Finding a First Setting on HOPSTAR

By GETAUVE Editorial Team · Published October 14, 2026

Finding a First Setting on HOPSTAR

The lowest setting exists so you can say yes without committing to anything.

This guide gives you a simple five-to-ten-minute first routine on HOPSTAR, then explains why each step is ordered the way it is, so your first try feels calm instead of confusing.

The Short Answer

Start on the very first level, keep the suction mouth a finger's width off your skin, and just notice how it feels for two minutes before you touch any other button. HOPSTAR has about twelve levels and runs near 45 decibels, so the lowest one is genuinely gentle and quiet enough for a shared wall. You don't need a goal, you don't need to reach anything, and you can stop the moment it isn't fun. If that first soft setting feels right, you've already found your starting point, and everything else is just exploration from there.

A Five-Minute Warm-Up

Picture the lights low, your phone face-down, and no plan beyond "I'm curious." You pick HOPSTAR up, feel the smooth silicone warm in your palm, and let your shoulders drop a little. That minute of doing nothing is the warm-up, and it matters more than people think.

Then you switch it on at level one. The little motor hums softer than your fridge, and you place the mouth near the outside rather than pressing it flat. A gap of air is what makes the suction work, so you let it hover, light as a whisper.

Two minutes of that is enough for a first night. You're not building toward a finish line; you're learning the texture of the thing in your hand, and that's a complete session all by itself. There's no right way to sit, lie, or hold the device during this warm-up, and that freedom is the point. Some people like it propped on a pillow, others prefer it in hand, and the device doesn't care which you choose. Comfort is the only instruction that matters in the first five minutes.

Picture this: it's 10 p.m., the phone is face-down, and the only goal is curiosity. Before bed, you just want something that asks nothing of you, and HOPSTAR fits that mood. Say you've had one calm try already; the second time feels easier.

The First Setting, Step by Step

Step one, charge it. A full USB-C charge takes about two hours and gives you up to 90 minutes of runtime, so one top-up covers a whole week of short tries. A dead battery mid-explore is the quickest mood-killer there is.

Step two, find the light touch. Hold the mouth an inch from your skin, let it pull gently, and resist the urge to press. Pressing flattens the seal and kills the sensation, which is the most common first-time mistake.

Step three, stay at level one for the whole session the first time. The twelve levels are there for later nights. Tonight is only about meeting the device, not testing its limits, and that small boundary keeps things relaxed. To understand why a low start matters, our What a Low First Setting Is For explains the thinking. You can always climb later; you can't un-rush a first night that felt like too much.

One honest note: a flat press is not ideal, and it's worth knowing before you start. Light contact does the work, and pressing harder only dulls the sensation instead of deepening it.

Why the Order Matters

We start low because your body needs a moment to translate "new sensation" into "oh, that's nice" without alarm. Jumping to a higher level first can feel like too much, too soon, and then the whole toy gets filed under "not for me."

We keep the touch light because suction needs air to do its job. A flat press feels like pressure, not pleasure, and it teaches the wrong lesson about how HOPSTAR actually works. Light is the trick, every single time.

We end early on purpose. A short, pleasant first try leaves you curious for next time, while a long, goal-driven one can feel like homework. Curiosity is the habit you're really building here. Order also protects your confidence. A calm first try teaches your brain that this is pleasant and safe, which makes the second try easier and the tenth try automatic. Rush the order and you risk a memory of "too much" that takes longer to unlearn than the device takes to charge.

Curiosity beats pressure. That's the whole trick.

Light touch wins. Every time. Slow is better. Always. No rush.

Making It Yours

Once level one feels familiar, nudge to level two or three on a later night and see what changes. The ramp is gentle, so small steps are easy to read and easy to enjoy without surprise.

Some people like a drop of water-based lubricant on the rim for an even softer seal; others prefer it dry. There's no right answer, only the version your skin likes, and you'll find it in one or two tries.

The device is IPX7, so a quick rinse under the tap after use keeps it fresh, and tucking it back in its pouch makes next time feel as easy as tonight did. If a setting ever feels like too much, drop back down without second-guessing. The levels are a menu, not a ladder you have to climb, and staying on a low one for weeks is completely normal. Curious about warmth? Our Using the Heat Setting for the First Time walks through that option. If you ever want to share the experience, our A Shared Toy That Adds No Pressure covers a couples option. Your pace is the correct pace, full stop.

When This Isn't For You

It's not for you if you already know you want broad, internal coverage rather than focused suction, because HOPSTAR will feel too narrow and a rabbit-style device would suit you better. If you need total silence above all else, even the quiet 45-decibel hum deserves a test before a shared-wall night. If the idea of a device at all doesn't appeal, no setting will change that, and that's completely fine.

Sources

• American Sexual Health Association — offers education on intimate health, product care, and body-safe materials.
• International Society for Sexual Medicine — publishes consumer guidance on solo wellness and intimate product safety.
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center — provides general education on consent and comfort in intimate settings.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. For any personal health concern, please talk with a licensed clinician.