I bought this from PIU as a "bridge vape” to get me through the summer while I wait for the Grasshoppers to ship. Thanks to
@CarolKing for the heads up. This is the “ceramic” model with the copper ring. PIU service was great as others have described. For me, during the summer, I want something pocketable that I can carry with me on vacations with extended family without attracting attention (looking like an e-cig doesn’t help here). I also want something I can take into festivals, etc, and carry around with me all day. I’ve used the Imag+ for a few days now, still on the first charge after ~5 reloads, but here are my impressions so far:
Like:
- Very easy/fast to use, operate, clean, and re-load.
- Feels comfortable in hand when using, easy to carry around the house
- Fast 30-second startup contributes to short sessions, which is great on-the-go
- Convenient micro-USB charging with what should be all-day battery life in most situations
- Great value for the price
- Good for travel when transported in bag or backpack
- Looks like a fat e-cig (good in certain situations)
Neutral
- Performance respectable for a conduction vape. Reminds me of the original Pax on a good day. Vapor is warm, never too warm, in some ways this brings out more flavor. Efficiency not bad, not great. Works with different load sizes. Does the job.
Don’t Like
- Mouthpiece gets noticeably warm / hot by the end of 3 minute cycle. Nothing terrible though.
- This thing feels a little too big and bulky to be stealthy in all situations. A little too big to be easily pocketable…likely too big to “crotch” past security. (“is that an imag+ in your pocket, or…?”)
Comments:
For the price this thing is great. Its easy to use and just works. My other recent vapes are the Solo, Ascent, and occasionally the Mighty. I don’t think the imag+ outperforms any of these from an overall vapor quality standpoint, but its still perfectly serviceable. On pure ease-of-use, the Imag+ might just beat them all. For all but the most serious vaporizer snobs, this could be a great daily driver.
In terms of the mouthpiece, it does feel fragile compared to the rest of the Imag+. I still worry that it could come off in a jeans pocket if I am carrying around all day, but I haven’t tested it enough to know. That little metal perforated screen on the mouthpiece does tend to get clogged with loose ABV a lot, but I brush it off after each bowl and its fine. I think that screen is there in part to restrict draw so you don’t pull too hard, so I am staying with it for now.
@OF suggested “seems to me its a good candidate for a loaner to newbies?” and I think this sums it up well. I don't mean that in a condescending way. This is a good vape that I would strongly recommend for someone who doesn’t want to spend $200+. Once I get my GH, I am thinking of giving this imag+ to a medical patient I know who is still combusting. That said, for the price I might still buy a second Imag+ just to have in a pinch.
I’m really hoping the Grasshopper lives up to its promise, and when I get my GH I will certainly compare it to the Imag+. A lot of the Imag+ strengths are what I am hoping to get from the GH. But the Imag+ is a great example of what happens when you design a pen vape with a standard battery size…you end up with a really thick-looking pen vape. I can certainly understand why the GH folks went with a custom battery now. Based on the early GH reviews, I am also expecting vapor performance on the GH to be like night and day compared with the Imag+. But we shall see. For now I am enjoying my time with the Imag+.
I was wrong about PIU.
