PAX Flow Review: Better, Worse, or a Whole New PAX?

Product intro and specs

When the OG PAX came out, it completely changed the game. It soon became the iPhone of portable weed vapes–bringing vaporizers to the mainstream. Since its release, PAX Labs has been building on this original design. All their devices up until now have had a similar aesthetic, which utilizes a full-conduction heating system and the classic magnetic charging brick.

I have been PAXing for the past decade, ever since I got my hands on the PAX 2. The Mini and Plus are still two of my daily drivers to this day. Two years after their release, PAX Labs has just dropped the PAX Flow, taking a major departure from their signature design.

The PAX Flow is nearly a complete overhaul, while retaining a few key design cues. No longer catering to mouth to lung vapers, it now caters to lung hitters and bong vapers. I have been testing it against previous PAX models to figure out if the Flow is better, worse, or just different.

Let's find out how it performs, and if it's worth the (sizeable) investment—especially if you already own one of the previous PAX models.

Price: $350 (at PAX)

Colors: Greenstone, Onyx 

What’s in the box?

The PAX Flow comes with a full box of goodies. It comes with nearly everything you need to keep it in tip top shape for a few months. Here is everything that you get with the PAX Flow:

PAX Flow features

The PAX Flow is considerably chunkier and heavier than the PAX Plus. It measures 107 mm x 34.5 mm x 29 mm and weighs around 135 grams. The oven holds 0.3 grams of herb, which is more than the PAX Mini but less than the PAX Plus. It is available in two colors and features a high-quality build and a pristine finish—I expect nothing less from PAX Labs.

The Flow utilizes a new hybrid heating system. Unlike previous PAX vapes, the Flow primarily relies on convection rather than conduction. It features six times the airflow of previous models and a new preheated airpath feature.

The heat-up times are blazing fast. The Flow reaches temperature in just 15-18 seconds. It now utilizes five heat modes, including a new “bong mode” designed specifically for water pipes. It still has the classic standby/shutdown sensor, but it is disabled in bong mode only. The new side-mounted removable oven door provides full access to the entire vapor path.

Last but not least, the PAX Flow charges faster than ever. It can go from depleted to 100% in approximately 40 minutes, using the included USB-C cable. Yes, the Flow is the first PAX to feature a USB-C port! There is also a magnetic charging base available, in addition to some other PAX accessories like a rubber grip sleeve, magnetic grinder and a water pipe adapter.

PAX Flow vs. PAX Plus

The first PAX was the one that started it all. Looking back, it was basically their prototype. PAX Labs really started cooking with the release of the PAX 2. Since then, they have made significant improvements to the design, but it was still the same experience. Until now.

Here is a breakdown of what makes the Flow different from the rest of the PAX lineup.

Loosely packed herb only

The Flow is now strictly for bud, no concentrate compatibility. The oven holds 0.2 grams less than the PAX Plus (or 0.13 grams more than the Mini). The device requires a loose pack, so that 0.3 grams is a hard line. You can’t get away with cramming it in like with previous devices.

Hybrid heating with 600% more airflow

This is all due to its new hybrid heating system. The Flow relies heavily on convection, hence the preheated airpath feature. It actually heats up in about 20 seconds; slightly quicker than the Plus, which is already crazy fast. When it comes to airflow, The Flow lives up to its name. It has six times the airflow of previous PAX vapes—one of its most distinguishing features.

Design updates

Another feature that sets the Flow apart from the rest is the new side-mounted oven door. It offers easy access to the entire airpath for easy cleaning. Both of the new mouthpieces feel comfortable and beefier than ever. The Flow features an additional bong vaping mode, the button controls are slightly different, and the LEDs look slightly cooler.

Puck outta here

Yet the most significant standout feature is the USB-C port. The PAX Flow is the first PAX device to feature USB-C charging! Now I don’t have to freak out every time I misplace that little proprietary puck. The Flow also happens to be the fastest-charging device PAX Labs has released to date. They also have a magnetic charging dock available for purchase separately.

Other distinctions

Other than that, the only other differences are minor. For example, standby mode is now guided by both an internal motion sensor and the airflow sensor. The mouthpiece features a silicon lining. Unfortunately, it only comes with a two-year warranty versus the previous ten-year warranty. However, it can be extended to four years by registering the device on the PAX website.

