Dame Arc – Test & Review
Table of contents (17)
Testing the Dame Arc
I started this test of the Dame Arc with some trepidation. I’ve never had the opportunity to test a Dame product before, but I’ve admired them from afar. Dame is everything I like in a sex toy company: high-quality, committed to diversity and inclusion, and not overly feminine or frilly. However, my past experiences with g-spot vibrators have left me a little wary. I love a good bit of G-spot massage, but the ones I’ve tried, like the Lelo Gigi 2, have always felt a bit lacking in power and rumble.
First Impressions
I’m pretty in love with how the Arc looks. The simplicity, the lines — everything about it makes me go ‘YES!’. Mine is a beautiful pale blue color, and, let me tell you, I’m so ready to never add another pink or purple vibrator to my collection ever again. Once I took it out the box, I could feel the quality. It’s silky smooth, and the silicone doesn’t have that weird grippiness that appears in some other sex toys. It also has a satisfying weight to it — it’s not heavy, but it doesn’t feel overly flimsy.Testing the Waters
For its first ever test run, I decided to take things slow. I started off by using it gently around my clit on a low speed, making use of that clit-stimulating ridge on the tip. It felt nice, but it didn’t immediately click with me. Despite Dame’s claims that the Arc is super rumbly, it fell a little short of my expectations. Perhaps I’m spoiled by the off-the-charts rumbliness of the We-Vibe Tango X, but the Arc falls somewhere between rumbly and buzzy, becoming more buzzy at higher speeds. However, the more I used it, the more I liked it. The squishy tip meant to I could press harder without any discomfort, and I had some fun playing around with the patterns (though nothing beats the good old single-speed vibrations). Then, it was time for the g-spot. With it well-lubed-up, the Arc was a breeze to insert, and the curved shaft made it so much easier to find the right spot. And, wow! What a feeling! It took a little while to get there, but the payoff was spectacular.Double the Fun
I love that the Arc works well as both a clitoral and g-spot vibrator. Most of the time, I reach for it during partner sex to get some extra clitoral stimuation, but every so often I break it out on my own for some g-spot love. I also tried it out once during anal sex to experiment with some double penetration, and had one of the most explosive times of my life. The Arc’s ergonomic design is perfect for all kinds of positions and uses, and I love how simple the controls are to use. If I was to be really picky, however, I would love a bit more squish on the bulb. I like to really press down sometimes, but a really squishy feeling would have been the icing on the cake.
Design Elements that Define the Dame Arc
I'm a sucker for clean, neutral designs in sex toys, and the Dame Arc is a beautifully-designed sex toy. Its namesake is the dramatic curve in the shaft towards the head, which is there to make it easier to reach your ideal angle for g-spot massage. The head itself is quite bulbous, but not uncomfortably bigger than the rest of the body. It also has a ridge in the middle that has a bit of a squishy feel. The Arc is fairly small, with a generous handle and large, clear buttons near the bottom.
Ease of use
Dame has opted out of fancy functions and complex controls with the Arc. It's a vibrator with a simple purpose, designed with ergonomics and ease-of-use in mind. The curved shaft means you don't have to reach uncomfortably or contort yourself in weird ways to get to your g-spot or clitoris. The controls are also incredibly simple and well-thought-out. One separate button at the bottom turns it on and off and lets you cycle through the patterns, and you control the vibration speed by clicking the up and down buttons above. The 'up' button has a little bump on it so you can find it without looking — a small touch that I appreciated immensely!
How Well-made is the Dame Arc?
The Dame Arc feels like a premium quality product. The silicone is silky smooth and seamless, and the vibrations are powerful and dependable every time. There's no rattling at any speed like with some, cheaper vibrators. It just works!
Price of the Dame Arc
The Arc is… not cheap. Some may well object to paying over $100 for a vibrator that doesn’t have any bells and whistles like app controls or a thrusting motor, and I do get it. However, the Dame Arc is a high-quality product that pumps out powerful vibrations from a beautifully-designed body. Alongside the Arc, you also get a unique-looking storage bag, an instruction manual and a Dame logo sticker. I was also hoping for a little packet of Dame’s aloe-based lube, but it was not to be. You can buy a small sachet from their website for $3, but a complementary sample would’ve been nicer.
The Dame Arc’s performance: Expectation vs Reality
I think that how much you enjoy the Dame Arc will largely come down to what kind of vibrations you like. Dame's website claims that its vibrations fall firmly on the rumbly side of the vibration spectrum. But, as someone who owns an incredibly rumbly vibrator, I would say that the Arc actually falls about halfway between buzzy and rumbly. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and actually I came to really like the feel of them! Both as a g-spot vibrator and a clit vibrator, the Arc performs very well. Plus, it has yet to die on me, which I appreciate.
Packaging
I have to admit, I am totally in love with this packaging! It's modern and minimalistic, and not overly feminine like other sex toy packaging that I've encountered. However, I also get that some might look at it and see 'medical instrument packaging'. It's all a matter of taste! If I didn't have so little space in my apartment, I would definitely keep this one (which is not something I say about most sex toy packaging).
Evaluating the Dame Arc: Materials and Care
The Dame Arc is covered almost entirely in 100% body-safe, medical-grade silicone. There's also one small area of hard ABS plastic at the back of the toy where the charger connects, which is barely noticeable. It's also completely waterproof. Cleaning this vibrator is incredibly simple: just use some mild, fragrance-free soap and water to give it a thorough wiping down. There are no crevices or charging ports to worry about, which is nice.
