I traded an ounce of weed for my first dry herb vaporizer about 15 years ago, and it was roughly the size and weight of a car radio.
It sat on a table, plugged into a wall, and I drew from it through a plastic tube. It was more of a clunky household appliance than a portable or discreet vape.
Since then, dry herb vapes have completely changed. Now they’re pocket-sized, battery-powered, and far more effective than the old-school models.
Many people prefer dry herb vaping over smoking bowls or joints because it delivers more flavor, is easier on the lungs, and produces far less odor. A dry herb vape heats cannabis flower without burning it by getting just warm enough to release cannabinoids and terpenes as vapor.
I’ve tried many dry herb vapes over the past 15 years, but none has come as close to the Zeus Arc GT4, a compact, gold-lined device appropriately nicknamed the “Rolodex of vaporizers.”
The GT4 is a small, metal-bodied vape. It’s solid, heavy in the hand, and small enough to slip into your pocket. Inside, Zeus coats the chamber and vapor path in 24-karat gold. And it’s not a gimmick. Gold conducts heat evenly and resists residue buildup, which helps preserve flavor and consistency during a session.
I have to admit I wasn’t always a fan of Zeus. But this device has won me over.
The GT4 heats up in about 35 seconds, and the vapor quality is the best I’ve experienced from a portable dry herb vape. At lower temps, the flavor is crisp and terpene-rich. Mid-range temperatures deliver the sweet spot with full flavor and heavier vapor. Higher settings put out thicker clouds but never taste burnt or harsh.
The device also heats the flower evenly. With a lot of portable vapes, the first draw tastes great and then the flavor weakens. With the GT4, it stays consistent from the first pull to the last, and the dual-screen filtration system keeps the vapor smooth by catching fine particles before they reach your mouth.
Most dry herb vapes require you to load the chamber every single time, which is fine at home but annoying anywhere else. The GT4 solves that with ArcPods, which are small, metal pods you pre-pack with ground flower. You can fill a handful in advance, toss them in a bag, and drop one into the device whenever you’re ready for a session.
It’s quick, clean, and convenient.
The airflow also stands out. When you’re using pods, you just remove a small internal insert to open the draw. Without the pods, you reinstall it for a denser, conduction-style hit. It makes the device flexible depending on how you like to vape.
The GT4’s 3500 mAh battery easily lasted me through several sessions a day without needing a charge. With moderate use, the device lasted me two to three days before I had to plug it in. USB-C charging is a major improvement over older vapes that still rely on proprietary cables, and a full charge only takes about 90 minutes.
A built-in motion sensor also helps preserve battery life by detecting when the device is sitting idle and cooling it down.
What’s more, the GT4 has a separate mode for concentrates, and with the included wax pod, it handles rosin and resin cleanly and efficiently. But for portable, concentrate-only vapes, I still recommend the Utillian 6, which has a glass mouthpiece and vortex technology that spins a small ruby pearl inside the chamber to circulate heat and concentrate evenly.
The only downside to the Zeus Arc GT4 is the price. At $380, it’s not for everyone. But if you want luxury and high-quality output, the GT4 is worth the price. Get 5% off at TVape.com by using the voucher code “METROTIMES5.”
It would also make for a great gift for your stoner loved one.
Don’t want to spend that much? Zeus also offers the more affordable Arc GT3, a good alternative that you can snag for $190. and still works well.
The Zeus Arc GT4 offers some clever accessories, but the most fun is the Iceborn, a water-cooling attachment you freeze and connect to the vapor path. It chills the vapor, making hits smoother, cooler, and more flavorful.
Because the ArcPods contain most of the flower, the chamber stays relatively clean. After several sessions, you can pop out the mouthpiece and heat sink and soak the metal parts in isopropyl alcohol. The chamber itself needs only a quick wipe. It’s one of the easiest portable vapes to maintain.
For me, the Zeus Arc GT4 is one of the best dry herb vapes on the market and a major step up for Zeus. It’s not the cheapest option, but it performs like a premium device. If you prefer vaping flower over smoking and want something portable, the GT4 is worth the investment.