Lelo's couples' massager, the Ida, is intimidating. It took my girlfriend and I a month to test it. None of our impromptu sex fiestas seemed momentous enough to incorporate such a futuristic machine.The sleek, silicone-coated Ida comes in two parts: the remote and the stimulator. The remote is a puck-shaped disk that takes two triple A batteries. The rechargeable stimulator has a smaller disk-like body with a slim g-spot extension. This ergonomic design helps it fit snugly in place, simultaneously triggering the clitoris and g-spot. Unlike other combination vibrators like the rabbit, the Ida is intended for use during intercourse.
The Ida’s novelty presented a few challenges. I couldn’t just turn the toy on and toss it in the mix like I’d done with other superficial clitoral vibrators. Permissions had to be granted and plans made. As the toy’s intended controller, I spent some time alone, attempting to master the remote’s basic functions. I recommend any aspiring Ida pilot spend time getting acquainted with the toy. Little sours a female's desire to add a toy to a sex session quicker than a guy shifting his focus from her to flip through an owner’s manual or search for batteries.
The Ida comes with an illustrated pamphlet suggesting ways to utilize the toy’s potential, particularly during sex. It also suggested we use the toy covertly while out to dinner or dancing. While I’ve had some success using remotely controlled vibrators in public, my girlfriend and I agreed that the Ida's stimulator was just bulbous enough to be noticeable, or at least to feel noticeable in anything but PJs or sweats. Then there was the matter of the toy's slight hum, which would be a bit suspicious in a quiet restaurant. With that said, I’m sure couples could have some fun with the toy in semi-public settings, like a loud movie theater or on a road trip when the driver needs a device to keep his passenger awake.
What intimidated my girlfriend about the Ida was the possibility of having the g-spot extension crowding her vagina alongside my penis. Dual penetration gives most women pause, particularly women with narrow vaginas or with well-endowed partners. For the purposes of this review, and my ego, we’ll pretend her reasons for not wanting to use the Ida's extension during sex had to do with my gigantic penis.
This was unfortunate, as we both saw the Ida's potential. Not only would the toy simultaneously trigger the clitoris and g-spot, it would also provide some extra sensation for the man. The Ida would be particularly ideal for couples in which the woman wishes her partner had a bit more girth. Conversely, men who are insecure about their size might use the Ida to boost their confidence. This toy undoubtedly works far better than penis extenders, which often make it difficult for men to maintain their erections. Then of course there is the option of using the toy during anal sex. Also, I'm sure lesbian couples could find a way to get the most out of the Ida; the top partner could wear the vibrating remote under a strap-on harness while the bottom wears the stimulator.
My girlfriend and I, however, would only be able to test the Ida under masturbatory and foreplay settings, which, admittedly, were only a fraction of what the toy was built for. She turned the stimulator on and slipped it into position while I fired up the remote.
At first I made the mistake of concentrating too much attention on the remote instead of getting physically involved in all that was happening. For me, the remote was like the controller of an interactive video game. Soon we started using the toy for simultaneous stimulation in foreplay positions that were far less restricting than the standard 69 pose. As things progressed, we used the vibrating remote during sex as a clitoral stimulator.
The Ida comes with two unique settings. In the “tilt” mode, the vibrator’s intensity increases with each degree you shift the remote toward vertical. This setting seems good for using the toy in a semi-public place, or during sex with the woman on top. The remote itself also vibrates, allowing the controller to feel the stimulator’s intensity level. Unfortunately, this feature also makes it impossible to lean the remote against a wall to maintain the preferred setting while you free your hands to make a few moves.
In “shake” mode, the vibrator’s intensity increases the faster you jostle the remote. I imagine this setting would present a problem during sex; at the very least it would throw off your rhythm. Also, this was definitely not the setting to use in public, as the required motion makes the user look like he's jerking off a ghost. However, this setting does have potential. Surely there's a cool way to get the remote to work by measuring the intensity of the man’s thrusting — the only ways I thought of involved duct tape or a fanny pack. I’m also sure there's a way to use this setting for mutual masturbation, by possibly strapping it to the back of the man’s hand to register the speed of his strokes.
The other six settings were the usual pulse patterns. The first of these was a constant vibration, which my girlfriend favored. In these settings “+” and “-” buttons on the remote control the intensity. When trying to use remote-less vibrators during sex, the settings often get scrambled when the buttons are accidentally mashed by body parts. A remote eliminates this problem.
The Ida is a step forward in sex-toy technology. In it I see the future of pleasure devices: vibrators with bluetooth, gamer-friendly remotes, complex stimulators that increase the physical intimacy between long-distance lovers...
Find out more about Lelo's Ida and buy your own at lelo.com
Read more by Alfie at shawnalff.com