If all of the comparisons to the Hitachi Magic Wand didn't make it clear, this toy was basically designed to do one thing, and to do it well - deliver toe-curling vibrations to your clitoris. In this it is definitely successful, but that doesn't mean it can't be used in other ways. The vibrations are strong enough that you can, in fact, use it as a massager in the most innocent sense of the word, although the smaller head doesn't deliver quite the relief to aching muscles that the Hitachi does. Still, it's great for working out kinks in your neck or back.

The variety of settings also make it a good toy for teasing a partner, and since it's silicone and easy to clean, I imagine there's not really anywhere you couldn't use this toy, provided it's external - clitoris, labia, penis, perineum, etc. In theory, the head is small enough to fit inside the vagina, but I didn't try this and would be very cautious about it (i.e. only insert it shallowly, and possibly cover it with a condom to keep the handle from getting messy). This toy isn't made for penetration, so I wouldn't recommend using anything but the head of it internally. Besides, if g-spot stimulation is your thing, you can always buy the attachments for it.

The Mystic Wand may seem expensive to the novice, but considering that other toys of similar quality sell for upwards of $100, it's really quite reasonably priced. The head is made out of silicone, so it’s body-safe and fairly easy to clean (more on that later). Silicone is definitely a softer, more pleasant material than plastic, which is nothing to sneeze at given how sensitive the skin you'll be using it on is. As for the handle - well, I assume it's plastic, since it doesn't say it's silicone, but it's a velvety plastic that is quite pleasant to the touch.

I should probably also mention that the head of the toy has several ridges, no doubt for additional stimulation. Personally, I don’t think they add much to the experience, but then I can usually take or leave bumps and ridges; if you like a lot of texture, you’ll probably enjoy them.

The Mystic Wand is definitely more functional than aesthetic, but it's much prettier than most massagers - and not just because of the size. Whereas the Hitachi looks clinical, and the various Fairy Wands look--to me at least, and I'm a fairly girly-girl--too cutesy, the Mystic Wand looks, well, nice. It would be even better if there were more colors available - I opted for basic black, but how fun would blue or green be? Overall, though, I like the look of the toy; the handle has some curves to it - it's slimmer in the middle, presumably so that you can grip it more easily - but I liked it for the totally superficial reason that it made the toy look a bit softer and more feminine.

This is a discreet vibe only in the sense that it doesn't look like a penis; anyone who is at all familiar with wand-type vibrators will immediately know what it's for. However, it is significantly smaller than most other massagers, and there's no cord, so it's much easier to hide; it's 8 1/4" long, which I'd say is comparable to most "traditional" style vibrators. Plus, it comes with a cute little drawstring bag that might help you avoid awkward questions if the wand, say, slipped out of your purse.

I cannot stress enough how convenient the size of this wand is. I'm pretty devoted to my Magic Wand, and while the head of the Mystic Wand is obviously not quite as big, it still covers enough area that it gives me the kind of diffuse vibrations I like in a toy. For this reason, I'd say it's a perfect toy for beginners; a lot of toys offer very pinpoint stimulation, which may be a bit too intense for someone using a vibrator for the first time. The small size also makes it a good choice for anyone looking to integrate a vibe into partner sex - this was actually what caught my attention in the first place, although I have yet to try it out with the boyfriend. I can say, though, that the lighter weight of the Mystic Wand is a definite plus, even if you're only planning on using it solo.

Toys don't get much easier to use than this. Honestly, the most confusing thing about the Mystic Wand is figuring out how to put the batteries in. You don't get much in the way of instructions for this vibrator - just a little spiel about vibrators in general that’s wrapped around the inside of the box it comes in, and some rather obscure (and tiny!) diagrams inside the wand itself. These pictures definitely had something to do with batteries, but they didn't really help me much in terms of figuring out which way to insert them. There are only a limited number of possibilities, though, so fear not - you'll figure it out quickly enough.

In any case, once the batteries are in you're pretty much good to go. The buttons are easy to click and self-explanatory - one is for power, the other changes the vibration type/intensity - and there are even two helpful little lights to let you know which setting you're on; the larger light glows blue when the power is on, while the smaller one changes colors according to which vibration level you're using (green is low, orange is medium, red is high, etc).

Speaking of which, the vibrations of this wand are, to be blunt, awesome. You can feel a slight buzz in the handle of the wand, but the power is definitely concentrated in the head. I am someone who needs a lot of power to get off, and this was far and away the most powerful battery-operated vibrator I’ve ever used; I’d even venture to say that its lowest setting is still more powerful than a good chunk of traditional vibrators, pocket rockets, bullets, etc. Personally, I doubt the lowest setting would be enough to bring me to orgasm, but the highest setting definitely can; I’d agree with those who’ve said that the high setting on the Mystic Wand is comparable to the low setting on the Hitachi, as it took me about the same amount of time to come with each of them (10-15 minutes when I’m going for a quick orgasm). The only reason I give it 4 stars rather than 5 in terms of power is that I’ve used the high setting on the Hitachi and know that there is a whole other dimension of vibration intensity out there. Frankly, though, the high level on the Magic Wand can be too much even for me, and the power packed into the Mystic Wand is more than enough to satisfy the average user – or even the average user who likes a little extra oomph.

