hi_there
Well-Known Member
It seems they are learning as they go. They are replacing tons of units but as long as the orders keep rolling in they should be able to make it to the other side!!
Discontinued The Grasshopper
- Thread starter midgetsanchez
- Start date
It seems they are learning as they go. They are replacing tons of units but as long as the orders keep rolling in they should be able to make it to the other side!!
hippogriff
Well-Known Member
Not a particularly transparent company but they've intimated w/o detail that part redesigns, more than supply chain issues, have been behind the various delays this year. I'm getting my hopper back from warranty #7 (heat and performance issues) in a few days w/ a new back end and front end, won't have old pieces to compare, just hoping for a return to original performance (so I can mate to SSV wand again for monster dry hits), and hoping the changes make for greater reliability (had my last back end since 2/16 I think).
Whatever the numbers, there're enough of us w/ multiple issues, the GHL warranty dept must be a busy place. But they do have their system down, the $40 or so I've spent on shipping notwithstanding (understandable that this would be an issue for many, for me it's part of being an early-adopter), warranty claims are consistent and easy.
Vapor_Eyes
taste buds
If I were you I would do the same thing. It's almost like the reverse of Murphy's Law. As long as you have a new Grasshopper waiting in the wings, you won't need it. As soon as you sell it, use it, or register it, you will need it. That's just me being superstitious though.
utekai
Well-Known Member
Have been thinking much about the gh, and think it simply is a sort of nice vaporizer jammed into a form factor that makes it a bit less nice.
If GHL guys had started out with the concept of designing a fantastic portable vape, they likely would have done better. Rather they started out with the concept of designing a fantastic portable PEN vape. And they succeeded ... sort of. They made a fantastic portable one-hitter.
The thing is the form factor of a pen vape offers certain limitations that are hard to get past. For instance the smaller battery. The heat issues. Loading and unloading.
These are issues related precisely to the pen form factor. Though I really think they could have figured out an easier way to load and unload, so it's not as much a limitation as just a design issue. Future versions could address this no doubt.
Another issue, for instance as compare to the Elevape which has no on/off switch as it's activated by sucking on it, they could have designed the gh so that there is no need for the awkward clicker and the heavy thumbed clicking that must be done. Two clicks to get it back on after an auto-shutoff? Come on, this is so 1950s, and we're a bit beyond that now.
After all, they already have a flow sensor that keeps the gh turned on. That same sensor could have been used to TURN IT ON as well, with suction. Just like the Elevape. It already auto-shutsoff. So what's the point of a heavy and apparently somewhat problematic, as well as BIG compared to the overall vape, hard to press on/off switch? Design flaw is what it seems like at this point. That clicker ... is a bit of a pain, and some with arthritis might be unable to use it easily or at all.
The clicker, the on/off switch, goes right to the heart of the issue, and that is they were trying to make it look and act like a pen, but this gets in the way of of the gh acting like a great and easy to use vaporizer.
That's the trade off, do you want a pen vape, or do you want an excellent vaporizer? In this case, making it a pen vaporizer has definitely reduced it's utility as a pure vaporizer for many situations, though it does work nicely as a one-hitter.
Also, the silicon tip is almost always needed, as such it seems more suited as an integrated piece rather than a slip on piece, though if integrated into the tip it would still need to be removable for cleaning. The thing about slip on, is it slips off. There are going to be a lot of lost silicon tips, well, if the gh gets used a lot. I don't use mine much now after a couple weeks, but have nearly lost the tip a couple times because it silently slips off at times and NOT when I'm expecting or watching.
Putting a PEN form factor as the design driver, as the main design driver of the overall gh vape, has resulted in limiting it's overall utility quite a bit. If they first designed a fantastic vape and with stealth as a primary driver, they very likely would have come out ahead of where they did, and probably wouldn't have arrived at a pen form factor due to these clear limitations.
So, while I write this, taking hits off a milaana, though the gh is right here too.
If GHL guys had started out with the concept of designing a fantastic portable vape, they likely would have done better. Rather they started out with the concept of designing a fantastic portable PEN vape. And they succeeded ... sort of. They made a fantastic portable one-hitter.
