TLDR: Beta testing the new Ice Stem, 4.5 inches long, 10 glass beads. Really cools down the vapor and feels like a cigar because of its length and the pinch at the mouth.
Photos:
Album: https://postimg.cc/gallery/27eqz1uts/
Full Review:
When I first got it I heard something rattling in the package and got worried, I ripped it open and looked inside the mailer I was so surprised by the design. I was expecting it to one of the ice pinch style stems that had already been posted about.
But I totally got it right away, these beads are being used in other vape designs to retain heat (g43).
Here they are being used as heat-sinks to cool the air and disrupt airflow.
This design I am sure lends itself to being far easier and faster to make then other methods such as the ice pinch style divots.
IMO the design is a home run! I loved the length, it felt very natural in the hand like a cigar.
Did I mention that I never really use my E-nano with stems? After like the first week of having it once I got a GonG I went straight into vaporbonging which I absolutely love with the E-nano. So this stem was a really nice change of pace. But since I am so used to bongs; oh wow did I ever do such a giant first hit on accident. The vapor was really that cold that I didn't even notice.
It comes in just a bit short of 4.5 inches and has 10 beads in it. I think it might be interesting if there was a version totally filled with beads so it doesn't rattle as much. But IMO 10 beads did an excellent job cooling. The beads add a little bit of restriction on the pull which IMO was nice as well. If it was full of beads it might start to get heavy, or be harder to clean, or more restrictive. So I see the trade offs for sure. I absolutely love the pinch on the end that holds the beads in, it feels more natural (again like a cigar tip) then an open tube.
I wasn't expecting to have scooby snack issues but this is my first stem with the all glass screen so it was probably operator error because of grind size and I used the straw sucking method to load it.
Probably just something to keep in mind about the all glass screens and not this stem in particulars fault at all.
Thanks Nadia and Andy for this opportunity to test this thing out.
@nadia_epic @ACE OF VAPE