Bodywand Aqua vs Viben Sultry Side-By-Side Comparison
Performance Ratings
Our Verdict
The Bodywand Aqua is a reasonably budget-friendly wand massager – but there are better wands at this price.
The Bodywand Aqua’s vibrations are weak for a wand, and they’re fairly buzzy. The overall quality is poor. Over time, this motor has developed a very noticeable rattling sound. And this wand runs on 3 AA batteries, which means you’ll spend more on the Aqua over the long run than you would on a comparable rechargeable wand.
Some of my favorite wands, the Magic Wand Mini and FemmeFunn Ultra Wand, are in the same price range but perform much better than the Bodywand Aqua. And I even prefer some cheaper rechargeable wands (jump here to compare).
The Viben Sultry is one of my favorite wand vibrators under $100. It has excellent vibrations with the immense power you expect from a full-sized wand vibrator. And though it doesn’t offer truly gentle settings, I find its lower levels enjoyable without a warmup because they’re extremely rumbly. And they stay rumbly even on its highest power!
It’s also an especially comfortable full-sized wand. It’s lighter than other large wands with a slimmer, contoured handle, making maneuvering it easier solo or during sex. Though its controls require you to cycle through the vibration power levels and patterns in reverse order, which can be annoying.
Overall, I recommend it as long as you already have a gentler vibrator you can use as a warmup or don’t typically need very soft levels. This wand has great power, rumbliness, and comfort at a reasonable price.
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Vibrations: Power And Range
The Bodywand Aqua Massager is one of my weaker wands. It’s only a good option for those who prefer soft stimulation.
Its strength is similar to the middle power levels on many of my non-wand vibrators. The highest power is just enough for me to orgasm, but I prefer more strength.
Smaller vibrators with this power are often enough for me, since their vibrations are more focused. But the Bodywand Aqua’s wide head spreads the soft vibrations over a broad area – making it feel too weak and diffuse.
I usually prefer sex toys that offer a gradual increase in intensity, so I like that the Bodywand Aqua provides 6 intensity levels. But with this wand, I just skip straight to the highest power before it does anything for me.
You can do better than the Bodywand Aqua at this price. Both the Blush Noje W4 and Maia Zoe are more powerful and less expensive. And two of my favorite wands with greater power, the FemmeFunn Ultra Wand and Magic Wand Mini, are about the same price as the Bodywand Aqua.
Though not as overwhelming as a few wands like the Magic Wand Plus or PalmPower Extreme, the Viben Sultry has excellent power topping out at 7.3 out of 10 – significantly stronger than any of my non-wand vibrators.
Though it has 8 power levels, it begins with a fair amount of power – I can orgasm easily on any setting. The lowest level is 6.5 out of 10 – already close to its top power of 7.3. There’s nothing really soft.
Normally with a limited power range, I’d need to use a gentler toy to warm up before switching to a powerful wand. But for me, the Sultry just works! Its power range is at my ideal threshold – I find it intense, but comfortable. And I think the main reason it works for me is because of how the vibrations feel: the vibration frequency.
Vibrations: Frequency (Rumbliness)
We rate wands with rumbly vibrations higher than those with buzzy vibrations since most people prefer the deeper feeling they give. But some do prefer buzzy vibrations – so choose based on what you enjoy!
The Bodywand Aqua is a fairly buzzy wand vibrator. It only has one power I consider moderately rumbly. But it’s the softest setting, so I rarely use it. Because this wand massager is fairly weak, you’ll likely spend most of your time on its highest settings – and these are all moderately buzzy.
Because these vibrations are buzzy, they feel less impactful to me. Unless you know you prefer buzzy vibes, you’ll likely want to choose another wand.
The Magic Wand Mini (a personal favorite) and Maia Zoe are more rumbly wands at comparable prices.
The Viben Sultry is one of the most rumbly wand vibrators we’ve tested. Its entire power range is on the rumbly side of the spectrum, and it packs excellent strength while remaining rumbly.
The Sultry’s lowest 3 levels are extremely rumbly. This makes the wand’s powerful start feel impactful but not overwhelming. The rumbly vibrations are more widespread and comfortable while traveling deeper through your body.
The top 5 power levels remain moderately rumbly, with just a bit more zing that focuses the vibrations in a tighter area. Only a few other wands reach the Sultry’s top strength of 7.3 or higher (like the Orion Grande) while remaining rumbly.
