Pax is one of the most well-known dry herb vaporizer brands, and the Flow is their latest portable dry herb vape.
The Pax Flow is Pax’s first dry herb vaporizer to use hybrid heating. This is a combination of convection and conduction used to maximize the extraction rate of vaporizers.
This new Pax vaporizer maintains the same Pax size and shape, but moves the bowl to the side of the device. Its oven and vapor path are also drastically different than any previous generation Pax.
Click Here to buy the Pax Flow. It’s $350
Table of Contents
First Look Video
This is the UNCENSORED version, exclusive to website viewers.
Pax Flow – What’s Different?
This vape is the first Pax vaporizer to break the Pax conduction tech cycle. The very first Pax vaporizer came out in 2012, Pax by Ploom. It was a simple conduction vape with a basic interface.
Pax Flow keeps the simple controls, but the vapor tech has changed.
- Pax Flow now uses Hybrid Heating as opposed to pure conduction. The added convection heating means the Pax Flow will extract more quickly, more thoroughly, and with more airflow than its previous devices.
- Pax Flow’s oven is on its side now! Every previous Pax vaporizer had its oven on one end.
- Pax Flow has a USB-C charging port. Prior models used a plug-less contact charging base that was prone to failure.
- Pax Flow has BONG MODE – This mode is made for fast extraction. It will heat the bowl and convection heater for a full five-minute session. Vape fast because this will cook the oven quickly.
Pax Flow Vaporizer Rating
The Flow is very new, and these ratings are still being tested.
NOT YET RATED out of 45+ portable vapes.
| Vaporizer Ranking | 9 |
| Average Ranking | |
| Vapor Potency | 8.9 |
| Vapor Comfort | 9.2 |
| Portability | 9.2 |
| Battery | |
| Build Quality | 9 |
| Usability | 9 |
| Packaging | 9 |
| Warranty & Brand Reputation | 9 |
| Maintenance |
The Pax Flow is not yet ranked, and I don’t foresee it making the top half of my list of the best portable vapes. There are just too many better vapes that cost less.
Hybrid Convection Vapor Upgrades
Pax had to completely redesign the Flow vaporizer to achieve convection heating. Its prior design wasn’t compatible with preheating the intake air. This is why the Pax Flow oven is on its side rather than on the end. This updated design allows a heater in the airpath before the bowl to produce convection vapor.
Convection vapor uses hot air to vaporize trichomes directly from the plant matter without burning or scorching the other organic materials. The Pax Flow has a lip sensor that detects when it’s being hit, and its secondary heater kicks in to heat the bowl.
This combination of convection and conduction simultaneously is referred to as Hybrid Heating, and it’s been the preferred extraction method for many years.
The Pax Flow Hybrid Heating is a giant leap in the right direction. Pax still has some catching up to do, though.
Pax Flow vs Pax Plus vs Pax Mini
Vape | Heater | Bowl Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Pax Flow | Conduction + Convection | .15-.35g | |
Pax Plus | Conduction | .15-.4g | |
Conduction | .1-.25g |
Pax Mini and Pax Plus are both traditional conduction ovens. These old-school vaporizers use a hot metal pan to heat the bowl of packed herb until it starts to vaporize. The bowl is packed tightly, and the ground herb is usually ground finely, for maximum efficiency.
Pax Mini and Pax Plus are both typically used mouth-to-lung style. This is where a mouthful of vapor is pulled from the vaporizer using the jaw and cheek muscles to create suction. The mouthful of vapor is then inhaled with a lungful of fresh air. These vapes have an experience similar to a blunt or a joint.
Pax Flow uses hybrid heating. It has open airflow and active heating. This vaporizer has enough airflow to inhale directly.
The Vapor from Hybrid Heated Vaporizers is more comfortable. Vaporists who vape multiple times per day typically prefer hybrid heaters. Pure conduction vapor requires more suction, and it’s harder on the mouth and throat.
