Next Steps w/ my VAS Journey

[Flotsam]

So recently i read the post about Vape Acquisition Syndrome or VAS. I read that thread with interest as I'm relatively new to Vaping buying my first vape last May. I vaped only once prior to that back in March and it was a cart and I hated that being way too harsh. So from all the research i did i bought a PAX Pro from their 420 sale. I broke the ice. i get sense that PAX not super popular here.

It was nice, but vaping was so much milder than i expected and to be honest i could more easily detect minute differences in taste smoking cannabis rather than vaping it. Everything was more of a pine taste & can't really make distinctions yet. I could catch a buzz but not really get truly stoned. Its a bit more preparation to vape than just throwing some weed in my bong. The high is also so much gradual than doing hits on my bong. I tried some concentrates in the special PAX chamber and that worked but is really messy. What i was really feeling was that there had to be better. I had bought a cheap quartz nail but my torch was weak so that was not successful either. Obviously got a lot to learn.

This was all a new experience for me as i had smoked weed back in college a lot! But without being in legal state or having a friend to help me acquire a plug i hadn't really touched any weed in like 35 years. Quite a tolerance break! That all changed last year when my state went to legal cannabis. Upon my first puff all those feelings i had 35 years smoking came back to me. I had really enjoyed smoking & almost right away made myself a bong out of a Mason Jar.

So i somehow stumbled on this web site and found it to be a wealth of information and opinions. So overwhelming. So I'm kind of planning some purchases based on what my preferences are. I can easy see why VAS is so easy to fall into. My first step was to buy something better for my concentrates. After reading a bunch of reviews and videos i got a Boundless Terp Pen Supreme. It seems like a big improvement over the PAX Pro for the concentrates in terms of ease of use and a nice high. Its a nice ritual to get that thing prepared.

So I've kind of decided i want to pretty much stop smoking and vape almost exclusively. Mostly because i don't think the smoking even out of the bong is not the best for me. I have come to savor the sweet taste of vaping but still want it to be better. So i kind of laid out my next purchases and curious about what suggestions and comments i get from everyone.

1. I think i will start with my Nail & getting that to work properly . Maybe not the greatest but for now i want to get a real torch. Best recommendation for a torch lets say $30 or less?

2. Ultimately i think i want a Terpsicle or similar device. Is this trickier to use than a Dynavap for example? I am fascinated by this but realize it will probably be something that will only get sporadic use, But i want one!

3. The PAX is used almost exclusively for Dry Herb now but i think I want an upgrade. I am leaning towards getting a POTV Lobo. It seems like it has the feature set that would be ideal for me (replaceable battery, large chamber, dosing capsules) . I do want something that is widely available. Good choice? Other suggestions?
I understand the Lobo has dosing capsules which would be ideal for me. My one issue for me that seems would be great with the Lobo is that I could keep different strains (eg. hybrid, sativa & indica in diff dosing capsules) . Now if my PAX has a bright Sativa i don't want to do that if its right before bed i could pull the capsule in the Lobo and put something else in there. Dosing capsules would be good for that i would think. I guess for some people an extra vape would work here too! (more VAS)

4. I still like doing concentrates and i think i will eventually want an upgrade there as well to the Terp Pen I am thinking the best path might be an E-Rig. From what i've read its Puffco Peak Pro that owns the market here or maybe Carta V. But being the consummate DIYer something like Core Crossing 2.2 might be a better roll your own solution which i like. Never having used one i have no clue whether this is the way to go.


None of what i mentioned in this thread is happening within the next month so this is all VAS daydreaming, but gives me an idea of what i might do. But i quickly can see how this can get out of hand and why VAS is so prevalent. Love to hear more experienced users comment. Thanks everyone!

 

[lp10731]

I have the lobo and i love it - I also went through about 4 other mid-tier vapes starting with the often recommended arizer solo 2 (pass on that).

Pax is usually poo-pooed (they are owned by Juul) for the high price and lackluster performance.

Tinymight 2, Venty, and Mighty+ are the "top-tier" vapes but also $$$$.

For the price, the lobo takes the cake. I have not found a need to upgrade to the higher priced devices. But maybe check out their guide to see what features you'd prioritize.

 

[Flotsam]

I have the lobo and i love it - I also went through about 4 other mid-tier vapes starting with the often recommended arizer solo 2 (pass on that).

Pax is usually poo-pooed (they are owned by Juul) for the high price and lackluster performance.

Tinymight 2, Venty, and Mighty+ are the "top-tier" vapes but also $$$$.

For the price, the lobo takes the cake. I have not found a need to upgrade to the higher priced devices. But maybe check out their guide to see what features you'd prioritize.

