This Thing Rips Roil Review: Big Improvement Over R2 Series
Tasty Ceramic Donut – But Cheaper To Get Separate Pieces (Rather Than Kit)
This Thing Rips ROIL Vape Pen
Design & Quality of The Roil Vape Pen
The This Thing Rips Roil is the ceramic donut vape pen that is cross compatible with other This Thing Rips vapes and part of it’s R Series line. It’s a solid, low-temp wax pen.
The range of other vape pens by This Thing Rips have the same style: 650mah battery, atomizer, colored see-through chamber and a “pen cover” to mask your vape pen. Each model by This Thing Rips is defined by which atomizer is included, and represented by a different color:
This Thing Rips Vape Pens; Roil, R Series 2, ReMIX, OG Four 2.0
Roil – Blue – Ceramic donut.
R2 Series – Green – Coils with ceramic rods and ceramic cup.
OG Four 2.0 – Orange – Coils with quartz rods and “lava” quartz cup.
That means the Roil includes 2 ceramic donut atomizers. Along with the atomizers, it comes with a 650mah battery, and has three settings. Unlike the This Thing Rips R2 Series, this pen needs a 510 charger, not a micro USB cable.
The 3 settings are: Blue – Low, Orange – Medium, and Red – High. Don’t be surprised when the colors don’t follow in the regular order though (Low -> Medium -> High), because they go backwards on the Roil (High/Red -> Medium/Orange -> Low/Blue).
The Roil includes 650mah battery, XL silicone jar, and ceramic donut atomizers
Our only gripes here are just the same as all the other This Thing Rips pens. In order to fill it, you have to unscrew the blue plastic chamber multiple times, until it comes off. The other, is a complaint that unfortunately all coil-less vape pens have to deal with – they get super hot on the outside.
Realistically though, this is your run of the mill, average ceramic donut vape pen. This design has been around since 2014.
Ease of Use: Threading Gets Tiring
This Thing Rips Roil works exactly like most vape pens; fill coil with material, select temperature, press button and inhale. The annoying part is the plastic threading, as you have to unscrew a very long thread every time you need to reload. It’s not the end of the world, but gets old quick with constant use.
Strength: It Does Rip
The Roil gives you a good hit on the high level. However, on lower temps, it feels restricted. If the Roil vape pen had a better airflow system, it would hit harder overall.
Better Than Coils, But Not Great For Coil-Less
The Roil is easier to fill, this is simply because ceramic donuts are easier than single coils. But, it could be better. If the atomizer was a full plate without the donut hole, it would be great. With the ceramic donut, some wax is lost down in the middle of the hole and on the side walls in the space before the donut.
Given the other ceramic options out there, this is not high on efficiency. The tech here is a bit dated.
Versatility / Atomizer Options
This Thing Rips is one of the few companies to offer you all the options.
The Roil works with 3 other This Thing Rips vape pens: the R Series 2, the OG Four 2.0, and the ReMIX. You can get the ceramic plate ReMIX, OR either of the coiled vape pens – R Series 2 or OG Four 2.0 (Pro-Tip: don’t get a coiled one).
The This Thing Rips Roil comes with ceramic donut atomizers
This model also works with their larger version vaporizers: the R2 Rig Edition and the OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition, but they look very weird on a thin battery.
Portability: Fits Easily In Your Pocket
The This Thing Rips Roil vape pen kit comes with a ‘pen cap’ to disguise your vape on the go
The Roil is pretty much the same as the rest of the This Thing Rips line. It is the standard 12mm wide but is actually shorter than the R Series 2 and ReMIX because the Roil (and OG Four 2.0) uses a smaller battery, by about 0.3 inches.
This won’t fit in your shirt pen pocket (with the pen cap), but it’s a perfect size for your pants pocket, or handbag.
Roil is not very discreet (in use) with a bright blue chamber that fills with smoke and light up button.
Discretion: Too Bright on The Roil
The pen cap of the Roil makes the pen more discreet, but it’s really only useful when stored away. With the cap on, the pen is oddly long and clearly has a button.
When in use, the bright blue visual chamber fills up with smoke and is extremely obvious. Just like the orange chamber of the OG Four 2.0, the red chamber of the ReMIX, and the green chamber of the R Series 2. These see-through bright colors, are anything but discreet.
Taste: Pretty Good For This Thing Rips
Taste is good with the Roil. When run at lower temperatures, you can get good low temp dabs that make the taste stand out. So far this is the best tasting This Thing Rips pen we have tried.
Value: Better to Get Separate Pieces
You know the drill with the This Thing Rips vape pens… This one supposedly has a value of $175… In real life it’s $77.10…. (get it? ‘710’!)
Anyway, at close to $80 it’s competitively priced compared to similar models.
The XL silicone container is a nice touch. If the battery had the same better silver finish as the OG Four 2.0 it would be ten times better. The black plastic finish on this pen just makes it feel cheap.
The biggest problem is that the Roil vaporizer kit is a worse deal than just getting the replacements and a battery by themselves.
The This Thing Rips ROIL is $77.10 – like 710, get it?
They sell the attachment with 2 atomizers for $39.99! The replacements for the R2 Series are $24.95 for 2, so the Roil is $15 more expensive…
The other problem is the Warranty is only 90-days, even for the battery, which is a quarter of the standard 1-year warranty! TGet also request your credit card information and then make you sign so they can charge your card without needing your input any more…
It’s not required, so make sure to not sign! This is the only company I have seen ask for a credit card on a warranty replacement that is supposed to be free.
If the price was around $65 it would be a better deal and more in line with it’s value.
Replacements: Not Cheap
Charging $39.99 for an attachment with 2 ceramic donut atomizers isn’t cheap. On the other hand, at around $20 for each atomizer – it’s not the worse deal ever.
You can’t purchase these online direct from the company – so you’ll have to go to a physical store to buy them or get them here.
This Thing Rips doesn’t allow online purchases, so you’ll have to go in search of a physical store!
This Thing Rips Roil Conclusion
The 90-day warranty makes the battery not worth the cost.
We recommend getting the attachment and an unbranded variable voltage battery instead of the Roil kit. Otherwise, I would skip this vape pen, it’s very ‘2014’ technology-wise.
Ceramic donut vape pens have been around for quite a while, and at this point there are many better coil free options out there that are much more efficient. This is not an awful vape pen, but not something I would buy.
The ‘R Series 2’ from This Thing Rips is the little brother of the ‘R2 Rig Edition‘. This vape pen comes in at 5.5 inches tall and 12mm wide. The R Series 2 battery charges through a micro USB cable, unlike the This Thing Rips Roil and OG Four 2.0.
Design & Quality of The R Series 2
This Thing Rips vape pens all have the same style: a 650mAh battery, an atomizer, a see-through colored plastic chamber, and a “pen cover” (like an extra long pen lid) to disguise the vape pen. Each “This Thing Rips” model is defined by which type of atomizer is included, and is represented by a different color:
This Thing Rips Vape Pens; Roil, R Series 2, ReMIX, OG Four 2.0
Roil – Blue – Ceramic donut.
R2 Series – Green – Coils with ceramic rods and ceramic cup.
ReMIX – Red – Ceramic plate.
OG Four2.0 – Orange – Coils with quartz rods and “lava” quartz cup.
This means the R Series 2 includes 2 atomizers with ceramic rods and a ceramic cup; one single coil and one double coil. As mentioned above, this vape pen comes with a 650mAh battery, compared to the 1300mAh battery of its big brother (Rig Edition). However, we’re stuck with the same cheap looking, light up, “hashtag” power button used on the This Thing Rips ReMIX vape pen.
What’s Included With the R Series 2?
Set It & Forget It Smart Battery
Dual Ceramic Ti Coil Atomizer
Single Ceramic Ti Coil Atomizer
Discreet Pen Cap
XL Polycarbonate Visual Reaction Chamber
XXL Patented SURE-GRIP Silicone Jar
Hypercharge USB Cable
Stainless Steel Tool
2 x Cleaning Wipes
Mouthpiece
Instructions For Use
This Thing Rips – R Series 2 Vaporizer Pen and Pen CapThe bottom of This Thing Rips – R Series 2 Vaporizer also has a USB charging port
Unfortunately, these coils are even cheaper than those used on the Rig Edition. So, expect much of the same – metallic taste, small gauge, quick heats up, burning wax, etc. These cheap coils really ruin what could be a relatively good, cheap vape pen.
Temperature Settings
The R Series 2 has 3 temperature settings
There are 3 temperature settings on this vape pen. The hashtag button glows a different color to show which setting it’s on.
Low temp = Blue light (3.6v)
Medium temp = Orange light (3.8v)
High temp = Red light (4.2v)
However, the colors do not follow that order (Low -> Medium -> High). This R Series 2 vape pen actually goes backwards in order: High -> Medium -> Low.
Ease of Use: Annoying Threading to Unscrew
This Thing Rips R Series 2 works like most vape pens: fill coil with material, select temperature, press button and inhale. This is simple enough, but the problem here is with the threading on the plastic. Unlike the easy to pull o-rings from R2 Rig Edition, in order to fill this pen you have to unscrew the green plastic chamber. The threading on the plastic cap is annoying because of its numerous threads, requiring about 8 twists to remove it each time.
The R Series 2 vape pen also comes with a large silicone container and a small dab tool.
Strength
This Thing Rips R Series 2 coils get hot very quickly! The double coil delivers a strong hit, but still not as strong as the Rig Edition. This is because the coils in the R2 Series have a smaller gauge compared to the larger model.
Efficiency: Possible Leaks In The R Series 2 Vape
The R Series 2 has low coils. If your material misses the coil, you can hold your pen at an angle that will make your dab slide into the coil. Your wax won’t get stuck and lost underneath like with higher coils. This makes it pretty efficient.
Don’t overfill your atomizer or leave it full though, unless you want your wax to leak out. There are still holes for the wax to slide into, if too full.
Versatility / Atomizer Options: OK
The This Thing Rips R Series 2 atomizers work with the three other ‘normal’ This Thing Rips pens: OG Four 2.0, Roil, and Remix. You probably won’t want to use the (plastic film coated) OG Four 2.0, but the Roil ceramic donut and ReMIX ceramic plate are great options if you own the R Series 2.
This Thing Rips – R Series 2 – Single Ceramic Ti Coil Atomizer
Surprisingly, the This Thing Rips R Series 2 works with the atomizer of the R2 Rig Edition, because it still uses a resistance similar to the smaller model. As mentioned, the coil and gauge is better on the Rig Edition, so it would be an upgrade (not a huge one, but definitely better). It looks ridiculous, size-wise, but will work. Ironically, the This Thing Rips R2 atomizers do not work on the bigger Rig version…
Out of all the This Thing Rips atomizers we have tested, the ReMIX is by far the best. If you already have an R2 Series, get a ReMIX replacement coil for better flavor.
Portability: Taller Than The Rig Edition…
The R Series 2 includes a ‘pen cap’ for a more discreet look
The This Thing Rips R Series 2 is the standard 12mm wide and 5.5 inches tall. The included “pen cap” adds almost half an inch to the 5.9 inch tall vape pen, which makes it even taller than the Rig Edition!
This one won’t fit in your shirt pen pocket if that’s what you planned, but still fits snugly in your pants pocket – no problem.
Discretion: Bright Colors And # Light Are Not Discreet
The R Series 2 vape pen has a bright green, see-through chamber that fills with smoke when in use – making it difficult to be discreet.
Though it’s supposed to be disguised as a pen, the “pen cap” is only discreet if nobody actually looks at it. The half-a-foot long pen with a strangely long cap looks a bit odd. The cover is really only useful when not in use, either stashed in your pocket or carrying it.
When using the R Series 2 vape pen, the bright green chamber clearly fills with smoke and creates an unmistakable visual.
Taste Is Awful on the R Series 2
Taste is just plain bad on the R Series 2. If you use nice wax in this vape pen, it will quickly taste like metal. You’ll be forced to experience the infamous “vape pen” taste, leaving you with a rough throat as well.
The bad quality of the R Series 2 makes it impossible to enjoy the taste of a goodwax. Also, the smell of the cheap burning coil is migraine inducing, and can be instant.
Value: Low Price For Low Quality
According to This Thing Rips, the R Series 2 vape pen has a $135 value… I don’t know how, or on what planet this would be worth $135…
BS aside, at $49.95 the R Series 2 is a decent price for a kit including a large concentrate container, a single coil atomizer and a double coil atomizer. If they would just use better tasting coils – this would be a good deal.
The R Series 2 Vaporizer Kit is a good price at $49.95
Another problem with this deal is the Warranty. This warranty is only 90 days – even for the battery. That’s only a quarter of the standard 1-year warranty offered on most batteries by other vape pen companies. These batteries tend to die, so be careful after your 3 months is up.
Be careful of their warranty registration too. For some reason they request your credit card information and make you sign so they can charge your card without needing your input any more! It’s not required, so make sure NOT to sign it! We don’t know if or why they would charge you, but this is the first and only company who asks to store your CC info and get authorization. It’s best not to leave those details with any company.
Replacements For R Series 2
This Thing Rips R Series 2 replacements are actually very well priced. However, remember the quality of the materials isn’t great. For $24.95 you get a single and a double coil atomizer, as well as another plastic chamber and pen cap. You can’t actually purchase these online, so you’ll have to go to a physical store to buy them.
We really can’t stress this enough: if the coils were good, this would be a great deal. But the atomizers are the worst part. So, though the price is low, they’re just terrible quality!
Conclusion: Would Not Buy
If you happen to be in a store and they don’t have anything else, this is a good enough purchase for there and then. However, if you’re looking to taste or really enjoy your wax, do not get this pen.
The cheap quality materials used in the R Series 2 make this an extremely undesirable vape pen. The taste is awful, discretion is an issue, and it just feels like a cheap vape pen in use. It’s OK in a hurry, but it certainly wouldn’t be a first (or second) choice.
This Thing Rips ReMIX – Better Than The Roil, But Not Great
This Thing Rips – ReMIX Vape Pen
Design & Quality of ReMIX
The This Thing Rips ReMIX is the newest edition to This Thing Rips’ “normal” vape pen line, and the best of them all, so far.
This Thing Rips vape pens pretty much have the same style: a 650mAh battery, an atomizer, see-through colored plastic chamber and a “pen cover” to mask your vape pen. Each model is defined by what atomizer is included, and is represented by a different color:
This Thing Rips Vape Pens; Roil, R Series 2, ReMIX, OG Four 2.0
Roil – Blue – Ceramic donut.
