New member needs portable advice!

[NolaD]

Hello All.

Been coming here over the years to get advice and finally decided to join and post with some questions.

I have been a vape lover for some time and have had an SSV for a few years now. I love it, but I am ready to branch out into something much more portable. I often travel and need something that will be easier. I usually bring the SSV, but smell, size, setup, etc can be a problem. At home, I don't plan to use the portable for the most part. Price not really an issue, but money saved is more goods.

Anyway, in an attempt to keep things short, I want a pocket worthy portable that will allow me to take a few hits here and there throughout the day(maybe even on a light hike), with maybe a session at night. I usually leave the SSV on all day when I'm home and hit it here and there. I understand there are limitations that will not allow me to have the same experience in my pocket, but I need something smaller that still works, so I can leave the SSV at home for a week or more at a time.

I looked at the MFLB before I got the SSV, but just wasn't very impressed at the time. After reading through lots of threads on the Ascent(problems), Cera(price), Inhalator(problems), Solo(possibly too large), Sonic(no real reviews), Pax(too tedious), etc, I keep seeing too many problems and I would rather avoid them if possible. Which also brings me back to the MFLB for ease of use, portability, price. Ascent and Inhalator were my top choices, but really hard to overlook shoddy workmanship and major issues...

Am I missing any other notable pocket portables? Are some problems limited enough to still get one of them?

Found a MFLB for $79 at AllStarVape .com, but not sure it is most recent model or warrantied, but it seems very appealing at this point. Thanks in advance and I hope be around here more now.

mod note: This section is Vaporization Discussion- Vapor related but not model specific. Thread moved to Ask FC.

 

[SoulCaptivesAreFree]

welcome to the forum

the perfect portable doesn't exist yet i'm afraid, at some point you're going to have to compromise - you have to decide what are the most important factors of the performance of a vape for you and what are the least important...

my personal recommendation is to get a solo, it is well built and an allround, reliable work horse - kind of the gold standard in portables right now

if quick hits are a priority maybe have a look into the flashvape (it's pretty big though)

 

[chimpybits]

The Pinnacle Pro is a good candidate. More pocketable than the Solo. The PrPro is new - fc members are receiving first units - but it is based upon the successful Pinnacle and initial reports are good. Currently 20% off.

I assume you aren't interested in contemporary concentrates (waxes, butters, shatter, etc.) - such as a concentrates pen?

 

[hoptimum]

For pocketable one hitters, I like the MFLB and the Vapor Genie. Each has a bit of a learning curve, but nothing you can't figure out pretty quickly. As with most portables, the tradeoff will be the power supply: AA size batteries with the MFLB and a lighter with the VG. If you go for the MFLB make sure you get the glyph batteries, which perform much better than the original. And pick up some extras while youre at it. I have the VG classic and I like it a lot, but VG also has a couple of glass models that look very intriguing. If you have access to concentrates, your options become a little more extensive, though not necessarily better.

 

[stickstones]

I always end up using the Solo or PNPro

 

[NolaD]

Thanks for the replies already. Especially the suggestions I may have overlooked, PnPro, Solo..

In my research I have found that the perfect portable does not yet exist as well. and many threads made it clear as well

I strictly use dried flowers. No concentrates or oils. Also not really interested in butane heat sources. Those were some of the first vapes I used and while they work I am over lighters.

I may have to make some compromises (or buy more than 1). It would nice to have in a pocket but I do not have that now, so not really necessary I guess.

Thanks for posting stickstones. I was in the process of reading your review of the PnPro. I had only heard of it recently so was doing a little more research. Looks pretty promising so far.

Also, 20% off?

 

[Meghan]

I second the recommendation of a Pinnacle Pro (or a Solo, if you're not as concerned about pocketability). I owned a Pax for a couple months and sold it for a few reasons that aren't important to go into, and am so much happier with the Pinnacle Pro. The advantage of a Solo over the Pinnacle Pro is battery life and taste. The advantage of the Pinnacle Pro is stealth and portability. They are both equally low maintenance (the Solo is probably more low maintenance, but with its bullet system, the Pinnacle Pro isn't far behind). The Pinnacle Pro can be used while charging, which helps negate the battery life issue. Overall, neither is a bad choice.

With the 20% discount, I got my Pinnacle Pro for about $190. That's $30 more than you can buy the Solo. I love having both of them, honestly.

 

[vaporonly]

thermovape T1 makes a good portable at the 2nd hand prices you can get them at

 

[NolaD]

Thanks Meghan. I just got finished reading the whole pnpro thread and am really leaning towards it now.

Customer service seems top notch, I already have an ssv, so one that actually goes on a pocket would just be great. Not to mention the price. Solo is a close second, but maybe just a little too large. I am also not opposed to having more than 1 obviously . Just trying to get the most of my purchase for now. Really excited about taking it to my family cabin for thanksgiving.