If you enjoy moderate to strong power and love deep, rumbly vibrations the Viben Sultry will be a good fit.
Comfort & Ease of Use
Though the Bodywand Aqua is not difficult to use, it has some inconveniences.
First, it’s battery-operated – not rechargeable. This means you need to keep AA batteries on hand and this cost adds up. So although the Aqua seems budget-friendly, it’s really more expensive than comparable rechargeable wands. And you can’t simply recharge it when it dies – you’ve got to find some AA batteries or head to the store.
When I’m using the Bodywand Aqua, it feels as though most of its weight is in the handle, rather than the head. So the wand’s balance tips the head away from you instead of pressing it deeper into you.
You can also feel the vibrations in your hands. Since it’s pretty weak, it’s not too distracting. But many wands dampen vibrations in your hands better.
The Viben Sultry is an especially comfortable full-sized wand, but the controls are poor.
It weighs less than other large wands and has a slim, contoured silicone handle that’s very comfy to grip. These features make it easier to maneuver and leverage the Sultry for firm pressure – it doesn’t feel like you’re holding a bulky wand vibrator. The slightly flexible neck also keeps the pressure comfortable without flexing so much that applying pressure becomes difficult.
The tall head provides lovely, broad stimulation. But you can also use the slight lip formed near the top of the head to apply more focused stimulation.
The Sultry’s controls are its only downside. It does not have separate buttons to increase and decrease power. You need to cycle through intensity levels using a single button, and they’re in reverse order (most powerful to least). While this is mildly annoying, the power levels are so close together that I can live with it. It’s still one of the wands I reach for the most.
What’s more frustrating is that if you accidentally press the vibration pattern button, you must cycle through all 19 patterns to return to the constant setting. Simply turning the wand off and back on again does not work because the wand resumes on the same setting. The Maia Nala is a comparably-priced wand with better controls if that’s your priority.
It’s also fully IPX7 waterproof, so it’s quick and easy to clean.
Use During Sex
The Bodywand Aqua works fairly well during sex.
Its compact size makes it fairly easy to maneuver and apply pressure. But for a short wand, its head is large. So it takes up more space than other small wands like the Lovense Domi 2 or Maia Zoe.
And it’s one of the heaviest compact wands. So it can still get tiring, especially in Doggystyle. I need to reach far back with its short handle, and hold the Aqua’s weight up between my legs.
Its neck has the right amount of flexibility though – not so much that applying pressure is difficult; But not too little that its firm head becomes uncomfortable.
However, the Bodywand Aqua’s soft, buzzy vibrations just don’t provide much impact for me during sex.
I prefer compact wands with more strength or rumbliness like the Lovense Domi 2 and Magic Wand Mini.
The Viben Sultry also works well during sex. Its tall head is still relatively slim, so it fits into tight spaces better than other full-sized wands. You also don’t need to position it very precisely because its strong, rumbly vibrations travel deep and feel impactful, even when the head is not placed right near your clit.
Its light weight is even more helpful during sex since you’re more often in positions where you’re holding the wand up, like in Doggystyle or Spooning. So it doesn’t get tiring like heavier wands. Since the Sultry is fairly long, you can also rest the base of its handle on the bed during Doggystyle to further support its weight.
Though the head is firmer than the plush silicone of the Magic Wand Rechargeable or Plus, its flexible neck keeps it comfortable during sex.
If you enjoy the broad, powerful stimulation of full-sized wands, and want something easy to use during sex, this is one of the best options.
Noise
Note: The sound levels recorded in the video and measurements above were taken before the Build Quality issues developed. For a listen into the BodyWand Aqua’s sound now, see the video here
During our testing, the Bodywand Aqua had relatively low decibel readings. However, in practical use, my partner can hear it behind a closed bedroom door beginning at its middle power level.
The main problem is that this wand has developed a strange rattling sound that consistently pops up when I’m using the Bodywand Aqua. When it rattles, it’s loud and distracting.
For a more discreet wand in the Aqua’s price range, consider the Magic Wand Mini. It’s a bit more powerful, more rumbly, and remains inaudible behind a closed door on all power levels.
The Viben Sultry is one of the quietest wands with this much power – it’s a good option for people who want something strong and discreet. From behind a closed door, my partner can easily hear most wand vibrators this strong.
