Solo 3 vs Venty for someone with asthma & GERD?

[Finessseee]

Hey guys, I’m back after a long hiatus. Hope life has been treating ya’ll well! — looking for advice from anyone who’s tried both the Solo 3 and Venty. I have mild asthma and GERD, so I’m trying to be mindful of airflow and irritation, but I also want to get as high as possible without diving into ball vape territory.

I mainly smoke joints lately, but want to switch back to dry herb vaping. Here’s where I’m at:

• I’d probably only use the Solo 3 through a water pipe (to help with smoothness), while the Venty would likely be used dry due to its open airflow.

• It seems like the Solo 3 gets darker ABV, which I like since I’m not planning to reuse it (don’t care about edibles or AVB bowls).

• But I’ve heard the Solo 3’s draw is like sucking through a milkshake straw—concerned this could aggravate my asthma/GERD since it might force me to inhale harder or longer.

• The Venty’s open draw seems better for my lungs, but I’ve read the ABV isn’t fully spent unless you stir or do multiple draws, and I’m not looking to mess around too much between hits.

If anyone has experience with both, which one do you think is better in my case?

 

[biohacker]

Venty hands down

 

[chillAtGVC]

I have had both for almost a year now.

Neither one of them are like sucking up a milkshake. The Venty is wide open, the Solo 3 slightly less so. I have pretty sensitive lungs and I can hit the Solo 3 at 200C with the standard straight stem with no discomfort. Well, provided that I don't get greedy and inhale too much.

Though water (or better, through a dry piece for more flavour) I don't think you will have any problem. The water pipe, wet or dry, will add more restriction than the Solo. The Arizer stems with the holes in the glass "filter" have more draw restriction than the hi-flow stems from Sneaky Pete. I highly, highly recommend the high flow stems for you. Putting a metal filter in the Arizer stems help improve the flow but not nearly as much as the high flow stems.

"ABV isn’t fully spent unless you stir or do multiple draws". You are going to have to do multiple draws with either of these. Neither is going to be close to cashing the bowl in a draw or two. The Solo can get the weed darker at the same temperature, I am not sure why. I suspect that the glass stem gets hotter than the Venty oven at the end and this conduction heating is what makes the ABV darker. It may also be a difference in how each measures the temperature. The Solo also gets 10C hotter (IIRC) but above 200C is where my lungs start to grumble so I never max out either device. I never stir either vape, they don't need it.

Both vapes are tasty with good weed, but the Solo 3 is better for taste hands down.

You won't go wrong with either, but if I had to pick one, I'd pick the Solo 3.

 

[Finessseee]

I have had both for almost a year now.

Neither one of them are like sucking up a milkshake. The Venty is wide open, the Solo 3 slightly less so. I have pretty sensitive lungs and I can hit the Solo 3 at 200C with the standard straight stem with no discomfort. Well, provided that I don't get greedy and inhale too much.

Though water (or better, through a dry piece for more flavour) I don't think you will have any problem. The water pipe, wet or dry, will add more restriction than the Solo. The Arizer stems with the holes in the glass "filter" have more draw restriction than the hi-flow stems from Sneaky Pete. I highly, highly recommend the high flow stems for you. Putting a metal filter in the Arizer stems help improve the flow but not nearly as much as the high flow stems.

"ABV isn’t fully spent unless you stir or do multiple draws". You are going to have to do multiple draws with either of these. Neither is going to be close to cashing the bowl in a draw or two. The Solo can get the weed darker at the same temperature, I am not sure why. I suspect that the glass stem gets hotter than the Venty oven at the end and this conduction heating is what makes the ABV darker. It may also be a difference in how each measures the temperature. The Solo also gets 10C hotter (IIRC) but above 200C is where my lungs start to grumble so I never max out either device. I never stir either vape, they don't need it.

Both vapes are tasty with good weed, but the Solo 3 is better for taste hands down.

You won't go wrong with either, but if I had to pick one, I'd pick the Solo 3.

Good to know, and I appreciate the response!

I’ve always been a bit of an Arizer fanboy, but I’m still a little worried about triggering symptoms—even though joints haven’t given me a single issue in almost a month now. I do remember having problems with Dynavaps in the past—probably because of the metal and higher heat—it would burn my throat a lot and just wasn’t enjoyable.

The Solo 3 was my first choice, but reading about the free-flowing airflow on the Venty definitely caught my attention. That said, I’ve also seen a ton of RMA complaints for the Venty, which makes me hesitant. At the end of the day, all I really care about is a quality, smooth experience that gets me as high as possible in a handheld format.