R2 Series – Green – Coils with ceramic rods and ceramic cup.
ReMIX – Red – Ceramic plate.
OG Four 2.0 – Orange – Coils with quartz rods and “lava” quartz cup.
This means that the ReMIX includes 2 ceramic plate atomizers and has a bright red plastic chamber.
What’s Included with the ReMIX?
1 x Set It & Forget It Smart Battery
1 x Discreet Pen Cap
2 x Ceramic Thermal Cup Atomizers
1 x XL Polycarbonate Visual Reaction Chamber
1 x Mouthpiece
2 x Cleaning Wipes
1 x XXL Patented SURE-GRIP Silicone Jar
1 x Hypercharge USB Cable
2 x Silicone Heat Rings
1 x Stainless Steel Tool
1 x Instructions For Use
The ReMIX includes a pen cap, silicone jar, and ceramic atomizers.
Ceramic Plate Atomizer
We have to make a point of explaining this atomizer – they call it a “Ceramic Thermal Cup.” I have to point out that the way they word things uses a lot of hyperbole. This term makes you think that the cup itself gets hot, but it’s just the ceramic plate at the bottom that heats up. This atomizer uses the exact same cup as the other atomizers, so there’s no improvement or change in the cup.
The ceramic plate does not completely cover the bottom and should really be much lower. Wax melts and slides down under it due to the high placement. Some will be lost and wasted.
Settings
Along with the atomizers, it includes a 650mAh battery and has 3 settings. Like the This Thing Rips R2 Series, the ReMIX charges through a regular micro USB cable.
The 3 settings are: Blue – Low, Orange – Medium, and Red – High. Don’t be surprised when the colors don’t follow in the regular order though (Low -> Medium -> High), because they go backwards (High/Red -> Medium/Orange -> Low/Blue).
Our other gripes with the ReMIX are just the same ones as all the This Thing Rips normal pens. In order to load it up, you have to unscrew the red plastic chamber multiple times – every time. The other is a complaint that all coil-less vape pens have to deal with – they get super hot on the outside.
Ease of Use
The This Thing Rips ReMIX works exactly like most vape pens: fill coil with material, select temperature, press button, inhale. The annoying part is the threading on the plastic. You have to unscrew a very long thread every time you need to reload.
The USB charging attachment on the bottom is quite useful though.
The bottom of the ReMIX connects to a Hypercharge USB Cable
Strength: Tricky To Get Right
This Thing Rips ReMIX is a low temp vape pen. So, to get a strong hit you need to put A LOT of wax in there. If you just put a little, it will melt down to the sides, and you’ll get weak, wispy hits.
Efficiency
This Thing Rips ReMIX comes with ceramic plate atomizers – some wax gets lost underneath
The This Thing Rips ReMIX is an improvement over the Roil, because instead of having a donut, you get a full ceramic plate.
The problem with this, is the plate is too high above the ceramic cup. This means that when you turn the heat up, your wax melts and runs from the heat and down to the cup. If you try to take a small dab, you might wonder where it disappeared to!
Versatility / Atomizer Options
The This Thing Rips ReMIX works with the other 3 This Thing Rips “normal” pens, R2 Series, OG Four 2.0 and the Roil. You can get the ceramic donut Roil or either of the coiled vape pens, R2 Series or OG Four 2.0. However we recommend avoiding the coiled ones. Also avoid anything with lava quartz.
This Thing Rips is one of the few companies to offer you all the options.
This model also works with the larger Rig editions, R2 and OG Four 2.0, though they look very weird with a thin battery.
Portability: OK
ReMIX comes with a ‘pen cap’ to mask your vape pen on the go!
The ReMIX is the same as the rest of the This Thing Rips standard line. It is the standard 12mm wide, but it’s actually taller than the OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition and the Roil. The ReMIX and the R2 Series use a taller battery by a about .3 inches because of the micro USB charging ability.
The This Thing Rips ReMIX won’t fit in your shirt pen pocket with the pen cap on. It’s still a perfect fit for your pocket or handbag.
Discretion: Bright Red Is Not That Discreet
The pen cap makes the pen discreet when stored away. With the cap on, the pen is oddly long and clearly has a button and lights up.
When in use, the bright red visual chamber fills up with smoke and is extremely obvious. Just like the orange chamber of the OG Four 2.0, the blue chamber of the Roil, and the green chamber of the R Series 2. These see-through bright colors, are definitely not discreet in any way.
Taste: Good Taste, But Can Lose Wax
Taste is pretty good with the ReMIX. When you run it at lower temperatures, you can get really good terpene flavors from your dabs.
Value: Worth It Compared To Roil
The This Thing Rips reMIX will only cost you $10 more than the Roil, and goes for $87.10. (I know, 710…)
Compared to the Roil, it’s worth the extra $10 for sure.
At $87.10 the This Thing Rips ReMIX isn’t a bad deal
The battery and pen finish could be much better, but it’s the best atomizer value out of all their models.
Like the Roil though, the ReMIX vaporizer kit is a worse deal than just getting the replacements by themselves and a battery. Forget the concentrate container and save yourself $40+. The warranty for the battery sucks anyway.
The other problem is the Warranty is only 90-days – even for the battery, which is a quarter of the standard 1-year warranty. These batteries tend to die, so keep it safe after the 3 months are up! Be careful of their warranty registration too, for some reason they request your credit card information and then make you sign so they can charge your card without needing your input any more…
Why would CC details be needed for a warranty? We don’t know why they would charge you, maybe they don’t – but this is the first and ONLY company who asks to store your CC info and a CC authorization. It’s always better not to leave CC info with companies.
Replacements
This Thing Rips ReMIX replacements are a fair price, charging $43.99 for an attachment with 2 ceramic plate atomizers. Compared to competing models, $17 for each atomizer isn’t bad.
We hope you like to walk to your smoke shop or trust other retailers online, because you also can’t purchase any of these products directly from This Thing Rips.
Conclusion on This Thing Rips ReMIX
The ReMIX is better tasting than most of the This Thing Rips vape pens thanks to the ceramic plate. It suffers on efficiency as wax can be lost underneath the plate. This vape pen is not discreet with a bright red plastic chamber or glowing hash tag.
The 90-day warranty makes the battery not worth the cost. We recommend getting the attachment and an unbranded variable voltage battery. Overall, this is a big improvement of the other offerings from This Thing Rips, but still not a vape pen I would buy.
Edit 10/18/2017: This Thing Rips reached out to us an claimed that the OG Four 2.0 lava quartz is not plastic. However, they did not state what the film was. We have reached out to them for further clarification and will post their answer once received.
Design & Quality: Not So Great
The ‘OG Four 2.0’ vape pen is the little brother of the ‘OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition’ by This Thing Rips. This vape pen comes in at 5.3 inches tall and 12mm wide. Unlike the This Thing Rips R2 Series – this needs a 510 charger, not just a micro USB.
As previously mentioned in our other reviews, This Thing Rips vape pens each have the same style: a 650mah battery, atomizers, a see-through colored plastic chamber, and a “pen cover” (like an extra long pen lid) to disguise the vaporizer.
Each model from This Thing Rips is defined by what type of atomizer it includes, and is represented by a different color:
This Thing Rips Vape Pens; Roil, R Series 2, ReMIX, OG Four 2.0
Roil – Blue – Ceramic donut.
R2 Series – Green – Coils with ceramic rods and ceramic cup.
ReMIX – Red – Ceramic plate.
OG Four 2.0 – Orange – Coils with quartz rods and “lava” quartz cup.
Therefore, the OG Four 2.0 includes 2 single coil atomizers with quartz rods and what they are claiming to be a “lava quartz” cup. If you haven’t read our review of the OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition, both that model and this regular OG Four 2.0 use an orange quartz and call it “lava quartz.” Just so we’re all clear, the Lava quartz they are advertising is actually just an orange tint around the outside of the cup. We broke it down and it appeared to be plastic.
What’s Included with the OG Four 2.0?
1 x 6500 Micro Amp Vari-Volt Battery
2 x ‘Lava-Quartz’ single coil Atomizers
1 x Discreet Pen Cap
1 x Polycarbonate Visual Reaction Chamber
1 x Mouthpiece
1 x Patented SURE-GRIP Silicone Jar
1 x Quick-Charge USB
2 x Cleaning Wipes
1 x Stainless Steel Tool
1 x Instructions for Use
This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 cheap coils are not ideal!This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 comes with a ‘Pen Cap’ to appear more discreet
The coil quality is the same cheap material from the R2 Series. So, expect much of the same – metallic taste, small gauge, heats up quickly, burns wax, etc. This takes me back to 2012 and plastic micros. This is a shame, because The OG Four 2.0 has the best look out of all 4, with an all chrome look.
It has a silver cap so it looks like a normal pen when covered up. In order to fill this one, you have to unscrew the orange plastic chamber multiple times, just like the This Thing Rips R2.
This kit also comes with a large silicone container and a small dab tool.
Ease of Use: Easy But Same Annoying Threading
This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 works like most vape pens; load the coil with your preferred material – select temperature – press button – and inhale.
It’s simple enough, but the problem is with the threading on the plastic. Unlike the easy to pull ‘OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition’, the threading on the plastic cap of the OG Four 2.0 means it takes about 8 twists to remove it every time. It gets annoying after a few uses.
The threaded attachments on This This Rips – OG Four 2.0 vape pen are somewhat annoying
Strength: Not Strong In Comparison
This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 Series quartz coil gets hot quickly. But with a single coil, even around a quartz rod, it can only be so strong. It’s definitely not strong in comparison to other models that are out there. With the crappy metallic taste coming from this thing, you don’t want it too strong!
Efficiency
This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 only has 1 coil, and it’s low enough in the cup so you won’t miss it. However, there is a lot of open space on each side, so you have to carefully place a small portion right on the coil to get it right.
Versatility / Atomizer Options
The OG Four 2.0 works with the other 3 “normal” This Thing Rips pens; R2 Series, Roil, and ReMIX.
You can also get a double coil quartz atomizer with the OG Four 2.0 replacements, but it still has that orange plastic “lava quartz.”
This Thing Rips – OG Four 2.0 – Single Coil
Surprisingly, the atomizer from the OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition (and R2 Rig Edition) work with this pen. This is because it uses a resistance similar to the smaller model. As previously mentioned, the coil and gauge is better on the Rig Editions (so it would be a small upgrade to use it that way, but it looks ridiculous). Ironically, the regular OG Four 2.0 atomizer does not work on the bigger Rig Editions.
Portability
The OG Four 2.0 is about 5.7 inches with the cap
The This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 is basically the same as the rest of their standard line. It is the standard 12mm wide, but is a tiny bit shorter than the This Thing Rips R2 edition and ReMIX because the OG Four 2.0 uses a slightly smaller battery. The pen ends up being about 5.3 inches tall – without the lid, and 5.7 inches with the lid.
It won’t fit in your shirt pocket like a regular pen – if that’s what you planned. However, it will still fit snugly in your pants pocket or bag.
Discretion:
TTR OG Four 2.0 has a see-through orange chamber which fills with smoke
Bright Orange Is Obvious
Though it’s supposed to be disguised as a pen, the “Pen cap” is only discreet if nobody actually looks at it. The half-a-foot long pen with a strangely long cap and button underneath looks a bit odd.
The cover is only useful when not using the pen; when stashed in your pocket or carrying it. When in use – the bright orange chamber clearly fills with smoke and creates an unmistakable visual.
Taste: Burning Wax & Headaches
Taste is still bad with this model, just like with the R2 Series. Don’t use good wax in this vape pen. You might get a hard hit, but it will burn your wax fast.
The smell of the burning with this model is absolutely terrible, and a headache followed shortly after. Smell says a lot about quality, lets just leave it at that…
We don’t know if the plastic orange film will melt in all OG Four 2.0 models. However, the coils get very hot and when we removed one from the OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition, the coil definitely had plastic stuck to it.
Value: #ThisThingIsJunk
Ignoring the blatant exaggerated “value” price, this actually costs $74.20. At close to $80, for only 2 single coil quartz atomizers, this is already an expensive model.
Forget the bad quality for a moment. The replacement includes a single and a double coil for $35 – which is $10 more than the replacements for the R2 Series. The R2 Series is only $50, so you’re an paying extra $24.20 for less, because you don’t even get a double coil! Maybe you’re paying for that “lava quartz.” Suspect..
The OG Four 2.0 claims to use “lava quartz” – Picture courtesy of This Thing Rips.
The cheap coils and fake “lava quartz” really make this a waste of money in our opinion. No silicone case will make up for this utter lack of quality.
Another problem with this deal is the Warranty. This warranty is only 90-days – even for the battery, which is a quarter of the standard 1-year warranty most companies offer. These batteries might die, so be careful after your 3 months is up!
Be careful of their warranty registration too. For some reason they request your credit card information, then make you sign so they can charge your card without needing your input any more! It’s not required – so make sure not to sign it! We don’t know if or why they would charge you, but this is the first and ONLY company who asks to store your CC info and get authorization. It’s best not to leave those details when it is not needed.
Replacements: Not Cheap For Cheap Quality
The This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 isn’t our favorite vape pen!
This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 replacements are not cheap. For $34.95 you get a single and a double coil atomizer, as well as another plastic chamber and pen cap. It’s not horrible compared to other atomizer replacements – but then again, you have the cheap coils and “lava quartz” to deal with, so what’s the point?
You also can’t purchase replacements (or anything actually!) online, so you’ll have to go to a physical store to buy them. And really, we can’t stress this enough, if these coils were good – it would be OK. But they are the worst part, so even though the price is good, they’re just cheap quality.
Conclusion: On To The Next Vape Pen
We would avoid the OG Four 2.0 if we were you, and any of their “lava quartz” vape pens with plastic tint. It’s just not worth it at all for the price. Move along people, on to the next one!
Have you tried the OG Four 2.0? Did you love it or hate it? Comment below!
Actuali Size of the R2 Rig Edition by This Thing Rips
This Thing Rips R2 Rig Edition: It Really Does Rip, but May Leave a Headache
Design & Quality
This Thing Rips recently released “Rig editions,” which feature a larger battery with a built-in container and a large silicone tray. The This Thing Rips R2 Rig Edition is one of the largest vape pens out there. It is a diameter of 22mm wide and almost 6 inches tall. It comes with an 1100mah battery with 3 temp settings and a built-in silicone container at the bottom of the battery. It uses a green frosted glass that is very delicate (broke one of the two included just taking off and on a few times). It has a plastic mouthpiece on top with a filter to prevent concentrate from being inhaled. In between the glass attachment and the battery is a removable variable airflow with 4 air vents. You can easily twist this to change your airflow.
