Vessel Review: A Luxurious Way to Vape Your Oil

Vessel

3.5

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Intro

Vape pens have always been practically disposable. Not intentionally disposable, but they often stop working soon after using them. Within the last year or two, there have been a lot more high quality devices being made for THC and CBD carts, with long term usage in mind. That's where Vessel comes in. They seem to be taking the vape pen to a new level.

The Vessel is a 510 threaded battery designed for 510 oil carts. It has a 240 mAh battery capacity and a luxurious aesthetic, something that has been lacking in the lower end market of vape pens. From the reviews I have seen so far, it seems like people are already regarding the Vessel as ultimate vape pen for oil. I look forward to testing it out with a variety of cartridges to see if it performs as well as it looks.

The device was sent to me free of charge courtesy of Vessel for the purpose of this review.

Price: $79 (at Vessel)

Build quality and design

The look and feel is obviously the major selling point of the Vessel. The aesthetics, the way it feels in my hand and even the engraved logo on it. I'm a sucker for wood grain, so a vape pen that features it is right up my alley. I love the finish, it feels natural and rough. It's satisfying to play with and look at, especially while puffing on the good stuff. They come in many different styles, so you can pick the one that suits your style the best. They all have a similar power button, which is very quiet and discreet. It can be a little hard to locate in low lighting situations though.

As for the build quality, it feels sturdier and heftier than your average vape pen. It isn't exactly heavy, but it weighs about 57.4 grams with a full cartridge on. The device itself stands at 109 mm (43”) tall and is 12.7 mm (0.5") in diameter. When it's in my pocket, it feels more like a fancy fountain pen than a cheap ballpoint pen. The bottom cap and the top part that protects your tank can be unscrewed and are interchangeable with the other designs. So if you have two Vessels, you can actually mix and match to create your own custom look and style, which is pretty sweet.

The Vessel uses a magnetic charging system. Just pop it on the end of the device—you don't even need to remove that bottom cap (it's just there for aesthetics). The charging system is convenient, it reminds me of the old V2 vape pens from back in the day (for anybody who still remembers those 3-in-1 devices.) There is an optional charging dock available, which I received around Christmas time, so it might have been a gift from Santa Claus. Vessel claims that the device takes up to 4 hours to charge, but considering its 240 mAh battery life, that's pretty slow. I seriously doubt it takes that long—I was able to reach a full charge in about an hour.

As for compatibility, I had some issues with the older editions. The new models are more versatile and can accommodate a wider range of CBD, THC and delta 8 carts. You might need to give it a little push while screwing the tank on, but it has been fully compatible with every cart I've tried. If you have already purchased an older model, your options might be a bit more limited. If the cartridge is too wide, you can get away with unscrewing the upper section— known as the transition module. It won’t look as cool, and your tank is no longer protected, but it will still get the same job done. The newer models have a transition module with a slightly wider diameter.

Vessel offers some really nice looking hard shell cases for the device called the Rover. They cost $19.99 and come in a few attractive and stylish designs like grey, charcoal and camouflage. The Rover case can accommodate at least two Vessel devices with cartridges installed. It also holds two additional cartridges and a little pouch for the charging cable.

Using the Vessel

If you're new to vape pens, Vessel provides some fantastic tutorials on their site that answer the most common questions regarding the device. Here is a brief rundown on how to use the Vessel. It happens to be very straightforward and easy, even for a first timer.

The Vessel does not deviate from the basic functionality and familar layout of your average vape pen. if you know how to use a push button vape pen, you know how to use the Vessel. The one difference being that the Vessel is made with higher standards, but not a differernt interface.

Performance

The beech wood finish really accents those rich terpene notes... nah, I'm just joking. It doesn't magically enhance the flavor profile of your oil. But if you're into premium THC oil and CBD oil cartridges, it is probably the fanciest way to vape them. I got my hands on a terpene-rich distillate cart recently and I was enjoying it on the lowest power setting. I'm really able to taste those sweet terpenes, and the low heat helps me conserve my oil. They have recently made an update on their design to accommodate a wider range of carts, so older models may still have some compatibility issues. Luckily they sent me one of their 2020 Expedition Series models.

I've filled up my own cartridges with CBD vape juice and enjoyed them on the medium setting for bigger puffs. I also have a wax cartridge that I was able to use on the highest setting. No matter what you're vaping in the Vessel, you just feel fancy when using it. My advice is, if you're going to pass the Vessel around, you might want to keep it on the lower two power settings.

The Vessel works exactly the way I would expect it to. There is really nothing mind-blowing about the performance, but it seems like it would be a dependable workhorse for daily vaping. I've tested each power setting using the appropriate tank and it did really well, hitting a bit on the cooler side. The voltage settings are (blue) 2.8, (yellow) 3.2 and (pink) 3.6 volts, so clearly it's designed for low to medium temp vaping, preferably with cannabis extracts, distillates and CBD carts. There is no pre-heat function, just in case you were wondering about that.

Unfortunately, I must have over-tightened my wax tank onto the Vessel, but I was able to remove it by taking off the bottom cap. I’m not sure why that fixed it, but it did. Just don’t screw your tank on looser than you normally would. Thankfully, they sent me more than one device.

Pros / Cons

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Verdict

Is the Vessel worth buying? Think of it this way—If you're buying a watch just to keep time, you don't need a Rolex. If you're buying a pen for writing, you don't need a Montblanc pen. However, if you want an accessory that speaks volumes about your personal style, that is where the Vessel comes in. It's made with more craftsmanship and attention to detail than your average vape pen and it just looks plain sexy. Sure, at the end of the day, it is still a vape pen—and there's only so much you can really do with one. But while a cheap pen will get the job done too, it just won't have that same high-class look and feel. If you’re willing to spend the extra money, it’s worth it. Vessel provides free shipping on all orders within the US, which is another big plus.

I had to get nitpicky with the cons, because there isn't a whole lot to say. I did have that incident where the tank got stuck on one of my devices, but it was my fault, and I was fortunately able to remove it. I've only been using the Vessel for about a week, but I would imagine that it's going to be with me for a long time, considering I have kept some of my cheaper vape pens for years. I am going to take extra good care of this one and it will probably become one of my go-to devices for oil carts, especially when I'm feeling extra fancy. I would recommend it to oil connoisseurs looking for the ultimate vape pen for oil with all the bells and whistles.

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