Sex Toy Review: LELO TIANI 2

The Product: LELO TIANI 2

The Verdict: (out of five)

Couples' sex toys - yes, I'm talking about those U-shaped thingies designed to be worn during partnered intercourse - have garnered mixed reviews over the years. On the one hand are people who absolutely love them. After all, they add that little extra something that a penis just can't manage: clitoral stimulation. On the other hand are people who despise these toys because they can be a) uncomfortable, b) awkward and c) lead to the assumption that they're the only kind of sex toy couples can use together.

Having tried a few couples' toys, I would say I used to fall more into the second camp. I've found I liked using a couples' vibe for foreplay and hands-free orgasms, but I hadn't really been able to find my mojo when it came to making one work during sex.

Then I tried LELO TIANI 2. It looks like a pretty standard couples' vibe, but it has a few key features that made it work for me during intercourse. And, boy, did it ever. In testing this toy, I also learned a few things that might help you in your adventures with couples' vibes, should you choose to play with one.

Making It Fit

One of the chief complaints I've heard from vagina-owners about couples' vibrators is that because one arm extends into the vagina, things can feel a little, well, stuffed, when you add a penis into the mix. I have definitely experienced this with couples' vibe and, guys, it is not a great feeling. That's why I really like how tiny and delicate TIANI 2's arms are. They are much smaller than those on other comparable couples' vibes and, at least for me, their slimmer size made a huge difference. The toy also comes with two different arms, which should help more people find a comfortable fit.

Finally, when it comes to getting this thing in: Penis goes in first. This goes against what most instructions for using couples' toys recommend, but it made a world of difference for me, especially with TIANI 2's tiny arm. I just slipped it in from the front and it was no trouble at all. Also: Use lube. Obviously.

TIANI 2 comes with two internal arm options.

Sex Position Considerations

In my adventures with couples' sex toys, I've experimented with a few positions but, in retrospect, maybe not enough of them. I, like many other people who try couples' vibes, often found the vibe was either poking me on the inside or hovering way too far away from my body on the outside. But, hey, penetrative sex is kind of like that at the best of times. You move around, shifting your bodies this way and that, until you find your groove. That's what I found while playing with the LELO TIANI 2. Its bullet shape allows it to kind of nestle in between the labia and stay put there. I found that a position like this one kept the vibe firmly in place without poking the internal arm uncomfortably into my vaginal wall. When I finally hit on the right position, it was like some kind of orgasmic switch had been flipped. It felt amazing. I could see something like Cowgirl or Reverse Cowgirl working well here too. My point is that this toy may involve a bit of a sex position learning curve. But that isn't such a bad thing, it's one that ends in orgasm!

Practice Makes Perfect

Unlike standard clitoral vibrators, which tend to feel good right away, couples' vibes tend to require a little more experimentation. You have to find the right fit, the right sex position, the right toy. But if you enjoy penetrative sex - and I do - they can be a total game-changer. You get all the closeness and sexiness (and thrusting!), but with the biggest, best orgasms you can imagine. So, if you try a couples' toy, be sure to give it a few chances and be open to experimenting. Actually, this is good advice when you're trying out any new sex toy.

There's Always Solo Play

If you ultimately find that a couples' vibe just doesn't do it for you when you use it with a partner, there's always solo play. I enjoy couples' vibes for this. TIANI 2 is no power queen, but it has enough power to get me off, along with eight different settings to choose from. You can even use a remote control to change settings. I found this vibe doesn't stay in place that well without a partner to hold it there, but you could wear it under your clothes (which could make for some very hot partner play if you turn over the remote control), or combine it with an insertable toy.

TIANI 2 comes with a handy remote.

A Few More Things to Know About LELO TIANI 2

Based on my own experiences with this toy, I'd definitely recommend it to people who:

• Are looking for a slim, petite couples' sex toy
• Are mostly into clitoral stimulation/vibration (unlike some other couples' toys, TIANI 2's internal arm doesn't vibrate)
• Want a high-quality, body-safe toy they can get some mileage out of

As with all LELO toys, TIANI 2 is also adorable, rechargeable (except the remote, which takes AAA batteries) and fully waterproof.

Some would argue that many kinds of sex toys can be used during partnered sex. I agree - and I've tried my share. But if you and your partner enjoy penetrative sex, a couples' sex toy can definitely take it to a whole new level. Should it be the only toy in your couples' toy box? Definitely not. But it sure is a fun addition.