If I go Solo 3, what kind of water pipe or simple perc setup would you recommend? Something like inline, showerhead, matrix, or something else?

Venty hands down

Any reason why you suggest the Venty vs the Solo for me? Having fun gauging ents reasonings haha

 

[chillAtGVC]

I'm not a Dynavap fan either, they are not for me. If you stay below 200C you should avoid burning your throat at the expense of less dark ABV.

I just tried inhaling through an empty Venty and Solo with the regular and high flow Solo stems. Subjectively, the regular stem is about as restrictive as the Venty with the airflow set to about 1.25 (out of 3). With the high flow stems, it close to the Venty set to about 2. The Venty on level 3 (wide open) is too windy for me and not all that enjoyable.

I am the wrong person to ask about glass, I don't know any of the vocabulary. I just got a cheap piece of glass form a local head shop. The key, for me, was having the female port (where the bowl would normally go) close to the main body. These vapes weight a lot more than a bowl and having it too far away makes things tippy.

If you don't need portable, I recently got an E-Nano NXT which I am greatly enjoying. It is somewhere between the Solo and the Venty in terms of draw restriction. It is also very small and easy to hold or use in a glass piece.

 

[dude_de]

so I’m trying to be mindful of airflow and irritation,

Hi! After decades of smoking joints, I found that many vaporizers tend to make me cough my lungs out. See the long list in my signature, always on the search for the next great device. Then, when Venty appeared late in 2023, I watched the Troy&Jerry live stream, where Troy mentioned that it felt like the very open airflow caused less irritation, simply by eliminating the having-to-suck-on-a-straw effect. (that discussion starts right around here).

I thought "hey, that sounds good" and ordered a Venty. And yes, the open airflow definitely seems to help me cough drastically less or not at all. I find the weed also plays a huge role. When no-cough-weed meets the Venty, I can blow huge clouds with the best of them.

I can't speak to the Solo III, I only have the Arizer Air (OG). I do find that a water piece makes it easier to pull even on the tightest airflow devices. I do find the vapor a little hot and harsh with the Air OG, it is just a short piece of glass, after all. I would only go for the Solo III if you plan on mostly/exclusively using glass.

A couple of weeks ago an ex-coworker asked me which vaporizer he should get to replace joints, I said "Whew, I can't tell you, but come on over and try a few". Well, he did, and we tried a good number of my toys. In preparation for the meeting, I had tried the tempest with airflow restricted to joint-like settings and was sure that would do it. Nope, not the Tempest, not the Dynavap won; what he enjoyed most were the Crafty+ and especially the Venty. The "metal sticks", even with induction heating, were to fiddly for him.

 

[Finessseee]

Hi! After decades of smoking joints, I found that many vaporizers tend to make me cough my lungs out. See the long list in my signature, always on the search for the next great device. Then, when Venty appeared late in 2023, I watched the Troy&Jerry live stream, where Troy mentioned that it felt like the very open airflow caused less irritation, simply by eliminating the having-to-suck-on-a-straw effect. (that discussion starts right around here).

I thought "hey, that sounds good" and ordered a Venty. And yes, the open airflow definitely seems to help me cough drastically less or not at all. I find the weed also plays a huge role. When no-cough-weed meets the Venty, I can blow huge clouds with the best of them.

I can't speak to the Solo III, I only have the Arizer Air (OG). I do find that a water piece makes it easier to pull even on the tightest airflow devices. I do find the vapor a little hot and harsh with the Air OG, it is just a short piece of glass, after all. I would only go for the Solo III if you plan on mostly/exclusively using glass.

A couple of weeks ago an ex-coworker asked me which vaporizer he should get to replace joints, I said "Whew, I can't tell you, but come on over and try a few". Well, he did, and we tried a good number of my toys. In preparation for the meeting, I had tried the tempest with airflow restricted to joint-like settings and was sure that would do it. Nope, not the Tempest, not the Dynavap won; what he enjoyed most were the Crafty+ and especially the Venty. The "metal sticks", even with induction heating, were too fiddly for him.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply! That’s super helpful—especially hearing how the Venty helped you after years of joints and dealing with coughing. I’ve got similar concerns (mild asthma and GERD), so smoothness and airflow are big priorities for me. I’ve also noticed some strains are just naturally smoother than others. Definitely leaning toward the Venty now, especially if I don’t need glass to enjoy it.

Quick question—have you tried the Tafée Bowle 2.0? It seems like that and the Venty are the two top options with the most open airflow that don’t really need water. Curious how they compare if you’ve used both!

