Vaporizer Review
DaVinci IQ Review – Is it the Best Weed Vape?
The DaVinci company has been making vapes since 2012, so they know whats up as far as vape technology. In November of 2016 DaVinci released the DaVinci IQ, their newest dry herb conduction vaporizer and boy is it a beauty. The forward thinking innovations of this device are apparent but how does it stack up to the competition? Lets dive on in!
Design
The design of the DaVinci IQ is unique and innovative. The exterior anodized aluminum casing is sleek and stylish and the device has a great feel and weight. You wont find the traditional LED display screen here, instead you get an LED grid with 51 little LED lights. The DaVinci IQ app brings the usage of the device to a whole new level, I’ll discuss this app further in the functionality segment of this review.
The DaVinci IQ is very portable measuring just 3.54 inches tall and .94 inches wide. The vapor path and mouthpiece are constructed from ceramic zirconium (a much stronger version of ceramic) while the oven itself is constructed of regular ceramic. The DaVinci IQ also boasts an intuitive haptic feedback sensor that lets you know when its ready to use. Finally, the DaVinci IQ uses a removable 18650 battery which, in my opinion, is something more vaporizer companies should do. The option to swap that battery at any time is big for me. The Durability of the DaVinci IQ is solid. I dropped the device from a height of 3 feet and despite the light cosmetic scratches to the exterior, the DaVinci IQ was no wore for the wear and still functioned perfectly.
Design Score 18/20
Taste
The taste coming off the DaVinci IQ is great when you get it dialed in. Its a bit of a learning curve so don’t be afraid to try different packing variations. The flavor comes through in a big way due to the ceramic zirconium mouthpiece, much better than a plastic or a metal mouthpiece. Adding some dry herb into the “flavor chamber” really gives off a terpene rich flavor and aroma. Kudos to the team over at DaVinci, y’all got it right with this one, flavor town!
Taste Score 17.5/20
Vapor Production
The DaVinci IQ is a Conduction vaporizer so the vapor production is going to be on the heavier side. The first hit, much like most other vaporizers, was light but very flavorful. It isn’t till about the second or third hit where you find the vapor production really starting to ramp up. The vapor itself is cool, no lung irritation or the need to use a water bubbler, just clean, tasty vapor. The vapor quality remains consistent through out the session and the AVB is nicely browned, no char on the dry herb at all.
Vapor Production Score: 17/20
Functionality
The functionality can take some getting used to but the end result is well worth the effort. There are two different ways to use the DaVinci IQ, with or without the app. Without the app the DaVinci IQ performs like any other vape. Find your desired temp and start the oven.But the boost mode is what really sets the DaVinci IQ apart from the rest. When you near the end of your session, engage boost mode and the vaporizer will increase in temperature until reaching its max temp. This feature is great when you need to hurry your session along or you want to ensure you vape the bud 100% before calling it quits. The app is very intuitive and the interface is simple and smart. You can choose between 4 different smart paths and you can even customize these smart paths so you can choose exactly how you want your session to heat. I prefer starting my session around 360° F to capture that terpene rich flavor and then ending my session around 400°F to ensure I vaporized as much of my Cannabis as possible. This added functionality really pushed my vape experience over the top.
I really liked the removable 18650 battery, most Cannabis vaporizers have built in batteries. These removable batteries have an advantage when you go camping and are away from a power source to charge your device. Just load some extra batteries and you are good to go.
The one down side for me as far as functionality is the cleaning of the device. There are 4 areas you want to focus on when cleaning; the mouthpiece, the herb chamber, the flavor chamber and underneath the flavor chamber. I like a vaporizer where I can simply empty the dry herb and hit it with some alcohol. With this vaporizer, all 4 parts should be brushed and wiped with Iso alcohol while some parts need an Iso alcohol soak. This requires taking the vaporizer apart and the cleaning process takes a little longer.