I was going to ask if you have you had used your Lobo much with concentrates? I was also going to ask if you've used the dosing capsules and if you were much of a fan? Maybe its wishful thinking on my part but i think Lobo might be an improvement over my PAX.

My gripe with the PAX is that you get maybe 2 or 3 really good draws w the flower and then is just becomes mediocre. Maybe i'm just not a fan of the inconsistency + there are always other stuff to try!! i guess that is why VAS exists in the first place.

I think yesterday was the release of the new Puffco Pivot , a true dab pen but around $130 that looks interesting. I believe at that price it has the only 3d type chamber.

 

[pop22]

I'm not a fan of PAX either, but seeing you have one, keep it for on the go for now. then either the Solo 3 or the Max Air for at home, with the air also great for on the go. But if you want bong hit vapor, the S3 is the vape to have, it's the most powerful battery vape you can get IMO. And use it with a bong! MUCH better for you than smoking or even dabs. Dabbing is not much better than smoking, the temperatures achieved with a hot nail is causing some combustion and creating toxins like formaldehyde etc.

 

[vapviking]

An off-had comment or two.
Have you tried vaping-only, no combustion, for any extended period? That can help with appreciating the vape high. Combustion, aside from particlates, involves inhaling carbon monoxide, and at the same time, there's some oxygen deprivation. These are felt as part of the combustion high, not really the cannabis high, if this makes sense?

And, I think that for concentrates, a concentrate device will be much better than a dry herb vape that can double as a concentrate device.

Consider staying with Rosin (solvent-less process) for your concentrates.

 

[borbjorbis]

My gripe with the PAX is that you get maybe 2 or 3 really good draws w the flower and then is just becomes mediocre. Maybe i'm just not a fan of the inconsistency + there are always other stuff to try!! i guess that is why VAS exists in the first place.

I also started with the Pax long ago. While I still have a real fondness for it even after trying so many bigger and better vapes, what you're describing here was also one of the main issues I had with it. I also always felt like I was wasting weed if I didn't finish the Pax chamber in one session. The Pax bowl actually holds considerably more material than most portable vapes.

From the way you describe your ideal usage of dosing capsules, it sounds to me like you're spreading your Pax chamber across multiple sessions. I'm assuming this since you describe a hypothetical scenario where your Pax is already packed with a sativa strain, and you want something a little more sedative. The flexibility your envisioning is definitely doable with dosing capsules, but you can also get it with an on-demand vape or just a vape with a smaller bowl.

If you aren't familiar yet with the on-demand vs. session distinction, you can think of it like bong / pipe / one-hitter vs. joint. With a bong or a pipe or a one-hitter, you pack the weed and light it only when you go to take a hit. With a joint, once you light it, it stays lit, and it's better suited to finishing the whole joint in one sitting. You can put out a joint and save it for later, but you're wasting material, and the flavor and overall experience will be much worse when you come back to it later.

I definitely would recommend a Dynavap, which is both on-demand and has a small chamber. Even though it's not my favorite anymore as I've descended deep into the hobby and my preferences have developped, I really think it's a perfect vape for what it is. It's super flexible and fun to use, and it really does produce a very unique and satisfying vapor experience. I've gotten clouds from the Dynavap with as little as 0.005 g, and you can stuff up to 0.1 g, meaning you can really control your dosage. And since the chamber is so small, you can take one flavorful big hit, then empty the bowl and load more. This means that every draw is as good as that first 2 or 3 from the Pax, and this also means you can easily switch between different strains without feeling like you're wasting any material. It's a fantastic starting point for any budding vaporist, and a staple of most seasoned vaporists' rotations.

The Lobo is also definitely a great choice, and for most people it's all they'll ever need. It has a smaller bowl than the Pax, and the dosing caps work like a charm. I do think the flavor is a little lackluster, however. Personally I think the first few hits off the Pax taste better than the Lobo, although the flavor lasts longer overall in the Lobo. Note that the Lobo is still a session vape, which means it's better suited to finishing the bowl in one sitting, rather than letting herb rest inside of it and hitting as you go.

You could also look into something like the Cannabis Hardware Pax Pusher, which is a 3rd party accessory for the Pax that allows you to reduce the size of the Pax bowl greatly, essentially turning it into an on-demand / session hybrid. This way, after those 2 or 3 tasty draws, you can just empty it out and pack some more herb in order to replenish the flavor. Personally this is the only way I use the Pax anymore.

 

[Flotsam]

borbjorbis your observations are spot on. I ended up getting a Puffco Pivot and i like that a lot as it seems very consistent with its performance. To VapUser i have been trying to do entirely vape days & now doing a bong hit sort of hurts the throat.​