How to use the PAX Flow

Using the Flow isn’t too different from the previous PAX vapes. The controls are kind of flipped. Instead of a long press to change power modes, the long press now turns the device on/off, and the modes can be changed with a short press of the button. The LEDs will light up green in all modes (except bong mode). Here’s how to get started:

How to clean the PAX Flow

Here are some helpful tips for keeping your PAX Flow in tip top shape.

The new removable side door feature allows for unrestricted access to the airpath. There are no sneaky corners or crevices. The side door requires a wipe-down after each session. However, the airpath stays cleaner for much longer on the Flow versus former PAX models.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to scrape out the remains with the flat part of the included cotton swabs or the classic PAX multi-tool. I always have one of those with me at all times. You can’t just blow it through the mouthpiece, which is one of my personal favorite ways to do it.

So, it’s a bit more annoying to clean after each session, but a lot easier to maintain long term.

How does it perform?

I am not used to getting such a loose and airy draw from a PAX vape. The Flow provides a direct lung hit that is ideal for bong vaping. I’ll admit that in the past, if I overpacked my PAX Plus, it could get really tough to draw through a bong. The PAX Flow directly tackles this issue.

However, I think they may have overdone it. To go from a mouth to lung draw to a direct lung hit overnight is a drastic difference. As a regular bong vaper myself, I tested the PAX Flow both as a standalone vape and through a water pipe—and I definitely prefer it through a water pipe.

I love testing vapes through a glass piece because I can actually see the vapor production. I got some nice big hits in bong mode with the Flow, but the vapor density is relatively low. This is due to the massive amounts of airflow. The vapor volume is there. I get some killer hits with the Flow. The trick is to pack it loosely, as opposed to the old PAX, where you wanted to pack it tight.

The flavor is decent. You could even argue that the first hit or two have better flavor than previous PAX models, but the drop-off is so drastic. After three or four puffs, the flavor is almost gone. In bong mode, the flavor drop-off is even more pronounced. After about four or five hits, the flavor starts tasting pretty “well done” due to the increased temperature output in that mode. I think the preheated airpath diminishes terpene content early in the session, hence the sudden drop.

Overall, the performance is not bad. I had some good sessions, especially through the bong, with some fat rips. If you’re using a water pipe, you’ll want to use it in bong mode. Due to the airflow configuration, you won’t get enough vapor output in the lower temp modes with a bong. Last thing I have to add is that the device gets quite hot in this mode, so be careful with that.

Battery life and charging

So, the battery life is purported to be 3000 mAh. Technically, that is 300 mAh less than the Plus, but who’s counting? The real issue is that it is significantly more power-hungry, so the number comparison doesn’t even matter. I get around six to ten sessions out of it. If I’m using it exclusively in bong mode, I’m lucky to get five to six sessions out of the device.

The good news is that it charges faster than ever. I was able to reach a full charge in just under 40 minutes using the included USB-C PD cable. I also tested charging the PAX Flow with a regular USB-C cable (so you don’t have to), and it took about 90 minutes.

I also received the PAX charging dock. I like the idea of it, but it didn’t work out so well for me. I had to press the device really hard to get it to activate, and it doesn’t always work properly.

Pros / Cons

Gallery

Verdict

The Flow is like a PAX from an alternate timeline. Looks-wise, it takes things back to the OG PAX, while offering a new experience never seen before from PAX vapes. I would have expected improved flavor with convection-dominant heating, but that is debatable with the Flow.

But at the end of the day, I just feel it lacks many of the qualities that kept me using the PAX as my daily driver for years. I can’t get the same dense clouds through a water pipe using the lowest heat settings as I do with my PAX Plus–not even in Bong Mode. It has a lot going for it, but it’s just not the one for me.

I would have much rather seen updates made on the Plus. If they could have made it heat up and charge up faster, that would have been it for me. A USB-C port would have been a cherry on top.

A respectable effort, but I will be still using the Plus—and for that reason, I'm out.

PAX Flow

4.5

Buy now

The latest portable vaporizer from the iconic brand PAX, the Flow delivers performance and style in a compact design. Its hybrid convection-conduction heating produces smooth, flavorful vapor with a temp range of 180–225°C and a heat-up time of 20 seconds. Weighing under 100 grams with long-lasting battery life, the Flow is built for discreet sessions wherever you go.

Expand