The heat management device everyone copied. Six months of daily use later, here is what the Lotus I+ actually gets right and where it still annoys me.
Specs
- Material: anodized aluminium
- Fits: most Egyptian and phunnel bowls
- Coals: 2–3 cubes (26 mm)
- Weight: 168 g
- Price: ~$70
Pros and cons
Pros
- Even, controllable heat
- Massively cuts coal waste
- Built like a tank
Cons
- Gets brutally hot to move
- Learning curve on airflow
- Too big for tiny bowls
How it heats
The vents and lid give you real control once you learn them. Start airflow closed, crack it a third open when the bowl warms up, and you get a 45-minute session on two cubes without a single scorch.
The catch
Everything about the Lotus is hot. The whole body. You will need the tongs, every time, and you will forget once and regret it. That is the tax for not babysitting foil.
Verdict
If you smoke more than twice a week, the Lotus I+ pays for itself in coals and saved bowls fast. Fiddly to dial in, hard to kill once you do.
