the arm is touching my clit, and all is well.

As far as privacy, the Thumper is NOT discreet. AT ALL. Anyone, including my grandmother, would easily be able to tell what this is. So don't leave it out where other people can find it, (unless you really want them to. If that's your thing, well, hey.) And for travel, I would stash it in my checked luggage but wouldn't risk it with a carryon.

Getting your toy up and running is a breeze. Simply unscrew the end cap, take out the battery pack, and insert three AAA batteries. Put the pack back inside and screw the cap back on.

The control pad consists of three buttons. The one closest to the end cap is the On/Off button. The middle one is for the clitoral arm, with six patterns which I will attempt to describe as follows:

1. Light, steady vibration
2. Moderate steady vibration
3. Moderate/High steady vibration
4. Steady pulsing vibration
5. Progressively faster vibration (my favorite mode, along with #6)
6. Pulsing vibrations, stronger and faster than #4
7. Three short pulses followed by a longer pulse

The third button is for the shaft motor which causes the tip to rotate. There are three modes, slow, medium, and high. The clitoral and shaft motors operate independently, so you can use just one or the other if you want. The controls are definitely very easy to use, even in the heat of the moment.

The toy is supposedly waterproof, but I didn't try to take it in the shower. I would be very careful with submerging this, because being a mechanical product, if the inner parts get wet that will be the end of it.

As far as noise level, I don't have much to compare it to (Flutter is my first vibrator after several years) but to me, it's fairly quiet. I doubt it could be heard beyond a closed door.

Silicone is one of the easiest materials to clean. It can be washed with soap and water or sprayed with toy cleaner. You don't have to worry about damaging the material, if it doesn't get meticulously dried before putting away. You do have to be careful with other silicone toys and/or lubes. Silicone has a tendency to degrade when it comes it contact with other silicone. This is easily prevented by storing your silicone toys in plastic baggies, so they don't touch, and making sure you use WATER BASED lube with them. By following these simple guidelines, your silicone toy should last for many years to come.

Thumper is packaged in a flimsy plastic box. It's really not suitable for long-term storage, although I guess you could leave it in there if you wanted. I kept mine for the purpose of reviewing, but will be throwing it away once this review is done. Anyway, the package does provide some useful information regarding the toy's size, functions, and the fact that it is waterproof. One thing that puzzles me is that after all the verbiage about being "body safe" it says on the bottom, in small print, "for external use only." I've read that all California Exotic toys carry this warning, and maybe it should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, bizarre. Thumper is made in China for those interested in its origin. Normally I avoid products not made in the U.S., but it's not always easy to find sex toys made here without spending a fortune on them.

More information on the L'Amour line, and other California Exotic products can be found on their website,Cal Exotics.

This was my second vibrator after a not-so-great experience with a cheapie years ago, and I'm glad I decided to give vibrators another try. Thumper has allowed me to experience clitoral pleasure in a whole new way: where I had always used my fingers to get off, I can now give them a break and use the toy once in awhile. Even though I'm primarily interested in g-spot toys, it's inspired me to check out other clitoral vibes.