When reviewing anything, it is sometimes difficult to establish a status quo, a reference point where your readers can immediately identify how well you are connecting with their needs.  Let's face it, if I were a lesbian that truly hated men (and contrary to popular belief, most of them don't seem to hate us so much as see through our attempts to "convert" them to our way of thinking); it would be foolish for me to review male on female (AKA: "straight") porn.  The same idea holds true for all of areas where someone is trying to provide you with information about something, tentatively to tell you if it is a better or worse example of the kind of thing it is.  Having watched porn for decades now, I know what I like and feel well suited to conveying the ups, downs, ins, and outs, of your major releases so what about sex toys or novelties?

Well, having been one of the rare people that openly give such items away for birthdays, celebrations, to be nice, or even religious holidays, I have long been in the same boat as most of you reading this review.  In almost all cases, toy reviews are seemingly written by some hack trying to sell you something in order to make a profit.  They are short on specifics and one wonders if they ever had the toy in question, never mind bed tested it as we are required to do here at Xcritic.  Thankfully, spreading joy and cheer (as well as doom and gloom) about movies and toys is something I really care about; hopefully saving some of you a few bucks from the advertising predators you tend to find in the industry.

Today's review is for the Doc Johnson Licorice Stix Big Reach, a vibrator that has several uses.  Unlike some of the fancy stuff on the market, it is a basic black device that uses 2 AAA batteries to power a small vibrating "egg" near the tip of the 9" machine.  The insertable portion of the toy is 8.5" and ends in a bulbous tip that can be used for vaginal or anal pleasure; both having been tested this week in a couple of "toy trials" with my more-than-willing assistants. First of all, I prefer AA batteries for duration and power so I was moderately irked when the device gave a few hours worth of steady vibrations only to start losing it much sooner than usual.  That may sound like a long time to some of you but my partners aren't the "wham, bam thank you ma'am" types that just want a quickie.  The vibration itself was on the low end too, lacking some of the heavy duty buzzing my gals are used too but to be fair; the device is not marketed as a high end, heavy duty toy; Amazon selling it for under $12. 

If you're really jaded and need something just short of a Sybian to get off with, you will not care for this device (or any in the Licorice Stix line up such as the Prober I will get too shortly).  If it is a gift for a novice or intermediate user of sex toys though, it will get the job done, get it done cheaply, and provide a water proof experience that survived my "3 minute test" of being left on and tossed in the tub for awhile (just make sure you tighten the end where the batteries go in).  The device also used "non-toxic TPR" so those of you tracking toys that could cause problems need not fear; Doc Johnson has taken care of it for you.

Operationally, the speed of the vibrations is set by twisting the dial on the bottom of the device, from a really low buzz to a modest but helpful level of humming; the highest setting reminding me of a swarm of bees about 50 yards away if that helps clarify the noise level.  Carey was the lucky gal for round one, finding the bulb perfectly suited for pressing against her inner coochy cavity, liking it for penetration more than clitoral stimulation.  Conversely, she liked using the bulb against her perfect pucker (or just inside it) once it was cleaned off for additional exploration.  I'm told that technically, going from pussy to ass is okay but not the other way around yet medical experts are opposed to either so use condoms or have something to clean the toy with if you are swapping holes.

In this case, Carey suggested it was a pleasing experience but more as a warm up for something stronger, her ability to get off with it only marginally better than her hand though she was extremely surprised at the price compared to the build quality.  We also discussed the musings of my pal Nate Glass, an expert in field who is currently traveling cross country on a marketing tour for Shane's World/Hush Hush, when he wrote a clumn about Buying American.  Those of you that support the USA (or simply hate oppressive countries like China where most toys are seemingly made) will appreciate that the device was clearly and boldly labeled as being Made in America.  Whatever your politics may be, few would argue that supporting countries with track records like China when a viable alternative is available for a low price and similar quality is a better way to go.  That said, I think both toys (the Prober and the Big Reach) were much alike and worthy of getting a rating of Recommended if this is the type of toy you are looking for.