Review - 40’s married male
May 27th, 2008First, some background. I write the background as I fully expect one’s experiences with the Fleshlight ? to be dependent upon a number of variables, and my background may help frame how you think about my review ?. I mention things like income and marital status as, for better or worse, I think these might make a difference in how you think about the FL products (for example, the $$$ they want for one of these would have seemed huge to me as a grad student, and now the 3-for-2 deal equates to less than a nice dinner out - not a brag, not meant for comment, just a reality worth considering when you read my perspective, as yours may be different).
Some basic facts:
I do not work for ILF or anything even CLOSE to ILF. That is, the only monetary interest I have in this whole endeavor is the money I forked out for their products. The only "Sex ? toys ?" I’ve played with in the past have been designed for women and used on women. I started having intercourse in the 1980’s (not a ton of partners, but steady nookie all through my teens, twentys and thirties). I’ve been married for 18 years and have two kids. I am very much in love with my wife, and have never cheated on her (and do not anticipate ever doing so). Like many couples in our forties, we sometimes sleep in separate bedrooms (ask around, this is more common than I would have assumed when I was in my 20’s). Our Sex ? life is very nice except that my drive is much higher than hers. That is, when we do have Sex ?, we both claim it is great, but my wife’s desire varies as a function of sleep deprivation, and with two young kids, a job and a house to run, she’s tired a lot. Thus she wants "it" less than I do. With a willing partner, I’d likely have Sex ? 2 times a day (upon waking and before going to bed), so my drive is likely on the high end. I was interested in the Fleshlight ? as it seemed like a way to have something "new" in terms of sensations while allowing me to be faithful to my wife.
What I bought: The 3-for-2 special and one case. The inserts I purchased were the ww ?, SB and original, all in pink lady ? forms.
What I did: I decided that for a month I would ONLY use the Fleshlight ? when I masturbated. I managed to use the ww ? 20 times, the SB 8 times and the original 4 times. After the first month, I decided to just let the mood determine my activities. I’d say I’m using the FL 80% of the time I masturbate.
I’ve used the inserts warm, VERY warm, and room temp (which feels freezing to me). I use a generic K-Y style Lube ?, diluted 1:1 with H20. I wash my inserts out with warm water after each use, and use isopropyl alcohol inside and out after each use.
Here are my thoughts:
Warm is the way to go. If I need a "quick one", I’ll give it a go room-temp, but the sensation just isn’t the same as a warm insert. I warm mine by running VERY hot tap water through the center as the sink fills, and then letting the insert and the Lube ? sit in the sink for 5 minutes or so.
The plastic case S-U-C-K-S. For that amount of money, I’d expect they could make a machined aluminum case that would allow the end-cap to easily screw on and off. Maybe mine is just a misfit, but I was very disappointed in the fit and finish of the case (that said, I really think you need one. Using the insert alone just isn’t as nice).
The ww ? was, by far, my favorite. In fact, in retrospect, I should have just purchased this insert to begin with (based on reviews, etc). I tried to give the original and speed-bump a fair "shot", but ultimately I just REALLY like the Wonderwave ?. Obviously there is no real use for a "used" insert that you don’t want anymore… Think about this when purchasing.
There are two mind-sets I can get into with the Fleshlight ?, and I think it is important for a potential user to think about which way they most often masturbate. One approach has the orgasm as the goal. When in this mode, the prelude is just "work" to get where you are headed - an orgasm. The other approach is to enjoy the entire experience. For me, this is similar to the mindset I need to be in to have good Sex ? with my wife. Yes, the orgasm is nice, but the prelude can be, in its own way, even nicer. If you only have experienced the first approach, you are likely to find the Fleshlight ? less interesting that it could be. That is, there is some work to set it up and clean it, etc., and if all you are after is three minutes and "out", the Fleshlight ? may not seem worth your time (though I will admit it can be used this way to great effect). What the FL shines at, however, is longer "sessions". Ultimately, when masturbating ? with your hand your brain is getting feedback from both your penis and your hand, which has some pluses and minuses. With the Fleshlight ?, even if you are guiding it with your hand, the motor-sensation loop is not complete (that is, it is easier to imagine your penis being stimulated by another when there is not the feedback from your hand). For me, I find that the imagination part is key to a great FL session. That is, what feels best ? is to have time to heat the insert, get in the mood with some visual stimulation, and imagine having an actual sexual experience.
So, where does that leave this purchaser? I think my Fleshlight ? purchase was money well spent. IT FEELS GOOD. Really good. Different than "regular" masturbating ? (after 18 years of monogamy, different is good
). Anyone that claims it feels like "real Sex ?" has got their mind too narrowly focused when having real Sex ?. That is, whether a FL feels "just like" a Vagina ? or not is irrelevant to good Sex ? (and while the ww ? is close, nothing beats the real thing). Someone’s tits on your chest, hands on your ass, Cabernet breath on your neck, asking you to slap your balls against her ass as her vaginal muscles clamp down on your member… Well, the point is, the "real" act is NOT just about temperature and texture! However, the FL is different from whacking off, it feels great, and given all the things you can do that feel good but are bad for you, how can you go wrong with the FL? I wish I had just purchased the ww ?, and that the case was better made, but ultimately the insert decision is easier to make in hindsight, and the case I have just may be a dud. What I know for sure is that I am happy I bought a Fleshlight ?.
Your mileage, so to speak, may vary. Some of the reviews I’ve seen over-hype the product from my perspective. Don’t assume it is nirvana, but know that there are real people that use it and are satisfied with the "bang for the buck" (pun intended).
Thanks to all of you who wrote real reviews in the past. Very helpful.
Peace Brothers.
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