Realistic dildos leverage detailed skin texture, accurate colorations, and squishy dual density firmness to get as close to a real erection as possible. SHAFT and b-Vibe both have their own takes on realistic dildos, and thanks to TabuToys, I got the chance to compare them and see which approach I prefer.
Design & Specs
TabuToys provided the two dildos covered in this review. They’re a retailer carrying practically everything you could think of, including name brands with top quality, and they have a curated section for gender-affirming products for trans people like me. (Note: TabuToys’ product selection is wider and less curated than other retailers I am affiliated with. Always check the materials identified in the product description.)
SHAFT Flexiskin Model N is bold right off the bat: The box includes the phrase “THE NEXT BEST THING TO THE REAL THING.” Points for confidence, but I’d expect any company to back that up with an incredible product, so that set my expectations very high.
The Model N has an asymmetrical curve designed for G-spot/P-spot stimulation. It has a skin texture which looks like it was hand-carved as scratches into clay—decent for expressing texture in use, but visually unimpressive. It comes in three skin tones: Pine, Oak, and Black. (Oak is not currently available through TabuToys.) It’s available in 3 sizes from 7.5-9.5″ total length including the suction cup, and there’s a vibrating version at 8.5″. I selected Pine coloration (white skin tone) in the 9.5″ size. It has an insertable length of 6.8″ and a maximum girth of 2″ diameter (6″ circumference), putting it right around my preferred size.
The outside is plush and squishy, similar to soft firmness 00-30, and it has a very firm core which can flex but will always bend back to its original shape. The surface is velvety soft without any tackiness.
While a lot of dildos made by indie brands have handpainting done following specific processes to make sure the colors never peel off—painting those colors inside the mold first before pouring in the base color—I suspect that in this case, the pink head color was spraypainted after the fact. Rubbing my thumb against the head leaves my thumb and the dildo with a chalky residue, and there’s a part that appears to have been nicked and the pink flaked off. I have also noticed a couple flecks of silicone coming off of the dildo itself, like some of the skin texture is not done well for production, leading to fragile spots that seem like nicks.
Is there any risk if the colors rub off? I would say yes: If any bits get stuck inside of you, those can trap bacteria, or cause issues from longer exposure than intended. On the other hand, I’m not sure that risk is any worse than, say, the household lint that sticks to toys anyway.
I loved my Slipskin Girthy from b-Vibe, so I figured the b-Vibe Slipskin Curvy‘s strong curve could be an excellent improvement. The skin feels like super soft firmness 00-20 over a very firm core, making it super squishy on the outside. The surface is velvety but slightly tacky, as is typical for 00-20 firmness. Unlike the Model N, this one features sliding skin, so the skin on the outside can move and flex independently of the internal core.
It comes in three skin tones: White, Mocha, and Black. In Mocha, the skin tone is warm brown with painted veins and a dark red head. The coloring of the veins and head is more faint than product photos indicate, but at least it doesn’t seem to rub off at all. The skin texture is expertly sculpted to look and feel nice.
Slipskin Curvy is available in four sizes from 6.5-10″ total length. Mine is 10″, with about 8″ usable length. The girth is about 2.2″ diameter (6.8″ circumference), and it gets slightly thicker right at the bottom. At the base, the balls are also dual density, making them squishy. On larger sizes (including the 10″), there is a Vac-U-Lock hole and an insert to fill the hole.
As far as realism goes, visually, the Model N does not look very realistic, but the Curvy looks decently realistic if you squint. The skin texture quality makes more of a difference than the coloration, and the Curvy clearly has better sculpted skin. In hand, I have never held an actual human penis, but I would imagine it would be closer to the Model N than the Curve, as the sliding skin gets a lot more movement than a real cock should; the sliding skin may be fun in use, but it might put a handjob into uncanny valley territory.
SHAFT Flexiskin Model N 9.5″ retails for $90 and b-Vibe Slipskin Curvy 10″ retails for $185. You can get 10% off when purchasing through TabuToys using my affiliate link or with code: FROST.
In Use (Flexiskin Model N)
The core goes all the way up to the coronal ridge, giving just a little bit of backing to the head. I don’t know if it’s the core, the head shape itself, or the weird sort of drag the head has, but I can feel the head 100% of the time internally. I absolutely love feeling of the head inside, giving constant pressure against my front wall, so this is fantastic.
