As a person who is professionally trained as a sensory scientist, flavor and effect are my top two factors when determining what strains I like, which ones I love, and which ones I can’t live without. The same goes for strains I don’t care for.
Unfortunately, since regulated cannabis hit the market, this list is quite extensive. It’s okay to be picky with your cannabis.
The Steam Chalice Changes the Game
One of the most epic smoke-outs was when the Fat Nugs crew went down to the heart of the Caribbean, the land of reggae and ganja, Jamaica! We met up with one of the best Rastafarian growers on the island, Wabba, and had the most epic sesh of my life. We used Wabba’s steam chalice which is essentially the original vaporizer. (A steam chalice is a vaporizer which uses water filtration via a coconut for smooth, cool flavorful rip that’s best shared with friends).
It was the perfect way to taste the flavors and terpenes of each unique sun grown strain. Rolling up joints has been the standard bearer for grading, tasting and evaluating flower, but the steam chalice was the first real positive vaporizing experience I’d had in well over a decade.
I love the steam chalice, but it’s not a day to day smoking device, unless you burn with lots of people and have access to copious amounts of cannabis.
PAX Brings The Flavor
While the chalice is cool, it’s not practical. Time to turn to the professionals and PAX is one of the originals. They’ve been in the vape game since 2007. If longevity doesn’t do it for you, recommendations from trusted friends should.
My good friends Jocelyn and Claudio hosted two media-focused Budist Sessions, one in LA at The Woods and one in NYC at Tucci, where they guided guests through an educational, sensory-focused experience.
Budist featured award-winning cultivars from Emerald Spirit Botanicals (Northern Mendocino) and Mokotoke (Hudson Valley), and using the FLOW device at different temperature settings they explored how the hardware choices can shape flavor, aroma, and overall experience of the flower. Trust me when I tell you to trust what the Budist crew is doing. Budist’s have their organoleptic skills on point!
A Walk Down Vaporizer Lane
I come from the era when vaporizers were in their infancy. They were neat, but they used a lot of flower and the cups would often burn before you were able to dial in the settings for a proper sesh.
The day the Volcano came out, it was revolutionary to the original vape game. But at over $700, not everyone could afford one. It was pretty cool when someone had one at a party or a random dealer would be loading one up, but it was few and far between.
I’ve found many of the digital display models available over the past 5 years are not accurate in holding temps, but one brand has always seemed to rise to the top of the dry herb vape category: PAX
The PAX Flow: A Review
I’ve toked out of many different dry herb vaporizers in my lifetime and I can honestly say, the PAX Flow takes the cake! After taking it on a spin with a few Arizona flower brands, here are my thoughts and my experience.
Usability
PAX has taken the user error out of the equation with this new iteration. The PAX Flow is turnkey straight out of the box. With minimal parts and cleaning, maintenance is a breeze. Just a couple of cotton swabs and a bit of ISO along with the poker tool that came with the device and you’ll be puffing like you’ve been vaping dry herb since 2002. As a lifelong combustion smoker I was skeptical it could compete with the experience of smoking a joint or packing up a bowl, but I remained open-minded.
Forget the confusing screens and complicated gadgets. The PAX Flow is the no-nonsense accessory your smoke routine’s been waiting for. It’s got the tech to get you into outer space without having to learn to fly the spaceship, if you catch my drift. We’ve got enough on our plates without having to completely learn a new device. The Flow is sleek, smart, and ready to go with zero fuss. No torches, no glass rigs, and no more tech fatigue. It just works.
Just grind up your stash to a medium coarseness and preload the chamber. Hold the button down to turn on and set to one of the four heat settings. Wait a few seconds until the device heats up and vape away!
Performance
- Smooth and sleek
- Discreet
- Small enough to fit in your palm
- Convenient, fast charging port
- Four heat settings
From full flavor and little vapor to producing decent clouds and a nice, full and expansive feeling in the lungs. Each person will have their own preference for which setting is their preferred, so experiment until you find your fit. The chamber big enough to have a decent sesh, but not so large you have to use all your flower to fill it up.
Additionally, the PAX Flow came with one of the nicest grinders I have ever used. Solid, durable and high quality. It grinds the flowers to the right consistency. There is a tool that allows you to press the flower into the chamber. Conveniently, it doubles as storage for extra ground material to take with you on-the-go.
Cleaning & Care
As I mentioned earlier, cleaning and caring for the PAX Flow is a breeze. The couple steps can easily be incorporated into your sesh routine. You’ll need a cotton swab and a bit of ISO, and the poker tool that came with the device. Piece of cake!
The PAX Flow: A New Tool for My Flavor Tool Chest
Here are the top reasons I love my new PAX Flow:
- Lung health
- Convenience and accessibility of my cannabis no matter the location
- Enhanced flavor experience
It’s impossible to place a value on saving my lungs from repeated abuse. Sure, it’s not quite the same as lighting up a joint or packing up a bowl and taking a massive, keel over coughing rip, but you can’t do that discreetly in many circumstances and situations anyway. You’re extracting all the good bits and leaving behind the stuff that doesn’t need to be combusted to get medicated.
And on that note, the PAX Flow can take your herb places a joint could never go. I like to consume when I’m out and about, but it isn’t Kosher to toke up anywhere you want. I like to consume respectfully. If that means no burning flower, I can understand. I hated it when cigarettes were still legal to smoke inside. A night out was coming home smelling like an ash tray. Cannabis can be particularly pungent. I don’t expect everyone to like the smell and there can be curious family members and children around.
As someone who is a connoisseur of quality and flavor, having a portable and easy to use device which enhances my experience and allows me to consume in locations I normally couldn’t, it’s a huge win. When I’m diving deep into product reviews, I need to able to pull out and identify all the subtle variations and nuances with each pass through the olfactory. The light, volatile terpenes can get burnt up by combustion before ever reaching your taste buds. The PAX Flow changes that.
I love experiencing cannabis and the cannabis industry on the front line as it happens and as it unfolds around me. The evolution of technology and cannabis is still in it’s infancy and we have a ways to go. It will be interesting to see what else PAX has up their sleeves when they try and top the Flow. Until then, I’ve got a bunch of flower to grind up and taste. Stay tuned for my breakdowns to go even further now I have a new tool for the tool chest.
