For the record, I love Fun Factory. I love their playful designs; I love the names they give their toys, and most of all, I adore their commitment to using only body-friendly, 100% medical-grade silicone. Also, my first ever sex toy was a big black Fun Factory dildo, so I have a soft spot in my heart for them. For these reasons, I was super excited when I found out I was going to be reviewing the Stranger II.

When I finally received it, it lay on my desk, awaiting its first test run for a couple of days pending the arrival of my partner bearing the gift of batteries. Unlike some other toys I have, looking at it lying there is not a turn on. Gray is not the color I would have chosen; I usually go for either realistic skin tones or outrageously non-realistic Rainbow Brite type shades. My roommate and I also agreed that the shape is more than slightly reminiscent of a lizard's tail.

Once I got some batteries in it though, I was amazed at the power of the motor. I am someone who likes lots and lots of stimulation (and then some more after that), so the vroom capabilities of all things battery-operated is a big concern. The Stranger II didn't disappoint in this department. My only complaint is that the dial, which conveniently spins in both directions, is too easy to accidentally push when you don't mean to. For me, this resulted in a sudden decrease in vroom that made my clit go “whaa??” until I quickly corrected it.

As I neared orgasm and pressed the Stranger II closer to my clit, the toy bent away. I'm used to hard plastic toys, so this too caught me by surprise. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I was forced to rely less on brute force to get off and ended up having a far more prolonged and satisfying orgasm.

I love the silky feeling of the silicone in and around my vagina. The size, for me, is a little on the large side but not outrageously so. The slightly smaller end is great for teasing around my opening before I get aroused enough to use more of the toy, and the ridges feel nice there too, although I can't feel them as much once inside.

The Stranger II probably won't displace any of my trusty sidekicks for quick jerk-off sessions where the goal is to get off and get on with my day. For longer, more relaxed settings though, it'll be making many a comeback.

Star rating: three out of five