Welcome to our review of the Linx Hermes 3 – the budget-friendly, refillable vape pen from the award winning Linx Vapor brand.
The Linx Hermes 3 was released several years ago now, but quickly became popular as an affordable, entry-level vape pen – and for good reason!
It’s the successor to the fantastic Hermes 2 vape pen, with several upgrades including variable temperature control and improved atomizer design.
If you’re new to the world of vaping, a vape pen essentially consists of a battery and a heating element (a coil or ceramic chamber) – designed to vaporize CBD or THC infused oil.
Without getting into too much detail, cannabidiol oil (CBD) is a highly refined liquid extract derived from certain parts of the cannabis plant. CBD is just one of many compounds found in cannabis, known as cannabinoids.
CBD is non-psychoactive, which means you won’t get the ‘high’ you would usually associate with cannabis.
THC oil is also a concentrated liquid extract from the cannabis plant. However, the significant difference is that THC oil contains the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol and it’s this specific compound that’s responsible for the high or ‘buzz’ you’d expect from cannabis use.
You can use either CBD or THC oil (sometimes referred to as distillate) with a vape pen, however the legality of THC will vary depending on where you’re reading this!
THC is classified as a controlled substance in the UK for example, so be sure to check the laws where you live before you order your oil!
Vape pens like the Hermes 3 are ideal as a beginner device because they’re often more affordable and easier to use than dry herb or wax concentrate devices.
The vape pens we’ve reviewed previously (like the reliable Tronian Nutron) were designed to be used with disposable cartridges, pre-filled with distillate. The idea being that you vape the cartridge until it’s empty and then just dispose of it.
The Hermes 3 can be used with any 510 threaded disposable cartridge, but it also comes with a refillable cartridge so you can fill it with your favorite oil!
If you’re looking for an affordable, entry-level vape pen from a company you can trust, the Linx Hermes 3 might be the perfect option for you…
But enough of me waffling on, let’s get stuck into the full Linx Hermes 3 review!
I’d like to quickly thank Raj at Linx Vapor for sending me the Linx Hermes 3 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!) which helps us to keep the site running.
Linx Hermes 3 Oil Pen Review
Contents
- Features and Specifications
- What’s in the Box?
- Linx Hermes 3 | Design & Build Quality
- Linx Hermes 3 | How to Use
- Linx Hermes 3 | Performance, Vapor and Flavor Quality
- Linx Hermes 3 | Battery Life & How to Charge
- Linx Hermes 3 | Stealth Factor & Smell
- Linx Hermes 3 | Cleaning & Maintenance
- Linx Hermes 3 | Price & Where to Buy
- Verdict | Should You Buy The Linx Hermes 3
Features and Specifications
Dimensions: 105mm (height) x 10.5mm (diameter)
Weight: 28g
Compatibility: Oil/Distillate (Any Viscosity)
Material: Stainless Steel (body) / Glass (mouthpiece) / Ceramic (heating element)
Battery Capacity: 290mAh Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery
Output Voltage: 3.0v – 4.2v (3 Settings)
Charging: USB
Charge Time: 2 – 3 Hours
Cartridge Capacity: 0.5ml
Ceramic Heating Element (No Cotton)
Temperature Range: 3 Modes (Range Unspecified)
Airflow: Non-adjustable
1 Year Warranty
What’s in the Box?
The Linx Hermes 3 comes in a sexy little black case that wouldn’t look out of place on the cover of GQ magazine!
The top and bottom sections of the case are held together with two small, plastic hinges and a catch that you press down firmly to release. Similar to a makeup case or compact mirror in design.
Branding is minimal, with the Linx logo and Hermes 3 printed on the front of the case and LINXVAPOR.COM printed on the reverse in white lettering.
Opening the case, you’ll see the Hermes 3 is separated into three parts (the battery section, the cartridge and the USB charger) – with all three parts packed tightly into a black foam insert.
Tucked into the top section of the case is a little instruction booklet, which explains the safety features, how to use the Hermes 3 and how to charge it.
Overall Linx have done a great job with the design of the case. It’s compact and lightweight, perfect for slipping in a back pocket or bag.
It’s also a really sleek looking design and something I didn’t expect to see with a vape pen in this price range!
Linx Hermes 3 | Design & Build Quality
The first thing you’ll notice about the Hermes 3 is how incredibly small it is! Measuring 105mm in height (with the cartridge attached) and 10.5mm in diameter, it’s far and away the most compact vape pen I’ve used personally.
Linx have opted for a 290mAh battery and a relatively small cartridge capacity (0.5ml) which means they’ve been able to keep the Hermes 3 as compact as possible.
For me this is a huge positive. Whether I’m vaping THC or CBD distillate, I prefer to use a device that allows me to be discreet and the Hermes 3 is absolutely perfect in that regard.
In addition to being compact and discreet, the Hermes 3 is also extremely lightweight, weighing in at just 28g. Ideal if you want a device you can carry with you in your pocket, ready for a few sneaky puffs.
Yet despite this compact size and lightweight design, the Hermes 3 actually feels surprisingly robust and durable. I’m not ashamed to admit I dropped mine several times with no noticeable damage or reduction in performance.
