Well, it's been a while since I've taken some private time and played with any of my Zetas, so last night I decided to throw my legs up and get reacquainted with some of them so I could write a decent review. And I have to say, bringing them out again has made me wonder why I haven't been doing that more often!
I'll preface this further by saying I'm a gay male, with a decent collection of toys. The Ruff's Stuff/Trainer combo were the very first toys I ever owned, and I've had them for a little over three years now, so I've got a good bit of experience with 'em! As such, they've kinda set the bar (and a very high bar at that!) for everything else I've used since then. Anyways, on to the reviews!
"The Trainer"
The Trainer is a great toy, and I'm glad I got the combo pack, because I would *never* have been able to take the knot on Ruff's Stuff without it. The three "knots" on The Trainer make it perfect for stretching out before playing with bigger toys.
The first knot is a pretty small, almost finger sized one at 7/8" (2.2 cm). It's quite pointed, so it slips in really easily. The "neck" beneath it is narrow and flexible, which actually made it a little difficult for me to even get the tip in my tailhole at first. It kept bending and slipping away! Of course, that's easy to deal with by guiding the tip in with your fingers. It's also very helpful later on, because The Trainer is a long toy. The narrow, flexible tip means that it's easy to take the whole thing without bottoming out.
After that, the second knot is a bit more substantial at 1-3/8" (3.5cm) in diameter. I really like this one, because it's large enough to be felt both as it goes in and as it sits inside. It slides in fairly easily, but it still offers a bit of a challenge to tight or inexperienced folks. The main reason why I like it is because it's so much fun to quickly pop in and out! It feels great, and it's very easy to do. I always spend a while on that knot when I use this toy!
Of course, the final knot is also very enjoyable. It can be a bit of a struggle for tight or inexperienced folks, because it is a good 1-3/4" (4.4cm) across. I know it took me a bit of work to get in the first time I used it, and it still wasn't easy to do last night! But have no fear, it's still quite manageable! Spend some time working up to it and the last knot will certainly go in without too much force or pain, and it feels great! It gives a very comfortable and full feeling that I really like. With a bit more stretching, it's also pretty easy to pop this knot in and out, which is a lot of fun!
My only complaint is that the base presses against my cheeks when I take the third knot, which isn't tremendously comfortable. A slimmer base would be nice, even if it means the suction cup base has to go. But that's just me!
Overall, I think The Trainer is wonderful, and I absolutely love playing with it. It's good for warming up for larger toys, but it's also a very fun toy on its own. I very much hope that Brown Bear sees his way to remaking this in silicone, because I would definitely buy it! I'd love to have all the fun of The Trainer with all the conveniences of silicone.
"Ruff's Stuff"
I said The Trainer is great for warming up for bigger better things, and, well, this is what I usually warm up for! Ruff's Stuff is a very fun toy, but one that definitely takes some work to fully use.
Visually, I absolutely love Ruff's Stuff. Alas, I don't have any experience with the real thing to compare it with, but I still think Brown Bear did a wonderful job of making it anatomically correct. It's certainly very arousing to look at, and that's important!
Once I stop admiring how it looks and actually put it to use, Ruff's Stuff still keeps me turned on. The shaft is a very useable size and slips in easily (unfortunately, I forget the actual dimensions, and they are no longer on the website). It has a little bit of a bulge in the middle, which makes it more interesting to push in and out than just a uniform shaft! This makes it really easy to enjoy the shaft on its own, which is great because the knot is a bit of a struggle, even after spending some time with The Trainer!
The knot on Ruff's Stuff is about 2.5" across, I believe, and it feels bigger still when you're trying to shove it up under your tail! In all the years I've had it, I think I've been able to take the knot only three or four times, and it has taken me a lot of work each time. It's a special accomplishment for me, and I like it that way, although I'm sure not everybody out there will feel the same. I did it last night and loved it!
I find that the overall length of the toy causes problems as I try to take the knot, so I need to be very careful to get it angled the right way so that I don't bottom out. The size and the sharp transition between the shaft and the knot also add to the challenge, because it means you need to stretch out very quickly to take Ruff's Stuff all the way. And once it's in, I can't keep it in for long! The size of the knot gives a very intense full feeling that I find a little uncomfortable. That said, it's still very enjoyable, even briefly!
All in all, I really like Ruff's Stuff even though I still struggle to take it all the way. It's a fun toy to use even without taking the knot, and if you're a little tight like I am, getting the knot in is a really special experience. I really enjoy the challenge. Of course, the original Ruff's Stuff is no longer available, but you now have the option of the silicone Euro Ruff's Stuff or Helmutt, both of which offer similar dimensions in a much better material!
As a side note on materials, I have to say that I'm thrilled that Brown Bear is moving everything over to silicone instead of PVC jelly. I've used both silicone and jelly toys, and I much prefer silicone for its durability and convenience. It sucks having to powder your toys after every use, and then clean it all off before you can use them again! I'm also hoping that the silicone will hold up better, as my jelly toys have faded and changed colour over the years, which can't be good.
(Although, I do like the new colour of my Ruff's Stuff!)
I hope you enjoyed my reviews and found them useful! I plan to post another review of the Tiger's Touch soon, once my tailhole has recovered from last night.
And if you have any suggestions on how I can improve my writing here, do let me know!
Peace,
Trip <3
