Discontinued The Grasshopper

[nonbeliever]

Sadly, i’ve found the best way to keep my hopper from needing an RMA was to stop using it. 2 V5 bodies went bad in less then 2 weeks (still not returned back). I haven’t used my SS v5 since I received it. It was returned after I’d gotten my Lil Bud, which simply works, and works well. Instant heat up, good clouds, great taste, 18650 battery that lasts.... not quite the slim, stealth design of the grasshopper, but it’s worked perfectly for 2 months since I received so far, and I no longer feel the need to carry a spare vape device around with me. Dealing with HL simply reached the point of diminishing returns for me (my aggravation versus hoping they would finally get it right).

 

[vapviking]

Same here. Actually... I'm not sure if I'm happy I ever tried the Hopper. You're right, it's pretty much the greatest when it's working. Only the Sticky Brick makes this sort of clouds as a portable but I don't get along with the torch. My SBJ is burnt all over and I have burned my fingers just too often. Anythings else isn't that fast in heating up time and finishing a bowl, and not that overwhelming cloud and effect wise. At least not entirely the same.

That being said, with a lot of the new vapes these days, like with the Fury2 and the X-Vape Fog, I'm not even sure if I really had missed out anything worth mentioning if I'd never bought a Hopper in the first place. If I want fast heat up times, great (not the greatest) clouds and a swappable battery, there's the X-Vape Fog. And ironically the one thing that makes the Hopper such an unreliable machine is the one thing I never cared for: the size and stealth factor. Still nothing hits as fast and efficient as the Hopper but just the presence of this thread here keeps me from being completely relaxed using it.

I've been considering a backup vape, even though I do intend to stay on the Hopper merry-go-round for a while. But my daily driver Hopper just combusted (yuk, this is unacceptable, it's going back...) yesterday --and now will not start. Wife's is okay but #3 is in warranty for 100 days now. I do have a Mighty that is still well loved, but somewhat less used these days due to our need to be extra discreet. Pax2 is a bit less than satisfactory, but suffices in a pinch. In this case, I need something inexpensive to get me by.

So, I'm intrigued by this X-Vape (I was unfamiliar until you mentioned it.) And I've skimmed the X-Vape thread (but bypassed some of the middle pages). I'm curious, though about how well it can replace a Grasshopper? Hopper has very little smell when not in use; how about X-Vape? Quick stealthy hits?
Anyone else with another battery powered (regulated), inexpensive, vaguely comparable-to-Hopper backup suggestion?

 

[Hammahead]

So, I'm intrigued by this X-Vape (I was unfamiliar until you mentioned it.) And I've skimmed the X-Vape thread (but bypassed some of the middle pages). I'm curious, though about how well it can replace a Grasshopper? Hopper has very little smell when not in use; how about X-Vape? Quick stealthy hits?

It's not a replacement but a great back up in my view. The heat up time is super fast, evenly baked abv without stirring. The bowl has a silicone sealing so the smell would only get out of the mouthpiece. Taste is pretty decent actually, after a while, the silicone parts take some time to lose the chemo stank. I'm pretty resilient against that though. After maybe a dozen uses even my super picky neighbor likes the Fog.

The "middle pages" were about some white powder a few users found at the air intake after disassembling the device. I'm pretty sure this has been taken care of meanwhile while not everybody is happy with how the company reacted and communicated. Others, like me, valued this different than those users, so you might want to have a closer look at the debate (starting page 6) and use your own discretion.

I agree on the Fury taste not being great, but that's the original mouthpiece, I pretty much only use it with the glass adapter which makes for a way better taste. I'm not the great gourmet though, so just take my word on how fast the Fury and the Fog get you pretty, pretty high.

Not even that much OT even, I guess, this is about Hopper replacements, right?

 

[vapviking]

Not even that much OT even, I guess, this is about Hopper replacements, right?

Thanks, this is definitely a contender.

 

[Cannabiker]

I'm a tracking junkie, so I was waiting for a delivery yesterday, a 14mm to hose adapter for my SSV. When I felt a second package in the mailbox, I assumed it was for my wife or daughter--I wasn't expecting anything.

