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Loota
18
Apr 11, 2015
What does this piece offer that the vapor genie does not for half the price?
Main difference seems to be that vapor genie uses ceramic foam to transfer heated air and this uses air running over a heated metal plate.. Neither seems as if one would offer an advantage over the other..
corcis
17
Apr 11, 2015
LootaMy roommate has a VaporGenie and I have a Lotus. It's not quite apples to oranges to compare them, but... apples to pears? Oranges to grapefruits? Similar, but very different. The similarities: They both use butane as a heating source, have wood pieces, and are meant for flower.
If you want a comparison, though, I'll try here:
The VaporGenie - No water pipe adapter available. - Powered by a Bic or other standard flame lighter, making lighters very easy to come by. - The vaporization stage draws in the lighter's flame (though, apparently one should not put flame to the 'filter') and feeds that into the flower, causing vaporization. - Operation looks a little finnicky, but I wouldn't put that down as a reason to skip it. - It appears very discreet and it looks gorgeous - roommate has the hand carved spiral maple one - and could easily pass as a tobacco pipe. I don't think it'd pass if you used it in public. - Low cost - Fast shipping from manufacturer, 2 days to go from VA to WA.
The Lotus - Water pipe adapter is available, which is why I chose it; a non-adapter pipe stem is also available. You can get the water pipe adapter and use it directly in a glass J-hook, as well. - Powered by a jet torch, which requires high quality butane and is finnicky and totally not discreet. - The vaporization action does not use air from the torch. Torch heats plate, air is drawn in from below the plate, runs across the bottom side of the plate, heats up, and is passed over the herb. Supposedly, it is free from lighter fumes; I have never noticed any fumes and have no reason to think they're lying. - Operation is finnicky. You will need to build a decent understanding and not pass judgment immediately after first use. I was able to pick it up and get rolling right away, but it took about a month of nightly use to get consistent hits. - It's not discreet. I think it looks good. Would definitely not attempt to use it in public. - Higher cost than the VaporGenie, but relatively similar cost to other portables. - Shipping from manufacturer has been on time. [Irrelevant for drop, but putting that out there.] - With the WPA and glass, I've been able to take out a full bowl in a couple of hits and not have scorching happen. Very happy about that.
Objectively: Discretion and ease-of-lighter-maintenance are better with the VaporGenie; flavor and vapor production are better with the Lotus.
Subjectively: WOOO LOTUS! It took fiddling to dial in how I work it and the lighter situation does get tiresome, but I would not trade it for a VG. It uses very little flower, produces extremely tasty vapor, and I can make hit like a foam bat or like a truck.
Loota
18
Apr 12, 2015
corcisThats a very fair point about inlet air-quality, by drawing clean air over the heated plate instead of drawing heated air from the lighter would surely make for a smoother hit as butane is very rough on the lungs. I myself have a vapor genie and though there is a learning curve, once you get it, you get it.. I've got it down to a science. They recommend using a hemp wick instead of butane but I am not able to be nearly as consistent with a wick as I am with a lighter..
I'm curious if you could use this with a non torch lighter if you held it upside down.
corcis
17
Apr 12, 2015
LootaI wouldn't try a normal lighter - they warn against using non-torch lighters and I've seen a few forum posts where people fouled up their plates with it. Upside down might work with an aluminum stem, but definitely won't work with the water pipe adapter in a J-hook.