Elf Sternberg

I was so mad when Durex took the Avanti off the market. I understand that the polyurethane condom, which was safe for people with latex sensitivies, had its problems: it was slightly noisy (although nothing like its polyurethane sibling Reality) and if you didn't use enough lube it had a tendency to break, but on the whole it was a good fit for folks like me. One of the common complaints about Avantis is that they were "baggy"; I like to think of them as sufficiently roomy, and so was disheartened to learn that I might have make do with the Trojan polyurethane line, "Supra."

Then Durex came out with Bare. Bare is a polyisoprene condom, and it's Durex's replacement for the Avanti. Polyisoprene is an artificial organic rubber similar to the chemical makeup of latex, but missing the proteins that cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to latex.

They're not bad. The base is tight so it has a good grip, but the head and part of the shaft is still roomy enough for those of us who like it when condom doesn't strangle our faithful soldier to insensitivity. It stayed on for the whole event and transmitted sensations well enough.

The odd part was that although the box read "Bare" and was all factory sealed, the contents inside, although the condoms were distinctly not Avantis, the wrappers were printed with the Avanti logo and label. I wonder when they're going to fix that.