 

[dude_de]

have you tried the Tafée Bowle 2.0

Unfortunately not, have never had one in my hands. It does seem to do a good job, and the quick heatup is really cool. But I just don't like the design, I like my drinks in real glass and without the cup it looks even weirder - to me. Plus, it is significantly more expensive. Would definitely like to try one if an opportunity arises.

 

[justcametomind]

Hi! After decades of smoking joints, I found that many vaporizers tend to make me cough my lungs out. See the long list in my signature, always on the search for the next great device. Then, when Venty appeared late in 2023, I watched the Troy&Jerry live stream, where Troy mentioned that it felt like the very open airflow caused less irritation, simply by eliminating the having-to-suck-on-a-straw effect. (that discussion starts right around here).

I thought "hey, that sounds good" and ordered a Venty. And yes, the open airflow definitely seems to help me cough drastically less or not at all. I find the weed also plays a huge role. When no-cough-weed meets the Venty, I can blow huge clouds with the best of them.

I can't speak to the Solo III, I only have the Arizer Air (OG). I do find that a water piece makes it easier to pull even on the tightest airflow devices. I do find the vapor a little hot and harsh with the Air OG, it is just a short piece of glass, after all. I would only go for the Solo III if you plan on mostly/exclusively using glass.

A couple of weeks ago an ex-coworker asked me which vaporizer he should get to replace joints, I said "Whew, I can't tell you, but come on over and try a few". Well, he did, and we tried a good number of my toys. In preparation for the meeting, I had tried the tempest with airflow restricted to joint-like settings and was sure that would do it. Nope, not the Tempest, not the Dynavap won; what he enjoyed most were the Crafty+ and especially the Venty. The "metal sticks", even with induction heating, were to fiddly for him.

I think that Venty's Cooling Unit also plays a big role in eliminating Bickel Tickle from it.
The vapor path on Crafty's and Mighty's CU was 3 times longer and imho your hot just inhaled vapor would heat reclaim oli sitting in that long airpath, make it hot enough to be vapor again and make you cough. Probably the new disign with that metal filter does some anti cough trick. The flavor is also improved because of the new CU, imho.
I can't speak for the S3, but if any issue with respiratory tract is present I think that a vape with a cooling unit is always better than one without, it also blocks chunks and residues that can make you cough a lung sometimes, even if you had not asthma.

 

[Finessseee]

I think that Venty's Cooling Unit also plays a big role in eliminating Bickel Tickle from it.
The vapor path on Crafty's and Mighty's CU was 3 times longer and imho your hot just inhaled vapor would heat reclaim oli sitting in that long airpath, make it hot enough to be vapor again and make you cough. Probably the new disign with that metal filter does some anti cough trick. The flavor is also improved because of the new CU, imho.
I can't speak for the S3, but if any issue with respiratory tract is present I think that a vape with a cooling unit is always better than one without, it also blocks chunks and residues that can make you cough a lung sometimes, even if you had not asthma.

Good point about the Venty’s CU! Now I’m leaning toward the Venty, especially for a smoother throat experience, but the Volcano Hybrid still has that easy, no-cough appeal with the bags. Went down the rabbit hole and now comparing pros and cons between the Volcano Hybrid & Venty.. seems like the Hybrid smack me more, but it’s more expensive and larger. Bags will have less draw resistance than the Venty I’d assume. Tough choice!

 

[dude_de]

Bags will have less draw resistance

Probably, but I would guess it's not a HUGE difference. The Venty can do 20 liters per Minute (~ 5.3 gal), that is anywhere between 5 to 8 full lung busting inhales per minute.

The Venty has been called portable Volcano.

It would be so cool if it were easier to try these things.

 

[buzzardwhiskey]

If the Venty is on your list, you might also consider the Tafee Bowle 2. It's very free and cool without water. It's also super easy to clean, though not as easy as the Solo 3.

 

[Finessseee]

If the Venty is on your list, you might also consider the Tafee Bowle 2. It's very free and cool without water. It's also super easy to clean, though not as easy as the Solo 3.

I am considering it! I think I’m going to start with the Venty.. and then consider the Bowle, log or ball vape from there if I’m looking for something that hits harder. Solo 3 through water could work as well, but apparently it’s still pretty restrictive and I value wide open airflow personally

 

[Shit Snacks]

There are a lot of options for dry cooling glass, I've never been interested in the venty so I can't speak to that, but I use TM and Tetra and have the original TB, all very high air flow, pure convection though... While Firewood is a really nice on-demand hybrid experience, also has good air flow, I'm not such a fan of session style honestly for quite a few reasons and I think that tends to be worse for acid reflux type effects, but really there are just so many variables subjectively