Shi/Shi Union Girl/Girl Vibe

Sep 8

The Shi/Shi Union aims to enhance sexual pleasure between two females, which makes it stand out from the other toys on the market. We have been super excited to try out and review this toy for a long while, especially because it was made by a lesbian for lesbians. The creator of the Shi/Shi Union designed it out of her own frustration about “the lack of toys for use while tribbing”. Fun trivia, without any previous experiences in developing sex toys, she pitched her idea to the NS Novelties and then made her first prototype for them out of Playdoh. You can read the interview with the creator here. Even though this toy has been on the market since 2017, there are very few reviews to be found. Naturally, we have decided to take this matter into our own hands and vaginas.

We really wanted to like this toy, because we appreciate an effort by a fellow lesbian to design a pleasure toy for the community. Unfortunately, we did not form a high opinion of it, as we felt that it had a couple of design flaws. Our biggest issue with this toy is that we did not manage to benefit from some of its promises, which we will further elaborate on below.

First, we should say a few words about its unique design and technicalities. The main part of the toy consists of a hypoallergenic, phthalate-free silicone vibrator that has the shape of a “globe”. The globe consists of two rotating hemispheres, attached at their ends. The hemispheres can swivel 360 degrees. Each is connected to its own remote control, through a transparent wire. The vibrator has two independently controlled motors, one in each of the hemispheres, so each partner can control their own, or the partners can control each other’s, or use it for enabling whatever power dynamic the couple prefers. To quote the designer: “if one partner wants a strong vibration but the other doesn’t, you have choices”. They can choose between 10 different vibrating programs. It promises to be waterproof, but that is probably only the case for the head itself, not the remote controllers which have batteries. Product dimensions 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) by 3 inches (7.6 cm) by 2.3 inches (5.8 cm). It requires 4 AA batteries, which are not included.

There is a ridge coming out in the middle of the hemispheres, which is supposed to ensure a better adjustment to the vulva, as well as a better capacity to hold the toy in one spot while grinding. The aim of this toy is for the vibrator to pivot in the center so that each partner could align it with their vagina in the way to receive the most pleasure. Supposedly, couples can then scissor and grind together while experiencing their own set of independent vibrations.

Now, moving to our impressions of the toy, we felt that there were two significant let downs in terms of it not delivering its promises. First, we had difficulties placing the toy in a way that would hit our clit. If you let the vibrator to naturally sit where your and your partner’s vaginas can hold it, which is for us the vaginal entrance, then the vibrator does not quite hit the clit. It may well be that our clitorises are higher than normal, and one of us especially likes it to be rubbed on the top of it. It may also be the case that the use of this toy is very different from a couple to a couple, much like the act of scissoring itself. However, even in different positions, we could not get it to hit the clit in a meaningful way. Don't get us wrong, teasing the vaginal entrance and the inner labia can be fun as well, it is just not what the Shi/Shi Union is promised to achieve.

This might be related to another challenge that we had with it. Second, we could not keep it in place long enough to make us orgasm. This is partially the case because it is quite big and partially because it is not quite anatomically designed. We experimented with keeping it in place with a hand, or holding the wires carefully for them not to fall out. But in all honesty, it is not worth the effort of tying to hold it place through the wires. You would be way better off using a wand vibrator instead.

Some smaller design flaws: the wires are in the way and distracting, the spheres are rather difficult to turn during play.

On the positive side, the vibrator is silent and quite powerful. It could get us off, if we were to keep it in place, or if used during masturbation. The globe itself has that velvety luxurious feel that we really enjoy. However, the remote controllers are made from a different material and feel somewhat cheap.

It was a fabulous idea, especially in 2017, to develop this toy and to bring some much needed feminist design perspective into the pleasure products market. We should remember that the market and the standards for what qualifies as quality sex toy, had since evolved. Nevertheless, we can only judge it based on our knowledge and experiences in 2020, which unfortunately tell us that it could use another round of testing before the production stage. It is a shame that they did not produce a smaller, anatomically shaped, rechargeable and softer Shi/Shi Union 2.

The Shi/Shi Union comes in black and pink colors, with gorgeous golden rims at the base of the spheres. It comes with a storage bag, which is especially convenient for traveling (hopefully the Covid-19 situation will peter out soon and make that a possibility again).

Care instructions: remove batteries when not in use; wash toys after each use with liquid antibacterial soap and water and pat dry with soft cotton towel to allow to air dry completely before storage.

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