As promised, it is time to get down to the details of Xenocat Artifacts’ vibrator sleeves. Designed to pair with the Illumination Bullet, the large vibe sleeves each offer stimulation that will send you on a mission to Risa (or whichever pleasure planet exists in your fave sci-fi universe).
When Xenocat Artifacts booked me, they only booked me for a single set of reviews: one written and one video. However, when the package of goodies arrived and I got my hands on the vibe sleeves, I just knew I could not do justice to them in a single review. Especially a single review that also needed to include the Illumination Bullet. After testing them all? I was right. Trying to cram everything into one review was too much. These vibe sleeves deserve the extra attention.
But first, let me introduce you to the sci-fi fantasy dildo maker…
Embrace the Unknown with Xenocat Artifacts
When I think of Xenocat Artifacts (XCA), the first thing that comes to mind are space and aliens. Their toy catalog, or Artifacts, features a variety of science fiction inspired fantasy dildos, grinders, butt plugs, strokers, cock rings, eggs and squishies. I’m told that there are even further expansions on the horizon, such as their first ovipositor, some remasters, and more strokers.
As a female owned and operated indie toy company, XCA’s primary crew is just 2 people, though they have a team of 4-5 additional volunteer crewmates for conventions and events. Crewed by artists, their goal is to help customers explore both the aesthetics and pleasure behind their unique designs. At in-person events, their crew offers a personalized shopping experience where they will match your budget, size, shape and preferences to a specimen, not just to sell but to also help the curious by answering questions and introducing them to the world of fantasy sex toys.
I first became aware of Xenocat Artifacts when The Shape of Water was in theaters. You may remember seeing the “official Shape of Water Dildo,” as it made splashes across Cosmopolitan, GQ Magazine, Buzzfeed, and more. That dildo was made by XCA! It was their Prince model in a special colorway, Jewel of the Amazon, that even got the attention of Guillermo del Toro (who is one of my favorite directors).
If that’s not attention enough, XCA’s double shafted tentacle, The Rapture, won a Fan Favorite award at the AltPorn Awards. They’ve also had other models nominated in both the AltPorn and Bazowie Awards each year since then.
If you want to buy from Xenocat Artifacts, you have three options available. First, they have inventory drops about once a month, with large batches of pre-made toys in different colorways of Ere’s choosing. Follow them on social media for drop previews! The second option is certain products, like the vibe sleeves I’m reviewing here, are available from pre-made stock. And the final option is custom ordering, however customs must be applied for and are carefully selected. Customs are not on a first come, first serve basis, and they aren’t open all the time. Make sure to carefully read their terms regarding customs!
Meet the Specimens
Until very recently, Xenocat Artifacts had two vibrator sleeve designs: Dynastes Insect Vibe and Zahne Vibe. That changed with their launch of Dagmar’s Egg Vibe and Nepenthes Alien Plant Vibe. All four vibrator sleeves are available in size large, and the original two designs are also available in standard size. The large vibe sleeves are designed to work with the Illumination Bullet Vibrator, and even have a special coloration, Starlight Supernova, concocted to pair with the vibe’s RGB LED light up body.
These are some really big vibrator sleeves, ya’ll. Only one of them is insertable, Dagmar’s, however the other three make up for the lack of insert-ability with plenty of grindable surfaces and means for stimulating people with any type of genitals. The dimensions of each of Xenocat Artifacts’ fantasy vibrator sleeves are:
Dagmar’s Vibe
Total length: 6” / 15.24cm
External usable length: 6” / 15.24cm
Insertable length: 4.75” / 12.065cm
Circumference at widest: 5.75” / 14.605cm
Base circumference: 6.5” / 16.51cm
Dynastes Insect Vibe
Total length: 6” / 15.24cm
External usable length: 6” / 15.24cm
Circumference at widest: 6.5” / 16.51cm
Space between pincers: 0.75-1” / 1.905-2.54cm
Individual pincer length: 1-1.25” / 2.54-3.175cm
Nepenthes Alien Plant Vibe
Total length: 6” / 15.24cm
External usable length: 6” / 15.24cm
Circumference at widest: 6.5” / 16.51cm
Head width: 0.2” / 0.508cm
Hole length: 1.25” / 3.175cm
Hole depth: 0.5” / 1.27cm
Neck circumference: 4.5” / 11.43cm
Zahne Vibe
Total length: 6” / 15.24cm
External usable length: 6” / 15.24cm
Circumference at widest: 7.75” / 19.685
Mouth depth: 0.75-1” / 1.905-2.54cm
Tongue length: 0.75” / 1.905cm
How to Care for Your Xenocat Artifacts Specimen
Since all of the fantasy sex toys made by Xenocat Artifacts are made with platinum cure silicone, cleaning them is mostly easy. For lightly textured toys, like Dagmar’s Vibe, all you’ll need is an antibacterial, unscented soap and warm water. With heavier textured toys, like Dynastes, Nepenthes, and Zahne, you’ll need both of those plus a small, soft brush for cleaning all the nooks and crannies. Lather the toy up, give it a gentle brushing in and around the texture, then thoroughly rinse it off. Allow the toy to dry completely before storing, either by patting it dry with a soft, absorbent towel, or by leaving it to air dry.