The thing is the form factor of a pen vape offers certain limitations that are hard to get past. For instance the smaller battery. The heat issues. Loading and unloading.
These are issues related precisely to the pen form factor. Though I really think they could have figured out an easier way to load and unload, so it's not as much a limitation as just a design issue. Future versions could address this no doubt.
Another issue, for instance as compare to the Elevape which has no on/off switch as it's activated by sucking on it, they could have designed the gh so that there is no need for the awkward clicker and the heavy thumbed clicking that must be done. Two clicks to get it back on after an auto-shutoff? Come on, this is so 1950s, and we're a bit beyond that now.
After all, they already have a flow sensor that keeps the gh turned on. That same sensor could have been used to TURN IT ON as well, with suction. Just like the Elevape. It already auto-shutsoff. So what's the point of a heavy and apparently somewhat problematic, as well as BIG compared to the overall vape, hard to press on/off switch? Design flaw is what it seems like at this point. That clicker ... is a bit of a pain, and some with arthritis might be unable to use it easily or at all.
The clicker, the on/off switch, goes right to the heart of the issue, and that is they were trying to make it look and act like a pen, but this gets in the way of of the gh acting like a great and easy to use vaporizer.
That's the trade off, do you want a pen vape, or do you want an excellent vaporizer? In this case, making it a pen vaporizer has definitely reduced it's utility as a pure vaporizer for many situations, though it does work nicely as a one-hitter.
Also, the silicon tip is almost always needed, as such it seems more suited as an integrated piece rather than a slip on piece, though if integrated into the tip it would still need to be removable for cleaning. The thing about slip on, is it slips off. There are going to be a lot of lost silicon tips, well, if the gh gets used a lot. I don't use mine much now after a couple weeks, but have nearly lost the tip a couple times because it silently slips off at times and NOT when I'm expecting or watching.
Putting a PEN form factor as the design driver, as the main design driver of the overall gh vape, has resulted in limiting it's overall utility quite a bit. If they first designed a fantastic vape and with stealth as a primary driver, they very likely would have come out ahead of where they did, and probably wouldn't have arrived at a pen form factor due to these clear limitations.
So, while I write this, taking hits off a milaana, though the gh is right here too.
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I want a powerful one hitter that passes as a pen by the man, security, the kids or anyone at a glance.
I'd like to see one try to get through security anywhere with a Milana in one pocket and the grasshopper in another.
It's about stealth and hiding in plain sight from the kids, the wife, the boss, law enforcement and everyone else.
The clicker sells the pen's image when in a shirt pocket or on a desk (like a pen), imo.
I want mine now more than ever.
Mister G
Deceptively Old Fart
You lost me when you said ESV draw sensor switch is a better method, I think it's terrible. I don't use the silicone MP unless with water, it's not almost always needed.
But I get that this is not the right vape for you. I think GH is a top tier portable compared to what's available today. Could it be better, hell yeah what vape couldn't?
But I get that this is not the right vape for you. I think GH is a top tier portable compared to what's available today. Could it be better, hell yeah what vape couldn't?
Mr Mellish
Well-Known Member
I've found the GH to be more reliable than the ESV so far. The draw sensor on the ESV has been too fiddly for me (along with having to tweak the heating coil periodically) so it is my only vape truly gathering dust.
Baron23
Well-Known Member
I don't have general issues with the form factor, and the obvious design decisions/limits that such a form factor demands. I would have been fine if they made it just a skosh wider in diameter and given themselves a bit more room to insulate the MP from the oven...but that's just my thought and I'm not privy to the other drivers behind this design.
The clicker, however, doesn't bother me a bit. Rather like it. Automated systems fail...rather automatically leaving the user without recourse. Give me manual controls every time.
My biggest....really only major concern...is reliability. My GH has not hiccupped once. Back end is, so far, the coolest part of the unit. But the reports of some people being on their 7th or even 9th RMA is astounding. The unit needs to be rock solid, anything less with be a fail and the cost of RMAs and repairs will tear the company down. They REALLY need to do some burn in prior to shipping to drive out infant moralities that owners are quickly seeing in the field...or at least that would be my recommendation.
hi_there
Well-Known Member
What I find worrisome is that they have not been able to figure out (and fix) the issue.
jabba
Well-Known Member
I want a powerful one hitter that passes as a pen by the man, security, the kids or anyone at a glance.
