New York Toy Collective Ellis Suction Cup Dildo Review

New York Toy Collective’s Ellis is a beautiful uncut dildo, chock full of realistic details. So much skin texture with this one!

[Note: 18 months later, I’m stepping in here to issue a strong recommendation: The BMS Factory Naked Addiction Dual Density Dildo has an even better feel, for half the price! If it had foreskin and multiple flesh tones, it would be the ultimate replacement for Ellis. Note #2, 2021: NYTC has discontinued the Ellis. See my body-safe uncut dildo guide here (all made of silicone) for alternate recs.]

Now, it’s obviously not a replacement for human contact, and it doesn’t feel exactly like skin. It’s not an android-type Cylon or a “bionic man”; that type of tech just doesn’t exist, no matter what the click-bait headlines about sex robots would have you believe. But when it comes to body-safe dildos on this side of $500, Ellis was pretty good. Today, in 2021, I’d direct you to the following realistic silicone toys instead (realistic dildo guide here).

Yes, there are literally hundreds of body-safe silicone dongs that look like a penis; that’s nothing new. But the market for dildos that also feel realistic is very limited. Why? It’s all about the firmness. This is why dual-density silicone dildos were invented: they aim to combine firmness and squish, for greater realism. (And for more comfort, if you’re someone like me who doesn’t enjoy really firm toys.)

Comparing Dual-Density Silicone

In my genitals’ opinion, New York Toy Collective has found a great balance of “soft” and “hard” in Ellis—especially in the shaft. This is especially difficult to do in a dual-density toy: Not only does the toymaker have to pick two different densities of silicone (a harder core and a softer outer layer), but then they have to decide how thick the soft outer layer will be. If very thin, the toy is barely distinguishable from a single-density dildo (*cough* Sam *cough*). But if the soft outer layer is pretty thick, then users like me who want pressure for G-spot/prostate-stimulating purposes may be disappointed.

Ellis’ shaft, though, is 100% awesome. The outer layer of soft silicone is just the right thickness, so that the feel is pretty similar to erect tissue. (Sometimes, in the throes of orgasmic bliss, I even find myself wishing I could please Ellis in some way—an obvious impossibility.) Ellis is squishy—not quite as squishy as VixSkin shafts, but softer than any Tantus O2 shaft I’ve felt (see all my other dual-density dildo reviews here). Also, Ellis’ firm core definitely keeps the toy from flopping around, but it’s also more flexible than my other dual-density dildos.

Ellis is the only cored toy I have that wiggles in an erection-like way.

Because Ellis’ straight shaft is slightly more flexible than most other dual-density dildos, it’ll bend forward with a little pressure. I often stick it in a Liberator Wing and lean over it so I can feel the foreskin ridges better. They’re subtle, and I usually only notice them if I’m going slow. This is because Ellis’ head is very gentle. More on that next.

Soft Head Syndrome

First, let me say that I think Ellis’ head is sexy AF. The partially retracted foreskin not only turns me on, but provides some nice texture when I’m using it at the right angle.

But…to a lesser degree, Ellis suffers from what I’ll call “soft head syndrome.” This condition is characteristic of VixSkin dildos and sometimes affects Blush Real Nude dildos too. I’m joking about the name—soft head syndrome isn’t an intractible medical condition. VixSkin and Real Nude dildos are quality toys, and their super-squishy heads mean they’re really comfortable for fast thrusting. Also, they’re awesome to squeeze in your hand or suck on.

Still, really flexible coronal ridges aren’t my thing because they tease my G-spot. They’re there, and they’re stimulating me with every stroke in and out, but they make me really, really work to orgasm without a bullet vibe.¹

But for me, Ellis is different. I can come so much more easily with it in me. Part of this has to do with firmness: Though the top of Ellis’ glans has just about the same squish as VixSkin, Ellis’ buried coronal ridge is pretty flat to begin with. This means the firm core is closer to the surface. So, overall, Ellis feels more uniformly firm than, say, the VixSkin Maverick with its massive ridge.

And there’s another factor that makes a huge difference to my penetrative experience. This is why I personally like Ellis more than VixSkin, and why you may not: Ellis’ textured finish.