What You Get With This Thing Rips: Rig Edition
When you buy a This Thing Rips R2 Rig Edition, you’re buying for 2 things: the vape pen and the silicone tray. Both are cool. However, This Thing Rips has a very big tendency to use misleading statements with a TON of marketing jargon.
Low Temp? Yeah Right.
They claim the This Thing Rips R2 Rig Edition comes with a “Low Temp Atomizer.” This atomizer is as far from Low Temp as you can get. It burns red hot within seconds no matter the setting. If anything we would call this a high temp hit. But hey, this thing is meant for rips.
Not So Special This Thing Rips Battery
They also claim their battery is a “Hypercharge Battery” because it has a “Set it & Forget It” setting. This remembers your temp setting. You may remember this feature from every single variable voltage battery every made. There is literally nothing different from their battery compared to other regular 1100mah batteries that have variable voltage. It should also be noted their battery is not sub-ohm. At least they are not claiming their products are valued 3x more to try to sell it to you (like the This Thing Rips Roil, This Thing Rips Remix, etc.). This means its very unlikely they are using any decent grades of titanium wire in their atomizers, as it usually requires sub-ohm capabilities to operate.
The battery does have a cool button to go with the #ThisThingRips logo very faintly printed on the battery. It also charges via micro USB.
High Temp Atomizers
Their atomizer is a standard 10mm in diameter atomizer that uses white ceramic double coils and a cheap alloy. This is another product that decided to add more unneeded stuff rather than giving users a quality coil. The coil leaves a lot to be desired. It burns your wax even at its lowest setting. It gives that all-too-well-known “cheap vape pen” smell and taste. For me the taste was reminiscent of the old micro style vaporizers in 2012. After a lot of use and testing, it left us with a slight headache from the smell and taste.
Dab Tray
One great thing about This Thing Rips Rig edition is the cool dab tray. It’s 8 inches by 8 Inches with a large compartment on the top that is an inch and a quarter deep. It’s really useful if you have multiple vape pens and a rig. You can use the compartment to put used atomizers or other nails. The problem is, like the coil, the quality was sacrificed. Doing a simple quality test by bending the silicone you can clearly see they used lower quality silicone with fillers to make this. You can clearly smell this when you take it out for the first time and you get a huge whiff of plastic chemical smell. Make sure to wash it when you first get it. Don’t store wax without a container on the silicone. The chemicals and flavor might cross into your wax.
The green one is the R2 Rig Edition, the orange is the OG Four 2.0.
Ease of Use
The #ThisThingRips R2 Rig Edition is easy to use, like most simple double coil vape pens. Take the green glass off and place your wax on top of the coils. Then replace the glass,unlock, press the power button, and inhale. It has 3 settings (that differ from what the manual reads): Blue is low, Green is medium, and Red is high. Press 3 times to change the setting, and 5 to turn it off.
The built-in wax container is easy to use, you simply screw on and off, and atomizers are screwed and replaced very easily.
Strength
If you want strength, the #ThisThingRips R2 Rig Edition delivers. It’s alloy coil gets hot incredibly fast and within less than 5 seconds the coils will glow red hot. You’ll see clouds build up quickly in the chamber and rip through your wax within a few hits.
They claim the “Power of a Rig in the Palm of your Hand.” It gets pretty close to when you get your nail red hot and drop some wax. This thing does rip hard.
Efficiency
The This Thing Rips R2 Rig Edition is surprisingly efficient, given its larger size. Even though the diameter of the vape pen is 22mm, the atomizer is only 10mm. Unlike other larger vape pens, you don’t have more unnecessary empty space on the sides of the coils. The coils are low enough that it’s very hard to miss completely and have the wax just sit underneath the coils.
Even though it’s longer and deeper, don’t overload the atomizer or you’ll inhale wax unto the glass when it pulls around the coils. You’ll still get some wax on the walls of the atomizer. Especially shatter or really gooey consistencies.
Versatility / Atomizer Options
#ThisThingRips has 4 other vape pens before releasing the Rig Edition vape pen. including 2 double coil and 2 coil-less versions. The atomizers for these vape pens are not compatible with Rig Edition vape pens. This would be fine, except the This Thing Rips Roil, Remix, etc. are all eGo threaded, while the Rig edition is 510 threaded, which means you can use the Rig edition atomizers on those batteries, but you can’t on the larger Rig edition.
The atomizers also have crimps. This is usually a sign of cheap quality metals being used. Higher grade Titanium, Kanthal, or Nichrome atomizers would not have crimps.
Crimps can be seen at the base of the atomizer.
You can only use the other #ThisThingRips Rig Edition’s double lava-quartz atomizer with this. We hope they release “Rip Edition” atomizers of the coil-less so you can use the longer lasting battery with those atomizers.
Popping the top on the R2 Rig Edition
Portability
The This Thing Rips R2 Rig edition’s large size and very delicate glass container make it very large to carry in your pocket. Make sure to not keep it with anything too large that can break your glass. Use the silicone ring around the glass, but it won’t protect it perfectly (we were using ours when it broke).
The Built-in container on the battery makes it perfect to take with you. Throw it in your pocket or better yet your backpack.
Discretion
The quick heat up of the R2 Rig Edition allows you to get quick hits. The super hot atomizers that burn your wax create such big clouds and wax smell it may be hard to be discreet. THe flashy orange color also does not look like a standard eCig item, which helps with discretion. Last, if someone sees the name printed on it “This Thing Rips” – they might figure out what it is. The term “rips” is more associated with weed than eCig
Taste
The reason you get a #ThisThingRips R2 Rig edition is not the taste, but the “power of a rig.” That means taste is horrible. Their cheap coils leaves a lot to be desired. They went with “power” to get the coils red hot, that means that no matter what, you will burn your wax.
The taste and smell leaves even the best tasting wax with an after taste of “vape pen.” If you’re used to using quality vape pens or quartz nails, you might get a very small headache after a few hits, similar to smelling diesel exhaust. You also get the same after-taste.
Don’t use good wax on this; it’ll be like using ketchup on a fine steak.
Value
The #ThisThingRips R2 Rig Edition is a very expensive vape pen at basically $130 ($129.99). It adds more things to make the higher price point more palatable. It includes 2 white ceramic double coil atomizers, 2 glass covers, a very small dab tool, and the large dab mat.
The problem is the silicone dab tray at most would be around $30, so you’re paying around $100 for a large vape pen with a battery with a built-in wax container and almost 2x the capacity of other vape pens. If the atomizer didn’t use such a cheap coil you could maybe justify that. But here this is at a more expensive bulky version of their $50 R2 series.
This Thing Rips Warranty: Sub-Par
The batter is not sub-ohm and the warranty is sub-par. They only have a 90-Day Warranty, compared to a 1-Year warranty most other vape pen companies have. They only sell at head shops, so you wont’ be able to use any coupons here. You most likely will not find the product for sale online except on eBay, which usually carries no warranty. It also makes no sense that this version with cheaper white ceramic atomizers is the same price as their lava-quartz OG Four 2.0 edition (which is $20+ more regularly).
Replacements
There are currently no replacements available unless your smoke shop has them, so don’t burn them out quickly or just stuck waiting or buying a new pen. We’ll edit this once they are sold. There are replacements for the non-rig edition available on eBay, but those are not compatible.
Another big frustration is it is only available in non-direct sale stores, so you have to drive to a head shop that carries them (no easy shipping to your house) or order from a Even though I can find it at my local shop, their store locator does not show it.
Atomizer close up. The coils are neatly wrapped.
Conclusion: Don’t Bother, I Did
There’s many other vape pens that can do what this does, for cheaper, smaller, and with better quality. You’re also stuck purchasing from places other than the original seller, so say good bye to getting replacements shipped easily. A lot of smoke shops have a no returns policy as well. This may mean you are stuck mailing it if anything goes wrong. When it comes to the This Thing Rips R2 Rig Edition, don’t bother. I got it, reviewed it, now have a slight headache from it, and into the drawer of never-used vapes it goes. If you are still interested in it, it is available at VaporNation.
ThisThingRips OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition – Lava Quartz is a Tint
Edit 10/18/2017: This Thing Rips reached out to us an claimed that the lava quartz is not plastic. They did not state however what the film was. We have reached out to them for further clarification and will post their answer once received.
Design & Quality
The new #ThisThingRips OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition (how’s that for a mouthful is one of 2 new Rig Edition vape pens released by This Thing Rips. It’s the larger version of their “lava-quartz” (we’ll get into that claim in a bit) single coil OG Four 2.0 vape pen.
Battery
The best part of the new “Rig Editions” is a 1100mah battery with a built-in container, that is huge at 22mm wide and almost 6 inches tall. Still not as powerful as The Kind Pen Dream 1500mah battery though. The battery has 3 temp settings like most vape pens, and has a hashtag symbol to go with the This Thing Rips logo on the chrome battery. It has an orange frosted that is very delicate (do not play with it taking it off and on, you’ll break it) with a plastic mouthpiece. Under the attachment and glass, it has a removable variable airflow system with 4 air vents to change your airflow.
The bright orange color makes the OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition not that discreet.
If you’ve read our other reviews from #ThisThingRips, you’ll remember thy have a very big tendency to use misleading statements and a TON of marketing jargon. Forget the “Hypercharge battery,” this time around, they straight up lie. Since last year they’ve been pushing what they call “lava quartz” as “game changing technology,” which is orange quartz. They have digital renderings of their single coil wrapped around this orange “lava quartz” and the cup is also a dark orange, as well as promotional pictures with what is an orange piece of quartz (Raw 100% Lava-Quartz), proclaiming itself “the only lava quartz cartridge.” If you try to search for lava quartz you only find references from them. Does not seem to be a real product at all.
Atomizer Design
What is lava quartz then? A marketing lie. The quartz rods inside the OG Four 2.0 Rig edition are just regular quartz rods, not orange at all. What about the quartz cup? It’s just a regular quartz cup that has been covered on the outside with what appears to be film of orange tint. It is similar to the ones used in car windows. They literally tinted the windows orange. Then lied that they are using this “superior” quartz that doesn’t exist. It was a bonus finding a silicone ring under the quartz cup. We have reached out to This Thing Rips to get an answer regarding what this material is.
You can see that lava quartz is a thin film placed on the quartz.
Are they as good as other similar products? Yes, so why the need to lie? What does that mean about the quality and safety of the product?
Their atomizer is a standard 10mm in diameter atomizer that uses regular quartz double coils and a cheap alloy. You can see solder marks on the coil and more evidence that #ThisThingRips prefers to spend money on marketing bullshit and adding more unneeded stuff rather than giving users a quality product. The coil burns your wax even at the lowest setting. It gives that all-too-well-known “vape pen” smell and taste we all used to get from our old Micro Gs. Be prepared for headaches if you’re susceptible to pain from smells like diesel.
The worst part? We don’t know if the orange film they use to “make” their “Lava Quartz” melts when you use your coil at high temperatures, but the coil had definite marks of orange around the coil. We do not recommend using too much back to back just in case the higher heat will melt it.
Another view of a piece of lava quartz.
Dab Tray
Like their This Thing Rips R2 Rig Edition, the other reason you might purchase a This Thing Rips Rig edition is the cool looking dab tray. It’s 8 inches by 8 Inches with a large compartment on the top that is an inch and a quarter deep. It’s useful if you have multiple vape pens and a rig. Then you can use the compartment to put used atomizers or other nails. Like the rest of this product they decided to save money to oversell an inferior product. Bend the silicone to do a routine quality test and you’ll see it turn white from the fillers used in the production. You can smell the chemicals when you take it out for the first time. You get a huge whiff of unpleasant old style vape pen smell. Make sure to wash it when you first open it, and don’t store wax straight on the silicone, or the chemicals and flavor will cross into your wax.
Ease of Use
The #ThisThingRips OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition is straighfoward to use. Take the orange glass off, place your wax on top of the coils, replace the glass, unlock, press the power button, and inhale. It has 3 settings: Blue is low, Green is medium, and Red is high. Press 3 times to change the setting, and 5 to turn it off.
The built-in wax container is easy to use, you simply screw on and off, and atomizers are screwed and replaced very easily.
Strength
Strength is the main draw for the OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition. It heats up its alloy coil super fast. Within less than 5 seconds the coils will glow red hot. You’ll see clouds build up quickly in the chamber. Rip through your wax within a couple of hits.
They claim the “Power of a Rig in the Palm of your Hand.” It gets pretty close to when you get your nail red hot and burn your wax. Not the vape pen to be looking for if you want low temp dabs.
Efficiency
The This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition is actually worse in efficiency compared to its white ceramic sibling the R2 Rig Edition. The quartz coils are efficient, given its larger size. Even though the diameter of the vape pen is 22mm the atomizer is only 10mm. So unlike other larger vape pens you don’t have more unnecessary empty space on the sides of the coils. The coils are low enough that it’s very hard to miss completely and have the wax just sit underneath the coils.
Even though it’s longer and deeper don’t overload the atomizer. Otherwise you’ll inhale wax unto the glass when it pulls around the coils. You’ll still get some wax, especially shatter or really gooey consistencies on the walls of the atomizer.
Versatility / Atomizer Options
You can’t use any of the other 4 atomizers #ThisThingRips released prior to the Rig Editions. This means that the only other atomizer available is the R2 Series Rig Editions white ceramic double coil atomizer. The other 4, including the “Roil” and “ReMix” coil-less atomizers, are not compatible because they are eGo 510 threaded.
Therefore the options you are left with are not that good. Cheap atomizers with lava quartz, a tint of unknown material, and coil wire that has obvious crimps in it.
The crimps are evidence of cheap quality metal being used for the ThisThingRips atomizers.
Portability
The This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 Rig edition’s large battery and very delicate glass container make it hard to carry in your pocket. Use the included silicone ring around the glass to try to protect the glass, but it won’t prevent cracks. We were using ours when it broke. The built-in container on the battery is a great add on for dabs on the go.
Discretion
The large shiny color and bright orange make this hard to not notice in the day. Even with a little light. The large size will make it impossible to cover with your hand, but the quick heat up time will help with quick hits.
Just expect large clouds of smoke (not vapor, you’ll burn your wax with the high temperature, not vape).
Taste
The “Power of a Rig,” that means image a red-hot cheap nail to burn all your wax. The taste is awful. The cheap coils are designed to heat up as hot as possible. That means that no matter what you will burn your wax really fast.
