Aside from valiantly suing the New York MTA for their blatant sexism, Dame is probably best known for its massively successful crowdsourcing campaign that bankrolled the creation of its visionary wearable vibe, Eva. Which, in its final incarnation fell devastatingly short of expectations.
Amid a din of online complaints, sex toy reviewers derided the Eva for its languid performance and mechanical inadequacies. Turns out, operating the Eva is a logistical nightmare. One that requires some unforeseen vaginal spelunking, and far more effort than the user gets in pay off. Who would have guessed? A “one size fits all” approach to sex toys works out about as well as one might have imagined.
Dame’s second and third offerings, the Eva II, and a finger vibe named Fin, didn’t fare much better. They, too, were criticized for being excessively buzzy and unnecessarily noisy. Despite the harsh critiques, Dame, admirably, chose to stick it out. Rather than quietly folding up shop and slipping wordlessly back into the void (like some unscrupulous, fly by night crowdsourced brands have seen fit). Dame smartly opted to springboard off of these hard-won lessons and ride the wave of their hugely popular Indiegogo campaigns.
Seemingly undaunted by past disappointments, Dame’s founders continue chugging right along, steadily releasing exciting experimental new toy designs, in fresh new colorways. And this time, with much better results.
Dame Zee – Bullet Vibe
First up, is Dame’s adorable, Lapis blue bullet vibrator, dubbed the Zee. This little guy is an obvious contender for a rechargeable, watch battery bullet upgrade. The Zee’s vibrations are well, I’ll just say it – generic. I’d place them in the same category as a lot of other ordinary, everyday battery-operated bullets like Rocks Off RO-80-mm vibe or Screaming O’s Vroom bullet.
The vibrations, while nothing to write home about, do hum with a light murmur of rumble underscoring each of the Zee’s three settings. Sure, it doesn’t clobber you over the head, but it’s undeniably there. The highest setting is more than ample for getting the job done. It’s just not my first choice in doing so.
Something that I think needs to be made abundantly clear, here, is this modest, three-speed bullet isn’t of the class of rumble we’re accustomed to indulging ourselves with, found in powerhouses like the We-Vibe Tango, or any of Je Joue’s trio of bullets. So to my fellow power queens out there, I urge you to temper your expectations. This humble litte vibe likely won’t cut it for those of you that demand the Tango’s flavor of undiluted rumble and deeply penetrative vibrations.
That said, the Dame Zee is a compelling candidate for folks who wince at the mere thought of touching a powerful bullet-like the Blush Nocturnal or the Nu Sensuelle Point Plus against their hyper-sensitive bits. Or, more specifically, you peeps out there who might be actively in search of a bullet that accommodates a softer timbre of vibration.
Yes, I know, classifiers like “starter vibe” and “beginner vibe” are frowned upon, but some toys too perfectly fit the bill. The Dame Zee, here, is a perfect example. It’s an excellent pick for folks dipping an apprehensive toe into the expansive (and sometimes expensive) pool of rechargeable vibrators—those folks not quite ready to commit a substantial investment, Not just yet.
Dame Pom – Flexible Pebble Vibrator
What reeled me in, and set the Dame Pom apart from other pebble-shaped toys, is its distinctive flexible outer shell. The Pom is ingeniously engineered and manufactured in an unusually squishy silicone that permits its incredible pliancy. I suppose you could call it the Pom’s claim to fame. This feature, indeed, serves the vibrator well for melding into fleshy folds and crevices and wedging between bodies.
Dame boasts that the Pom is outfitted with their most powerful motor to date. I can attest that at first blush, the Pom looks to have a pleasing amount of oomph to its vibrations, a selection that includes five patterns and five intensities.
I willingly admit my imprudence. As it should have come as no surprise, that despite the Pom’s vibrations packing a noticeable punch, that I found its shape at odds with my diva of a clit’s power-hungry inclinations. As in past experiences with similarly shaped toys, the vibrations feel moderately robust, but only when the Pom is being held. I’m quickly dismayed when their potency abruptly fizzles out when I press the toy against my body.
It’s a disappearing act any magician would be proud of.
My tempermental clit interprets the Pom’s vibrations as terribly nebulous, far too stifled, and generally unfocused for my liking. All in all, offering a mediocre performance, at best. I presume, the Pom’s dense silicone shell is interfering, operating as an unintended insulator, leeching up and squandering the bulk of the motor’s power. This, all well before, the vibrations can fully penetrate the silicone skin and reach their intended target.
It’s the dreaded curse of shallow vibrations.
I don’t mean to scare you away, the Pom’s vibrations are not criminally weak. On the contrary, the motor puts up quite a fight, but the cushiony silicone thwarts it’s best efforts. I rate the Pom’s overall performance as the middle of the road. I’ve had better luck with the We-Vibe Touch and the Je Joue Mimi. Of course, some reviewers staunchly oppose my assessment and seem to truly enjoy the Pom.
Dame Kip – Lipstick Vibrator
My pick of the litter, my favorite by a landslide, is the Dame Kip. This little vibrator is everything that its shiny-happy shade of lemony yellow promises it to be. Hidden within this vibe’s offbeat, abstract design is a powerful, warbling motor that whispers sweet nothings to my clit.
Starting out, I didn’t have high hopes for the Kip, since the Pom (which debuts Dame’s most potent motor) wasn’t a match. Yet, I wound up pleasantly surprised by its performance.
While powerful in their own right, the Kip’s vibrations needn’t reach the dizzying heights of rumble ascribed to the Tango to be effective. This vibe’s out of the ordinary, angular shape, with its sharp peak and edges, efficiently channel the vibrations to their targeted destination without wasting a drop of that precious potency.
The Kip’s unusual wedged shape also aids it in nestling perfectly between my inner and outer labia, parting my puffy lips, and precisely targeting my tiny nub of a clit. I revel in the way the vibrations undulate and ripple through the supple silicone edges, creating a fluttery sensation on all three sides. As a nice bonus, I notice the convex, scooped out center, occasionally producing an exquisitely delicate suction.
For those who might be wondering, the Kip’s edges are far more yielding than Mimic 2.0, and the vibrations feel less smothered. The Kip’s is everything I wanted the Fun Factory Volita to be. This masterful little vibe has rightfully earned its place in my rotation of all-time favorites. Seeing as how it offers an uncomplicated, surefire means to an end.
Dame has officially caught my attention, now. I’m stoked to see what they’ll bring to the table next. One thing is for sure, they aren’t afraid to color outside the lines and try out experimental new shapes and quirky new colors. The future looks bright for Dame.
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