LOBO REVIEW: I have been using the Lobo as my only vape for over a week. The review will include the following sections:
1. Unboxing, First Cleaning and Stress Test / Burn Off
2. First Use Testing
I’m happy to report that the Lobo is the real deal. Simple yet effective to use, hits hard, taste isn’t muted till a few hits in, good battery life, doesn’t/won't combust, heat displacement even when I did back-to-back 430F burn-offs was pretty good and a larger than average bowl size.
These types of reviews are subjective as the herb and personal technique do affect the outcomes. Note: The herb used for testing was a decently cured/sticky 8th of Hazelnut Cream, 24% THC, .05% CBD, 2.26% TERPS and my inhalation time per draw ranges from a minimum of 15 seconds on up.
I referenced the following as a starting point. Well written and worth a read:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0209/9072/files/potv-lobo-user-manual.pdf?v=1693349867
https://www.planetofthevapes.com/blogs/blog/potv-lobo-cleaning-maintenance-guide
1. Unboxing, First Cleaning and Stress Test / Burn-Off
Unboxing: The Lobo packaging was good and the accessories included were decent. Pretty standard stuff for most respectable vapes these days. The cleaning brush has an upscale look to it and is perfect for the Lobo’s slightly larger bowl but the bristles are a little too stiff to use comfortably with smaller diameter openings.
Please note that the smaller dimpled stem is included in the retail package but the others in the picture are not.
First Cleaning:
I do more than most would deem necessary with the first cleaning of a new vape. I wipe down some areas not in the vapor path if they are close to the vapor path. If there are any taste or smell issues during the burn-offs I know it’s not coming from the areas I could reach during the first cleaning.
Standard Cleaning Steps (See link provided above for details):
- Soak the screen and any dirty stems
-Wipe down the oven
-Rinse and dry the screen and glass stems
- Reassemble and run a burn-off
Areas I added for the first cleaning:
Used ISO and a cotton washcloth to wipe some additional areas and then used another slightly damp washcloth with water to wipe off the ISO:
- The inside of the mouthpiece, (Where the glass is inserted).
- The top and bottom of the mouthpiece.
- Inside areas of base unit near the oven.
- The gasket on the inside of the mouthpiece, (Around screen).
- Wipe dry and air dry as needed.
Stress Test / Burn-Off:
For each burn-off the session timer was set to the 6 minute max with a temp of 430F. During the 6 minute burn-off I constantly cigar puffed/mouth-pumped without inhaling using the small stem. Some burn-offs were done back to back to test heat displacement. I do all this to force the oven to constantly react to outside cooling while it tries to maintain the max temp. I do the burn-offs until the battery is so low the unit turns itself off. My aim is to smell and taste “things”, to gauge the least amount of time I can expect the unit to run on a full charge and to see how hot the unit can get.
RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS:
- Completed 8 burn-offs before the Lobo turned itself off for a total of 48 minutes.
- There was no off-gassing visible nor was there any smell or taste issues.
This was probably one of the cleanest vapes I’ve ever experienced.
- The outside of the Lobo got warm but not hot.
- The small stem never got too hot to use under normal positioning but…...
- When running back to back burn-offs the very bottom of the small stem, where it makes contact with the mouthpiece hole, got hot. Not a concern since nobody would use it that way and nobody would mouth-pump an empty bowl constantly at 430F for 6 to 12 minutes straight when used normally.
- For the first 5 burn-offs the Lobo was able to reach 430F at just over 40 seconds. By the 8th and final burn-off it took 60 seconds to reach 430F. Testing to see how the unit vapes at lower battery levels is done in the “First Use” section of the review.
2. First Use Testing
The POTV recommendation for users new to vaping was to start at 390F so I’ve used that temp for this part of the review and only step up to 430F when 390F stops producing. This part of the review was done after fully charging the Lobo and each new bowl was filled loosely without packing or tamping. I used the bulb stem and found that the small dimpled stem is more free flowing than the bulb stem and the water adapter. Please note that taste and vapor density are affected by the herb used, draw technique, fill method and temps used.
RESULTS and OBSERVATIONS:
- Got through 4.5 bowls and 34 hits before battery shut down.
- I got a decent hit on a new fill right after reaching temp. No wait!
- Each new fill in a new session was consistent in that the first hit was decent and tasty but the first couple hits that came after were cloudier.
- After about 3-4 hits the taste becomes muted like most vapes.
- The power slips once the battery bars are down to 1 or 0 but you can still get a decent hit by slowing down your draw. I was pleasantly surprised when the bars went to zero and it still produced for a couple minutes before shutting down.
- The ABV in the picture is exactly how I want all my AVB to look. Slightly charred with no ash present. I tried to make the Lobo combust and this is the result.
Overall Summary:
I just found my new out-and-about dry herb daily driver thanks to the Lobo’s battery life, vapor production and larger bowl. Pretty sure I can get through a day on 34 hits. It has definitely made it into my home-based daily line up too but I’m not ready to ask my other home based daily drivers to move down just yet. The Lobo’s pocket-ability, specs and performance are what allowed it to take over the vapes meeting my outside needs but I recognize I’m in the honeymoon period when it comes to at-home vapes. I’ll post up another review once the honeymoon is over.
