Alfa Vaporizer by goboof
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sternfan29
Well-Known Member
The Vape Critic has posted his Alfa review:
http://www.vapecritic.com/vaporizers/alfa/
It made his list of top portables!
Big thanks to everyone on FC. I ordered the Alfa after reading so many good things here (took advantage of 4/20 vapeworld sale for $151). It's out for delivery now and I can't wait to try it out. I've been drying out extra materials in anticipation!
My daily driver is the Pax which is in need of some warranty service, and I hope the Alfa will be a great replacement/addition. I'll report back later this week after I've had to time to use my new Alfa.
Cheers!
http://www.vapecritic.com/vaporizers/alfa/
It made his list of top portables!
Big thanks to everyone on FC. I ordered the Alfa after reading so many good things here (took advantage of 4/20 vapeworld sale for $151). It's out for delivery now and I can't wait to try it out. I've been drying out extra materials in anticipation!
My daily driver is the Pax which is in need of some warranty service, and I hope the Alfa will be a great replacement/addition. I'll report back later this week after I've had to time to use my new Alfa.
Cheers!
Boom! I ordered an Alfa. After much toiling between a crafty (batt life too short, expensive), pax 2 (expensive, gimmicky games 'n shit, but sexy), or grasshopper (tick, tock), and reading this entire thread, I am super excited to be getting this one in a few days! Probably the best form factor and size (IMO), a decent price, fast heat up time, reports of decent taste, and a bowl size that suits my need better than Pax, I'm looking forward to ripping this one while hanging on the patio... Though up here in canada it still feels like early spring!
nukami
Well-Known Member
Just saw it. He needs to compare it to a solo
sternfan29
Well-Known Member
The Solo is one that's always been on my "vapes I need to try" list. Just noticed it's on sale at aroma tek (I don't know anything about the site and its reliability) for $129. Tempted to get one to go with my soon to arrive Alfa. But total price for both puts me in Craft territory which seemed like too much $ for me right now.
Justpassedu
Well-Known Member
Imo no the Solo is a much better machine than the Alfa and so is the new Arizer Air which is a smaller sleeker solo with upgrades and a user replaceable battery. Alfa is new to the market. I have seen many complaints about it and many that like it. Warranty is a hassle for the alfa as the company is based in Ireland and in my experience takes pretty long to answer emails. I have all three , i like them all. I feel when the Alfa is working properly it works well. Its a bit of a material hog compared to the solo and air. It takes almost double the material/flowers that the solo and air take and a session lasts the same for me. Now i do really like the size of the alfa and when packing it to the fullest i feel it hits very well but i wouldn't trade it for my air or solo. Taste i have to give to the air and solo as they have a nice glass air path and i feel flavor id more pronounced and lasts longer. My buddy has a Haze , i have not tried it but he only says great things about it. Maybe he will see this and chime in his thoughts on what he feels about the haze vs alfa as he has owned both.
I back everything brother @Justpassedu said on Solo and Air.
First and foremost I want to say, features on all vapes are great but remember warranties!! That also plays a big part for me.
I dont want to hijack the thread too much with a Haze vs. Alpha but when the Goboof Alpha is operating correctly, it works very well with very nice sized hits and some cool features included. It also works very well with water. Used to milk up my D020 with an 18m2m adapter and pressing the Alpha mouthpeice in the 18mm joint hole. I recommend trying this. As my buddy @Justpassedu said it can be a material hog but for his needs it works well. Wondering if anyone has tried bottle cap screen method in the chamber to cutt down on size.
The Haze can do any type of material dry or concentrate and has two chambers for back to back sessions at the turn of a switch. With the Haze There are three methods to vaping dry material.. Very big hits. If you want more comparison shoot me a PM.
Deleted Member 1442
Well-Known Member
What bottle cap screen method?
2 Paces
Well-Known Member
Just to add a differing viewpoint: Everyone's needs are different and each vape has its own pros & cons, but I did not like the solo at all. Very inconsistent hits and rather inconvenient to use. I sold it after using it a handful of times. In contrast I love the Alfa. Great hits every time, very easy to use on the go. I use it almost daily, and would hate to be without it.
I had a warranty issue with my first one, but had a replacement in my hands within a couple weeks. The replacement has been working great ever since.
maremaresing
Well-Known Member
@Justpassedu , I'm so glad you stuck with it and are getting good use out of your alfa! I know you had a really rough start and I wouldn't have blamed you for hating it forever. I agree with your assessment, outside of the material hog part and warranty. But, to be fair, I dealt with gotvape directly when I popped the bottom part out on a cleaning. The only thing that bugged me about that was having to pay shipping back and forth, and their slow return time (2 weeks).
