Gentle Friends,
After a shipping mishap which ISWEED sorted out in short order I got my unit today. I finally got a chance to play with it.....and break it.
BE ADVISED THE TOP CAP IS "REVERSE" (LEFT HAND) THREADS!!! The manual forgets to impart that detail, in fact the diagram for step one has the arrow backwards (that is it's the normal CCW to remove, which jammed the sucker in good and proper for me when I put enough force on it. I managed to clamp onto and drag the lens out of the display so now it doesn't lay flat anymore. I contacted the maker about my problems and was told "The top cap is clockwise to open." Followed (after I explained that's not what the manual shows and it didn't work anymore since it seems to be broken free and just turns and turns) by "Thank you. Sorry for that issue. Our first version is counter clockwise. But we changed it for a reason. We will add a quick instruction with the current batch and edit the manual asap."
So, hopefully, that's under control, but if you get one be careful. I figure I can at least try it a few times before I'm dead in the water since you need to remove the top cap to clean and reload easily and to clear the filter screen in the cap when it jams as it surely will.
So, some details and an observation or two. Physically it's impressive IMO. Well made (even if sneaky about the threads), nice finish, easy to read display (before I ripped the cover off it....) a single convenient button to operate. It takes 5 quick pushes to turn on and off like an Ego vape pen. It remembers which of the three temperatures was last used and shows percent of battery charge on start up and power down. It fits surprisingly well in the hand and got only 'reasonably warm' in my initial session.
The indicated temperature is very fast indeed, but the actual load temperature lags by a couple of minutes and 20 or more degrees:
Display:Measured
370F:175C(347F)
420F:194C(381F)
450F:220C(428F)
Not a great match, I'll try to do a few more runs later, but for now I no longer fear combustion.
I loaded medium 'shredded' herb, .325 grams. full but not packed. Results were about what I expected based on the temperatures. Thin vapor, but with lots of flavor on 370 and about what I'm used to on step 4 on Solo (two on Air) on 420 (Solo/Air are rated 390). Hot (to be expected with such a short metal path IMO) but not too harsh. Not as pleasant as Solo with it's longer stem or even Air with it's shorter one, but given the compact package just fine IMO. Although I could easily extend it, I'm not inclined to do so given the nature of the machine.
In a way it reminds me of TVape. The chambers are quite similar, both designed to take intact cigarettes with 'straight through tubes'. But where as TVape was a failure at makingn vapor on demand and nearly impossible to control temperature wise (very confusing) this one doesn't share that. It makes vapor easily enough and the display is easy to understand (if a bit off in calibration). HUGE improvement on the theme IMO.
Kind of a rocky start perhaps, but IMO it's showing great potential at this point. Hopefully more sessions will give more insights before it fouls the screen too badly to carry on. Perhaps before that happens I'll have a replacement?
Anyway, kind of a 'sleeper' perhaps. At any rate an interesting and probably useful vape thus far. I'm thinking it might be a good choice for new folks and those looking for a simple, easy to use and hopefully reliable vape for times away from home. As has been said, it's likely not a good party vape, but tucked into your pocket with a full charge and full load and you've got no nonsense vapor on demand?
More to follow when I know more.
Best regards to all.
OF
Edit: That first (fairly short, maybe a dozen hits?) session used 20% of the battery, down to 80%. Battery life seems about on par?
Edit again (OK so I forgot two things....): A funny little annoyance I hope goes away is the chain on the cap. When you use the vape the cap hangs there banging in to the side to harsh your mellow. I stopped it by catching the chain between my fingers but that forces you to keep the exact same grip......
Details, always little details. But that chain might go so I can loose the cap.....no wait....