The Pax 2 and the Arizer Air are known to be two extremely popular portable vaporizers in the vape community. Both of these units have been praised for having amazing vaping technology and ease of use.
Although the Pax 2 and the Arizer Air both stand out for their amazing performance, they do have some differences in terms of functionality, vapor production, and other features.
This review is to help you compare and contrast two of the most elite vaporizers on the market and will go over different categories to help you decide which vaporizer best suits you.
This comparison isn’t going to label one vaporizer better than the other (both are phenomenal units), but it will identify which vaporizer performs better in certain categories so that you can make an informed decision on which is best for you.
Here is what we will be looking at specifically:
- Ease of Use
- Temperature Settings
- Draw Quality
- Vapor Quality
- Efficiency
- Portability and Size
- Battery Life
- Warranty
We will then wrap up the review with some recommendations on which one you should choose based on your vaping preferences and style.
Pax 2 vs Arizer Air: Ease of Use, Temperature, and Draw Quality
In this first section, we will look at the ease of use, temperature settings for both units, and how the draw styles compare.
Arizer Air:
The Air is very straightforward and simple to use; you load the glass stem with your herb, pop it on top, and turn on the unit.
The easy load stem is an aspect that many consider as a major plus when using the Air; there isn’t a need to open up a different chamber for herb, and the bowl is found right in the stem you draw hits from.
In order to change the temperature on the Air, you just have to cycle through the five settings which are distinguished by different colors:
- Blue (356F°)
- White (374F°)
- Green (392F°)
- Orange (401F°)
- Red (410F°)
The time it takes for this unit to heat up to it’s maximum setting is two minutes, so the warm up time varies from as little as thirty seconds and up to two minutes.
Taking hits from the Air is fairly simple as well. There is a small learning curve to this unit, but the main idea is to take long slow draws to achieve maximum flavor and vapor production. Think of breathing through a snorkle to get a general idea.
It is not recommended to take “rips” because the herbs might pass through the stem path and go into your mouth.
Pax 2:
Just like the Air, the Pax 2 is extremely simplistic; you load the oven with your herb and turn on the unit with one press.
A unique function of the Pax 2 is how the power button is located on the top of the unit hidden underneath the mouthpiece, so there are not any other buttons located on the body at all. This gives it a nice clean appearance.
Holding the power button activates the temperature settings, which lets you cycle through four temperatures (displayed on the petals).
Unfortunately, Pax does not have specific numbers on these temperature settings, but it ranges from 360°F-420°F.
The warm up time for the Pax 2 ranges from thirty to sixty seconds, so it beats the Air by almost half the amount of heat up time.
Unlike the Air, the Pax 2 is capable of slow long draws and also fast rips. More vapor would be produced if you were to take slow draws, but taking rips off the Pax 2 still produces vapor and a strong amount of flavor.
Winner of this category?
For this category, it’s very hard to pick a winner. It really comes down to personal preference.
Both are incredibly easy to use, and while the Pax 2 does heat up a little faster, it’s not enough to say it’s outright better in that category.
If you like taking long slow draws and like the quick load stem design, the Air will suit you better.
If you like the idea of being able to do both slow draws but also big rips, and still get dense, flavorful vapor, the Pax 2 is for you.
Pax 2 vs Arizer Air: Vapor Quality
Vapor quality refers to the heat, flavor, and density of the vapor.
The Pax 2 is a conduction vaporizer while the Arizer Air is a hybrid of both conduction and convection; knowing this gives an insight about what kind of vapor you should expect being produced.
Arizer Air:
Due to the Air being a hybrid unit of both conduction and convection technology, it yields a solid amount of vapor with great flavor.
Since it is common to take slow draws from this unit, the vapor production tends to be a bit cooler and flavorful. As you reach warmer temperatures when vaporizing, and this goes for all vaporizers, the vapor tends to become much warmer and might irritate your throat somewhat.
But staying within the first three temperature settings will keep you safe from harsh vapor. For me personally, I like the 3rd temperature setting the best (green), especially to start a session off. Towards the end, I’ll bump it up to the 4th to finish it off.
Pax 2:
The Pax 2 has conduction heating that consistently vaporizes the weed as soon as the unit is on, so the vapor quality for this unit is very dense and packed with flavor.
With only four temperature settings, the vapor will of course be the most dense on the 4th setting. But within the first, second, and third setting, the vapor is very smooth and cloud size varies.
Winner of the vapor quality category?
For overall vapor quality, I would award this category to the Pax 2. It produces a much more flavorful and dense hit than the Air.
Pax 2 vs Arizer Air: Efficiency
Efficiency simply refers to how well each unit utilizes your material. None of us want a vaporizer that wastes our bud, so this is an important aspect to consider when buying a new vape.
Arizer Air:
When loading the glass stem, it is very obvious how little quantity of herb it takes to fully load it. To the decimal, it takes anywhere from 0.1-0.3 grams of herb to pack the stem.
