Portable Vape Advice Please

[OhBizzle]

Hey guys! My first post here, i'm pretty excited to hear your feedback, from what i've read and trolling around the forum, you guys are the experts.

I just recently sold Bilbo the Bong and Mr. Volcano to take a break from the herb. Since then i've used the funds to buy a car, and i'm about to get a job. Soon I want to get back to consuming, but not everyday like I used to, more of a weekend thing. I figured why force myself to consume alcohol recreationally when I hate the after-effects and herb is much healthier.

One of the main reasons I took my break was health reasons, I smoke hookah too, which i'm taking a break from and after primarily smoking instead of vaporizing (Bought the volcano used, always seemed to have a leak Oh well its not mine any longer) my lungs had taken some wear. I plan on finding an e-cig to replace the hookah, I don't even like the nicotine just the act of smoking, hopefully one to match the clouds of my Khalil Mammon, but I assume thats for a different place.

With all that said i'm here to ask for a vaporizer recommendation. It'll mainly be used at home, but I want something portable, when i'm sitting around a table with all my friends it'd be a pain to have to go over a turn on the vape, and since i've already had a volcano I don't think any other stationary vape would match that. I won't be a daily user anymore, or at least I don't plan to, because of this I know my tolerance is going to be lower. This means i'll be using less to get high, I want a vape that I can either pack a little in and get great hits, or pack a full pack and have it shut off till i'm ready to consume more later without wasting my pack.

From my research i've found three primary candidates. The Pax (I love the look of this guy, my favorite by far), The Arizer Solo (Somethings deterring me from this guy, not sure what), and finally the Da Vinci Ascent (I know its not out yet, but I can wait within a month, i'm only planning on buying one vape, at least for this year. I also know no one here has used it, but it seems like we know the majority of the design and you guys are experts so i'll take the advice lightly but i'd appreciate your thoughts and predictions). What do you guys recommend? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks for your time guys!

 

[Stu]

The units you listed will "waste your pack" when on, but not being consumed as they all have conduction at play. The MFLB is a great personal unit that only heats when you're hitting it, so you can easily stretch out a session over long periods. Add the PA (power adapter) and it becomes more of a desktop unit. It is not much of a group vape, though as it's more suited for personal use IME.

 

[OhBizzle]

Maybe with my new lower tolerance it'll be better but every time I've used the MFLB I really haven't gotten to the level I like. What your saying makes sense though! Is there any other vapes that only heat on hit?

 

[Stu]

Maybe with my new lower tolerance it'll be better but every time I've used the MFLB I really haven't gotten to the level I like. What your saying makes sense though! Is there any other vapes that only heat on hit?

FlashVape, MiniVap and Cera LL are the only battery powered vapes that come to mind. Of course if you don't mind flame-powered vapes there are a lot of good options available these days.

 

[Puffers]

Maybe with my new lower tolerance it'll be better but every time I've used the MFLB I really haven't gotten to the level I like. What your saying makes sense though! Is there any other vapes that only heat on hit?

You want a convection portable (cera and pinnacle come to mind first) or on demand conduction (flashvape comes to mind first it's like a MFLB on steroids).

As for nothing matching the plug in performance of a volcano I disagree. A bag vape is my least favorite way to vape. The taste and particularly the vapor density leave much to be desired compared to say an SSV, UD, HI, HA, E-Nano, etc plus they go great with water tools and giving dense vapor that most closely replicate the smoking experience it sounds like you desire

Edit: sniped by stu w/ portable options

 

[max]

I don't think any other stationary vape would match that.

If you don't think there are numerous AC models that many people consider more enjoyable to use than inhaling a bland bag of vapor (where you can never get that first, initial good taste since it's all blended together), you should hang out here a while. Bags are boring IMO and I'm far from alone in that opinion.

You might find passing around some portables (most have a limited bowl size) more trouble than it's worth. You arrive at the 'ABV taste' stage quicker and will hear a lot of 'I'm not getting any vapor'. I haven't tried it I hear the Flashvape holds quite a bit, and it's definitely a quality model. The Pax and Ascent are pocket portables and their size/design is aimed at stealth vaping on the go, so don't expect home vape qualities and convenience. The Solo is a proven performer and half home- half portable. There's a reason it's very popular.

 

[OhBizzle]

I stand mistaken with the Volcano, I really wasn't a big fan of it now that I think back.

Now you guys have me considering at home vaporizers too!

 

[max]

I stand mistaken with the Volcano, I really wasn't a big fan of it now that I think back.

Now you guys have me considering at home vaporizers too!

These days vapes are like buying transportation- many good choices and you should start with how you intend to use. Don't buy a truck if you're not gonna haul anything, and don't buy a little sports car if ride quality is a priority.

