I'd think that (as far as draw resistance) the GH is as good as it gets in the portable vape arena. I bought and quickly sold the FF2 for a variety of reasons....Predominant reason was the long slow resistant draw necessary to operate the device. It just required too much slow pulling, stirring, top on, top off, two fingers must be here, and I despise needing a phone application to change the temps (geez). Great taste and nice cool vapor from the FF2 for sure!...but most def NOT portable, simple, or easy.
I've found the GH to provide amazing hits and hit quantities from astoundingly small quantities of material. A little goes a much longer way in the GH than my Pax1...and unlike the FF2....I feel like I can more easily get all the vapor which was intended from a given amount of material.
If you just place a pinch in the chamber...small enough to be loose....you will have VERY little draw resistance and get superb results. If you choose to pack the chamber you will still get superb results, however, your draw resistance increases based upon how tightly you've packed. Trust me...unless you are a heavy hitter...you need not 'pack' the chamber whatsoever. You can then do a 3-5 second warm up....rip it....turn it off....and move on. 15 seconds total...pocket to pocket. It works like you think it should work.
I feel the need to state (knocking on wood) that I received my SS Hopper 7 days ago and it performs flawlessly. I use it 'natively' as I believe it was intended. I prefer the silicone tip, however, I usually rip one or maybe two consecutive rips....turning the GH off 75% through the inhale. This helps to reduce the inevitable heat created by a vape with this form factor. I disagree with other posters that anything below temp setting 3-3.5 is worthless. Even on temp setting 1....a longer slower draw produces results...less heat....and superior flavor. The difference between a single heat setting is pronounced...and 5 is VERY hot...while 1 is quite low. I've never attached the charger....but use a Nitecore D2. Most charges in the Nitecore take 60-75 minutes. I typically get through a day+ with a battery.
I know that many folks have defective Hoppers. No doubt there is an unusually high rate of failure...and particularly amongst older units. That said, it seems possible that newbie Hopper owners get super stoned super quickly with their Hoppers...then nitpick and post about every detail of the device....whether their GH is actually performing correctly or not. It isn't like many of you haven't had over a year to read the instruction manual!
At this juncture...the GH is my holy grail vape...my sole device....my daily driver...and I do not desire a desktop or complimentary portable device. I have an additional SS which should arrive this week providing me a backup from (what seems) my inevitable GH failure. I also still have my original pre-order awaiting shipment from Hopper Labs. I'm a huge fan of this device.
While I have no issues with the varying ways that folks will inevitably use their hoppers, I can't help but think that it was not intended to be kept on temperature setting 5 and ripped continuously through a glass water pipe.....changing batteries every few rips....while passing it around ad nauseum. I personally haven't pulled a bong hit in nearly 25 years and have no desire to do so. If I desired this type of session use...I would purchase a quality desktop vaporizer...and use it as intended. I do not desire this type of use....thus I purchased a GH. Again...I'm not denigrating other GH owners for their methods of use...but a tiny, quick, stealthy, powerful, and highly portable pen vape is not imo intended to be used (continuously) through glass. Respectfully....I don't really want to hear any arguments on this topic....there are no valid arguments to be made.
The GH is an electronic one hitter that really works marvelously. A small amount of loose material in the chamber provides several quality rips...much more than a similar amount packed into a real combustible one hitter.
The GH is what it is...and does 'it' very well. For light users....a pinch in the GH will go a LONG way and provide feedback that is VERY similar to combustion (lung busting rips, clouds, heat etc). For heavy users....a more plentiful and frequent pack...and possibly temp stepping...should make even the most temperamental stoner happy.
