Arizer has listened to the fans and the brand new Solo 2 has better airflow, longer battery life, quicker heat up time, full digital temperature control and a slew of other features.
When Arizer first released the original Solo vaporizer in 2011 it changed what we expected for taste and satisfying vapor from a portable unit. Pocketable vapes were not as advanced as they are today and the Solo wasn’t perfect, but it set a new standard. Arizer admirably carried on three years later by releasing the Arizer Air with its smaller size and replaceable batteries.
Arizer Solo 2 Vaporizer Review | Cloud Shots, Demo & How To from Planet of the Vapes on Vimeo.
We still wanted more, and now we’ve got most of it with Arizer’s latest release, the Solo 2. There are still a few features we’d like to have seen (swappable batteries!) but the Solo 2 is a great update on a classic that is portable but not pocketable, long lasting, powerful, and most importantly delivers excellent, tasty vapor.
Table of contents
Satisfying and flavorful vapor
Arizer just keeps pumping out cool tasty vapor from everything they make, and the Solo 2 carries on that tradition. The ceramic and stainless steel heating delivers pure taste and the all-glass stems protect that taste while perfectly cooling the vapor. Arizer knows vapor and you’re going to love what you get out of the Solo 2!
Arizer Solo 2 Vaporizer
$119.95 Regular price: $134.95
The Solo 2 is Arizer’s most popular portable vaporizer.
- Fantastic taste
- Quick heat up time
- Long battery life
- Easy clean up
- Customizable features
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Easy Returns
Expert Advice
A more open airflow
One of the biggest knocks on the original Solo is the restricted airflow. Almost every portable vaporizer on the market has some amount of restriction to keep us from inhaling too hard and overwhelming the heater, but the original Solo has more than most. For the last six year, Arizer has been incorporating little improvements into the Solo and Air vaporizers, and one of the newest upgrades is standard on the Solo II - the recessed heat jets. They look like dimples in the bowl and increase the airflow. Not a ton, but enough for me to notice, and they really work well when I pull the stem off the bottom of the oven just a hair.
Battery life for days
The Solo 2 comes to the plate claiming three hours of runtime, or about 50% more than the original Solo. We got just under that by a hair in our testing and can confirm that this is one of the longest lasting batteries in a portable vaporizer. It takes up to three hours to fully charge, which seems like a long time, but the Solo II can be used while plugged in after just 5 to 10 minutes of charging. I could go days with this thing on a single charge.
Total on-board control
Right out of the gate you’ll notice the Solo 2 has a new digital display and three front buttons that give us access to all the new features - that’s right, full on-board controls so we don’t have to use a smartphone app. The biggest addition is the full digital temperature control from 50° to 220° Celsius or 122° to 428° Fahrenheit, that is adjustable in one or ten-degree increments.
You can now adjust the auto-shutoff timer from 5 to 15 minutes to match your session preferences, and the volume of the beep indicator can be turned down or all the way off. The display brightness can also be adjusted to high, medium or low for stealth situations. The Solo 2 turns on just like the original, but now the length of press required to turn it on can be set to 4, 6 or 8 seconds to protect you from accidental power ons.
A slimmer size and shape
The Solo 2 has a slimmer profile, as Arizer redesigned the guts of the Solo II to take .25 in off the bottom depth and .375 in off the top to go with an oval shape that feels much nicer in your hand. It’s still not something you are going to throw in your pocket when you go out, but the included belt-clip carrying case makes it a better travel companion when you need it. The Solo 2 has the same height and width as the original Solo, and they moved the charging port from the bottom to the back so we can now charge it standing upright. A seemingly small change, but it's a nice improvement.
Size specsHeight 4.5 in / 11.4 cm
Width 1.75 in / 4.5 cm
Depth 1.38 in / 3.5 cm at top
Depth 1.19 in / 3.0 cm at bottom
Weight 7.4 oz / 210 g
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30-second heat up time
The Solo 2 brings Arizer into a new age of portable vaporizing with a heat up time under 30 seconds from it's more powerful heater. The internals were redesigned to take up less space, and now we can use the Solo 2 while charging without having to buy a separate charger or wait for a ¼ charge.
2-year warranty
The Solo 2 comes with a comprehensive warranty that should take care of you for a long time. It has a 2-year warranty on workmanship and defects, a 1-year warranty on the battery (which is as good as it gets in the industry), and a lifetime warranty on the heating element.
