My solo just died.. where to now?

[oklahomie]

Yesterday was a real bummer for me. My nearly 2 year old Solo fell into some water, and was completely submerged. I let it dry out for a day, but it doesn't seem to be heating up at all anymore so I think it's safe to say it's time for a new portable.

I was really impressed with the performance and quality of the Solo, (as I know many are) and my first thought was just to order another one. Although, throughout today I've been thinking about maybe trying something new. I'm in a bit of a financial rut right now because of a recent surgery, so I can't afford to buy a few different portables to try out. So I figured the next best thing would be to look around on FC because this place is the reason I have made so many well informed decisions in the past.

The only thing I could complain about the Solo was the size. It wasn't enough of a bother to keep me from using it daily for over a year though. I would be willing to give up a little bit of the solo's performance for something a bit more stealthy. I'd really like to buy something reliable because I hate the process of sending vapes in to get them fixed or to get a refund. I will do it if I need to though.

I'm looking for something that does not involve inhaling butane. I have a vaporgenie, and although I'm pretty damn good at getting rips out of it, I just don't enjoy sucking in all the butane along with my vapor. Plus I feel like my Solo was much more efficient.

I'm looking for these qualities for the most part.

1. Creates a relatively thick, good, clean vapor
2. Is portable enough to get into a pocket (solo is as big as I would like to go)
3. Has a decent battery life (I generally have 2-3 sessions a day)
4. Reliable


These are the vapes in the lead right now from the research I have done in a day

1. Thermovape Cera
2. Tvape
3. Pinnacle Pro

I really don't like the look of the Cera much, but it seems to work pretty well. Maybe I could figure out a way to make it look better, ha. The Tvape seemed to have the least amount of info, but it seems like some people on this forum have had pretty good experiences with them. I would probably get a solo again before I got a pinnacle pro. but I like the look of it and it seems to produce some nice vapor.

Sorry for the lengthy post. If you think that I should just get another Solo maybe you can convince me that is my best option. But I'd like to hear any opinions!

 

[SSVUN~YAH]

Put your solo in a sealed container surrounded by dry rice. I have saved a few submerged cell phones this way.

 

[Willeh]

Well in my opinion the solo hits harder and is better for sharing with others than either of those 3 vaporizers, and if it isn't too big for you it beats them. The Solo also has the best battery life/ability to burn through the most herb on one charge, and can be found for 160$ from reputable distributors. I vote another Solo.

 

[smokie]

I would also go for another solo!

 

[Mr. Gweilo 420]

Absolutely another solo. No risk. Proven performance and reliability. Zero financial risk to you. Based on my research all of the vapes you mentioned are probably either not as good as a solo or similar at best. They are super cheap on ebay as well.

Edit. Sorry. Super high right now. Missed the part about portability. Fuck it. I still say solo and get a wooden stem from Ed @ ED's TNT.

 

[vorrange]

Lotus Vaporizer.

Better performance than the Solo. Smaller. Lighter. Faster to use.

Less stealthy though.

 

[KidFated.]

Lotus or solo with wooden stem. Do they make waterproof solo cases yet

 

[stickstones]

Solo or lotus, and since he doesn't want butane....Solo.

I love it when I come into a thread knowing what I want to recommend and you guys have already beat me to it multiple times!

Yes, get another Solo. There isn't anything out there yet that would make you feel like you are missing out. The Solo is still by far my most used portable. Plus this time around you will have better battery life, a little better air flow, and don't the new ones work while being charged without the extra adapter?

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

Sounds like another Solo would suit you just fine.

But the Firefly is at least worth a look-see too.

 

[Caligula]

I love it when I come into a thread knowing what I want to recommend and you guys have already beat me to it multiple times!

...except @vorrange (lol, every time) our resident Solo nay sayer. I swear he works for the Lotus people

 

[natural farmer]

...except @vorrange (lol, every time) our resident Solo nay sayer. I swear he works for the Lotus people

That would make two of us!