If you need to do a deeper clean of your fantasy dildo or vibe sleeve, you can boil them in a large pot of water for 5-10 minutes, using a silicone cooking utensil to make sure they do not rest against the bottom or sides of the pot. Alternatively, you can soak them in a 10% bleach/water mixture for up to 10 minutes or run through the dishwasher on a sanitize setting without any detergent on the top rack. For the bullet vibrator itself, do not boil or run through the dishwasher, as the heat may damage the motor.
Silicone is a durable material, but it’s also delicate. It’s prone to scratches and dents, so be careful not to purposefully bite or scratch the sex toy. Don’t store it against any abrasive surfaces and do not store it with any sex toys that are not made with platinum cure silicone, ABS plastic, stainless steel or glass. If you’re unsure of a toy’s material, don’t store them together.
If you are using the vibe sleeves with the Illumination Bullet Vibrator, or any similarly sized vibrator, I recommend using a water based lube to first lube up the vibrator’s tip before swirling it around the opening of the port. Firmly press the vibrator into the port, slowly pulling back out and twisting it around to thoroughly lubricate the port before pressing it further in. Do not leave the vibrator inserted in the vibe sleeve overnight! To remove the bullet vibe, use the side of your finger or a fingernail to gently pull the silicone vibrator away from the vibe sleeve on one side. Firmly grip the sleeve while slowly pulling the vibrator out. If you’re met with too much resistance, get the port wet with water to reactivate the lube and resume slowly pulling it out. Do not force or pull too hard, as you may rip or tear the silicone!
My Experiences with Xenocat Artifacts Vibe Sleeves
My sense of size is so severely skewed that even after seeing size comparison photos of the vibrator sleeves from XCA, I was still shocked when I opened the box. These sleeves are huge! They have to be to accommodate the Illumination Bullet.
Starlight Supernova, the special colorway XCA conjured up to pair with the Illumination Bullet, is a really delicate and unique coloration. With a semi-transparent milkyness, there’s a hint of blue, green and purple shimmer beneath the surface that catches the light beautifully. From afar, the shimmer isn’t really noticeable, but once you see it, it’s gorgeous.
Of the four silicone vibe sleeves, I was most excited to try Dagmar’s and least excited to try Dynastes. I was most intrigued by Nepenthes and most worried about Zahne.
Let’s start with Dagmar’s
Dagmar’s Vibe is the only one of XCA’s vibe sleeve designs that is insertable. Much like the Dagmar dildo, the Dagmar Vibe is a faux-vipositor. With an egg-like design and a head that’s similar to several uncut dildos I own, this sleeve has a skin-like texture leading down to a flared base.
Using the sleeve internally was really enjoyable. Thrusting with the sleeve was a bit of a challenge with my big belly/short arm combo, but when I was able to do so or have my wife thrust it into me, I really enjoyed the sensation of eggs moving within me. During solo play, I liked to use my thighs to hold and angle the tip of the vibe sleeve upwards towards my belly button and use a different vibrator on my clitoris externally. Rocking my hips up and down helped give me minimal but noticeable movement, and it was really easy for me to achieve orgasm this way.
When I tried Dagmar’s internally without the vibrator inserted in the sleeve, the amount of squish was a bit too much for me. Only the top egg and ~⅔ of the second egg are solid silicone, while the bottom egg relies on the vibrator to keep it filled out properly.
I didn’t love using Dagmar’s externally as a grinder. It’s missing the texture to stimulate me adequately, and the shape isn’t ergonomic so it doesn’t press against my anatomy in all the right spots. It sort of helped warm my body up, but not enough to bring me to orgasm. Everytime I tried using it as a grinder, I ended up pushing it inside instead.
As an anal user, Cassie is very interested in the dildo version of Dagmar, but we were a little worried that the base of the vibe sleeve wouldn’t be enough of a flare. Cassie is a size queen and is accustomed to large insertions, using a dildo with a wider girth than Dagmar’s base during her clean out routine. Someone who isn’t as much of a size queen may be able to use Dagmar’s vibe sleeve anally, but I do suggest doing so at your own risk and proceed with caution.
