Fun Factory Vim Review - Rumbly, Rechargeable, and Regal
Wilbur |
As a connoisseur of wands, it was only fair for me to review Fun Factory's new (and first EVER) wand: the Vim!
I think that I have relatively high expectations when it comes to vibrators, so after everything that I've heard about the Vim, I knew I had to get my hands on it and try it out for myself. In my experience, Fun Factory never disappoints with its high-powered and unique motors, so I have my sights set high already. Plus, with all the marketing boasting about how it's the most rumblywand on the market, how couldn't I?
But before I dive into all the good (and bad) about Vim, what's the hype around rumbly vibration? Is it any different — never mind, better — than buzzy vibration?
Buzzy vs. Rumbly Vibration
If you've never heard of vibrators being referred to by the words "buzzy" or "rumbly," let me give you a quick breakdown of the difference between the two.
Low-frequency vibrations produce a deep and rumbly sound you feel as much as you hear.
They can also travel through solid material while losing less energy. Think of the bass-thumping sounds that you can feel deep in your bones! Rumbly vibrators have low-frequency vibrations. They don't have that "buzz" sound and provide stronger vibrations that can stimulate internal nerve endings; they're pretty much the perfect vibrator for people with thin-walled rooms. They also stimulate a more significant surface area than buzzing vibes.
On the other hand, high-frequency vibrations produce a more audible, buzzy sound but don't produce deep vibrating sensations, as it's shallower than low-frequency vibrations.
Think of a high-pitched squeal — you can only hear its numbing noise but can't feel it as you would feel a deep thumping sound. Buzzy vibrators have high-frequency vibrations. They're louder than rumbly vibrators and only provide pinpointed skin-surface-only stimulation. For instance, if you're pressing a buzzing mini vibrator on your clitoral nub, only the clitoral nub can feel the vibes; other areas can't get stimulated by the vibrations.
Do you feel me? Great! Let's get back to the Fun Factory Vim.
Pros & Cons of the Vim
Pros:
- Rumbly vibration at all speeds
- Vibration doesn't travel through the handle — no numbing your arm out!
- Incremental or "customizable" speeds keep it from jumping up in intensity and ruining your pleasure
- Textured 100% silicone head provides more sensation and helps hold lubricant
- Quieter than the Magic Wand
- Slimmer, lightweight handle compared to other wands
- Flexible head for those who want pressure (without breaking anything)
- Larger head may make it difficult to use with a partner, depending on the position
- No separate buttons for patterns, meaning if Vim is already at its highest setting, it'll jump to the patterns menu instead of maintaining speed — a bummer when you're close to orgasm
- Rumbliest, but not necessarily the strongest wand
Power Rating Compared to Other Wands
As I mentioned, Vim is the most rumbly wand on the market. However, not necessarily the most powerful — that title still goes to the Magic Wand Rechargeable — Vim rates about an 8 out of 10 in power at its highest intensity.
Wands are hands-down the strongest vibrator category, so Vim has some decent competition against household names like the Magic Wand and other high-end brands like Doxy or Le Wand. Vim's maximum speed is less substantial than others in the wand category, as you'll still get more power from any Magic Wand (minus the Mini).
But Vim has something other wands don't have: rumbliness. Even at the highest speed, it maintains its rolling rumble and lives up to its claim of being quieter than the leading wand. Measured from several feet away in the open air, Vim is substantially silent at 42-43 decibels vs. the Magic Wand Rechargeable, up to 45 decibels, vs. 59 to 60 decibels for Magic Wand Original.
Packaging
Fun Factory is known for its beautiful packaging, and the Vim doesn't disappoint. With the outside box matching the toy itself, everything about it screams luxury & high quality.
Upon opening the box, you'll find an instruction manual on top and a Yes/No/Maybe list to fill out with a partner and get inspired. Underneath the gorgeous wand, you'll find its magnetic charger cable.
Of course, the packaging isn't what you all came here for — so let's dive into my experience with Vim.
My Experience
Upon taking the wand out of the box and turning it on, I thought, "Holy shiiiiit." This wand was the most rumbly I'd ever seen and is incredibly unique compared to other wands — and I'm a firm Magic Wand or Mini Halo devotee. I'm in the same boat as others when they say this is the best motor that Fun Factory's ever used in one of their toys! The Vim is a step up from even their G5 line, which is their most popular.
