Lelo Ida: test of a rotating vibrator for couples

The Lelo Ida is the more sophisticated big brother of the Lelo Tara. Like the latter, the Ida is a vibrator designed for couples. It combines a vibrating circular base intended for clitoral stimulation, and a rotating shaft dedicated to the G-spot.

The main difference from the Tara is that the Ida comes with a remote control, giving access to more intuitive and playful modes.

Here is our review of the Lelo Ida.

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Sex toy packaging

There’s nothing to say about the packaging, which is impeccable, a standard one gets used to with LELO products.

The Ida comes in a double cardboard box (one packaging thickness and one box thickness), black in colour, a little bigger than the Tara’s.

A small satin storage case is included. You can fit the device and its remote control in it, but there’s no room left for its charger.

The look of the Lelo Ida

The Ida comes in two parts: the sex toy itself and its remote control.

The Ida’s sex toy part is, at least visually, identical to the Tara, apart from the available colours. A round, fairly flattened vibrating base is attached to a curved shaft that traces circles.

Both are available in three colours. The “deep rose” and black versions are available for both models, while the “midnight blue” shade is exclusive to the Tara. The “cherry” shade, for its part, is offered only for the Ida.

We received the cherry colour version.

If you only have the sex toy part in your hands, it’s hard to tell it apart from the Tara.

Texture and materials

Like the Tara, the Lelo Ida and its remote control are made of medical-grade silicone (the coloured parts) and ABS plastic (the metallic parts). Materials that are safe for the body, odourless and durable.

Its base is rigid, while the rotating “branch” is flexible, but firm. The remote control itself is rigid.

Powering the Lelo Ida

The Lelo Ida is rechargeable. This time, a “real” charger with a transformer is included; it’s not a USB cable.

The only advantage of USB charging over a standard charger is that you can easily replace the cable if it’s a standard one.

But since the cable supplied for charging the Tara has a proprietary LELO format, if you lose it, you’re no better off than if you lose any other charger; you have to buy another one from the manufacturer.

If I have to choose, I prefer to avoid having to hog a USB port on my PC to recharge my sex toy.

The Ida’s remote control runs on two AAA batteries, which are easy to find in rechargeable form.

Controls of the Lelo Ida

The Lelo Ida has eight modes (compared with six modes for the Tara).

As with the Tara, only the vibrations of the flat part change from one mode to another. The branch always performs the same rotating motion, at a constant speed.

But the big difference is that you can vary the intensity of the vibrations thanks to the “+” and “-” buttons on the remote control.

You can change mode, at will, by pressing the round button on the side of the sex toy base, or the central button on the remote control.

Vibration modes

The modes are the same as those of other recent remote-controlled LELO models (Lyla 2, Tiani 2, …) :

• Six “classic” modes, also available on the Tara: one constant vibration mode, two pulsing modes, two modes in which the intensity varies in a regular way, and one random mode.
• Two modes sensitive to remote control movements: to increase the vibration power, in one of these two modes you have to tilt the remote control; in the other, you have to shake it.

This remote control is exactly the same as that of the Lyla 2 and the Tiani 2. You can even swap them and control a sex toy with the other one’s remote control without noticing any difference.

However, the Ida’s remote control has no effect on the Tara. So you cannot turn the Tara into an Ida.

Using the Lelo Ida

Given that using the Lelo Tara solo hadn’t been a real success, and the Ida being very similar, I skipped the solo test. We settled for using it as a couple, during penetration.

The Lelo Ida is therefore worn during penetration. Its rotating “branch” is inserted into the vagina, while its flat part rests against the clitoris.

Placement

To place it:

• First, lubricate thoroughly. Otherwise, it rubs too much.
• Then, place the Ida before the penis. Indeed, it’s not easy to slide the Lelo Ida in once the penis is in the vicinity. The whole thing, with the sex toy off, otherwise starting penetration is a struggle.
• Once the penis and sex toy are neatly in place, you can start the Ida using its remote control or by pressing the button on the side of the sex toy.

The vibrations

As for the vibrations, same remarks as for the Tara, so I’ll be lazy and serve you a copy-and-paste from the previous article:
It lacks a bit of power to my taste. In themselves, the vibrations seem powerful, but they tend to “get lost” across the entire surface of the Ida’s base.

Moreover, this base doesn’t press on my clit, but above it. And as the rotations go on, the sex toy tries to bolt off. So I find myself having to press on it with my hand so that the vibrations apply in the right place. Which, let’s admit it, is a bit awkward for a sex toy that is supposed to be used “hands-free”.

However, with the Ida, the ability to vary the power makes this lack of intensity a little less frustrating than with the Tara.

As for the remote control and its whimsical intuitive modes, as I had noticed in my Lelo Lyla 2 test, it isn’t the sexiest thing in the world, but it’s a fun gadget.

The rotations

As for the rotating shaft, it’s the same as the Tara’s, and it does exactly the same thing.

The sensations this part provides are rather interesting. Wedged between my partner’s penis and the front part of my vagina, it presses hard right against my G-spot while continuing to move. This complementary stimulation is pleasant.

In short, therefore: the Ida is nearly identical to the Tara, but better.

Conclusion on the Lelo Ida

The good points:

• (Same as for the Tara) The usual Lelo quality: healthy material, sturdy battery, great packaging and generous packaging, etc).
• (Same as for the Tara) The concept is original, and rather effective for stimulating the G-spot.
• You can vary the power of the vibrations. The absence of this possibility on the Tara was quite frustrating.
• The remote control is playful, with intuitive modes.

The bad points:

• (Same as for the Tara) The shape of the vibrating base doesn’t fit my anatomy: it doesn’t press on my clit (which I nevertheless find quite well placed) without manual help.
• (Same as for the Tara) The vibrations of the said base are too weak to my taste.
• Its price: around 160 euros, it’s expensive.

In short

I am still not really convinced by the Lelo Ida.

I like its rotating branch, which stimulates the G-spot in a rather effective and original way (like the Tara’s, it’s the same).

However, the shape of its base is as unergonomic as the Tara’s (as it is identical), and I would prefer to deal with more powerful vibrations.

But I like it more than the Tara. In front of the Ida, you get the impression of dealing with a sophisticated, playful and above all innovative and hi-tech product. Even if some elements need reworking, the approach is good.

The Lelo Tara, for its part, is nothing but a stripped-down version of the Lelo Ida, without a remote control and without the possibility of varying the power of the vibrations (and I’m not even talking about the intuitive modes). In short, without the features that all the other couple sex toys previously made by LELO have. Basically, I wonder why the Tara exists… unless it’s to offer a version at a slightly less daunting price.

 

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