When Buster and I decided to throw away our old sex toys (all made of porous materials), it took a little while to save up enough for silicone replacements. We bought our first body-safe dildos from Tantus, a manufacturer that’s been making and championing body-safe silicone sex toys since before it was cool.

We were on a tight budget, so we turned to Tantus’s Grab Bags.

Tantus Grab Bags, for those of you who might be unfamiliar, are “blind box” dildos and plugs. You know what model you’re getting (such as the General or the Hookah dildos), but it comes in an entirely random color scheme. Sometimes they’re even a different density.

Because you don’t know exactly what you’re getting, Tantus heavily discounts these toys. That makes them an ideal choice for bargain hunters and folks on a budget. Grab Bag inventory fluctuates, so if you’re after a particular toy, you might have to wait – and then grab it fast while it’s in stock!

We purchased three Grab Bags to rebuild our toy collection: the Vibrating Vamp dildo, Bronco butt plug, and Ripple Small beaded plug. Much to our delight, each toy’s random coloration was very different.

The surprise element of getting Grab Bag toys felt a lot like pouring out a sack full of candy after trick-or-treating: you kinda know what you’re gonna get, but it’s still a mystery until it spills out in front of you.

the vamp silicone dildo

The Vamp seems innocuous at first glance. Its shaft is ramrod straight, with a flared base that makes it strap-on compatible and safe for anal. It’s 7 inches tall, and its widest diameter – the head’s ridge – is 1.75 inches. The Vamp is above average size (5.5”/1.5”) but not especially imposing… in theory.

In practice, this dildo is intense. Our Vamp is made in Tantus’s super firm silicone. (It also comes in super soft, which is presumably a much cushier experience.) Under duress, I could probably stake a vampire with this thing. It feels significantly larger in use than its dimensions would suggest, and although Tantus rates this silicone “flexible,” it has almost no give. Its surface is also subtly textured: powdery-soft when you stroke it, but strangely abrasive in use.

There are some advantages to a rigid dildo. It retains its shape in use, which is especially appreciated for anal or for firmly massaging the g-spot (if you angle it.) Its rigidity makes it super stable in a harness. It feels big and almost brutal when thrusted, forcing you to feel every inch and minute texture. And it carries vibration well when you hold a vibrator (especially a wand) against its base.

(Our Vamp is actually the vibrating version, which Tantus no longer carries.)

Like our Tantus Anaconda, the Vamp has served Buster best as a period dildo. Its matte finish doesn’t feel gritty when used with ample lubrication (natural or outsourced), and its inflexibility makes for a thoroughly unrelenting fuck when Buster’s hormones demand wreckage.

That being said, we prefer to grab the Tantus Anaconda over the Vamp. It serves the same purpose but has a handle for easier pounding.

Our Grab Bag Vamp is a swirl of purple and black silicone. This is a gorgeous match for its name and for our own lazy goth aesthetic. It’s a shame we don’t pull the Vamp out more often, but now that I review toys for a living, the Vamp’s been outshined by a closet overflowing with squishier alternatives.

Grab a random density/color Vamp as a Grab Bag ($26), or choose a default density and color: Tantus Vamp Original ($50 USD), Tantus Vamp Super Soft ($50 USD.)

the bronco silicone butt plug

The Bronco is a meaty mid-size butt plug. Ours is made of a soft silicone that provides enough squish to be comfortably clenchable without being too flexible or floppy. The Bronco’s dimensions (5 inches tall, 1.75 inches in diameter at its widest) make it too big for most beginners, but not as imposing as its heftier cousin the Ringo.

For Buster, the softness balance that our Bronco offers is perfect for a butt plug. Everyone’s butt stuff preferences are different, of course. But the Bronco is rigid enough to stay the course on insertion, and not so firm that it’s an unpleasant passenger once it’s in. Some people love hard butt plugs. Buster does not.