I have had both the solo and alfa (as well as others) and I believe they are two very different devices for two very different purposes, arizer air included. The arizer holds and uses less material, and gets great hits off it, but much fewer than the alfa. I like this, as I switch strains often, but it just wasn't portable with the form, weight, and glass bits to assemble each time I wanted a hit. Good all arounder though. It deserves it's rep. I sold mine after a couple weeks.
The alfa is so small and light (!!!), and I find it to be very pleasing and efficient if you start low. It's the only vape I've used that provides a full and pleasing vape on low, as well as medium and high. You can blow through a load on hi when milking a watertool pretty fast, though. Hi in general zaps it much faster, though gives bigger hits, so I don't start there anymore.
Get em both!
I have had both the solo and alfa (as well as others) and I believe they are two very different devices for two very different purposes, arizer air included. The arizer holds and uses less material, and gets great hits off it, but much fewer than the alfa. I like this, as I switch strains often, but it just wasn't portable with the form, weight, and glass bits to assemble each time I wanted a hit. Good all arounder though. It deserves it's rep. I sold mine after a couple weeks.
The alfa is so small and light (!!!), and I find it to be very pleasing and efficient if you start low. It's the only vape I've used that provides a full and pleasing vape on low, as well as medium and high. You can blow through a load on hi when milking a watertool pretty fast, though. Hi in general zaps it much faster, though gives bigger hits, so I don't start there anymore.
Get em both!
sternfan29
Well-Known Member
So, my Alfa arrived yesterday (fast shipping from vapeworld), but when I opened the box I saw the wall charger and not the USB charger someone mentioned earlier in the thread is supposed to be included in the updated models. Since I'm not sure if this is the newer model I haven't used it. I called vapeworld and started the return process (RMA #). I also ordered the Solo from aromatek for $129. Still conflicted over whether or not to try the Alfa. I was so excited, but the chance of having an older model with problems is keeping me from using it and therefore making it not returnable to vapeworld. I have Pax that I'm sending in for service, so maybe the Solo is the better purchase right now. I'll use it as a home/sofa Vape and Pax for on the go. Maybe I'll get an Alfa later on if I know that all the kinks have been worked out.
sternfan29
Well-Known Member
Cool. Surprised that I didn't get the new USB cable with mine. I hope you'll post about your experiences with your new Alfa this weekend. It was so hard not to try it last night after getting it.
maremaresing
Well-Known Member
I think it's important to make it clear in the thread that "older problem filled alfas" is a complete misconception, and has been blown out of proportion. SOME of the first batch had software issues that caused faulty units. Goboof was quick to patch every single alfa they could get their hands on, especially at their major distributors. The hardware was and is fine. Seriously, I've had an alfa since December, and have been watching this thread since around August. It's all good.
When google or apple drop a new product, and lots of firmware issues pop up, people don't jump ship and lose all faith in the product, they just wait for the patch. Poor design is one thing, but out of the gate small reversible issues are to be expected of most products. Even the solo has glaring batch issues occasionally.
I know you were disappointed not to get that charger, sternfan29, but you got an incredible price on a new alfa that is no different from my new alfa, and you'd pay more in shipping to send it back than it would cost to just get that cable from amazon or goboof.
You are going to love your alfa, and I'm eager to see how you think it compares to your beloved pax.
When google or apple drop a new product, and lots of firmware issues pop up, people don't jump ship and lose all faith in the product, they just wait for the patch. Poor design is one thing, but out of the gate small reversible issues are to be expected of most products. Even the solo has glaring batch issues occasionally.
I know you were disappointed not to get that charger, sternfan29, but you got an incredible price on a new alfa that is no different from my new alfa, and you'd pay more in shipping to send it back than it would cost to just get that cable from amazon or goboof.
You are going to love your alfa, and I'm eager to see how you think it compares to your beloved pax.
sternfan29
Well-Known Member
Thanks, @maremaresing for providing some much needed perspective and context. I'm charging my Alfa now (brought it to work with me to return, but forgot outside shipping box). Maybe God is telling me to keep it. She knows how much I love vaping. ;-)
maremaresing
Well-Known Member
I'm so glad I could help! Pack it full, put it on medium, draw however. The alfa is your god now 
I highly recommend you attach it to some kind of water tool for a chamber of billowing vapor.
I highly recommend you attach it to some kind of water tool for a chamber of billowing vapor.
fonzerelli
Well-Known Member
I thought I was the only person who realized God is female.
