While no toy collection is complete without a bullet, not all bullets are created equal. You have single bullets and doubles, bullet-shaped and egg, wireless and corded, waterproof and not, super-powerful and extra quiet, inventively-shaped and coated and micro and metallic and glow-in-the-dark. With so many choices, many beginners opt for the cheapest bullet they can find. But what do you buy when it’s time to upgrade? Some take to toys like a fish to water and dive right in to the world of more advanced toys, but many want to try new features one at a time or don’t want to invest a lot of money in a toy they aren’t sure they’ll enjoy. It is for this audience that the Interactive Double is primarily designed.

In many ways, the Interactive Double by California Exotics is a logical next step from a basic double bullet. For the sake of comparison, let’s say that your first bullet was the Glow Double Bullet, one of California Exotics’ standard beginner bullets. How does the Interactive Double measure up as the heir to your first bullet?

The advertised differences between the two are few, but significant: the Interactive Double allows for independent speed control of the two bullets, while the Glow Double does not; the Interactive Double runs on three AA as opposed to two, which implies that it has more power. It looks like the only thing the Glow has going for it is that it can glow in the dark (which is completely cool in and of itself).

Armed with fresh, non-rechargeable, standard alkaline batteries, I did a side-by-side power test. At the lowest speed, the Interactive was much more powerful than the Glow, but as the levels were raised, the gap began to close, ending up virtually the same at the highest speed. Net result? The Interactive may use more batteries, but the Glow is just as strong, and has a wider range.

Further differences came to light during the power test. While neither of these toys are designed for silence, the Interactive is definitely louder, and makes a far more annoying, bee-like buzz. What happens when they are squeezed, as they might be if used internally or in a moment of passion? Many bullets, and many inexpensive vibrators in general, will short out, or you’ll find the power suddenly reduced at the most inconvenient time. While some reduction did occur, the Interactive managed to keep going strong under pressure, as it were, unlike the Glow. It also became quieter, which is a definite plus.

The texture of the controller is a nice touch, because hard plastic can get slippery when wet. The battery compartment opens and closes easily, and is marked with battery terminal directions. The control slides moved smoothly and easily; almost too easily, because it is easy to accidentally change the speed when you shift your hand, or to turn it on when you don’t mean to. While not an insurmountable issue, it was a little annoying. The wires seem to be solidly connected to both the controller and the bullets, as gentle tugging didn’t loosen them or damage them.

This isn’t a waterproof toy, so be careful of lubes and other fluids around the Interactive. Also, if you’re going to be using the bullets vaginally, I would suggest placing each inside a condom, because fluids can easily enter the bullet where the wire goes into the back. These are not safe to use anally; pulling on the cord to remove the bullet will wear out your toy early at best, and there’s a very real possibility that it would detach and leave the bullet behind.

Cleanup is uncomplicated, but because no part of the Interactive Double is waterproof, you must be careful when cleaning it. Spray-on cleaners and toy cleaning wipes are a good option with this toy. When cleaning the bullets themselves, the one issue is that the seam around the middle is a bit on the deep side, and hides gunk like a Swiss bank account; otherwise, the smooth, hard plastic came clean quickly and easily.

Is the Interactive Double the way to go when you upgrade from your first bullet? That depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a simple, no-frills multi-speed double bullet with independent speed controls, and these features are worth doubling the price, then this may be a good option for you. If, however, this is not the exact set of features you’re looking for, or you don’t think the differences are worth the cost, you should probably look elsewhere. There are so many different bullet variations, it’s worth taking the time to look around and find one that matches your criteria.

To be honest, this toy frustrated me, because it just wasn’t a good match for me. I wanted it to either have a wider range of power levels, or to give up on the whole multi-speed thing and go with more power instead. I wanted it to maybe be waterproof, so I could take it into the shower and so I could more easily clean it. I’ve recently discovered that I adore the friction of velvet-coat-style surfaces, and these are smooth. To be blunt, I’ve become spoiled. This is a perfectly good pair of bullets, but because of other toys, I find myself saying “yes, but…” I usually reach for bullets in pursuit of a quickie, I found orgasming with the Interactive Double to often involve more work than I was used to for this purpose, and sometimes I just gave up and used my hands to finish.

I loved that it didn’t get weak when I clenched down on the bullets, but I rarely orgasm from internal stimulation alone, so this just wasn’t enough to make this toy worth it for me. Being able to control the speeds separately was fun, especially when I was using one bullet and he was using the other; but again, it’s not something I have to have in a toy. If these had been major issues for me, the Interactive would have moved from blasé to something worth every penny; for some people, it will be. I showed it to a friend of mine, along with the features and settings, and to her, it looked perfect.

After a few months of intermittently ignoring, and then giving it a second chance, I'm still underwhelmed with this set of bullets. I probably tried them too far along in my sex toy explorations to be as enamored of them as a beginner, but I can't help but compare it to some of the beginner vibrators that are still in my toy box and get used frequently. It's still a decent toy, and it's still better than a lot of bullets out there, but I can't testify as to the durability. I haven't been able to bring myself to use it often enough to wear it out.

All in all, it may be worth the money if it's got exactly the set of features you're looking for, and just the right amount of power. Those who want more from their bullets, look elsewhere.