Not only that, but this tiny amount tends to last for a decently long session.
Consistently stirring the herbs throughout your session is also a major tip in order to get the most out of your loads. It’s not necessary, but sometimes it may help.
Pax 2:
To fully pack a Pax 2 oven, it usually takes about 0.5 grams. The Pax 2 is known to not be as efficient as other vaporizers, but the full oven is sure to last you one very strong and heavy session.
Stirring the oven is also beneficial, but since the unit is conduction, it does not make as much of an impact like the Air.
Winner of the efficiency category?
While the Pax 2 can hold more, the Arizer Air most definitely wins this category for its small but efficient bowl.
It takes a bit less material in the Air to get you where you want to go, which is a huge plus in my opinion.
Pax 2 vs Arizer Air: Size/Portability
Arizer Air:
The Air is not too bulky and can be carried pretty easily in your pocket. Its tall, slim, cylindrical build keeps a firm shape that is easy to grip and fits comfortably in your hand.
The one downside to the Air as far as portability goes is that the glass stems can be a pain to carry around in public. The stems also tend to be extremely hot after a session, so you would have to wait for it to cool off before putting it back in your pocket.
As for discreteness, the Air has a very sleek and modern look that is not too flashy to have in public. It can be concealed fairly well in your hand, although not nearly as well as the Pax 2, as you will see below.
Pax 2:
The Pax 2 is a very small and portable unit that can be easily hidden in your hand. Due to it’s small size, many people look past it as some gadget and not for what it really is.
Since it does not require a glass stem or any other apparatuses, it can easily be stored in your pocket and taken anywhere you need to go.
Winner of the portability category?
Hands down, the Pax 2 definitely wins this category as it is small in size and great in portability.
This unit is super easy to conceal anywhere you go.
Despite the size, there is not any other vaporizer in the industry that is this small and can outperform much bigger units.
Pax 2 vs Arizer Air: Battery Life
Arizer Air:
For the Air, the battery life lasts about 2-3 sessions depending on how long you go.
The upside of this unit would be that the battery is removable and can be recharged, so if you invest in a couple extra 16850 batteries, you can double/triple your session time.
The Air has an auto shut off feature that turns off after twelve minutes of standby, so it tries to conserve as much battery as it can.
Along with the swappable battery function, the Air offers pass through charging, as in you can be using it while it is plugged in, which is a nice benefit.
Pax 2:
Right off the bat, the Pax 2 battery can last you up to five sessions. It also has a cool down feature that activates after it has been on standby for about a minute and then completely shuts off after three minutes.
For the size of the oven, the battery really does last awhile. The Pax 2 does not have swappable batteries, so it just runs on the internal battery.
Winner of the battery life category?
For this category, if we’re talking about straight out of the box, I would give it to the Pax 2 because its’ stock battery lasts much longer than the Air battery.
However, the Air does give you the option to invest in multiple batteries, which will give you more vape time in the end.
So it’s up to you here. If you’re looking for something with great battery time out of the box, go with the Pax 2. If you don’t mind buying an extra battery or 2 for the Air, you should never have any issues with it dying on you and not being able to hit a session.
Warranty
Arizer Air:
From the Arizer FAQ: “The Arizer Air carries a lifetime warranty on the heating element, and a limited 2-Year warranty covering defects in materials or workmanship, excluding battery. Glass is not covered under warranty.”
Pax 2:
The Pax 2 comes with a 10 year warranty on everything.
Both of these are solid warranties, so not much more needs to be said. They both stand behind their products 100%.
Wrapping Up – Which Unit Should You Buy?
To put it simply, it all depends on what you are trying to get out of your vaporizer.
Both of these units are very easy to use and have amazing vapor quality.
If portability is your main criteria and you want something that you can easily pocket and take out of the house whenever you want, the Pax 2 is the best portable vape you can buy. The whole stem issue with the Air makes it slightly less practical to carry around with you and use in public.
However, if you mostly vape at home or in private places and want the vape with the best efficiency, then the Arizer Air is a great choice. This thing really is one of the most efficient portables I have used, only requiring as little as .1 grams for a nice solo session.
The Air also gives you the option to buy extra batteries, so you can ensure you never have a dead unit.
You also need to consider your draw style here.
If you like being able to take monster rips, then go with the Pax 2.
If you like taking long, slow draws, then you will want to go with the Air.
One last thing I didn’t mention about the Pax 2, but that you probably already know about, is the “party mode” and other cool tricks that you can use when in a group of friends. While it isn’t one of those things that I feel is a determining factor when buying a vape, it is a neat little feature that you could have some fun with.
With all that being said, both units perform extremely well and have satisfied thousands of users across the globe. Regardless of which vaporizer you pick, either one will blow you away and have you satisfied for years to come.
We hope you enjoyed our Arizer Air vs Pax 2 comparison and found it helpful.
If you have any questions for us, we’d love to help. Hit us up in the comments below!
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