The taste and smell leaves even the best tasting wax with an after taste of “vape pen.” If you like to live in Terpcity and enjoy the delicious flavor of your wax this is not for you. I also got a headache after smoking it for a while. Reminded me of smelling truck exhaust. You also get the same after-taste.
And honestly, looking at the coils, the film they used around the quartz cup seem a bit melted on the coils. It wouldn’t be surprising if the taste is ruined by some of that.
Don’t use good wax on this. It will not taste like it is supposed to.
You can add a pretty girl, but it doesn’t make that coil taste any better. I wonder if she got a headache too.
Value
The #ThisThingRips OG Four2.0 Rig Edition is on of the most expensive vape pen at basically $130 ($129.99). It includes 2 “Lava Quartz” double coil atomizers, 2 glass covers, a very small dab tool, and the large dab mat.
The atomizers use a cheap coil inside a quartz cup that is wrapped in an orange film. This makes the whole “vape pen” part worthless. The battery is pretty cool with its included concentrate container so you can use it with other better 510 attachments.
.The silicone dab tray at most would be around $30 (especially using fillers) so you’re paying around $100 for an 1100mah battery with a built-in wax.
They also only have a 90-Day Warranty, compared to a 1-Year warranty most other companies have.
Replacements
There are currently no replacements available, so don’t out your film covered quartz cup quickly or better yet, buy atomizers for the R2 Series (once those are available).
A massive headache, other than after using it, is getting replacements because you have to drive to the store every time.
Conclusion
An expensive $130 waste. A vape pen that uses orange tinted film called “Lava Quartz,” that may or may not melt when in use. It’s just fake marketing hype. You are best off skipping the OG Four 2.0 Rig Edition altogether. So far you might just be better skipping anything from ThisThingRips if the same poor product quality is consistent across the brand. We hope they come out with something better in the future. For this one too, #ThisThingIsJunk.
A while back, I made a point along the way of my psychedelic explorations to pen an opinion piece, postulating that there’s “no such thing as a bad trip” in the exaggerated media sense. Consider that a little sidecar to this article. While the “bad trip” media scare (e.g. people freaking out and injuring themselves while high) is greatly exaggerated, we’re here to talk about the all-too-real “bummer trip.” There are good highs and great highs, which also mean that there can be bad highs as well. Experiences on drugs where you just didn’t find it as enjoyable as you would expect given that, well, you’re taking drugs.
In my experience both on my own and noting others’, there are a few factors that can impact your high, regardless if you’re doing cannabis, shrooms, or even a few shots of your chosen libation. These may all seem bloody obvious to read now, in a blog, while you’re cold sober (presumably). But that’s the thing about getting high – it alters your perception. While you’re on the effects of a mind-altering substance, it may be harder for you to realize when something else is impacting your mental state. But you do notice your experience is lacking somehow, just can’t put your finger on it… later when you come down, you blame the drug for the “bunk trip.”
This is the kind of situation which psychonaut pioneers like Al Hubbard observed and subsequently advocated for psychedelics users to pay attention to their “set and setting.” You have to remember that you can experience delusional thinking on drugs, so checking in for these factors can be your tether to reality.
This seems to be more common in some users than others. It all comes back to individual physiology. So we’re addressing new users enjoying legalized substances in their area, as drug legalization sweeps North America like acid at a Grateful Dead concert. If you have tried a drug and thought your experience was off – here’s a list of possible measures to control for before you decide that you were reacting to just the drug.
Lack of Sleep
If you asked what’s the #1 casualty of recreational substance use, it’s sleep, hands down. Leaving aside the stimulants and amphetamines, whose whole purpose is to keep you wound up. Most drugs keep you awake simply because – whee! – being high is fun! You certainly didn’t blow that $50 at the dispensary just to sleep the experience away, after all, so you’re motivated to stay up and enjoy it.
But there is no such thing as a mind-altering substance that doesn’t impact your sleep, in either quantity or quality. For example, even plain old alcohol will make me fall asleep fast, but it will also make me start awake a few hours later with absolutely no sense of having rested. Any substantial psychedelic trip brings with it the guarantee of a wakeful 24 hours. And while cannabinoids like CBD and CBN are taken isolated to help with sleep – and work great too – the more potent cannabinoids will keep you awake. You can easily stay up most of the night hitting dabs, for instance, being an intense enough high that you can will yourself awake on it. If you do go to bed with a full-on THC buzz, there is evidence that it can decrease your high-quality REM sleep.
Bottom line: Any time you’re thinking “I’m having a bad trip, this sucks,” the first thing you should check for is “am I just tired?” And if you want the best high, pick a time when you’re well-rested and alert already.
Hunger & Dehydration
It may sound daft, but even cold sober people can sometimes “forget to eat.” Not just people with appetite disorders, but any one of us caught up in a stressful shift at work fueled by coffee on an empty stomach. Along with being sleep suppressants, most drugs are appetite suppressants too. At least, it’s easier to ignore hunger pangs when you’re high. And yet when we do get hunger cravings on drugs, we say you’re “getting the munchies” – ignoring the fact that you would have eaten a full meal or two by now if you weren’t high. Likewise with dehydration, it’s easy to ignore your sense of thirst or make it worse by drinking sugary pops that don’t hydrate you enough, but then when we do notice that we’re thirsty, we blame the drug for giving us “cotton mouth.”
The way this plays into a bummer trip is when you’re conflicted between an urge to eat or drink and some other desire, such as not wanting to get up from your chair. That is a trivial dilemma under ordinary circumstances. But with a head-full of psychoactives, you’re left flung over the couch with a repeating loop of thoughts “I should get a drink, my mouth feels like sandpaper. But there’s no way I’m walking right now; I don’t even know if I can find the kitchen!” This is the part where a trip-sitter comes in handy. They can order take-out for you without you having to deal with any part of the transaction.
Bottom line: Have some water and snacks handy. Your body needs to replenish itself, even when you’re more concerned with the spirit realm than the physical at the moment. And of course, the best highs you will ever have are ones where you started out hydrated and well-fed.
Side Effects
Of course, drugs have side effects. “But Pete,” you say, “this time we really CAN blame the drug, which caused the side effect.” Well, yes, but we can plan ahead when we know a drug has a side effect and try to work around it. For instance, psychedelic drugs (shrooms and hallucinogens) are famous for causing stomach upset. But you can prepare ahead of time and start after a full meal, to blunt the impact of the drug on your system, and have ginger ale on hand or whatever you find takes the edge off the nausea. Or, if cannabis is producing certain effects you’d rather not have, like cotton-mouth or paranoia, you might try switching to a different strain. There may be terpenes you have an allergic reaction to.
Bottom line: So the point here is to separate the issue by isolating different effects. Again, this may sound elementary, but we as a culture are still getting used to discussing the effects of these substances in clear ways. Now instead of “I’m never doing ayahuasca again” it can be “if I ever do it again, I’m going to see how I can avoid barfing my socks out so I can enjoy the trip.” If drugs tend to make you paranoid or anxious, maybe having a trip-sitter will help talk you through that part.
Bad Mood
Here is the reason why they say that you shouldn’t use drugs as a crutch. As a firm rule, I have always refrained from trying to fix my mood with chemicals. If I’m upset about something and smoke weed, I’ll still be upset but now stoned too. Even though it’s tempting to “drown your sorrows,” and even though people get into that habit because it works occasionally, it also backfires in the long run. Better to do whatever mental processing you need to do to clean your mental slate, then enjoy your drug session without the distraction. Besides, you are more likely to make mistakes while inebriated, and that can make a crisis situation worse.
Bottom line: Returning once again to that “set and setting,” you will get the most out of your drug session if you go into it without too much mental baggage. Drugs are at their best when they’re complimenting a good mood, not trying to fix a bad one. I’ll insert an extra-special caution against getting high while currently having a dispute, such as a fight with your significant other. Drugs will have you saying things you wish you could take back later – and we’ve all known that one druggy couple who seem to be constantly fighting, right?
Taking Too Much
This is the most frequent negative experience encountered by new users. It’s especially common with edibles, because it’s easy to underestimate how potent an edible will be. Now, most of us, at least in our day-to-day, don’t necessarily want to get so wasted that we’re comatose. We’re looking for a good time that we can still function on. But each of us has a different physiology; one person’s microdose is another’s macrodose. Remember that all drugs can get unpleasant if dosed high enough. Cannabis can make you “green out,” too much of a psychedelic can be intense to the point of trauma, stimulants can send your blood pressure skyrocketing, etc.
Bottom line: If you tried a drug and did not like it, see if taking half that dose next time puts you more in your comfort zone. And never let ANYONE else tell you how much you should take or put you down for being a lightweight. Because all of us in the drug community know better than to apply frat-bro peer pressure, don’t we? Anyway, cut the dose, halve the effect, and find your sweet spot.
May All Your Trips Be Happy Ones!
Of course, if you decide drugs are not for you, then that’s what you have to live with. It’s true, not everybody likes being on drugs at all. Some people don’t like the mental brain fog or the way it disrupts their system. Some people have an aversion to certain drugs – I myself, for example, am as good as a dead man if I ever take amphetamines again. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Instead, this guide is mainly for the people who are trying out legalized products as an experiment, but aren’t too sure of themselves yet. We have an exciting new frontier ahead of us as the whole North American continent becomes fluent in discussing altered states of consciousness and how to navigate them beneficially. We will all have to learn together how to address mind-altering substances after these decades of sweeping them under the rug with prohibition. Give yourself time, research what you’re looking for, and most importantly, pace yourself at your own stride!
Readers, share your bummer trip stories and what you think caused them, here in our comments or in our alleged forum.
Greetings, fellow cosmic blueberries aboard Spaceship Earth! I’ve recently launched Dab Connection’s inaugural mushroom video, reviewing some Amanita Regalia. We’ll be diving deeper and deeper into the mushroom scene, to the extant that they’re legalized of course, but first I’d like to get a pet peeve of mine out of the way. I think it’s important to re-assess the assumptions we make about drug culture periodically and challenge them if there’s grounds for it.
Take all of this as my armchair speculation. I hasten to affirm, negative experiences on psychedelics are a real phenomenon. But maybe they’re far less common and less severe than reported.
I don’t like the way psychedelics have a reputation for “bad trips.” This has become another over-exaggerated factor that is pinned directly on psychedelics. The first problem I have with the “bad trip” notion is, that there is no reason to single out psychedelic mushrooms for them.
Indulge me while I lay down some perspective:
“Bad Trips” Can Happen On Any Drug
We all know marijuana / cannabis / hemp as the ultimate good-times and party drug, right? But what about the people who say weed makes them paranoid and anxious? That’s the “bad trip” of weed.
Now how about alcohol? I’m sure we’re all familiar with bad experiences on alcohol, and yet somehow we don’t call them “bad trips.” One thing that would qualify as a “bad trip” is the person who gets blackout drunk, where they can’t remember a chunk of time. But even without that, we all know that one friend who can’t handle their liquor and has the habit of getting into fights or having hysterical crying jags of self-pity while intoxicated. Frat bros regularly get drunk to the point where they’re puking into the porcelain altar. But who gets the reputation for a “bad trip”? Just shrooms.
But you know what really says “bad trip” to me? Amphetamines! Anything in the meth or cocaine category has a reputation for very bad behavior on the part of its users. That’s because amphetamines have a “come down” period, and it is agonizing hell-on-earth. As good as you felt getting wired up, that’s how bad you’re going to feel on the way down. If you’ve been up a few days on a cocaine binge, you’re going to still be awake and delirious coming down for a few days more. Hence, methamphetamines are known for inducing a psychosis. Now that’s a bad trip!
As for heroin, physically addictive to the point of crippling sickness when you’re getting clean of the stuff, we’ll let the movie Trainspotting speak for it:
Now there, that’s a “bad trip” too! I’ll never know, because heroin is one of those drugs I will never touch.
People Exaggerate Their Psychedelic Trips
Listening to people talk about their drug experiences is a lot like listening to someone tell you about the dream they had last night. If you’ve ever tried to narrate a dream you’ve had out loud, you discover that it’s difficult to convey into meaningful words. Dreams are abstract and devoid of logic. When we tell them, we have to sum up experiences and bridge the gaps with turns of expression. What we end up imposing on the listener (your bored roommate half-listening over coffee) is nearly a complete fabrication.
It’s not that all people are compulsive liars, it’s just that a literal description of a trip or a dream is a dry and clinical report conveying none of the flavor of the subjective experience. So instead the memory of a feeling of paranoia from some unimagined threat becomes “dragons were chasing me,” but the subject never actually hallucinated dragons. We can’t help it. We’re prone to cognitive dissonance to the point of deceiving ourselves in order to make a narrative “make sense.”
As I noted when I reviewed those Amanita Regalias, researching the effects of any psychedelic is a frustrating exercise, because all the reports for everything boil down to one of two polar extremes: (1) it did nothing, or (2) a raving and rambling saga of cartoonish farce and experiences beyond all credibility. People like to tell elaborate fantasies online because that’s a fun thing to do.
You can never take anyone’s report of a psychedelic experience at face value. After all, we’re talking about an experience lived entirely in one’s mind, brought about mostly by the ebb and flow of neurotransmitters sloshing around. We lack adequate language to even convey it.
The placebo effect is also very powerful. Given a mind-altering substance, if we’re taking it for the first time and told that we’re going to see unicorns and rainbows, then by golly the human brain will bend over backwards to visualize just that. Even if we just visualize horses and blinking neon signs, we’ll tell ourselves “that must have been what they were talking about.”
Are “Bad Trips” Just Normal Bad Emotional States While On Drugs?
I think so. Psychonautic research testifies to this theory. Early psychedelic explorers such as Al Hubbard and Timothy Leary emphasized that the experience we will have on psychedelics is impacted by “set and setting.” “Set” for the mindset you bring into the experience, and “setting” for the environment around you while you’re tripping.
Thus, it can be demonstrated, your likelihood to have a “bad trip” depends on the circumstances more than the drug. If you’re in a contented mood to begin with and trucking around at home, a safe and comfortable environment, then your psychedelic experience is the kittens. Drop acid in a battlefield trench and you’ll lose your blinking mind. Or, focusing on the set rather than setting, if you’re already in a downer mood from any number of life events and personal troubles, then you’ll carry that negative emotional baggage into the trip and ruin it.
