In Review: Halara’s Durban Poison Live Diamond Sauce Vape offers a pure expression of this classic strain to help you find focus and forget about your worries this holiday season. Offering an experience that’s more akin to a flower high than that of a fleeting vape, you can expect effects that last, and flavor-forward pulls that persist from your first puff to the last. So pick up this smooth sipper and let it settle you into a state that is just as solid for wrapping presents as it is being present among family and friends, and get ready to be smiling from ear to ear with a bit of interminable holiday cheer.

Unwrapping the classy looking ceramic pen, it immediately felt good in my hand. Substantial, but not heavy, and cool to the touch. I'd describe the color as a rich shade of purple. The kind of purple that Prince used to wear. I screwed the cartridge on and read the directions on the box. Following them, it only took a few seconds before I heard the familiar hiss of the resin heating up.

Perhaps more common than I realize as I tend to use disposables, I’d never seen a pen with the option to adjust the voltage and provide three different vaping experiences based on product type. Halara’s pen offers a 3.2V setting for their High-THC Carts, 2.6V for High CBD, and 2.0V for Live Resin. I was worried I'd get them mixed up, but they were conveniently color-coded yellow, green and blue respectively.

Seeing that I had a Live Diamond Sauce product, I went with the corresponding blue setting. Even at the lowest temperature, the first hit was a major blast, and soon the high was on me. As I said, I'm used to nursing a disposable vape sporting a battery that usually performs poorly. Meaning I often have to inhale a bit aggressively to get a real hit. And after I realized this pen was working perfectly, I quickly found myself taking things a bit slower. 

“I felt content and free of stress for almost three hours. ”

To make sure I didn’t overdo it on the next pull, I held the smoke in my mouth for a second before inhaling. I took about three more hits and then settled into my comfy chair. The effects continued to come on steadily until I felt totally relaxed. Relaxed, but not tired in any way. In fact, I felt so energized and creative that I started leafing through some of my old Pinterest boards. Painting or sculpture? I hadn’t gotten that far yet. I felt content and free of stress for almost three hours. The taste was strong and lasting. Heavy with fresh, terpene laden cannabis and a hint of citrus.

The next night I tried this vape it seemed smoother, which is a testament to its high quality as the repeat hits didn’t turn harsh. The high was the same as the night before, and it lasted about the same amount of time. Meaning this is a good and reliable go-to for relaxing and delving into less demanding creative endeavors—or maybe tackling that to-do list you’ve been putting off.

I can’t say enough how smooth the hits were, which probably led me to hit it more than I usually would. No bother, I felt relaxed again, but this time I felt a little pleasant tingling in my head, and I was hyper aware of my limbs. My arms felt stoned. I don’t know how else to describe it. The taste this time was significantly lighter. Bright citrus flavor with a robust herbal finish punctuated my pulls. Which was a welcomed surprise that it didn’t become acrid as some vapes do once you get a few sessions in.

“I can’t say enough how smooth the hits were.”

I reached for this again for the third night in a row after a stressful day. Again, I felt a sense of much needed calm, but this time I didn't feel the giddy high of the first two days. I was grateful for this, and realized this strain could easily become a friend for everything from projects to getting into nature to just making it through a tough day. The flavors maintained their herbal and citrus profile, and it marched across my palette in the most pleasant way.

While 90% of the time I smoke indica strains to help quell my anxiety, this sativa has me rethinking my previous selections. I mistakenly thought that a sativa would always rev me up, serving more anxiety with a side of paranoia. That never came. My anxiety slipped away and left me smiling about nothing in particular.

I also like this pen because it closely mimics the experience of smoking luscious green flower. Something I find vapes rarely do. I love the ritual and social aspects of grinding fresh buds, packing a cone, twisting the top, and passing it to my friends. 

I'm not sure I feel comfortable enough yet to share a joint with anyone except my closest friends, as the fears of the past few years persist. Which is why I relish vape pens for feeling safer and more like something you can keep to yourself. A private indulgence at the end of a busy day, like a glass of crisp white wine.

I know very little about the delicate science of growing cannabis, so instead of pretending to understand the details on the side of the box, I did a little research. Packing in 86% THC, 2.8% CBG, and 6.1% Terps, turns out this vape had everything I wanted, and nothing I didn’t.

“This vape offered a feeling I will reach for again and again.”

I always thought that the higher the THC %, the more powerful the high. Which isn’t exactly wrong, but I have learned that this isn't the whole story, as hundreds of compounds in every strain interact with each other in different ways. All I can say for sure is that this Durban Poison Live Diamond Sauce from Halara gives me a powerful (but not overpowering) head high accompanied by a relaxed feeling that doesn't keep me deeply rooted to the couch. A feeling I relish and will reach for again and again.

Though most impressive is the length of time that I felt the effects of the Halara Vape Pen every time I hit it. Vapes often hit hard and fast, but provide a fleeting high. This lasts, looks classy, has a great aroma, and eases stress without doing a number on my motivation. I'd feel comfortable taking a few hits before a concert or dinner. (No driving, of course. I'm always adamant about that.) And I’d highly recommend this product to any of my friends who want a happy, light-headed, mini vacation that’s always just a vape away.