Awhile back I decided I was going to do a little comparison.  I wanted to determine exactly which felt better to me, Vixen Vixskin or Tantus 02 silicones.  (In case you don’t know, both are dual density silicones used in dildos.  They have a firm inner core and a soft, plush, realistic outer layer that makes them feel a lot more like skin than most other silicone dildos) In order to compare I wanted to have two toys that were as similar as possible so I chose the Vixen Raquel and the Tantus Niagara.  Here are the specs on the two, side by side, so you can see just how alike they are:

Raquel –

Length 8.5″

Insertable length 7.5″

Circumference 5″

Diameter 1.6″

Niagara –

Length 8″

Insertable length 7.5″

Circumference 4.75″

Diameter 1.5″

Pretty darned similar, eh?  I thought so — which makes comparing easier and more fair. So. What was the difference?  Surprisingly, they were quite similar and yet totally different at the same time. I’ll start with the Tantus Niagara 02.

This one is a pink and white shade; bright, bright pink at the small round base and along the textured side that fades to a soft pink thru the center and into a white along the other side.  The picture really doesn’t do it justice; it’s far brighter pink and the shading is much more pronounced than it appears in pictures.

You can really feel the firm inner core in this one and it seems to be off centered.  It is much firmer along the bright pink textured side than it is along the white side.  Despite the firm inner core, these are fairly soft, floppy toys.  It can be bent entirely in half and if you wiggle it, it flops and wiggles and sways.  It’s still definitely firm enough for easy insertion, though.  It’s very difficult to explain something that is both firm yet floppy at the same time!

The outer layer of silicone is really nice, really plush and super soft to the touch.  It’s a matte silicone so it feels velvety and it has quite a bit of drag to it against skin so lube is highly recommended to give you less drag, more slide.

The inner core is firm but giving, allowing for easy manipulation of the toy but still keeping a very realistic feel.  Rather a lot like a man’s penis.  It feels hard and firm yet soft on the outside and you get the sense that if you bent it too far, you’d break it. The fact that it’s easy to manipulate and the inner core is off centered and firmer along the textured side means you can get excellent g-spot stimulation with this dildo.    The texture is mild, a few wavy ridges along the underside of the “cock” and the head, while thicker than the rest of the dildo, isn’t super bulbous and has no real ridge — and excellent thing for those of us who don’t like ridges that get caught on our pubic bones!

The niagara has a fairly small base with a hole in it for a silver bullet, push button style vibrator.  Vibrations carry fairly well thru the toy, making it a lightly buzzing shaft, but are not intense by any means.  The included bullet is the watch battery type so it will only give you a use or two before you need to replace the batteries.  I suggest using a wired small bullet instead.  They last longer and are more powerful.  DO make sure you put a bit of lube on any bullet you use before inserting it or it’ll be a bitch to get out!

And now…  The Raquel.

Oh my. The Raquel.  I think you can tell, already, that I much prefer this one.  It’s a bright, bold, daring pink with an opalescence to it that is amazing.  It’s base is white and pearly, as well.  The color, the shimmer, is amazingly beautiful.

Like the Niagara, it has a dual density; firm inner core with a soft, squishy outer layer.  The core on this one, however, is more centered, giving you a more even plushness.  It also has a plusher head.  Both have no inner core in the head but in the Raquel this area seems a bit larger and the head itself feels much thicker than it’s quarter inch difference has you imagining it will.

The Raquel is a lot tackier than the Niagara, which is it’s only drawback – it feels almost sticky and I actually powder mine as I do cyberskin before storing to keep it feeling dryer and less tacky.  This super soft silicone, however, feels so freaking incredible that the extra care is definitely worth it.  It’s just…  luxuriously plush and squeezable.

There is no texture at all on the Raquel but it’s not something I missed when using it.  The head, while slightly bulbous, also has no ridge — so no painful catching — and feels amazing against the g-spot.  I was afraid it would be too soft, too squishy to give me the stimulation I need but, quite the opposite, it seems to hone in on my g-spot and rub it in the most delicious way.  The softness also seems to make it conform to the shape of your vaginal canal.  Another review I read said it felt, upon insertion, like it was made just for that person.  I completely concur.  This dildo just…  fits.

The base on the Raquel is a bit larger than the base on the Niagara, which, for me, gave me more to hold onto when thrusting.  I don’t use harnesses so I can’t speak for how well either work there but for those of you who do, realize the base on the Raquel is quite big, the base on the Niagara quite small.  Both are safe for anal play.

It’s amazing to me that two dildos so very similar in looks, size and shape can be so different at the same time, but they are.  The same, yet each has a unique to it feel that really can barely be described.  The Raquel, with it’s vixskin silicone, is far more plush, far more floppy (yet still oddly easy to insert), able to completely bend and twist.  The Niagara, while plush and an excellent material, is simply a bit more firm and less squishy. Both of them amaze me and work my g-spot excessively well.  Both are fun to clench around, too, since you can really feel them give and squish with each squeeze of your pelvic floor muscles.  I’m not sure they’d work as well for everyone for g-spot stim.  Those who need a firm toy like the pure wand may not get the pressure they need but as a thrusting dildo, they’re both excellent even if you can’t work your g-spot with them.

I wish I could explain better why I prefer the Raquel so soundly over the Niagara. And why that makes me feel bad, makes me want to defend the Niagara.  I can’t explain it, I just do.  It’s just…  a feel.  Something about the way it feels inside me, the Raquel, is so wonderful and so realistic that it makes me dreamy just thinking about it.

Despite feeling guilty, I would absolutely recommend Vixskin over 02 silicone.

Both sextoys can be sterilized with a ten percent bleach solution, boiled for a few minutes or put in the dishwasher.  Use caution, though.  I boiled the Raquel and layed it down on a towel and it did pick up towel imprints for a bit.  I rinsed it again and rubbed it and they came out but definitely use care if you boil/get it that hot. If you don’t intend to share between partners or orifices you can simply wash both toys with a mild soap or toy cleaner and warm water.  I wouldn’t suggest wipes as these are both slightly tacky and very matte and the wipes don’t work well. Use only – ONLY – water based lubes with these.  Though some Tantus toys are able to handle silicone lubricant, 02 silicone is not, nor is the Vixskin.  You don’t want to ruin your beautiful new toy so stick to waterbased.  I used Sliquid with great results.

Mad thanks to the folks at Eden Fantasys for letting me try and compare these two dildos.  I am in lust with them both but in love with the Raquel.  In fact, Benjamin is a little jealous…

$95.99Raquel Dildo by Vixen Creations Material: VixSkin Safety: Buy from EdenFantasys

O2 Niagara Dildo by Tantus Material: Silicone Safety: $89.99 Buy from EdenFantasys
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