In today’s review we’re looking at the hugely popular Linx Gaia, winner of the ‘Best Portable Vaporizer’ award from the guys and girls at High Times!
The Linx Gaia was actually released way back in 2017 but remains one of the most popular dry herb vaporizers on the market today. Fast forward to 2023 and we thought it was only right we take a look at the Gaia and see what all the fuss is about!
The Gaia was actually Linx Vapor’s first ever dry herb vaporizer and remains their flagship model in the dry herb category. If you’re not familiar with the Linx Vapor brand, they’re a company who specialize in dry herb/wax vaporizers. They’re also renowned for producing vapes that offer above average performance for budget friendly prices, and the Linx Gaia certainly looks to promise the same!
It’s an extremely portable dry herb vape with a very reasonable price tag of $159.99. On top of this, it features an all quartz heating chamber for improved vapor and flavor, fully variable temperature control for maximum efficiency and a 2200mAh battery for multiple sessions from a single charge.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Gaia also has advanced insulation technology and a clear vapor path for the smoothest and purest flavor possible. Add to this a stylish, compact design and you can start to see how the Gaia took the High Times ‘Best Portable Vaporizer’ prize!
Whether you’re a complete beginner looking to dip your toes in the water, or you’re an experienced user looking for a new portable dry herb vape, the Gaia might just be the perfect choice for you!
But that’s enough for the intro….time to put the Gaia to the test! Read on to see what we discovered when using the Linx Gaia.
I’d like to quickly thank Raj at Linx Vapor for sending me the Linx Gaia to review. As always, this review is completely unbiased and only contains my honest opinions on the product. This post may also contain affiliate links. If you purchase the product through our link, we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). This helps us to keep the site running.
Linx Gaia Dry Herb Vaporizer Review
Contents
- Features and Specifications
- What’s in the Box?
- Linx Gaia | Design & Build Quality
- Linx Gaia | How to Use
- Linx Gaia | Performance, Vapor & Flavor Quality
- Linx Gaia | Temperature Range & Heating Time
- Linx Gaia | Battery Life & How to Charge
- Linx Gaia | Cleaning & Maintenance
- Linx Gaia | Price & Where to Buy
- Verdict – Should You Buy The Linx Gaia?
Features & Specifications
Dimensions: 80mm (height) x 50mm (width) x 24mm (depth)
Weight: 146g
Compatibility: Dry Herb
Material: Aluminum & Stainless Steel (body), Borosilicate Glass (mouthpiece) & Quartz (heating chamber)
Battery Capacity: 2200mAh Internal Rechargeable Battery
Charging: Micro USB (5V)
Charge Time: 3 Hours
Display: OLED Screen
Oven: Quartz Heating Chamber (10mm diameter x 20mm height)
Oven Capacity: 0.25g
Heating Style: Hybrid – Convection/Conduction
Heat Up Time: 30-40s
Temperature Range: 200°F-428°F (93°C-220°C)
Airflow: Non-adjustable / 100% Air Insulation
Safety Features: 4 Minute Cut-off Time
3 Colors Available
1 Year Warranty
What’s in the Box?
- 1 X Linx Gaia Vaporizer
- 1 X Mouthpiece Cap
- 1 X Packing Funnel
- 1 X Steel Tool
- 1 X Cleaning Brush
- 1 X Linx 2-in-1 Lightning and Micro USB Charger
- 4 X Filter Screen
- 1 X User Manual
The Linx Gaia comes packaged in a rigid cardboard box with a lift off top and foam insert. Everything feels well protected and even the device itself is individually packaged in a sealed bag.
The outside of the box features the Linx Vapor logo, the product name and the color of the model you’ve purchased. On the back of the box you’ll see a list of key features along with information about Linx Vapor and some mandatory warnings.
Once you lift off the lid you’ll see the Gaia in a foam insert with a smaller black box nestled beside it. This box holds the packing funnel, cleaning brush, USB charger and 4 spare filter screens for the mouthpiece.
The glass mouthpiece, magnetic cover cap and steel packing tool are already attached to the Gaia (more on this later!).