Functionality Score: 17/20
Health Consciousness
The health consciousness of the DaVinci IQ is superb. The Ceramic Zirconium mouthpiece and flavor chamber are great alternatives to using stainless steel or silicone. I am happy to see that DaVinci is taking steps to remove plastics, paints, fibers and silicone from the equation. I touched on the vapor production earlier in this review but its worth mentioning again. The vapor is cool and will not irritate your lungs. I do prefer a convection vaporizer but this conduction vape does a great job. This is a solid health conscious little vaporizer
Health Consciousness Score: 17.5/20
Overall Score: 86
The DaVinci IQ is a great improvement over the original DaVinci vaporizer. The materials used are health conscious and the vapor quality is top notch. Although this is a conduction vape and doesn’t vaporize wax, it vaporizes the dry herb very well and for that these factors are forgiven. I don’t mind if a vaporizer can only vaporize one form of Cannabis, as long as it does it very well, that’s all I’m concerned with. Finally the app is on a whole different level. The ease of modifying your session is a huge plus. All and all, DaVinci really knocked it out of the park with this one and it will be a hard act to follow indeed. Thanks for reading and be on the look out for more vape reviews.
Cheers
***Note***We here at Vape Hacked do not take payment for reviews. We are not bias and can’t be bought so you can expect nothing but true reviews here***
Concentrate Vaporizer Review
Linx Hypnos Zero Review – Where Style Meets Functionality
The Linx Hypnos Zero is the flagship vaporizer of Linx Vapor, a company known for producing quality, healthy vaporizers. It’s a sleek, portable, futuristic looking concentrate vaporizer but does it do the job? Lets dive in!
Design
The Linx Hypnos Zero is a self loading concentrate vaporizer constructed from medical grade stainless steel. It boasts a Borosilicate glass mouthpiece, adding to the flavor by removing plastics or metals from the equation. One of the high points of the Linx Hypnos Zero is the sheer portability and discretion it affords with its tiny size. Measuring in at just 107mm tall, the Linx Hypnos Zero is easy to conceal, literally fitting in the palm of your hand. The device its self feels like a quality unit, it doesn’t feel plastic or chintzy in any way. The durability of the Linx Hypnos Zero is apparent, it’s a well built vaporizer with incredible attention to detail. The machining on the threads is tight and buttery smooth, the Zero feels more like a medical device than it does a run of the mill vaporizer.
One downside of the Linx Hypnos Zero is the mouthpiece. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the use of Borosilicate glass over plastic or metal, but it needs a mouthpiece cap. I am worried that if I accidentally drop this unit, the mouthpiece will shatter. I am thinking the people over at Linx felt the same way, that’s why they put an extra mouthpiece in the case. That’s good thinking but I would much rather have a magnetic mouthpiece cap. All things considered, Linx Vapor did very good job with the design of the Zero.
Design Score 18/20
Taste
The taste coming off the Linx Hypnos Zero is spectacular! The Zero uses a ceramic plate atomizer instead of a coiled atomizer. This ceramic plate allows for low temperature vaporization, around 300°-400°F. This means you get a very flavorful hit with light wispy vapor. As I touched on before, the glass mouthpiece adds to the tasting experience in a big way. A plastic or metal mouthpiece tends to add a bit of an unnatural flavor to my Cannabis concentrate. Glass is definitely the way to go, no impurities and easier to clean, yet another reason why the Linx Hypnos Zero is one of the best tasting vaporizers I’ve every tried.
Taste Score 19/20
Vapor Production
The vapor produced from the Linx Hypnos Zero is light to medium, not as thick and white as other vape pens but that’s exactly what they’re going for. If you are looking to make some huge clouds, then you may want to skip this pen. The Linx Hypnos Zero was developed with the Terpene Connoisseur in mind.
Vapor Production Score: 15/20
Functionality
The functionality of the Linx Hypnos Zero is nice and simple. 5 clicks to turn the unit off and on. Click 3 times to choose between the four temp settings: Blue=Low, Green=Medium-Low, Yellow=Medium-High, and Red=High. I find that these temperature setting are set just right, the lower levels allow me to savor the flavor. If you really want to taste those amazing terpenes locked inside your Cannabis, this is the way to go. The higher levels provide stronger hits without the burning taste that’s typical of most other vaporizers. One huge advantage of the Zero is the clean up. Cleaning the Zero is surprisingly simple. Since the components are constructed from medical grade stainless steel and use no paints, you can simply pop them into some iso alcohol and let them soak for an hour or so. After soaking simply wipe away excess with a cotton swab. That’s really all there is too it. No need for bells an whistles, the Zero does on thing and does it well.
Functionality Score: 18/20
Health Consciousness
For health consciousness, the Linx Hypnos Zero performs like a champ! I was blown away by the attention to detail put into this device to ensure it was the healthiest on the market. From the glass mouthpiece, to the all ceramic atomizer, to the toxin free vapor path and finally the medical grade stainless steel shell, the Linx Hypnos Zero ranks very high on the list of healthy vaporizers.