I am not a nay sayer for the Solo but there ARE better choices out there nowadays and I can't help but noting those better choices to people interested... And most people that left the Solo for something better haven't gone back or just keep it in a drawer as a back up.

The Lotus is a better choice for me as well and

Solo or lotus, and since he doesn't want butane....Solo.

I love it when I come into a thread knowing what I want to recommend and you guys have already beat me to it multiple times!

Yes, get another Solo. There isn't anything out there yet that would make you feel like you are missing out. The Solo is still by far my most used portable. Plus this time around you will have better battery life, a little better air flow, and don't the new ones work while being charged without the extra adapter?

@oklahomie said he doesn't want to inhale butane and not that he doesn't want to use butane! Solo is more efficient than the VG imd and the Lotus is even more! Those last months that I am low in herbs the Lotus really saved me!

I would also suggest the Firefly as it is the battery powered alternative to Lotus imo and I have ordered one as well to compliment the Solo for a couple scenarios. A little expensive but it's worth it imho...

 

[oklahomie]

Thanks for all the replies. I figured I'd get at least one person jumping on the cera wagon, but apparently not!

Looks like another Solo is probably in my future.
Although maybe a Lotus as well?
Is this considered the best flame based portable?

(I'm fine with using a lighter. I just don't want to inhale any of the gas)

 

[SSVUN~YAH]

Ive never tried the firefly, but I have had the Solo and Lotus and I get both sides of the argument. If this was a brand new user I would have to tilt the scale to the solo side bc it is so easy to use with less variables than the Lotus. This being a more experienced user I can see the Lotus fitting the OP requirements, however it seems a need for stealth and the Lotus doesn't qualify. So my advice would be another solo or a PnP.

 

[Kuzmich]

SSVUN~YAH may I ask where is your solo now?

 

[DDave]

Put your solo in a sealed container surrounded by dry rice. I have saved a few submerged cell phones this way.

Agreed! Works quite well!

 

[SSVUN~YAH]

Sold it to a good friend of mine, his first ever vape, he loves it and uses it daily. He only runs it at seven and I loved starting it up from three. My quiver as of today consists of an LSV, EV-2, Lotus and a PnP. I don't have a specific need for another but a friend is wanting the PnP so I may be in the market for that firefly soon. Had a VG, VG coil, Palm, oil pens, SSV, Solo along with extensive use of friends EQ and Volcano. I'm sure I'm forgetting something...

 

[CentiZen]

I have seen multiple arizer solo's survive severe water damage. Like others have said you want to immediately put it in a sealed container with rice or dessicant pakets if you can get them. First though, open up the bottom and take the battery out and set it aside, you can put the metal case away too. Keep the piece with the heater and circuit board in the rice for at least three days.

That battery, however will be shot. I've had several people contact me privately about a situation like this and they were always able to get it to work again after drying it out and replacing the battery

 

[SSVUN~YAH]

I have seen multiple arizer solo's survive severe water damage. Like others have said you want to immediately put it in a sealed container with rice or dessicant pakets if you can get them. First though, open up the bottom and take the battery out and set it aside, you can put the metal case away too. Keep the piece with the heater and circuit board in the rice for at least three days.

That battery, however will be shot. I've had several people contact me privately about a situation like this and they were always able to get it to work again after drying it out and replacing the battery

I was wondering when you or OF would appear. Great advice , my first thought was you dont need a new vape just a rental. Lol, just make sure it's not minute rice.

 

[stickstones]

if the rice trick works and you get centizen's battery like I did, your Solo will probably feel brand new. His batts are great. Good luck!

 

[vorrange]

The only advantage of the solo is temp control and its more inconspicuous than the Lotus because its battery powered.

Since i have become a very good temp controler, the solo has lost his appeal.


But i would still have it if i didn't have an offer for it. For the times i dont want to think and i need to use an unplugged vape.

