Supercharged Thunderstick Power Wand

Note: This review is for a recently purchased Thunder Stick that appears made after they solved a series of issues related to the first design/manufacturing run. I cannot be completely sure, but I ran across some information through other sites that refers (unofficially) to the "Thunder Stick 2".Everyone knows the original Hitachi Magic Wand has been replaced with a very similar, but slightly weaker version licensed to another manufacturer (the HV-270 versus the HV-260). Note that some sellers are marketing the new version as the "original" and it is not. Having a need to replace our aging original Hitachi, led me to conduct serious research. Most (not all) roads led to the Thunder Stick.The Thunder Stick is nearly the same form factor as the Hitachi Wand. Key differences in form factor are 1) Thunder Stick is lighter and shaped slightly different, and 2) Thunder Stick head is made of a slightly softer material but contains more "bands" or ridges than the single center band on the Hitachi. In direct side by side comparison, the Thunder Stick is noticeably more powerful than the Hitachi. Also, the variable speed wheel selection, as opposed to the Hitachi rocker switch providing only two speeds (low and high), allows for any variation of vibration.The Thunder Stick is manufactured with quality you can feel, just like the Hitachi, but at a lighter weight. The cord length on both units (critical) are the same length. The Thunder Stick feels good ergonomically and the weight seems distributed very well. The Thunder Stick is also quieter than the Hitachi compared side by side. However, our Hitachi is not new so comparing noise (and strength) side by side may be a little unfair; though, without a doubt, I believe the Thunder Stick is noticeably more powerful than a Hitachi wand out of the box.My only concern (somewhat unfounded at this point) is the question of durability and only time will tell. The Hitachi Wands had a life expectancy (with us) of about 18-24 months before the motor would start to weaken. We have only had the Thunder Stick two weeks and will need more time before I could reliably opine on durability.In the end my recommendation would be to buy the Thunder Stick. I doubt any former Hitachi Wand user would be disappointed.

I'm reviewing this after almost 3 years of fairly heavy use-- it still works like a champ. It's powerful, not super loud, and I like that it has variable speeds. (The Magic Wand brand is a little rumblier, but it only has two speeds-- high and low.) I've actually worked at a toy shop for the past 6 months, and this wand remains my favorite, plus it's reasonably priced. And I've even used it to massage my neck and shoulders!

this one is turbo! DOnt buy the others......this is the bomb. My girl squirts like a water fall

unit came unuseable...by unuseable - I mean it did not even work upon delivery from my door stoop....opened it up-plugged it in and rotated switch up,down, on and off....the only response I got was NOTHING!!!I called amazon immediately and was told-source was outside vendor and they had 48 hours to reply to this dilema.REALLY!I am no idiot to electrical switches and I was not impressed with the sliding type reostat variable dial /on off switch...seems to me...if a hook up was done..it could easily be disrupted in a bound situation...at a critical moment-one would have to control it at all times as opposed to a click in dial for variable speed.it is 4 weeks later and the vender says it has no stock to replace it with....and as far as they know....have NO ETA for replacement.when I saw this product and its promotional hype..I was in the market for another hitachi for the tool box.the video was all too convicing I HAD to have one.perhaps an un fair rating since I didn t even get a purr out of it let alone apply this wonderous tool to my sinificant other but due to actually having it in my hand..as far as quality goes...it is lightweight-cheaply made, and I doubt its motor reliability and capabilities figuring from the windings. usable life may be limited.I am waiting for this vendor to rectify my dilema to actually give it a fair raiting but XR cant and wont give me a clue to when they will re issue me a thunderstick..I will say..right at this moment it is 100 pounds of hype in a 10 pound bag.stick to hitachi.mine have lasted for YEARS without issue...and still running strong under regular use.

Not as powerful as expected. Was trying to replace a "Brookstone" branded rechargeable wand massager that broke. THis "ThunderStick" is at least half as powerful (But is much quieter). It is decent for fine point or precision message when u press it in a bit. I find it best for neck message, but not powerful enough for my back or legs.The head is very bendy, I almost feel it will snap off if i angle it too much when using it sideways, other than that, It has ok build quality and i like the rubber grips.Update: The power cord at the very part where it connects to the wand freyed/slit multiple times. Started about 1yr of owning it. I tore open the wand, cut the power cord and re-soldered it, that only lasted a few months before it split again, in the same place. So I did the same thing again.The head broke at about 19 months of owner ship. The internal design is weak, A metal spring wrapped around a plastic solid core, that is what makes the thing vibrate, its axel, for lack a of better term. It also started getting very loud and shaky near the time it fully failed.I bought the well known "Magic Wand", which cost much more, and it is better build quality, it seems, but is the same power as this ThunderStick, maybe, a tiny tiny bit weaker, and with no full speed control built in.