For the finest objective and scientific examination of the actual dangers of psychedelics, I commend you to this article on Michael Pollan’s site titled “What do we know about the risks of psychedelics?” It helps to bust a few myths about the “bad trip” phenomenon in psychedelic research. Consider the following factors in case studies:
some people think they took one drug when they really took something else
case reports usually do not rule out preexisting psychiatric difficulties or mental states
self-reporting of subjects may gloss over symptoms showing up even without the drug
A whole lot of case studies of psychedelic effects date to the 1950s and 1960s during a time of anti-drug bias
In short, the view presented is that healthy, happy people have nothing but good experiences on psychedelics, while people who have bad experiences were in poor psychological condition to begin with. It might be the case, as has been noted in research into using psychedelics in therapy, that psychedelics break down our emotional barriers which prevent us from dealing with past trauma head-on. Without our defense mechanisms, we’re vulnerable to having a breakdown over issues we’ve mentally been keeping on the back burner.
Thankfully, the article also addresses one of the most persistent myths of all:
The Myth of the Tripper Who Thought They Could Fly
You’ve heard this one a few dozen times by now: An inexperienced youth doses on LSD or shrooms, gets completely lost in a psychotic state, and ends up dying from accidental misadventure such as stepping off a building because they believed they could fly.
In the article on Pollan’s site, this myth seems fairly debunked under the section “Physical harms caused by changes in perception/judgment”:
> “Both the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the health authorities in the Netherlands, where hundreds of thousands of servings of psilocybin mushrooms are legally sold in shops each year, report that serious injuries related to psychedelics are extremely rare.”
Not completely impossible or unheard of… but also greatly exaggerated. The article goes on to dig up a grand total of five incidents of violent death or harm connected with psychedelics, and even they’re questionable. Just to be sure I hadn’t missed anything, I decided to poll /r/drugs on Reddit, asking if people jumping off buildings on LSD has any proven basis. Responders were quick to relate anecdotes that happened to a friend of a friend there, but nobody found an objective study backing up this supposed phenomenon.
The fact that psychedelics enjoy widespread popularity in legalized or decriminalized areas with no dramatic uptick of mass mayhem from people acting irrationally on drugs tells me that crazy behavior on psychedelics has been greatly exaggerated.
Stay Safe and Sane on Psychedelics Anyway!
At no point in this piece am I advocating to throw caution to the wind. Psychedelics should be treated with respect and caution. I still take a low dose when trying a new mushroom strain for the first time. I still advocate, 100%, that people should pay attention to that “set and setting” metric and always have a trip sitter present, at least for their first experience.
But avoiding bad trips – or having an outbreak of erratic behavior on one – honestly seems like something you can control to minimize. Specifically, your odds of having a bad trip go down if you take the following precautions when using psychedelics:
don’t have a family history or personal history of preexisting mental issues
don’t trip when you’re in a bad mood from a life event (mourning a loved one, going through a divorce, just got fired, etc.)
keep your trips at home or in a calm environment where you feel safe
be sure you’re well-rested and in reasonable good health
don’t mix psychedelics with other drugs
don’t dose too high, as unpleasant experiences tend to occur concurrent with large doses
This news report talks about an Oregon dispensary, where psychedelics are getting legalized in a big way, training their staff in providing “safe trip” spaces. Good template to go by!
Personally, I have yet to experience anything like a bad trip. By and large, psychedelics tend to make me giggly and easily amused, or at microdoses just have a mild calming effect. They also knock a couple points off the ol’ IQ score, for sure. I’m a real dummy on LSD and shrooms. I have a sense of humor and roll with it.
Reader reports are welcome…
Like I say, the above is armchair neuroscience based on more hunches than anything else, so take it that way. But readers, if you have a link to a research study backing up this big bad “bad trip” boogeyman that seems to pop up in every mushroom discussion, I’d love to see it. Here in the comments or to the forum, right that way!
[sc name=”AMP_Rating”]The King’s Pipe Glass Inline Perc Rig is such a potent and powerful rig, it always guarantees smooth yet powerful rips. King’s Pipe is an online Head Shop that provides quality and unique hand-blown glass using Borosilicate. Although this rig is not for a beginner dabber, it definitely packs a punch with an lasting high.
Pros:
Sustains heavy temperatures
The perfect airflow
Made with thick glass
Cons:
Overfilling with water will cause to drawback
Recommendations: Provide a dab catcher built on the up-stem of the rig. This can be very convenient for maintaining the rig clean.
King’s Pipe Inline Perc is simple, sturdy and easy to use
Built with sturdy glass, the King’s Pipe comes with such a simple and unique built.
This King’s Pipe rig has such a clean and smooth design, being very straightforward to use. Standing at 5 inches tall, this mini dab rigcomes in a clear, lime green color and a rasta decal. It also comes with a built in inline percolator and a bent neck, being more convenient and efficient to smoke.
Their unique design allows dabbing easy and is a bit more portable compared to bigger rigs.
Another thing it includes is multiple merch products, stickers and a 14mm male flat top quartz banger nail. Overall, this rig makes dabbing as simple and potent as possible when used correctly.
The quartz nail it comes with is great for any temperature dabs. It can handle strong heat and won’t crack easily from light impacts.
Its inline percolator gives such smooth yet powerful hit
This particular perc really does give smooth hits with the right temperature, not too harsh on the throat.
The percolator that the King’s Pipe rig has provides amazing and maximum diffusion. For you dab fanatics, inline percolators are great for smooth and strong hits. The purpose of a percolator is to force smoke to travel as smooth and effective through the water. This helps with the filtering process and will cool down smoke when taking a dab off it.
Furthermore, this particular perc comes with multiple slits, which is the opening and holes inside the perc itself. Because of this, each hit will mostly be clean and will not drawback water or dabs what so ever. We found that the perfect amount of water to fill the rig is directly above the percolated itself. This gives optimal diffusion, bubbles and overall smooth hits. Filling water less than this will cause somewhat harsh hits and more water will just drawback when dabbing.
As shown above, we found this to be the perfect amount of water to put in the King’s Pipe rig.
Somewhat tasteful, but more for powerful rips
King Pipe’s inline rig may give some flavor hits when taking low temp dabs, but is preferable for potent hits. Because of the inline percolator, it’s meant for more cleaner and strong hits. You still will get most of the taste, but this is great for heavy dabbers looking to get baked.
Something I personally found difficult was finding a good timing temperature to take a perfect hit. Because I use cartridges more for its convenience, I’m not use to heating the quartz to get the most of my wax. But once you find the perfect timing when torching the quartz, each hit guarantees a smooth and clean punch.
Fairly efficient, but better for heavy and big dab hits
In my experience, I always tend to smoke more dabs with rigs than I do with a traditional dab pen. But this may be a great thing if you’re looking for a potent and quicker high. The King Pipe’s rig is amazing if you want a big and thick hit, or perhaps a snake line dab. Each hit may be smooth, bit because it packs a heavy punch it may cause you to cough heavy.
Overall, King Pipe’s inline perc rig is great for heavy and fat rips
As mentioned in the beginning, the King’s Pipe Inline Rig really isn’t for any beginner smoker. This rig is more suited for those heavy stoners who loves taking huge dab rips. Regardless of how experienced you are, I promise you will enjoy the high and experience of this rig!
The price of it is $89.99 along with free shipping, but you can get 10% off using the discount code DABC10! You can get yours here.
The quartz quest is the closest you'll get to a mini e-rig.
The Quartz Quest may be perfect for you if you like taking hits off of a dab rig, but don’t like carrying rigs with you all the time. Our Quart Quest review showed an atomizer that produces very thick and heavy, yet smooth hits! But be aware that it may be very easy to crack.
Pros:
Rush hole
Re-usable
Closest to taking a hit off a rig
Cons:
It’s a one-packer
Heat temp has to be high (at least 45 volts)
60w or higher battery recommended
Recommend to clean after each use
Recommend to let cool down after each pack
Recommendations: Stronger body and it would be great if it did not need as much cleaning as it does.
Background on the Quartz Quest atomizer
The Quartz Quest atomizer is sold as an attachment by itself. Some sellers may pair it with a battery but it comes in it’s own box. Quartz Quest atomizers are manufactured by Longmada, a Chinese vape pen company. This model was purchases from the Divine Tribe website, one of the retailers of the Quartz Quest. The vape pen attachment is manufactured by Longmada. It is often more associated with Divine Tribe.
Smooth hits, clean rips
Quartz Quest gives the smoothest hits because of the rush hole. Also, the airflow makes it go down easier. It may be smooth but don’t forget, it will still pack a hit like a rig with the right battery and mod.
The Quartz Quest atomizer looks like its for hard drugs.
The Quartz Quest is unique but not simple
It may be a bit complex but once you get the hang of it, it’ll be simple to use. With the right type of battery mod, you’ll get perfect hits. Rebuilding the coil guarantees no misfires when tightened correctly, just don’t snap the wires of the coil. The ability to rebuild the atomizer is a nice addition but something some people might not want to deal with. Some users may prefer to just buy new replaceable atomizers.
The bigger the hit, the stronger the rip
I can compare the Quartz Quest to a mini rig because of how strong it rips. Smooth, thick vapor and you also pack it as you go after every use. Although this might be inconvenient for some people, every hit will be worth it! Also, it is best to maintain clean after every hit for the best and cleanest hits you can get.
Quartz will crack under impact
Maintain this quartz with a lot of care, otherwise it will crack under impact. This was very unfortunate for me because I never got the chance to experience the full thing. Mine actually cracked over impact, but with any small accident, you’ll loose the whole thing. What ashamed because this tank actually ripped.
The Quartz Quest will break if you drop it too hard.
Efficiency was really good on the Quest atomizer
The Quartz Quest was very efficienct except for that last time you break it since you might get glass pieces in there. The vape pen atomizer is hitting off a straight quartz bowl. There is nowhere for the wax to go otherwise. The only downside was when it broke it can be hard to recover some of the wax if you get a bunch of glass pieces in it.
Portability and Discretion could be improved
This vape pen attachment is not portable or discreet. You have to box it up to safely carry it around to different places. It looks like a complex crack pipe if someone saw you hitting it. The old glass globes looked a bit odd, now this takes that oddness to the next level. The Quartz Quest is a great stay-at-home vape pen, but it’s not meant to be taken out on dates.
Replacement means changing the whole thing
Rebuilding is the first option. Some people like rebuilding while others may not want to deal with it. Personally, I rather just swap a new atomzierin then deal with the headache. However, the hit strength and flavor on this are so good the headache is worth dealing with.
Value is pretty good for the Quartz Quest vape atomizer at just $42
The price on this is just right. It is above cheap quality vapes like YoCan, but lower than items you would see from W9Tech or Humboldt Vape Tech. This is billed as an advanced wax pen attachment, so users do expect some complexity.
In conclusion, with the right battery mod, no tank can top off the quartz quest. It is such a high quality tank if you treat it right. I personally used a battery that was a 510 thread and it would work great for me. if it didn’t crack, it would’ve been my daily use. You can get one here.
What was your experience with the Quartz Quest? Leave a comment below or discuss in our forum!
ElevateCBD strips are thin strips of edible film that contain CBD oil in them. They pack a potent punch of relief and are simple to use. Here we go a comparison of this to other CBDs in this Elevate CBD review.
Elevate CBD dissolving strips come in this bag.
Quick Dissolving, Quick Relief
Elevate CBD strips dissolve quickly in your mouth and give you fast relief. They remind me of the Listerine Pocketpak dissolvable strips and have a very similar form factor. I found these to be one of the fastest ways to medicate with CBD.
Elevate Dissolving Strips Prove Strong
The Elevate CBD strips are one of the stronger CBD products that I have tried, and I have tried a lot of them. I have also tried a lot of Elevate’s other products, including doing an Elevate CBD gum review, and the strips are by far their best product, and my gauge for best is usually what is strongest. Strength on these is unmatched by anything else in their product line. I did not try vaping their drops, but oral application of it did not work so well, so I expected these CBD strips to be weak since it is also taken orally, but I was wrong.
Strength on these would keep me coming back for more. Very effective pain relief.
Back of the Elevate CBD strips package
The back of the package just contains some basic info about CBD. The products are manufactured by Axcentria Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Looking at their services page it appears to be some type of co-packing plant.
Elevate’s Best CBD Product So Far
After also trying the drops, spray, and gum, I can say that the CBD dissolvable strips are Elevate’s best product so far. If I was looking for quick relief that lasted long, I would go straight to the strips. Check out their CBD dissolving strips page to get yours.
Here we review the Utillian 2 by TVape. This dab pen is more on the budget side, priced at $39.99, but still has a good build quality. Overall, we found this dab pen to be more on the light-hitting side and recommend it more for beginning dabbers. To a long time, high tolerance concentrate hitter, this might not hit hard enough, unless you are going for lighter hits.
Pros:
High build quality
Smooth hits
Easy pop on/off atomizer to reload
Cons:
Hits are not hard
Battery cannot be used with other atomizers
Currently no replacement atomizers, mouthpiece or charger available
Recommendations: Make it hit harder and make replacement parts available.
Check out our video review of the Utillian 2 below and keep reading on for the more in depth review.
Utillian 2 dab pen has good build quality, nice magnetic connections, but hits are not hard
Nice build quality all around on the Utillian 2.
When you open the Utillian 2 you can feel it’s a higher build quality product. Despite their only being one atomizer, the build felt very similar to the Linx Blaze, that goes for almost $100 more. The case and setup are also nicely done, it’s just the hardness of hit is not there for the experienced, high-tolerance dabber.
Here’s everything the Utillian 2 comes with.
Extremely simple to use and reliable
You just scrape up some concentrate and slide it in, click five times and you are ready to go. One thing different than most batteries is the 2-click temperature change. Most batteries are 3-click.
No complex settings, just preheat a little before you hit it and go. On top of that it’s all magnetic connections, which makes reloading simpler than your average dab pen.
Magnetic connections on the Utillian 2 are simple and easy
Snaps right on, but if you lose it there’s no replacement.
Connections between the battery, atomizer and even charging are all magnetic. No twisting to do just snap it on. This is a nice feature for easily using the product. The downside is you cannot use the battery for a cartridge or another dab pen atomizer type.
Build quality is better than other’s we’ve seen at this price range
Looks just like it does on the box.
Other vapes we have reviewed in this price range did not compare on build quality. Although strength of hit might be a bit lower than some of us high tolerance folks like, you can tell this is a well made device. Better than wax pens you would find from KandyPens, that cost much more.
