HOPSTAR: Which Settings Are Worth Using

By GETAUVE Editorial Team · Published October 21, 2026

HOPSTAR: Which Settings Are Worth Using

It sat in the drawer for nine days because the buttons were doing too much.

Eight levels and three patterns, sorted into the four you will actually use, the ones you can safely ignore, and the order to try them in.

The Short Answer

Learn level 1, level 2, level 4, and one pattern. That's the whole device. Level 1 is for the first two minutes, level 2 is the working setting for most sessions, level 4 is the ceiling for a long session, and one pattern is enough for variety. The other four levels and two patterns aren't defects. They're just not where most people spend time.

Why Eight Settings Feel Like Too Many

Eight is not a large number. It feels large because the buttons are small, the light is dim, and you're pressing them in the dark. Cycling back to level 2 after an accidental press takes five presses, which is enough friction to end a session's momentum. A little practice in daylight fixes most of that.

The manual doesn't help. It lists the levels as a range rather than a recommendation, so the device arrives without an opinion about where to start.

Here's the opinion: start low, stay low longer than feels necessary, and treat the top of the range as a tool rather than a target.

The Four You Actually Need

Level 1 is contact. Use it for the first 1 to 2 minutes while the seal settles and the body decides this is fine. It's also the setting for finding the right spot, because a low level makes position changes easier to feel.

Level 2 is the working setting. Most sessions can live here entirely. It's strong enough to be clearly present and gentle enough to hold for 10 minutes without adjusting.

Level 4 is the ceiling for a normal session. It's roughly three times the pull of level 1, which is a real step up. Use it after 8 to 10 minutes, not at the start.

One pattern is the fourth thing worth learning. Pick whichever rhythm feels least distracting and ignore the rest.

Patterns Are a Different Tool

A pattern changes rhythm, not strength. If level 2 feels flat, a pattern at level 2 gives you variation without more suction. That's useful when the issue is boredom rather than intensity, and it keeps the session inside a range you already know.

Patterns are also louder in pitch, because the motor cycles. At 45 dB steady, a pulsing pattern reads as more noticeable through a door even though the average volume is similar.

Try each pattern for 30 seconds at level 2. Keep one. The other two will still be there in a month, and you won't miss them. If none of them feel different from a steady level, that's useful information too, and it saves you a decision.

A Ten-Minute Practice Session

Two minutes at level 1 while you settle the nozzle. Three minutes at level 2 without moving. Two minutes at level 2 while changing angle slightly. Three minutes at level 3 or 4 if the first seven felt easy.

Do this once, on a day when you have 10 minutes and no audience. The point is to learn the buttons without also learning everything else at the same time. Try it before bed rather than at 11 p.m. on a work night, when patience is thinner.

By the end you should know three things: which level you'd choose again, which pattern you'd keep, and roughly how long you like a session to run.

What Nobody Uses

Levels 6 through 8 exist for a reason, and the reason is usually a shorter session. They're not wasted, but they're situational. The same goes for the two patterns you don't pick.

Don't read that as a criticism. A range gives you room to move on a day when level 2 isn't working. The mistake is treating every setting as something you owe the device a try. One night at level 7 won't teach you anything that a month at level 3 hasn't already.

There's a practical reason the top end exists, too: a fuller battery and a warmer room both change how strong a given level feels. Having two spare steps means you can adjust without changing your routine.

If You Already Know What You Like

Ignore this guide. Start where you start, use two buttons, and leave the rest alone. The honest limitation of any settings advice is that it's written for someone who hasn't found a preference yet.

Skip it if you want a device with a single dial and no decisions, or if you want fine control in 10 or 12 steps. Eight levels with a wide top end is a particular kind of range, and it isn't for everyone. And if you've had it a month and still haven't found a level you return to, the issue may be the nozzle fit rather than the settings.

Sources

• Center for Devices and Radiological Health — general consumer guidance on device controls and labeling.
• International Electrotechnical Commission — IPX7 rating and cleaning conditions.
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health — reference sound levels for quiet rooms.

This article is general education, not medical advice. If you experience discomfort, stop using the device and consult a qualified clinician.