Ever heard the phrase “flicking the bean”? It’s unclever slang for clitoral masturbation. When someone first said it to me I dramatically mimed doing a spit take. Flicking the bean. How ridiculous.

The clitoris has a lot more going on than a bean. But the flicking bit… I’m starting to reconsider my aversion to the phrase.

The Zalo Hero Clitoral Massager – like most toys from Zalo – is a luxuriously attractive toy. Mine is a Loki-esque green and gold, but it’s also available in red and purple. While at first glance this beautiful toy doesn’t stand out as anything but a uniquely shaped vibrator, it’s actually not.

It’s a licky thingy.

zalo hero demo video

(If the video above is not working, here is a direct link.)

Its base vibrates, so it is technically also a vibrator. But the flappy tip is its main attraction.

According to Zalo, the Hero Clitoral Massager’s fluttering tip has about an inch of swing depth, and – on its strongest setting – it can flap up to 75 times a second. This sensation is intended to “imitate a memorable oral sex session.” It definitely classifies as flicking the bean.

the zalo hero design

The Hero is palm-sized, and shaped like a stout horn. There are decorative ridges on the toy’s sides and beneath the swiveling head. It’s made with Zalo’s signature silicone, which has a silky soft finish. The gold accent is plastic, with a Swarovski crystal in the front. It’s a pretty toy, but all of the seams along the plastic accent can make it a pain to clean.

There are 2 buttons. A scalloped design on the front controls the toy’s fluttering tip, and a ringed circle on the back controls the vibrations in the other end. There are 4 speeds to the fluttering, and 4 vibration patterns (2 steady speeds, 2 pattern settings.) The Zalo Hero is rechargeable, and can be charged with a magnetic USB cord. It takes less than an hour, and lasts up to 3 (but usually about 1.5 for me.)

The Zalo Hero’s “tongue” is a solid but flexible flap of silicone with a hinged base. Despite its enticing shape, you only use the pebbled tip for stimulation. Trying to use the rest of the flap just kills its momentum. To give the tip enough room to flutter, you have to “hover” it just on/above your skin.

what does the zalo hero “pulsewave” feel like?

It’s difficult to describe the Zalo Hero’s stimulation in a way that sounds enticing. It rapidly taps on your clitoris. For most people including me, the idea of rapid tapping on such a sensitive part of your body is grimace-inducing. But in actuality, it feels… really fucking good.

The speedy flutter of the Hero’s tip – which Zalo calls “pulsewave” technology – feels like a cross between acutely targeted vibrations and tapping similar to air pulsation. If I’m not turned on yet, the sensation is unpleasantly stingy. But once my clit gets hard (yes – clits can get hard!), I’m able to feel the thumpiness of the Hero’s speedy impacts instead of just a sharp vibration-like blur.

The sensations are super direct. The Zalo Hero has a much broader and softer tip than the similarly pinpoint Zumio, but I use the Hero exactly the same way: skimming the tip under and over my clit, and occasionally teasing it under my clitoral hood. I love the way this encourages me to feel and focus on the entirety of my external clit. So often I just cram a vibrator against it and ride things out. I like toy designs that diversify my pleasure routines.

In terms of power, the Zalo Hero’s gyrating tip is simultaneously stronger and yet much gentler than, say, a big wand vibrator. Stronger because it’s so physical, but gentler because the stimulation is shallow and buzz-like. I can only come from the Hero alone if I haven’t orgasmed in a week or so. But since it’s an apples to oranges comparison, your mileage may vary.

Does it feel like “memorable oral sex”? Ehhhh. Only if you’re having sex with Barry Allen, and he’s just using the very tip of his tongue.

Like air pulsation, it’s impossible to tell someone if they’ll definitely enjoy this kind of toy. If you like pinpoint stimulation – such as tongue or finger action directly on your clit, or the very tip/edge of lipstick vibes – it’s probably in your wheelhouse.

my experiences with the zalo hero

SheVibe kindly sent me this toy last year. Which means I’ve had plenty of time to get to know it.

In addition to clit action, the Zalo Hero makes for a good nipple toy. I hold the Hero farther away from my body when using it on my nips. This gives the tip more swinging momentum and thus adds some force/sting.

The Zalo Hero is one of those toys that makes me wish I had a play partner with a penis. But I’ve had fun using it on a variety of body parts, including repurposing it for tickle torture. It doesn’t feel like a tongue, but it’s multipurpose like one.

I initially thought the vibrations were a frivolous addition, albeit necessary to justify the price. But I’ve come to really appreciate the Hero’s versatility. Since the pulsewave tip works best on an aroused clit, the Hero’s mild vibes make for an ideal warm-up.

I really love how the Hero’s horned shape fits in my hand and curves against my body when I’m using the vibrating end.

The Hero’s motor seems to be the same one from Zalo’s Confidence Wand. When reviewing the Confidence Wand I wrote, “While it’s not as strong as I was hoping, its vibrations are definitely on the rumbly side of the buzz/rumble spectrum.” They’re on the low end of medium strength: pleasant, but sometimes not enough for me to finish.

The buttons – although textured – are small and can be difficult to find and properly click. Yes, indented silicone buttons are easier to clean than traditional buttons. But easy cleanup clearly wasn’t a priority for the Zalo Hero Clitoral Massager. The seams along the plastic accent are serious gunk collectors, and the Hero isn’t waterproof: it’s splashproof.

Zalo says the Hero can be held under running water (like the shower) but not submerged. I haven’t had any issues with it even when prying at the seams while rinsing… but I don’t like saying “so far, so good” about a $100 toy. The Hero also requires a pat down after rinsing, because lingering water leaves (temporary) marks. It also picks up fingerprint smudging, argh!

final thoughts on the zalo hero

I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating what kinda of value the Zalo Hero brings to one’s toy box. The Hero offers a fairly new sensation with its pulsewave tip. Its vibrations – while sadly somewhat limited in range – feel good. It’s rechargeable, splashproof, and made of body-safe materials. It’s also gorgeous, even though it’s fussy to keep clean/unsmudged. The Hero is unique, but is it worth adding to your collection – or potentially being your first toy?

There aren’t many toys you can compare the Hero to. The Aria Flutter ($30) is similar, but the tip is smaller, softer, and weaker. On the fence about the Hero? The Flutter’s significantly lower price might make it worth checking out first, to see if a flickering sensation is even something you’d enjoy.

I like the Hero. I reach for it when my Zumio is dead or I want something gentler. It’s at the top of my list for tickling and nipple stimulation. And since the Flutter has an obstructing nozzle and the FFH Ultimate Pleasure is clunky and hard to clean, it’s my current favorite toy for teasing buttholes. (Don’t get your hopes up though – if you try to push the Hero’s tip inside, its fluttering dies completely.)

If any of that sounds like a good time, you can find the Zalo Hero Pulsewave Massager directly from Zalo for $99 USD (as of this posting.)

Thank you, SheVibe, for sending me the Zalo Hero Pulsewave Clitoral Massager in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links were used in this post. Links were changed to Zalo USA after SheVibe stopped stocking the Hero.