By Seth MacKenzie
IG: @culinaryanarchy
culinaryanarchy.com
I’m just going to sum it up; the Ario Portable Dab Rig is the equivalent of a sawed off shotgun for heavy cannabis users on the go. This portable dab rig is a true one hit wonder for even those with the highest of tolerances as well as a great way for people to try concentrates without having to use a nail and torch.
Honestly, wax, shatter, etc. kind of scare me. I prefer flower and have recently been getting into the disposable vape cartridges. Those pack a punch but are nothing compared to this. I see the appeal and have a lot of friends who would swear by this device since it’s both reliable and portable. The other nice feature with this is that the bottom unscrews to reveal a silicone stash jar that easily holds over a gram of wax which is more than enough to get you stupid high all day.
When I first got it, I was both a bit intimidated and impressed. Appearances matter and this unit arrived in a sturdy little box that makes a great case for it when not in use. You get a coil in the unit, two back up coils, a USB charger, and an instruction manual. I’ve never owned a cannabis consumption device that required the need for an instruction manual, but this did, and I had to read it.
Ultimately it’s a battery, a coil, a magnetic dabber, and a cover. Out of the box, it comes with enough battery power to get you stoned while you wait for it to charge fully. To use, you simply unscrew the top cover and pop off the dabber, load it up and put it back on with the cover. Hold the power button down for a few seconds and hit it slowly at first until you get used to it. If you hit it too hard, it will put you on your ass as it did with me.
Fully charged I have no doubt this unit with easily outlast even the heaviest of users and I can only think of one person for whom battery life might be an issue. No big deal since it charges via the same micro USB you probably have sitting next to you.
It’s a solid, well-built piece that isn’t heavy or bulky at all and weighs only 3.2 ounces or half as much as my cell phone. In terms of appearance, it’s clean, minimalistic and doesn’t stand out, At the same time, it’s sleek without being flashy. It looks confident, not cocky.
This is not something I would bring to work. I love cooking stoned, but this thing could easily make me worthless after one too many hits. That being said, after a long night when I want to get stupid more or less instantly, this device does the job.
While it’s marketed as a portable unit, which it is, this is also a great stand-alone device for people who want to try concentrates without the torch and nail. It works well and is easy to use and is perfect for both the heavy and casual users.
The only drawback that I’ve found with this unit, like every other unit of its kind, is that the coils burn out at some point and need to be replaced. This is a minor issue, however, and the coils are high-quality ceramic, built to be used. I’ll update this after I burn through the three that came with the unit but they will most likely have a better model by the time that happens.
Overall I wasn’t looking forward to reviewing this, but it was able to change my mind about concentrates. It’s easy to use and is much better built than other, similar units I’ve tried. It’s clear that the people at Ario Vape are more interested in building a reputation as a solid brand with reliable products than making a quick buck. It won’t get used daily since I have to be at least semi-functional sometimes, but when I want to become one with the couch for a few hours, this does the job.
