What up family Mark here again Shadow still on medical leave back shortly and we'll be trading off and on as usual again. Appreciate the congrats VapeCrusader we're really pleased with how the flow of blessings continue...can't give thanks enough!
And thanks for the interest LiLRUBYDOLL! I am familiar with and have used the original Cloud (0ne of their first production equiv protos I think) and I have been told the EVO is the same concept improved for consistency in function and a nicer housing. I can't say enough good things it's an awesome and innovative device with much love and passion for the quality of vapor behind it which is more than can be said unfortunately about many of the devices/companies out there in this now kind of crowded marketplace. StoneMonkey is a long time friend of mine and VRIP I'll say to be transparent, but I will also tell you like I see it because straight is how I communicate.
The Cloud's main differences in comparison of use to the current VHW based VRIP kit is the ability to hold it with one hand using a hydratube configuration once the herb cartridge is packed, inserted and assembled for use OR by holding it straight onto a more standard configuration water pipe or bubbler with a two handed technique; whereas the VRIP kit is dedicated to maintaining the two handed ritual of conventional water pipe or bubbler smoking (just improve the delivery to broad spectrum vapor) and by intention is compatible with virtually all standard downstem configured 14.4mm or 18.8mm bowl accepting water pipes or bubblers, i.e. you pack a bowl and put an intake on as the extra step to give it the heat tool interface and sequential venturi VRIP difference flowform, then hold your heat source to the bowl ideally paying attention to and participating in the extraction so that you may milk it exactly the way you want it (super clean and medical, skim milk blue and full spectrum to the edge of smoke, or hybrid vapor smoke with traces of white). With our new 4.2 kit you literally watch the flowers melt and turn from green to brown in front of your eyes AND you can see the vapor (color, body/thickness) as your real time indicators in the tube if you're using one of our VWT vapor-specific water tools with the lazy boy kick back on the top or many other pieces out there that give you a line of site to the bottom of the tube while hitting it (go concentrated skim milk "blue" for best results IMHO). With both the Cloud and the VRIP you have the potentiometer temp setting AND the rate of pull as ways to fine tune your vapor quality --- with the VRIP you can also "crack the seal" mid-VRIP if it's getting too thick or keep it fully sealed to thicken it up. Also, the Cloud has an LED light indicator whereas the VRIP does not for when it is to the temp you have set --- with the VRIP you just watch it glow and when it starts cycling as opposed to glowing solid it's there. Really from a use perspective it comes down to preference of ritual I'd say.
Both the VRIP and the Cloud use a glass heating and delivery surface and enable moisture and/or ice conditioning dependent upon the water tools used. The Cloud uses a small stainless flower chamber, but has an all glass concentrate configuration that I've heard works really, really good, but haven't had a chance to try yet --- it's on the to do list when I get back to the states this spring. The VRIP's extraction chamber is all glass for flowers right now assuming you're using our glass screens (static stainless or titanium screens can be used also if preferred) and works absolutely great from all of my experience (but please ask for customers to chime in on their personal experience --- there are many with the legacy bowls and at least a few with the new 4.2 kit on FC). The VRIP can also be used with concentrates, but you presently have to use either glass beads, stacked glass screens or a custom sized health stone (discussed somewhere on this thread) if you want to only melt concentrates in the VRIP which can be a little messy and clumsy; I usually just put concentrates on top of some ground flowers and enjoy the slower longer melt and absurdly thick vapor that way to keep it cleaner and easier process-wise. We have the VRIPDAB protonail in development (a few posts back there are pics and a discussion of where it is) that should be in production this spring and will enable the all glass heating, extraction and delivery benefits of the VRIP to be more easily gained with concentrates used by themselves simply by inserting it in the new VCB4.2 before putting the intake on and sealing the wand up (again, check the pics a few post back). I've played with the prototype and all I can say is it's melty melty goodness more than enough for even the heartiest of heads! It is a "reverse dab" vapor approach so will never be as fast and thick as a conventional "dab," but it is a lot more controlled and cleaner than what can be accomplished with a torch and nail (the next version after the one in the pics is longer so you do have the option of even higher heat because it puts the concentrate right under the hot glass tip of the VHW so hybrid vapor/smoke will be possible if that is the preference).
The Cloud is larger than the VHW, but you benefit protection for your glass heating path with that housing whereas with the VHW the housing and glass is smaller, but the glass is exposed so don't drop it or you'll be replacing it as the cost for the compact ergonomics (we have a number of customers who now hang it from their ceiling surgical device stylee as the safest approach!). That said, there is a fair difference in price and we believe the modular design of the VHW/VCB kit (only replace what you broke or what has worn out) and the performance capabilities thereof represent the best value in "luxury vapor" assuming the water pipe-style ritual is one with which you can get down and you're good with the general inability of the VHW glass cover to survive bonks and errts in most cases --- it's not for the butter fingered! If it is not a good fit for you for these reasons than the Cloud is the one we have and will continue to recommend as the best way to go for sure for those that want as much glass as possible and the least amount of metal or metallic ceramic materials in the path.
Oh, and if you've got a heat gun for working with concentrates or old school vaporizing I should add that the new VCB4.2 interface is universal accepting not only all the legacy, 3.0 current and the future 4.2 model of the VHW, but also most heat guns and for sure all the Steinel manufactured non-alumina ceramic encapsulated element based HGs which makes for a nice cost effective and ridiculously robust back-up heat source should you butter finger the VHW and need to get by until you've got your replacement glass cover.
I have never actually used the SSV myself, but have heard it's a great whip style vaporizer and I love that it is made in the States. I have just checked their website for updates from what I have seen before and it looks like they must have a great glass shop too! You can't deny the value of a personalized aesthetic and options they have in spades. I can't tell for sure, but I'm pretty sure it is still a ceramic cartridge style heater with glass around it, but not encapsulating it (please correct me if I'm wrong anybody in the knowing) so your convective air flow is actually heated by direct contact with the alumina ceramic (I know their LSV works this way) and not hot glass which from an OCD Flavor Snob's perspective isn't as ideal due to the polarity of the alumina not being neutral as the polarity of glass (flavor considerations as a result of the polarity are because terpenes, the flavor molecules, are polar or charged molecules). You could do a lot worse than an alumina element though (Volcano uses a straight up aluminum block and many other vaporizers use raw exposed metal/alloy) and they do have great glass fittings including an all glass delivery mouthpiece alternative to the vinyl "whip" which appears to be the usual configuration and definitely would not get past a Flavor Snob's inspection. And of course, the value and durability of the SSV is great I'm sure so there are your trade-offs to consider from my perspective. I've heard good things about the company and their customer support from customers we've had in common.
Hope that helps --- I'd encourage you to go to the Cloud EVO and SSV specific forum threads too if you haven't already and ask questions of their representatives and actual customers there for sure. And the best deal is if you can find someone who will let you try the different vapes you're looking at first....I know with VRIP we are a "Pepsi Challenge" type of product for sure. It's all about experiencing the difference first breath.
Thanks for the props Absymal Vapor the ability to clearly watch the flowers melt and dry out was what first struck me about the new 4.2 kit in use as a nice upgrade from the legacy VCBs --- I was so stoked on that we put the decals down on the ground joint section instead of blocking that nice clear "vapor optic" quality glass!