But HL can't be bothered with little things like shipping notification (too busy with RMAs), so my Hopper arrived unannounced, nearly seven moths after I ordered it to celebrate 4-20. Tracking addiction aside, I'm glad they didn't tip me off. I love a good surprise, and an unboxing has never felt so auspicious.

I'm glad I learned all the pros and cons while I waited. I see why Buzz loves it while Bud hates it. Use it right, and you can suck all the oil out of a load in a few cloudy draws. Use it wrong, and you get all that and scorched tonsils.

I also knew not to expect perfection; I'd already read about things like the lights flickering as you draw. But I was a little surprised about the really shitty fit between the body and front end. The threads are fine, but the smooth interface is way too tight. Running my fingers around the body below the threads, there are almost imperceptible ridges. When I pull the front end off, it leaves tracks on the ridges. It's even worse with the PFE, which fits tighter.

It's not stray weed--it was like this right out of the box. It is definitely the grind of metal-on-metal contact. Threading it together is a fingernails-on-chalkboard experience. I hope it gets better with use, or I'll probably take a Dremel with jeweler's rouge to the inside of the front end. If anyone has any experience or advice, I 'd love to hear it (I did do a search, but only found things related to thread).

Also, is there a charger out there with will take these little batteries? I'm not ready to get on another HL waiting list.

Happy Trails,
Ron

 

[Cheesequake]

I'm a tracking junkie, so I was waiting for a delivery yesterday, a 14mm to hose adapter for my SSV. When I felt a second package in the mailbox, I assumed it was for my wife or daughter--I wasn't expecting anything.

But HL can't be bothered with little things like shipping notification (too busy with RMAs), so my Hopper arrived unannounced, nearly seven moths after I ordered it to celebrate 4-20. Tracking addiction aside, I'm glad they didn't tip me off. I love a good surprise, and an unboxing has never felt so auspicious.

I'm glad I learned all the pros and cons while I waited. I see why Buzz loves it while Bud hates it. Use it right, and you can suck all the oil out of a load in a few cloudy draws. Use it wrong, and you get all that and scorched tonsils.

I also knew not to expect perfection; I'd already read about things like the lights flickering as you draw. But I was a little surprised about the really shitty fit between the body and front end. The threads are fine, but the smooth interface is way too tight. Running my fingers around the body below the threads, there are almost imperceptible ridges. When I pull the front end off, it leaves tracks on the ridges. It's even worse with the PFE, which fits tighter.

It's not stray weed--it was like this right out of the box. It is definitely the grind of metal-on-metal contact. Threading it together is a fingernails-on-chalkboard experience. I hope it gets better with use, or I'll probably take a Dremel with jeweler's rouge to the inside of the front end. If anyone has any experience or advice, I 'd love to hear it (I did do a search, but only found things related to thread).

Also, is there a charger out there with will take these little batteries? I'm not ready to get on another HL waiting list.

Happy Trails,
Ron

Regular nitecore charger works fine with them.

 

[Baron23]

Regular nitecore charger works fine with them.

@Cannabiker - Cheesquake is exactly right and I also use a Nitecore. However, these batteries are small so take care not to let the spring loaded contact scrape the battery wrapper as it can be damaged if handled roughly.

 

[Vaporific]

@Cannabiker - Cheesquake is exactly right and I also use a Nitecore. However, these batteries are small so take care not to let the spring loaded contact scrape the battery wrapper as it can be damaged if handled roughly.

Ditto - I have a couple of Nitecore chargers. I also label and rotate batteries (some don’t and recharge the same ones over again without full rotation).

Recent posts indicate Blu-Tack works well to clean threads. I haven’t tried it yet since my pre-order Ti is in for it’s first RMA as of September. No telling when I’ll see it again. Yeah, HL is a surprise everyday with how they operate and communicate with us, or lack thereof depending on how you look at it.

I love knocking them but when the Hopper works well, it works well. Consistency however is sorely lacking with old and new units from what I’m reading.

FYI - Grassachusetts opened its first two rec shops today, first on East Coast and east of the Mississippi. Yay!