Overall they’ve done a fantastic job with the design of the packaging and it certainly feels sturdy enough to protect any fragile components. The design feels classy and gives the Gaia that kind of premium feel you’d expect with a higher-end device!
Linx Gaia | Design & Build Quality
In terms of size the Gaia measures just 80mm in height, 50mm in width and 24mm in depth, making it one of the smallest dry herb vapes I’ve ever used. While it’s not quite as dinky as something like the LITL 1 (a mind-bogglingly tiny device!), it firmly fits in the portable vaporizer category.
Designed in a traditional ‘box mod’ style, the Gaia has beveled edges either side of an OLED display. On the opposite side is a completely curved edge that gives the Gaia a really natural feel in the hand and makes it super comfortable to hold.
And while its traditional ‘box mod’ shape means it doesn’t stand out from the crowd, I actually think that’s a bonus. I love using my Crafty+ but its unusual design and bright LEDs mean it sticks out like a sore thumb.
With the Linx Gaia you have a device that looks like a regular box mod vape and will blend in just about anywhere! This makes the Gaia an ideal vaporizer for those who enjoy stealthy vaping. In fact, of all the dry herb vaporizers I’ve owned it’s one of the most discreet.
As well as the compact size and discreet shape, the portability of the Gaia is further increased by its light weight. Weighing in at just 146g, the Gaia is built with an aluminum body sandwiched between two stainless steel plates.
The result is a device that feels sturdy and well-built, without feeling like a brick in your pocket! There’s also a magnetic steel cap that slots over the glass mouthpiece, so you don’t have to worry about the glass breaking when you carry it with you.
Unfortunately there’s no included carry case, but the Gaia feels well-built and sturdy enough to withstand any minor drops or knocks. During the past two months of heavy use I haven’t noticed any scratches or damage to the body and it’s been in and out of my bag on countless occasions.
This is really helped by the brushed aluminum design. It not only hides blemishes and grubby fingermarks, but also looks and feels fantastic! There are 3 color options and all of them look incredible. We received the ‘Steel’ version but you can also buy the Gaia in ‘Onyx’ or ‘Rose Gold’.
On the front of the device you’ll find the large OLED screen. This displays the heating status, the temperature of the oven and the remaining battery charge.
Directly above the display is the power button. Five clicks of the button turns the device on or off and you start a session by selecting the desired temperature and holding the power button down for two seconds.
You’ll know when the device starts to heat up because a flame symbol appears to the left of the temperature reading.
Each session is timed at 4 minutes, at which point the Gaia will automatically power off. If you want to carry on vaping you’ll have to turn the Gaia back on and restart the session with a two second hold of the power button.
Underneath the display are the temperature controls in the form of plus and minus buttons. Pressing the power and minus buttons together will also change the temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius. Overall the display and controls are really user-friendly and easy to pick up.
My only slight complaint is with the feel of the plus and minus buttons. It’s not a major concern but they don’t give off a very satisfying click. Unfortunately they feel slightly loose and a little tricky to push in.
On the bottom of the Gaia you’ll find the Micro USB charge port and the included steel packing tool. There’s a small circular cut-out that allows you to grasp the top of the steel tool and slide it out.
It’s also attached and held in place with magnets so there are no worries about it sliding out and getting lost. It’s a really nice touch and shows Linx Vapor have gone to great lengths to produce a vape that’s both practical and eye-catching.
Without a doubt though, one of the best things about the design of the Gaia is the heating chamber and hybrid heating style (convection/conduction). Linx Vapor claim the Gaia is almost entirely convection heated, meaning hot air is passed through and around your herb.
This is generally much better than conduction heating which passes heat directly through contact. With conduction ovens you typically waste more product and your herb isn’t heated as evenly. This not only affects the taste but also lowers the efficiency of cannabinoid and terpene extraction.
With a hybrid vaporizer like the Gaia, the herb is almost entirely heated through convection, which results in a much smoother taste and a far more efficient extraction of terpenes and cannabinoids. The surprising thing about the Gaia is you get all this for an incredibly reasonable price!
