Cock rings are available in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and materials; some designed for beginners, and others for more experienced users. It can be overwhelming to figure out which one is right for you, especially if you’ve never used one before. The Oxballs Powerballs is a fantastic option for a beginner to a more experienced user. The material is very stretchy, and comfortably fits over both the penis and scrotum without any discomfort. For the price, you really can’t go wrong. No, it’s not designed to last forever, but it will give you an idea of what you might like without breaking the bank.
Intro/Use
The Oxballs Powerballs is a cock ring designed to fit around both the penis and testicles (for a fit that isn’t quite as tight, it can be placed around the shaft only). It doesn’t vibrate and there are no moving parts, it simply provides some pressure and enhances the look of your package. Doesn’t sound all that impressive? Well, you’d be surprised.
Many cock rings come with a warning that state they shouldn’t be worn for longer than 20-30 minutes as it could lead to medical issues such as priapism. This ring, however, was designed for short and long term wear. It can be used while your penis is flaccid and you go about your day, or you can use it strictly for sexual situations. During intercourse, the ring doesn’t really come in contact with your partner like some styles do. Its primary purpose is to provide some extra stimulation to the perineum (when the two balls are behind the scrotum), and harder erections (when the balls are flipped around and resting against the base of the penis).
Many men assume regular c-rings are for men that struggle with erectile issues, but that simply isn’t true. While it’s a great tool to help maintain an erection, it also enhances your sexual experience. It’s not the most over the top stimulating product you’ll ever use, but it adds a nice touch that not only provides great pressure, but looks great too.
Material/Texture
The Oxballs Powerballs are made from Thermoplastic Rubber or TPR (which is also know as TPE). TPR is latex free and phthalate free, but it is a porous material. It’s not as unsafe as jelly, but it’s not a material that can be sterilized or shared with multiple partners. Because of the lower price point, you could snag a few of these if you have more than one partner, or you could eventually upgrade to one of the silicone options available from Oxballs. To clean, you simply wash with soap and water or your favorite toy cleaner. TPR is compatible with both water-based and silicone-based lubes.
There’s a light smell to the material that’s important to note. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s noticeable when you’re face is close to the ring (especially during a blow job). It reminds me of how some children’s toys smell when you first open them. Not unpleasant, but definitely distinct. It may be an issue if you’re overly sensitive to smells, but I had no issues after about fifteen minutes of it being right under my nose.
This material isn’t the strongest, and wasn’t made to last forever. It’s not hard to imagine it tearing after six months to a year of regular use, though that’s just a guess. It feels strong when stretched, but you can tell the material has some weak spots that could eventually grow weaker over time. I think it’s great for someone that’s unsure about c-rings, but I would strongly consider checking out one of the silicone options if you’re looking for something that will last a long time.
The surface of the ring is fairly smooth, but does slightly drag across the skin and may pull hairs when you’re putting it on. I would recommend stretching it over your package rather than sliding it down, or using a good amount of lube to prevent accidentally tugging on hair. The frustrating thing about the surface is how easily it picks up lint. Yes, it can easily be washed off, but it’s a total lint magnet.
There are a few areas of texture on the surface as well, but they’re not noticeable during use. Along the top of the ring you’ll find raised lettering that says ‘OXBALLS’, and at the top of each smaller ball you’ll see ‘POWERBALL’ and ‘COPYRIGHT 2010’. There are also seams on both the inside and outside of the ring, but the soft material makes it impossible to feel them.
Some cock rings suggest you measure yourself before purchasing to ensure you select the correct size. With the Powerballs, that’s not necessary; and it’s understandable why. This ring is extremely stretchy, soft, and pliable. If you’ve never used a cock ring, or haven’t ventured into using one behind your scrotum, this is the one to get! It easily stretches when you need it to, but always bounces back to shape when released.
Design/Size
The Oxballs Powerballs is available in nine different color options; Black, Green, Ice, Orange, Police, Smoke, White, Yellow, and Zinc. It’s not common to see such a variety available, and there should be at least one option to suit anyone.