But I can often use the Sultry on its highest power level without my partner hearing it. We have retested this wand multiple times because it’s right on the border between audible and inaudible on its max setting. Some days my partner can just barely discern the sound of the Sultry’s vibrations on high. But the house has to be completely silent, and he has to try hard to listen for it. Other days he can’t hear it at all.
Turning on a box fan in the bedroom will ensure the Viben Sultry can’t be heard on any power level.
For even more discretion, the We-Vibe Wand 2 is better overall and remains inaudible on every setting, but it’s also more expensive.
Attachment Compatibility
The Bodywand Aqua is compatible with a limited range of wand attachments.
The attachments designed for the Le Wand Petite fit the Bodywand Aqua too. These cover a fairly broad range of stimulation including clitoral, G-spot, anal, prostate, and dual-stimulation. So you can likely find something to enjoy.
The PalmPower Extreme’s G-spot attachment also fits the Bodywand Aqua. But this doesn’t contribute much since Le Wand offers several G-spot attachments of higher quality.
The Viben Sultry’s slim head which makes it comfortable and easy to use during sex limits its compatibility with wand attachments. Some attachments designed for full-sized wands like the Magic Wand Rechargeable also fit the Viben Sultry, while others are too loose.
You can still find compatible attachments for a variety of stimulation including penis, anal, G-spot, prostate, and clitoral. But your selection is more limited. See our full wand attachment compatibility table for information on all the attachments we tested for compatibility.
Mount Compatibility
I test my wands with my Liberator mounts – the Axis and Wanda. The Bodywand Aqua works well with both.
Its medium length is perfect for the Liberator Wanda. The Aqua’s head sits just above the fabric of the mount so you can easily lower your weight onto the wand. By leaning forward or backward you can vary the Aqua’s pressure and stimulation – and because its head is so broad, it stays in contact with your clit easily.
The Bodywand Aqua also has excellent compatibility with the Liberator Axis. Even though I usually prefer curved wands in this mount, the Bodywand’s head is broad enough that it reaches my clit and applies good contact and pressure. The Aqua’s handle is also a good width for the Axis. It fits easily and is thick enough that it does not shift around during use.
If you’re ok with the low power of this wand, it can be a good fit for hands-free play. It’s the cheapest wand that works well in mounts.
But one of my personal favorites to use with mounts is the Dame Com, and this is only about $20 more. The Com’s curved handle makes it excellent at applying firm pressure. And it’s deep, rumbly vibrations are more impactful.
I test my wands with Liberator’s wand mounts – the Axis and Wanda. The Sultry works well with both!
The Axis holds the Sultry at a slight upward angle between my legs, as I lie face down along the mount. I can simply lie on the mount and cruise to orgasm solo or have my partner enter me from behind.
Despite its slimmer handle compared to other full-sized wands, the Axis firmly and securely grips the Sultry, preventing any unwanted movement. The Sultry’s tall head provides plenty of surface area for good contact and comfort. With its considerable height, the head applies pressure without requiring me to adjust my body much. Though angled wands like the BMS PalmPower Extreme provide even better contact.
When using the Wanda mount, the Sultry rests upright, allowing me to press against it while kneeling. I find the Sultry’s rounded slim head especially effective in the Wanda. Since it’s slim, I get a bit more focused stimulation, and the subtle rounded shape is very comfortable.
Battery Life
The Bodywand Aqua uses 3 AA batteries. During our testing, it lasted 250 minutes continuously running on its highest power. And then…
Time to buy more batteries.
This expense adds up – a rechargeable or plug-in wand is much more cost-effective. There are many comparably-priced rechargeable wands with better overall performance. Or you could spend more on the wand itself with the money you’ll save on batteries.
The Viben Sultry is rechargeable and lasted just over 2 hours continuously running on its max power during our testing. This is above-average performance and will be plenty for most people.
Build Quality
The Bodywand Aqua has below-average build quality. The handle’s plastic feels somewhat cheap and you can really feel the vibrations in your hands.
The Aqua has also developed a rattling sound within our first 6 months of using it, and this rattling has gotten worse over time. Though the motor still vibrates, this makes us think its overall build is less durable than other wands.
In addition, this wand takes AA batteries instead of being rechargeable or plug-in, which at this point is the industry standard for quality vibrators. We’ve also had the batteries get lodged in the handle, and they can be difficult to remove.
This wand feels solid and comfortable! The neck has some flex but doesn’t feel flimsy at all, so I’m not afraid to apply firm pressure. I love the silicone head and handle, which makes for a comfortable hold and feels luxurious.