Puffco Pivot & Focus V Aeris – Portable Extract Options

Focus V released the Aeris , a compact and portable dab vape for extracts, during an ongoing legal battle with Puffco. At the time, Focus V’s parent company, SHO Products, was embroiled in a copyright dispute with Puffco over the design of Puffco’s flagship devices, the Peak and Peak Pro.

Interestingly enough, Puffco later launched the Pivot, also a portable extract vaporizer with a different but similar design to the Aeris. The timing of these releases added an extra layer of complexity to the legal dispute, reflecting the competitive dynamics of the vaporizer market.

While specific details about the Pivot & Aeris patents, production timelines, or any developments that might put SHO Products (Focus V) and Puffco back into the courtroom remains unclear, one thing is certain: the Aeris and Pivot are currently leading the way as the top two portable dabbers for fresh extracts, featuring the latest advancements in chamber and atomizer technology.

If you’re looking to pick up something that you can throw your own concentrates in that gives you near e-rig level quality or just don’t like the idea of ingesting questionably produced prefilled cartridges, the top two options currently on the market for portable dabs are the Aeris and the Pivot.

If portability is what you are after the Pivot is a bit more than ¼ the weight of the Aeris and half the size. I can put this thing in my pocket with my phone or my keys and totally blank that I am carrying around a vape. 

The Aeris on the other hand is like a tiny maglite. Great for durability but when I have this thing in my pocket. I am very aware I am carrying around something in my pocket that doesn’t totally feel natural. 

Everyone is different and the craziest thing to me has been going to concerts and seeing people with their Puffco Peak Pro on full display. Like 1.) How did you get that thing in here 2.) Doesn’t it take too much of your time and attention to lug it around and take it out ? 3.) Are you not worried about losing a $400 device ? 

In that respect both the Aeris and Pivot are easy to transport in a case or little backpack. The Aeris comes with a travel sized Focus V carry case and Puffco released a special Puffco travel case when they dropped the Pivot. But if you 100% want to just throw it in your pocket and chill, that is the Pivot.

I must note the trade off here.  While The Pivot is very portable the battery life is not the best so you win on size but being out and about then running out of juice defeats the point.

The Aeris feels much more ergonomic and sturdy in the hand. Like a well built flashlight encased in durable silicone I have no worries about this thing scratching or getting dinged up from daily use or transporting. 

The Puffco Pivot is very lightweight and compact but it does feel a tad bit weak.  The Aluminum alloy used is lightweight and does a great job of protection. The alloy grade of the Pivot shell is one of those materials that is ultra lightweight but also very strong. Summing it up it is more durable than it feels and if you like the compact and lightweight vaporizers then the Pivot is going to be right up your alley.

The Aeris feels like a more complete device with a higher caliber magnetic mouthpiece over the silicone mouthpiece of the Pivot.

The Aeris comes with the Intelli-Core atomizer. This is the exact same atomizer which comes with the Carta 2. This provides some benefits like being able to swap it out with your Carta 2 (if you own this vaporizer). As well the Aeris will function with the Intelli-Core Max if you purchase the adapter ring. This really can produce some XL level clouds. 

This would be like being able to use the Puffco 3DXL Chamber with the Pivot. If that was possible the Pivot battery would be drained in about 30 seconds time. The Pivot’s chamber is considerably smaller, being the smallest 3D Chamber out of all the 3D chamber devices of Puffco’s line up. A small but mighty polished ceramic that heats from the bottom and the sides and has smart temperature sensing to adjust to keep heat consistent while you draw.

Both chambers (the Intelli-Core and Puffco 3D) are the current top of the line in the concentrate vaporizer space and provide the best technology on the market. The recurring theme is the the Aeris aims to be a pocketable Carta 2 rig where the Pivot is looking to compete more with prefilled cartridges allowing you to feel better about vaping your own fresh pressed extracts in a device the same size of a pen. 

I would not even call the Pivot a portable vaporizer you have a session with. To me this thing is more like I need to have a hit really quick. When I was a line cook I would cut out to go hit a bowl really quick when not wanting to hit the pen. The Pivot would serve this function in my view. The Aeris can do this too but not as well suited with the larger chamber for taking smaller little sippers and staying grounded. The Aeris would waste alot of material if just trying to fire up for a quick rip here and there.  

The  larger chamber size and battery life of the Aeris lends it to being something you could pass back and forth with your buddy. With the Pivot I would be selfish and go on my break solo. 

The Pivot’s low capacity battery and chamber really make it so the Aeris wins in terms of being able to have a portable vaporizer you can pack up and have a session and do that a few times over the course of the day. 

The Aeris is also not that great in terms of battery compared to a portable herb vaporizer and especially not when compared to something like a vape pen battery which will last you days on end. Again the Aeris and Pivot provide the ability to vape your own extracts with the best available chamber technology that you can put in your pocket.

While the Pivot can rip it is more suited for the sip. Where the Aeris can sip, it is more designed for the rip.

If you’re looking to get you feet wet with fresh dabs from a Puffco Vaporizer, the Pivot is the most economical option at $130. The Aeris is priced at $199, so the larger chamber and features like the magnetic alloy mouthpiece comes at a cost. You can find the best prices on both the Pivot and Aeris below.

If you are just wanting to dab your own extracts on the go to a sufficient level and not looking to take down Peak Pro or Carta 2 size rippers than the Pivot offers a simpler, more subtle and more manageable session, especially if you are throwing this in your pocket or backpack. The Pivot to me would be a secondary vaporizer to have for times I could not use my rig. 

The Aeris would be for someone who wants every dab to be on par with the volume you get from a full sized E-Rig. The Aeris could also substitute alot better for a full service rig making it so you don’t need to throw down $349 on the Focus V Carta 2.

Both are designed rather well and do not feel one model was meant to compete with the other (despite the two companies surely being direct competitors). The Aeris fills the needs for those who know they love huge hits and wants them in the palm of their hands. The Puffco Pivot will be a great entry point for someone who wants to try out dabs or for the hash aficionado who needs something for fresh extracts on the go.

If you are looking for more information on either vaporizer check out our complete Puffco Pivot review and Focus V Aeris review.