The Vibease is an innovative toy that combines the pleasures of vibrators and audio erotica – but is it as good in practice as it is in theory?
COVID-19 has seen many of us try out new hobbies as a way to pass the time in isolation.
While some have partaken in activities like puzzles, cross stitching, or online fitness, others have found a more intimately satisfying way to spend their time.
Online marketplace Love the Sales has compared a range of world-wide searches in adult toys, accessories and contraception from April 2019 to April 2020, discovering a spike in demand for these products as one third of the population has been based at home for the COVID-19 lockdown.
In addition to this, a study conducted by eBay found that there was a 423 percent increase in the purchase of adult erotic fiction from April 2019 compared with April 2019.
And it was around this same time the team at Vibease sent me an email asking if I would like to try out one of their toys – a wearable smart vibrator that actually syncs with erotic audiobooks, marketed as a “a multi-sensory self-pleasure experience.”
Now I am most definitely not a ‘sexpert’, but I do like a freebie and who doesn’t enjoy some self-pleasure time? Naturally I accepted the offer, and because I also write and by definition (at least for me) overshare for a living, I am here to tell you how it went – or should I say how I went.
While waiting for my special delivery to arrive at my home, I had a look online into the Vibease and exactly what it does.
The product that was being sent my way aims to create a “highly personalised fantasy” by reacting “in sync with erotic audiobooks when connected to its Fantasy app via Bluetooth, allowing users to select one of the many audio fantasies from the Fantasy library to set them in the mood”.
It is also wearable, meaning you can slip it into your underwear for hands-free use in a private or public setting if you’re game. Plus, it can be controlled by another person via the App, even from far away.
While long distance isn’t so much of an issue for many of us right now, the idea of creating an immersive storytelling experience and combining it with a self-pleasure experience was something I was interested to try – you know, as a lover of … stories. As an erotic fiction virgin (nope, not even 50 Shades), it would be a whole new experience for me and to be honest I had pretty high hopes.
Choosing your fantasy
Before my special delivery arrived, I downloaded the free Vibease Fantasy App and looked through the erotic fiction audiobooks available. There are both free and paid audiobooks available, as well as a ‘trending’ and a ‘what’s hot’ section to help refine your search. However, other than these sections, there is no way to filter your searches for more specific subject matters or tastes, so if you have niche fantasies, this might be a little constraining.
After browsing, I decided on two audiobooks: Our Little Secret, because the cover image reminded me of Rose’s hand on the foggy glass in Titanic (and come on, that scene was super steamy) and Stewardess and The Passenger, because that it seemed the closest thing to travel that I could partake in, in the near future.
When my Vibease arrived, I charged the device for about three hours prior to use, cleaned the silicone ‘skin’ as directed and decided there was no time like the present to give it a whirl.
The test run
One syncing the device to the app (which is really straightforward), the Vibease, which has a hooked tip designed to lie against your clitoris, was placed in position. I began with the shorter audiobook Stewardess and the Passenger – which was just under four minutes in length.
While the vibrations of the device did sync well with the story – intensifying in length and strength throughout the plot, I didn’t find the audiobook very arousing and instead felt like I spent more of my time making WTF faces about what was occurring in this airplane dalliance than partaking in any pleasure.
I then played ‘Our Little Secret’, which is just over 19 minutes in length. This story was less WTF and more relatable, and it did well to build up the tension in both storyline and pleasure. By the end though, I didn’t find the Vibease itself wasn’t powerful enough to create the final sparks AKA orgasm while using hands-free as designed (maybe my standards are too high) and found that at the end I needed some hand-aided pressure to get the job done – although it didn’t take long.
The verdict
While the Vibease is pretty unique, I’ll point out that in terms of remote control vibrators, there are a large range of alternative products available. The Lovesense Lush 2: Ultimate Remote Vibe (you can buy it here), OhMiBod Fuse (find it here), or We-Vibe’s huge range (browse them here) are just a few examples.
Like the Vibease, the Lovesense Lush 2 is compatible with Androids and iPhones via Bluetooth and allows both self and partner control. This product isn’t only clitoris stimulation though, it also pleasures your G spot, which for some might be an extra advantage.
We-Vibe products are similar in that most of their range can be used on multiple erogenous zones, as well as during sex with your partner, making it an even more dynamic experience (if you so wish).
The OhMiBod Fuse is like a traditional ‘rabbit’ with a massive makeover – it’s even compatible with VR adult content, which really takes your experience into a whole new realm.
That said, if audio erotica is your thing, there is nothing else on the market that does what the Vibease does – creating an audio sensory pleasure experience.
Shona Hendley is a freelance writer and ex-secondary school teacher with a strong interest in mental health and education. You can follow her on Instagram: @shonamarion.
Source: ‘I tried a vibrator that syncs up with erotic audiobooks, and whoa’