PAX is known for setting the standard high for portable vaporizers. The founders of PAX, James Monsees and Adam Bowen, worked hard to develop a high-tech way to consume cannabis, while also creating stylish devices that are easy to use. When the first PAX device hit the market, it clearly stood out amongst the crowd. Today, the PAX team continues to improve their vaporizers and provide exactly what modern consumers are looking for.
The Apple of Vaporizers
The PAX 3 device is often referred to as the “iPhone of vaporizers”, and there are many valid reasons for this association. PAX creates vaporizers that are easy to use, even if you have never vaped before. Their devices are always sleek and stylish, and the newest models come in a variety of color options. PAX also continues to release newer, more advanced vaporizers every year. They started with the PAX ERA and then further developed their technology to create the ERA PRO, PAX 1, PAX 2, and finally the PAX 3. Also similar to iPhones, they have a higher-than-average price tag. The PAX 3 starts at $200, but many users will argue that the price is well worth it for this dual-use portable vaporizer.
Stylish
A great place to start with justifying the price of the PAX 3 is the fact that it is sleek, stylish, and discreet. It stands at just under four inches tall, one inch wide, and weighs 3.28 ounces. It easily fits in the palm of your hand or pocket and feels sturdy enough to carry with you anywhere.
The PAX 3 is made of medical-grade materials, with a high-polish anodized aluminum shell, stainless steel oven and vapor path, and silicone mouthpieces. The heating element is a proprietary non-ceramic tuned thin film heater that is kept separate from the vapor path and is laser-welded to the oven. All to say that every piece of the PAX 3 fits perfectly together in a solid four-inch cylinder. Although this device can be used discreetly, it comes in four different colors, including Onyx, Sand, Burgundy, and Sage, for the times when you want to show off your style. The custom shells also seem to be fingerprint resistant and incredibly easy to wipe clean, with no rough or tricky edges.
Easy to Use
The next reason the price is easier to swallow is that the PAX 3 device is incredibly easy to use and versatile. You cannot pop a PAX Pod into this vaporizer — that’s what the ERA and ERA PRO devices are designed for. However, you can use the PAX 3 for vaping both flower and concentrates. The full oven chamber holds about 0.35 grams of ground-up flower, while the concentrates insert holds 10-20 milligrams of concentrates. Each setup requires a different oven attachment, each of which is included in the PAX 3 Complete Kit.
A full oven will heat to temperature in less than 15 seconds and hold an average of 15-25 hits, which is perfect for loading and slowly toking on all day or having a satisfying session with a group of friends. There is also a half-oven lid that allows you to pack in a smaller amount of flower and have it hit perfectly for a short session on the go. This half-oven lid also allows you to avoid wasting any of your precious flower since once you start vaping a chamber full of flower you can’t stop – not because you have no self-control, but because you can’t reuse old flower for a fresh session.
The battery life of the PAX 3 will not leave you disappointed either. The 3500mAh lithium-ion battery can reach a full charge in two and a half hours and lasts an average of eight sessions. With the standard temperature settings and an average of 10 minute long sessions, you can achieve around 80 minutes of vaping time. This device does use a proprietary charger, which magnetically snaps onto the back of its sleek design. A downside, similar to iPhones, is that if you lose the charger, you will have to buy a new one since it doesn’t use a standard micro USB cable.
The battery life is further preserved with the aid of PAX’s advanced sensing technology. This device can literally sense when you take continuous draws and when you prefer to pause in-between hits. The device can adjust its heating technique to accommodate your current preference and make your session more efficient. You can also extend the battery life of the PAX 3 by placing it in “Efficiency Mode”, which is one of four heating settings available in the PAX app. These modes preset your device to the correct temperature for the kind of use you prefer — taking all of the guesswork out of adjusting this vaporizer to meet your needs. It can be set to any temperature between 360 degrees and 420 degrees Fahrenheit, although the higher temperature settings seem to work best and deliver denser vapor clouds on the exhale. The preset temperature modes are:
- Standard Mode
This temperature mode sets the device to heat to the middle ground of all the temperature options. If you just purchased the PAX 3, this mode is a good place to start. Or if you are new to vaping, this is a great mode to get a gauge on how you like to vape. - Boost Mode
This mode advances the temperature of your device quickly so that you can hit it and quit it. It’s the ideal setting for short personal sessions or a half-oven fill. - Flavor Mode
This mode also sets your device to reach temperature quickly, but it also cools down just as fast. This will help preserve the flavor of your flower or concentrates for your inhale, instead of burning it off in between hits. - Stealth Mode
This setting is best for when you want to keep a low-profile while vaping. This temperature control produces thinner vapor clouds and less odor. It also decreases the cool-down time and the intensity of the LED lights on the front of the device so that you can have a low-key toke. - Efficiency Mode
This mode is best when you need to save your battery life. It slowly increases the temperature of the device by one degree over the length of your session, instead of putting a lot of power into heating it to temperature as quickly as possible.
The PAX 3 offers such intuitive features that you will barely have to read the instruction manual. Although watching some instructional videos on this device will help you take advantage of all the features it has to offer. It wasn’t until taking a look at the online guides that we discovered you can shake the PAX 3 to check the battery life and/or exit a temperature mode. It also takes just one push of the mouthpiece button to turn the device on, and one push and hold to set it into the designated temperature mode. You also have the option of either waiting for the vibration or checking that all the lights are lit up in order to tell if the PAX 3 has reached the pre-set temperature yet. The handy LED light ‘flower petals’ will also tell you your current battery level, temperature, and when it is in the process of heating. The PAX 3’s design is easy to understand and use, and even easier to control with the assistance of the PAX app.
What’s Included:
The PAX 3 has two different price points, which offer two different setups out of the box. The first is all you need to just use the device, while the “Complete Kit” throws in a few extra pieces to diversify your experience.
Device Only
The device alone comes at a price tag of $200 and includes all the parts you’ll need to get vaping on flower. These pieces include:
- PAX 3 Device
- Full Oven Lid
- Flat & Raised Mouthpieces
- Cleaning Tools
- Magnetic Charging Cable
The choice between a flat and raised mouthpiece is a nice touch. Out of the box, the PAX 3 is fitted with the flat mouthpiece, but we found it to be a bit awkward to use since you have to then place your mouth on the battery as well. The raised mouthpiece is a nice alternative if the inhale feels awkward to you too.
The Complete Kit
The PAX 3 Complete Kit has a price tag of $250 and includes everything you need and more. All pieces included are:
- PAX 3 Device
- Full Oven Lid
- Half Oven Lid
- Concentrates Oven Insert
- Flat & Raised Mouthpieces
- Cleaning Tools
- Magnetic Charging Cable
- Multi-Tool Keychain
- Replacement Screens
The Complete Kit’s handy concentrates insert is essential if you want to use the PAX 3 to vape concentrates such as shatter, live resin, or any other form of concentrates. The multi-tool keychain also comes in use often for packing down your oven with flower to ensure that it burns evenly.
Overall, the PAX 3 is an easy-to-use, stylish-looking vaporizer that can adapt to both dry herb and cannabis concentrates. Although it is possible to vape concentrates with the oven insert, flower definitely works better. The concentrates attachment can be a bit leaky if it is not filled properly or if your vape tips over while filled. If it does leak, the mess is easy to clean with the PAX pipe cleaners, wire brush, rubbing alcohol, and a bit of patience. It’s best to clean this device between every use to keep it working well. Once you find the sweet spot on this vape, you might never go back to smoking flower again.
