Ok I'm ready to share my thoughts on the Tempest. I've had the device for two days, but I've put about 2.5g through it (work from home)
I've broken down my feedback into categories, and included some pics at the bottom of the post showing some of my methods of use.
For context to my feedback I will inform that I own/owned the following vapes - Dynavap, Anvil, Mighty, TM2, Volcano Hybrid, Flowerpot Weedeater, B0, Sticky Brick Runt. My experiences with these vapes is what informs my below opinions. I won't compare Tempest directly to a device as that is not accepted on FC unless in a dedicated thread.
BUILD QUALITY - The device is beautifully made. Full of little details. The visual indicator works like magic. It moves smoothly and continuously. No staggering. It allows you to perfectly heat to your desired temp with no overshoot. Watching the indicator move feels like magic or the work of some helpful stoner ghost. The weight is just right. Heavy enough to give it some substance, but light enough to take on a long hike. It weighs less than a Simrell, but has much more substance than something like an Omnivap. I found one thing I dislike. I find it's really difficult to remove the airflow tubes from the mouthpiece. It take a lot of physical effort. This may be resolved by lubricating the o-rings.
WORKFLOW - Elegant and joyous. Filling/refilling emptying/reloading is as good as it gets. Anyone who has filled a dynavap from a stash or grinder knows it doesn't get much simpler. I would advise buyers to either purchase a Reload MK 2, or something that can de-bowl as well. Please note I've tried using a de-capper de-bowler, Brilliant cut grinder magnet, and another magnet to poor results. You need a magnet that will really securely hold the device if you want to do hot reloads. I would recommend just getting a Reload if you want to do hot reloads, as I found the Reload to elevate the workload experience. I've found I reload after each heat cycle, even if i'm not using again until later. This is a sign of a reload process that is elegant and fun.
VAPE SIG, POTENCY, SATIETY - The Tempest is a potent vape that can deliver satisfying clouds that fill the lungs, or be sipped on like a joint. I find the vape signature to be clean and calm. It feels in the same ball park as a B0 in terms of the achievable effects. Does not seem to lean too much into conduction at all. However the device can deliver more conduction by heating lower on the cap. I've tried this and found the signature to change correspondingly to this.
COOLING - Here was something that blew away my expectations. The vapour is completely comfortable even when vaping at a high temp/roast level. Two things to note, I am primarily a direct to lung user, and I can fill my lungs completely with no discomfort on the inhale and exhale. Second thing to note is Brenyo actually forgot to send the secondary cooling spiral, Let that sink in. I experimented with J-hook and bong (more below) just out of interest, but this device needs no accessory to modify the vapour.
TASTE - Here is another expectation blew away. It simply tastes better than I expect vapes of this type to achieve. Even when vaping at high temps, there is this tiny delay when drawing when you can feel the bowl coming up to temp, and you get the terpenes before the roast begins. I believe the herb chamber is adequately isolated from the heat until the user draws. I tried the device on a J-hook using the direct flow tube set to bypass, and it tasted great, but doesn't seem much better than using the device native.
Please note I don't have the secondary cooling spiral which would presumably take some flavour.
HEAT TIME - 35-37 seconds on the Ispire Want induction heater gives me complete extraction at the levels I want, with a nice dark brown consistent roast. I have also tried back to back bowls going from IH - reload - Torch. With this method I found I can bring the cap back up to temp in about 10 seconds using my torch and the visual temp indicator, which is ridiculously quick when you factor in the reload time. You can chain bowls in this thing in violent rapidity, and faster than a desktop ballvape would even be able to recover it's temp. Please note I am reheating for the purpose of extracting a NEW bowl. The Tempest always has more than enough heat in a cycle to fully extract.
AIRFLOW - Another expectation smashed. It's so open. Some users might know me as the guy with the jaw condition (TMJD) which has seen me sell vapes because any jaw tension from air restriction/mouth position causes me severe pain. I can draw on the Tempest just with the force of my lungs with my jaw muscles relaxed. I don't even have it set to the most open setting.
GLASS - I've used the Tempest with a full size bong. A small bubbler, and a dry J-hook. All using the Direct flow Tube which allows to bypass the primary cooling function in the Tempest, avoiding cooling overkill with glass. The Tempest looks like it will natively fit a 10mm, but I would not suggest it as the glass joint will scratch the mouthpiece. To connect to 14mm I used the OG plastic mouthpiece that came with the first ever Dynavap made from glass. Maybe you can still buy them. Apparently you could also use o-rings but I have none to size. I found both the bong and bubbler to be massive overkill and detracted from the experience. I found the J-hook to be very enjoyable, but not superior to Native use. It just doesn't give enough to warrant losing the elegance of native. The flavour while lovely, is just about matched by the native device also.
CLEANING - The device stays strangely clean. You get some honey forming on the cooling spiral, but the screen does not clog easily at all. I used the device all day yesterday and disassembled for overnight cleaning, only to find the screen to look fine. So I didn't bother. My method of cleaning will just be to leave in hot water and dish detergent every couple of nights. You could also shake it in a tubo with some ISO.
SHARING - It really is like passing a joint. It's a way to share a ball vape without the other person being intimidated or thinking you are some mad cannabis scientist.
HASH - I Added some to the chamber in some vape cotton. The device holds its heat cycle for a long time and allows to puff on it like a blunt. It was too hot for me to do DTL, but MTL was fine. I normally find hash hotter and harsher in any vape. I will be interested to try hash with the secondary cooling spiral and will probably prefer it that way. Since hash goes for ages, you can just keep bringing back up to temp with the torch and the visual indicator. It's really like smoking a joint, that goes out now and again and needs re-lighting. Easily my favourite hash vape experience of all time.
FINAL THOUGHTS - I was very excited for this vape. However I knew that if my expectations on cooling and airflow were not met I would have had to sell the vape. I was hopeful that the device would be just comfortable enough temp wise, and only give me a bit of pain, with not too much air restriction. The vape destroyed my fears. This vape doesn't just do enough, it does more than enough. More cooling than needed with secondary cooling spiral. More heat calories and heat cycle length than needed to extract a 0.15g bowl. This vape could comfortably vape a 0.2-0.25g bowl, if one was released in the future. This thing is special, and I expect it to be disruptive. It's peerless in it's category, and feels like a new generation.
Let me know if anyone has questions or things they would like me to try.
I prefer to wait for a tempest.
. I got the message informing I had a test unit coming just this past Friday. Brenyo informed me and sent it the same day. I imagine because I'm a UK user (fast shipping) who was active on the thread and had recently purchased a Reload. The device was delivered yesterday morning.
