Review: Gear Premium Sidekick
\n<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"Gear](\"https:\/\/tvape.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/gear-premium-sidekick-review-feature.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![\"Gear](\"https:\/\/tvape.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/gear-premium-sidekick-manufacturing-quality.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nManufacturing Quality<\/h3>\n
Gear Premium didn\u2019t pull their name out of nowhere. This brand is known for solid, long-lasting pieces. This newest version of the Sidekick is one more in a line of pieces made to last forever.<\/p>\n
The glass this water pipe is made of is likely thicker than anything you\u2019ve encountered. From the mouthpiece to the base, it is very clear that this piece was built to survive all but the most serious bumps and falls. The thickness of the glass is not noted on the packing insert, but it is certainly thicker than the 5mm and 7mm pieces I compared it to.<\/p>\n
This level of quality extends to the accessories. Both the downstem and the attached bowl are exceptionally thick, making this bowl one of the few that seems to be designed to survive the full lifespan of the piece. The glass on glass fittings are ground smooth and do not catch or stick.<\/p>\n
Users that prefer an all-glass aroma vaporizer that is portable usually tend to prefer units like the Arizer Air 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Gear](\"https:\/\/tvape.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/gear-premium-sidekick-review-main2.jpg\")
<\/div><\/div>
\n![\"Gear](\"https:\/\/tvape.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/gear-premium-sidekick-look-and-feel.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nLook & Feel<\/b><\/h3>\n
This updated version of the Gear Premium Sidekick comes in a total of 8 colors and finishes, from translucent black to opaque white. All but the white version have an opalescent finish which reflects light and adds a depth which is not visible in the product photographs.<\/p>\n
The lighter holder is precisely the right size and depth. Even half-sized Bics fit comfortably in the side holder, and no one throughout the course of our tests had any trouble fishing them out. However, users that don’t want to be bothered with losing their lighter usually tend to prefer battery operated vaporizers such as the Zeus Arc<\/a>.<\/p>\nAt the same time, the holster was deep enough to pass and load the water pipe with the lighter in the holster. The feature performed as desired throughout the course of the test.<\/p>\n
The most notable thing about this particular waterpipe is the incredible thickness of the glass. The thickness adds a lot of weight to a fairly short piece. This weight adds stability when the piece is loaded and passed. The lighter holder does not change the exceptional balance of the piece.<\/p>\n
In fact, I was pleased to find the beaker\u2019s base is evenly weighted, meaning that it does not lean to one side when held (this is important if you wish to hit the waterpipe while holding it one-handed.)<\/p>\n
![\"Gear](\"https:\/\/tvape.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/gear-premium-sidekick-review-main3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/span>\n![\"Gear](\"https:\/\/tvape.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/gear-premium-sidekick-performance.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Performance<\/b><\/h3>\n
This is a pretty standard piece as far as performance is concerned. Like all beaker bottoms, the Sidekick requires a very specific amount of water. The angle of the downstream ensures that too little water will render the piece essentially unfunctional, while too much water will result in mouthful of cloudy, resin filled water. It happened to me several times as I tried to get the water levels right and it wasn\u2019t a fun time.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, this water pipe is also one of the shortest standard sizes available. This is great for storage, but it can lead to a particularly bad smoking experience to the Volcano Hybrid<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe short neck means that very little ice can fit into the tube. Do not be fooled by the 12\u201d descriptor, a water pipe with a neck this short will only hold 5-6 standard pieces of ice. You\u2019re not going to get a lot of cooling action unless you happen to have a readily available supply of crushed ice. <\/div><\/div>
\n![\"Gear](\"https:\/\/tvape.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/gear-premium-sidekick-ease-of-cleaning.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nEase of Cleaning<\/b><\/h3>\n
The Sidekick gathered a lot of resin and residue at and above the waterline, as well as on\/in the downstem and bowl. The pearlescent finish did a lot to hide the dirt as it accumulated. I clean clear and translucent pieces religiously, but even I was willing to let this sit for a couple of days. It just isn\u2019t that noticeable.<\/p>\n
Beaker bottoms are one of the easiest pieces to clean, and the Sidekick is no exception. I simply half-filled the base with isopropyl alcohol and added a hand-full of coarse sea-salt. Swirling the base cleaning the body of the piece rapidly with little to no effort.<\/p>\n
The downstem and bowl are impossible to clean quickly. Though they are made of rather thick glass, these pieces are simply to prone to breakage for an active cleansing. Instead, I soak them in pure isopropyl alcohol until they are clean. This requires a bit of planning, but very little work.<\/p>\n
Users looking for a vaping device that can be easily cleaned after vaping usually tend to prefer units such as the Utillian 722<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\n![\"Gear](\"https:\/\/tvape.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/gear-premium-sidekick-overall-experience.jpg\")
Overall Experience<\/h3>\n
12\u201d beakers are one of the largest categories of water pipes on the market. This means that there is a lot of range. There are many great options available, but also many awful ones, and because they\u2019re entry level, they\u2019re all roughly the same price.<\/p>\n
These short tubes are the definition of entry-level, and even the best options are significantly flawed. If you\u2019re in the market for a waterpipe, I highly recommend committing to an 18\u201d beaker instead. The slight increase in cost is more than countered by the exceptionally better smoking experience.<\/p>\n
However, despite my best advice, lots of people purchase 12\u201d beakers everyday. If you insist upon a 12 inch, this is certainly a good option to invest in. Not only is the lighter holder super useful, but the thickness of the glass ensures that you\u2019ll have this piece for quite a while.<\/p>\n