Dildo Finish

To be honest, I expected that Ellis would be a quality toy, but I didn’t expect to find it so enjoyable. Why were my hopes not high? Ellis is straight, the coronal ridge is pretty flat, and the head is smaller than the shaft (head ≈1.45″ max. diameter at the ridge; shaft ≈1.6″ max., right above the base). All of these things usually mean less-satisfying toying for me, less G-spot stimulation. But Ellis has exceeded my expectations and then some: first, because of how realistic it feels, and second, because of its stimulating finish.

Silicone finishes can be very glossy or very grainy, but are usually somewhere in between. Ellis falls on the more textured, “draggy” side of the spectrum. It’s definitely draggier than lubed VixSkin. For me this is great, because moving skin creates friction, so a slightly draggy silicone finish is the next-closest thing. (Just to be clear: No, Ellis’ foreskin 100% does not move!) If you like more gliding smoothness in your realistic dildos, though, then VixSkin will probably be a better option for you.

I’ve found that using Sliquid Silk (a hybrid lube) is the best with Ellis. This way, I still get to feel the textured skin-like effect,² but Silk is a little thicker and longer-lasting than any pure water-based lube. (But be careful about using pure silicone lube with silicone sex toys.³

Speaking of texture, Ellis also includes some interesting vein-like patterns. Again, the texture is gentle because of the softness of the silicone. If you’re not highly sensitive, you may miss it. I especially like the main “vein” that runs down the center because it rubs the very-sensitive mouth of my vagina. This is especially true when I’m using the suction cup!

A Word about the Suction Cup

As an avid suction cup dildo tester, I’m always looking out for more quality options to add to my Guide. I was excited to see how well Ellis’ suction cup would perform compared to other dual-density dildos: would it be strong like the Real Nude Sumo or kinda hit-or-miss like the VixSkin Maverick?

When I first tried sticking Ellis to my wall, I was sure I had a major problem. It’s not sticking, I thought. OMG, I’m going to have to ask SheVibe if I got a defective one or something…

Before I stressed myself out too much, though, I started looking at Ellis’ suction cup base more. You see, it includes a big, round pocket, bordered by a hard edge that sticks out.

I started thinking about the smaller air pockets in pretty much all my other suction cup dildos, and I remembered reading about someone who’d had a similar problem with a very concave Exotic Erotics base—until they learned to just press harder. The key with Ellis too, it turns out, is to press as much air out as possible! For me, this usually requires sticking the dildo to the wall/nightstand/bathtub/etc. like normal and then firmly holding onto the lower shaft with both hands and pressing down again. You really have to use some force to get Ellis to stick to a flat surface, but then it’s good to go for as long as you want.

I haven’t had problems with Ellis coming detached if it’s stuck to a very smooth surface. (It is a little less enduring on my painted walls, as are some other suction cup dildos and the Tantus suction cup attachment.) I’m glad it works well, because the toy’s longer length (7.25″ insertable) makes it very usable when stuck to the wall. (More wiggle room!)

The suction cup base (about 3″ diameter) does make Ellis a little harder to grasp than some smaller, flatter bases. But it’s not huge and unwieldy like some fantasy toy bases or dildos with large balls, so I think the suction cup is worth the extra effort. (If you have larger hands, you may not notice this at all.)

Final Words

I love Ellis because its dual-density silicone construction is so realistic. New York Toy Collective has clearly put a lot of effort into making this toy as lifelike as they could. Obviously, it is a dildo, not a penis, but it comes very close to the perfect firmness—the happy medium I’m always looking for.

Ellis’ head has a little extra squish, and the finish on the silicone is a bit draggy. Other than that, you could almost close your eyes tight and almost pretend you were with a real partner. (Besides, you know, the lack of arms, torso, brain, ass, etc., etc. ????) I need more New York Toy Collective products now. My plans for dildo dominion next year definitely involve Ellis’ bigger sibling, Leroy, which includes NYTC’s signature metal rod that makes the dildo “posable.”

1. Unlike with an actual penis. I’m pretty unusual, though.
2. Note that I described Ellis’ surface as “pore-like,” but Ellis, like all quality platinum silicone, is functionally nonporous and safe for extended use. Sanitize your toys regularly for added safety, or for use between partners or between A and V!
3. It’s just hard to clean off, y’all. It is possible to use silicone lube with some silicone sex toys, but if you really, really want to do this, then definitely do a patch test first. This means you dab a spot of the lube on the base of the toy, and then wipe it off. If the surface appears exactly the same, undamaged, then it’s safe to use the lube.