Hey there. I'm sending through the following review so that you can take a look at it. If you'd like, you can use
it as a testimonial, or just bits and pieces if it suits you - no obligation of course, but I always like to give credit where
it's due.
My Vaporstar review.
Like my previous review this one may be a little long winded, but hopefully it's
insightful and useful to someone considering a purchase of this unit...same as with last time though, you're about to undertake
a fair bit of reading for a single post, so, without further warning I'll get on with it.
Quick recap on myself and
vapourization. I've had 3 models of different types prior to the Vaporstar;
*A "smoke bubble" which gives you a
little taste of what vapourisations about, but it's frankly annoying to use, having to hold the thing over a flame while turning
to avoid overcooking. Otherwise relatively efficient and easy enough to "master", one I would recommend for the patient...we
know that's not me...and maybe those looking to observe the process slowly in motion.
*One of those electric ones with
the heated element inside a glass dome/jar type setup, don't know what brand just something bought fairly cheaply at a local
tobacconist...it smouldered the product, the only way to avoid this even momentarily was to constantly turn the power switch
off, then on again multiple times. I'm not sure if this applies to all models of this type, but I can say that while
the quality of the vapour was alright prior to turning carcinogenic, this one wasn't worth a damn...I can only recall it having
"magic" somewhere in the name. I'd avoid this one at all costs, almost completely defeated the purpose...I ended up with
a slow burner, nothing more.
*A while ago, I purchased a vapourizer called the "Extreme" from arizer...this is a very
good product which hasn't given me any problems to date, one that I'd personally recommend above both of the aforementioned.
Fills up bags automatically with a multi-setting fan, or you can attach a "whip/ctraw type" thing for vapes on demand.
I prefer the bags personally but now having tried both methods I can tell you they both have the desired effect. Has a
nice "clinical" look about it, a digital readout of what temp/fan setting you're using etc, and comes with a cool little remote
control. Vapes through the whip with fan assistance will give the most immediate effect, followed by the bags, and then
vaping on demand...all are nice, all do the job, each effects you in different ways and times. On the negative side,
which temperature you set it at seems to be pretty subjective, but from what I've heard 180-200 seems to the normal range. Anyways,
fun machine to use, looks nice, doesn't produce a descernable smell, so all good there. However, it's a bit pricey in comparison
to most bongs/waterpipes and cheaper model vapourizers to be realistic about it. One other issue that has lead me to look
beyond this particular unit is the time factor involved. My preferred method, the bags, take a little while - now seriously,
this is the only "bad" thing I can say about the extreme, I will be continuing to use it even if mainly for group situations.
Sometimes
you don't want to wait though, right?...or, at least to have something to do while you wait, so the search continued.
Did
some research among a few users of this site among others, had a look around google to see what was up and the one I heard
the most posetive things about was the Vaporstar. I looked it up...saw a great video on youtube, here's some linkage to
that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rttVXEy7C-c So, looks pretty good right? The guy puts in a small amount,
gets himself a fair few hits of what looks like a good thick vapour, which seemed to be for real, after all smoke doesn't
cling so much to the glass like that...but at this point I thought "but, you've gotta light it, that's some bullshit", so
I continue watching as he continues taking hit after hit...I was still apprehensive at this point, after all when I gave up
smoking I wanted it to be for real, all together no more burning stuff, needed more verification. Found a few forums, and
eventually came across a person who had largely the same concerns as myself. They'd bought it, so lets hear it for the
guinea pigs, eh? They didn't have a complete understanding of the inner workings of the Vapostar, but, gave me an idea
of the conclusions they'd drawn, let me know that somehow the fire doesn't seem to touch it, even though it must be in very
close proximity somehow it's dispersed and the heat is taken on by the metal "chamber" then slowly transfers to the weed...Gotta
say I still wasn't completely sold, but then I thought back to the Extreme and how I doubted any good review I heard until
I tried it, when the machine completely proved itself.
