Welcome to The Straight Dope, our weekly series that explores the best cannabis products in Michigan.
Portable cannabis vaporizers are built to be small and compact, but that often means weaker, less satisfying hits.
That’s not the case for the Utillian 850, a new portable, dual-use vaporizer that produces dense clouds and strong flavor.
One of the newest devices from Utillian, a vaporizer brand associated with Ontario-based TVape.com, the sleek device handles both flower and concentrates and has separate modes and temperature ranges, with adjustable airflow and a strong battery.
It’s not the smallest or most discreet vape on the market, and that’s fine because the Utillian 850 is built to produce real output.
The device feels like one of Utillian’s most ambitious, technologically advanced devices yet.
One big perk is the dual-core heating system. A lot of portable vapes claim to offer hybrid heating, but the Utillian 850 takes it further with two independent heaters. One handles chamber heat, while the other heats the airflow as you inhale. Each heater has its own temperature sensor, and the convection side also has a flow sensor to track air movement.
You can feel and taste the difference.
With a lot of portable dry herb vapes, the first few pulls taste great and then the flavor quickly fades. But with the Utillian 850, the vapor stays dense and consistent, and the flavor lasts longer than it does with many portable devices I’ve tried. The conduction side helps the session start quickly, while the convection side keeps extraction more even as you draw.
The result is thick vapor without the scorched taste that can ruin higher-temperature sessions.
The vapor path also helps. Utillian uses what it calls Gold Sink Technology, with gold-coated screens and zirconia components designed to keep vapor smooth and clean.The Utillian 850 produces a noticeably smooth inhale, even when pushed into higher temperatures. The layered screens also help catch fine particles before they end up in your mouth.
The airflow control is another advantage. You can tighten the draw for thicker, denser hits or open it up for smoother, airier ones.
The device heats up in about 25 seconds. The color LCD screen shows the temperature, battery level, session timer, and mode.
The interface takes a session or two to learn, but it’s not complicated. Three buttons control the device, and you can toggle between different displays.
For flower, the Utillian 850 runs from 320 degrees to 446 degrees. Lower temperatures preserve flavor and terpenes, while higher settings produce thicker vapor and a stronger hit. It delivered full flavor, satisfying clouds, and a smooth draw.
The Utillian 850 also has a wax mode, with a higher temperature range of 428 degrees to 500 degrees.
This is the best dual-use device I’ve tried. While it feels more designed for flower, the wax mode was surprisingly effective.
High-quality cannabis concentrates like live hash rosin are becoming increasingly popular in Michigan as more people move from flower to more potent and flavorful alternatives. That popularity is creating a bigger demand for dab pens and e-rigs, and companies are responding with a shit load of devices that range wildly in quality and performance.
For concentrates, I still prefer the Utillian 6 over the Utillian 850 because it’s built specifically for wax and has a glass mouthpiece, a ruby pearl, and a vortex airflow system that improves flavor and vapor.
But as a dual-use vaporizer, the Utillian 850 still handles concentrates well.
The battery is another strength. The Utillian 850 uses a 5000 mAh battery, which is large for a portable vape but doesn’t make the device feel oversized. With moderate use, it should last through a full day without needing a charge. A full charge takes about 90 minutes.
The Utillian 850 also comes with a water pipe adapter, which is a nice bonus. Connecting it to a bong or bubbler would make hits smoother and cooler, while also producing big clouds.
The biggest downside is that the Utillian 850 is not the most discreet or beginner-friendly vape. It’s portable, but not tiny. It has more settings than a less advanced device.
But the 850 is built for people who care about performance.
At about $320, it’s not cheap. But if you want to take portable vaping to another level and you have the money, it’s a hell of a device.
To check out all of TVape products, click here.