Like all of our products, the Solo 2 is covered by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
What's in the boxArizer Solo 2 Vaporizer |
Tips to get the best results
Here are some general tips to get the most out of your Solo II. Check out our full Tips and Tricks guide for more info.
- Some like to suck the herbs into the stem bowl because it’s really easy, but I think Arizer has pretty much nailed the process with their instructions and I prefer their method of plunging it into the herbs and letting it grab them. This vape excels with whole flowers as well so try putting a whole piece in there for a tastier session!
- However you pack it, the next step is to tamp the herbs until they are below the edge of the bowl. The point is to not have the herbs touching the oven when inserted or they might singe and affect the taste.
- You can either put the stem in the oven before you turn it on, while it is heating up or after giving it a little longer to fully heat soak. The longer you leave it in the oven the thicker the first hit will be and the quicker taste will diminish.
- If you find the draw too restrictive, pack it with less herb next time. But you can also lift the stem up just a hair so it is just above the bottom of the bowl. This will really open up the air flow, to the point where I was going slower than the top end!
- If you don’t overpack it you won’t need to stir, just keep hitting it until the vapor stops or you’ve had enough.
- Remove the stem from the session so the oven doesn’t get too dirty, and blow out the herbs in the stem...the sooner the better for cleaning purposes.
- Play with the session parameters...I changed almost all of mine! I like to change the turn-on timer to as short as possible or 4 seconds.
Easy cleaning and maintenance
Cleaning is easy, especially if you don’t overpack your stems and get the bottom of the oven dirty. For more tips, check out our full Cleaning and Maintenance guide.
- If you get the oven dirty, just lightly soak a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol (91% alcohol and up works best) and rub the dirty spots while holding the unit upside down to keep alcohol from dripping into the unit.
- Then be sure to do a couple of burn off sessions by turning the Solo 2 on high and letting it run until it auto-shuts off. Do this until the alcohol smell is gone because it will taste nasty if you still have any alcohol in there.
The stems will collect almost all of the buildup and is where you will focus your cleaning.
- Soak the stems in isopropyl alcohol for an hour or two. I like to soak mine in a glass tray. Then rinse them in hot water until all the debris comes off.
- Repeat as necessary and rinse them thoroughly before using so you don’t get that nasty alcohol taste.
- Make sure they are dry before using.
- If you’re not a vegan and like to reclaim your extracts, a cool trick is to boil the dirty stems in milk. Then you can make chocolate milk and drink it.
Solo vs Solo 2
The Solo 2 is smaller than the original, heats up 4 times faster, delivers 50% more battery life and gives you full on-board session controls. It also comes standard with all the little improvements made to the original Solo over the years such as the recessed heat jets. The oven and stems are the same so all the accessories for the original Solo will work with the Solo II except for some of the exotic charging stands since they moved the charging port. I found the vapor quality from both units to be indistinguishable, so if you're all about the vapor you won’t need to upgrade. But if I was in the market for a new vape, the improvements in the Solo II make it my choice unless you are trying to save a few bucks. Make sure to check out our Arizer Solo 2 vs Air vs Solo article for more on this.
PAX Plus vs Arizer Solo 2
Overall, both devices offer great quality with warranties backing them up. If portability and discretion is what you're looking for, then the Pax Plus would be your best bet. If you're after good battery life with precise temperature control, then go for Arizer Solo 2. Both models have their respective strengths and features - Pax Plus has preset “Experience Modes for a seamless experience, while the Solo 2 offers a full digital screen and temperature control in one-degree increments. The Pax Plus is also more suitable for travel - it's tiny and easy to hold, while the Solo 2 has glass stems which make it less portable. Both are great vaporizers, but each can serve different purposes.
Mighty vs Arizer Solo 2
The Mighty and Arizer Solo 2 offer different operational designs with the former featuring haptic feedback while the latter is equipped with an audio notification. Both devices produce high-quality vapor, but the Mighty offers superior airflow optimization. When it comes to manufacturing quality, both vapes differ in design, shape, and weight distribution. The Arizer Solo 2 has longer battery life but slower charging time compared to the Mighty. Both vapes have precise temperature control capabilities on a full display. You can read the full comparison here Mighty vs Solo 2: Vaporizer Comparison
Arizer Air Max vs Arizer Solo 2
The Air Max is a great choice for its slightly skinnier size and large swappable battery. It also comes with USB-C charging and a 14mm Water Pipe Adapter to connect to a tabletop bubbler. The Solo 2 has been on the list of best portable vaporizers for several years, boasting 3 hours of battery life and stellar performance. Both of these vapes, however, produce the same great vapor quality that’s expected from the Arizer name.