However, the head feels a little rubbery in use. Kind of like the head gets stuck inside, so when I pull out the dildo, the head lags behind on account of being softer. This isn’t necessarily bad and it’s not a sensation I usually get, but the rubbery feeling that comes along with this motion isn’t something I’m keen on.
The head rubs right against the spots I love against my front wall, the size is the right combination of comfortable and filling, and the outside is plush and soft while retaining a firm core. Even though the outer layer is soft, I can still feel added friction from the texture. That’s a massive winning combo. I find myself craving this specific dildo often because it fits so well with my body.
The size is great. While I love being filled up, the bigger a dildo is, the harder it is for it to focus on key spots, and this one is sized just right for the head to work well for me while also feeling filling. It’s very easy to maintain a moderate pace when thrusting.
I tried using this one with my suction cup SilcTouch handle, but while the suction is strong and doesn’t come off easily when pulled straight off, it slides extremely easily in use and won’t stay in place. I’m not sure if it’s due to the smooth softness of the silicone or some other reason, but that was a real letdown.
At least the suction cup base makes it very easy to hold in hand while thrusting. However, I can feel every little imperfection on the suction cup, like tiny little skin tags on it, and that’s a little annoying.
In Use (Slipskin Curvy)
Curvy’s firm core ensures I get that filling sensation and pressure that I love while enjoying the plush, squishy outer layer. The matte finish paired with the sculpted skin texture is ridiculously good. It has the right amount of drag internally without any of the roughness thanks to how soft it is, and at certain angles, the external portion rubs against my clit with enough friction to really get me going. There’s a lot of sculpted skin texture, but unlike firmer silicone toys, it isn’t rough or intense; it contributes to the velvety feeling.
Slipskin Curvy’s core goes just up to the head, leaving the head itself squishy. Not that surprising, but it would’ve been nice to have a little more pressure behind the head, since I can’t really feel its presence deep inside, just the friction as it rubs against me.
The head bumps my cervix well before I take the full length of the shaft, which is gentle on account of the squish and nicely fits my fantasies of having a huge partner. It would be nice to be able to take the full length, which I could have done with a smaller version, but then I would have had to sacrifice the girth, and I am pretty fond of a nice thick cock like this one. It’s filling without feeling like it’s stretching me. I like that a lot, especially for longer sessions (and, on account of the squishiness, it’s pretty forgiving if I’m not yet warmed up).
The curve allows the head to drag against my front wall, which, along with the textured skin, creates delicious friction right where I want it. At the right angle, the head rubs broadly against my G-spot. The underside of the curve also presses against my front wall when flipped around. The curve is good for broad stimulation, but it isn’t strong enough for reliable, focused G-spot or A-spot stimulation.
The curve makes it very easy to position the dildo in a way that it rubs against my clit, particularly the underside. Considering the texture and friction from the skin, this is really nice.
Unlike the Model N, this one’s easy to use with my vac-u-lock handle, which keeps a vacuum-strong connection that also allows me to rotate it on the handle with a little effort. This makes it really easy to recline or lie back in bed and thrust by using the handle, or try out a doggystyle position with the handle beneath me. The weight makes it a little unwieldy and prone to flopping, so I try to have a lint-free towel or blanket underneath in case it angles down.
While I found the Slipskin Girthy worked best for intense sessions, the Curvy is more dynamic and works pretty well at any speed/intensity/duration. The shape is a definite improvement. I’ve spent a few sessions just leaning back and enjoying the ride for a long time.
Overall
SHAFT Flexiskin Model N is perfectly curved to rub against the right spots in the most delicious way. However, its construction leaves something to be desired and it has a distinctly rubbery feeling when it drags against me internally. If it had foregone the painted head and scratched skin texture, it would have been really nice. Due to the pigment shedding, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend it and would suggest considering if that’s within your acceptable risk profile before making the purchase. That said, it has turned me onto asymmetrical curves, so I absolutely recommend checking out dildos with such a curve.
b-Vibe’s Slipskin Curvy is a luxurious dual density dildo perfect for a long session. It has the right balance of softness and skin texture, and the curve puts it one step up from Slipskin Girthy. It excels in quality, comfort, and convenience, and falls just shy of being one of my faves. The main drawbacks for me are the lack of firmness in the head and the gentleness of the curve, although I acknowledge that they are how they are as a result of the limitations in creating dual density dildos.
TabuToys Website
SHAFT Flexiskin Model N
b-Vibe Slipskin Curvy
You can get 10% off through my affiliate link or with code: FROST.
This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission from qualifying sales. I received the toys in exchange for an honest review.