Special feature
One of the first places I saw the Dame Arc was on a list of ‘squishy’ sex toys. The tip of this vibrator has a ridge with a slight squish to it that just isn’t found on most other vibrators. It’s not a huge amount, and it’s not like jelly, but it’s definitely noticeable when you press firmly. It makes g-spot massage that little bit more pleasurable, but where I noticed it most was when using it on my clit. Firm pressure with a soft, squishy finish results in some really satisfying sensations!
Rating: Dame Arc was rated 2 out of 5, which means it is quiet.
What it is: The sound rating provides a visual representation of how loud the vibrations of Dame Arc felt to the reviewer.
Rating: Dame Arc was rated 4 out of 5, which means it is very powerful.
What it is: The power rating describes how fast and strong the vibrations of Dame Arc felt to the reviewer.
Specifications and features
| Vibration speeds | 5 |
| Vibration patterns | 5 |
| Length | 7.5 inches |
| Insertable length | 5 inches |
| Diameter | (bulb) 1.4 inches |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Battery Life | At least 90 minutes |
| Rechargeable | Yes |
| Charging Time | 120 minutes |
| Travel Lock | Yes |
| Storage Bag Included | Yes |
Conclusion
The Dame Arc is a really great example of simplicity done to (almost) perfection. It doesn't have a ton of bells and whistles, but that means that it's got nothing to hide behind. The Arc is a powerful, versatile vibrator that I would recommend to beginners and experienced sex toy users alike. Do I wish it was a bit more rumbly? Yeah, but that doesn't mean that this vibrator isn't going to keep it's place in my bedside table, instead of being relegated to the big box under the bed with the rest of the less-loved toys.
Comparing Dame Arc with alternatives
| Dame Arc | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.7 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 | 4.8 / 5.0 | 4.5 / 5.0 | NaN / 5.0 | 4.3 / 5.0 |
| Bedbible rating | 4.6 / 5.0 | 4.3 / 5.0 | 4.7 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 | 4.0 / 5.0 | 4.2 / 5.0 |
| User rating | 4.7 / 5.0 from 541 users | 4.6 / 5.0 from 8 users | 4.8 / 5.0 from 785 users | 4.6 / 5.0 from 7495 users | NaN / 5.0 from 0 users | 4.3 / 5.0 from 9 users |
| Price | High | High | Medium | Low | Medium | High |
| Design | 98 / 100 | 60 / 100 | 85 / 100 | 75 / 100 | 80 / 100 | 60 / 100 |
| Ease of use | 95 / 100 | 80 / 100 | 95 / 100 | 95 / 100 | 90 / 100 | 70 / 100 |
| Quality | 100 / 100 | 70 / 100 | 100 / 100 | 80 / 100 | 80 / 100 | 100 / 100 |
| Sound | 40 / 100 | 40 / 100 | 60 / 100 | 60 / 100 | 20 / 100 | 80 / 100 |
| Power | 80 / 100 | 80 / 100 | 80 / 100 | 60 / 100 | 60 / 100 | 100 / 100 |
| Buzzy/Rumbly | somewhat rumbly | somewhat rumbly | somewhat rumbly | neither really buzzy nor rumbly | neither really buzzy nor rumbly | very rumbly |
| Vibration speeds | 5 | 3 | - | - | 3 | - |
| Vibration patterns | 5 | null | - | - | - | - |
| Length | 7.5 inches | 11 inches | 8.9 inches | 6.5 inches | 1.54 inches | - |
| Insertable length | 5 inches | - | - | - | - | 3 inches |
| Diameter | (bulb) 1.4 inches | - | - | - | - | - |
| Waterproof | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | yes |
| Battery Life | At least 90 minutes | - | 120 minutes | 30 minutes | 90 minutes | 2 hours on a full 2-hour charge minutes |
| Rechargeable | Yes | No, Mains-Powered | Yes | Yes | Yes | yes |
| Charging Time | 120 minutes | - | 16 hours - 960 minutes | 90 minutes | 120 minutes | - |
| Travel Lock | Yes | No | Yes | No | - | - |
| Storage Bag Included | Yes | No | No, but comes with cap | No | No | yes |
| Width | - | 1 inches | 1 inches | 1.5 inches | 3.03 inches | - |
| Materials | - | Plastic, TPR, Elastomer | Body-safe silicone, ABS plastic | ABS plastic, Silicone | Silicone, TPU | silicone |
| Colors Available | - | Purple/silver | Black | - | Original (Melon), Nadeshiko Pink | - |
| Vibration modes | - | - | 8 | - | 2 | 10 |
| Remote Controls | - | - | No | - | - | via app on phone |
| Clitoral suction | - | - | - | 11 modes | - | - |
| Weight | - | - | - | - | 0.22 lbs | - |
| Texture | - | - | - | - | - | soft |
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How to use Dame Arc
The Dame Arc is a versatile little vibrator, so here are some ideas for how to use it...
FAQ
Instructions - Manual
You can find an instruction manual for the Arc vibrator here on Dame’s website.
How did the Dame Arc get tested and reviewed?
Receiving the productWe sent the Dame Arc to the tester’s address, free of charge. They tested the product and got to keep it afterward, with no strings attached.
Testing and writingOur tester then put the product through its paces. After trying the product out at home, the tester then recorded their experience, evaluation, and overall rating of Dame Arc to share with you in this review.
The test is uploaded hereAfter non-substantial editing, the review is uploaded to this page. Both good and bad reviews get uploaded, and no points that the tester writes in their review are left out.
The only editing we do is uploading and adding additional information such as the product specifications, comparisons to other products, and links to places where you can buy the Dame Arc.