Zalo makes some truly gorgeous sex toys, and the Zalo Bess is no exception.

Similar to the popular ultra-pinpoint Zumio, the Bess’s main attraction is its narrow tip. But unlike Zumio, Bess has a built-in sidekick. There’s a motor in the handle, so you can flip the Bess around and use it like a regular vibrator.

Additionally, Bess has accessories: three unique heads that buffer the pinpoint tip and offer a different (sometimes gentler) touch.

That’s a lot of experiences in just one sex toy. As I’ll cover here, not every experience is worth center stage. But the Zalo Bess’s faux gold tip? Absolutely worth its weight in real gold.

zalo bess features and design

The Bess’s long tip and decorative collar are made of firm plastic coated in reflective gold paint. It comes in emerald (like mine), wine-like velvet purple, and silky obsidian black. The body is coated in silicone with a sleek, soft finish. Like the Zalo Hero, the Bess’s finish has to be patted dry after cleaning or it gets water smudges.

There are two buttons, one for each function: the pinpoint tip (which has 3 steady speeds and 5 patterns) and the vibrating handle (which has the same settings variety.) The buttons are small, subtly raised scallops on the handle. I wish they were larger and easier to press, but that’s how I feel about most sex toy buttons.

Bess is a powerful little doodad, particularly its Zumio-esque tip. I say “Zumio-esque” because the Bess’s tip is significantly larger than the Zumio’s and it seems.. sturdier. That’s great for me, because I’ve sometimes worried I was gonna snap the Zumio in use. Or by dropping it.

Zalo’s marketing claims the Bess will run 2-3 hours off a 2 hour charge. I haven’t exactly stopwatched it (revoke my reviewer license if you must!) but that sounds accurate. I’ve never had it die on me, and I rarely remember to charge it.

My nitpick about the charging (and here’s where I earn that fictitious license) is that the magnetic charge cord is a haphazard fit at best. Although the magnets are adequately strong, the cord sticks precariously off the side of the toy and it drives me crazy.

If you purchase the Zalo Bess as a gift, you probably won’t have to wrap it. Its packaging is beautiful, with Egyptian inspired themeing done in shiny faux gold. The box is cardboard but very sturdy, and it has a magnetic lid and foam storage insert. It can easily serve as Bess’s permanent storage. But it also comes with a drawstring bag, just in case.

what does the zalo bess’s tip feel like?

Short answer: really fuckin’ good.

Long answer: Rather than shake you with the force of its internal motor (like a traditional vibrator), oscillators like the Zumio have rapidly spiraling tips. You have to hold them in a hovering position to give them the room to hum against your skin. Visually they remind people of electric toothbrushes, and honestly? The sensation is similarly abrasive. But it feels good.

(Noje Quiver, Zalo Bess, original Zumio X.)

I’m not an engineer, so I can’t confirm if the actual mechanics of the Zalo Bess qualify as an oscillator. But I can say the Bess feels like the halfway point between a Zumio-style oscillator and a traditional vibrator. Its teardrop tip rumbles away, subtly gyrating (so subtly I had to film it in slow motion to be sure) to deliver powerful, thrumming sensations. The Bess is thumpier and less stinging than the Zumio, but more visceral and pinpoint than a bullet vibrator.

(If you’re interested in the Zalo Bess because you’re drawn to the physicality/movement of oscillators, you might also want to look at the tapdancing We-Vibe Tango and the robotic tongue’d Rim Joy.)

Pinpoint stimulation is a favorite of mine. Too often we forget the clitoris is an expansive organ. Ultra-pinpoint toys let me target portions of the external glans rather than smother the whole thing. I can stroke my clit like a cock, or focus on specific sensitive spots (like the right side.) I love the way I can trace the Bess’s tip over the folds of my inner labia, then keep it against the base of my clit. The sensations hum through my whole clit until it’s hard from increased bloodflow.

The Zalo Bess starts off pretty gently (or as “gently” as this kind of toy can be, anyway.) It’s the babbling brook of oscillator settings: a steady, undulating shimmer of sensation. The Bess’s second steady speed is a huge jump in power, going from shimmer to smack. The final steady speed is an even bigger leap, just about matching the Zumio’s top speed. It’s intense.

