If you’re like me, you’re constantly on the hunt for ways to improve your sessions. As a former smoker turned cartridge lover, friends and budtenders encouraged me to try my hand at dry herb vaping.

After all, there’s no smoke, meaning no yucky butane flavor or carcinogens from combustion. That also means maximum flavor. So, I decided to go big or go home. The Arizer Solo II MAX is one of the newest advanced dry herb vaporizers on the market, and I know a few people who are head over heels for the Arizer Solo, so it was a no-brainer.

I dabbled in Arizer’s latest device over the weekend. If you’re wondering whether this $169.99 CAD vaporizer is worth the hype (and the price tag), read on to learn more.

I could already tell from the packaging that what’s inside is quality. You feel the weight of it instantly. It’s the first confirmation that you get what you paid for. On the box, it breaks down everything inside:

• Solo II Max
• Glass Aroma Tube
• Frosted Glass Aroma Tube
• PVC Travel Tubes
• USB-C Power Accessories
• Stirring Tool
• Screen Pack

I was pretty impressed by the convenient accessories. For starters, Arizer provides power accessories designed specifically for the device’s lithium battery. Secondly, the Glass Aroma Tube lets you inhale vapor directly from the device, but the Frosted Glass Aroma Tube looks more like a bowl piece, meaning it can fit into bong and water pipe openings to suit your preferences.

Both Aroma Tubes come inside the PVC Travel Tubes, which may just look like protection at first, but the silicone caps make it effortless to reuse these tubes for travel purposes. Not just that, but both Aroma Tubes also feature their own cap, meaning you can pre-pack herb and take your tubes on the go.

I’m kind of a newbie when it comes to dry herb vaporizers, especially advanced ones with various settings and features. Regardless, getting to know the Solo II MAX was easy. The manual breaks down everything you need to know step by step.

Once I was confident in how to use the device, I picked up some bud from my local dispensary to try it out.

Now for the good part. Once I secured my flower, it was time to start loading. The key is to gently push and twist the Glass Aroma Tube into a dish of herb, like a grinder, to lightly pack it without making it too tight. It’s suggested not to over-pack but to leave a one-millimeter gap to ensure proper and even heating.

From there, insert the Glass Aroma Tube into the device by twisting it in. Mine was a little tight at first, but that’s expected. Arizer suggests pre-heating the device, so that’s what I did, and it slid in perfectly. Once you’re locked and loaded, set the device to your desired temperature, ranging from 50°-220°C (122°-428°F).

You can also adjust the temperature with the up and down arrows in 1° increments or hold it down for 10° increments. The device lets you know it’s pre-heated through two beeps (which can be adjusted/turned off). Once it’s reached your set temperature, inhale a slow, steady draw of vapor through the Glass Aroma Tube.

Of course, different factors will determine your experience, such as the temperature you choose, the moisture content, whole flower, or ground form.

The Arizer Solo II MAX features an incredibly comprehensive menu. Hit the middle “M” menu button to navigate the list using the up and down arrows.

Audio Beep: The Arizer Solo II MAX beeps when the device is turned on and off. You can adjust it to low, medium, and high volume settings, or turn it off altogether.

Temperature Alert: Once your device reaches your set temperature, it beeps twice. Adjust it to low, medium, or high volume, or turn it off.

Automatic Shut-Off Timer: This feature is for your safety and to conserve battery life. It can be adjusted from 5 to 15 minutes in one-minute increments, with the default setting being 10 minutes.

Celsius Or Fahrenheit: Choose whether your temperature display will be in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Brightness: Adjust the brightness to low, medium, or high. Default is high.

Power-On Delay: This feature ensures you don’t accidentally turn on the unit. Once powering up the device, choose to wait two seconds, four seconds, six seconds, or eight seconds. The default setting is six seconds.

Dark Mode: In case you’d like to be a bit more discreet, the device also features a Dark Mode setting, activated by holding the “M” button and the downward arrow button simultaneously. From there, the screen will show a series of various small symbols indicating functions like heating and ready-to-use.

I must say, this is the most advanced dry herb vaporizer I’ve ever used. What impressed me the most is how it’s designed to help you enjoy and savor your strain. It’s a sessions vaporizer, not like your one-and-done type of unit that produces ridiculous clouds for one massive hit.

Instead, the Arizer Solo II MAX is all about the experience. With a series of slow, steady draws, you’ll be just as baked as you would with one big hit. But the difference? Reduced coughing, more flavor, and a truly relaxed vaping experience. If you consider yourself a connoisseur in search of the best way to experience your favorite strains, I’d honestly say the Arizer Solo II MAX is a no-brainer.

What didn’t I love about it? Well, everything has a learning curve, especially advanced dry herb vaporizers like this. While it seems complex at first, especially unfolding the comprehensive manual, it’s easier to navigate than I thought. All it takes is reading the manual and using some stoner common sense to piece the puzzle together.

Before trying the device, I read some reviews for best practices. Many stoners prefer not to use the included screens, so I tried that. A wee bit of Scooby snacks hit the tongue, which doesn’t really bother me. I used a screen on my next session, and not a single flake came through – it really comes down to your preference.

Once you understand the features, functions, and accessory uses, it’s smooth sailing from there…or should I say smooth vaping? That’s another thing that wowed me – I didn’t cough once. And I got to experience the true flavor of one of my favorite strains (Gelato Mint from Tribal, in case you were wondering).

All in all, the Arizer Solo II MAX is a versatile, user-friendly, advanced dry herb vaporizer that genuinely makes the most of your favorite strains. From flavor and effects to the overall experience, I’m pleased to say I would highly recommend this device to any cannabis lover in search of a quality sessions vaporizer built to last.