Puff or Pass: Utilian 850
People who know RUNTHC, our channel, and frankly, us, will not be surprised to see us review another dry herb vape.
Without question, we’re fortunate to review gadgets or devices that we think enhance our consumption experiences, but dry herb vapes seem to be coming out non-stop in both new – as well as improved – formats.
We received the Utilian 850 from TVAPE, and having reviewed some of their stuff in the past, we were ready to flex our review muscle and run it through its paces. While dry herb vapes are plentiful, right off the bat we loved that this isn’t just a dry herb device – it’s a dual-use portable that can accommodate both herb and concentrates.
In the words of Alton Brown – “NEVER buy a unitasker.”
Dry Herb devices can be absolute game changers for those that choose not to consume flower via combustion and the usual devices – ie preroll cones, papers, pipes, etc. My own struggle with dry herb vaping is that so many devices are small and not very powerful, which means little vapor. Little vapor gives me the perception that I’m not getting an actual hit, so I continue to draw, and before I know it, I’m baked like a pie. This is a major positive of the Utilian 850 as the dual-use designation means there are two heaters – one to heat the chamber and the other to warm the airflow as you pull in.
But that’s not all of the cool tech users will find inside this device – the maker’s Gold Sink Technology is paired with gold-coated screens and an airflow control switch. Read that again – airflow control switch. This is the first device that we’ve tested that allows us to be in control of how much air we allow in – and that made a big difference in our testing. We found the airflow control to be the component that let us manipulate the volume of vapor we could see and taste, and the fast heat-up times were impressive.
On the concentrate side, and using the WAX mode of the U850, we had a good experience, but it wasn’t our favorite for concentrates. While it’s completely satisfying, it has a learning curve to find the right temperature, and the taste of concentrates was impacted for us.
In terms of the basics, we gave this gadget high marks. Battery charging was quick and easy, and battery life delivered with a minimum of 90 minutes of active use in our testing. The U850 is hefty and sturdy; the quality of the craftsmanship really resonated with us, as did the soft-touch laminate finish on the packaging.
The detachable mouthpiece was a new and surprisingly great feature, making it easier to carry without worry, and the included “water pipe” adapter means using the device with a bong is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Using the device with a bong means that, in wax mode in particular, it can cool the smoke considerably, which makes the concentrate functionality more appealing.
While the $320 price tag seems excessive, for those who use dry herb vaping as their primary consumption method, this is an investment that delivers. Check out our full review here.