There was a time when I would have laughed in your face if you said, "Some sex toys will make you rip off your pants and just go for it." If you DID say that to me in the past...well, I have to apologize to you now, because the TantraBeam made me do exactly that.

When you receive your TantraBeam, be prepared for a high-class experience! It is lovingly packaged in a sheer gold bag, with the vibrator itself enclosed in a slim, white, hard plastic case. The white case can hold the vibrator as well as 2 AAA batteries. The TantraBeam also comes with 2 extra straps (although I don't see the straps breaking any time soon), an instruction booklet in multiple languages, 2 AAA batteries, and a 2-year warranty. The vibe itself has a very slight plastic smell if you sniff it really hard, but that's only if you shove the vibe right under your nose, and it's bound to fade after a couple of cleanings.

The TantraBeam has 2 silver-and-peach pieces, connected by a thin but sturdy wire: the battery pack, which straps on to your wrist, and the finger attachment. Both attachments have straps that are elastic and easy to adjust; I have very tiny wrists and muscular fingers, and I was able to accomodate this toy without any problems. The battery chamber has a safety catch on it, i.e., you have to push a tab in to open up the pack, which prevents the chamber from opening up while you masturbate. All in all, a very sturdily constructed toy.

The sensations from the TantraBeam are incredible, especially considering it only uses 2 AAA batteries. The vibrations in and of themselves are not that powerful. What gives this toy a leg up is HOW it vibrates: the vibrations conduct down through your finger, so you use your finger--not the actual attachment--to masturbate. This is a really huge plus for the TantraBeam, as fingers can bend, tug, roll, twist, and move in ways that most vibrators can't. A slider on the battery pack gradually increases the vibrations from super low (so that your finger is hardly even pulsing) to above average strength (which makes your finger vibrate rather quickly). Also, you can move the finger attachment closer to or farther away from the tip of your finger, which can strengthen or weaken the vibrations, respectively.

Because you use your finger to masturbate rather than the actual attachment, the chances of this vibe coming in to contact with bodily fluids are slim to none. The only time the actual finger attachment came in to contact with my genitals was during a particularly hot and right-on-top-of-each-other round of partner use. Also, this toy is made from hard plastic. All in all, a ridiculously easy-to-clean vibe!

The TantraBeam is currently the quietest vibrator in my personal collection, and it's one of the quietest I've ever used. The toy is silent on the lower settings, and the hum on the highest setting is extremely low. One of my partners said they couldn't even hear the vibe on its make setting if they were more than 3 feet away from me. If that's still not discreet enough for you, you can easily muffled the highest setting with a closed door or a blanket.

I have two minor quibbles with the TantraBeam. While the plastic case is very nice, it's hard to close it tightly if you don't put the TantraBeam away JUST right. The TantraBeam is also not a waterproof toy...an absolute shame, when you consider how quiet it is!

In the end, I would be lying if I said it wasn't love at first sight with the TantraBeam, and I'm sure it will remain one of my absolute favorite toys for a long time. It is well-made, sturdy, easy to clean, and provides unique sensations you can't get with most other toys. At less than $30, the TantraBeam is a total steal, and I highly recommend it to everybody!

The introductory paragraph to this review is not lying. When I locked my bedroom door and fired up the TantraBeam for a sound and power check, I was turned on in 10 seconds flat. I usually make a real ritual out of masturbating--I get naked, I turn the lights down, I get the toy box out and clean everything, etcetera--but immediately after I tested my vibrating finger on my forearm, I ripped my shorts and panties down, yanked the clip out of my hair, and WENT FOR IT!

As soon as the TantraBeam gave me my first orgasm, I called up 2 partners--1 male, 1 female--and asked if they wanted to go for a test run. Ooo, this toy is lovely for partner play! The female partner loved it when I gave her a clitoral massage, accompanied by the TantraBeam, and she liked the vibrations on her nipples and behind her ears.

My male partner loved it when I gave him a handjob with it (I recommend putting plastic wrap around the strap if you do this, just to make it smoother), and he came within seconds when I concentrated my vibrating fingertip on his glans. I also used it to masturbate myself while he penetrated me vaginally; the only issue we had was that, when he was DIRECTLY on top of me and humping, it rubbed a bit, but we only ever stay in that position for a minute or less anyway, and most people don't like that position to begin with.

I don't think this toy will ever give me super-fast, screaming orgasms a la the Hitachi, but it WILL provide me with deep, highly-stimulating, toe-curling orgasms, and my partners are bound to love it.

On a final note: some people may argue that, because you use your finger to masturbate rather than the actual attachment, the Tantra Beam is only suited to users who understand their bodies. I completely disagree! I think this is a great discovery toy BECAUSE it prompts you to use your own hands; the Tantra Beam prompts you to explore your body and find out exactly where you like to be stimulated. Unless you refuse to touch your own genitals directly, the TantraBeam is the way to go!

This toy has become an instant fan-favorite. I honestly wish I video taped people's reactions to my vibrating fingertip! All of my friends REALLY want one now, and I tell them, "GO FOR IT! It's super-cheap!" This includes a friend of mine who has never owned a vibrator and isn't really in to sex toys, who recently said, "I gotta admit, that thing is AMAZING."

Just one quick quip: the batteries that come with the TantraBeam are really cheap. I removed them from the toy after each use, but they still got a weird white, crusty residue around them. Use the provided batteries for the first couple of trial runs, then dispose of them for more reliable batteries. Keep your TantraBeam safe and stored correctly, and it should last you for years!