I will post more in the pnpro thread. Thanks again for the help and FC is amazing!

 

[Outlaw Farmer]

Thanks Meghan. I just got finished reading the whole pnpro thread and am really leaning towards it now.

Customer service seems top notch, I already have an ssv, so one that actually goes on a pocket would just be great. Not to mention the price. Solo is a close second, but maybe just a little too large. I am also not opposed to having more than 1 obviously . Just trying to get the most of my purchase for now. Really excited about taking it to my family cabin for thanksgiving.

I will post more in the pnpro thread. Thanks again for the help and FC is amazing!

S'up.

I saw MFLB on ebay
$75 (choose extra battery option in drop box) Free Shipping. CLAIMS Full Warranty.
A walnut 1 w.battery option may be under $90. That aint bad.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Magic-Fligh...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item3a84ae0e40

Also I have the original Iolite (butane anyway) and we kinda hate on it for being so whispy weak.

Best O'luck.

 

[clouded vision]

If you haven't ever actually held the solo you should try to find one at a LHS so you can see the actual size. Most people seem to think it is bigger than it actually is and so did I until mine arrived. I never have any issues bringing mine with me when I go out fishing, I can easily fit my solo and a stem in a cigar tube in my pocket. The one issue I see with the solo (or really most smaller portables) is the ability to just take a hit or 2 at a time. The solo can do it but it will take a minute to heat up each time and you should get some high temp caps for the stems so you can cap a bowl in between hits. If that is your top priority though you would probably be better suited with the MFLB or the TV t1 or evo. Just remember that either of those may be smaller than the solo but you will also have to carry (and purchase) several sets of batteries to go with them in order to be able to use it all day

 

[NolaD]

I can certainly see why a lot of you have so many. My mind is just about decided on the PnPro and the water tool. I can also see myself getting a Solo in the future. I love the glass and bet it does taste good, but I feel like it is just not portable enough with the glass stem. My ultimate goal was to have something I could slip in my pocket, go on a hike, and really not have to worry. With the stem and size of the Solo, I just don't see that happening.

Solo seems like an amazing choice but I already have a desktop (SSV) and I can see they would just be competing. It is something I would probably just use around the house instead of outside of it.

Just to clarfiy, not really looking for a 'one-hitter', but more that I don't have to finish off a bowl every time it is turned on. both options have the ability to set temp, so I plan to start low and work my way up, in an attempt to get more than one session out of a bowl possibly.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

I've had as many as 3 (fully vaked) sessions off one bowl and I'm sure other members can get even more.
Capping the stems in between hits like clouded vision suggested works great.
And mine was also MUCH smaller than I expected.
Just get a tube for a straight stem and you're good to vape on-the-go.
The 1st thing I did after getting my Solo was take it on a trip outdoors.
It's portable enough for me. Cargo shorts work great.
I even use my Solo while cruising around on my bike once in a while.

 

[NolaD]

Thanks Hoof. Being able to remove the glass from the heat is a huge bonus, which is one thing I love about my SSV. Put the wand in and start hitting. I remove the wand a few seconds before I finish inhaling and can set it down for a little while. I see you have a DB, which is a close brother to the SSV, so I certainly appreciate your opinion. I imagine the taste is similar between the solo and DB because of similar construction. That is the one thing I am barely concerned with is that it won't taste as good as the ssv, but if it's medicating then i'm happy.

I can see that I will have both in the future, but will probably pop for the PnPro discount now. And with the relative cheap price of the MFLB, who knows

 

[hoptimum]

Hoof, have you found a good way to protect your Solo stem when out and about?

Nola, IMO, the taste from the Solo might be just a little better than the SSv due to the glass pathway rather than the whip, but both provide excellent flavor, which is a priority with me as well.

 

[clouded vision]

just use a cigar tube or if you are ordering something from PV get a travel tube. I have friendsthat smoke blunts still so the tube was free

 

[stickstones]

Get one of Ed's wooden stems for the Solo and you are good for any travel

 

[deadheadbill]

If you haven't ever actually held the solo you should try to find one at a LHS so you can see the actual size. Most people seem to think it is bigger than it actually is and so did I until mine arrived. I never have any issues bringing mine with me when I go out fishing, I can easily fit my solo and a stem in a cigar tube in my pocket. The one issue I see with the solo (or really most smaller portables) is the ability to just take a hit or 2 at a time. The solo can do it but it will take a minute to heat up each time and you should get some high temp caps for the stems so you can cap a bowl in between hits. If that is your top priority though you would probably be better suited with the MFLB or the TV t1 or evo. Just remember that either of those may be smaller than the solo but you will also have to carry (and purchase) several sets of batteries to go with them in order to be able to use it all day

So true. I actually bought a VB 2.0 thinking the Solo was too big, only to find that it is smaller than the VB 2.0. No offence to the VB, but I would def have bought a Solo had I known this.