OK, I just saw your response in this thread, and I’m really hoping it’ll help me out. Bear with me and perhaps I can get more advice or detail from you.
I just received a brand new Solo III v2.0 today and ran my first two stems: I am incredibly underwhelmed. The flavor was middling for the first two hits on each, but nowhere near as good as I’d hoped for from all the hype, and pretty much gone soon thereafter. (These are strains I know in other devices, from the exact same single-gram purchase.) I expected the flavor to be very good, if not stellar, and that was a bit of a disappointment.
But I also loaded a LOT of herb in those two stems, as much as I would normally vape over the course of two long sessions in a day, lasting me 4-5 hours total, and leaving me high as a kite for hours after each session. Here I got about 5 minutes of rushed vaping on each stem, and a half hour later I’m still not noticeably high! I thought that I would be blown away by the power of the thing, especially with so much product. That was essentially the trade-off I thought I was making, a bit less flavor in exchange for the “huge clouds”/fast-extraction rocket ride that so many people seek. (I am usually more of a long-term sipper/flavor-chaser.) But I am sitting here thinking I need to strike up another vape to even feel high.
I am hoping, in my dismay and despair, that your hints might help me salvage the device and the experience. In particular, since you have experience with the E-Nano (my usual daily driver is an OG), you may be able to make helpful comparisons (you see now how fated your post seemed to me!).
- I will significantly reduce the load; I ordered some backspacers that will arrive separately soon, so perhaps I will wait for those to help.
- I had used Session Mode in my first two forays, and did not especially draw hard … but I will try to taper it back even more.
- I went with 180° C for the first stem, and 165° C for the second. I will try maybe 150 once the backspacers arrive—does that seem low enough?
I suppose it may also just be the difference in quality between my usual vapes and these digital, battery-powered, commercial portables. This is only my second such vape, and I’m beginning to think I’m just spoiled by my others and didn’t realize what a big gap there was. My usuals are the E-Nano OG, a Phase3 ZX/ZB, a Lotus, a Vapman, and a Milaana. (I also have an MFLB and a Sticky Brick Jr. that I wouldn’t especially tout for flavor.)
For my purposes, mainly looking to prolong excellent flavor, the E-Nano really shines. The Phase3 has nearly as good flavor, but hits more like a truck than the extended kisses and caresses of the Nano. The Lotus sometimes exceeds even the Nano in flavor on the first hit, but is not as consistent or long-lasting, and usually likes some rest between hits. The Vapman’s flavor is not as clear or bright, more raw and conduction-y, but still good, interesting/different, and it’s a great ritual.
The Solo is not tasting that great (and certainly not for long—such short sessions!). But then to not even give me any effects, and with such big loads of known-to-be-good flower … well, I am just stunned. Maybe I am just having one of those rare off nights—but that usually only happens to me maybe 1-3 times a year out of daily+ sessions.
Well, thanks for reading my long, sad “rant”. Does my experience jibe with yours? Is there something I’m obviously doing wrong, or something else I should try? I will report back here once I’ve tried lighter pulls at 150° C, with smaller loads and some backspacers.
