Babeland Review: Laya Spot

I’ve wanted the Laya Spot by Fun Factory for a long time. As a relatively gentle clitoral vibrator with multiple patterns, a velvety texture, and a cute, ergonomic look, I thought it would be perfect for me. I was thrilled when Babeland sent me one to review. And as it turns out, it is perfect for me, but… well, read on.

The Laya Spot comes in a nice little box devoid of half-naked models with half-open mouths. It’s made of Elastomed, which is phthalates-free, non-porous, and easy to clean with soap and water, though it can’t be disinfected for sharing. You can safely use both silicone and water-based lubricants with this material. The vibe takes two AAA batteries. It’s not waterproof, but it is splashproof for easy cleaning. I wouldn’t recommend taking it into the shower; the battery cap isn’t very tight and it can loosen during use.

The Laya Spot is small and fits comfortably in my hand while I’m using it. The curve also fits my body; I can hold it gently, or press down for more sensation, with ease. The Elastomed has a sensuous, soft texture. This vibe has four patterns for massage, controlled by plus and minus buttons:

1) A steady thrum that can be increased from low to high. The low is incredibly low, barely  there. I like the medium speed. The highest steady speed is too much for me.

2) The first pulsing vibration. At its height, it gets as strong as the highest steady speed. It goes sort of thhrrrrummmthhrrrrummmthhrrrrummm. I love how this feels.

3) The second pulsing vibration is faster than the first, and goes thrrummthrrummthrrumm. I also love how this feels, and it usually gives me an orgasm quickly.

Reyna likes the Laya Spot

4) A very fast pulse that doesn’t get quite as strong as the previous two pulsing speeds do. Thrum-thrum-thrum-thrum-thrum. This gives me tons of stimulation and I don’t use it that much, but when I do it’s pretty much an instant orgasm.

The Laya Spot provides somewhat diffuse vibrations, providing a genital massage rather than pinpoint stimulation. I adore this feeling, but a woman who needs surgical strikes on her clitoris will likely find it frustrating. Likewise, the non-buzzy, thrumming, pulsing vibrations are perfect for me, but women who prefer strong vibrations probably won’t get what they want from this little vibe.

While I have a lot of fun with the Laya Spot all by itself, it shines when paired with a dildo. Its small, ergonomic shape doesn’t interfere with insertion. I also like the amount of internal vibration I get by placing the Laya Spot against a silicone dildo. And it’s easy to use during sex.

She wishes to demonstrate its use.

As much as I love the Laya Spot, it has two design issues that sometimes annoy me. The first is that the battery cap isn’t tight enough and occasionally loosens during play, causing the vibrations to suddenly stop. This doesn’t happen a lot, but it’s frustrating when it does. The second is how hard I have to press down on the minus button for it to work. I like to cycle through the medium steady vibration and the three pulsing vibrations, and getting stuck on the highest steady speed while trying to go back to medium is not fun.

So, do I recommend the Laya Spot? If you want a strong vibrator, absolutely not. You’ll need a toy with more power than two AAA batteries can give you. If you want pinpoint clitoral stimulation, the Laya Spot is also not the toy for you.

Reyna lies on top of the Laya Spot -- hey, give that back!

But. If you want a toy that you can easily use with a dildo, or during sex, and don’t mind that it’s not strong; if you like low-to-medium thrumming vibrations, particularly pulsing ones; if you insist on body-safe materials; and if you like toys with a velvety texture — then I think you’ll love the Laya Spot. It would also make a marvelous gift for anyone with those tastes, because of its packaging and attractive design.

For me, the Laya Spot is a 4-star toy. I use it nearly every time I masturbate. However, because of its two design issues and because it will not be strong enough for a lot of women, I can’t in good conscience give it more than three stars. I adore it, but it’s not for everyone.

Thank you, Babeland, for sending me what quickly became my favorite vibrator. Babeland has a large selection of vibrators, and they’re a feminist, sex-positive company. If you do decide to get the Laya Spot, I recommend their Eco-Sexy Kit; for a mere four dollars more than the Laya Spot alone, you can get lubricant, a massage candle and condoms.  Also, until the end of 2010, whenever you buy one of Babeland’s Goodie Bags, filled with essentials like lube and condoms, they’ll donate $2 to a GLBT cause.