In terms of appearance, the Hermes 3 could best be described as simple yet sleek.
It’s made entirely of 100% Stainless Steel (with the exception of the ceramic heating element and a small section of glass in the cartridge) and it has a premium look to it that I wasn’t expecting for a budget-friendly device.
Branding is again minimal, with the Linx logo etched into the Stainless Steel body towards the bottom of the pen. I’m in danger of sounding like a broken record here, but the design is spot on if you’re looking to be as discreet as possible!
The single firing button is solid and well-built, with no rattle or movement. It’s also used to cycle through the temperate modes – more on this later!
The fire button has an LED ring around it, which flashes when you turn the Hermes 3 on/off and lights up when you take a hit. The LED will also display a different color depending on the temperature mode you’ve set, which is a handy little feature.
At the very top of the Hermes 3 you’ll find the 510-threaded connection which is where you attach a cartridge or the USB charger.
The Hermes 3 comes with a refillable cartridge, made of Stainless Steel and glass, capable of holding 0.5ml of distillate.
Linx Vapor state the Hermes 3 cartridge can be refilled up to 15 times before it needs to be replaced. Not bad at all if you’re environmentally conscious and don’t want to chuck away a disposable cartridge after every session.
However, any 510-threaded cartridge will work with the Hermes 3 so if you do prefer using disposable cartridges, have at it!
I do have one small complaint with the design however. The Hermes 3 comes with a somewhat outdated charging system – one end screws into the 510-threaded connection on the Hermes 3 and the other end plugs into a USB port.
It’s not awful but it does mean the Hermes 3 doesn’t support pass-through vaping unfortunately.
While this isn’t a deal-breaker, it would have been nice to see a Type-C USB charging port and cable supplied.
Overall though, I’m really impressed with the design and build-quality, especially in this price range! The Linx Hermes 3 is sleek and modern, with a compact and lightweight design that makes it perfect for discreet, portable vaping!
Linx Hermes 3 | How to Use
Using the Hermes 3 is pretty straightforward.
First of all, you’ll want to fill the cartridge with your distillate. I’d recommend using a pipette or syringe for this step rather than the dripper you get with your oil though. The cartridge only holds 0.5ml of oil and it can be a little fiddly trying to fill it up.
Unscrew the mouthpiece section of the cartridge (just above the glass) …
… and pop the end of your syringe or pipette into the space around the centre chimney. Just be careful not to get any distillate down that centre chimney!
Once you’ve filled the cartridge, reattach the mouthpiece, remove the silicone cover from the base of the cart and screw it into the 510-threaded connection at the top of the Hermes 3.
The threading is machine-finished and smooth, so you shouldn’t have any issues attaching the cartridge to the battery.
Now that everything is connected, just click the firing button 5 times in quick succession to turn the battery on. The LED ring surrounding the firing button will flash 5 times every time you turn it on/off.
If you just want a device you can fill up and vape, that’s all there is to it! Just press the firing button and inhale on the mouthpiece to take a hit.
However, the Hermes 3 also comes with 3 different temperature settings!
When you first turn it on, it will start in the low temperature mode. When you press the firing button to take a hit you’ll notice the LED ring will light up blue.
Clicking the firing button 3 times will cycle between the different temperature modes:
Blue: Low (3.0v)
Green: Medium (3.6v)
Red: High (4.2v)
I couldn’t find any specifics in terms of temperature ranges, but the different modes are a nice touch nonetheless.
Finally, the Linx Hermes 3 also features a ‘Sesh Mode’ – just press the firing button twice in quick succession for a 10 second burst of continuous heating!
Linx Hermes 3 | Performance, Vapor & Flavor Quality
I’d only used a small handful of oil vape pens prior to testing the Linx Hermes 3 so I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect in terms of performance.
However, after 3 weeks of use and multiple sessions with THC and CBD distillate at varying degrees of viscosity, I’m happy to report the Hermes 3 performed like a beast with everything I threw at it!
As I mentioned before, it has three different temperature modes; Low, Medium and High. While the flavor and vapor produced across all three modes was better than I expected, you really notice a big difference in both when you’re vaping in the high (red) setting.
The sweet spot for me personally was the medium (blue) temperature mode, which seemed to strike the perfect balance in terms of vapor, flavor and hit satisfaction. This will of course vary slightly depending on the distillate you’re using but as a general rule, the medium setting was spot on for me.
Using the refillable cartridge with both THC and CBD distillate, the flavor was crisp and clean, regardless of how much oil I had left in the tank. The ceramic heating element and oil intake hole placement meant every last drop was put to good use!
Linx Vapor state the cartridge is refillable up to 15 times, but I actually found I was able to continue using it quite a bit after this point with only a slight reduction in flavor and vapor production. It’s still going strong and I think I’ve refilled it around 22 times!
It should be said, you’ll also notice a slight reduction in performance as the battery level depletes. For example, the final few hits just before you need to recharge were a little lackluster but this is pretty common across the vape pens I’ve used previously.
Overall, I’m really impressed with the performance on offer with the Linx Hermes 3! Flavor and vapor production are better than I expected and the refillable cartridge worked perfectly across multiple refills and several different oil viscosities!