 

[Zow237]

Mine is still acting weird. Sometimes I’m just getting light vapor and sometimes I’m getting thick ass vapor. Idk what is determining this.

 

[Vaporific]

Mine is still acting weird. Sometimes I’m just getting light vapor and sometimes I’m getting thick ass vapor. Idk what is determining this.

How old is your unit? Mine is a pre-order Ti received in July '16, worked well for many months and then the vapor started to recede and lessen. While I didn't think it was normal I got used to it a bit as I'm not a big cloud chaser anyway but it was like phantom draws on the thing (with standard frontend, not PFE). Then I had issues with the power button and eventually this September it wouldn't turn on. So in it went to RMA purgatory.

I started reading the forum from almost the beginning through like mid 200's in pages and then resurfaced again since September in the mid 800's to see what was going on recently with folks' experience. Mostly negative - for older and new units - and very few positives lately. It's crapshoot but, again, when the Hopper works well - and consistently well - it works well! Too bad the experience has been anything but inconsistent and mildly frustrating at best. Good luck!

 

[Hammahead]

Mine is still acting weird. Sometimes I’m just getting light vapor and sometimes I’m getting thick ass vapor. Idk what is determining this.

I found the Hopper works best with a small, lightly packed bowl. Also when the herbs are a bit moist, it may take a couple of tokes just to dry it properly. This is to give you some hope that your Hopper is probably fine.

 

[fogbank]

Mine is still acting weird. Sometimes I’m just getting light vapor and sometimes I’m getting thick ass vapor. Idk what is determining this.

I consider all of my Hoppers to be working to my satisfaction, but I still get the occasional first hit that is not what it should be. Second hit is always up to par. It happens pretty rarely and, like you, I do not know what causes it. Others have described it as well. It seems like the heater just stops heating the load part of the way through the draw. I can tell it's happening because the heat disappears quickly after I click it off. Usually I get heat for ~10 seconds after clicking the Hopper off. During that time I'm getting lots of vapor. On a "phantom" hit the heat disappears almost immediately and I get about half of the vapor I would normally expect.

How often are you "just getting light vapor"?

 

[Vaporific]

I found the Hopper works best with a small, lightly packed bowl. Also when the herbs are a bit moist, it may take a couple of tokes just to dry it properly.

Definitely loosely packed so air flow is optimal. I agree the Hopper works better with drier herb but moist bud is too good to pass up and it will take a few pulls to dry the material a bit. I once cured some in my attic as a buddy gave me a branch from his grow field (very cool).

I consider all of my Hoppers to be working to my satisfaction, but I still get the occasional first hit that is not what it should be.

The first hit never seems hot enough when it's solid blue to start. Sometimes I'll wait a few seconds after solid blue to take the first pull but I've noticed too the first pull is not optimal. Also, with a mid-life battery with a fresh load it may not get as hot as it should. I find the batteries also inconsistent and I have several, numbered, and rotate them all the time; I know I have a few that don't hold as much charge as the others which doesn't exactly help diagnosing the aforementioned issues either.

With HL, consistency is the hobgoblin of minds.

EDIT: don’t use too fine a grind to prevent frontend clogging & possibly getting particulate in the main housing under the chamber. I use a wide interdental brush to keep my Hopper squeaky clean.

 

[Rel2018]

After a great month with 2 working body parts, suddenly both are not working. Red light for a sec and off.
When I unscrewed the backend I got pieces of metal stuck to the battery. It’s the silver metal ring around the golden plate. Broken to 3 pieces.
I wrote to HL with hopes they will help. Sigh.

 

[ChooChooCharlie]

...With HL, consistency is the hobgoblin of minds.
...

Where's Waldo? Seek within, improve, evolve

Hopper is consistent for me. I'm still an apologist. Love the hopper, all day, every day with TiChillum

 

[vapviking]

Where's Waldo? Seek within, improve, evolve

Hopper is consistent for me. I'm still an apologist. Love the hopper, all day, every day with TiChillum

Boy, I love this place! Thanks for the quote.

