Atom Cock Ring from Hot Octopuss

Hot Octopuss – the London-based company behind one of my all-time favorite masturbation toys: The Pulse – has just come out with a new vibrating cock ring: the Atom. Since I’m a big fan of vibrating cock rings, I was excited to be asked to review this new product. Given how much I enjoy The Pulse massager, I could only imagine how intense this cock ring would be.

Hot Octopuss sent me the Atom, which is actually one of two new products. They’ve also created the Atom Plus, which adds a second vibrator to an even larger cock ring. I’m focusing this review on the Atom since that’s the one I tested, but I will make mention of the Atom Plus too. The Atom comes nicely packaged in a stylish box that holds your new cock ring in a molded tray. Also included: a charging cord that works with any standard USB plug/port, a cloth storage bag with a drawstring tie, and an instruction booklet.

The ring is quite large, as vibrating cock rings go, with most of the bulk confined to the upper aspect where the vibrating motor is housed. The toy’s exterior is a smooth satiny silicone with enough stretch to enable you to place the Atom onto your cock. There’s also a chrome plastic plate on the top edge which also acts as a controller once you’ve turned the vibrator on. Out of the box, you’re going to want to give the Atom a full charge before using. On the left side of the ring (with the logo facing toward you), you’ll find a small round indentation. Press the metal prong at the end of the charging cord into this spot and gently push until the charger is completely coupled to the ring, then plug the USB end into your computer or compatible charging device. A red light will come on to show it’s charging. Once a full charge has been reached, this light will turn blue and the Atom is ready to use.

I’m happy to say the Atom couldn’t be easier to turn on and control. One of the biggest frustrations with vibrating cock rings I’ve tried in the past is difficulty in getting them going, changing the vibration speed or patterns while you’re wearing it, or trying to get it to shut off if the sensations are getting you too close to orgasm. Hot Octopuss has come up with a straightforward design that makes all of this a snap, even when you’ve got the ring around your cock. I was so curious to try out the vibrator, that I couldn’t even wait until I was wearing the ring. On the side of the ring (opposite the side with the charging port) you’ll find a small raised bump on the silicone surface. This button turns the Atom’s motor on and off. Press and hold for a couple of seconds and the vibrator springs to life.

My first thoughts on the vibrator were just how intense and powerful it was, even on its lowest setting. If you’ve ever used their Pulse massager, you know Hot Octopuss knows how to do vibrations. I’m not sure how they did it, but somehow they managed to pack the Pulse’s powerful vibrations inside a much smaller cock ring. One of the reasons I love vibrating cock rings so much is because I enjoy using them as erotic massagers. As much fun as it is to wear a vibrating ring, it’s also a nice sensation to hold one in your hand and explore your favorite pleasure points. Even with some gentle touching (with the vibrator still on its lowest setting), I was completely amazed at how intense the Atom’s vibrator was. I was expecting it to feel nice, but I never anticipated that running the bulbous part of the ring up and down my shaft – with concentrations on my frenulum – would bring so much immediate pleasure. Yes, I was brought to orgasm with the Atom cock ring, and I wasn’t even wearing it. I confess the vibrations were so good that I tried this technique a couple more times while trying to test the ring. Honestly, I don’t care if this isn’t how the Atom was designed to be used. I’m not going to stop using mine as a frenulum teaser, because it’s right up there with the Pulse massager in terms of how good it is. Guys who use vibrating cock rings to get themselves off in this way will know exactly what I’m talking about, and I hope these guys will go right out and grab one of these things, because I haven’t tried a better cock ring for this purpose. Still, how does it work as an actual cock ring?