The charging system would be better with a standardized connection
The charging system seems solid as well, but we would prefer straight charging into the battery via a standard style USB port, such as micro-USB or USB-C. This enables you to charge the battery easier since everyone has some of these cables lying around and should you end up in travel and forgot yours, you can pick one up at the dollar store.
If you lose the charger, there are no replacements for sale.
Glass mouthpiece is nice and has a filter
Nice thick evenly made glass.
You can see above how thick that mouthpiece glass is. Although glass could break, this one probably would not unless you throw it on the ground pretty hard. Below you can see the filter that is in the mouthpiece. Still missing from a lot of dab pens, this is a nice feature.
That screen is a nice add on, not all dab pens have it.
The only downside of this mouthpiece is it currently out of stock. If you break it, you would have to buy a whole new Utillian 2 dab pen.
Utillian 2 comes with one atomizer style: dual coil quartz
The atomizer hits smooth which is good. Many atomizers of this type are too harsh. However, for some this might just be too soft of a hit. The other problem with this atomizer is replacements are not in stock. There is a donut-style ceramic atomizer they sell for it as well, but that’s also out of stock. Effectively as of the time of this review, the Utillian 2 will only be for use with the atomizer it comes with, then your out of luck.
Even though there is wax in there, at this point it’s not hittable. Coiled atomizers always result in some loss.
Above is a picture of the atomizer after some use. Unfortunately, dual coil atomizers are not the most efficient. Wax does get left on the sides that does not vape all the way, causing some waste. If this was a coilless atomizer, almost all the way would get used.
What’s included in the Utillian 2 dab pen kit
The Utillian 2 comes with:
650maH battery
Dual quartz coil atomizer
Dab tool
Magnetic USB A charger
Carrying case
Utillian 2 Operation Instructions
Operation is super simple. Here’s how you do it in numbered steps:
Uncap mouthpiece from atomizer
Load concentrate onto the coil using the dab tool
Put mouthpiece back on
Connect atomizer to battery (snaps on magnetically)
Press 5 times to turn on
Press 2 times to get to desired voltage setting
The voltage settings are as follows:
3.0V Green
3.4V Blue
3.8V Purple
4.2V Red
We ran it at 4.2V the entire time, but it was still not producing a hard hit. Still the hits are very smooth.
Strength of hits could be better
Two different waxes are used in this review: live resin and honeycomb. I use both to see if it will hit differently on either. Hits are roughly the same level of intensity on this device on both types of concentrates.
For me the highest setting was still a bit on the soft side. However, many beginning users might prefer this lighter style hit to something harsh. I should mention there is going too harsh as well, like the This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0, that just scorches the wax.
Many experienced users with dab pens are expecting to get harsher hits out of coils and lighter hits out of coilless. The intensity of these hits was lighter than many higher-end coilless atomizer options I have tried. It should be considered most those options do cost more.
Vapor quality is great despite strength lacking
The quality of the vapor out of this device is good. It would be slightly better on a coilless atomizer like the PuffCo Plus, but comparing coils to coils, it’s definitely better than your average coil hit.
Taste is good, nothing metallic or off about it
The Utillian 2 delivers true-to-concentrate taste. It puts out the same taste as a dab rig would for that type of concentrate. It’s not hitting as hard, but you can recognize what concentrate you are hitting. The lower temp hit probably helps this, as when you scorch your wax you really can’t taste it as good.
Comparing the Utillian 2 to other popular dab pens
Here we’ll compare it to some of the more popular dab pens out there: The Puffco Plus, Puffco Pro 2 and the Linx Blaze.
Utillian 2 vs Puffco Plus
Puffco Plus is sleek, but more expensive.
The Puffco Plus is a coilless atomizer system that’s known for delivering very smooth hits. The Utillian 2 also delivers very smooth hits for a coilless atomizer. However, you are going to get more efficiency with the Puffco Plus because there is no where for wax to go on the sides, like there is on any coiled atomizer design.
The Puffco Plus is an overall better product, but it does cost substantially more at currently $71.99. Therefore, it’s a close call.
Utillian 2 vs Puffco Pro 2
PuffCo Pro 2 doesn’t have great airflow, but you can feel the quality build.
Utillian 2 and Puffco Pro 2 are pretty similar devices from anyone just looking and not using. The Pro 2 has been discontinued but is still a popular product, is still for sale, and something many would recognize in a comparison. The Puffco Pro 2 now goes for around $75. If you have tax then it’s almost double the price of the Utillian 2.
Airflow is awful on the Pro 2 and that is it’s major flaw. Hits are slightly harder on the Pro 2 compared to the Utillian.
Overall, the Utillian 2 is a better product than the Puffco Pro 2.
Utillian 2 vs Linx Blaze
We see here what you get when you purchase Linx Blaze, a similar-looking kit to the Utillian 2.
The Linx Blaze is almost a fatter version of the Utillian 2 with an added coilless atomizer. The Blaze is more efficient especially on the coilless option. Even if the coilless donut option was in stock for the Utillian 2, it’s placement is less efficient than the blaze. The Blaze also has stronger hits on the coiled atomizer than the Utillian 2.
The biggest difference is the price. The Linx Blaze retails for $135, while the Utillian 2 is just under $40. Factor in tax and the Linx Blaze costs 3.5x as much.
The Linx Blaze is just too expensive for what it even though it performs better than the Utillian 2.
Utillian 2 is priced fairly at $39.99
The price on Utillian is not too high, especially considering it has some unique attributes like the magnetic connections. The coil seems to be of decent quality as well. There’s tons of dab pens out there that have questionable coil construction like the products we saw from the now-appears-to-be defunct This Thing Rips.
When you break it down as a per-included item cost,
PRC = People’s Republic of China. This is where almost all vape products are made.
Warranty length is 12 months for the Utillian 2
This covers defects in material and workmanship and not abuse like most. Batteries go bad all the time and that’s not brand-specific, so it’s nice to have that length of time. Some brands like SteamCloud have no warranty and we don’t recommend any of their products because of it.
This warranty has become the standard among better products and it probably does not include the atomizer. Atomizers should be replaced more frequently than that anyway, especially when it comes to coiled atomizers.
Concluding our Utillian 2 review…
The Utillian 2 offers easy to load magnetic connections, a smooth hit and a very good build quality. It doesn’t give you hard hits if you are a high tolerance user and looking for that. Overall, it’ll work for as a starter dab pen with lower tolerance.
The Luster is a vape pod device made by CCELL. Here we review it and compare it to some of the devices out there for hitting THC oil. Overall, the CCELL Luster proved to be extremely powerful and discreet. It’s a close match to the CCELL Uno, but with a sleeker design.
Pros:
Smooth hits
BPA free pod
Sleek design
Long-lasting battery
Cons:
Not as efficient as cartridges
Recommendations: Glass pods would be nice if possible.
Check out our video review below, then keep reading on for the more in-depth review.
CCELL Luster has an awesome design
The CCELL Luster has a sleek and smooth design
Sleek, smooth, with a nice finish, everything about the design of CCELL Luster is awesome. It fits nicely on your hand and it’s just amazing that such a small device can deliver so much power. The sleek, shiny finish also makes it look like a more expensive device than the Uno.
Build quality is excellent, as expected from CCELL
CCELL’s base pod used in the Luster is BPA free. Therefore, no BPAs are getting into your oil. Unfortunately, this is something that is not addressed in other pods and not even tested for. So we don’t actually know many other pods have BPA’s or not. For pod build quality this has become one of our top considerations.
The general build of the Luster is excellent as well. The cap of the pod is held firmly by a snapping mechanism.
The atomizers for the CCELL Luster deliver awesome strength
Here is the CCELL Luster atomizer
The atomizer inside the CCELL Luster is actually the same type of atomizer used on the CCELL Uno, CCELL VOLA, and CCELL Dart. The main difference is the way its packaged and the packaging is similar to the CCELL Uno. The CCELL Uno has the same type of mouthpiece but the other CCELL pod systems have a different mouthpiece with the same pod underneath.
The Luster hits incredibly strong. I would say that it’s almost a 2:1 ratio versus hitting off a regular CCELL cartridge which is, by the way, one of the strongest cartridges that you can hit.
Taste is stellar on the CCELL Luster, you’re hitting off a base ceramic core
Recently, I tested out some of the QCELL quartz cartridges and I expected those to possibly taste better than ceramic because when you look at dab pens, the Linx Blaze, the quartz usually tastes better.
However, when it comes to cartridges and pods, I found that the ceramic so far delivers better taste. It might change in the future but for now, the best delivering on taste for THC oil devices comes from CCELL cartridges, pods, and the SPRK cartridge. Nothing to complain about on taste here, truly top-notch.
Efficiency could use a few improvements but the inefficiencies affect all brands and types of pods
The inside battery connector for the CCELL Luster
The efficiency issues that I have for pod systems are pretty much universal. It’s just not limited to CCELL’s pod, I find the same problem on the G Pen Gio pod, as well as on a Stiiizy. Basically, a small amount of oil gets leftover on pods partly because of its plastic and partly just because of the way they’re shaped, whereas a glass cartridge would be more efficient.
However, comparing pods to pods, the CCELL pods are on par with the efficiency of other pods and are still good for pods. Here, I’m judging it based on all oil devices including cartridges, but pod to pod it’s on par with everything else.
Battery life is awesome, no additional charge on a half gram
The battery of CCELL Luster delivered a great performance
Maybe it was good luck, but I did not have to charge the CCELL Luster at all during the use of a half gram pod that I filled on it. Awesome battery life as expected from CCELL. The battery has a capacity of 350mAh, more than enough for the type of this pod plus the pod hits so hard that you don’t need to hit it a lot of times.
As mentioned before, you just got to hit it probably 2 times to get a normally 4 hits from a cartridge. Overal, excellent on battery life.
Value is great but will depend on the oil companies
CCELL products oil manufacturers are often slightly more expensive than some of the other options. However, the lack of failures that CCELL products have, combined with the extra hit strength makes CCELL an excellent value.
Going cheaper on vape hardware makes performance suffer
We see manufacturers all the time using cheaper hardware and it doesn’t help the cartridge at all. Recently, we saw this with the APEX RemPen where they try to go with some other type of hardware and it didn’t work out that well.
CCELL really sets the standard for hardware and if more whole manufacturers use CCELL, I will have s lot more cartridges that I’d be using regularly. The other brands just don’thave comparable performance at least at this point in time. Therefore, CCELL really represents the ultimate value which is your going to get the best possible hits.
Concluding our CCELL Luster review…
Overall, CCELL Luster is a great product indeed
Overall, CCELL Luster is an awesome product. The only issues I have are with efficiency and this is industry-wide when it comes to pods. On top of that, the efficiency issue is not that big, its a small amount of oil.
Considering the hard hits that you get out of it though, efficiency on these pods is much better than the other pod system. This thing rips apart on strength products like Stiiizy, which are made by ALD eCigarette. Once again, CCELL shows that it is the top product when it comes to hitting straight THC oil.
You can learn more about the CCELL Luster here. What are your thoughts on the CCELL Luster? Comments or questions? Post your review below and comment below or in our forum!
Here we are comparing Stiiizy vs Dab Pens, two popular ways to vape concentrates. Stiiizy has recently weakened its oil so much, that even a dab pen with low strength wax will likely be stronger. Stiiizy being refilled with a fine distillate though becomes a good contender.
Stiiizy’s regular oil has weakened a lot
When we first tried Stiiizy in 2017 the oil was strong and the hardware was a great match. See our Stiiizy review which will soon be updated. Over the past year, Stiiizy has weakened substantially. They went from using a light colored fine distillate, to some yellow oil that has very little strength. It reminds me of a taco joint in San Diego area named Bull Taco. They opened up using fine quality sirloin for the carne asada and a year later they were using chuck roast selling it for the same price.
Most dab pens are stronger than most THC cartridges
On average, dab pens are ahead of THC cartridges on effect anyway. There are a few brands like Airo Pro and Roots that are on par with the strength of a dab pen and good quality wax. The high THC concentration and quality CCELL hardware are what help these brands get to that level of strength. Stiiizy is no where near their strength. The new generation CCELL cartridge is also better hardware than Stiiizy. If I had a syringe and could put the oil in either, I’d take a CCELL anyday.
Stiiizy VS RootsStiiizy VS Airo Pro
Dab pens just more likely to be better than Stiiizy Pen
Almost any dab pen atomizer is going to hit harder than Stiiizy. Even with mediocre quality wax, you will get a better effect of a dab pen than a Stiiizy Pen. However, Stiiizy does have an advantage over poor quality wax pens like This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0. These have parts melting and wires getting way too hot. You are probably better off hitting a Stiiizy than these. However, if you have a high tolerance, you might not feel anything with Stiiizy until you put a different type of oil in there.
Stiiizy VS This Thing Rips
In conclusion, for easiness it is good quality cartridges like CCELL with good quality distillate like Roots, AMA, and Airo Pro that are the winners. But when comparing Stiiizy to dab pens, dab pens win by a mile compared to the default Stiiizy with its original oil. They started out good, but now Stiiizy does not have enough strength. Even with not the best wax, you will be better off with a dab pen than a Stiiizy, unless you are going for a weak effect.
Vape Pens are also referred to as wax pens, oil vaporizers or dab pens.
What Is A Vape Pen?
A ‘vape pen’ is a vaporizer that is made of eCigarette components. There is a massive variety of styles, features, and prices available. Vape pens can be used for vaping cannabis concentrates, as well as liquids. They are also referred to as oil vaporizers orwax pens.
A vape pen is composed of a battery at the bottom, anatomizer (or cartridge) in the middle, and a mouthpiece at the top. There is usually a small button on the side of the unit, which turns on the battery. The battery then heats the atomizer component and the concentrates are vaporized. The vapor is then inhaled.
When vaping, the perfect temperature should result in the concentrates releasing chemicals in the form of vapor. The heat should not be enough to burn materials. There is no combustion involved with vaping.
Types of Vape Pen
Pen-style vapes are usually long and slender, and look much like a pen (hence the name). Using a vape pen is a discreet and portable way to smoke on the go. Using a vape pen is easier (and less dangerous) than using aDab Rig. Vape pens come in all strengths and sizes, and have different capabilities.
There are three main types of vape pens:
Cartridge Pens: This type of pen requires almost no effort whatsoever. They are used with disposable cartridges which are pre-loaded with hash oil. Cartridge pens are low-maintenance, affordable, and usually very slender. Simply screw your cartridge onto the battery, press the button and enjoy. However, with cartridges, you have no control over what you’re inhaling.