The oven is also made entirely from quartz, which is fairly unusual for a dry herb vape. Most other dry herb vaporizers incorporate a ceramic oven like the Utillian 421, or a stainless steel oven like the Crafty+ I mentioned earlier. With that being said, the quartz oven on the Gaia provides excellent vapor and flavor production!
With the Gaia’s quartz chamber I also loved that you can actually see the heating element running around the walls of the oven, and you can fit a fair amount of herb inside too…0.25g to be exact. For me that’s about the perfect amount of product for a lengthy solo session.
However, while I loved the performance and design of the oven, I do have some reservations about the durability of the quartz material used. Quartz is generally thought to be more fragile than ceramic or steel and could have a higher risk of breaking.
With that being said, the Gaia’s been around for several years now and I can’t see any customer reviews online mentioning problems with the oven. In fact, if you take a look at customer reviews of the Gaia you’ll be hard pushed to find any negative comments at all!
At the top end of the device you’ll find the glass mouthpiece screwed into the top of the heating chamber. The threading is super smooth and it only takes a second to remove. The mouthpiece itself can also be unscrewed to give you greater access for cleaning and maintenance. This also lets you replace the steel filter screen with one of the 4 spares included in the kit.
The mouthpiece is small in diameter and results in a tight draw, not too dissimilar from smoking a joint or sipping thick milkshake through a straw. It’s also worth mentioning the airflow isn’t adjustable. It’s probably perfect for someone making the switch from smoking to vaping, but for me personally, it was a little too tight.
Finally I also think it’s worth mentioning the excellent branding on the Gaia. There’s a distinct lack of anything flashy or bold with only a small Linx Vapor logo in the bottom corner of one side. It’s laser engraved and completely blends in with the brushed aluminum body until it catches the light just right.
The only other thing that lets you know it’s a Linx Vapor device is the word ‘LINX’ on the top of the magnetic cover cap. The subtle branding on the Gaia looks really professional and helps it blend in wherever you take it. It wouldn’t look out of place sitting on an office desk but it’d be equally at home in the side-pouch of a hiking bag.
Overall I have to say I was blown away by the excellent design of the Gaia, especially the hybrid heating chamber. Typically, you’ll only find convection or hybrid heating on the more expensive dry herb vapes. Again though, the Gaia is designed to perform like a higher-end device for a fraction of the price!
I was also incredibly impressed with the aesthetics. It’s stylish and well put together while also including practical features like the magnetic mouthpiece cover and steel packing tool. It’s also highly portable and incredibly easy to operate. It’s clear Linx Vapor have designed a device with the end user in mind!
Linx Gaia | How to Use
One of my favorite things about the Gaia is just how intuitive and simple it is to setup and use. If it’s your first time using the Gaia simply follow the steps below and you’ll be vaping your herb in no time:
- Unscrew the mouthpiece to expose the all quartz heating chamber.
- Fill the heating chamber with your herb. I’d recommend finely ground herb for the best results. The kit also comes with a loading funnel to reduce potential spillage.
- Turn the Gaia on with five clicks of the power button.
- Use the plus and minus buttons to set your desired temperature. The temperature can be adjusted in 1 degree increments from 200°F-428°F (93°C-220°C).
- Once you’re happy with the temperature, click and hold the power button for 2 seconds and release to activate the heating mode. A small flame symbol will blink on the screen to let you know it’s heating.
- Once the Gaia reaches the set temperature you’re ready to vape. I’d recommend long, slow puffs for the best results.
Linx Gaia | Performance, Vapor & Flavor Quality
In terms of performance the Gaia continued to shine! Setting it up and loading the oven is incredibly easy and the included loading funnel is actually really useful. Once you’ve fired the Gaia up and reached the desired temperature though, the real fun begins!
Probably the most impressive thing about the Gaia is the mind-bending hits it delivers! At the higher end of the temperature range the vapor is thick and foggy, with a really satisfying throat kick to boot! With cheaper dry herb vapes I’ve often felt underwhelmed and worried those precious cannabinoids were going to waste.
