Should you get a PAX Era vaporizer or the G Pen Gio from Grenco Science? I used each of these vapes regularly over the summer, and if you’re wondering which one comes out on top, a better question you should be asking yourself is, “Which one is right for me?”
The difference between these proprietary, design-forward, same-priced (~$30) vapes feels charmingly aligned to the California cities from where each one hails. The PAX Era, born in San Francisco, is a high-tech, high-achiever, with a slick, featherweight, USB-shaped design, proprietary “pod” cartridges, and Bluetooth capabilities for temperature and session control. Solving pain points with technology? How very SF.
The G Pen “Gio,” by the good people at Grenco Science, was born in Los Angeles, has an ergonomic hourglass shape much appreciated by my thumb and forefinger grip, offers a satisfying heft in contrast to Era’s light battery, and produces a lush, showy vapor cloud. It’s got a curvy, sultry, flashy LA vibe.
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In every state where they’re available, both PAX and Grenco Science work with quality producers to ensure you’re getting damn fine oil for their respective proprietary systems. Here in Washington state, I keep Heylo in my Era and Oleum Labs in the Gio. (Find a full list of partners in each state at the bottom of this article.)
PAX Era
(Courtesy of Pax Era)
The Era is built for customization and control. There’s a temperature slider on the app that goes from mid-400 degrees Fahrenheit to high-700s, giving you big terpene flavor at the low end, and a plush vapor cloud at higher temps. “Session control” lets you pick a hit size from microdose to large, and it dispenses that amount every time you puff until you either change the setting or remove the pod.
Benefits of the PAX Era:
- It hits however you’d like
- Dosing is easy, offering a safe, predictable session every time you use it
- You don’t have to mess with your Era’s settings to use it (maybe you’ll never connect it to Bluetooth, and that’s okay)
Bottom Line: If control and specificity are important to you as a consumer, the Pax ERA is an unparalleled choice.
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Grenco Science G Pen Gio
(Courtesy of Grenco)
The Gio is a seamless, breath-activated experience—you just pick it up and puff. The optimal-temp science keeps terpenes intact so you get beautifully clear flavor notes, and a voluminous vapor cloud, every time. (I can confirm I hit the ever-loving shit out of my Gio and the cartridge seemingly never ran out.)
Benefits of the Gio:
- The science behind it calibrates heating to optimal temp, with an advanced wicking system to regulate oil use
- It offers a rich, velvety-smooth hit
- Gio’s design makes the curves and weight feel good in your hand
Bottom Line: If you enjoy the heightened sensorial experience of a gorgeously smooth inhale and a plush vapor exhale, the Gio is a beautiful pick.
(Pro-tip: If there’s a sticker on your cart, consider peeling it off before you insert it into the Gio. I know that goes against the purpose of the label, but otherwise the cart can get sticky if the label is intact.)
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List of Partners for PAX Era and G Pen Gio
Looking to replenish your preferred vaporizer? The below partners have cartridges compatible with the Era and Gio:
PAX Era Pod:
- Arizona: Drip Extracts
- California: Bloom Farms, Blue River, Brite Labs, Eden Extracts, Gold Drop, Guild Extracts, HappySticks, Jetty Extracts, Island Extracts, Legion of Bloom, Level Blends, NATIV, Temple, Select
- Colorado: The Lab, Harmony, Mary’s Medicinals, Viola, Denver Kush Club, Native Roots, Silverpeak
- Illinois: Rhythm (GTI)
- Maryland: Liberty (Holistic Industries)
- Massachusetts: In Good Health
- Nevada: Matrix
- Oregon: Oregrown
- Washington: Avitas, Dabstract, Heylo, Leaf Werx
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Grenco Science G Pen Gio*:
- California: Cookies, State Wellness, Herbology, Caliva
- Colorado: Evolab
- Florida: MÜV
- Illinois: Cresco Labs
- Maryland: Culta
- Nevada: Body and Mind, Deep
- Oregon: Pistil Point, TJ’s Gardens
- Washington: Oleum Labs
*Grenco Science is developing partnerships in Arizona, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Canada