Concentrate Pens: Used by wax lovers. Concentrate pens are similar to cartridge pens but more advanced. Instead of inserting a cartridge, an atomizer is used. Concentrates are placed into the atomizer, heated by the battery, and vaporized. A concentrate vape pen is more advanced. This is a good option for those who want to choose their own wax, temperature, and dosage.
Dry Herb Vaporizers: This type of vape pen is less common than concentrate ones. As they can only vaporize dry flower, they are often bigger and can be more expensive. The temperature must be well controlled as to avoid burning your flower, and airflow can be an issue.
A ‘Nectar Collector‘ style vape pen is an inverted version of a concentrate pen. Instead of depositing the concentrates inside an atomizer-type heating element, a nectar collector places the heating element at the very bottom of the unit. The user then directly touches the heat to the concentrated material and sucks the vapor through the tube.
Price Range and Differences
The price of a vape pen can range from $10 – $250! This depends completely on how advanced you want the product to be. A vape pen will be priced higher if it has multiple features, uses high-quality materials, or comes with extra atomizers or accessories.
Two vape pen examples at opposite ends of the spectrum are theThis Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 ($74.20), and theOmicron V5 ($76.99). At right around the same price, you may assume they were the same quality. You would be wrong.
The OG Four 2.0 is a cheap, bad-tasting vape pen that uses plastic and only comes with 2 single coil atomizers. The Omicron V5 however, is made with stainless steel and includes a glass globe and 3 advanced atomizers: a quartz double coil atomizer, a ceramic double coil atomizer, and a unique black ceramic cylinder atomizer. For similar prices, you are getting totally different products.
Therefore the price of a vape pen does not necessarily indicate high quality, and research should be done before purchasing. Check out Dab Connection vape pen reviewshere!
The Omicron V5 is the latest model from W9 Tech, and quickly became one of the most interesting vape pens that Dab Connection has reviewed so far. Omicron has good-quality atomizers, great taste and a slightly puzzling logo design…
Update 10/26/2017: W9Tech has informed us that the black ceramic is in fact Silicone Carbide (SiC).
Design & Quality of the Omicron V5
The Omicron V5 may be a little confusing by name, but it’s absolutely worth getting to know! This product is essentially their KISS Alpha Centauri V3 (commonly shortened to AC V3) 510 attachment, and a battery (called the Omicron battery) with a power capacity of your choosing, shipped separately.
Confused yet? That’s not all… The product is sold by W9 Tech. However, they also call themselves ‘Up Tech’, which seems to stand for ‘Utopia Planitia’. And, if you remember the original Omicron V25 from six or seven years ago, you’ll actually remember them as ‘Delta 9 Vaporizers’!
Omicron Battery and Kiss Alpha Centauri Oil System
So, to say it’s hard to find information on this company, or know what to call them is confusing for most people, to say the least. Honestly, let’s just forget everything else (as they should too) and just say W9 Tech.
According to good old Wikipedia, ‘Utopia Planitia’ is “a large plain within Utopia, the largest recognized impact basin on Mars and in the Solar System”. Now, the Solar System is great, but why do I get a Viking vibe from this design?
Omicron LD Battery
For this review, we’re reviewing what’s called the ‘Omicron LD battery’, which is 900mAh. It’s small but thick. It comes with a micro USB port to charge it, as well as FIVE different temperatures to choose from. Because the battery is designed to pair with their AC V3 and its sub-ohm atomizers, the battery settings are in watts, rather than volts like most batteries in vape pens.
Omicron V5 Battery and Power Instructions
Temperature settings:
White is 6w
Yellow is 9w
Pink is 13w
Green is 16w
Blueis 19w
The Omicron battery has a subtle but easy to read light above the button that shows the power setting. The new spring-loaded button feels solid when pressed. The Omicron battery also has a longer 15 second cut off time, compared to 10 seconds for most other vape pens. Overall this battery is slick, small and portable – but powerful at the same time.
Omicron V5 Kit Contents
It includes both the stainless-steel ‘Centauri Cover’ and the ‘Alpha Globe’ glass cover, for those who prefer to see their smoke build up. The glass globe is a strong Borosilicate. It’s strong enough to drop a few times without you worrying about it cracking, unlike cheap globes at your local smoke shop.
Here are the real upgrades compared to their earlier V2 model;
They’ve enlarged the air vents at the bottom of the attachment from 1mm wide circles, to four unique ovals that are 2mm tall and 4mm wide! This gives you an amazing amount of airflow, compared to their previous models. Not to mention, way beyond what most other vape pens we’ve reviewed offer.
They’ve also re-designed the mouthpiece, to have a much wider mouth opening. It has a nice airflow wall, which prevents too much air from going into the chamber, or inhaling too hard and splattering wax across the walls.
The new (left) mouthpiece features a wider mouth-hole than the previous model (right)
Atomizers
The best part about this Omicron V5 vape pen is the V3 and the generation 3 atomizers.
W9 Tech is head and shoulders above most other coiled atomizers. As we all know, the atomizer is always the most important part of the vape pen.
This kit includes three atomizers: the new and exclusive ‘Sirius’ atomizer (more on that in a bit..), a quartz double coil atomizer, and a ceramic double coil atomizer that uses black ceramic (compared to white ceramic like other vape pens).
W9 Tech V3 Atomizers: Quartz Double Coil, Sirius Black Ceramic and Black Ceramic Double Coil
The Generation 3 atomizers by W9 Tech have also been re-designed. The new models are chubbier and have a 9mm wide atomizer cup, vs the previous models 8mm diameter. Each atomizer also comes with its own four built-in air vents under the atomizer, that are 2mm in diameter each. When pairing those with the AC V3s air vents, this design delivers superior air flow.
Quality Materials All Around On The Omicron V5
Unlike most vape pen companies, W9 Tech uses Grade 2 Titanium and openly provide testing to showcase their purity on the website. So, compared to ‘not really knowing’ what your coil is, or using horribly cheap coils (like This Thing Rips OG Four 2.0 and the KandyPens Elite), you’re getting the same quality titanium that you would use on a dab rig!
The Omicron V5 includes both a stainless steel mouthpiece and a strong glass globe
Unlike the Puffco Plus or the KandyPens Galaxy, the Omicron attachment itself is also made with durable stainless steel 304.
W9 Techs new coiled atomizers are what they call EHD models, which mean they use a thicker gauge coil. This means it will last longer and heat more evenly. Now, we all know quartz because everyone uses it, but why use black ceramic?
The black ceramic used in this atomizer by W9 Tech is called ‘fc2000’, and is somewhat porous. Basically, instead of your materials sliding off the white ceramic, the black ceramic absorbs it as it liquidizes. It can then slowly heat up with the coil wrapped around, and at lower temperatures you can get really tasty low temp hits.
Sirius Atomizer
Let’s get to the new ‘Sirius’ atomizer. This atomizer is a replacement of the ceramic donut that was included in the two previous KISS V2 models. It’s a coil-less/low-temp atomizer with a unique idea. The Sirius atomizer contains a black ceramic cylinder, with a Grade 2 titanium coil going through its hollow center. The coil gets powered and heats up the black ceramic, which then melts your dab.
Now, it sounds great in theory. However, in use, the black ceramic is not porous enough to actually absorb your wax. So, what happens is, you place your wax on top of the atomizer, it heats up, and most wax slides off to underneath the cylinder or onto the walls. Therefore, while unique (and when working – delivers incredible taste) it’s not that effective in use. However, after posting this review, W9Tech reached out to us and stated that the Sirius atomizer needs to be loaded slowly, and this is why maybe it did not work well for us n the first go. W9Tech also recommends using the Sirius atomizer at 6 watts.
Another downside is that is gets very, very hot after a few uses. Especially when using the globe. Just wait for the unit to cool off a bit in-between each hit.
The Alpha Globe is a great option for those who enjoy vapor viewing!
Ease of Use: Better Than Others!
The Omicron V5 is a bit easier to use than other vape pens, simply because the attachment has no threading. This means it doesn’t require constant screwing on and off to load your vape pen, like the This Thing Rips R2 Series, OG Four 2.0, etc.
Other than that, it’s the same as most vape pens. Load 5 clicks to turn on, 3 to change temperature setting. Load, Puff, Enjoy.
It is slightly annoying that it gets hot so fast, meaning you can’t hit it multiple times. However, that’s a minor complaint.
The Sirius atomizer is also temperamental, as you have to get your wax perfectly on the top of the cylinder. Also, make sure the consistency of your wax will work with this atomizer. The best option is something gooey, so that it can cling to the correct place and melt as intended.
Strength On The Omicron V5 Can Get Tricky
Strength is a tricky thing. With Omicron V5 on the highest setting of blue, it delivers super strong hits. No alloys on these coils. It does this with high-quality grade 2 titanium, but those strong hits on blue sometimes feel like they’re from a cheaper coil that got hot too quickly just because of the high heat.
The Omicron delivers good strength and big clouds, but manual control would be nice
Strength is good on the Omicron, but the main problem is that you cannot control the air flow yourself. Now that the improved mouthpiece controls the airflow, there is no manual control. This just means that there isn’t a way to inhale quick enough to get a controlled but lung-rippingly strong hit. W9Tech recommends using 19 watts as the setting for a strong hit.
In conclusion, if this pen had some sort of air flow control we may have given a 9 or 10 in strength for the Omicron.
Efficiency: Coiled Atomizers Much More Efficient Than Most Other Coiled Vape Pens
W9 Tech managed to correctly place their coils right at the bottom of the atomizer floor. This means no wax will escape underneath. With their wider gauge, there is a lot more surface area to catch your dab. This is key to efficiency on coiled atomizers.
Now, ironically, the coil-less atomizer included in W9 Tech’s previous AC V2 was a ceramic donut. Their ‘ALPHA CENTAURI 1701’ ceramic donut was more efficient than their coiled atomizers. A black ceramic insert was then added to the donut, and it was even better.
The ‘Sirius’ Black Ceramic Coil-less Atomizer
As mentioned above, the coil-less atomizer included here is “Sirius”. Sadly, Sirius is much less efficient then both coiled atomizers included. The quartz double coil and the black ceramic double coil work much better in this case. Wax tends to slide away before fully vaporized on Sirius, and you lose a ton of wax on the walls and around the cylinder. With some minor tweaks, this atomizer could be a home run.
Versatility / Atomizer Options: A Slight Loss
W9 Techs Omicron V5 comes with the previously mentioned quartz double coil atomizer, black ceramic double coil atomizer, and new ‘Sirius’ atomizer.
Sadly, the V3 is not cross-compatible with the earlier V2 atomizers. Because the V3s have added air flow and a wider size, it means the V2s don’t fit. Unfortunately, this means you lose access to the V2 1701 ceramic donut and a single coil.
The new mouthpiece is wider and the single coil of the previous model doesn’t fit here
The Sirius atomizer is great in theory, but the 1701 ceramic donut is a better low temp atomizer. The black ceramic inserts on the donut made it easy to get use out of all your wax and keep an amazing flavor too. There is no V3 ceramic donut, hopefully there will be one soon…
Portability: A Non-Issue, Great Size
The Omicron V5 fits discreetly in your hand
The Omicron V5 did great in portability. It’s only 4.5 inches tall, and easily fits in the palm of your hand. It is a bit on the heavier side because of the better materials used, but it’s not a big deal.
Discretion: We Like the Understated Design
The cool thing about the Omicron V5 is that is gives you the option of using a glass globe, which is great if you like to view your vapor. But more importantly, you get a discreet and durable black stainless-steel attachment.
Only one light above the button
The subtle black design of the battery is nice. It does have the ‘Utopia Planitia’ design featuring an eagle and lion in gold on the front (questionable design..) but compared to the old flashing plastic KandyPens ‘K’, it’s subtle enough. There’s a tiny battery indicator light above the power button, but it has no bright colors or extra lights.
You can easily keep it in the palm of your hand, take a hit and put it away in a discreet manor. Even on the lowest temperature, you can get really flavorful dabs with the grade 2 titanium coils. You can really enjoy this vape pen and be discreet at the same time.
Taste: Omicron = Delicious
The Omicron V5 uses the best tasting coils we’ve reviewed so far! The thick grade 2 titanium coils deliver a taste so close to a real low-temp dab rig hit, that we may have to change the rating for every other vape pen that uses coils.
If you run the Omicron battery on white (lowest), you can get extremely favorable hits. Especially if you pulse the button (press the button for 3 seconds or so, release for 1-2 and then press again) as to not burn your wax. By doing this, you can preserve much of the flavor.
If you’ve ever wanted a strong hit from a coil, wanted to taste your wax and not burn or ruin it with a cheap metal taste – this is what you’ve been dreaming of!
The black ceramic atomizer gives you the best taste out of both coiled atomizers. This is because you don’t have the high heat of the quartz, which can burn wax at the end.
The Sirius atomizer also delivers amazing taste, like the earlier 1701 model. However, your wax slides off, so it’s hard to use. It would be great to see another coil-less white ceramic atomizer in the future. Taste is getting such high marks because of the amazing coil metal.
Value: A Total Steal!
At $76.99, the Omicron V5 is some of the best value you can get in comparison to other vape pens. The fact that this is cheaper than other vape pens with worse materials and specs is unbelievable.
$76.99 is great value considering everything you’re getting and high-quality materials used!
The Omicron V5 includes a 900mAh battery with micro USB charging, as well as three atomizers. The atomizers included are: one exclusive atomizer (Sirius), one rare black ceramic double coil, and one quartz double coil. W9 Tech made their atomizers with grade 2 titanium and have them tested in the USA.
W9 Tech includes a card with the Omicron V5 that says the battery has a ‘limited lifetime warranty’ and they’ll replace it for free for one year. Future replacements will have a service fee applied. W9 Tech doesn’t offer free replacements for everything like some do, but it’s good that your product is covered.
Replacements: Peanuts for Excellent Quality!
Omicron atomizer replacements are such an incredible value! The cost of replacements can add up after a while, so think long term, people! Remember those KandyPens Prism+ atomizers for $34.95 and $9.95 shipping? Not only do you get better quality, but in comparison to competing products, this will save you money in the long run.
The USA tested grade 2 titanium used in this vape pen makes this price a steal. Knowing the metals and materials used in your products is a big deal, especially when you’re inhaling from them.
W9 Tech replacement prices are insanely cheap!
While other companies are selling you shabby double coiled atomizers for $20-25 apiece, W9 Tech are selling their Gen 3 with unique bottom air vents for only $9.99 apiece!