God damned you folks weren't kidding this thing takes a long time to charge. I plugged it in at the office at 12:30 pm, it's now 5:30 pm and the red light is still on.my colleagues are at the pub and I'm waiting for the charge to finish! Ha ha,better be a good n long lasting battery!!
sternfan29
Well-Known Member
I was just thinking the same thing. I was charging at work till 5:30 (started around 2). Went out had a few. Came home plugged in at 7 (now 8:41) and still not ready. And I left the damn screens at work. FML. Can it be used without the screens? I'll search the forums.
maremaresing
Well-Known Member
Yes, it can, but clean it before you put the screens in. It originally came designed to be used without screens. Maybe do a rougher grind, instead, and understand that the little bits you may get in your mouth, or less vapor, are not something you will deal with in the future.
And it's probably ok to take it off the charger after an hour or so. Lithium ion can get most of their charge very quickly, slowing down towards the last few percent. As long as you fully charge it some point soon, it's not like you are hurting the battery or anything.
And it's probably ok to take it off the charger after an hour or so. Lithium ion can get most of their charge very quickly, slowing down towards the last few percent. As long as you fully charge it some point soon, it's not like you are hurting the battery or anything.
Deleted Member 1442
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys for all the help! Just got an amazing deal for the alfa that I couldn't pass up and pulled the trigger.
kaisersosay415
Well-Known Member
Was it from vapeworld. If not was it less than 150 where you got it from
Deleted Member 1442
Well-Known Member
Yes it was from vapeworld, but I had a one time use discount code that I won from a contest. I was able to get the alfa, and a ton of accessories such as a whip/bong attachment/space case all for free with it. So for $150 I got about $200 bucks worth of extra free stuff and the alfa. A deal I just couldn't pass up.
Edit: I also got the MFLB water pipe whip so that I can connect my alfa to my d020-d.
Some Alfa first impressions based on the christening chamber load of finely ground, flavourful sativa.
A lightly tamped 0.15 grams fills the chamber by about 2/3. I agree with earlier posters on one aspect of the view that 0.15 is the perfect quantity for the Alfa. It may be perfect for a single person's session, for a relative lightweight (like me).
If one is heading out for a journey, or might share their session, then 0.2 grams would be better. The Alfa will take a little more than 0.2 g to fill to capacity. A Magic Flight brush is an excellent tool for keeping the area around the oven rim nice and clean, and for tamping down the load around the centre pin.
The draw resistance is nice and light, even with a lightly compressed chamber. Lighter than a solo/air, and much lighter than the Indica. The Indica is the closest vape that I own that is comparable to the Alfa, in size and function. My first impression is that the Alfa is leaps and bounds ahead of the Indica.
The Alfa heats up fast. Easily 30-45 seconds to low-medium (on a full charge). I concur 100% with the recent review by the VapeCritic, in that the Alfa is great at producing vapours with quick, successive hits, rather than needing long draws to build effective extraction. For example, with the Indica (and Puffit 2), I need to pull for a good 10-12 seconds to get good vapours. Draws of this length tend to irritate my throat more than short pulls. A clear advantage, IMO, for the Alfa, and the centre oven pin probably has a lot to do with it.
The flavour of the vapour is about as good as it gets for conduction. I didn't notice a steep drop-off in quality, just a natural progression toward spent.
The last thing I'll point out has been already addressed by several others. It is the inordinate long time to charge the battery. Not sure why, but I know that it's something I'll need to plan around....
I am about to go for round two today...
A lightly tamped 0.15 grams fills the chamber by about 2/3. I agree with earlier posters on one aspect of the view that 0.15 is the perfect quantity for the Alfa. It may be perfect for a single person's session, for a relative lightweight (like me).
If one is heading out for a journey, or might share their session, then 0.2 grams would be better. The Alfa will take a little more than 0.2 g to fill to capacity. A Magic Flight brush is an excellent tool for keeping the area around the oven rim nice and clean, and for tamping down the load around the centre pin.
The draw resistance is nice and light, even with a lightly compressed chamber. Lighter than a solo/air, and much lighter than the Indica. The Indica is the closest vape that I own that is comparable to the Alfa, in size and function. My first impression is that the Alfa is leaps and bounds ahead of the Indica.
The Alfa heats up fast. Easily 30-45 seconds to low-medium (on a full charge). I concur 100% with the recent review by the VapeCritic, in that the Alfa is great at producing vapours with quick, successive hits, rather than needing long draws to build effective extraction. For example, with the Indica (and Puffit 2), I need to pull for a good 10-12 seconds to get good vapours. Draws of this length tend to irritate my throat more than short pulls. A clear advantage, IMO, for the Alfa, and the centre oven pin probably has a lot to do with it.
The flavour of the vapour is about as good as it gets for conduction. I didn't notice a steep drop-off in quality, just a natural progression toward spent.
The last thing I'll point out has been already addressed by several others. It is the inordinate long time to charge the battery. Not sure why, but I know that it's something I'll need to plan around....
I am about to go for round two today...
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