I'd like to see one try to get through security anywhere with a Milana in one pocket and the grasshopper in another.
It's about stealth and hiding in plain sight from the kids, the wife, the boss, law enforcement and everyone else.
The clicker sells the pen's image when in a shirt pocket or on a desk (like a pen), imo.
I want mine now more than ever.
I could not agree more. I'm far beyond college dorms and giggling girls puffing on my sofa prior to a one night stand. The bongs were smashed 25 years ago when discretion superseded convenience. The pen form factor is superb for my needs and the reported issues relating to form factor are expected trade offs. It is fact that the GH works...works very well...works extremely quickly and efficiently...and works intuitively.
If I were younger and did not need to be discrete....there are countless devices which may provide cooler and smoother vapor. Those that rip many pulls per day at home as a lifestyle do not need the GH unless they desire a stealth vape for on the go. Some posters are clearly too high to review the GH objectively....I don't see Road & Track or Car & Driver reviewing the off road acumen of the Ferrari 3008!...nor are they reviewing the on track handling performance and 0-60 times for a Jeep Wrangler.
There are no other devices that behave, look, and perform like the GH. I wouldn't trade my GH for any other vaporizer on the market. As a matter of my need for discretion and my lifestyle...the GH is my sole device....and I couldn't be more pleased with its design and function.
Edit Sidenote: My backend is showing signs of heat. At times it gets VERY hot and quickly. I've observed that my back end ONLY gets hot after a battery is 50% or more depleted....but never heats up with a fresh battery installed. Despite the back end heat...I notice no difference in the performance of my GH whether battery is full or low.
Vapor_Eyes
taste buds
The thing is, the reason many of us want the GH is the pen form factor itself. I know that was the main selling point for me, even more than the fast heat up times.
I think it's great that the market has matured enough that we are getting specialized vapes. What's wrong with having a one hitter vape available? Not everyone will want one, but it will be the ideal portable vape for some.
I don't want every vape to become a homogenized product that is a jack of all trades and master of none. There's nothing wrong with specializing a vaporizer to a specific use case. Well-rounded vapes are great too, that's my point. Plenty of room in the marketplace for vapes of all types.
I guess the lesson is if you don't like the pen form factor don't buy a pen vaporizer. It will be interesting to see where HL goes next, I would love to see their heater tech in a plugin, and a larger, less stealthy portable could be amazing too. I'm thinking Crafty form factor.
btka
Well-Known Member
I am using a toothpic to em9ty my gh bowl... I do not want to scratch my "herbchamber".... so this problem should be easy to solve....
hippogriff
Well-Known Member
The Grasshopper is a powerful one-hitter and it's dead simple to use, too, and I'd put both those attributes ahead of form factor when talking stealth. Unless you have a pocket full of metal pens, the hopper is shiny and detailed and stands out, it draws the eye and has non-pen details. My clip isn't strong enough to reliably hold my hopper still or secure in a shirt pocket. The button is significantly larger than most pens, and most importantly, it's much farther above the clip than most pens - this means it stands out, and too high so while I can slip my hopper nicely into my jeans pocket, I can't bend or sit down w/o applying pressure to the button, I've accidentally turned it on getting into the car a couple times.
Also the button limits your single-handed options, especially if you like to turn heater off mid-draw. And it's a big metal <k-click!> twice per draw.
But relatively inconspicuous and you can pre-load and pre-set the dial to pull out, hit, and be done, so yeah stealthy that way.
No reason for the back end to heat up before the middle, all heat should start from heater. Whenever the back end heats up more or more quickly than the middle, that's unwanted resistance - kinda reminds me of a failing variable resistor, but I can't speak to what's happening in the hopper. This will likely lead to a future failure (and watch for shorter battery life) but, hey, as long as you're happy w/ the performance, might as well enjoy and hope future parts are more reliable.
