Vibrators like the Night Rider Stud remind me that being a sex toy elitist is overrated, and that sometimes, a cheap toy can please us just as much as a super-expensive one.

The Night Rider arrived in stereotypical "cheap toy" packaging. The scantily-clad woman on the backsplash is really frightening; her eyes are glazed over and her smile is obviously fake. There's a little instruction sheet, but considering it contains a diagram on how to insert the batteries and I was still confused, it's pretty much worthless. The plastic container that held the vibrator had popped open on one side, which freaked me out a bit, and the vibrator itself had already managed to collect some lint. Ick!

I took the Night Rider Stud out, and... well, I don't know if this'll make sense, but it was actually OILY. The jelly material was coated in a thin layer of oily liquid right out of the package! I cleaned the toy twice, then put in back in its plastic container and left it alone for a day. When I took the toy out the next day it was completely dry, and it has been ever since; still, I would recommend using condoms with this toy and cleaning it very well.

The toy has a rubbery smell to it, but it's not too overpowering, and it starts to fade after a few cleanings. The translucent black jelly is firm, but supple; you can bend the toy a good bit, but it still provides pressure in the right places. Unfortunately, it is obvious that this vibrator is made from cheap materials: you can see air bubbles in the jelly, and the waterproof seal on mine appears to be wearing away already.

The Night Rider Stud is heavy enough to be satisfying, and you could probably give somebody a good whack on the face with it; I'd guess that it weighs around 1 pound. The realistic veins are easy to feel on your clit and at the vaginal opening, and the tapered head provides great g-spot stimulation if you bend the toy correctly (although all of the nooks and crannies make it more difficult to keep the toy clean). There are some "stimulating nubs" towards the bottom of the shaft, but they didn't do much for me, and they can actually make deep penetration problematic for girls with tiny vaginas.

This toy requires 2 AA batteries. The battery compartment screws off at the base of the toy and can be a bit tricky to figure out, even if you study the provided diagram. (For the record, there are plus and minus signs on the inside of the battery compartment to indicate how the batteries should be inserted.) The 2 AAs provide a decent amount of power, and the vibrations conduct well throughout the entire toy. Because the jelly is so thick, the vibrations are more of a deep throb than a quick, steady buzz. There are 10 "functions" on the toy; really, it's 3 speeds (from light vibration to about average) and some pulsing and roller coaster functions.

I was surprised by how quiet this vibrator is. The thick jelly really muffles the motor! It's not entirely silent, but it's hard to hear unless you're close to it, and it's easily muffled by covers or a closed door.

Despite all of the "bad stuff" I complained about in this review, I have to say that I really like this toy. I would never pay more than $30 for it--there are much better realistic toys out there--but for the price, you can't go wrong. It has decent vibrations, is relatively quiet, and provides great stimulation via the raised veins. If you want a realistic toy and you're on a budget, try the Night Rider Vibrator!

I rated the Night Rider Stud 3 stars, but if EF allowed us to give half stars, I'd actually consider it a firm 3.5. It has its issues, most of which relate to the quality of the toy, but I really enjoy it, and I think shoppers on a shoe string budget will also appreciate it.

I was pretty freaked out by the fact that this toy was secreting before I even used it, but it's been very dry ever since that first cleaning. I keep it in its original plastic packaging to prevent deformation... and if it leaks again, I don't want it on my other toys!

This toy is pretty realistic looking; it's actually about the same length and girth as one of my male partners, although my living partner's penis obviously does not have a tapered head. I love the way the veins feel during insertion, and rolling the head around on my clit feels amazing! I also like having my vulva slapped a bit when I'm aroused, and if I'm with a man, I like him to slap it with his penis. The Night Rider Stud replicates that sensation really well! Maybe I can replace the aforementioned male partner...;)

Now, this is going to sound weird, but bear with me: this toy is great if you want to practice giving blowjobs|How to Practice Deep Throating and hand jobs. I have tiny hands and the Gag Reflex from Hell, but practicing on a traditional vibrator feels strange. The Night Rider Stud feels much more realistic in my mouth and under my hands, so I use it to practice my technique.

This toy is advertised as "waterproof," but considering my inner seal was already wearing away, I wouldn't recommend submerging it in water. Also, the base of this toy is not flared much, so I can't recommend it for anal play.

After 6 months of owning this toy, I have to admit that it still gives off a sort of "oily" secretion once in a while. It seems to be caused by long-term exposure to heat: I had this toy wrapped up, arranged in a toy case, and stuffed under my bed in the middle of summer for a whole week. The next time I took it out, it felt a bit oily. It's easy to clean off, however, and after I moved the toy to the other side of my bed (farther away from my heater), it stopped being oily. Hence I highly recommend storing this toy in a cool, dry place separated from other toys by a plastic bag or a toy holder.