Flaske

I consider Tafée one of the leading companies in the battery-powered portable vape space. They have already shown that they can make something different, and I think they have the resources needed to take things to the next level and push the industry forward.

That's part of the reason I had such high expectations for the Flaske. It is priced at $567, which puts it firmly in the premium category and makes it one of the most expensive portable vaporizers available.

At this price, I am going to be more nitpicky than I would be with a cheaper device. Premium pricing should come with a premium experience, and I do not think there is much room for design, usability or quality issues when a vape costs this much.

The frustrating part is that it does have some impressive qualities. It extracts very well, it produces potent effects from a relatively small load, and it vaporizes your bud more evenly than most portable vapes I’ve used.

Unfortunately, the overall device does not feel as refined as I hoped it would.

Design and Portability

This vape has a good look and feel for the most part, but I'm not personally sold on the flask-inspired design. I also think it's on the larger and heavier side for something being positioned as a portable vape.

The heating technology does not appear to have changed much from the Bowle, so it feels more like the same core design repackaged into a different body. I was hoping they would take a larger step forward with their next device, so this is a little disappointing to me.

Even though the Flaske is technically portable, I would still consider it more of a cordless home vape, which is the same way I feel about the Bowle.

The outside feels too delicate for me to comfortably carry around on a regular basis. It seems like it could be scratched, dinged or marked fairly easily, and I would be hesitant to casually throw it into a bag.

It also tips over pretty easily, so in addition to being shaped like a flask, it seems to have the balance of someone who’s been using one.

They do include a carrying case, but the vape feels very large and bulky with it on. The case protects it, but it also makes the mouthpiece shorter, which makes it a little awkward to hit.

Fit and Finish

The fit and finish is one of my biggest disappointments.

Several sections of the shell do not line up evenly, and there are visible panel gaps around the device. These details take away from the otherwise premium appearance and make me question the quality control.

The stem connection is the most obvious example. When the stem is connected it does not sit evenly against the body, and the gaps around it are inconsistent and very visible.

At this price, I shouldn’t be inspecting panel gaps like I’m buying a used Tesla.

You can also feel some of the hard edges around the stem area while holding it. None of these details make the device unusable, but they prevent it from feeling as polished as it should be.

Believe it or not, the Bowle feels more refined to me. Its fit and finish seem better, so the Flaske does not feel like an upgrade in this area.

Extraction and AVB

Extraction is one of the Flaske's strongest qualities.

A full load can produce around three to four good hits. The effects are definitely potent, and it extracts a lot from the amount you put into it.

The most impressive part of this vape is how evenly it vaporizes the material. The AVB comes out super even, and you don't need to stir the bowl.

This is probably the vape’s biggest strength and the main thing that separates it from most other portable vaporizers. Many convection vapes leave uneven areas in the bowl or require stirring to get a complete extraction. 

Vapor Quality and Temperature Levels

The vapor quality at the lower heat levels is excellent, definitely top-tier.

Level 2 gives me smooth and flavorful vapor, but the hits are not super dense. The taste is excellent, and this is where the Flaske feels the most refined.

Once I move up to level 3, I get more visible vapor, but I also start to feel more heat. The hotter air affects both the smoothness and the flavor.

This becomes even more pronounced at levels 4 and 5. The vapor gets stronger, but it also becomes noticeably hotter and less pleasant.

I think the programmed temp levels could use some adjustment. The Flaske has five settings, but I do not think any of them give me the exact balance I want.

Level 2 feels slightly too low, and level 3 feels slightly too high. The ideal setting for me seems like it would fall somewhere between them, which is convenient because that setting does not exist.

This leaves me choosing between smoother, tastier vapor with lower density or denser vapor with more noticeable heat. For a vape this expensive, I would like more control over that balance.

Airflow and Draw Resistance

The Flaske has an extremely open draw. In fact, it may have the lowest draw resistance of any portable vaporizer I have used.

That sounds impressive on paper, but I think it actually has too much airflow.

Air enters from multiple places, and the amount of air moving through the device can make the vapor feel diluted and airy. The vapor-to-air ratio does not feel properly balanced.

Even if I cover the intake holes on the bottom, the draw still feels very open. The airflow seems close to double that of the Bowle, and that’s already considered a free-flowing vape.

Interestingly, the extra airflow doesn't improve the vapor quality or performance for me. I think it may actually make the hit feel less satisfying by reducing the density.

