The Alumination vibrator by Doc Johnson is a slender little toy made of ABS plastic and aluminum. Though the name implies it’s completely metal, the very tip of the toy is rounded plastic and it disturbs an otherwise pretty, fluid appearance. It is completely waterproof, and powered by two AAA batteries that slip easily into the battery compartment underneath the twist off cap.

The cap is also where the single push button for operation is located. There are three speeds of constant vibration you can get to with each click; low, medium, and high. Overall, I would say that the strength of the vibrations are comparable to other toys powered by AAAs, but that this particular vibe is more buzzy than thrummy. It’s a higher frequency than I personally get along with. This can be good or bad, depending on your preferences. If you wanted a tiny powerhouse to take on plug in style vibes, this one won’t work for you. If you just tend to like the option of gentler vibrations, or a slow build up to orgasm, this toy could easily win you over.

On the medium and high speeds, it’s somewhat loud - about the same noise level as a phone vibrating on a hard surface. You can muffle it with a heavy blanket or some white noise, and it can’t easily be heard through doors or walls. On the lowest setting, it approaches whisper quiet. The vibrations are very tip focused, which makes it a great clitoral vibe, but travel up the shaft easily so you can use any part of the vibe you choose to get just the sensation you like.

The feel of this vibe in your hand is really nice. Though boasting a diameter of only .75 inches, it doesn’t feel at all weak or flimsy. It’s six inches long, and most of it is aluminum, giving it a weighty, solid feel. The metal shaft also means you can play a bit with temperature, and though the tip is plastic, it will still heat or cool to an extent. The cap and battery compartment are also really solid – there’s thick plastic inside, and it runs no risk of cracking or scratching on metal battery posts like some thinner types do. The O ring under the cap is also pretty thick, and actually keeps water out when the vibe is submerged. Just be sure not to drop it – that will end up being louder than anything else!

If you like slender insertables vaginally, this vibe easily has enough length and strong enough vibrations that it can work for you. It could also help if you’re trying to build your way up for larger insertables, as the surface is so smooth and the size all around unintimidating. It’s also nice if you just want something inserted shallowly to stimulate the nerves at your vaginal opening. I’d avoid using this anally however, as there’s nothing at all to keep it from getting lost.

Since it’s plastic and metal, this vibe is compatible with any lube, be it oil, water, or silicone-based. It can be cleaned with antibacterial soap and warm water, or a wiped down with isopropyl alcohol. It can’t be boiled, because of that little plastic tip.

The packaging this vibe comes in is also rather nice. It’s all white cardboard, and the outside has little pink and gold metallic swirls and flowers. “Doc Johnson Alumination Vibrator” is printed in black on the front, with a few info blurbs on the back. Nothing trashy. The vibe itself is propped up on a cardboard platform so it stays in the see through front panel. It also comes with a generic instruction manual, covering the insertion of batteries and any problems you might encounter. The battery compartment itself also has a little laminated plastic insert showing which way the batteries should sit – make sure to pick this out, as it made the vibe a little louder than it was without.

In all, this is a nice vibrator in a sparkly little package. It’s not the strongest thing you’ll ever encounter, but I don’t think it needs to be. This seems like a toy that’s trying to encourage taking your time and getting where you want to be slowly, rather than throwing you into an earth shattering, screaming orgasm. It just depends on what you’re in the mood for.