Hot Octopuss PleX with flex: Vibrating Butt Plug with Remote Control
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I started experimenting with anal pleasure earlier in the pandemic.
Finding the right toy, however, has been difficult. I still haven’t found a butt plug that I truly love, so I’ve been experimenting—specifically with the material and hardware.
After reviewing the KURVE vibrator for Future of Sex and loving the dual motors, I was excited to learn Hot Octopuss also has a vibrating butt plug with the same technology, PleX with flex. And when the company offered to send me one with remote control features in exchange for an honest review, I knew I couldn’t say no. (Note: this article contains affiliate links meaning this site may receive a small commission if you buy Hot Octopuss products.)
The vibrating butt plug’s breakdown
Looking at the Hot Octopuss PleX with flex, you wouldn’t necessarily clock right away that it’s a butt plug. Its smooth, silicone-cased shaft has about 11 cm of insertable length, with an oval-shaped base that’s 4.5 by 6 cm.
PleX’s shaft also has a subtle curve to it, which according to the Hot Octopuss website is designed for “enabling prostate stimulation for those lucky enough to have one.” As a cisgender vulva-haver, I don’t fall into this category—but even so, this curve was still a new feeling for me.
Hot Octopuss PleX with flex has patented dual-motor technology
Similar to KURVE, a distinguishing feature of Hot Octopuss PleX with flex is the patented dual motor Treble & Bass Technology™.
The Treble motor supplies more vigorous, high-frequency vibrations, while the Bass offers deeper, rolling vibrations. There’s also the option to turn them both on at the same time.
At the bottom of the base, you’ll find two power buttons (one for each motor), along with a “+” and “-” to control the speed.
Even with the two motors, PleX only weighs 154g and the battery lasts for up to one hour.
Highly customizable with 90 possible sensation combinations
PleX offers five speeds and five vibration patterns. These speeds and patterns can be combined and executed with one of the motors, or both simultaneously. In total, this can provide up to 90 possible sensations.
That’s a lot.
Many butt plugs on the market today don’t include a vibrator in the device. If they do, it’s often a standard bullet with limited frequencies, so the fact that Hot Octopuss PleX with flex is a vibrating butt plug that also allows you to curate highly customizable pleasure scores huge points in its favor.
Typically, I tend to favor the rumbly sensations that the Bass motor provides. However, with Hot Octopuss PleX with flex, I ended up mostly using the buzzy Treble motor because I noticed it helped me ease into penetration.
Having this many options, though, can be overwhelming. It takes a while to find what speed and combinations work best for you, so you might need to spend time exploring PleX’s settings before ever inserting it anywhere.
A physical remote control is a much-appreciated alternative to an app
Another notable feature of Hot Octopuss PleX with flex is the small (3 x 3 cm) remote control included.
I’m a big fan of the butt plug’s remote control for many reasons. The first was how well it worked logistically.
There are five buttons on the base of the device and trying to reach around your body and adjust those while the device is inside of you… isn’t great. But the remote lets you change the settings without needing to touch the actual toy.
When turned on through the remote, the vibrations start on the lowest setting. This is nice because then you can work your way up to more intense sensations and you don’t have to remember which setting you left it on the last time you used it.
Something else I loved about this tiny remote is that it’s an actual physical device.
When developing products for remote play, companies tend to opt for a Bluetooth-connected phone app. These apps, however, come with a number of privacy concerns regarding data tracking, as well as an increased potential of being hacked. A physical remote that only connects to this type of device is much more secure.
This remote isn’t perfect, though. You can’t control the vibration patterns from it. Also the remote itself isn’t waterproof, so you need to be extra careful if you use Hot Octopuss PleX with flex in the bath or shower.
The ‘with flex’ wasn’t what I expected
With the promise of flexibility literally in the name, Hot Octopuss PleX with flex wasn’t at all what I expected it to be.
I figured this meant that the shaft of the toy would have more give overall. In reality, it meant that the point where the base and shaft meet can be bent to a nearly 90-degree angle.
As a butt plug newbie, I found this flexible base a little useful for manipulating the toy if I changed positions (i.e. going from laying down to sitting up). Generally, though, I don’t think I was using PleX in a way that this type of flexibility would be a huge bonus for me—especially because it took a decent amount of force to bend and the toy doesn’t hold the shape.
Shape might not be suitable for absolute beginners
The Hot Octopuss PleX with flex is advertised as “perfectly sized for all levels of experience” —I’d push back on this a bit.
The shaft is about 3 cm thick at the top. This isn’t massive, but it could be a bit intimidating if this is your first experience with a butt plug.
For my first time, I used a toy that gradually increased in size so I could get used to the feeling and move at my own pace. Everyone’s different though. For example, some people say you should start with a finger, but others swear that you need something larger to be able to truly feel it.
The oval-shaped base is also slightly awkward. It’s definitely big enough to not get sucked up (very important!), but it’s harder to grip when you want to remove the toy. If you’re new to butt plugs and nervous about this, I’d recommend looking for toys with a ring or flared anchor base.
Overall: Worth it if you’re seeking secure, tech-enabled pleasure
On the Hot Octopuss website, PleX with flex retails for $99.95 USD. This includes a 1-year warranty in case something happens to one of the motors.
If you know you want a vibrating butt plug and you’ll benefit from many vibration options and a secure physical remote, then Hot Octopuss PleX with flex is worth the investment.
Otherwise, you might want to find a less expensive toy that fits your needs and preferences.
Image sources: Carolyn Stransky
Carolyn (she/her) is a queer software engineer and freelance journalist based in Berlin, Germany. She writes about the intersections of technology and sexuality for outlets like Future of Sex, Autostraddle, Curve Magazine, and elsewhere. You can find her most places on the Internet @carolstran.
