Hey folks. Long time lurker, first time poster. After a lot of research, I purchased a Firewood 7 a couple of years ago, and it was my daily driver until the 8 was released - I picked one up in Group C or so. As soon as I got the 8, I transitioned to solely using it and only recently picked the 7 back up. And that's why I'm posting today.
In general I am a creature of habit - in most facets of my life I find a method that works best for me and stick to it.
I love the profile of the 7 - I prefer small, simple devices every time. During the years I used it daily, I was perfectly happy with it - I tend to take small, low temperature hits over the course of the night and stay just high enough to take the edge off, and it was great for that.
When the 8 arrived, I had a great attitude and was ready to try something new. The aesthetics of the device do not suit me as much, but I trusted Mark to have made improvements over the previous design and made an immediate, total switch. I don't have issues with the battery or capsule changes; intellectually I think they are both improvements over the 7. Specifically, I work in a position that has me regularly researching battery-related fires and explosions and navigating safety recalls, and I completely understand his wanting to remove some of the risk associated with inconsistent 18650s. And I really appreciate being able to thoughtlessly raise the temperature of the vape without charring the flower - the capsules are liberating in that way. Also, as a light, recreational user, I have the time to fuss over the device and enjoy the ritual of loading and swapping capsules, and I think he implemented the capsule set beautifully.
That said, I picked up my Firewood 7 again last week. I am not a collector of anything by nature and was wondering if I should sell it - I don't need two vaporizers, and I don't need to store a very nice, unused device. I fired it up and felt immediate fondness for its size and feel in my hand. I took my first hit and felt higher than I had in months. I followed it with a second a few minutes later, must have missed the buzz confirming I'd reached the intended temp, and charred the heck out of the flower - blech. Anyway, I stuck with it for a week and got back in the swing of it and really enjoyed using it. I realize it's not unregulated, but compared to the 8 it feels like I have more control over the experience, which I enjoy.
Last night during a snow storm I was a cold walk away from the 7 and picked up the 8 out of convenience for the first time in a week and remembered that it's nice to effortlessly rely on the device to get to the intended temperature and thoughtlessly take a hit or two. My experience with the 8 is that it's a great device that takes the (very mild) edge off of the 7. I'm still not sure I need or will regularly use two devices, and I expect to receive a Morwood Toad in the first half of 2023, so I may unload one of these Firewoods at some point.
Unquestionably I prefer the size, feel, and aesthetics of the 7. The 8 is a beautiful show piece and everyone I've shared it with loves it, and loves the details of the capsule set, etc. My experience is the battery packs for the 8 are more consistent (i.e., hold a better charge, longer) than naked 18650s, but replacing my 18650s would probably address that issue. In general I like the increased attention needed to use the 7, but effortless use makes the 8 better for sharing with new users.
I doubt this post contributes much to the conversation - I feel like I'm the most inexperienced and casual user here - but I wanted to chime in with my experience in case it helps anyone in the future. These forums have been so helpful, and I appreciate the work y'all put into them.
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