 

[bluemonkey]

Like you said those three do all have the problem of continuously cooking you load,
i have a MFLB, and it is for this reason i love it, one trench can last a long time due to the instant heat up, furthermore it effects how i use it as I'm more likely to just let it chill if i know it's not heating or wasting battery,

However if flavor is high on your list
i know the solo and the pax produce tasty vapor
but i know the solo retains the flavor for longer

Also the solo's stems can be removed during a session, they come in various sizes, and it can handle under filled bowls with no detrimental effect. whereas i find the pax only performs well when fully packed

i mostly use the shorty turbo PVHES stem which has a 30% smaller bowl,

now the ascent is supposed to be a mostly convection vape so it should be better but as a portable vape is small your always going to limited in how far you can keep the heat source from the load, and we saw in the video the amount of vape cooking off (though this was mint i think)

back to the solo, if i don't want to finish a load, and I'm on say setting 6, i will turn to 5 draw, wait for the heat to kick in, drop to 4, continue to draw, wait for light etc, till the load is cool and the solo is off, zero wastage

 

[OhBizzle]

These days vapes are like buying transportation- many good choices and you should start with how you intend to use. Don't buy a truck if you're not gonna haul anything, and don't buy a little sports car if ride quality is a priority.

I've been a daily user up until my recent break for 3 years, and used for years before that as well. Over summer time with no school work load I can see myself using daily again. I really just hate cheaping out when I do things, now I understand that there is no "best" vaporizer and i'm willing to make an investment up to $300. I just want to make the right investment.

 

[max]

This is the place to find the vape that'll suit you. Just narrow down your candidates and read up in the Portable and Plug-in forums.

 

[Bon Dog]

now I understand that there is no "best" vaporizer and i'm willing to make an investment up to $300. I just want to make the right investment.

Well... there are quite a few people around here that would disagree. Check out the cloud thread and the utube channel of stonemonkey55 (I think that's the right ytc)

 

[max]

Well... there are quite a few people around here that would disagree. Check out the cloud thread and the utube channel of stonemonkey55 (I think that's the right ytc)

Well, if the Cloud's features don't suit your wants or needs, it certainly isn't the best vaporizer. For example, if your lungs aren't up to taking big hits, a Cloud would be high on the list of the vapes you'd eliminate first. For that person a model with a restricted draw would be a much better choice. There is no 'one size fits all'.

 

[VaporEyes]

I suggest the Vapro. It has a small load size, heats up in about ~3min, is highly portable, and delivers satisfyingly tasty hits(very smooth too).

http://vapro.us/

 

[Nbajunkie]

I would suggest the minivap if you can look past the500 pricepoint. There isnt another vape that rivals a desktop unit other than minivap. Extraction is so smooth and the vape doesnt cook your load if your not inhaling. Heat up time 5 minutes but it will medicate you in a fraction of the time,especially if your a light user. Ive found it to be fool proof when introducing it to my friends.Its just too easy to use and Its my daily driver.Replacing my underdog, thats quite a feat.Considering the great taste and low herb consumption i got with the dog.But mv trumps that with tastier thick consistent SMOOTH vapor and no irritation for as long as i can pull.
The ascent looks cool but Im afraid off too much conduction and smells going on because of the wide range of temps it can produce, of course thats just speculation...

 

[smoke blunts]

you might also want to consider the Inhalater XP; it is a great portable vape, and the heat is applied to the herb when you draw, and very little conduction occurs, which will conserve your pack. It also produces enormous amounts of vapor, and is especially useful when drawn through a water piece. It also has a gradient temperature control, meaning it can be set at any temp between its low and high temps with the temp knob on the bottom. take a look at some of the videos from the thread here to see how it works and if it would be a good vape for you. Of all the portables I've seen, this one produces the most/thickest vapor from each puff, but with it being a new product, the first ones out had some issues, which have since been resolved by the manufacturer. The only downside now is the wait to recieve one, due to a recent lack in an important component of the vaporizer, causing a halt in production until later in April.

 

[Shmoo]

i know the solo and the pax produce tasty vapor

I don't know, I've heard a lot of members say that the taste isn't too good.

But as far as portable vapes go I was in a similar position as you for the last few months, OhBizzle. At first I had to decide whether or not I wanted a heat on demand vape or continuous heat vape (I don't know the technical terms), and decided to go with continuous because there's not much technique when using them. I'm used to the VaporGenie, which I love, but I wanted a vape I wouldn't really need to think about while using. I then narrowed my choices down the Inhalater XP, Pinnacle, and Ascent. The XP looked great, but there have been so many problems with it that I decided to stay away. The Ascent is still a good option, but when I read all the reviews of the Pinnacle I knew it was the vape I wanted. For $265 (20% coupon at GotVape good until 4/20) you get the vape and the hydrotube. I was going to buy a glass piece to go along with my new vape, but now I really don't have to. When I'm at home I'll be able to use the vape with the hydrotube, and when I'm out and about I'll just use it by itself.
Check out this review for more info and a demo:

 

[Pierce]

Go for the solo. You can load the stem
And always pull it out after a few hits to save for later without cooking the herb like you would with the Pax. Pax is also way over priced, high cleaning maintence, and has a lot of issues.

Go for the solo and you wont look back
$160 on PV! And u get bonus items just ask for em!