{"id":1623,"date":"2019-01-11T22:24:03","date_gmt":"2019-01-11T22:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettybutch.com\/?p=1623"},"modified":"2019-05-21T21:42:49","modified_gmt":"2019-05-21T21:42:49","slug":"review-the-alex-trans-silicone-dildo-by-bs-atelier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettybutch.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/11\/review-the-alex-trans-silicone-dildo-by-bs-atelier\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: The Alex Trans Silicone Dildo by BS Atelier"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the coolest things about being a sex toy blogger is that I get to try toys from so many different studios and manufacturers. It gives me firsthand insight that makes my reviews more useful, and allows me to draw comparisons or make recommendations. Being familiar with the myriad of options out there is part of my job \u2013 and with each new opportunity offered to me by great retailers like SheVibe<\/a>, I\u2019m getting better at it.<\/p>\n

BS Atelier was a company I had not yet tried a toy from. Based out of Spain, the small studio makes sex toys, dilators, and harnesses; SheVibe carries a number of their dildos and plugs<\/a>. The staff is small but passionate about feminism, queer identity, and body safe pleasure products, and it shows in their work. Their pleasure products are designed to effectively stimulate the body, and some of their latest offerings on SheVibe are dildos in pride colors.<\/p>\n

\"\"
[Description: A screenshot of three products from SheVibe: the Max Queer Dildo<\/a>, the Max Poly Dildo<\/a>, and the Alex Trans Dildo<\/a>.]<\/figcaption><\/figure>Look at how lovely!<\/p>\n

a petite dildo dressed in trans pride<\/em><\/h4>\n

The Alex Trans Silicone Dildo<\/a> is listed as being a little over 6 inches tall with a max insertable width of 1.3 inches. It has a uniquely shaped head with a prominent crown, and a curve to the upper half of its shaft for more purposeful g\/p-spot stimulation. It is labeled as both harness compatible and anal safe \u2013 but we\u2019ll deconstruct that assertion later.<\/p>\n

\"\"
[Description: A curved dildo with a long, flat head and smooth lower ridge; it’s perched on a porch railing overlooking someone’s yard. The shaft is curved, and it has a thin base only slightly wider than the dildo itself. It’s primarily blue, with two stripes of pink surrounding a stripe of white in the middle.]<\/figcaption><\/figure>This is not my first dildo in trans pride flag colors (that honor went to the Avant True Blue<\/a>), and I can\u2019t get over how delightful it is that there are choices<\/em>. Sex toys can be affirming to those of us with pleasure-related bottom dysphoria, and having them decked out in the colors of our community banners is rad as fuck.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also a clear statement of consideration and inclusion. Functionally, anyone can use this toy<\/a> \u2013 but its color scheme is clearly for us<\/em>.<\/p>\n

before anyone asks \u201ccan I use this if i\u2019m cis\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n

I don\u2019t have the authority (or desire) to give blanket permission to cis folks to partake in sex toys aimed at transgender consumers. This is just my opinion \u2013 and there are definitely trans people who disagree with me \u2013 but I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anything inherently wrong or appropriative about it.<\/p>\n

In fact, I think it\u2019s helpful.<\/p>\n

If a product doesn\u2019t sell often enough, a store will stop stocking it; and if stores stop stocking something, a manufacturer will stop making it. Buying this toy helps extend its shelf life, increasing the odds that a trans person who will want one has time to discover it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019d prefer, BS Atelier offers the Alex (albeit larger) in other patterns, like the Alex Noise<\/a> or the Alex Rainbow Blue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

back to the dildo! let\u2019s talk silicone<\/em><\/h4>\n

The Alex Trans Dildo<\/a> was a smidge firmer than I was expecting, being so accustomed to Blush Novelties\u2019 Avant line. It\u2019s not a substantial density difference, besides being slightly harder to bend in half and not having as much squish when squeezed.<\/p>\n

\"\"
[Description: The Alex laying on its side on a porch railing.]<\/figcaption><\/figure>What I really love about the Alex is its finish. I\u2019ve never before encountered silicone with such a sleek, textureless surface. It\u2019s wonderful when paired with lube because the lube stays buoyed on the surface and keeps the dildo slicker for longer. This made the Alex Trans Dildo particularly good for anal \u2013 but we\u2019ll get to that later.<\/p>\n

The clean lines of the pride flag colors are marred only by a slight scuff (unique to my specific toy.) In my opinion this is permissible despite the pricetag, as so few dildosmiths can produce such crisp, intricate designs. And many certainly try! The lack of color bleed between the stripes is amazing.<\/p>\n

if at first you don\u2019t succeed, reconsider<\/em><\/h4>\n
\"\"
[Description: A close-up of the Alex’s head. Its nose is snubbed, and glides smoothly into a flared out ridge.]<\/figcaption><\/figure>The first few times my partner tried the Alex vaginally, they found its snout-like head uncomfortably pokey. The curved shaft makes it inescapable. It wasn\u2019t until we tried angling the dildo downward with every thrust that it became bearable. The head still drags, but it\u2019s a consistent pressure rather than poke. For some, the smooth, rounded head will be ideal for consistently stimulating the top wall of their vagina \u2013 for others, like Buster, it\u2019s too narrow and proddy.<\/p>\n

My experience with the Alex Trans Dildo<\/a> was different, in part because penetration is inherently painful for me and my vagina can\u2019t really discern stimulation beyond \u2018something is in me, and it hurts\u2019. The slightly firmer but flexible silicone of the Alex was actually pretty satisfying in use, and I loved how easily my body accepted its untextured matte finish when properly lubed.<\/p>\n