So me and my friend order a couple of these things - We bought
the "kits" that come with the Vaporstar units.
See most places sell either the unit on it's own, or packaged with a
glass bong. If you have a glass bong of your own the vaporstar fits inside a standard sized metal stem, by the look
of it you could put it into a hose (yech) and from what I've heard you may not even need a stem at all, the rubber seal ought
to hold. I just tried this for the sake of the review and mine personally didn't fit very snugly, there's definately a
little too much airflow around it, a second seal may address this, but I would lean towards suggesting a regular stem is used
for the best results I've seen.
The looks.
So I had a look at the unit. Tiny little thing it is 6.5cm long,
about 2.5cm at the widest segment. ~insert that's what she said, here~ Obviously very portable, for those with bongs
waiting elsewhere.
(Me, I'm just a home user...I'll have me some butter if I wanna have the effects kick in outdoors/elsewhere)
The
metal cap which is the part the fire gets channeled into when the bong is drawn upon, has a kind of metal grating type dealy
inside, that's where your chopped weed goes. The top side has the hole that the fire is channeled down into, yet when
tried to look through it I couldn't. There is no direct path at all between the flame and the herb - what I would gather happens
is that above the grated area, there is shape that channels the fire all different directions more "around" the top
of the chamber...so, this just occured to me now but I guess such a shape would be a bit like a star, I would guess this is
how the unit got it's name?
Anyways the good news there was definitive enough proof for me that I wasn't going to be
inhaling smoke from burned greens.
Ease of use
Well, it's as easy as your standard bong/waterpipe really,
you just need to hold the lighter on a tad longer... In fact, I have an idea that this factor in design will make a lot
more people that usually smoke, feel a little more at home/comfortable with this method and be more receptive to giving it
a go, at least, I hope this is the case...Vapo all the way I say and whoever my "kind" can bring across into better health
is a win. So yeah, easy. Super easy.
Product Consumption
So, I filled it up. In terms of how much
product you need to use, you're looking at a levelled standard cone to fill this little metal recepticle/cap. Now when
you saw that video, it leads you to believe that you can get SO many hits out of a load this big...now having tried the unit,
I can confirm that this is not entirely the case. Don't get me wrong...I mean the video isn't misleading, but how you like
your vapes to taste is a big part of it. In my trials, I have discovered that each "cone" worth will give you about 6 very
solid hits of vapour, and about 2 more of "ok" level vapour, then after that it starts to taste slightly toasted. Thing
is though, we put this thing through a few hoops and kept hitting it a few past that point, with some "twists" to crush it
up further we went to about 11, before it started getting a little too acrid in taste. I was doing this to find out what
I did next - when I emptied the recepticle of the used product, what came out didn't looked burned at all, not even remotely
singed. It was a little more towards brown in this instance when compared to the darkened green/brown shade I usually
leave it at, but all the same considering how much came out of this, amazingly intact and unscathed by fire - so, you can
get a LOT out of each cone/bowl, but personal taste will indicate where you will stop personally.
Taste
So
the segment above will indicate it's a sliding scale dependant upon how far you go with it - though I'm going to give my impression
of the taste you first get for those first 6-8 draws. No shit here at all, these are the best vapes I've ever tasted...sadly
though I must admit better even than my EXTREME which was some 3x the price. Fresh, thick, almost juicy and tangy...and
feels just slightly warm - I have seen people mention that ice-chips inside the bong can remove the heat factor completely
but to be honest I wouldn't consider that anywhere near a neccessity.
Effectiveness
On the basis of last
nights (first) use, I couldn't be too sure...see having friends over we ended up drinking...just, too much vodka. I tried
it though, and was pretty sure I was having some nice effects. On a side note, my friend that normally doesn't partake
in weed at all had a few hits - it was nice to have shared the experience all the same.