The Bowle feels more dialed in to me. It still has an easy draw, but the airflow and vapor production seem better matched.

Load Size

The Flaske can technically handle small loads, but I do not think it performs best as a microdosing vape.

With a 0.05g load the vapor feels hotter and less dense. You get smaller clouds, and the overall quality is not as good as it is with a fuller bowl.

I've gotten the best results by loading ~0.1g, filling the bowl and tamping it down to about ¾ full, then putting it on level 3.

The fuller, tamped load helps increase the vapor density and seems to reduce how hot the air feels. 

Mouthpiece and Stem

The mouthpiece is too short, and this is a major flaw for me.

When I take a hit, the mouthpiece is so short that my lips end up touching the body of the vape, and I don’t know the Flaske well enough for that kind of intimacy. 

It also has somewhat of a loose fit, which makes it feel a little janky and not-so-premium. 

I've tried a longer mouthpiece from another device that fits, and it is indeed a better experience. Also, when you put the vape inside the carrying case, the mouthpiece becomes even shorter.

The stem itself can also be kind of difficult to remove. Mine was really tight when the device was new, and my wife initially had trouble opening it at all.

It did loosen up with use, so it's not as difficult now, but the way you have to grip and pull it is still not very comfortable. It doesn’t have the smooth, refined feel that I expected.

User Interface and Heater Controls

I do not think the user interface is ideal.

The Flaske has two buttons, but it is not immediately obvious which button does what. There are also a few different ways to engage the heater, which adds flexibility but makes the device less intuitive for a new user.

Tafée warns that the heater can be damaged if it is engaged without taking a draw. The problem is that it is fairly easy to activate the heater accidentally, and that combination does not make much sense to me. 

It does have haptic feedback, so the vape vibrates when the heater starts, but there is no vibration when the heater turns off. This can sometimes cause what I call ghost hits.

Every once in a while the heater shuts off in the middle of a draw, probably due to my finger slipping off of the button. But there is no vibration or other clear signal to let you know, and you can't really see the lights when you're hitting it. So you continue inhaling and end up getting little or no vapor because it's not heating anymore.

It's pretty annoying to me when this happens, and a second vibration when the heater turns off would prevent this from being a thing.

Built-In Storage

The built-in storage compartment can be convenient for someone who actually carries the vape around.

It gives you a place to keep the capsule holder inside the device, which is a clever idea in theory.

In practice, I mostly use the Flaske at home, and I have not found the compartment very useful. The internal cavity takes up a fair amount of space, and this contributes to the overall size of the vape.

I would rather they leave the compartment out, make the device smaller and offer the capsule holder as a separate accessory.

Battery Life

Battery life is very good with this one.

I tallied 37 draws at heat level 3 from a full charge, which is enough for a dozen or more loads, and you can't really get much better than that.

The is one of the areas where it definitely met my expectations. 

Flaske vs Bowle

The comparison with the Bowle is difficult to avoid because they both appear to use the same basic heating system. From a few photos I've seen, the actual heating coil may have been modified a little bit, but it's still basically the same design.

In my opinion, the Bowle may actually perform better, which definitely surprised me.

The Bowle's airflow feels more controlled, and the vapor seems a little smoother. Its fit and finish is also more refined.

The Flaske adds the flask-shaped body and built-in storage, but those changes do not improve the parts of the experience that matter most to me. 

Between the two, the Bowle would be my first recommendation, and it's also the one I would personally choose if I was in the mood for one of these.

Final Thoughts

Despite all of my criticisms, I don't think the Flaske is a bad vaporizer. Its extraction is excellent, the effects are potent, the battery life is great, and the AVB is impressively even without stirring.

At lower heat levels, the flavor and smoothness are also excellent. There is clearly a very capable heating element inside this device, it could just maybe use some tuning.

My problem is that the rest of the experience does not feel finished.

The heat levels are not quite right for me, the airflow is too open, the mouthpiece is too short, the stem is awkward to remove, the interface is not super intuitive, and it needs more haptic feedback.

The uneven panels, visible gaps and hard edges also take away from the premium look and feel. These problems would be easier to forgive on a less expensive vape, but the Flaske is not cheap.

For this price, the panels should line up, the mouthpiece should reach my mouth, and the vape should probably compliment me when I turn it on.

Stay up!
-Bud