With the Gaia you certainly don’t have to worry! It delivers a fantastic high from just a tiny bowl and you feel like you’ve extracted as much as possible from the herb. When you empty the already vaped bud (AVB) you can see it’s been evenly cooked. The AVB comes out of the oven a light golden brown, meaning you can even use it to get high all over again!
Of course the main reason for vaping dry herb is to get high and feel relaxed, and in this regard the Gaia performs perfectly!
Both the vapor and the device itself also stay surprisingly cool during use, even after several consecutive sessions. I’d worried initially the tiny glass mouthpiece would quickly become too hot to comfortably vape on, but even after a 15 minute session it remained cool on the lips.
When it comes to flavor production I was slightly less impressed, but still pleasantly surprised. I should start off by saying that I’ve never used a budget dry herb vape that produces amazing flavor. With the Gaia however, the taste is crisp and clean and far better than I’d expected.
Because the Gaia features advanced insulation technology and a clear vapor path, the incoming airflow is drawn directly into the oven and straight out of the mouthpiece. This stops the airflow and vapor from travelling through any of the internal components and ensures the flavor is as clean as possible.
The first few hits from a new bowl taste fantastic, and there are no plastic or metallic tastes like I’ve experienced with so many other devices under $200 before. That strong, delicious terpene flavor is only really present for the first couple of hits, but there’s a distinct lack of any burnt, nasty hits when you’re several minutes into a session.
If you’re a real flavor connoisseur then the Gaia might slightly disappoint, but for me personally it performed admirably on the flavor front. While the Gaia doesn’t produce quite as much flavor as some of the more premium vapes you can buy, it still produces cool, clean vapor with some really tasty hits at the start of each session.
One thing that did become annoying was the forced 4 minute session time. I understand that a dry herb vape needs to have some kind of safety shut off feature, but 4 minutes seems like too short a time!
With a nice packed bowl I usually vape for around 10 minutes, sometimes even longer. Having to turn the Gaia back on every 4 minutes is fairly minor, but an inconvenience nonetheless. What would have been nice to see is a 10 minute preset, or better yet the ability to set your preferred time from a range of options.
The only other thing that bothered me about the Gaia’s performance is the fairly restrictive airflow. Unfortunately you can’t adjust the airflow on the Gaia and the small diameter of the mouthpiece results in an airflow on the tight side.
While it’s highly subjective, I generally prefer an open airy draw when I vape my herb. What doesn’t help the Gaia in this regard is the filter screen that sits directly above the oven. While it does a fantastic job of stopping any plant matter from going in the mouth, it can become clogged up with AVB.
When this does happen you’ll find the airflow becomes really tight and it starts to get a little tricky to draw a decent hit from the Gaia. This is easily fixed by making sure to clean the filter screen whenever you empty the oven, but near to the end of a session the airflow and draw can become a bit too restricted.
Other than the tight airflow (which does depend on personal preference) and the slightly annoying 4 minute shut-off feature, the performance of the Linx Gaia was exceptional though. I’ve tried a fair few dry herb vapes in my time and the performance of the Gaia is certainly up there with the best of them.
I had to keep reminding myself that it only costs $159.99! The amount of vapor produced is fantastic and the high it delivers is among the best I’ve experienced with a vape. While the flavor isn’t exceptional, I certainly didn’t have any complaints, and the hybrid oven does an amazing job of evenly toasting your herb!
Linx Gaia | Temperature Range & Heating Time
Temperature Range
Like I mentioned earlier, the temperature control on the Gaia is located on the front in the form of plus and minus buttons. They let you scroll through the temperature in increments of 1 and holding a button down will speed up the process.
With the Gaia you have the option of setting the temperature anywhere as low as 200°F (93°C) all the way up to a toasty 428°F (220°C). Again this is a feature you only usually find on the more expensive vapes.
