Product Review: DaVinci Ascent

Unlike some other vaporizers in the same bracket, the DaVinci Ascent can do it all, vaping both dry herb and concentrates. It makes it one of the more versatile portable vapes out there, able to deliver high-quality vapour no matter what your substance of choice happens to be. It may have a few minor quirks, but they are easily outweighed by its positives. I have enjoyed my time with it a lot, and am loath to put it down to put this all in words. But I must, so let’s take a closer look and the various aspects of the DaVinci Ascent.

SIZE

When it comes to size, the DaVinci Ascent measures in at roughly 12cm H x 6cm W x 2cm D. It makes it a similar size to most modern smartphones, with an extra bit of thickness. It is a size that makes this vaporizer ultra-portable, as it snugly fits into most jean pockets comfortably. In addition to this, the relatively small size allows for easy storage, and an excellent level of discretion when vaping on the go. The Ascent weighs roughly 192g, which by portable vaporizer standards, is at the heavier end of the scale. However, it is not so heavy that it takes away from the portability, and if anything, adds comfort as you hold it in the hand.

BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN

The build quality of the DaVinci Ascent has a solid and reliable feel to it. The main construct is made of plastic but it doesn’t feel cheap. The bottom of the Ascent has an easy twist mechanism that opens access to the deep herb chamber, and the entire vapour path is constructed from glass. The front of the Ascent features an OLED display, as well as control buttons that allow you to cycle through the Ascent’s various settings.

The particular model I was given for the review has a polished wood effect to it, which I have to be honest, I am not a fan of. But this is personal preference, and the Ascent comes in other variations that are a little more… subtle. That aside, the design of the Ascent is very well thought out, and the other models are a lot more stylish. I particularly like that the glass mouthpiece retracts into the vaporizer when not in use, and can be easily removed for cleaning (along with the entire glass vapour path), giving the Ascent a very sleek feel.

HERB CHAMBER AND HEATING ELEMENT

One of the most distinct features of the DaVinci is its ability to easily vape both dry herb and concentrates, including oils. This is made possible by its huge herb chamber. As standard, the Ascent can hold about .3g of dry, ground herb. It is a massive amount compared to its direct competition and allows for extremely long group vaping sessions. This large size is partly to accommodate the glass pod that is used for concentrates, slotting neatly into the heating chamber once filled with your concentrate of choice.

The Ascent’s heating element is made out of glass lined ceramic. In theory, the vaporizer is convection, but the bowl gets so hot, with so much bud in contact with it, that there is quite a bit of conduction going on as well. There are four small holes at the bottom of the bowl that pass through the hot air to perform the convection side of vaporization. It has a heat up time of roughly 50 seconds, which is good.

EASE OF USE

The DaVinci Ascent’s ease of use is both a hit and miss. Initially, it is extremely easy to use. You simply twist open the bottom, fill the chamber, close it turns it on, and wait for it to heat to the temperature you set. Great! The front display allows for on the fly temperature changes, precisely setting the temperature anywhere up to 220°C.

However, things get a little trickery if you delve into the more advanced Ascent features. It is possible to go into the Ascents setting and set three unique temperatures with specific time stamps. The Assent will automatically adjust its temperature to these set temperatures after the allotted amount of time has passed for each. When set up properly, it allows the experience to be tailored even further, adjusting how your bud vaporizes. However, trying to figure out how to set it, and turn the function off should you decide you don’t want it, is not straightforward out of the box and may require you delve into the manual. Not much of an issue, but annoying if someone accidently changes things during a group session.

A feature I really liked, and have come to expect on high-end vaporizers, is an automatic turn off. You can set a predefined amount of time in the settings, and if the Ascent doesn’t detect any motion for that amount of time, it automatically shuts off.

VAPOUR QUALITY

The actual vapour produced by the DaVinci Ascent is excellent. Thanks to its precise temperature control and completely glass vapour path, you end up with a smooth, rich cloud of vape. Obviously, the quality is going to depend on the quality of your bud, and the temperature you decide to use, but the Ascent sets the bar high and enables exquisite vapour production.

BATTERY LIFE

DaVinci says that the Ascent can last for up to 3 hours when used continuously. I found this to be closer to 2-2.5 hours. The charge time is roughly 5 hours. It is a fantastic running time, but the charge time could be a little better.

CLEANING

The Ascent is super easy to clean, with both sections of the glass vapour pathway easily removed and the bowl easily accessible. You will find in terms of how often it requires cleaning, it is about average when compared to other vapes on the market. It can gunk up after a good few sessions, but the ease of cleaning doesn’t cause this to be a problem, especially compared to how fiddley other vaporizers can be.

COST

The DaVinci Ascent will set your wallet back around €229, putting it towards the top end of the market in terms of price. Fortunately, the Ascent has the functionality and quality to back it up, making it worthwhile.

WARRANTY

The DaVinci Ascent comes with a 2-year warranty that guards against heating chamber, build, electronic and craftsmanship defects. However, batteries are only covered for 90 days.

CONCLUSION

The DaVinci Ascent rates highly on the list of portable vaporizers. It well built, produces high-quality vapour, and is reasonably priced. The battery charge time could be better, but for the size of the vape, and the portability on offer, it is not a massive drawback. At the end of the day, it is extremely easy to use, and offers a lot of versatility both at home and when on the go. It won’t do you wrong.

			Written by: Josh Writer, psychonaut and cannabis aficionado, Josh is Zamnesia’s in-house expert. He spends his days nestled out in the countryside, delving into the hidden depths of all things psychoactive in nature.
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