£21.90 from www.blissbox.com

Sex toys for men carry a 'yuk' factor, in the way vibrators for women did until Sex And The City made them cool. Many people still consider a man who masturbates with a plastic pussy as somewhat sad, whereas any woman who expresses a dislike of vibrators is considered inhibited.

Here at Strictly News, of course, we've long viewed sex toys as great things, and we're thrilled to predict that toys for men are about to undergo a similar revolution as those for women. Masturbator sleeves and vibrating replica pussies are becoming acceptable not only as masturbatory aids but as toys for couples to use too, and sex toy websites such as www.blissbox.com have ever-growing sections dedicated to toys for the boys.

And let's face it, after watching the films on this website, you're looking to get off in the most realistic-feeling way possible. If the real deal isn't available, who gives a damn if you're standing in your bedroom thrusting your hard dick into a piece of plastic, so long as it feels good?

First to find its way into our review section is the Senso Beaded Crystal Pussy, from California Exotic Novelties. This 'soft, stretchy masturbator sleeve' has a row of five beads for stimulation along the bottom of the penis and a ribbed shaft. It is made from soft Senso jelly, 'transparent for your viewing pleasure' with a slight white tint. A tiny replica of a pussy – complete with labia and clitoris – is at the entry end. The shaft is open both ends. The overall look isn't too appealing, but our tester was up for giving it a go.

On first use, the pussy revealed itself to have more minus points than plus. On the plus side, the soft material makes it easy to grip and handle, although this also means it is too squashy to be for example wedged between mattress and bed for hands-free action.

When in place the beads feel nice against the underside of the penis, but the ribbing in the shaft, when stretched, doesn't give much sensation.

Length-wise the toy was ok for our tester but only just – he commented that it would probably leave a longer-than-average cock sticking too far out the end. The very tight fit means there's nowhere for semen to 'go' inside the shaft, and he found it was better to cum out the end. The fact the shaft opens at both ends makes it easier to clean than closed-ended versions.

Like any toy it takes practice to find the ideal way to use it. So after a few tries, is it anything like the real thing? A bit, said our tester, although very tight. And was it ultimately any good? "It's good, in the way that anything that's not directly your own hand is good!"

Masturbator sleeves are only the beginning of toys for boys however, in the way that non-vibrating dildos were for women – and look what we have now, with high-tech all-singing-all-dancing vibrators stimulating every genital pleasure spot all at once. A toy that can do the same for men can't be too far around the corner...