G Pen has made a lot of vaporizers over the years, and not all of them have been hits. But the G Pen Dash caught our attention for one big reason: it's tiny. It's one of the smallest dry herb vaporizers you can buy, and it's clearly built for people who want something they can slip in a pocket and forget about.
Small and cheap is great, but only if it actually works. So does the Dash deliver? We spent time with it to find out. If you just want to grab one, you can shop the G Pen Dash here.
Temperature
The Dash keeps it simple with three preset temperatures, each shown by a different colour LED:
- Blue: 375°F (190°C)
- Green: 401°F (205°C)
- Red: 428°F (220°C)
Three settings cover a decent range, from a lower flavour-focused option up to a hotter setting for thicker vapor. If you like dialing in an exact temperature, you'll want something with precise control instead, like the G Pen Dash Plus or G Pen Dash 2.
One thing we noticed is that the Dash runs a little cool. The actual temperature seems to sit slightly below the setting it shows, so the first few hits can feel light. That's easy to work around (more on that below).
Vapor Performance
For a budget vape, the Dash's vapor is decent. It's not going to compete with a high-end convection vaporizer, but it gets the job done.
The glass-glazed stainless steel chamber does a good job, and vapor tastes best on the lower settings. The vapor path is short, though, so hits can come out warm, especially on the highest setting. It's not harsh, but it's noticeable.
Our biggest wish is a better mouthpiece and air path. They're plastic, which holds the flavour back a bit. At this price, it's an understandable trade-off, but it's where the Dash loses the most points.
Small air holes on the side keep the draw nice and easy, so you don't have to pull hard.
How to Use
As with any vaporizer, charge it fully before your first session.
- Pull off the magnetic mouthpiece and pack your herb into the chamber.
- Put the mouthpiece back on.
- Press the main button 5 times to turn it on.
- Triple-click the button to cycle through the three temperatures.
- The Dash heats up on its own. When it vibrates, it's ready.
Tip: Because the Dash runs a little cool, wait a few extra seconds after it vibrates before taking your first hit. You'll get more vapor and a better extraction.
Build Quality and What's in the Box
The Dash looks and feels better than its price suggests. It doesn't come across as cheap, and the magnetic mouthpiece snaps on and off easily while staying put when it's on.
G Pen clearly chose where to spend money. The air path isn't the most premium, but you get features you don't always see at this price, like haptic feedback, a glass-glazed chamber, a fast heat up and pass-through charging.
In the box: G Pen Dash, USB cable and a keychain tool.
Size and Everyday Use
This is where the Dash really shines. It's small enough to hide in your hand and disappears in any pocket. For quick, low-key hits when you're out, it's one of the best budget picks around.
It doesn't produce huge clouds, which actually helps with discretion. If you plan to use it a lot on the go, a small portable charger is worth carrying.
Battery and Charging Performance
The Dash has a 950mAh battery that's good for about 8 to 10 sessions per charge, which is pretty respectable for its size. When you turn it on, the LEDs on the front show roughly how much battery is left.
It also supports pass-through charging, so you can keep using it while it's plugged in. We wish every vaporizer had this.
The one downside is that it charges with micro-USB. The G Pen Dash Plus moved to USB-C, which is a small change that makes a real difference day to day.
Daily Use and Cleaning
Using the Dash is simple once you remember the clicks: 5 to turn it on and 3 to change temperature. The LED colours are easy to read, even if you're new to vaporizers.
The included keychain tool is handy for packing and emptying the chamber. Brush out leftover herb after each session, and wipe the chamber and mouthpiece with a cotton swab lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol every so often. The glass glaze makes the chamber easy to keep clean.
Smell and Stealth
The Dash is very discreet. It's small, quiet and doesn't put out big clouds, so it's great for a quick hit without drawing attention. Like any dry herb vaporizer, there's some smell, but it's far less than smoke and clears quickly.
The One Design Flaw We Noticed
The plastic mouthpiece and air path are the Dash's weak spot. They make the vapor a bit warmer and hold back the flavour compared to vapes that use glass or ceramic in the air path. On such a small device with a short vapor path, it's where you notice the budget most.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the G Pen Dash?
The G Pen Dash is a solid little vape for the price. We like the glass-glazed chamber, the magnetic mouthpiece, pass-through charging and, most of all, how tiny it is. The vapor can be a bit warm and the flavour isn't the best we've had, but for a device this small and affordable, those trade-offs make sense.
The Dash is a great fit if you:
- Want a tiny, pocket-sized dry herb vape
- Are new to vaporizers
- Want something simple and affordable for quick sessions
Look at something else if you:
- Want precise temperature control. Try the Dash Plus or Dash 2.
- Want G Pen's best flavour and features. Step up to the G Pen Elite 2.
Browse the full G Pen lineup, or compare more options in our dry herb vaporizers collection.
Pros
- Extremely small and pocket-friendly
- Simple to use
- Glass-glazed chamber is easy to clean
- Fast heat up with haptic feedback
- Pass-through charging
- Affordable
Cons
- Plastic mouthpiece and air path hold back flavour
- Vapor can come out warm
- Runs slightly cool, so the first hits can be light
- Only three temperature settings
- Charges with micro-USB
Review Written By: Riley H
Riley H is the owner and founder of Canadian Vaporizers. He started working in the vaporizer industry at 19 and has spent more than 10 years running online vaporizer and cannabis accessory stores. In that time, he has personally tested almost every vaporizer on the market, from pocket-sized pens to full desktop units.
Riley is a daily cannabis user who uses it to stay focused and motivated, not to slow down. That hands-on, everyday experience shapes every review he writes. He knows what matters when you're actually using a device day after day: how it hits, how long the battery lasts, how easy it is to clean and whether it's worth the money. His goal is to give Canadians honest, straightforward advice so they can choose the right vaporizer the first time.
Our reviews and ratings are based on personal testing and over a decade of industry experience. They reflect the opinion of the author and are meant as a helpful starting point for your research. We encourage every reader to compare options before making a purchase.
