The Fusion Gemini was quite a pleasant surprise. When I received the assignment, I was expecting the type of cheap-looking, run-of-the-mill vibe that people buy in seedy XXX shops for a bachelorette party, but it exceeded all of my expectations and gave me some very, very nice orgasms. I got a lean, mean masturbation tool that’s made of body-safe material, packs a punch, and excited me endlessly with its 16 escalating vibrating and pulsating patterns.

My Fusion Gemini arrived in a cute tin box with a clear plastic insert revealing the vibrator nestled in faux-velvet-covered foam below. The makers of the toy, Evolved, have produced a cool-looking logo whose backwards typeface reveals the word “love” and the fact that so much thought went into the packaging and marketing is usually the sign of a well-designed toy, a cut above the cheapie vibes sold in the seedy XXX shops I mentioned above.

The back of the box announces, “Fusion, a precision-crafted dual-headed massager, offers a breathtaking blend of form and functionality. With its artisan inspired design and 16 finely-tuned functions of vibration and pulsation, you will achieve an unparalleled synthesis of harmony and bliss. Whether it’s used alone or with a partner, Fusion will meld both body and soul.”

I pretty much agree with that assessment, although I haven’t used it with a partner yet. It’s a straight shaft, with vibrating motors at both ends, and I think it would definitely be worth it to try to place it between two bodies--although it is a little long (about 10 inches). When I used it on myself, the vibrating handle did cause me a little frustration, as I greedily wished I could derive sexual satisfaction from both ends. But it does transmit escalating vibes down to the shaft.

Strangely enough, however, despite all the flowery descriptions of the product, it came with two buttons and absolutely no instructions. I turned it on and blindly played with the buttons until I found something I liked. When it came time to turn it off, I wasn’t sure how to. Eventually, I held down both buttons and it turned off, but this is not the easiest way to do it, and I wish they included basic instructions with the product. I take their word on the number of patterns (16) because there sure are a lot, but I would have really appreciated an insert describing each pattern and giving detailed instructions on how to use the controls. After playing with it a little, I do see that the button nearer the handle cycles through three pulsating rollercoaster patterns originating in the handle while the button nearer the rippled shaft cycles through three vibrating strengths concentrated in the shaft. When you have one on and turn on the other, interesting things begin to happen. It certainly does feel like there are about 16 patterns here, but I can’t discern all of them.

One possible drawback is that it’s very hard to know what pattern you’re turning on. I myself enjoyed the frustrating unpredictability a great deal, so I think that can be a positive thing. Turning it off, however, is still difficult. Most of the time, holding down both buttons turns it off, but sometimes it takes a while. The other way you can turn them off is by individually pressing each button until it cycles through all of its patterns and turns off—the problem with this is that it can be a little hard to tell when one end is off when the other end is still vibrating.

Even though it's battery-operated, the vibrations with fresh batteries are a tad stronger than those on the much pricier rechargeable Iris vibe and it does offer rollercoaster escalation which the Iris does not. It takes 4 AAA batteries and seems quite well-made, with no rough seams along its smooth, rippled shaft. I haven’t taken it in to the shower, but it is waterproof and looks a lot sturdier and well-sealed than the many supposedly waterproof cheap plastic toys out there.

It’s made of body-safe and pthalates-free plastic with a velvety-soft finish that can accommodate any type of lube. It can’t be completely sterilized, but you can safely use it without a condom if you only use it on yourself and clean it thoroughly. I personally like how the plastic transmits vibrations.

It's not too loud when it's inserted. If you use it under a comforter and with a little music or a fan on, nobody outside your door should hear it.

I initially held the Fusion Gemini against me while I read erotica, but I soon found out that I could just slip it inside of my underwear and only press it down when I wanted to intensify the sensations. Using it hands-free is the best part of the toy. Once you find an escalating vibration/pulsation pattern that suits you, you can let it do its magic while you focus on thoughts and images that turn you on. The soft and mild vibrations that slowly escalate into pounding pulsations and vibrations function to bring me up and down so many times that I finally erupt in an intense, high-quality orgasm. This is the same principle that makes Kama Sutra techniques for prolonged, decreasing/increasing stimulation work.

I generally don't like inserting nubbed items, like the plastic Hummer because it's hard to get it just right, and more often than not, I end up poking myself not in the right spot. But the Fusion Gemini really works both internally and externally. I can get it to hit my G-spot with enough maneuvering, but I ultimately prefer to feel the rollercoaster patterns along my vulva and clit. Still, it does have a great curve at the tip, and I can see myself exploiting that function more in the future.