@Varden
Within the context of my use case (which was kind of implied by the thread we are in) it’s absolutely fair to compare them or really any devices. Sounds almost contradictory to say but comparing devices in a specific context isn’t the same as saying they’re generally comparable in specs or features, which seems to be what you have perceived from my comment. I like what you said about being able to split the pocket mass though, I’ve never considered that before.
The “why” of it being thirsty (the aforementioned power) is of absolutely no relevance to me if I can’t use it out and about without extra cells. I don’t need the extra heater power so the trade offs are simply negatives to me, rather than trade offs.
Another bit of extra context, is that personally I really dislike the routine of externally charging, storing and swapping cells.
USB-C charging and a strong battery life are a big deal for me - I’ll credit my tinymight experience to highlighting that and the need for conduction as a key factor in my next electric vape. It’s not suited for me and that’s just fine.
Anyway, back to the topic of this thread.
I went for the Solo 3, and man is it exactly what I was searching for in an electric portable. I’ve used it for a month or so now to make sure I’m not honeymooning before sharing my thoughts.
Honestly it’s ticked all the boxes for me. I’d say it sort of sits between the mighty and tinymight whilst avoiding a lot of the things I dislike about those devices, and doing the things I like even better.
It hits hard, has battery life that lasts me two/three days of heavy use, and it’s a very sturdy device that I’ve had no issue knocking around in my pockets. Seeing the comments about it not being particularly portable goes to show how subjective this stuff is - I wear standard chino trousers and it slots in the pockets just fine, along with the aroma tube and a small pot of material. Using it in public is no issue either, but I do have big hands which covers a lot of it admittedly.
Flavour is incredible too. Lower temps spread it out across the session, while higher temps give you a punchier flavour quicker. I’ll speak on this more shortly.
I currently use it mainly in session mode. I don’t notice myself getting any higher using on demand, and the roast isn’t as even. I’ll play around with it more though, there’s probably more performance I can get out of it yet.
People say this device has some convection but I think it’s very minor if there is any, although you can really feel the moment when the conduction heat punches through the glass and into the load because the vapour will start pumping out of nowhere. Again, I probably need to experiment more but I just can’t seem to get any vapour production that I’d confidently attribute to convection as of yet. Sometimes a loose pack and on demand level V seems to feel a little headier than my usual routine with it?
The roasty taste does tend to come in quickly at >200c. I like this, as the flavour is very clear and “front loaded” and then the higher temp conduction comes in thick and fast and clears the now flavour less bowl swiftly. If you go below 200c you can get quite a nice extended session with a more spread out flavour profile.
Clearing a bowl in >200c session mode isn’t really a whole lot slower than clearing a DV bowl in two heat cycles - there’s a lot of extraction power and performance here despite the relatively low wattage of the heater. It’s a really clever and efficient design that avoids the need for a high wattage heater and everything that comes with it.
A small negative is the stems and the learning curve in terms of packing them the right way. I have to grind and pack it just the right way otherwise it is extremely harsh on my throat when tight, or bits fall onto the heater if loose. I’m getting better at it but at first it seemed the balance between too tight and too loose was incredibly hard to strike. With time I think this will be a non issue but it bares mentioning for those with sensitive airways.
I think this device would be really good for a combustion convert because the thickness and warmth of the vapour and the throat hit is very reminiscent of those days for me. The effects are heavy as well. I feel very satisfied after a bowl in the solo 3 whereas with the convection devices I’ve used I feel like I’m chasing a feeling and never quite catching it. Subjective I know, but worth mentioning for those who feel the same as me.