If you are looking to switch away from waterpipes we suggest checking out our list of Best Vaporizers<\/a> to help choose the best unit for you.<\/p>\nIf you have questions about our Gear Sidekick review or just want to let us know what you think, feel free to drop us a comment below! Thanks for reading and as always, keep vapin\u2019!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today we\u2019re taking a look at a brand new offering from the glassmakers over at Gear Premium. This particular glasshouse is known for its well-crafted waterpipes and its hardy custom smoking accessories. This latest piece is a riff on their well-loved classic, The Sidekick. The Sidekick is an ultra-sturdy 12\u201d beaker with multiple custom features<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\nManufacturing Quality<\/h3>\n
Gear Premium didn\u2019t pull their name out of nowhere. This brand is known for solid, long-lasting pieces. This newest version of the Sidekick is one more in a line of pieces made to last forever.<\/p>\n
The glass this water pipe is made of is likely thicker than anything you\u2019ve encountered. From the mouthpiece to the base, it is very clear that this piece was built to survive all but the most serious bumps and falls. The thickness of the glass is not noted on the packing insert, but it is certainly thicker than the 5mm and 7mm pieces I compared it to.<\/p>\n
This level of quality extends to the accessories. Both the downstem and the attached bowl are exceptionally thick, making this bowl one of the few that seems to be designed to survive the full lifespan of the piece. The glass on glass fittings are ground smooth and do not catch or stick.<\/p>\n
Users that prefer an all-glass aroma vaporizer that is portable usually tend to prefer units like the Arizer Air 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n This updated version of the Gear Premium Sidekick comes in a total of 8 colors and finishes, from translucent black to opaque white. All but the white version have an opalescent finish which reflects light and adds a depth which is not visible in the product photographs.<\/p>\n The lighter holder is precisely the right size and depth. Even half-sized Bics fit comfortably in the side holder, and no one throughout the course of our tests had any trouble fishing them out. However, users that don’t want to be bothered with losing their lighter usually tend to prefer battery operated vaporizers such as the Zeus Arc<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the same time, the holster was deep enough to pass and load the water pipe with the lighter in the holster. The feature performed as desired throughout the course of the test.<\/p>\n The most notable thing about this particular waterpipe is the incredible thickness of the glass. The thickness adds a lot of weight to a fairly short piece. This weight adds stability when the piece is loaded and passed. The lighter holder does not change the exceptional balance of the piece.<\/p>\n In fact, I was pleased to find the beaker\u2019s base is evenly weighted, meaning that it does not lean to one side when held (this is important if you wish to hit the waterpipe while holding it one-handed.)<\/p>\n <\/div><\/div><\/span> This is a pretty standard piece as far as performance is concerned. Like all beaker bottoms, the Sidekick requires a very specific amount of water. The angle of the downstream ensures that too little water will render the piece essentially unfunctional, while too much water will result in mouthful of cloudy, resin filled water. It happened to me several times as I tried to get the water levels right and it wasn\u2019t a fun time.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, this water pipe is also one of the shortest standard sizes available. This is great for storage, but it can lead to a particularly bad smoking experience to the Volcano Hybrid<\/a>.<\/p>\n The short neck means that very little ice can fit into the tube. Do not be fooled by the 12\u201d descriptor, a water pipe with a neck this short will only hold 5-6 standard pieces of ice. You\u2019re not going to get a lot of cooling action unless you happen to have a readily available supply of crushed ice. <\/div><\/div> The Sidekick gathered a lot of resin and residue at and above the waterline, as well as on\/in the downstem and bowl. The pearlescent finish did a lot to hide the dirt as it accumulated. I clean clear and translucent pieces religiously, but even I was willing to let this sit for a couple of days. It just isn\u2019t that noticeable.<\/p>\n Beaker bottoms are one of the easiest pieces to clean, and the Sidekick is no exception. I simply half-filled the base with isopropyl alcohol and added a hand-full of coarse sea-salt. Swirling the base cleaning the body of the piece rapidly with little to no effort.<\/p>\n The downstem and bowl are impossible to clean quickly. Though they are made of rather thick glass, these pieces are simply to prone to breakage for an active cleansing. Instead, I soak them in pure isopropyl alcohol until they are clean. This requires a bit of planning, but very little work.<\/p>\n Users looking for a vaping device that can be easily cleaned after vaping usually tend to prefer units such as the Utillian 722<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/div><\/div> 12\u201d beakers are one of the largest categories of water pipes on the market. This means that there is a lot of range. There are many great options available, but also many awful ones, and because they\u2019re entry level, they\u2019re all roughly the same price.<\/p>\n These short tubes are the definition of entry-level, and even the best options are significantly flawed. If you\u2019re in the market for a waterpipe, I highly recommend committing to an 18\u201d beaker instead. The slight increase in cost is more than countered by the exceptionally better smoking experience.<\/p>\n However, despite my best advice, lots of people purchase 12\u201d beakers everyday. If you insist upon a 12 inch, this is certainly a good option to invest in. Not only is the lighter holder super useful, but the thickness of the glass ensures that you\u2019ll have this piece for quite a while.<\/p>\n If you are looking to switch away from waterpipes we suggest checking out our list of Best Vaporizers<\/a> to help choose the best unit for you.<\/p>\n If you have questions about our Gear Sidekick review or just want to let us know what you think, feel free to drop us a comment below! Thanks for reading and as always, keep vapin\u2019!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today we\u2019re taking a look at a brand new offering from the glassmakers over at Gear Premium. This particular glasshouse is known for its well-crafted waterpipes and its hardy custom smoking accessories. This latest piece is a riff on their well-loved classic, The Sidekick. The Sidekick is an ultra-sturdy 12\u201d beaker with multiple custom features<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/h3>\nLook & Feel<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nPerformance<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\nEase of Cleaning<\/b><\/h3>\n
Overall Experience<\/h3>\n