The Vapir Prima Vaporizer Review: An Awesome Little Package

WARNING: The products discussed may contain or use nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical; in many cities and a few states, you must be 21 to purchase vaping products or products containing nicotine. Please familiarize yourself with and obey the law in your location.

I’ve only reviewed a few dry herb vaporizers, but I have a strong sense of what works for me and what doesn’t. As I’ve mentioned before, I like to vape a mixture of 12 Aromatic Dry Blends that produce a calming effect — specifically a combo of damiana and lavender.

I’m always excited to try a new delivery method, and the latest is the Vapir Prima, possibly the finest vaporizer I’ve ever tried.

01-Gear Diary Review the Vapir Prima Vaporizer

While the unboxing experience isn’t quite as luxurious as the Ascent I reviewed last year, the Prima still has a nice presentation and it includes a great selection of tools.

Included in the box are the Prima vaporizer, a USB charging cable, a battery charger, two mesh screens, two cap screens, a cleaning tool, a plug brush, a silicone cap sleeve, and a small plastic scoop.

05-Gear Diary Review the Vapir Prima Vaporizer-004

Here’s a better look at those little items.

06-Gear Diary Review the Vapir Prima Vaporizer-005

The Prima is an interesting beast; its body is composed of brushed aluminum which is all curves culminating in a hefty little vape that feels great when held. The Prima looks aesthetic, and right out of the box it looks like it will provide a much simpler experience than some of the really technical (temperature-wise, anyway) vaporizers available.

Measuring approximately 5″ long by 1.5′ wide by 2″ deep and weighing 5.8 punces with the battery installed, the Prima is a stout, pocketable beast that seems like it would be very durable over time.

07-Gear Diary Review the Vapir Prima Vaporizer-006

You need to pull the red tab to remove it the first time you use the Prima.

The Prima has four heat settings, so if you like to hit a certain temp with your blends, you’ll likely find a sweet spot.

These are the temperatures I tend to stick with:

  • Chamomile – 374°F | 190°C
  • Damiana – 374°F | 190°C
  • Eucalyptus – 266°F | 130°C
  • Green Tea – 374°F | 190°C
  • Lavender – 266°F | 130°C
  • Lemon Balm – 288°F | 142°C
  • Passion Flower – 309°F | 154°C
  • Peppermint – 331°F | 166°C
  • Raspberry – 374°F | 190°C
  • Sage – 374°F | 190°C
  • Spearmint – 331°F | 166°C
  • Thyme – 374°F | 190°C

The Prima is programmed to support the following heat levels:

  • Level 1 – 350° to 360°
  • Level 2 – 365° to 375°
  • Level 3 – 380° to 390°
  • Level 4 – 390° to 400°

Getting the Prima set up is a matter of placing a mesh screen in the chamber (useful if you are using oils or concentrates), but it’s not necessary if you are inserting a dry herbal blend. The little scoop is handy for loading the chamber, but be advised that the bowl is very deep, and it is not necessary to fill it completely … unless you just want to. If you want to keep a mesh screen in place even when smoking dry herbal blends you can; it makes drawing from the vape a little tougher, but not so much that you’d really notice.

08-Gear Diary Review the Vapir Prima Vaporizer-007

You can see that the mesh goes in the chamber while the cap screen goes in the removable end cap.

09-Gear Diary Review the Vapir Prima Vaporizer-008

The large 3200mAh Lithium-Ion battery is removable, and that perhaps brings up my one complaint about the Prima’s design — rather than make it microUSB rechargeable, you have to remove the battery and insert it into the charger. This seems like a few too many steps, and it is just one more charger to misplace.

10-Gear Diary Review the Vapir Prima Vaporizer-009

Here you can see the charger in action; exciting, right? 😉

12-Gear Diary Review the Vapir Prima Vaporizer-011

Once you’ve got the chamber loaded and the battery charged, you’re ready to fire up the vaporizer and give it a try. Notice how there are four LEDs? They correspond to the heat setting. To turn the prima on, you press and hold the button on the top of the vaporizer which will cause the four LEDs to blink orange. Temperature selection is made by toggling the button on the top of the vaporizer.

The Vapir Prima Vaporizer Review Possibly the Best

With continued use, the end cap may get a bit warm; if you think it’s too warm, you can install the silicone cap sleeve.

Gear Diary Reviews the Vapir Prima-001

To turn the Prima off,  you press and hold the button for three seconds again, at which point the LEDs will flash red and then shut off.

The Prima will shut itself off after 5 minutes, but if you want to extend your vaping session by two minutes you can double-click the button. If you don’t double-click the button, after 5 minutes the LEDs will start blinking green to let you know that it will shut off if you don’t double-click.

You can also check the Prima’s battery level by clicking the button once when the vape is turned off.

The mouthpiece and the interior stainless steel pipe can be removed for easy cleaning.

Gear Diary Reviews the Vapir Prima

Vapir includes a plug brush that is useful for keeping the stainless steel pipe clean after each use. When you aren’t using the Prima, they suggest that you keep the brush inserted in the end of the mouthpiece. 
Gear Diary Reviews the Vapir Prima-003

So how is it when you’re actually using the vaporizer?

The Prima is extremely simple to operate, easy to clean after use, and I found the vapor quality to be excellent. Vapor produced isn’t huge and bountiful (do you really need that?), but it is full of flavor, and I suppose that’s the most important thing.

Worth noting, the Prima comes with a generous 5-year warranty on the vaporizer itself, and a two-year warranty on the battery; that seems pretty generous.

The Vapir Prima Vaporizer retails for $259; it is available from Vaporizera and other retailers.

Source: Sample provided by Vaporizera

What I Like: Very compact, portable design with a nice heft; Easy to load; Four heat settings; Easy to remove all parts for cleaning; Extra screens and mesh inserts included; Cleaning tools included; 5 year warranty on the vaporizer and two years warranty on the battery

What Needs Improvement: I wish it used a microUSB to charge and that the battery didn’t have to be removed

 

DISCLAIMER:
The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.

Vaping products are only intended for sale to adults 21 years or older. The reviews and information posted on this site are not intended to be used as a substitute for professional health or medical advice and/or information, as no two people are alike. You and your doctor know your body best, and you should always get professional advice that is specific to you before trying any of the suggested actions, solutions, remedies, or instructions found on this site. The owners, editors, contributors, administrators, and other staff of Gear Diary LLC and Gear Diary are not qualified medical professionals, and the materials presented here are not intended to be nor do they constitute actionable professional advice.

About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She got her start in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie has written for or been profiled by nationally known sites and magazines, and she has served on multiple industry hardware and software award panels. She is best known for her device-agnostic approach, enjoyment of exploring tech, gadgets, and gear, and her deep-diving, jargon-free reviews.