Health Consciousness Score: 20/20
Overall Score: 90
The Linx Hypnos Zero is a wonderful little vaporizer for the Terpene Connoisseur. Don’t expect big clouds with this one because it’s a flavor monster! The heat settings are calibrated for optimal flavor and the ceramic plate atomizer heats the concentrate consonantly. The Zero claims to be one of the healthiest vaporizers available and I believe it. The medical grade stainless steel body and glass mouthpiece make this an excellent unit and the price tag is not too shabby either. Coming in at just $79.99 its one of the least expensive vaporizers in its class. Thanks for reading and be on the look out for more vape reviews.
Cheers
***Note***We here at Vape Hacked do not take payment for reviews. We are not bias and can’t be bought so you can expect nothing but true reviews here***
Vape
Best Dry Herb Vaporizer of 2017
Hello, VapeHacked here and I gotta say, we have had one frighteningly crazy year! We witnessed the rise of Crypto Currency, the fall of Harvey Weinstein and we inched ever so much closer to all out nuclear war with North Korea. Luckily, we also witnessed the release of some truly great vaporizer tech. In this post I will go over my picks for the Top 5 Dry Herb Vaporizers of 2017. So sit back and spark up and enjoy!
#5 – Hydrology 9
Taking the 5th spot in our countdown of Best Vaporizers is the Hydrology 9 by Cloudious 9. This device is one of the most uniquely innovative vaporizers out there. At first glance it looks a bit like a futuristic pepper mill. It’s crated of aircraft grade aluminum and uses Borrosilicate glass for its mouthpiece and body. When filled with water and activated, this is the best looking vaporizer bar none. The lights are memorizingly beautiful to watch, especially when lit. ; )
Although beautiful, there are some draw backs to this device. I felt the entire process was complicated and a bit time consuming to really be a practical “daily driver”. The vapor produced by the Hydrology 9 is a bit lighter than on other devices due to the water filtration. The taste was about average as well, not on the same level as some of the top vaporizers on this list. Finally I noticed that when operating on higher temps, the Hydrology 9 has a tendency to combust your Cannabis if you do not stir frequently enough.
Major props to the design team over at Cloudious 9 for making an aesthetically innovative vaporizer, but more work needs to be done on the most important aspects of vaporizers I.E. taste and portability. For this the Hydrology 9 ranks 5th in our countdown.
#4 – G Pen Elite
On to the 4th spot in our Best Vaporizer countdowns, the G Pen Elite. This vaporizer is a worthy sequel to the G Pro and proves that Grenco can still compete in a market full of new competitors and innovators. At first glance the G Pen Elite looks very stylish and sleek. It has a great weight and feels very durable. The functionality is simple and straight forward, just 3 buttons. Its got a large chamber that holds roughly .3 of a gram and produces large vapor clouds.
Although the G Pen Elite is a huge improvement on the G Pro, there are some significant downsides to this device. The flavor starts off good but after the 3rd or 4th draw the taste starts to drop off. When operating at higher temps this drop off happens after the 2nd or 3rd draw. Also, the health conscious aspect is lacking. The air path contains some silicone and plastic pieces which is a bit of a concern to me, especially when operating the unit at higher temperatures. All in all, the G Pen Elite is a good vaporizer that far surpasses the G Pro, and for that it earns the 4th spot in our countdown.
#3 – Pax 3
Holding down the 3rd spot in our Best Vaporizer of 2017 countdown is the Pax 3 by Pax Labs. The Pax 3 is the next iteration in the Pax dry herb line and has some impressive functionality. At first glance, the Pax 3 is stunning to say the very least. The glossy gold finish exudes luxury and the feel of the unit is that of a quality vaporizer. The interface is intuitive and not too complicated to figure out with enough uses. I like that I am able to select the temperature through the Pax Labs App. As with all of the Pax devices, the vapor production is top notch! I was getting large clouds even on some lower temperature settings. Finally, I did notice that the entire vapor path is constructed from stainless steel and is isolated from the electronics within. This is a big plus in my book due to some lung issues I am dealing with.
However, all that glitters is not gold. There are some downsides to this unit, the first being the glossy gold finish its self. It scratches very easily and shows many fingerprints. The flavor of the vapor is good for a conduction vaporizer but I prefer the flavor from a convection oven myself. The wax oven on the other hand was a huge disappointment. Although I was able to get medium sized clouds, the taste was sub par at best.