I was initially nervous about the flexible neck, as they've previously slighted me with other wands not feeling as intense as soon as the neck is bent, but the weight in the head of this wand more than makes up for that.
Vim's handle is 10/10 easier to grip than Magic Wand if you don't have large hands because it's slimmer than other wand handles. Its all-over texture may be helpful if you find vibrators slipping from your grip due to lots of lube or fluids — don't worry, it's splash-resistant, so you can get it wet, but don't submerge it in water.
The patterns on this wand are also unlike what you think of when you hear the word — instead of different Morse code settings, the Vim comes with "orgasm programs," as Fun Factory calls them. You can choose from three programs, Deep Orgasm, Intense Orgasm, and Edging. These programs take the work out of the wand and let you focus on the pleasure instead of fumbling with the buttons.
The Deep Orgasm Program starts with light vibration and slowly builds up to Vim's maximum speed, whereas the Intense Orgasm Program builds up speed quickly, making it ideal for the perfect quickie. On the other hand, the Edging Program is quite unique — I've never seen a toy have a built-in pattern solely for edging the way that Vim does. This program builds in intensity and then drops off again, over and over, and reaches higher intensities each time until the user hits climax. It sounds like it'd work best with a toy mount, though I haven't tried it yet!
All around, Vim blows my go-to favorites out of the park, and my partner is a massive fan of it, too. Just use it with a decent amount of hybrid lubricant, and you'll be good to go. The plus side is, if you're a wand fan like I am but have found that your body has become bored with the routine of wands, this toy shakes things up (get it? Because it's rumbly) for your brain and can make it easier to orgasm due to it having a different sensation than other wands.
How to Use Vim & Its Adjustable Controls
The Fun Factory Vim uses three buttons to manage the eight adjustable functions (five steady speeds + three patterns) and the travel lock.
1) Press the FUN and + buttons simultaneously to turn off the travel lock.
2) Press the + button to move through the eight vibration functions.
3) You hit the – button to return to a prior function. (You can't cycle through.)
4) To access adjustable intensity: Hold down either the + button for higher or the – button for lower frequency on any of the eight functions.
The five steady speeds can all be toggled up and down, allowing for precise fine-tuning. The five speeds cover a good range and are well-spaced apart (with zero adjustments). But, I treasure easy adjustability, which Vim does well.
The incremental or "customizable" speeds are similar to Pillow Talk's one-button controls on their toys, where you hold the button the slowly increase the speed. I prefer toys like this since the jump in intensity can be too much when you're in the moment.
Battery Life & Charging
Vim includes a long charging cable, which attaches to the wand handle's bottom via magnetic solid nodes. I like the bright red cord: it makes Fun Factory cables easy to locate and grab quickly in my toy bag.
Fun Factory Vim has 3 hours, 13 minutes hours battery life on low power. If you run it more at high speed, expect a little over 2 hours of run time per charge. A full charge does take some time, about 4 hours.
Water-Resistant — But Not Waterproof?
The Vim is "water-resistant," which translates to IPX 5-6, or resistant to spraying water jets. So, you can wash it in the sink and shower with it. I've showered with it, and I would recommend it. You can even hold it between your thighs for hands-free pleasure in the shower, where the lighter weight does make it pretty stable.
Fun Factory Vim is not submersible: Don't take it in the bathtub; the neck will get water-logged afterward, which can entirely break your toy.
Recap & Summary
Though it's not the most powerful wand on the market, Vim is for anyone who cherishes deep, resonant, and rumbly vibration, perfect for hitting nerve endings deep under the skin's surface. The "weighted" motor of Vim works in its favor, too, making it feel sophisticated and even helping with functionality.
The only downside for sensitive vulvas is the odd pairing of an ultra-rumble motor with slightly prickly lines on the Vim's silicone head. Ironic because Vim's most significant selling point (in Fun Factory's words) is that other wand vibrators are "irritating." Lubricant does help, and I can see how the textured head does hold the lubricant better, but I wish there were a smooth head version that still boasts Vim's excellent rumble motor.
That being said, Vim is officially a staple in my toy bag, and I'm sure I'll get used to the textured head the more I use it. The power of the motor outweighs the cons, and I love the color of it — as cheesy as it sounds, pulling out this bright orange toy with my partner does make things that much more exciting.