And its still one of the best, but its not the best taste, there is a resonable amount of conduction and its bulky. Plus, its a session vape. Session vapes make me spend more herbs.

Heat-on-demand pure convection is the best IMO.

 

[oklahomie]

My solo is currently taken apart and sitting in rice. I figured since it was such bad water exposure it would be pretty much hopeless, but you guys are giving me hope. I will likely be buying a high capacity battery from CentiZen soon.

@vorrange you've got me excited to taste what's coming out of this little Lotus dude. Seems like you really love the thing and that's what I like to see! Most of what I see is the Lotus being used with the WPA (which looks awesome). Can you give me your opinion of how it is using the Lotus dry? This is probably how I would be using it most frequently.

 

[Lo]

Yeah, don't give up hope yet. It can take a few days in rice.

Last week came home from a party, my husband (drunk) fell into our swimming pool - phone, wallet, the whole 9. A pretty new phone too dumbass lol

I pulled phone apart, dried it put in rice and let sit a couple days...3rd day I notice his shoes on pool deck weren't quite dried out so I put the shoes and the phone in the garage right next to a dehumidifier. Few hours later his phone was working and his shoes were dry as a bone. The battery even had the little red mark showing water damage but....working like a charm.

I wouldn't give up on the solo till it's sat in rice for days. Fingers crossed.

 

[vorrange]

Yeah, definitely rice it! I saved a phone like that a couple weeks ago.

About the Lotus, first of all is very quick and very handy. The taste is amazing, and the vapor can be as thick or as thin as you like. It is easy to learn out to use it but it takes a month to really master it. At this point you can do what you want with it, low temp vaping, high temp vaping, quick sessions and long sessions.
Since it uses a torch lighter it heats quickly, less than 10sec hits are my favorite, and i still blow huge clouds. And it is all convection. And since it works with the lighter i can do a session from green to brown without stoping like the Solo or other session vape, or i can puff along and then stop, and then take a couple more hits.

Plus it feels great, much more natural and raw. I imagine the Lotus in the wild, at the beach, camping, in a porch, after climbing a mountain as the perfect vape. It is also amazing when watching a movie or talking to someone. It does not stop you from doing everything else.

Regarding the differences of dry/wpa, the wpa is smoother but it has less taste. Personally, i only prefer wpa when i want to get a couple big rips and slam my receptors quickly. Otherwise dry is the way to go, the taste is very good and the bowl lasts a long time. Plus, it is great to hold in your hand and manouver it.

I bet if you had both at home, you'd get the Lotus more often than the Solo. Unless you don't want to watch what you're doing, although the lotus technique becomes second nature it still envolves action... with the solo you just press on a button and suck.

 

[oklahomie]

Well @vorrange if you don't work for Lotus now (as speculated by Caligula), they should consider picking you up for their team. If this rice pulls through then hopefully I'll have a new higher battery capacity Solo and a new Lotus by the end of the month. I always liked the idea of the VaporGenie, it just never did the trick for me. Looks like the Lotus might be the answer.

Thanks for everybody's replies!

 

[natural farmer]

My solo is currently taken apart and sitting in rice. I figured since it was such bad water exposure it would be pretty much hopeless, but you guys are giving me hope. I will likely be buying a high capacity battery from CentiZen soon.

@vorrange you've got me excited to taste what's coming out of this little Lotus dude. Seems like you really love the thing and that's what I like to see! Most of what I see is the Lotus being used with the WPA (which looks awesome). Can you give me your opinion of how it is using the Lotus dry? This is probably how I would be using it most frequently.

For the dry part… I used to enjoy the water adapter and my Ehle bong but the aluminum stem has many strong points. Better taste, less vapor condensation so more potent hits, a more personal experience are some of them. Durability and practicality are a couple more… I rarely use the WA nowadays. Dry hitting the Lotus is the shit!