Their unique Sirius atomizer is also only $11.99. So, even though it’s not the best atomizer in the world – it’s still a great little atomizer to use for low-temp, delicious dabs of the right consistency.
For these prices, it’s hard not to pick up a couple just to have around the house
Omicron V5 Conclusion
W9 Techs Omicron V5 is one of the best, if not THE best coiled vape pen around. Its grade 2 titanium coils deliver a taste similar to a dab rig.
The Omicron V5 is small, it’s portable, the price is on point and replacements are peanuts considering the quality of materials used.
It does get hot after using it a couple of time, so it’s not perfect, but it’s getting there. You can get the Omicron V5 here. Make sure to add a battery if you don’t have one!
The full kit with accessories of the Dr. Dabber Boost eRig
The Dr. Dabber Boost eRig is Back in a New Revision; No Teflon On Top
Dr. Dabber just released their new Dr Dabber Boost Black Edition, so we’re reviewing the original Dr. Dabber Boost 2015 model today, and see how it stacks up in 2017. They were one of the first portable enails, how do they compare to every copy out there?
The Boost eRig has a good look for an eNail
Design & Quality: Better Than Before
The Dr. Dabber Boost uses the G9/H-enail design, same as the Dabado Bolt, but in all black. This essentially means it most likely is a re-branded generic item, or at least started that way. The newer models use a ceramic top instead of Teflon. The Cannabist reported that the Dr. Dabber Boost Teflon top caused fear of polymer fume fever. It comes included with a basic bubbler, accessories, and 3 different nails: titanium, ceramic, and quartz.
The way it works is simple: there’s a built-in large ceramic rod that sticks out with heating coils embedded inside the ceramic rod. The nails all have an empty pillar in the center. You install the nails so the ceramic rod goes inside the empty pillar. Then twist. Once installed, press the power button the appropriate amount of times depending on the atomizer: 3 times for titanium, 5 times for ceramic or quartz. The “built-in” part of the ceramic rod is key, because like regular coils, the ceramic rod will burn out, but it’s not replaceable (which they changed for the new Dr Dabber Boost Black Edition).
The ceramic rod sticks out and the atomizer goes over it.
Boost eRig Nail Sizes
The nails are noticeably different sizes, titanium being the smallest and quartz the largest. The titanium and ceramic nails are both one solid piece with threading built at the bottom. The quartz nail on the other hand, has a quartz nail resting on top of a sort-of cup with 4 prongs for walls. This design is later used on all 3 nails on the Dr Dabber Boost Black Edition.
The smaller size of the nails, 10mm (titanium) to 12mm (quartz), means you should use this for smaller pea sized dabs. If you go larger, you will have to turn it on back to back to keep it going. Make sure you also dab large in a long string, with a little bit touching at a time, or you will over flood the nail.
Battery: Seems OK, Brand is Questionable
The included 18650 battery is ok, but I recommend quickly purchasing a better brand name one like Samsung or Sony. They retain power longer. Once you start going around 50% power the nails don’t get as hot as before. This will be noticeable because larger dabs won’t vaporize fully as the batteries dies. The Dr. Dabber Boost also eats up battery power, so charge it every night or have an extra on hand if you’re a heavy user.
Dr. Dabber Boost Accessories
It comes with a very useful magnetic carb cap and dab tool, a keychain, and 2 silicone containers. The carb cap has a very nice looking gunmetal chrome and makes a great seal when in use. The silicone containers are also not filled with fillers like the This Thing Rips Four 2.0 Rig Edtion and passes the “bend test.” The bend test is when you bend the silicone 180 degrees and see if the color remains solid or if it is white. If it is white, then the silicone is not pure and has fillers. The Dr. Dabber Boost silicone containers did not appear to have any fillers which is good.
Ease of Use: Pretty Easy
The Dr. Dabber Boost is easy to use, especially for those that don’t want a dab rig and torch. Pop in your preferred nail, and then press either 3 times for titanium, or 5 times for quartz and ceramic.
When you click it 3 times, the light will turn White while heating up (25 seconds), and then Blue when ready to use and keep heating for another 25 seconds (50 total).
When you click it 5 times, the light will turn Blue while heating up (35 seconds), and then White when ready and heat up for another 20 seconds (55 seconds total).
The outer rim does take longer to heat up, because all of the power comes from the center ceramic rod. This means sometimes with quartz and ceramic you’ll have to run it twice.
This lady has an easy time hitting the Boost eRig.
Strength: Strong But No Range
The Dr. Dabber Boost give really good strong dabs, but because it only has 2 settings, it’s more geared to low temp dabs. You’ll only really get lung grasping dabs if you really burn it with a 5 on titanium. The smaller size dabs also mean that you won’t be taking quarter gram globs.
Efficiency: No Waste If Fully Charged
The Dr. Dabber Boost when used at perfect settings has absolutely zero waste. This means, full charge, and use a small pea-sized glob once it’s perfectly heated on a clean nail. The problem is when you one of these is out of whack.
If you’re battery is 50% or lower, your nail will get less hot, vaporizing slower and either inhaling it into the water, or not vaporizing by the time it shuts off (if that happens, just turn it on again with 3 clicks). The same happens if you have a dirty nail, the heat won’t transfer well enough and your dab won’t heat well, so keep your nails clean.
Cleaning Dr. Dabber Boost Nails
To clean them, soak them in 91% ISO over night, and then wipe everything off. After you take a dab, also use a small napkin and wipe the nail of all the reclaim while it’s still warm (don’t touch it!). Q-Tips won’t work because the heads are too big to fit in between the pillar and the walls. Their ISO-Snaps are also too big.
Pooling On The Nail
If you use too much at once, it won’t vaporize fast enough. Then it pools on the nail while it vaporizes. It’ll either boil over, you’ll suck it up, or you’ll have it left over after it’s done heating. For larger dabs, have a very small surface area touch the nails, and have it touch the inside pillar so it vaporizes quicker.
All of this happens on regular quartz bangers, so just use it correctly, and the Dr Dabber will waste very little wax.
Versatility / Atomizer Options
The Dr. Dabber Boost is one of the OG eRigs, and originally only had titanium nails. Then they added ceramic and finally quartz (you can tell quartz started their “cup” model).
It doesn’t work with the large XL nails of the Dr. Dabber Boost Black Edition because the connections are too small to fit. There are new G9 models that have silicon carbide nails, and they also fit on the Boost.
Portability
The Dr Dabber Boost is about as portable as a small beaker dab rig. The case it comes in 6in x 6in and fits in most backpacks.
Discretion: Not So Discreet but It’s More For Indoors
It’s hard to be discreet with the Dr. Dabber Boost in public. It’s very big, the glass can be seen from far away, and usually requires a solid surface and two hands to use.
Pro Tip – Want a more discreet one-handed way to dab? Fill your nail with wax first, about 1/3 full all around the pillar, the closer to the pillar the better. Cover with the carb cap without the tool. Hold it with one hand, use your thumb to click 3 or 5 times, wait 10 seconds, then inhale and use your index finger to plug and unplug the carb hole.
Taste: The Boost eRig Gives Great Flavor on Quartz
If you really want taste to shine, use a very small dab on a clean quartz nail with 3 clicks. Touch the outside ring first because the inside get hotter. Taste is ok on Titanium and Ceramic but it’s very hard to control the temperature, so you can burn the wax.
Value: Higher Priced But Warranty Excellent
At $149.95, the Dr. Dabber Boost comes in very pricey, especially when you consider that most G9/H-enails comes with almost the same things.
Their 1-year warranty does set them apart from everyone else. We had a problem with one of our Dr Dabber products and a replacement was shipped the next day. This is more important than in other products, because you don’t need to change the nails. They’re just nails, there’s nothing to fail. What fails is the heating element, which is built-in (unlike the new Dr Dabber Boost), so it’s covered under warranty.
Though they don’t fail every other month like atomizers, users do mention failures within the year at least once. They’re likely to fail once during year, so you get a free replacement instead of having to purchase a replacement like the Black Edition.
Safe to say, you get what you pay for. It might be pricier, but your purchase is secure.
Replacements
Replacement costs for the Boost is a weird category, because you don’t really need to purchase replacements. The nails don’t need to be replaced, the white ceramic rod does.
If you do want new nails or other glass attachments, they are on the expensive side. The titanium starts at $14.95 and the quartz comes up at $24.95!
Conclusion
The Dr. Dabber Boost is a great little replacement for tabletop eNails. It’s simple to use and straightforward, especially for beginners. If this had bigger nails and more temperature settings, this could replace an eNail. There are some downsides on the battery and price. Having an easy replacement policy and good warranty od help justify the higher price. If you are interested in purchasing the Dr. Dabber Boost, it can be found at VaporNation.
So, let’s say you’re a cannabis dispensary, smoke shop, head shop, whathaveyou. You’ve been selling cannabis products in all their forms and doing well so far. But then you start seeing a bunch of other legal drug products come out. There’s kratom, there’s different kinds of Amanita mushrooms, and now Mimosa root bark is making the rounds. Well, why not stock them too? One edible gummy in a shiny foil bag is just like another, right?
Or say you’re a cannabis cultivator, extractor, or manufacturer. But now your competitor has taken to offering mushroom gummies as well as cannabis – so you have to branch out into this market too, to stay competitive. But after all, you’re just selling active ingredients found in plants – what’s so different about mushrooms?
Even from the consumer point of view, it’s almost easy to walk into a cannabis dispensary and buy mushrooms or something else by mistake. We’re seeing different concoctions like “Amanita and CBD” or “Lion’s Mane and HHC.” It’s like all drugs were suddenly just different flavors of pop coming out of the same dispenser.
If you came for answers to any of the above, we’re here to help…
Psychedelics Are a Completely Different Effect From Cannabis
Even though cannabis is defined as a “psychedelic,” it has an effect completely unlike the other drugs we commonly consider psychedelics. By “psychedelics” we mean:
* various species of shroom
* synthesized drugs like LSD or Ecstasy
* other psychedelic plants like peyote or mimosa root bark
Cannabis works on the endocannbinoid system. Psychedelics do not interact with the endocannabinoid system, but instead work on things like GABA and serotonin receptors.
Psychedelics Are Much Heavier Than Cannabis
The chief difference with psychedelics is that their effects are far more intense. Cannabis is a milder drug overall.
With cannabis, the effects are lighter. Even if you’re concentrating THCA and dabbing live rosin, the most you will get with cannabis is very, very stoned. But you are still functional for the most part. Foggy and laid out on the couch like a scarecrow, yes, but you’re still grounded in reality. True, there are hundreds of individual cannabinoids that have different shades of effect, but they are all found in cannabis, so they all still feel like some kind of cannabis.
Psychedelics do much more than cannabis. Their effects can include time distortion, hallucinations, mood swings, altered perceptions, dissociation, and mental confusion. Their effects last up to 24 hours, with lingering effects into 48 hours. Getting stoned is a fleeting diversion. Taking psychedelics is a commitment. Coming down from psychedelics feels like coming home from a 2-week vacation.
Psychedelics are powerful! They are amazing to experience, but they’re hardly a quick party drug the way cannabis is. A trip on shrooms is an adventure every time, never quite the same experience twice. Nobody just pops shrooms after coming home from work, at least not if they’re planning to go to bed six hours later.
Between the various psychedelics – Psilocybin, Amanita, Mescaline, DMT, whatever – there are whole spectrums of effects. Some psychedelics leave you with a giddy euphoria and lots of energy, but without much distortion. Some psychedelics hit with powerful visual and audial effects, distorting the world around you and leaving you disoriented. Some come on fast and some slow. Some take forever to come down from. There can be nasty side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, too.
On top of that, everybody is different. Some people trip at 3MG; some people need to eat grams of the stuff to feel the effects. Then every trip is different, even for the same person on the same drug. Trips on psychedelics may be silly and goofy, or serious and brooding, or even awe-inspiring and disruptive. A psychedelic trip often works like a “therapist in a pill,” unpacking your deepest hidden baggage or revealing your greatest insecurity. For creators, psychedelics are an avenue to tap into their deepest mental reservoirs and inspire uncommon ideas.
What I’m trying to say here is, psychedelics are not always a party. Psychedelics are more about religious visions or life-altering revelations or meditative insights. People describe trips in terms of “feeling one with the universe” and such. It’s even possible to have a bad experience, triggering anxiety or paranoia. This is the reason why psychedelic veterans emphasize the importance of “set and setting” to ensure the most pleasant possible trip.
I view it this way: “Party drugs” like alcohol and cannabis are there when you want to “turn off your brain.” Psychedelics are the thinking person’s drug. It’s about that mind expansion and altered consciousness.
Psychedelics Can Have Far More Varied Potency
The last big difference between cannabis and the psychedelics is that psychedelics have a challenge with potency control. You can have the same batch of mushrooms, this one has 5% of the active psychedelic while this other one has 30%.
Conversely, cannabis is fairly predictable given the parent strain. Take a cutting from a plant and grow that into a new bush, and it will have near-exact the same potency as its parent.
Mushrooms are much less consistent. They are, after all, fungi, with completely different biology. We may have to figure out either how to get the mushrooms to stay consistent in dosage, or extract the active ingredients so we have more accurate dosing.
Psychedelics Should Be Marketed Differently
Things to be aware of when producing, packaging, or marketing psychedelic drugs:
* Psychedelics are not for everyone
* The customer needs full transparency of ingredients, including dosage
* Psychedelics need to be treated with a bit more gravity and respect
* The “trippy hippy” aesthetic and copy-writing attitude is unhelpful
* Instead, we need mature, open, objective communication about drugs and their effects
* Everyone’s mileage will vary, so be realistic about that
* People can’t just stay dosed all day every day like they do with cannabis
Just like medical cannabis users, some people do turn to psychedelics for therapeutic reasons. In some corners, psychedelics are treated as an integral part of seeking spiritual enlightenment or other goals of personal self-improvement. There is ongoing research which is probing possible use of psychedelics as treatments for depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and even an aid to quit smoking.
Psychedelics are a powerful class of psychoactive substances which have exciting and intriguing potential. If you have a legal psychedelic, you already have a hit, but you have to market it right. You can’t just call it a “party in a bag.” For every known psychedelic drug in the legalized drugs market, there are fans of that drug and those curious to seek it out. Help them find your product with clear communication and pragmatic presentation, and you’ll attract the most customers. They may be druggies, but they’ll find it refreshing when you treat them like adults.
Readers, how do you think psychedelics should be handled differently from cannabis? Sound off your weighty opinion here or in our forum.