Pure Conduction isn’t that bad. I rarely touch a pure conduction vape, because I’m a vape snob. I like big inhales and a heady high. Conduction vapes are best suited for casual vape users looking for a smoking alternative. The vaping experience and the effects are more similar to smoking.
Is Pax Flow WORTH $350?
It’s not. Unless you’re married to the brand.
Pax made huuuge advancements in their vape tech with the Flow, but other vape makers have been mastering hybrid heaters for the last decade.
$350 places the Pax Flow at a similar price to the Storz & Bickel Venty, Limelight Frolic, and Tinymight 2.
All three of these vaporizers outperform and outclass the Pax Flow.
It’s not that the Pax Flow is BAD. The Flow is a good vape. It’s just late and overpriced.
It’s not good enough to warrant the $350 pricetag. It’s not good enough for 2025.
The Pax Flow takes a unique approach. It brings the comfort and airflow of hybrid heating while maintaining its conduction roast capabilities. Many will find the new hybrid vapor considerably better than the old school Pax Vaporizer.
The $350 price tag makes the Flow hard to swallow. There are vapes at half the price offering more features, more performance, and more value.
You can buy a Pax Mini AND a Rogue 2, and you’d still have money leftover for weed.
I have a whole page of Pax Alternatives if you’re looking for the ultra-small portable vapes.
or Click Here to see my Best Portable Vapes Page
Pax Flow Vaporizer
Pax is one of the most well-known dry herb vaporizer brands, and the Flow is their latest portable dry herb vape.
8.7
Pros
- 4 Year Warranty
- Hybrid Heating
- Easy Load/Unload
- USB-C Charging
- Simple Interface
Cons
- Gets HOT
- Expensive / Overpriced
Another great review — thanks for sharing!
I really like the size factor on this one, and the design is absolutely amazing. That said, I’m in the market for a new vaporizer. Right now, I use both the DaVinci IQ2 and the Crafty+. The DaVinci is super compact (which I love), but the airflow is terrible. The Crafty+ has great performance, but the battery life is frustrating — I’m constantly swapping for the iq2 or charging.
I’m torn between this, the Venty, and the Frolic. Your review of the Frolic was fantastic, but it’s missing some of the small conveniences I like, such as capsules or a keychain that can hold a few for on-the-go use. Plus, it’s not available in Canada yet. As for the Venty, it’s just too big for my needs.
It’s a tough decision, but your review really helps make the choice clearer. Thanks again for the detailed breakdown!
The Frolic is very exciting. I think that Limelight will be a key player, that guy knows his shit.
Troy, I completely agree with your assessment of the Pax Flow. It’s a classic case of too little, too late. The vape itself is decent, and I appreciate the new hybrid heating and improved airflow, but the $350 price tag is just not justifiable in today’s market. When you can get a Venty or a Tinymight 2 for a similar price, the Pax Flow simply doesn’t compete in terms of performance and value. Thanks for the honest and insightful review! It saved me from a very expensive disappointment!
That’s exactly it Glenn! It’s a case we’ve seen with other vape companies, too.
Herbalizer comes to mind…
They’re betting on their reputation and mainstream obliviousness, but the vape space has changed a lot.
Another great review Troy, like most large brands that pivot too late, probably 6-7 years now. Instead of innovating they doubled down.
I hope they have more tricks up their sleeve!
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Sea biscuit
Sea biscuit
C Biscuit. If the price was around 200-250 I might have considered it.
Seabiscuit
The leap from the Pax 1 to the Pax 2 was pretty big IMO. The pax 2/3/plus is a vape I keep in my rotation often because my tolerance isnt too high and sometimes I love a good long session.
The flow is has a lot of drawbacks and everyone says it gets REALLY hot to hold from the initial reviews. I hate to be that guy when they literally just came out with this but I’m excited for the Flow 2 once theyve got the kinks and efficiencies worked out from this new design and form factor
Happy to hear it! I don’t subscribe to all the Pax hate, they’ve always had their place :)
Thanks for chiming in!
See bisque eat…
seabiscuit