Next up, Dynastes
With a beetle like design, I was ready to say “no” to Dynastes until my wife chimed in that she was interested in it. Insects and I don’t get along, but wouldn’t you know it that Dynastes ended up being exceptionally pleasurable. The usable length of Dynastes refers to the grindable surface, of which there is a lot of. On the belly of the bug lies a texture designed to look like the legs and abdomen of the insect. On the top, you’ll find a crown and wings, a much more gentle texture. Either side of the bug is roughly the same, with the legs and wings coming together, just mirror opposites.
Of the four vibrator sleeves, Dynastes had the shortest length of time to get me to achieve orgasm. Those pincers got me. They’re designed to stimulate a clitoris or the tip of a penis in a similar way to a rabbit vibrator’s clitoral stimulating “rabbit ears,” and wow, do they ever. There’s a small amount of texture on the pinchers which can be felt depending on positioning.
For me, using this on my clitoris was an unexpected pleasure. I highly preferred it with the Illumination Bullet powered on, with the first vibration mode on the 2nd or 3rd speed. I primarily used it while on my back, holding the vibrator sleeve head down to my clitoris with the body and base of it up towards my belly. That’s the easiest way for me to reach when I’m using it solo. Using Dynastes while I had another toy inserted internally was fantastic. I found I preferred it with a vibrator or pulsator more than a dildo, as the movement really added to my overall sensations.
As a grinder, the texture of the belly was a bit too flat for me. I don’t mean that it wasn’t textured enough, because it is! I’m referring more to the overall shape. The sleeve is oval in shape, with the top and bottom of the bug being a bit more flat than the sides. Spreading my labia to accommodate the belly was more spread than I find comfortable. Some people can handle a spread, but I find doing bordering on painful. I like a raised mound or a rounded triangular shape rather than a flat surface, which made the sides of Dynastes more comfortable grinding surfaces for me. The only downside was that it wasn’t symmetrical textures, which can take a little bit of getting used to.
Using the vibe sleeve on Cassie’s girldick was actually quite fun, because the pincers wrapped around the tip of her anatomy and the head pressed into the most sensitive part of her penis. Though the silicone dampened the vibrations, on the highest intensity, Cassie was able to achieve orgasm, especially when paired with additional stimulation, such as penetration or external prostate stim. If Cassie was already fully aroused and had received prior stimulation on her penis, she was able to achieve orgasm without additional stimulation needed.
Followed by Nepenthes
When I hear “botanical sex toy,” I get pretty excited. Nepenthes is an alien plant, with leaves that start at the base and point up on the length towards the “blossom”. The blossom has 8 petals or leaves surrounding a shallow cavity that has gentle ridges of texture inside.
I was really intrigued by Nepenthes because the top leaves on the blossom looked like they’d have a similar sensation to rabbit ears with one on each side of my clitoris. The blossom also isn’t so wide that I was too worried about spreading my labia open too much, which becomes uncomfortable for me.
I was not prepared for how Nepenthes worked with my anatomy, though. With some lube, some gentle labia spreading, and some patience, I was able to get my clitoris inserted into the cavity, providing me with a suction sensation that I’ve never been able to achieve with a non-air pulse sex toy. To achieve this, after getting my clitoris inserted, I slightly turned the vibe sleeve ~45 degrees and held the vibrator and sleeve as still as I could manage. I imagine that someone with bottom growth would have an easier time with this, and the ridges inside the cavity would provide additional stimulation. For me, I was still able to achieve orgasm, though not the type of orgasm I was expecting when I first started using the sleeve.
Because the glans of Cassie’s girldick are the most sensitive area for her, I was really excited to use Nepenthes on her. After the success I found using PPS Calypso’s cavity on the tip of her penis, I was hoping for a similar experience for her that was also more comfortable for me to hold. We tried using Nepenthes on her tip while she was in a doggystyle position, with the tip of her penis in the cavity as it was pressed into the bed beneath her. She got some stimulation, but she got more and preferred when I handheld it against her. Handheld allowed for more pressure and better reach, which made a big difference in her opinion of the vibe sleeve.
And Finally, Zahne
With the bulkiest design of the four vibe sleeves, I really did think that Zahne was a paw design. It’s not! Zahne is actually an alien mouth, complete with a tongue inside the cavity. Surrounding the tongue, towards the opening of the cavity, are lots of tiny bumps to provide stimulation. Beneath the cavity are vertical textures, making that grindable surface a little less exciting for me than the opposite side of the sleeve. On the opposite side from the cavity are horizontal, slightly raised ridges running from the base up most of the shaft.
I really enjoyed grinding against those ridges. There’s a slight U shape that allowed me to spread my labia so the sleeve could rub against the inside of them. It wasn’t the most comfortable long term, but I could handle this without any discomfort long enough to help me warm up and my body to become aroused.
