As far as cannabis vaporizers go, few names are as popular as Pax. Founded in 2007 by two Stanford-educated product designers, this company’s featured sleek designs alongside quality results for a number of years.
Their most recent vaporizer, the Pax 3, condenses a vast amount of technology into an incredibly compact device. This device is visually appealing, operates simply, and has such remarkable effects it turned this non-vaping cannabis consumer into a newfound fan of vaporizing.
The Pax 3 offers pretty much every necessity for someone looking to get into vaping. The oven is easy to access and pack, the device heats up quickly while offering multiple temperature options, and the vaporizer smokes smoothly through two interchangeable mouthpiece inserts.
A concentrate insert is available for purchase, as well as a half-pack oven lid to reduce the oven’s capacity by 50% for smaller bowls and less waste.
Newcomers to cannabis, smoking veterans looking to give their lungs a break, and anyone looking for a fun addition to their consumption methods will enjoy this vaporizer.
HIGHLIGHTS
Size and simplicity stand out as the Pax 3’s strongest assets. Pocket-sized and chock-full of innovation, this rectangular matte-finished instrument is as easy on the eyes as it is on the lungs. The harshest of weeds will be dulled by this tiny vaporizer. And though the $250 price tag for the complete kit is sure to raise an eyebrow or two, the Pax is actually priced near the middle of its competitors. The Arizer Solo II is $150 while Storz & Bickel’s Mighty is $350.
WHAT'S GOOD
- Compact, portable, and lightweight design
- Uncomplicated functionality
- Reduces cough/easier on lungs
- Can smoke both flower and concentrates
- Lavish aesthetic
WHAT'S BAD
- Price is obviously a bit high
- Device does smell after being used a bit, a carrying case would be recommended
- Okay flavor…not the best, not the worst
After all these years, the Pax 3 still holds up as one of the best portable dual-use flower and concentrate cannabis vaporizers.
Though I only tested the basic package which includes just the device, the Pax 3 was still strong enough to smoke concentrates even without the bonus concentrate-insert. I just mixed some wax between the flower and it smoked potently, leaving virtually no mess.
The simplicity of every step makes this the ideal vaporizer for someone new to vaping. Veterans of the vaping game can benefit from this product but may look elsewhere for more detailed features.
As someone who is personally new to vaping, I truly enjoyed how non-complicated this device was. The effects are different from a joint which is another thing I enjoyed, it helps you experience your cannabis in a new way.
What’s Included:
Complete Kit:
- Flat & Raised Mouthpieces
- USB Charger
- Maintenance Kit
- Standard Oven Lid
- Half-Pack Oven Lid
- Concentrate Insert
- Multi-Tool (Keychain)
- 3 Screens
Just Device:
- Flat & Raised Mouthpieces
- USB Charger
- Maintenance Kit
- Standard Oven Lid
Pax 3 Highlights
1. Four temperature settings to heat your cannabis however you damn please
The Pax 3 features four temperature settings: 360℉, 380℉, 400℉, and 420℉.
These settings give the user a few options on how they’d like their cannabis heated. It takes no longer than 30 seconds to heat up, simply press down on the mouthpiece and the device activates. Hold down the button for a couple of seconds and you activate the temperature control mode.
Each varying temperature has its own corresponding display on the iconic flower pedal crest of the Pax.
There was originally a state-of-the-art app that accompanied the Pax and allowed users to control the Pax from their phone for fully-customizable temperatures. Apple would eventually ban this app. A new one has been created as a bypass and the original can still be used by Android users.
2. A concentrate insert for when you want your high to be higher
With the complete kit comes Pax 3’s concentrate insert. This insert is designed to fit perfectly into the already existing oven. Concentrates are known to give a more potent high and being able to carry around that high so portably and discreetly is truly a blessing.
Also, since it uses the same oven, the concentrates benefit from the multiple temperature tool and can be vaped however you like.
For those who don’t have the complete kit and just have the Pax 3 device (I was one of these people), I found that sprinkling some shatter or wax into your flower worked just fine. The Pax 3 was able to vape the concentrate in the flower insert and no noticeable mess was left behind.
3. Portable and durable for the sneakiest and clumsiest of users
The Pax 3 is ideal for on-the-go cannabis consumption, the portability of this vaporizer makes it one of the most discreet and easy to move around with.
It fits in your pocket and the palm of your hand taking up less room than an iPhone. Complimenting the portability of this device is its equally impressive durability. Pax’s are notoriously hard to break.
Though the outer aluminum shell is susceptible to scratches, it protects the inner mechanics at all costs. Add in stainless steel materials and food-safe and heat-resistant plastic, and you got yourself one hell of a durable vaporizer.
If you do happen to somehow break the Pax, they have one of the best warranties lasting 10 years.
4. A battery life that lasts long, even if you don’t
The Pax 3 uses a 3500 mAH battery, in layman’s terms; the Pax has a long-lasting battery.
Each full charge, which takes around 90 minutes, gives you 8-10 sessions of use. That’s roughly 2 hours of use. There’s a good chance you’ll tap out before the Pax does. Charging the device is one of the most underrated parts of the experience. The charger is a futuristic dock with two magnetic prongs, these tiny prongs allow the Pax 3 to lightly rest and snap onto the dock. No plugging in, just laying down. My favorite thing to do.
Is the Pax 3 Worth it?
After all these years spent at the top, the Pax 3 still hangs on as a cannabis vaporizer worth exploring.
Joints, bowls, and edibles reigned supreme in my cannabis consumption choices. I’ve been smoking for quite some time but don’t consider myself too advanced of a user, technology in smoking wasn’t my cup of tea. But alas, I did this review and the Pax 3 truly shifted those thoughts.
The experience didn’t intimidate, the effects didn’t disappoint, and the interest in using the Pax 3 after just one time didn’t fade away.
If you’ve been unsure of vaping and worried you might lack the knowledge or tools, the Pax welcomes you with open arms. If you’ve already been vaping and have a trusty device, maybe the Pax isn’t for you. But I really don’t think a single device beats the portability of the Pax 3, for this reason alone I highly recommend adding a Pax 3 vaporizer to your paraphernalia collection.