I suppose it had to happen. I finally had to use the cock ring as a cock ring. Hot Octopuss recommends the ring be worn around the base of the penile shaft, not around the back of the balls, which is how many guys – including me – prefer to wear a cock ring. If you like (or need) a cock ring to help achieve or maintain a solid erection, it’s probably better to place a different ring around your cock and behind your balls. Most of the cock rings I wear for erection purposes are fairly narrow, so you could actually put one of those on and still wear the Atom at the base of your shaft. As we’ve already discovered, with my using my new Atom as a frenulum massager, there aren’t any hard and fast rules to using sex toys. Do what works, and do what feels good. There are plenty of combination cock rings out there that include two or three rings that allow for a behind-the-balls fit and a base-of-the-shaft grip, so feel free to make your own combo. If a ring worn at the root of your cock is the way you prefer to do it, the Atom should work just fine on it’s own. Now is a good time to mention the other new Hot Octopuss cock ring: the Atom Plus. It’s a larger ring with a larger opening, and this one is designed to go completely around the balls and cock. It’s also got a second vibrator that’s going to tease the fuck out of your balls and taint, assuming the motor is just as good as the one at the top of the ring, and I do assume that. ? Here’s a side-by-side shot of both the Atom and the Atom Plus, so you can see the difference in hole size. I’m also including the diagram showing how each ring is recommended to be worn.

So how does the Atom work as a cock ring? I didn’t have any trouble putting it on. I wore it around the base of my shaft as suggested. The silicone isn’t overly stretchy, which is kind of what you want in a cock ring, but I was able to open it enough to get it down to the base of my cock. I put it on while I was flaccid, and it didn’t get me hard the way a behind-the-balls cock ring would, but it did help me maintain an erection once I did get hard. Which pretty much happened a few seconds after I turned on the vibrator. Zing! Even when the Atom vibrator wasn’t touching anything directly, it still felt great. The vibrations this thing puts out are nothing short of incredible. When I say it made my entire dick vibrate, I’m not exaggerating. I’ve never felt any other vibrating ring come close to what this one does. If you’re using this with a partner, the sex is going to be a great experience, assuming you both like vibrations. With the Atom worn at the base of the cock, you’ll be able to adjust the position of the vibrating portion exactly where you want it. Wear it up and your partner can grind against it. Not only is it thicker and wider, but Hot Octopuss has even included a “mound” on this portion of the ring to make it an even better fit if your partner has a clitoris. Even if your partner doesn’t have a clit, or if you’re engaging in anal sex or even frottage, this ring is going to make good sex and foreplay even better. Direct stimulation is intense, even on the lowest setting, and the way it makes your skin flutter, anything that comes in contact with the Atom is going to feel good, no matter which way you position it.

Oh, did I mention this thing has speeds? Given the fact that I kept popping off without even wearing the ring while it was revving away on its lowest power setting, I kind of didn’t want to imagine what it would be like with an even more intense vibration setting. But yes, the vibe in the Atom has five different speeds. The lower settings are powerful, but more sensual. To rev the thing up, just click the + button on the left edge of the silver plate. Each click kicks this ring into a higher setting and an even more intense vibration. Want to bring it back down? There is a – button on the other side of the plate. If the multi-speed vibrations aren’t enough, you get some patterns too! Mix things up with a steady pulse, a couple of “roller coaster” settings (one slow, one faster), and a nice mix of long taps and short bursts. You can even use the +/- buttons to control the intensities of these. One of the best features of the Atom is the ease with which you can turn it on, change the settings, and turn it off. There’s nothing more frustrating then when you or your partner need to quickly downshift while using a vibrating toy and you can’t easily turn it off or move it back into a less intense setting. The straightforward controls on the Atom make this so much easier, and less likely you’ll orgasm before you’re ready.

Another great feature: it’s totally waterproof! Put it on and then enjoy it in the shower, the bath, or even a hot tub. Being waterproof makes it easier to clean up when you’re finished, too. Any toy made of silicone tends to pick up a lot of lint, grit, lube and other fluids, so it’s nice to be able to submerge it in water and not worry. And speaking of lube, make sure to use only water-based lubes with your Atom.

Bottom line? If you’re looking for a cock ring primarily to give you an erection, the Atom wouldn’t be my first suggestion. But if you love vibrating cock rings or have always wanted to try one, you won’t find one better than this. Whether you’re using it alone for masturbation or to tease your erogenous zones, or you want the best vibrating ring to take partner sex to the next level, I would absolutely recommend the Atom. It’s stylish, well-made, easy to charge and control, and the vibrator is perfect. Thanks to Hot Octopuss for allowing me to try the Atom! If you’re ready to try the Atom cock ring, you can order yours directly from Hot Octopuss. NOTE: UK-based Hot Octopuss has a shipping center in California to accommodate US-based customers.