Road Test: I tried the Lelo Sila clit sucking vibrator

Self-pleasure slowed down.

When I was asked by my editor to review the LELO SILA, the premium sex toy brand’s new clit sucking toy, I practically jumped at the chance. I’m a huge advocate for self-pleasure and using sex toys to figure out what you like sexually. It hasn’t always been this way though.

Masturbation has long been a taboo topic of conversation for women. When I was a pre-teen and teenager in the mid-2000s you’d hear whispers in the school hallways about it, but it was always cloaked in shame and secrecy. There was an unspoken understanding that it wasn’t something to be open about – sure, boys did it, but it was strange if a girl did. But somewhere along the way, at about age 15 or so, I decided to stop pretending.

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When the topic was floated in my friend group and, as usual, everyone jumped to pretend they’d never done such a disgusting act before, I tested the waters and told them that I had in fact done the deed with myself. Moreover, I was pleased to report that it was great and I would be doing it again soon. My confession had a ripple effect around the group. Slowly, more of my friends gingerly admitted that they too had done it and yes, it was rather nice. Since that time, I’ve never paid much mind to the societal expectation that women shouldn’t openly discuss self-pleasure.

I’m well aware this isn’t the case for everyone. Whether sex is something that doesn’t interest you as a topic of conversation, you struggle with shame or body image issues that make self-pleasure difficult, or you just prefer to keep these things to yourself, there is a multitude of reasons why you may be hesitant to explore this world.

But sex toys are an excellent way to figure out what you really like. And while they’ve exploded in popularity in recent years, the market is so saturated that it can be incredibly difficult to decide which toy is right for you. You could settle for a standard entry-level bullet vibrator, but take it from someone who’s tried a lot of vibrators: clit sucking toys are where it’s at. And this brings me back to LELO’s new suction vibrator, the SILA.

What makes this clit sucking vibrator so special?

The SILA is unique in the world of clitoral vibrators thanks to LELO’s patented SenSonic technology. While that sounds high-tech and perhaps a little intimidating, it’s very simple: it sends pulsations throughout your entire vulva, not just your clitoris.

From an aesthetic perspective, the first thing I noticed about the SILA is that its mouth is wider than most other sex toys in this category. The reason for this is twofold: it means it can fit a range of anatomies (we love an inclusive sex toy) and the bigger mouth allows it to stimulate the entire clitoris.

The silicone is remarkably soft and extra body-safe, especially around the mouth, and it’s been engineered to absorb sonic waves and transmit them back to your vulva for deeper but gentler sensations. The eight pleasure settings allow you to find a speed and intensity that’s right for you and it’s waterproof, so can be taken into the bath or shower if you so wish (something I highly recommend). Now we’ve got the facts out of the way, we can get to the juicy stuff.

So what does it actually feel like?

The SILA is all about taking things slow, something I can sometimes struggle with when it comes to self-pleasure. When you know exactly what gets you off, it’s easy to revert to that each time you masturbate, because you know you’re guaranteed an orgasm.

But I was pleasantly surprised by the way SILA encouraged me to take my time. All the aforementioned components, particularly the wider mouth and SenSonic technology, really make this toy stand out. The gentle waves it sends through your clitoris mean that you spend more time suspended in pleasure than with other sex toys – it’s really a full-body experience.

I switched between the different settings and found that the gently pulsating ones provided the most pleasure – and when I say gentle, I mean so incredibly gentle that at first I was taken aback by it. But that’s the beauty of the SILA; it encourages you to try different routes to reach climax and allows you to really slow right down and take your time. The way it guided me to try new self-pleasure techniques was incredible and for those of you who feel hesitant to try sex toys, this is a great one to opt for.

The leisurely build-up ultimately results in a much more intense climax, but it never feels too intense, which is a real issue I’ve had with other clit sucking toys. I didn’t feel overstimulated or somewhat sore afterwards, I just felt really, really satisfied. So satisfied that this toy has now been crowned the queen of all my sex toys. And, as I am prone to doing, I’ve already spread the news around my friend group. There’s a new toy in town, and boy does she suck (in a good way, of course).

Discover the wonders of slow self-pleasure with LELO SILA here.