Linx Hermes 3 | Battery Life & How to Charge
The Linx Hermes 3 comes with a 290mAh internal rechargeable battery which takes between 2 – 3 hours to fully charge. At 290mAh, we’re definitely at the lower end of the scale in terms of battery capacity and I’d say this (and the charging method) is my only issue with the Hermes 3.
Don’t get me wrong, it still gets the job done. Even on the high (red) temperature mode, I’ve been getting almost a full day of reasonably frequent use. But it would have been amazing to see a slightly larger battery capacity and a more efficient charging system.
To charge the Hermes 3 you have to screw the USB charger into the 510-threaded connection and plug the whole thing into a suitable USB outlet.
The LED ring around the firing button will turn red when charging and green when fully charged.
As I mentioned earlier, the issue for me battery wise is the outdated 510 threaded USB charger. It takes at least 2 hours to fully charge the Hermes 3 and the fact it doesn’t support pass-through vaping is a bit of a drag…
However, for a vape pen in this price range with so much to offer in terms of performance I can’t grumble too much!
Linx Hermes 3 | Stealth Factor & Smell
We’ve already talked a bit about the stealth factor; the Hermes 3 is incredibly compact, with absolutely minimal branding and I think it’s highly unlikely the average person will know you’re vaping an oil pen.
We review hundreds of larger, brightly colored e-juice disposables and you’re far more likely to be noticed using one of those than you are vaping the Hermes 3!
In terms of smell, if you’re vaping CBD oil there’s virtually no odor at all. If the vapor you exhale does smell of anything, it’s more likely you’ll be able to detect a slight whiff of whatever flavor note is added to your oil.
Vaping THC distillate on the other hand, does produce a slight odor but nothing compared to smoking or using a dry-herb vaporizer. The odor produced by vaping THC through a vape pen also dissipates far more quickly and the Hermes 3 is no different.
Overall, the smell is minimal and barely noticeable if at all.
Linx Hermes 3 | Cleaning & Maintenance
Regularly cleaning your vape pen will make it last longer, taste better and perform more efficiently.
I’ll cover the basic steps below (these will work with the Hermes 3 or any similar vape pen) – all you’ll need is a Q-tip, a micro-fiber cloth and some isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol in the UK):
- Make sure your vape pen is switched off and disassembled. You want to separate the device into as many parts as possible so you can get to any hard-to-reach areas and give them a thorough clean.
- Dip your Q-tip in the isopropyl alcohol (but don’t oversoak it!) and begin by gently cleaning the refillable cartridge.
- Obviously you’ll want to pay particular attention to the glass chamber and the mouthpiece, both of which are likely to accumulate a build up of residue after a few sessions.
- I also use the Q-tip to clean the 510-threaded connection at the base of the cartridge.
- Once you’re satisfied that you’ve cleaned the cartridge and removed any residue, I like to give it a quick rinse in water and dry it thoroughly with a micro-fiber cloth.
- Set the cartridge aside for an hour or so to dry any remaining moisture and dip a fresh Q-tip in your isopropyl alcohol.
- Using the freshly dipped Q-tip, I then go to work gently cleaning the 510-threaded connection at the top of the vape pen and any other areas I feel need a clean. For obvious reasons, I don’t rinse the body/battery section of the vape pen!
- Finally I wipe the vape pen with the micro-fiber cloth to get rid of any marks or fingerprints (OCD anyone?!)
That’s all there is to it!
On average I’ve been cleaning the Hermes 3 after every 2nd refill and this seemed to keep it running smoothly at optimum efficiency.
Linx Hermes 3 | Price & Where to Buy
At the time of writing, you can pick the Linx Hermes 3 up for around $35.99 direct from Linx Vapor. It’s not the cheapest vape pen you can buy, but considering the fantastic performance and discreet, modern design, I’m actually surprised the Hermes 3 isn’t double that price!
The replacement cartridges are also available for just $13 but keep in mind you’ll have to source your own distillate.
The link below will take you directly to the Linx Vapor website – they ship Worldwide (free US shipping over $60) and their customer service is excellent!
Verdict | Should You Buy The Hermes 3?
Pros
- Great flavor
- Above average vapor production
- Affordable
- Refillable cartridge
- Comes with a carry-case
- Extremely portable
- Sleek design
- Compact and lightweight
- Stealthy and discreet
- Easy to use
- Multiple temperature modes
- Session mode
- Compatible with any viscosity oil
- Compatible with 510-threaded disposables
Cons
- Only 290mAh
- 2-3 hour charge time
- Old style charger
Overall I’m really impressed with the Linx Hermes 3 vape pen!
The design, ease of use and performance are all far better than I’d been expecting and it’s a vape pen I’ll definitely be using long-term.
It would have been damn near perfect if Linx Vapor had included a larger battery capacity and a USB port for charging. However, I can get past these minor flaws considering how much the Hermes 3 gets right.
If you’re looking for a discreet, affordable (and refillable!) vape pen with great flavor and vapor production to boot, you really can’t go wrong with the Linx Hermes 3!
Thanks for reading our Linx Hermes 3 review! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Happy Vaping!