Welcome to High Tech, iDigitalTimes’ new cannabis-focused gadgetry review column. Each month, we’ll have updates on new/popular vaporizers, electronic smoking devices and other cannabis-related gadgetry, always with the same thoroughness you’ve come to expect from all of iDigi’s gadget reviews
Despite being unfamiliar with the PAX brand just a few weeks ago, PAX Labs first portable vaporizer has quickly become one of my favorite means of consuming THC. It hasn’t convinced me to give up smoking, the way many do after acquiring a decent vaporizer, but the PAX might finally get me to give my lungs a more frequent break.
Before we get too deep into this thing, I should clarify this won't your typical iDigitalTimes gadget review. Primarily because the original PAX is already three-years-old and reviewing a gadget with a second-generation follow-up seems kind of nonsensical. Rather than approaching the PAX like a new device, which it’s not, we’re looking to provide readers with enough information to know how the original PAX stacks up against the recently-released PAX 2. (Full Disclosure: The PAX used for this review was provided to us, free-of-charge, by Vape World.)
A 2012 Fast Company profile claims the company hopes to create a “designer” alternative to existing vaporizers, many of which look like children’s toys. While the value of that aesthetic will vary from user to user, I suspect most would agree that PAX Labs succeeded in creating a device that doesn’t look anything like the standard e-cigarette or nicotine vaporizer. But PAX Labs' design choices may not have achieved longevity the way the company was hoping for.
These days, the anodized aluminum exterior sort of makes the PAX look like one of the many iDevice knock-offs that can be found at Walmart, Target and other big box retailers. I don’t necessarily mean that as a knock against the company, or the original PAX, but I think we’re a few years past the point where you’re going to convince someone the PAX is the latest iPod or some other expensive mobile gadget. It looks modern but it's not going to take most folks long to figure out it's a vaporizer.
A four-pronged indicator light serves as the device’s only means of communicating information, offering updates on the oven temperature and battery life as needed. It might not seem like much but the ability to quickly know whether or not the PAX’s oven is hot enough to generate vapor is quite handy if you’re trying to use the device while participating in other activities.
It’s not hard to see why more than half a million people have already purchased a PAX. The device is slightly more than four inches long, allowing it to easily fit into most palms and pockets without issue.
While we don’t recommend using that as an excuse to break public consumption laws, if you need a vaporizer that won’t draw attention, the PAX’s featureless exterior and hidden oven are about as discreet as they come. And that should prove useful to anyone who needs their vaporizer to blend in with other possessions. We're looking at you, college students.
The only real downside is needing to clean the PAX as frequently as you charge it, which (according to PAX Labs) averages out to about once for every five oven-loads. Yes, cleaning the PAX is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is remove the mouthpiece, remove the oven lid, run an isopropyl-soaked pipe cleaner through the delivery channel, blow some air into the oven to clear out residual plant matter and you're done. The whole process takes about two minutes, maybe three if you spend an extra minute cleaning the oven's removable screen, too.
It doesn't take long, but the frequent need to clean the PAX can be kind of a pain in the ass after a while. And my lack of desire to have to clean the thing so frequently is the primary reason the PAX won’t become my go-to device for cannabis consumption. It will, however, remain an occasional part of the rotation and those willing to clean the PAX regularly will be rewarded with one of the most consistent vaporizing experiences I’ve ever encountered.
Despite not allowing the user to adjust oven temperature, a feature that’s all-but-mandatory for any serious herbal vaporizer, PAX delivers hits that are both smooth and consistent. It might take a few bowls for you to get an idea of how long you’ll need to wait between hits, particularly those who prefer to take longer hits and/or see a sizable cloud when exhaling. But you won't burn through several bowls just trying to figure out how not to burn your plant matter.
The vapor itself is surprisingly pleasant, too. It might not match quality with the bags you can produce on a tabletop device but the PAX is more than capable of generating a substantial amount of vapor when used properly. Obviously, the quality of your product is going to affect the vapor as well, but I'm happy to report that the PAX seems more than capable of producing quality, THC-laden vapor for your inhalation. Or nicotine-laden, if that's your thing.
At $200, the original PAX is still substantially more-expensive than the competition, including devices capable of swapping back and forth between herbal and concentrate/oil/wax bowls. It also requires semi-frequent bowl changes and substantially more routine cleaning than its competition.
Occasional smokers are likely to find PAX to be the pinnacle of the portable vaping experience. If you only need a few hits to get where you'd like to be, PAX can carry you down the road with more than enough fuel for a return trip in a few hours. However, those hoping to get serious mileage out of the portable vaporizer will find its limited battery life and frequent need for cleaning limit the PAX's usefulness as an on-the-go smoking/vaping solution.
Like many modern gadgets, there will undoubtedly be a crowd for which the PAX presents a perfect solution to the quandary of finding an acceptable daily-use vaporizer. In fact, it's more than capable of getting the job done for anyone who does most of their marijuana consumption from the safety of their own home. But anyone considered to be the heaviest smoker in the circle -- we're talking frequency of use, not body weight -- is probably going to need something to complement the PAX on longer outings.
Even as someone who tends to prefer smoking, I can honestly say I’d recommend the PAX to friends in search of a new loose-leaf vaporizer. That recommendation might not go to someone looking for a budget-priced device but anyone willing to spend $200 on a new vaporizer could do a hell of a lot worse than ordering the PAX.
Be sure to check back with iDigitalTimes.com and follow Scott on Twitter for more cannabis-related gadget reviews throughout the remainder of 2015 and for however long the industry continues to churn out new/interesting gadgets in the years to come.
Have you had a chance to use the PAX before? Thinking about taking the plunge on PAX Labs' loose-leaf vaporizer? Not sure that you’re willing to spend so much cash on a device that can’t vaporize both herbs and oils?
Let us know in the comments section!
