The most frustrating experience I have had with the grasshopper was losing it on holiday 5 days after receiving it.
I have now been back in pre order purgatory for 7 weeks.
But it is better to have hopped than to never have hopped at all.
I like the device, so much so I've bought two extra to give to two very good friends of mine.
Considering my order was placed just under a year ago I'm a little disappointed not to have received them in time for the first of my very good friends birthdays. GHL now have 20 days to deliver them before missing the second of my friends birthdays. Which I'm highly (could be higher) doubting GHL will achieve.
Here is the thing though, I successfuly managed to convert one friend from smoking to vaping using a V2 Pro 3, with them eventually getting themselves a Flower Mate 5 (I think, it's late.... ).
The other friend has been very resistant to vaping, pah who am I kidding he's resistant just to the general concept of change. However he has quit smoking after becoming a father and having had a years T break my Pax 2 managed to change his mindset.
I have no doubt in my mind that GHL are going to deliver, I actually think they will get the orders to me and my friends before summer is over (only just though).
And when they do get them I think my friends will be delighted with them.
I know I will be (as in I actually know what I'm currently missing out on *shed a single tear*)
You see me and my friends are part of the 'used to smoke' crowd. We liked it! We sorta kinda miss it, not the sore throats after a heavy party or night out. Not the nasty smell of next day ashtray cloths. But the feeling of that draw filling the lungs is something I've only really had delivered to me by the GH since I quit smoking.
I take one decent sized toke from the thing and I'm good for an hour to an hour and a half. One of my friends is about the same. That's the guy who hit the Pax 2. He was quite shocked at how effective it was off of a single draw.
So neither of us are likely to run into the heat issues and in fact it's the heat and power of the device that throws us back to the feel of smoking but without any of the negatives.
My other friend is a giant so the laws of physics seem to apply differently to him. I think he will love the hopper but I think he will mostly use it through a water tool.
Knowing them and having had the hopper I know all three of us will appreciate the stealth factor of the device. The quick heat up and instant hit feeling. The high quality craft work and the lifetime warranty. The replaceable batteries and definitely the ease of cleaning, we are all for energy efficiency
However I do share a couple of personal criticisms with the VC (these are my criticisms not my friends).
Number one is, I don't mind the clicker as a physical on switch but rather than the draw sensor and 18 second cut off I'd rather have a digital switch like the V2 Pro 3 had. So that's the the clicker and the digital switch. Ok fine and a cut off timer for those that have insane lung capacity or insist on holding the digital button down until the device explodes.
Number two is I'd have preferred to have had the temperature dial at least 180 degrees rather than 90 and for there to be notches at minimum for the existing 5 indicated temperature settings but ideally I'd have a notch for the intermediate settings too.
I'll be advising my friends to buy their own spare batteries (about 3 additional) and external chargers (XTAR are my choice). I've got nothing against the GH's internal charger but I like to charge and use without a teather.
I hope our hoppers arrive sooner rather than later. May they last a lifetime without warranty.