The design of the ring isn’t entirely discreet, but it might be hard to come up with an alternative answer if someone were to find it and ask what it was. It reminds me of an enlarged piece of jewelry, but obviously the feel of the material prevents it from passing as such. The ring is a little more interesting than your basic circle thanks to the two balls that extend from the surface. They provide a little extra pressure, but aren’t as noticeable during use as you might assume. It shouldn’t bother someone that prefers simple rings, but might be just enough to make a difference for regular c-ring users.
The size is very reasonable and doesn’t take up much room to store. It’s also a great item to take with you on the go since it doesn’t immediately scream ‘sex toy’, and it’s easy to slip into a bag while you’re traveling. It’s approximately 2" x 2" when measured flat (outside to outside - side to side and top to bottom), but the inside is about 1 1/4" wide. That might sound far too small, but it stretches a lot. Unless you have a very above average sized penis (or penis and scrotum), this should work for you.
Packaging
The packaging the Oxballs Powerballs arrives in is extremely basic - almost too basic. While I think bulk packaging is a waste, this one is the opposite extreme. When it arrives, it comes in a small, clear plastic bag with nothing but a round sticker on the front that has the company name on it. It would have been nice to at least see some basic care instructions, the material type, and some basic tips on how to use it. The bag isn’t designed for long term storage, and can be disposed of. If you don’t have a small toy pouch, you can place this inside a sandwich bag to prevent anything from happening to the material.
Experience
If I haven’t made it clear already, my bf isn’t a huge masturbation machine user. Yes, it might seem a little odd considering I do review toys we use together (including male toys), but he generally prefers nothing between the two of us. We’ve used vibrating cock rings in the past to help change things up a little bit, but they aren’t used often. The idea of using a basic cock ring without the bells and whistles of a vibrating version seemed pointless to him, and for a long time he refused to even try one out. He was okay with using one around the base of his penis, but getting his balls involved was something he wanted no part of. When I had the opportunity to review the Oxballs Powerballs, I presented the idea to him. He said he was willing to try it out, but as soon as I mentioned that we’d also try it behind his scrotum, his expression immediately changed.
“I won’t like it.”, he told me.
“You’ve never tried using a ring that way, you might actually enjoy it.”
“I guess I’ll try it, but I already know I’m not going to like it.”
That was a good enough answer for me. I smiled at him and felt pride thinking about how far we’ve come. I’ll try it, he said. I won’t like it, he said.
Well, he did.
Much to my amazement, he took it upon himself to put it on while I was in the bathroom getting ready for bed. When I walked into our bedroom and I saw him wearing it, I was immediately impressed he’d handled it all by himself, and instantly amazed at how it enhanced his package. Everything was pushed forward and up and I was nearly drooling over how damn sexy it looked on him. I think it was obvious considering I nearly pounced on him once I snapped back to reality. Seriously, I couldn’t stop looking at him!
I started off by giving him a little oral attention. When he’s laying on his back, I typically need to hold onto the base of his penis since it lays against his belly without support. With the ring on, his cock stood straight up, and I was able to explore with my hands while using my mouth. I was in heaven!
We moved onto intercourse from there, and it was shocking how hard he felt inside me. He was concerned that his testicles would feel squished as he was thrusting, but it wasn’t an issue for him at all. I don’t know if it was how obviously turned on I was, if the cock ring was providing the right kind of pressure, or if it was a mixture of both; but he definitely enjoyed himself!
When we were talking about it after, I asked how he liked it. He told me that it didn’t provide much sensation other than pressure, but he enjoyed how it felt. It didn’t seem like the two balls really stood out enough for him to take notice, but he’s also a cock ring newbie. Naturally, the cock ring didn’t provide any additional stimulation to me (being on the receiving end), but the way it made his package look certainly increased my pleasure. He agreed, saying he thought it looked pretty great and even mentioned us taking some photos at some point (umm, yes please!).
Pros:
- Super stretchy
- Available in a variety of colors
- Looks attractive
- Compact and easy to use
Cons:
- Made from porous material
- Lint collector