Review: Portland Toy Co.’s iO Dual Density Dildo

One great thing about dildos is that they’re kind of like My Little Pony for grown-ups. They come in fun colors and shapes, some of them are glittery, some have wild designs. There’s truly something out there for every person and personality, and if you’re like me… well, you just wanna collect them all. Which brings me to Portland Toy Company’s iO Dual Density Dildo, a gorgeous dildo that kind of looks like a unicorn horn made of cotton candy… but also, ya know, like a dick. And I happen to love both of those things.

The iO Dual Density is, like all PDX toys, made from 100% platinum cure silicone and therefore entirely body safe, meaning the material won’t degrade inside you or break down over time. It is on the pricier side at $105, but that’s because it’s hand-crafted and small business-made: the molds for these toys are hand-sculpted with clay, and each toy is individually cast by the makers, so you know quality control won’t be an issue and the product should last close to a lifetime. As the name suggests, the iO Dual Density consists of two layers of silicone: a firm inner core and a squishier outer layer, which results in a toy that is “soft enough to bend and move with you but firm enough to provide plenty of sensation.”

I love dual density dildos. I love them so much, in fact, that I struggle to even consider buying a dildo that isn’t dual density anymore. The two layers provide a more comfortable, realistic experience than firm, single-layer silicone, but because of the strong core, dual density dildos aren’t too floppy to insert or thrust with easily. They also maintain their shape when you’re squeezing your pelvic floor muscles around them, which aids in more intense orgasms than clenching onto something softer would. The softness of the iO is difficult to quantify, but I would put its outer layer somewhere in the middle of the range of squishiness – it’s not my softest dual density dildo, but it still has a good amount of squish.

As someone recovering from vaginismus (recovered? I’m not sure when/if I can call myself that, to be honest… a question to ponder another day…), the iO is what I, personally, consider to be a big stretch. For reference, a majority of women say that 1.5 inches in diameter (the average girth of a penis, supposedly) is the most comfortable size for a dildo – but obviously your mileage will vary based on your own body, your preferences, and your goals with a specific toy. The iO has an average diameter of 1.7 inches (and an insertable length of 6 inches), which will feel huge to some people and be no big deal to others. If you’re unsure of your limits, though, I would always err on the smaller side rather than the larger, because nothing sucks worse than shelling out money for a dildo you can’t use or return. Luckily, Portland Toy Co. has plenty of other options if you decide the iO may be too intense for you.

Because it is a larger dildo for me, most of the month my iO sits untouched but striking, gazing at me from my dresser like a beautiful but intimidating lover. As my ovulation time nears, however, I often find myself suddenly craving—nay, demanding—the fullness of the iO. The design features a semi-realistic head and a defined corona – I love the pop feeling of inserting or pulling the head out, and stimulating my entrance with the coronal ridge. The shaft is lightly textured (though I don’t feel the veins very much in practice, you might feel them more if this dildo isn’t as big of a stretch for you) and has a slight upward curve that fits the shape of (most) vaginal canals comfortably. There’s not a ton more to say about it, but if you’re looking for a larger dual density dildo that doesn’t totally overwhelm – say, with intense textures or an unusual shape – this could be the perfect choice. It also comes in an array of absolutely gorgeous colors.

You can buy the iO Dual Density from Portland Toy Co.’s website.