Pax 3 Review

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.

Pax 3 review: the most portable way to smoke weed

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.

How Does the Pax 3 Compare?

In the battle royale of cannabis vaporizers, Pax 3 is a strong contender for the top spot. Vaping veterans may choose elsewhere for more detailed concentrate options, larger smoke clouds, and a larger oven, but for early and new vaporizer users this is one of the strongest options.

Its simplicity and user-friendly functions make it an easy vaporizer to jump into with absolutely no past experience…as was the case with me. The price tag, uneasy on the eyes at $250 for the full package, is actually right in the middle when looking at Pax 3’s competitors. Two other high-quality cannabis vaporizers come to mind, the Arizer Solo II and MIGHTY vaporizer by Storz & Bickel. 

Pax 3 vs. Arizer Solo II

In terms of portability, the Arizer Solo II rivals the Pax 3 but falls short because it uses glass stems to hold and draw the cannabis from.

These glass components make portability significantly tougher, glass also breaks easier meaning the Pax 3 takes the durability trophy as well. But as the glass taketh, the glass also giveth.

Using the glass to heat the cannabis, the Arizer captures a better and more sincere flavor of the flower. The Pax 3 uses stainless steel which contorts the flavor a bit more.

The interface of the Arizer is more complex than the Pax 3 but allows users to adjust the temperature by one-degree increments. This gives the consumer more direct control over their cannabis.

And, in terms of price, the Arizer is cheaper at $149.99. So for less money you can get better flavor and a more custom burn, but with a device that’s harder to travel with and more likely to break. 

Pax 3 vs. Mighty

The chunkiest competitor, clearly losing the portability battle, is the MIGHTY by Storz & Bickel.

This option is far pricer at $349, and though I’ve never used it, user reviews comparing the two seem to show that the Pax 3 is more portable and easier to clean while the MIGHTY gives off larger clouds and stronger effects.

With the high-end price tag and hardly discreet design, this device appears best for the advanced vaping enthusiast.

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.