In my time using the Gaia I found it operates best between 380°F and 428°F (190°C – 220°C). With a reasonably packed bowl I’d spend a couple of minutes at 190°C, another couple of minutes at 200°C and so on, all the way up to 220°C in increments of 10°C. This would equal around 2 full sessions on the Gaia (8 minutes).
This range strikes the perfect balance between flavor and vapor production (in my humble opinion!). At the lower temperatures the Gaia does well to release a tasty terpene flavor from the herb with a nice, cool vapor. At the higher temperatures it starts to kick out thicker clouds and has one of the best hits I’ve had on a dry herb vape!
For a quick overview of the different temperature options and the effects it has on vapor and flavor quality check out the table below. You can also read our guide on the best temperatures for vaping dry herb!
| Temperature Range | Vapor Quality | Flavor Quality | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 325-350°F 160-180°C | Cooler vapor with low density of clouds. | Strong tasty terpene flavor. | THC starts to react Lightly euphoric, invigorated and relaxed. |
| 350-400°F 180-200°C | Warmer vapor with dense clouds. | Terpene flavor mixed with earthy tones. | Psychoactive effects increased. CBD reacts, meditative and relaxed. |
| 400-430°F 200-220°C | Thick dense clouds. | Stronger earthy taste. | Extracts the most cannabinoids. Intense effects and couch-lock feeling. |
Heating Time
The heating time on the Linx Gaia is insanely quick and not something I really expected for a vaporizer within this price range! On a full charge the Gaia reaches 180°C (355°F) in under 40 seconds and 220°C (428°F) in just 50 seconds!
While this isn’t as quick as something like the Pax 3 (a mere 15 seconds), you certainly won’t be waiting long to start your session. Again I was pleasantly surprised the Gaia performed more like a premium, higher-end vape!
Overall both the temperature settings and heating time on the Gaia impressed me. Having complete control over the temperature means you can tailor your session depending on your mood, and the surprisingly quick heat up time is the cherry on top!
Linx Gaia | Battery Life & How to Charge
When it comes to the battery on the Gaia it’s a bit more of a mixed bag. There’s an internal battery with a capacity of 2200mAh, which is about average for a dry herb vape within this price range.
The good news is that from a full charge the Gaia vapes at the higher end of the temperature range for a good 40 minutes. That means it’ll last for 10 short sessions before it needs recharging.
Personally I always prefer packing the bowl and vaping for a bit longer, so the Gaia lasts me 5 double sessions timed at around 8 minutes each. Bear in mind though, I vape at the highest temperature setting (428°F / 220°C) for at least 2-3 minutes every session.
If you spend less time at the higher temperatures then you could well extend battery time to 50 minutes a charge, maybe even more. This is reasonably good for a dry herb vape and about what I hoped for from the Gaia.
When it does run out of battery the Gaia automatically shuts off. If you try to heat the device further the battery icon flashes three times. To charge the Gaia you simply plug the supplied Micro USB cable into the charge port on the bottom and the battery icon will start to scroll on the display.
All told though it takes around 3 hours for the battery to fully recharge, which is a little longer than I’d have liked, but there is a saving grace! The Linx Gaia does feature pass-through charging which means you can still vape it while it’s on charge.
Another thing to consider is the internal battery can’t be removed. It’s by no means a dealbreaker, but I generally prefer a vape with a removeable battery. Not only can you use an external battery charger to speed up the charging process, but you also have the option of buying a spare battery to double your total vaping time.
As with any battery there’s also a limit to the number of times it can be recharged and still perform as expected. While you can probably expect the battery in the Gaia to last for several years, it’s still nice knowing you can chuck in a brand new battery and vape like you’ve only just removed it from the box.
Overall though, the Gaia performed reasonably well on the battery front. While the recharge time is a little long, the inclusion of pass-through charging means you can at least vape it while it’s plugged in. It’s a shame the battery’s internal, but the vape time of 40 minutes (on the higher range of temperatures) is pretty good for a vaporizer under $200.