Expectations
You should expect the Solo 2 to be easy to use with great vapor and all the features you wished the original had. It’s big for a portable so don’t expect it to fit in your pocket, but it works great as a cordless at home vape and perfect at a small party or with a group of friends. The bowl is on the small side so heavy users might need to go through two or three loads, but average users will get really good efficiency out of it.
How do you use the Arizer Solo 2 vaporizer?
1. Click and hold the middle and top buttons until the counter reaches zero to turn on your Solo 2.
2. Use the up and down arrows to set the temperature and the heater will engage.
3. We recommend a medium to coarse grind, or none at all.
4. Plunge the glass stem into your ground herbs to load it, and give it a gentle tamp.
5. Take the glass stem and insert the herb end down into the heater until it’s nice and snug.
6. Take slow, relaxed draws for the best results.
Is the Arizer Solo 2 worth it?
There is no “best” vaporizer for everyone, but the Solo 2 vaporizer excels when it comes to great tasting vapor with lots of features and battery life for days. It’s incredibly tempting at its current price point, and outperforms most others in its class.
Is Arizer Solo 2 the best?
We dont believe there is a best vaporizer for everyone. There’s a best vape for differen types of users, and everyone is different. As the anticipated successor to the beloved original Solo, the Arizer Solo 2 is packed with new features and improvements, like an LED display, precise temperature control, and Arizer's renowned all-glass vapor path. While some may view these updates as minor, they actually make the Solo 2 one of the most impressive Arizer vaporizers to date and could easily be a top choice for you.
Does the Arizer Solo 2 smell?
Vaporizers can smell when they heat up, and any used vaporizer can smell until cleaned. The nice thing about the Solo 2 vaporizer is the smelly part is easy to clean. All the extracts gather in the separate glass stems, while the base unit stays relatively mess free. Just soak the stems in rubbing alcohol, or boil them in water, and rinse well. Good as new!
What is better than Arizer Solo 2?
When it comes to vaporizers, personal preference plays a significant role. Vaporizers like the Mighty+ may be hailed as ‘the king of vapes’ for its consistency, ease of use, and stellar vapor quality, but its not for everyone. The Solo 2 is rich in flavor, comes with exceptional battery life, even better than the Mighty+, and comes in at a fraction of the cost. The best vaporizer is the one that suits you the best. It could very well be the Solo 2, or another vape altogether.
Is the Arizer Solo 2 convection or conduction?
The Solo 2 utilizes an innovative hybrid heating system that combines both convection and conduction methods. This unique approach involves a ceramic heating element beneath a stainless steel oven, ensuring that the herb never comes into direct contact with the heat source. Instead, it is placed inside a glass tube, which is then inserted into the heating chamber or heating element. By employing this design, the Solo 2 guarantees a superior vaporization experience while maintaining optimal flavor and efficiency.
Who's the Solo 2 for?
The Solo 2 was made for anyone wanting great vapor quality in a portable unit at a reasonable price. It’s perfect for around the house, hiking, smaller parties, and the vapor quality should satisfy on a daily basis. If you’ve been waiting for the Solo to have more features, a quicker heat up time and better airflow, your wishes have been granted!
Who's the Solo 2 not for?
The Solo II is not for those wanting something that fits in their pocket, and it’s not an all-in-one, pull-out-and-vape solution with its separate glass stems. Since the bowl has a volume of less than 0.15 grams, some heavy users that don't like re-loading often might prefer a vape with more capacity like the Boundless or PAX vaporizers. And if you’re all about the vapor and don’t care about heat up time, size or features, I see no need to upgrade from the original Solo.
Final thoughts
Recently the trend has been for manufacturers to design a catalog of vapes that hit different needs instead of trying to make one that does it all. I like how Arizer is focusing on something powerful for the home, something stealthy for on the go, and something in between. The Solo 2 hits that in-between market like the Mighty and the Minivap for something that is portable but not pocketable, and does it really well while staying affordable.
Arizer has been listening over the years as the Solo 2 addresses almost every shortcoming of the original Solo. It’s smaller, has a longer battery life, heats up quicker and has features like full digital temp control. It’s still not pocket-friendly, but that’s what the Arizer Air is for. The only features I wish it had are haptic feedback, replaceable batteries, and a session timer display. Other than that it’s a nearly perfect redesign of a classic vape!