All in all, this is a good vaporizer if you have the money, but there are plenty of other models that cost half as much and deliver similar results.
#2 – DaVinci IQ
Coming in 2nd place by the slimiest of margins is the DaVinci IQ by DaVinci. Back in November of 2016 DaVinci released the IQ, their newest dry herb conduction vaporizer and boy is it a beauty. The design of the IQ is unique and innovative. The exterior anodized aluminum casing is sleek and stylish and the device has a great feel and weight. The DaVinci IQ app is quite innovative and brings the usage of the device to a whole new level. The vapor path and mouthpiece are constructed from ceramic zirconium (a much stronger version of ceramic) while the oven itself is constructed of regular ceramic. The DaVinci IQ uses a removable 18650 battery which, in my opinion, is something more vaporizer companies should do. The flavor comes through in a big way due to the ceramic zirconium mouthpiece. Adding some dry herb into the “flavor chamber” really gives off a terpene rich flavor and aroma. The DaVinci IQ is a Conduction vaporizer so the vapor production is going to be on the heavier side. The vapor itself is cool, no lung irritation or the need to use a water bubbler. Finally, the health consciousness of the DaVinci IQ is superb. The Ceramic Zirconium mouthpiece and flavor chamber are great alternatives to using stainless steel or silicone.
Despite all the great aspects of the DaVinci IQ, there are a couple downsides. The first is the heating technology. The conduction oven performs well enough, nice size clouds and good taste. But at the end of the day it is still a conduction oven. Convection seems to be where the industry is heading and for good reason, the flavor coming from convection vaporizers is superior and the herb is browned to perfection. The second down side to the DaVinci IQ is the price point. If this vaporizer used convection heating, I would have no problem dropping $279 but being that it is a conduction vaporizer, this price seems overblown. All and all, DaVinci really knocked it out of the park with this one and it will be a hard act to follow indeed.
#1 – Linx Gaia
Taking top honors of Best Vaporizer of 2017 is the Gaia by Linx Vapor. The Gaia is Linx Vapors first venture into the world of dry herb vaporizer and WOW did they make an amazing device! The Gaia uses convection heating and is the first dry herb vaporizer to use a quartz chamber. This innovative quartz chamber heats to temperature in just 30 seconds and provides the best flavor compared to any vaporizer I’ve tried! The Gaia gets major marks for being health conscious too. The vapor path is free of any plastics, it’s constructed of medical grade stainless steel and the mouthpiece is made of Borosilicate glass. Another innovation on the Gaia (there are many) is the Air Insulation Technology. The Gaia draws air around the chamber, insulating the interior components from the heat of the oven. All of the other vaporizers I have tried use a material called Silica Aerogel to insulate the oven. Little testing has been done on Silica Aerogels so heating them up near the air path is a concern for me. The functionality of the Gaia is simple and straight forward, proving that phone apps aren’t always the best answer. Finally, the Gaia comes equipped with full temperature variability, long lasting battery, and a hide away herb tool, all for around $160, making it one of the least expensive vaporizers on this list and the least expensive convection vaporizer on the market.
Now to be honest, I struggled to find some negatives on the Gaia so here is what I was able to come up with. The chamber is a bit on the small size, I was only able to fit .27 of a gram into it. While this is enough to get 3 solid sessions out of, a bigger chamber would make quite the difference. The second and last negative is that after continuous use (around 9 minutes) the device starts to get a little warm. Not hot but a little warm, this could be due to the fact that the unit is made of mostly stainless steel, quartz and glass. All in all, the Gaia by Linx Vapor is truly an innovative and quality vaporizer with a price point that can’t be beat.
So there you have it, these are the Best Vaporizers of 2017. Please comment below and let us know what you think the best vaporizer of 2017 is. Thanks for reading and be on the look out for more vape reviews.
Cheers
***Note***We here at Vape Hacked do not take payment for reviews. We are not bias and can’t be bought so you can expect nothing but true reviews here***
Vaporizer Review
Linx Gaia Review – Does it Live up to the Hype?
The Gaia is Linx Vapors first venture into the world of dry herb vaporizers and WOW did they make an amazing device! It’s loaded with innovations but does it live up to all the hype? Lets dive on in!