Linx Gaia | Cleaning & Maintenance
In terms of cleaning, the Gaia is extremely low maintenance! I’ve been using mine for just under two months now and the oven looks as clean as the day I unpacked it. Other than the occasional poke with the included steel tool (to dislodge any baked herb), the oven should require little to no upkeep.
If you do find the oven becomes a bit clogged up, this can potentially restrict the airflow and affect the performance of the device. In that situation I’d recommend using a small Q-Tip dipped in ISO (isopropyl alcohol) to clean off any residue.
A Q-Tip dipped in ISO is also an excellent way to get rid of any vaped or burnt materials from the mouthpiece and filter screen. Like I mentioned earlier, the filter screen is a bit of a magnet for vaped bud. Typically I made sure to scrape off any AVB from the screen whenever I emptied the oven.
Included in the kit is also a small cleaning brush which can be used to brush any loose herb out of the mouthpiece chimney and/or oven. Again it’s a nice touch and a handy inclusion in the kit.
After a couple of weeks of heavy use I found the screen and the mouthpiece started to become visibly dirty, but a quick soak in some ISO soon remedied this. Just make sure to thoroughly rinse the mouthpiece and leave it to dry before you use it again.
Linx Gaia | Price & Where to Buy
Considering the excellent performance and great design, the asking price of $159.99 is insanely good! The Gaia gives you the most bang for your buck of almost any dry herb vape I’ve previously tried.
While the performance isn’t quite on par with higher-end devices like the Arizer ArGo or Crafty+, it’s really not that far off….and all for a lot less money! If you’re an every day heavy user then you may want to consider stretching the purse strings a little and seeing what you can pick up in the $200-$400 range.
But, if you’re looking for a reliable dry herb vape for frequent use and you really don’t want to spend over $200, you couldn’t go too far wrong with choosing the Linx Gaia!
And as if you needed another reason to buy the Gaia, there are several accessories that are just as reasonably priced. You can pick up a water bubbler to cool the vapor, a water pipe adapter for attaching the Gaia to a bong and lava plates that let you vape concentrates in the Gaia!
If you do want to check out the Linx Gaia and/or the available accessories, the button below will take your directly to the Linx Vapor store:
Verdict – Should You Buy The Linx Gaia?
If you’re after an affordable and reliable dry herb vape that produces crisp, clean vapor and blends in just about anywhere, the Linx Gaia would probably be my top recommendation!
Pros
- Excellent price
- Compact & portable
- Lightweight
- Very stealthy
- Fantastic build quality
- Brilliant vapor production
- Efficient extraction of cannabinoids
- Great flavor & clean taste
- Clear vapor path
- Hybrid heating (convection/conduction)
- Great battery life
- Pass-through charging
- Super quick heat-up time
- Variable temperature control
- User friendly
- Reasonable oven capacity
- Low maintenance & easy to clean
- Variety of handy accessories included
Cons
- No included carry case
- Fiddly temperature control buttons
- Frustrating 4 minute shut-off feature
- Reasonably tight airflow
- Long recharge time
- Non-replaceable battery
As you can see from the lists above, there really wasn’t much I didn’t like about the Gaia. In the two months I’ve been using it I haven’t found any major problems with the design or performance. Sure the 4 minute auto shut-off and tight airflow weren’t to my liking, but these are easy trade-offs when you consider the excellent price!
What really surprised my about the Gaia was the exceptional vapor production and the efficient extraction of cannabinoids (that is to say it does a great job of getting you high!). I fully expected the Gaia to perform like a budget friendly device, but it vapes just as well as some of the more premium vapes you can buy.
On top of this it’s stealthy and portable, produces clean, tasty vapor, has a great battery life and an impressively quick heat-up time. That’s not forgetting the user friendly design, low maintenance and pass-through charging!
Overall I loved using the Linx Gaia and it’s quickly become a firm favorite in my vape collection! I really can understand how it picked up the coveted High Times ‘Best Portable Vaporizer’ award and it strikes me as the perfect all-rounder!
And that’s it folks! We hope you enjoyed our review of the Linx Gaia and feel free to leave us a comment below with your thoughts… Happy Vaping!