For review quality though I
got a fairly good nights sleep and waited until this afternoon to try it again while completely rested and sober, I'm typing
this some few hours later.
First of all, if you take all those 6-8 draws yourself it will not only work, but it'll
work like a madman.
See I haven't even gone that far, myself and the chick shared it between us, having 3-4 each. Wow...the
speed of the "kick in" is very impressive. I would say this is to do with the product being less dispersed...now what
I'm used to is having two full bags on the extreme, and then it kicks in 5-10 minutes later. With the vapostar, we're
talking less than a minute. The effect is stronger than I've felt with any other vapo in terms of quantity used vs quality
of vapour - and the duration, well, I'm still pretty much buzzin' here. You will not have any problems with how WASTED
you can get off just one cone/bowl. I am officially very pleased and frankly nicely surprised by this unit.
Side-Note
As I have done before, I am storing my post-vaped material. The level I leave it at with the vaporstar looks about
the same colour/dryness as the stuff I take out of my extreme once I'm done. Still green with some loss of colour and slight
browning. Provided you don't go further than that, on occasions before I've used it to make butter, and yes it actually
works...my first try at butter was with this post-vaped material and it worked like a dream...was couchlocked for 6-8 hours,
at times even trying to splash water in my face to snap out of it... All I can say there is, you've got more of a bang
for your buck for sure. That, and I can't WAIT to see how my butter turns out when I'm using unvaped material, ha.
Vapour
odour & Post-Use Smell?
I can keep this bit short - there just isn't one. If you got the stuff blown in your face,
sure...smells a little like leaf, but at about 5% strength. That's suring use, and once it dissapates the mild scent is no
longer present. The bong and vaporstar unit itself The only smell that eminates is a little like clipped lawn grass
that's been left in the sun 'til dried...and you will NOT smell it from any more than about a foot away. Even when you've
got it right under your nose, it's still very faint...so those considering this method for the stealth, you're onto a good
one here.
Overall Score.
I'll give it a 9.5, the only thing I can find wrong to say about it is that it actually
requires me to have some small amount of involvement in the lighting process?
Seriously, good shit here. Without
any exaggeration, this is the best, most user friendly example I've had of vapourisation all together.
Very very happy
with the product. Peace all, and I'm out.
- As I said, use any of the review if you like...but you should know
all the same from me, whoever up in there designed this baby, rocks out.
fullname: Nick&Mick Palmer email: mich*****r@btinternet.com comments: M: this baby is the rolls royce of toking, regardless of your tipple, it shorts the men from the boys on the
flavour front and the leaves the pretenders to the crown with their trousers round their ankles - it the daddy, the don and
the true master. N: as a veteran of the Dam for over ten years this is the best method of smoking i've tried ever! but
don't bother smoking the residue thats left behind as it's nasty. higher the quality of combustables the better!!! comments:
nick*****@hotmail.co.ukcomments: Hi!
I just received my Vaporstar and it was in perfect condition. It is an awesome product, probably the
best portable vaporizer.
Many thanks!
email: dave***a@googlemail.com comments: This is the best device ever! I've always been a bong smoker worried about my lungs but have never found one
easily maintainable or as quick and easy as toking a bong.
This is the best of both worlds!! Great taste, great hit
and none of the nasty smoke and tar. I've used mine for 6 months now and my chest has never felt better!
Well it only took me 4 months. Anyhow......here they are
I LOVE these units and for $50 shipped I haven't seen anything else that I want.
1.
Bong Vapeing is "FUN AS **LL" 2. Good looks 3. Portable 4. Effective? You bet - Fat Vapor City 5. One bowl does
it - Two knocks you out. 6. Really pays for itself since it's only $50. 7. Low Smell. 8. Vapors in 6 Seconds 9.
The bowl can mix and match with tons of differnt bongs.