I don’t have a lot to say with regards to the pulsation patterns; I tried them all out, but I always ended up going back to constant vibration. That said, I liked these patterns more than I expected to; the fourth and fifth settings both feature pulsation (short, short and short, short, long, respectively) but the bursts of power were quite a bit more noticeable than similar settings on other vibrators I’ve used. The sixth setting was by far my favorite of the patterned vibrations; technically speaking, it’s nothing more than escalating power, but it feels like you’re plummeting down the hill of a roller coaster. Still, the fact that it drops off and starts over is frustrating if you’re right on the edge of orgasm, so while it’s a great setting for teasing, you will probably want to switch back to constant vibrations when you just want to get the job done.

One of the much-touted perks of silicone is that it’s easy to clean; you can use toy cleaner if you want, but you can also just rinse it with mild soap and water. It is also non-porous, so you can theoretically share the Mystic Wand if you want to – although I, being super paranoid, would still be careful about it. My only real issue with the Mystic Wand is the ridges; as I mentioned before, they don’t do much for me in terms of sensation, but they do tend to collect whatever bodily fluids they come into contact with. For me, they’re just not worth the extra time and ickiness, but the vibrator is so great overall that this is a minor complaint.

The only real drawback of silicone is that you can’t use it with silicone-based lubricant. However, the box the Mystic Wand comes in is careful to mention this, and there are plenty of water-based lubricants out there to choose from, so it’s not really a big deal.

I'm not exactly a packaging connoisseur, but I didn't find anything to complain about. It's just plastic packaging - no bells and whistles - but it does manage to be a bit more discreet than the boxes that toys from, say, California Exotics come in; you have to read the fine print to see that it's a "pleasure toy." I would not be offended if someone (well, let's say someone I was in an intimate relationship with) gave it to me as a git, in its original packaging, but I probably would end up just throwing the box out.

The only real issue with the packaging, to my mind, is the fact that the information about how to care for vibrators is wrapped around the inside of the (clear) box, so you have to either cut the thing open or do some pretty skillful sleight of hand to actually read what it says. On the other hand, it doesn't say anything you couldn't easily find out online, so there's that.

As I said above, I haven’t tested this out with my boyfriend yet, but I expect that it will be just what I was looking for in terms of toys that can be used with partners – fairly small so that it can fit between our bodies, no cord to get tangled up in, no worries about charge running out (the batteries last, particularly considering the power of the toy), and enough versatility to use on either gender. I was hoping it would be a bit quieter - I'm sort of worried that my boyfriend will think I'm revving up a lawnmower or something and freak - but it is quieter than the Hitachi and, in any case, you can't have everything.

Also, if my over-the-top enthusiasm hadn’t already made it clear, it’s great for masturbation as well; actually, the fact that it gives you the option of using a lower vibration setting makes me think it might even be better than the Magic Wand. Even the low setting on the Hitachi is pretty intense, so you don’t really have a chance to warm up and get into the groove. The Mystic Wand, on the other hand, doesn’t force you to go from 0 to 60 in the space of a couple of seconds; you can play around with the less intense vibrations and then switch it into high gear for the big finale.

Personally, I don’t like using toys in the shower or bath, but the Mystic Wand is waterproof, if that’s something you enjoy. I would be careful, though; it’s fine using it in the shower, but if you’re planning on submerging it, make sure you have the base sealed on tight – it’s just too nice a toy to risk damaging.

My only other comment about the Mystic Wand may seem weirdly specific, but will probably interest you if you, like me, feel that no amount of pressure is too much. Vibratex means it when they say that the neck of the Mystic Wand is flexible. I didn’t really put much thought into this while buying it because I had heard the same thing about the Hitachi, and while it is technically true that you can wiggle the head of the Hitachi around with your hand, it offers plenty of resistance. The Mystic Wand, however, will in fact bend at the neck if you are in the habit of thrusting against your toys. I quickly discovered, though, that I could overcome this problem by pushing the head of the wand towards my clit with whatever fingers I happened to have free – and the wand is light enough that you can use the ring and pinkie fingers of the hand you’re holding it with to press the head closer to your body, giving you something to rub against. Maybe this sounds overly complicated, but it really isn’t once you get the hang of it, and trust me, this toy is worth the added effort.