I am also still in the congregation. It's nearly inexplicable giving the number of times I've had to return a Hopper (suffice it to say that with 3 Grasshoppers/2 users there's never a dull moment; currently only one is operational). Still a believer, but not a monotheist; thank goodness for the steady power and sheer consistency of the Mighty. And I don't think it a sin to be seeking a stand-in for the Hopper...

 

[°k]

Long story short (this thread has enough complaining about HL ways) I've received my RMAed GH and it's working okay.
I've decided to clean the threads of the backend and where it screws on the body with a blue tac equivalent and it removed quite some black goo. The thing is now the backend doesn't screw as smoothly as when I got it back, my guess is the cleaning removed some sort of lubricant?
Do you guys have any experience with the same issue?

 

[vapviking]

Anytime I've used Blu-tac (equivalent, Stik-Tac) the action is improved. Ime, The SS threads are always smoother than Ti, which can typically feel a little gritty even when clean.
I think it unlikely that HL has applied any lube to the threads. weird.

 

[Vaporific]

Anytime I've used Blu-tac (equivalent, Stik-Tac) the action is improved. Ime, The SS threads are always smoother than Ti, which can typically feel a little gritty even when clean.
I think it unlikely that HL has applied any lube to the threads. weird.

I’ve heard nothing but good/positive things about Blu-Tack (and similar) but I’ve yet to use it since my lone Ti is in RMA. It seems to be the gold standard for cleaning the backend threads on both the body and backend from what I’ve read herein. I’ll get some when it comes back from RMA and is in working order to keep it that way though I never thought the backend connection was problematic for me however little else should go wrong with the unit but we all, er many, have experienced issues.

Again, inconsistency...

Where's Waldo? Seek within, improve, evolve

Hopper is consistent for me. I'm still an apologist. Love the hopper, all day, every day with TiChillum

Thanks for the original, full quote. That’s what I was implying - Ralph said it best

 

[Cannabiker]

@Baron23, @Cheesequake, @Vaporific--

Thanks for the recommendation!

Nitecore is on the way. That will make the GH a more functional tool--my first attempt at pass-through charging was also my first experience with Hopper bugginess. I'll be happier with a steady supply of battery power.

 

[Vaporific]

@Baron23, @Cheesequake, @Vaporific--

Thanks for the recommendation!

Nitecore is on the way. That will make the GH a more functional tool--my first attempt at pass-through charging was also my first experience with Hopper bugginess. I'll be happier with a steady supply of battery power.

You're welcome. The Nitecore's are cheaper than HLs new-fangled charger though they may not charge as fast but that's not a priority for me. I have one digital Nitecore (with LED readout) and a plain one with three indicator lights for each slot. Both work well, never any issues.

It's the HL batteries I worry about: of my original set, one didn't hold a charge as long as the others so I labeled them to identify them and have always rotated them so one doesn't get more used than the others. A subsequent set I purchased exhibited the same thing: one or two batts didn't hold a charge as well as the others. Again, inconsistency...

EDIT: also, I've never used the magnetic charger that came with my Hopper. Go figure.

 

[Zow237]

Contacted hopper about the performance and they are sending me a new body again. Hoping this one lasts longer

 

[howzcat]

unfortunately my broken GH (never really worked more than a month straight, 2 rma's already) is just sitting in a drawer for over a year.
I can't even bring myself to send it in for rma (especially considering the hassle of customs and the very real danger of it being apprehended and destroyed).
Periodically i check here and reddit etc for the state of things...i think it will remain forever in a drawer.
People are selling and buying broken GH's for parts!

Disappointment. Huge disappointment. I try not to think about it aha

 

[Zow237]

unfortunately my broken GH (never really worked more than a month straight, 2 rma's already) is just sitting in a drawer for over a year.
I can't even bring myself to send it in for rma (especially considering the hassle of customs and the very real danger of it being apprehended and destroyed).
Periodically i check here and reddit etc for the state of things...i think it will remain forever in a drawer.
People are selling and buying broken GH's for parts!

Disappointment. Huge disappointment. I try not to think about it aha

If it’s just the he body they are sending them out before you send yours back

 

[Cheesequake]

My new back end works perfectly 90% of the time. Still every once in a while though it will start doing the flickering lights/weak hits. Couple back end twists and it's back to normal. Oh well.