Strangely (and “strangely” is the politest word I’m willing to use), Zalo decided to disperse the Bess’s steady speeds randomly between pattern settings. If you want uninterrupted power, you have to click through a few zzz-zzt-zz’s to get to it. Ugh! With the exception of the unholy fuckery that was the Nu Sensuelle Baelii, it’s the most annoying setting programming I’ve ever encountered.

using the bess’s bonus heads

Besides its size, another thing that sets the Bess’s tip apart from the Zumio’s is that it doesn’t stall out if you push down. I like applying pressure, and Bess can technically handle it. I say “technically” because the harder I press, the more the sensation loses intensity. Firm pressure makes it indistinguishable from a regular vibrator.

The largest of the Zalo Bess’s three attachments produces similar results. The long finger swallows the Bess’s oscillations and gives you gentle vibrations instead. Zalo calls this a “g-spot attachment,” and it’s curved into a “come hither” angle to match. But unless you like (and are skilled at) single digit fingering, meh.. The finger is super flexible, so it bends under pressure and is too limp for concentrated g-spot stroking.

The tiniest attachment is a silicone ball. It softens but doesn’t muffle the Bess’s tip. If you pick the Zalo Bess over the Zumio I because the Bess’s tip is bigger, this attachment is a nice bonus. But good luck not losing it!

The petal attachment is my favorite, but that’s because I like fluttery stabbing. The flaps (and ticklers tucked inside) are thin but very rigid, making their pointed tips unpleasantly pokey. But I love to encircle and/or brush my clit with them – it hurts, but in a good way. The constant swish of air between the petals is a delicious added tease.

Might be a little too niche for the average user. But I appreciate it.

Getting the attachments on/off is a bit of a chore. You definitely need fine finger articulation to manage. The holes are smaller than the Bess’s tip, so you have to force them to fit. Normally I’d recommend lube, but the channels are so narrow it just gets splooged out. Besides, it would be difficult to clean and dry.

user experience and handle vibrator

I have a “buried” clitoris, which means my clit is hidden inside chubby outer labia. To access my clit directly, I have to hold myself spread – and that’s especially important when using a pinpoint toy. So using the Bess is a little more cumbersome than, say, a wand vibe that can just vibrate through my whole vulva.

Compared to the Zumio, the Bess sometimes feels unwieldy in use. Its long stem tip is harder to angle with the same laser precision as the Zumio. (If you’re a freak like me and like to stroke in and under your clitoral hood, the Bess might be too bulky.) When I flip the Zalo Bess around to use the vibrating handle, the tip sticks up like an antennae. It’s not really a problem, but it does look funny!

The handle’s vibrations are a worthy sidekick. They’re not robust (or rumbly) enough (for me!) to be the star of the show, but they’re great backup. Or a consolation prize, if you discover pinpoint stimulation’s not for you.

The first vibration setting is a shivery purr, perfect for warming up or coming down post-orgasm. The two additional steady speeds are equally pleasant, although their power feels somewhat muffled. (It’s still about as strong as the middle settings on my beloved Noje Fauna.) Like the oscillating tip, the steady speeds are placed between patterned settings.

If numbness in your fingers is a concern, be wary of the Bess’s handle. The force of the spiraling tip travels throughout the entire toy. Despite their muscle, neither the tip nor the handle vibrations are especially loud. You won’t be able to sneak this past a slumbering partner, but a closed door is plenty to muffle it.

final thoughts on the zalo bess

With a pricetag of $100, the Zalo Bess Clitoral Massager is a luxury sex toy. The build quality and versatility warrant mostly warrant it. And it’s not as much of a newbie risk as the similarly priced Zumio. If you’re not sure if pinpoint stimulation is for you (or you’re only occasionally in the mood for it), the Bess comes with backup: multiple unique attachments and a separate vibrator. That’s value.

Even if the Zalo Bess didn’t have backup vibrations or bonus attachments, I’d still say its faux gold tip is worth its weight in real gold. Because this toy is gorgeous, sturdy, and powerfully and satisfyingly thrummy. The bonus features invite you to explore different sensations, a design choice I regularly rave about because it encourages users to investigate their own needs and preferences.

There are things I’d change (like adding more steady speeds or giving it a better charger) but overall I’m happy with my Zalo Bess experiences. This is a new favorite, for sure.

Find the Zalo Bess Clitoral Massager in three colors on SheVibe for $99 USD (at time of posting.)

Thank you, SheVibe, for sending me the Zalo Bess Clitoral Massager in exchange for an honest review.

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