I like the look of the hopper, but it's the heater tech that's the best part. Mass 3D printing a little metal block w/ a skinny, spiraling tube running through is an impressive accomplishment, and the power and performance are game changers. GH tech in Crafty form factor could mean all-day batteries, cooler vapor, and longer lasting flavor. And that could be the big version, I most want a palmable design w/ extended air path, like 3 1/2-hoppers parallel to each other, load-on-one-end-and-pull-from-the-other style. Or a plug-in that's not much bigger than a Lotus? Man, want GH to finish pre-orders, stock retail, and start on the next generation!
I admit, I have not touched, used or even seen a hopper in person yet so I am just going off pictures, videos and other members posts.
At a glancing pass, I think it might fool me if I had no idea what it was. I am pretty sure I could show it to my wife, child or strangers and they would assume it's a pen at arms length. Big and shiny, yes, but still a pen.
If only it could write with ink in 3 clicks.
jabba
Well-Known Member
By now you certainly have heard all of the pros/cons of the GH. If the use and form factor of this device appeal to you...I'd wait for the GH....because it really excels at ultra fast potent rips. If you have no need for a stealth pen instant heat vape that provides quick but hot/harsh hits....then perhaps you should get a refund. As my mother used to say, "honey...nobody is gonna make your mind up for you".
moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
Agreed! GH tech in both a super portable stealth form and a less portable session/group-friendly form would be a great arsenal.
First step is to actually have a Hopper V1 in my hands and have it work reliably.
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Rush520
Well-Known Member
I love the form factor, and what seems to be great extraction. The hot and harsh vapor has concerned me, and the FF2 has absolutely blown me away in that aspect.
My tolerance is through the roof at this point, and if the GH is truly a 1 hit wonder, I'm going to have to pack and repack at least once which will complicate things. I love great new tech toys to play with but I might give up for now. Would just hate to pay $400 for one down the line maybe someone I know will want this one from me. Thanks y'all.
I ordered mine in Aug, 2015 and still have a June 2016 ship date too.
Sent an update request to Caroline and received a response today.
"We will have an update out for everyone in regards to the shipping estimates shortly. It will explain our shipping progress and where we expect to be as we finish June and head into July. I will know more about your specific order once that update has been sent."
Hopefully I / we will be G-hopping SOONER than later
Sent an update request to Caroline and received a response today.
"We will have an update out for everyone in regards to the shipping estimates shortly. It will explain our shipping progress and where we expect to be as we finish June and head into July. I will know more about your specific order once that update has been sent."
Hopefully I / we will be G-hopping SOONER than later
Herbie Hancock
The 60 Second Assasin
I myself was a September 2015 order. After months of empty promises from this company I have finally decided to cancel the order. I can't reward this behavior anymore. Caroline is responsive however how many times can you tell someone the same thing. I imagine she is on auto pilot and doesn't actually realize the level of frustration.
I emailed them on June 2 saying I was excited and would like an update since it is June. The said everything looks good and on pace and my deadline will be met. I would be receiving an update. Then on the 20th still with no update I emailed again. Told the same story. Looking good, confident it will be in my hands, yada yada yada.... Another promised update that never came. Then I emailed again on the 28th asking for an update. They responded that they had some unforeseen issues and are not gonna make it. But if I continue to be patient they are confident it will be in my hands and I will be happy.
No thanks. Not interested anymore I'm a company that strings everyone along with broken promises.
I'm confident it would have been a Warranty fiasco anyway. Oh well.
They did issue a refund remarkably quickly.
I emailed them on June 2 saying I was excited and would like an update since it is June. The said everything looks good and on pace and my deadline will be met. I would be receiving an update. Then on the 20th still with no update I emailed again. Told the same story. Looking good, confident it will be in my hands, yada yada yada.... Another promised update that never came. Then I emailed again on the 28th asking for an update. They responded that they had some unforeseen issues and are not gonna make it. But if I continue to be patient they are confident it will be in my hands and I will be happy.
No thanks. Not interested anymore I'm a company that strings everyone along with broken promises.
I'm confident it would have been a Warranty fiasco anyway. Oh well.
