Puffco Proxy Review

News & updates

Since the release of the Puffco Proxy in June 2022, Puffco has released a new vaporizer:

• The New Puffco Plus was introduced in Nov 2023.

Related:

• Puffco Vaporizers
• Best Dab Vape Pen of 2024
• Best Concentrate Vaporizers of 2024

Background

The Proxy is a first-of-a-kind modular vaping system that is compatible with any type of extract such as wax, dabs, shatter, or crumble.

I ordered my Proxy and accessories (bubbler, flower bowl, travel pack) from the Puffco website and it took almost a month to get here (Florida.) So I definitely recommend buying from Vape-Smart.com, which has all of them in stock and ships a lot faster.

Design

Right off the bat, it's obvious that the Proxy has a different design than most concentrate vapes. It is not a vape pen and not an electric Rig. It looks like an old-school Sherlock pipe that you may have seen in your grandparent's house or at an old movie. It feels balanced and ergonomic while holding and has a flat base, so it is stable while standing on the table.

I can talk a lot about how aesthetically pleasing this vape is, but its true innovation is in the design. As I mentioned that the Proxy is a first-of-a-kind modular vaporizer, and here is how it works-

The vape has two main components– the glass and the base. The glass is just the body, which is essentially a huge mouthpiece. The glass is black near the base and becomes clear towards the tip.

The base has all the electric components, as well as the battery, power button, charging port, and the coil, which I'll go over shortly.

This clever modular design means that you can use the base with various compatible glass bodies made by Puffco or by third parties. Puffco is already offering glass with water filtration, which they call the Bub.

Independent glass artists made crazy glass for the Peak Pro, but it was a complicated unit to build for. Puffco encourages the community to develop unique base designs by making the Proxy easy to build around.

This modular design unlocks endless personalization opportunities, but more importantly, it makes the Proxy the first vape with an independent “transferable” heating element.

It can be used as a heat source for basically any piece that is made in the right dimensions to house it and creates an airtight seal with the base.

Heating Element & 3D Chamber

The Proxy features Puffcos advanced 3D ceramic coil, which, if you look closely, you will be able to see the heating wire embedded into the walls of the coils.

Unlike traditional coils, which get their heat only from the bottom, the heat here comes from all directions.

This heating system, coupled with precise temp control, prevents the extract from boiling off before you actually draw. This system creates consistent, predictable results.

How to use

The Proxy is a cold-load vape meaning it has to be loaded before it starts heating up.

But before I load it up, let's take a second and talk about loading tools.

You can use the included dab tool, which is fine if you use extracts that crumble and are not sticky.

But if you use any type of sticky extract, you should use a “hot” loading tool such as the Puffco Hot Knife (visit store).

The tip gets hot and melts the dabs into the center of the coil instead of scraping them on the side walls of the chamber with the included tool.

Using the hot knife will extend the longevity of the coils, prevent loss of extracts, and increases efficiency.

After dabbing the material into the chamber, close the carb cap and hold the button for three seconds to unlock it.

Then single press to toggle through four temp settings with the lowest being blue and the highest being white.

I'll set mine up on Green which is the second setting, and then double click to start heating up.

A slow pulse indicates it is warming up, and the vape will vibrate and become solid once it's ready to inhale.

Vapor Quality

The vapor quality of this thing is incredible. It is creamy and full of flavor and terpenes.

Unlike a vape pen, the Proxy has a large mouthpiece that allows the vapor to cool down before inhaling it.

Heat rises, and the design of the Proxy allows the excess heat to dissipate into the air instead of into the mouthpiece or into your face.

Traditional pipes have been taking advantage of this design for a long time. It's been time-tested and proven to work. Puffco didn't invent the wheel here. They just modernized it.

The Proxy stays hot for around four draws before automatically turning off the heat, and you can extend the session by double-tapping the button.

Extracts are the fastest-growing segment of vaping and are becoming many users' favorite way to consume.

The Proxy lowers the barrier of entry with zero learning curve. It is much easier to use than a Rig, yet it is more versatile.

The familiar design is approachable and creates an instant nostalgic feeling when holding it. Everyone I showed it to loved the elegant retro look.

What could have been better?

The Proxy's small all-in-one form also means a smaller battery. I got an average of 5-6 sessions before running out of battery.

A recharge takes around 60 minutes on average. So not the largest battery, but it uses a USB-C, so it's easy to get a boost just about anywhere.

Tripple clicking the button will display the current battery level with green, orange, or red light.

Another thing that could have been better, and I know I'm nit-picking here, is that the case could have been smaller.

It is high-end and functional, but when it comes to everyday carry, all you need is the Proxy and a one wax container.

So a slimmer case would have made this vape a little easier to carry and use outside of the house.

Optional accessories

The Bub water bubbler

First off, visually, this thing is beautiful. It’s a large piece of curved glass that can house the Proxy and enable water filtration.

To use, you just fill it up with water until this line and place the Proxy in its spot.

Water filtration cools down the vapor and is especially useful for high-temp dabbing. Now you can go from dry-dabbing to water bubbler in three seconds second.

The flower bowl 

This glass piece is made in the same exact dimensions as the top of the Proxy, so it fits on the dry pipe that comes with the Proxy kit or on the bubbler.

So the flower bowl is an attachment that doesn’t have a battery or a heat source. It is used in the traditional way- load it up with some ground dry herb, and then light it up with a lighter.

The flower bowl is independent of the Proxy and is a nice little addition to the platform, which I’m sure many users will enjoy.

Travel pack 

The Travel Pack contains a few products: A silicone “backpack” with a compartment for swabs or a loading tool, a silicone mouthpiece tip, a replacement unit of the original carb cap that is included in the proxy kit, plus an upgraded ball cap that can be pushed in or out to allow air into the coil without opening the cap.

The silicone backpack makes the curved bottom of the Proxy flat, so it can stand by itself without leaning on the mouthpiece. It keeps the mouthpiece elevated from the surface, which I personally prefer. It also protects it, and the storage space comes in handy.

After every session, you should use a cotton swab to soak up the leftover residue. Leaving it there to dry will make it hard to remove in the future and will shorten the life of your 3D coil.

Which brings me to the last accessory- 

The dual tool

This handy little tool has a loading tool to scoop up wax on one side and a large cotton head on the other side that will mop the oven after each session.

These come 50 in a pack that costs less than $6, so it is a no-brainer to have.

If you are using extracts that are super sticky, you may also want to consider a hot loading tool such as the Puffco Hot knife. The Ceramic tip gets hot and melts the extracts into the center of the coil. If you use mostly crumble/non-sticky concentrate, then the dual tool works perfectly.

Where to buy Proxy accessories

Vape-Smart.com sells a bundle that includes all these accessories and will probably take a third of the time to get to you than ordering through the Puffco website.

Bottom Line

The Proxy is another groundbreaking device from Puffco. A company that has been redefining cannabis consumption since its inception in 2013.

First with the Puffco Plus, then with the Peak, and now with the Proxy, which is their new flagship product, and is surely one of the best wax vapes of this 2024.

I mean, even the name they choose is clever. Proxy means “authority or power to act for another,” in this case, the Proxy will power any body that can house it.

I have been vaping for years and tested hundreds of vapes, so I'm pretty hard to impress, but the Proxy has elevated the way I consume my extracts. I think it would unleash new gen of vaporizers.

I'm sure that Puffco's next-gen enails will be compatible with the base, and I can see people creating a variety of new bodies to house the Proxy.

I also expect to see other manufacturers adopt similar modular designs that use an independent base with swappable bodies.