Design
The Linx Gaia is a convection style dry herb Cannabis vaporizer. At first glance the Linx Gaia is strikingly beautiful and elegant in its design. The medical grade stainless steel body is accented with silver trim and the buttons are firmly set in place, no button rattle. The Gaia has the weight and feel of a quality device in the hand, not too heavy but obviously made of quality materials. The durability of the Linx Gaia is great. I dropped the device from a height of 3 feet and the device functioned perfectly fine. So far so good.
There are a few other design elements that I think are impressive. The Gaia comes with a hide-away herb tool that tucks right into the bottom of the device and is secured by a magnet. I found this to be a great help as I am always loosing my herb tools. I like that forward thinking. The charging cable has the ability to charge Micro USB and lightning devices, yet another nifty addition. Finally the size of the device its self is quite impressive, measuring just 80mm tall and 50 mm wide, much smaller than most dry herb devices.
Design Score 19/20
Taste
The taste coming off the Gaia is spectacular, especially with the first few draws. There is no real learning curve on this device, just use a medium pack and you’re off to flavor town! On the lower temps you get an amazing array of terpene goodness and the aroma of fresh bud. I like that I can easily change temps in the middle of a session, allowing me to zero in on accurate terpene boiling points or increase the heat at the end of my session to get the most out of my bud. It seems the combination of the all quartz chamber and the convection heating really make for optimal vaporization. Bravo!
Taste Score 20/20
Vapor Production
The Gaia is a convection vaporizer so you shouldn’t expect to get massive billowy clouds from this device. Instead, you get a very flavorful, almost wispy vapor. I actually prefer lighter clouds of vapor for a more discreet session. At higher temps you will start to notice a larger cloud but the Gaia is built for flavor, not cloud production. The vapor is cool in temperature and does not require the use of a water bubbler, but if you feel the need, Linx offers a compatible bubbler and water pipe adapter. You will also notice that the AVB is nicely browned, with no char on the herb what so ever. That’s the sign of a good even heat through.
Vapor Production Score: 18/20
Functionality
The functionality of the Gaia is very easy and straight forward. Five clicks to turn it on and off. Use the up and down buttons to select your desired temperature. Hold down the power button for half a second and release, the unit will start heating up. The vaporizer will shut off after four minutes to avoid over heating. This is a good amount of time for a solid session. Although there isn’t an app for this device, I find that an app really isn’t all that necessary. I am usually doing something else while consuming Cannabis, I just need a reliable device that I don’t have to continuously monitor.
The battery life on the Gaia is quite impressive. I find that I can get in 7 to 9 sessions in before having to recharge. The charging time is quite fast too, reaching full charge in about 2.5 hours. The battery is not removable which is kind of a bummer. I would have liked the convenience of carrying extra batteries on long trips.
Clean up is quick and easy with the Gaia. Simply empty the chamber, brush out any remnants and swab the chamber with ISO Alcohol. The mouthpiece can be taken apart and dropped into Iso alcohol for a couple of hours and that’s about it. I recommend cleaning your vaporizer every three sessions or when changing strains.
Functionality Score: 18/20
Health Consciousness
The health consciousness of the Gaia is outstanding! The vapor path consists of a quartz chamber, medical grade stainless steel, and glass. There are no plastics or silicone in the equation. That’s a big plus in my book. The vapor is light, cool and doesn’t irritate my lungs which is another big plus. The biggest plus has to come from the air insulation technology. Most vaporizer companies use Silica Aerogels to insulate the heating element. This protects the internal electrical components from the heat coming off the oven. Silica Aerogels can be toxic especially when heated and inhaled. The people over at Linx must have considered this and opted for an air cooled heating chamber. The way it works is the incoming air passes over the heating chamber, cooling it down before entering the chamber to heat up the dry herb. Quite an ingenious addition to a vaporizer.
Health Consciousness Score: 19/20
Overall Score: 94
The Linx Gaia is an absolute stellar first showing for Linx Vapor. They nailed it on almost every criteria I use to grade vaporizers. This is with out a doubt one of the best vaporizers I have tried so far! The flavor was amazing, the functionality is simple, the clean-up is a breeze, its health conscious and the AVB is browned to perfection. The only thing better is the price point, coming in at just $159, the Gaia is the least expensive convection vaporizers you can buy. Well done Linx Vapor, well done.Thanks for reading and be on the look out for more vape reviews.
Cheers
***Note***We here at Vape Hacked do not take payment for reviews. We are not bias and can’t be bought so you can expect nothing but true reviews here***