The Inked Vibes Royal is so effective that even though the on-off mechanism broke after two weeks and it now needs tweezers to change speed, I still use it regularly. And why? Because the vibrations are mind blowing.

This beast's secret is that it's powered by two chunky C batteries and is made of a hard material (plastic) which transmits the vibrations well. It's wide and long, which makes it a force to be reckoned with internally, but like most vibrating toys, I find it most effective on my clit, and because it's multi-speed, even the faint-hearted should find the vibration feature a luxury.

I can't say that I was massively taken by the artwork of a skull and some sort of serpent, particularly against a white background. However this is a small complaint because when I'm using the Inked Vibes Royal to masturbate, I can't see it, and when I'm using it on my girlfriend, there are more interesting things to look at than the hostile picture.

At first I was disappointed that this toy took a style of battery that I don't have a charger for. However the battery life is incredible compared with other toys that I have used. One set of C batteries costs $3.99 and lasts for many hours, making the cost per orgasm a very acceptable figure.

This isn't really a multi-sensual experience - the vibrator doesn't taste of anything, sounds like a hedge trimmer and smells slightly singed after a long use. However the body trembles you'll feel whilst using it by far makes up for the absence of indulgence of the other senses.

The Inked Vibes Royal works well to penetrate my girlfriend by hand but because there is no flared base, you can't really use it with a harness. This also means that you shouldn't really use it for anal sex, as it could get lost inside. However pressing the tip against the opening to her anus and then cranking up the power, drove her crazy.

Plastic is non-porous and hypo-allergenic, which means that it's very easy to clean and therefore you don't need to worry about spreading infection if you want to share the toy.

Do be careful with your Inked Vibes Royal however. Plastic is not the strongest material in the world and I managed to shatter the top when I opened the battery compartment. Vibrators this powerful are hard to find and once you've got one, trust me, you'll want to keep it.