The silicone for our Bronco is nice and sleek. (Unlike the slight texturing on the Vamp.) Sliquid Sassy slicks its surface like a dream.

The Bronco’s shape is excellent too. Its rounded tip and gradually widening body make it easy to insert. The last – and thickest – part of the shaft is very satisfying to work past, and even more satisfying to be plugged with because it rests low. The neck provides a gentle stretch that’s still a relief from the shaft’s width. And the t-shaped base is a secure anchor for the plug. It comfortably fits between ample cheeks and it’s unobtrusive enough to make long wear possible.

Does it seem like I’m doing nothing but praising this butt plug? Good. This is Buster’s favorite butt toy, and it’s perfect in every way except one.

The fucking hideous color.

My nickname for our Bronco is “the butt nugget,” because it looks like an uncooked chicken nugget gone bad. But that’s the nature of a Tantus Grab Bag. Sometimes you get something gorgeous, sometimes you get an ungodly flesh tone butt plug.

You can get the Bronco in a random color/density as a Grab Bag (price unknown), or grab it in a set color: Tantus Bronco ($50 USD.) Grab me one in lime green while you’re at it!

the ripple small silicone butt plug

And now to my Tantus Grab Bag toy: the Ripple Small!

The Ripple Small is a slim, sleek, rigid silicone plug with a beaded shaft. The largest bead is an inch in diameter, and it’s not even a full 5 inches tall. My Grab Bag Ripple Small was an ideal purchase for me: a money-saving compromise between my desire for a beginner’s plug, and my interest in anal beads.

This plug is very easy to insert. Slathered in lube, its narrow, hard silicone tip slips right past overzealous sphincter muscles. Each subsequent bead provides a slightly wider pop. I find the Ripple Small to be too uncomfortable for plugging (more on that in a sec), but I love using it as an anal dildo. Slow or rapid thrusting allows me to enjoy the rippling of its firm little bumps. It’s a mild tease that’s perfect for booty beginners.

So why don’t I plug with this plug? A few reasons. The stiff silicone and narrow head feel downright pokey when left alone. The neck isn’t much thinner than the final bead, so the toy won’t stay in place. And the inflexible circular base is like sticking the bottom of a shot glass between my cheeks. My voluptuous ass won’t tolerate it, especially when sitting or standing.

But that’s fine! The Ripple Small is an unintimidating entry into butt play as a very small dildo with a really good handhold for thrusting. My butt is satisfied with that. I just wouldn’t recommend it as a butt plug, personally.

My Grab Bag Ripple is a beautiful pale white absolutely dazzling with sparkles. Pictures don’t do it justice. I guess I understand why a butt toy doesn’t normally come in white, but it’s so pretty.

The Ripple Small is available as a random Grab Bag ($27), or in its default colors: Tantus Ripple Small ($30 USD), Tantus Ripple Large ($40 USD.)

final thoughts on tantus grab bags

Our Tantus Grab Bag experience was the epitome of a mixed bag. The colors ranged from gorgeous to grotesque. The Vamp was a learning experience we quickly replaced. The Bronco was – and still is – a favorite. And the Ripple Small isn’t a great plug, but it’s a good dildo. As the start of our body-safe silicone toy collection, these toys were imperfect, but well worth saving up for.

Tantus’s bargain mystery offerings gave us access to toys we couldn’t afford any other way. Because Tantus uses excess silicone to make their Grab Bag toys, they’re reducing waste, and folks on a budget get a discount… plus the element of surprise. Because toy firmness varies, I don’t think Grab Bags are a good choice for folks like Buster with solidified preferences – but for those with broad horizons or just starting to explore, Grab Bags are a great option. Especially if you grab them up during one of Tantus’s 30-50% off sales.

Just be prepared for treats and tricks. There’s always a chance of butt nuggets.

Happy Halloween!

 

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These toys were purchased with my own money way back in 2017. Affiliate links were used in this post.