Our feelings towards the size of the Alex were, of course, opposite: Buster prefers much thicker toys and felt under-served, and I found myself struggling to accommodate its modest width. (I only managed 2\/3rds at my most earnest.) If you\u2019re not sure if the Alex is the right size for you, keep in mind that its sizing (1.33 inches) is generally considered \u2018beginner\u2019 and is slimmer than the average diameter of a penis (1.5 inches.)<\/p>\n

If you need something smaller, SheVibe has many options under 1.25 inches from other brands<\/a>. If you need something larger, the Alex has a heftier sibling, the Max<\/a>.<\/p>\n

sadly not suitable for strap-on sex<\/em><\/h4>\n

This dil lasted about as long in Buster\u2019s harness as the Temptasia Reina did, which is to say: less than a minute. The thin, flexible base folded on itself during a few Sex Toy Tester Pre-Strap-On Sex Dace Moves, allowing the dildo to flop free of the harness ring.<\/p>\n

\"\"
[Description: A close-up of the Alex’s base, scooted over the edge of a porch railing with bushes in the background. It’s very thin and small.]<\/figcaption><\/figure>I don\u2019t think this will necessarily be the case for every Alex<\/a> or every harness, though? A thick metal ring \u2013 as opposed to the stretchy silicone ring in our harness \u2013 will likely keep a better grip on the Alex. And the base of our dildo isn\u2019t a perfect circle; I imagine if it had been trimmed with more care, it would have a fractionally more consistent lip for a harness to hold. But even with a different harness set-up and a less wobbly edge, the Alex\u2019s base just seems way too small for a stable, satisfying strap-on experience. It\u2019s bound to come loose sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

If your interest in the Alex is centered around harness use, I definitely don\u2019t recommend it.<\/p>\n

the best stuff is the butt stuff<\/em><\/h4>\n

\u201cThis is probably one of my favorite toys we\u2019ve ever used for butt stuff,\u201d Buster told me after our first time using the Alex<\/a> on them anally. The head shape \u2013 a nuisance to them vaginally \u2013 made for easy, pleasurable insertion; it\u2019s tapered but not boring, the smooth ridge providing a momentary tease that\u2019s satisfying to pass. The shaft\u2019s pronounced curve serves Buster better as a butt toy, providing mildly firm pressure in all the right places. They were especially in love with how the Alex Trans Dildo felt being drawn back out and slowly thrusted back inside, providing \u201cthe best feeling of pushing and petting. I think it\u2019s honestly my go-to dildo for being fucked in the ass right now. I wish it worked in a harness, because it would be so good<\/em> for anal sex.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
[Description: The Alex laying on its side on a porch railing. There is a scuff running through the pink and white stripes on the middle of the shaft.]<\/figcaption><\/figure>But the lackluster base causes more problems than just denying Buster a good fuck. Its tiny, flimsy presence means I have to babysit the Alex when Buster uses it anally. Buster\u2019s usual butt toy has a width of 1.75 inches. Their ability to comfortably accommodate over half an inch more than the Alex Trans Dildo<\/a>\u2019s girth makes me worry that an overzealous clench of their ass muscles might be enough to fold the base inward and suck the toy too deep. Safe anal play means having an adequately flared base \u2013 and I just don\u2019t think this one meets that standard.<\/p>\n

final thoughts and where to buy<\/em><\/h4>\n
\"\"
[Description: A close-up of the Alex’s flat base. It’s an unevenly curved circle.]<\/figcaption><\/figure>The Alex Trans Silicone Dildo<\/a> is a beautifully striped piece of fuckable art with a somewhat steep price point. It lacks a functional base (rendering its harness capabilities and anal use dubious at best) but its head shaping and curved shaft make it a pleasant, flexible fuck if you prefer an insistent point of pressure to manipulate against your internal walls. It won\u2019t please those looking for an especially firm dildo for aggressive g\/p-spotting, nor will it appeal to those in need of super soft or girthy toys; it lands comfortably in the middle.<\/p>\n

I think it would best work for those wanting to transition from a butt plug to using a dildo anally, who either don\u2019t have a prostate or who prefer to treat their prostate with less force. It\u2019s not as firm as a lot of butt toys, but it\u2019s not too soft either. But if it\u2019s going in someone\u2019s butt, you should hold onto it even when not actively thrusting.<\/p>\n

Honestly, I would recommend the Alex more highly if its base wasn\u2019t so wimpy. For $70 USD, regardless of artistic quality, I\u2019d like a dildo that I can use any way that I want. But if strap-on sex and unguarded butt stuff aren\u2019t what you\u2019re looking for in a dildo, and you want a mild, medium fuck from a petite-sized toy, the Alex Trans Dildo is a beautiful dil from a fantastic, queer-run studio. And who doesn\u2019t<\/em> want an artisanal dildo in trans pride colors?<\/p>\n

You can find the Alex Trans Dildo<\/a> on SheVibe for $70 USD at the time of this posting.<\/p>\n

\n

Thank you, SheVibe, for sending me the Alex Trans Silicone Dildo in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links were used in this post.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the coolest things about being a sex toy blogger is that I get to try toys from so many different studios and manufacturers. It gives me firsthand insight that makes my reviews more useful, and allows me to draw comparisons or make recommendations. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[220,721,219,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dildos-vibrators","category-sex-toys","category-internal-toys","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t