They did issue a refund remarkably quickly.
SilentRunner
Well-Known Member
Rapidly blinking red/blue normal?
Hi, How many of you sometimes have blinking red/blue lights? My hopper started to to this last weekend. It is still usable because when I hit it the lights go blue and then the device works normally most of the time. When I just wait, the lights sometimes go red and sometimes go blue until the timeout switches it off. Is this the beginning of the end, a failing temperature sensor? I contacted Vaposhop but got no reply yet
Hi, How many of you sometimes have blinking red/blue lights? My hopper started to to this last weekend. It is still usable because when I hit it the lights go blue and then the device works normally most of the time. When I just wait, the lights sometimes go red and sometimes go blue until the timeout switches it off. Is this the beginning of the end, a failing temperature sensor? I contacted Vaposhop but got no reply yet
Vapor_Eyes
taste buds
It's not that it's a literal one hitter, you don't have to reload for each hit. It's just that the ideal usage is sneaking a hit or two (or three
) real quick like in public, which is how a lot of people use combustion one hitters.I prefer to use small loads, ~.04 grams and reload more so I can have the freshest flavor as often as possible. Even with these micro loads I get at least four hits per chamber. The size of the hits will depend on the quality of material.
It is possible to pack more if you prefer, there are just trade offs. Less flavor for more convenience. There are always trade offs, especially in vaporizing.
The Grasshopper is certainly not a perfect vaporizer. It is undeniably the best convection based pen style vaporizer because it is the first of its kind. For some of us that is exactly what we need, others have no need for such a vape, that is fine too.
I'm loving my hopper so far, and I've barely even had the chance to take it on any real adventures. I really feel it's best used as a true portable, away from home. It's works as a cordless around the house vape, but it's not the best in that department. This is the vape you can pull out almost anywhere and sneak a hit with a little discretion and common sense.
Crowded movie theater? Go to a bathroom stall, hit it a couple of times and exhale into a smoke buddy jr. It makes a click when it turns on? Who is going to notice that while they're going about their business, and even if they do, the last thing they would think is somebody is vaporizing cannabis in a pen.
For ultimate stealth in less friendly locations buy multiple leather sleeves and a couple cheap metal pens. Keep them all in your pocket with a small notebook with sketches or poetry or something. You think most cops would take each pen out of the sleeve and thoroughly inspect it? How are they even going to know you were using a vaporizer in the first place?
Of course it seems obvious to us because we know it's a vaporizer but most people would see a pen, and even observant people would likely see a slightly strange looking pen. They wouldn't just instinctively unscrew the mouthpiece and discover your cannabis.
Man, using the GH really makes me start to ramble, hopefully this makes sense in the morning.
Sky writting with the Hopper in full-on festival mode . . .
Blue Ti, recieved March 15th 2016, almost daily use - and still we ride, high on the happy side 
Such a killer form factor, with performance to match.
Sorry to see people are still waiting.
But sooooooon you'll be all Hopped up, writting your names in the sky . . . .
Bug Love!
Such a killer form factor, with performance to match.
Sorry to see people are still waiting.
But sooooooon you'll be all Hopped up, writting your names in the sky . . . .
Bug Love!
Got a reponse from vaposhop, they didn't received my return, it seems to be a prepaid return ticket problem but they could see i send it back as i should with tracking number. Seems someone else received it apperently, I should have contacted them earlier to sort this out.
If you have to send yours back, check after few days your tracking number and contact them if they don't, they are very reactive.
Anyway, they are sending me a new one today !
moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
I hate, hate, hate crowded theaters. I always time my cinema excursions for an off-time showing at the very end of a movie's run. For me, heaven is me and my vape being the only ones in the theater. Sometimes there will be maybe a half-dozen people in the theater, but everyone gives everyone else plenty of space. I just fire up my vape during the previews. The only problem with this is that once I'm vaped, the previews seem to go on forever.
From time-to-time I wonder if the clicking of the GH on/off button will be a problem in that setting, but I figure the soundtrack volume on those previews is always so loud, it shouldn't be a problem. If I get my hopper in time to check out a summer blockbuster, I'll let you know the result.