The VaporStar is a total winner. I've used it now for 4
months and I can't find a single negative thing to say about it. Scorching is rare - the only times I do is because I can't
accept the fact that there is no more left in the bowl, I just have to prove to myself there is one more micro hit. It has
excellent control, I can always take it right to the brink of scorching - When I'm done bowls are beyond spent and rub in
my fingers to a true powder, I credit that ability to the VaporStar heat exchanger. I'm learnig that a new bowl of herbs just
may be a better way - but hey, I know you know what I mean. If I'm not "Vapeing on the Edge" I scorch 1 in 50 hits if I am
I do it 1 in 15 hits. The VaporStar heating element uses 16 air inlet holes to disperse the heat evenly like a bunson burner
on a gas stove the flame never reaches the herbs. It's a very effective design and the amount of time/heat appilied is all
you worry about as it's virtully scortch proof in the first 6 hits of a bowl. Once the herb is dry it even lets you really
extract the utmost last amount out of the herbs because you can apply instant longer/hotter heat to do that, at the bottom
of a bowl I just double the time I have the flame heated into the the heat exchanger watch for vapors and that produces results
in just 5 more seconds to really extrct any last vapors.
Final Conclusion - VaporStar's COST/FUN ratio is off the charts.
It's the only way I smoke/vape and I like it so much I fully intend to buy me a substantal back up collection maybe 2-4 more,
I'll be using these in 25 years.
Negatives: It's lighter based - This means NOTHING to me I could care less and won't push the finicky heath point
that far. I like to - Hold my Bong - Flick my Bic - and Vape that Hit all on my couch like I've done with bongs my whole life.
I
have more pics over in the Post your Pic section at the top of the main vaporizer thread.
__________________ I only smoke legal herbs, when I come to these forums and discuss things
like smoking and the high one gets I'm referring to the feeling I get from legal herbs and have no information on what others
are smokeing or reffering to. I don't smoke marijuana but do enjoy discussing and talking about legal herbs and the high from
different legal smoking methods and all my post should be viewed in that light.
"It's the best vaporiser out on the market this year"
Matt Stang High Times
Vaporstar, this product rocks!
Eddy Lepp, Treating Yourself Magazine
Thanks v much...
arrived Wednesday morning ,so if u get a
rash of orders from similar postcode, you will know i have been advertising your product for you. So far all feedbac i have
heard has been positive.
all the best Andy
To: dave@vaporstar.co.uk Subject: hhheeeeeehhhaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!! vaporstar rocks baby!!!!!
hi dave...
remember that guy from tahiti who insist and finaly got his vaporstar from
everyone does it?
well, it's me....
i really want to congratulate you for the effectiveness of vaporstar as
i ju got it and tried it at once.
you're a genious!!
if you hadn't tried yet, i suggest you try some nakhla flavoured tobacco
or pipe flavoured tobacco in your invention because it IS delicious.....
i' m gonna post my review in edit's website and be sure I'll advertise for vaporstar.
again thanks as you're providing the coolest way to enjoy EVERY smoking product! -- louis from tahiti
To: Dave Subject: Re: Vaporstar
Thanks Dave,
It arrived this morning, with floods and postal strike not bad really.
Works fine, nice bit of kit.
Many thanks
Wez
Sent: 18 June 2007 16:24 To: Dave Subject: Re: some questions
Hi Dave,
Thanks ! Yeah it helps to know i won't inhale bad stuff ;)
How come we don't hear more about the VaporStar ? It seems to be the best vaporizer around and yet everyone buys electrical-type
ones ... Maybe it's a very recent product ?
Regards. Dave
To: Dave Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 6:41 PM Subject: Re: new order
dave i received the vaporstar today and all i can say is amazing. i LOVE it. ill be sure to recommend it to all of
my friends.
Dave, I just got my pipe yesterday. And I have to tell you I am very impressed with your product. It is much
easier to smoke than I had thought. This is my first vaporizer and I think I couldn't have made a better choice. It is
going to stretch my supply exponentially.