That’s the point that I would flip it over to the other side so I could attempt to work my clitoris into the cavity of Zahne. For my buried clitoris and large labia, trying to recreate the suction I experienced with Nepenthes was far more challenging with the size of Zahne. It’s a wider shape overall, including the cavity itself. The tip of the tongue was able to make contact with my clitoris, but I wasn’t able to comfortably achieve suction around my clitoris the way I had with Nepenthes. With just the tip of the tongue making contact, it was enough of a tease to bring me to the edge and with a little penetrative help from a dildo or vibrator, I was able to achieve orgasm.
Cassie was also excited about Zahne and hoped that the tip of her girldick would comfortably fit in the cavity so she could experience the tongue too. She was able to do so, however the thickness of the silicone between the cavity and the bullet vibrator dampened the vibrations enough that she didn’t achieve orgasm from it.
Ok Sydney, but What Does All of That Mean?
One of the most important things to consider with the XCA vibrator sleeves is that the thicker the silicone between the surface and the vibrator, the less vibrations travel through. Firmer silicone is better for vibration transfer, according to XCA. If you’re hoping for wand vibrator levels of stimulation, I’d suggest looking for wand toppers instead of vibe sleeves. Bullet vibes on their own aren’t going to give you that level of intensity or power, even without a vibe sleeve. On the flip side, if you’re someone who prefers less intense vibrations, these vibrator sleeves are a fantastic option since they lessen the intensity of the vibrations.
The vibrations from the bullet vibrator do travel through the silicone, however they are most noticeable where the silicone is the thinnest. Where the silicone is the thickest, the vibrations feel the least intense, even on the highest power levels. The light from the Illumination Bullet is almost a visual representation of this, however the vibrations are more noticeable than the light in the thick areas of the vibe sleeves.
Each of the four vibe sleeves aims to provide a different type of stimulation, which may or may not work for you and your anatomy. I recommend comparing the following information with your pleasure preferences and anatomy to help decide which one(s) are best suited to you and your pleasure. Even if our pleasure preferences are different, I hope that this will guide you!
As a vulva having person, I did genuinely find something to love about each of the vibe sleeves. It wasn’t always what I expected, but that’s how pleasure is sometimes. With Dagmar’s, I loved the design specifically for thrusting internally. Dynasthes’ pincers worked my clitoris in ways that had me exploding so quickly that the insect design no longer tripped me up mentally. Experiencing the suction from Nepenthes on my clitoris was unexpected and sent waves of pleasure over my entire body. Zahne’s grindable ridges and tongue were fantastic for helping me warm up and prepare for more intense stimulation.
For some further context about my anatomy and pleasure preferences to help you: my clitoris is buried beneath my large labia and fatty mons pubis. Spreading my labia too much is uncomfortable, bordering on painful for me, so I tend to prefer grindable surfaces that have a raised mound of some sort. With grindable surfaces, I also prefer a lot of texture.
For the penis having people who are looking to Cassie’s experiences to decide which vibe sleeve(s) to purchase, I want to share a bit of information that will help give further context: Cassie is not a regular masturbator, in terms of frequency. When she does masturbate, she’s often reaching for a wand vibrator, specifically the rechargeable Magic Wand. Cassie is a high intensity vibrations lover, and felt that the silicone dampened the intensity of the vibrations to a point where it was harder for her to achieve orgasm. She also does not have a lot of sensation in her penis, except at the tip around her glans. She does not enjoy stroking or being stroked. She’s had an orchiectomy and has Peyronie’s Disease. Cassie’s experiences with pleasure and stimulation may not mirror your’s or your partner’s, but having this further context to pair with her takes on each vibe sleeve may help you help you make more informed decisions.
I did not get to test any of these sleeves with anyone who has had bottom growth, but I’ve got a couple people in mind to try and test the sleeves with next time we see each other. If and when that happens, I hope to revisit this review and provide further context.
Final Thoughts on Xenocat Artifacts’ Vibrator Sleeves
Of the four vibe sleeves made by Xenocat Artifacts, my top two are Dynasthes and Nepenthes. I think I’d prefer the dildo version of Dagmar’s more, and I think Zahne may be better suited to someone whose clitoris is less buried and/or has bottom growth. All four of the designs are unique and special, and I love the coloration Starlight Supernova.
If you’re ready to take a spacewalk or boldly explore new worlds, Xenocat Artifacts’ vibrator sleeves are a lot of fun to experience. I’d recommend them for people who enjoy texture, people who like some vibrations but maybe not magic wand level intensity, people who enjoy grinder sex toys, and to, well, anyone who is just plain interested in them.
I don’t have an affiliate link for XCA, however I hope that you’ll support this indie toy brand making some out of this world cool fantasy dildos and sex toys!
I was gifted these vibrator sleeves plus the Illumination Bullet as part of a sponsored review package. This review technically exists outside of that review package! All thoughts and opinions are my own, though I did ask XCA to fact check to ensure I’m giving you correct information.
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