The Hot Octopuss Pulse II is billed as the world’s first “guybrator”, and claims to be fun to use flaccid or erect. I have to admit that I was exceedingly skeptical when I first heard about this product, but my trusted male reviewer helped me realize that this could be a very fun purchase for some guys.


The Specs

The Pulse II is an award-winning toy designed specifically for men. Its most unique attribute is that it uses oscillation technology instead of standard vibration to provide stimulation to a man’s frenulum (the seam on the underside of the penis that is extremely sensitive to touch). There are five oscillation patterns that can be adjusted for intensity.


The Pulse II comes in two versions: Solo and Duo. As the names imply, the versions are for use alone or with a female partner, respectively. The Duo version also includes a multi-mode vibrator on the opposite side of the oscillating PulsePlate, and a remote.

It’s also fully waterproof and USB rechargeable.

The Pulse II Solo retails for $99, and the Duo for $139.

How to Use It

Insert your flaccid or erect penis into the flaps, and let your frenulum rest on the elevated PulsePlate. Buttons on the side of the Pulse II help you cycle through the different oscillation modes.

There are two ways to use this toy on your own. You can hold the Pulse II still and enjoy the oscillating sensation against your frenulum, or you can add a little bit of water-based lube and jack yourself off with the Pulse II, like you would with a more traditional male masturbator.

If you have the Duo version, you can have a partner join in on the fun. You’ll have to get into positions where you can pin the toy between your bodies, with the vibrator side of the Pulse II pressed up against her clitoris. Hot Octopuss recommends Missionary or woman on top. I don’t like the Duo a couples toy, but we’ll get to that later.


What I (and my Tester) Loved


My reviewer was shocked by how good the Pulse II felt. He thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of the oscillation, got hard quickly, and had powerful orgasms. Enough said.

The Pulse II makes masturbation more interesting. Neither of us had ever seen a toy that claimed it could be used flaccid or erect, and I had assumed this was a bizarre marketing angle. In reality, the Pulse II’s ability to be used while flaccid ended up being my tester’s favorite feature. I’m obviously not personally experienced in the ways of male masturbation, but my tester shared that the Pulse II did away with that awkward stage of jerking off when you’re trying to get hard enough to do the deed. Instead of that pulling-at-putty type of feeling, you can simply relax and let the Pulse II do all the work.


What We Didn’t

There’s no nice way to say this: the Pulse II is a weird-looking toy. I actually laughed out loud when I took it out of its packaging for the first time. It’s large, severe, and bulbous. I thought it looked like a robotic insect from the future. My reviewer said it looked like he had Batman’s penis when it was on. Aesthetics aren’t as important to me as functionality, but I wish the Pulse II was just a little bit less bizarre looking.


The oscillation is also a tad on the noisy side. It’s not horrible, but it’s probably not a toy you would want to use with roommates around.

I don’t think the Pulse II works very well as a partnered toy, for several reasons. The first is that the vibrations don’t feel that strong. They’re definitely not intense enough to create significant pleasure for a female partner. It almost feels like there’s a cancellation effect with the oscillations and the vibrations. It’s also difficult to find a good position to use it in. It’s too hard and bulky to feel very comfortable pressed in between two bodies, and any sort of thrusting is awkward and even slightly painful. I appreciate the effort to involve a partner, but this just feels like a toy that’s meant to be used on its own.


Who Should Buy It

Men with physical disabilities or injuries. Oscillation technology was originally used for men who had spinal cord injuries but wanted to get their partners pregnant. With a little bit of maneuvering, it is possible to use the Pulse II hands-free, which could be a big benefit for some men. The Pulse II can also create a feeling of togetherness and shared pleasure for couples who aren’t able to have intercourse.


Men who struggle with erectile dysfunction. The Pulse II can make it much easier and faster to get an erection. I could see it being a godsend for men with extreme cases of ED.

Men who experience delayed orgasm. There are lots of men out there who would like to be able to orgasm quicker. The Pulse II is practically guaranteed to do this.


Men who want another option for masturbation. There are lots of male masturbators on the market, but the Pulse II is pretty unique. Although you won’t replicate the sensations of intercouse or the fully-enveloped sensation of a standard male masturbator, the Pulse II provides a different kind of stimulation — in a good way.

The Final Verdict

I think the Pulse II Solo has the potential to be a game-changer for men with performance issues or disability. It’s also a fantastic investment for men who want to experience arousal and orgasm in a new way. It’s rare that a sex toy has made me feel so jealous and left out!


Vanessa Marin is a licensed psychotherapist (#78931) specializing in sex therapy. It’s her mission to take the intimidation out of sex therapy and bring the fun back into the bedroom. Have questions about sex? You can reach her at vanessa.marin@lifehacker.com , or at VMTherapy.com.

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