Full disclosure: I bought this product at a deep discount in exchange for a fair, unbiased review—and that’s exactly what I intend to give. This is the first product I’ve ever purchased specifically for the purpose of reviewing, and I did so only because I already liked the look of it. Now, on to the review!
I was sent the Basic BHOLT Classic Vaporizer kit, which includes 1 glass oil atomizer (green LED in my case, but they also come in blue LED or no LED), a battery and heat element, a USB charger, and a cute little case (mine is purple with the green BHOLT logo). Unfortunately, my unit didn’t come with any kind of documentation or instructions—hopefully the retail units will, for the newbies out there. Luckily, I’m a smart girl who has seen a vape or two, so it was no big deal for me.
The vape itself feels pretty quality. The components all have a nice, solid feel and seem well made (with the exception of some weird anomalies on the metal part of the glass atomizer, which don’t affect the function at all). The only thing that seems like it might be a little fragile is the BHOLT glass tube, but the case should protect that (I suspect that the tube might be able to survive a small drop due to the black rubber-esque material on each end, though I’m not testing it to find out). I notice that BHOLT sells a replacement glass atomizer plus the BHOLT glass tube for $39.99, if you are the klutzy sort. But even if I do manage to damage my glass tube? That’s hardly a deal-breaker—and that’s the beauty of this pen. If you have some glass on hand (14mm female, or 18mm female with a reducer), you may decide to forgo using the BHOLT glass tube altogether.
More on that in a minute.
I was pleased to see that the secret knock for unlocking vape pens worked here, as on my O-PHOS (five clicks of the button). Being the impatient type, I was also pleased that the battery came to me fully charged. Within two minutes of opening my mail, I loaded a small dab of Green Crack wax onto the atomizer (being super careful to stay in the little ceramic cup) and slapped the BHOLT glass tube on top for my first hit. Which I took with gusto.
At this point in the review you might be wondering, “Does it work?” The answer to that is, “Yes. It sure as hell does.”
A brief interjection to share my limited history with vape pens and dabbing, so as to give you perspective on where I’m coming from. I currently own one vape pen, the O-PHOS, which is obviously a very different animal than the BHOLT. I also have a Flex mini rig that I’ve used to take dabs using a bellybutton dome and nail. And, as of yesterday, I’m the proud owner of a Healthstone Sherlock, which is my new favorite way to dab. I don’t have a lot of experience with this type of load-as-you-go vape pen beyond trying a friend’s SplitShot, which he purchased from the local dispensary for only $40 less than the Basic BHOLT Classic Vaporizer Kit (which retails for $119.99).
Unfortunately for my friend, this thing blows the SplitShot away. Not only is the BHOLT way more versatile, but it also tastes better. And I love the fact that I can a) see the vapor as it fills the glass tube, and, more importantly, b) see the atomizer and monitor how much of my dab I’ve vaped without removing the mouthpiece. That’s seriously convenient. Also? Stealth concerns aside, I love the green LED. Between the light show and the swirling vapor filling the glass tube, this pothead was incredibly entertained and could have been for hours (if she hadn’t gotten so ripped so fast).
Don’t judge me. It’s the little things.
I hinted at the versatility of the BHOLT a few paragraphs ago. To me, that’s the main selling point of this pen. After taking two big hits using the BHOLT glass tube, I decided to see how it would pair with my Pinnacle Water Tool. The Pinnacle WT is my very favorite accessory at the moment. I’ve used it with the Underdog, the Solo (my favorite mate for it), and the Firewood (using an O-PHOS mouthpiece to pair them). Basically, the ability to play well with the Pinnacle WT will earn any vape a hearty thumbs up from me.
Thumbs up for the BHOLT! All I had to do was pull off the BHOLT glass tube and insert the glass atomizer directly into the bottom of my Pinnacle WT, press the button to light everything up a pretty green, and take another lung-busting hit. The way this thing filled the Pinnacle WT with milky white vapor was INSANE, by the way. I’ve never, ever managed to fill the tube so thoroughly with any of my other vapes. It was magnificent.
Obviously I’ve got a lot more playing to do with my new toy, but my initial impression is that I’m extremely happy with this purchase. I feel like the BHOLT fills a need that my O-PHOS hasn’t for me. It’s a battery-operated tool that will let you take quick, easy, flavorful, big wax and oil hits. It’s also natural (and fun) to use with your existing glass, which makes it so much more than just a nice vape pen. For me, the O-PHOS is unbeatable for the convenience of being able to load close to a whole gram of oil into a cartridge and have that last you a week or two (this is especially awesome when traveling), but the BHOLT wins in terms of flavor and ability to deliver monster hits, hands down. Using the BHOLT is a lot closer to doing a dab than something like the O-PHOS. As far as heavy hitters go, it’s more comparable to my Healthstone. Trust me, that’s a huge compliment!
As far as cons, my only real complaint other than the lack of documentation is that the way the pen plugs into the charger is a little wonky (and it took me a minute to realize I needed to unscrew a circular metal piece before I could do so). But, yeah…that’s hardly a real complaint. It’s too bad you can’t use it while you charge it, but frankly, I have enough vapes at this point that it’s not a huge deal for me. It won’t stop me from medicating, in other words.
I will make sure to check back in later as I use this more, and report back on any issues or new points of praise. I just hope that the BHOLT continues to perform the way it has for me this afternoon and evening. If it does, then I’m happy to say that this is a very legitimate purchase for those of you who are looking for a more versatile vape pen for waxes and oils that’s also capable of delivering huge hits and tasty flavor.