Joystik by Vices

[stickstones]

Joystik by Vices

Quick summary: A stick vape with balls from Australian maker VICES OZ, designed to hold and look like a blunt. The ruby corundum balls and internal glass cooling orbs are the technical hooks; the form factor and price (~$100) are the accessibility hook. Reviewed as a capable budget entry into the ball vape category.

VICES OZ is an Australian vaporizer manufacturer.

**Manufacturer’s claims:**

- Heating: Convection via 3mm ruby corundum balls in stainless steel cap

- Cooling: 5 glass cooling orbs internal to stem

- Bowl capacity: ~0.25g

**Confirmed specs:**

- Form factor: Portable, battery-free (torch or induction); stick / blunt-style

- Water pipe fit: Silicone band sleeve enables fit on 10mm and 14mm joints

- Safe-to-touch zone: Black silicone band / sleeve

- Accessories: Leather strap keyring for safe cap removal after use; plastic stand

- Price: ~$97–108 USD (use code TROYANDJERRY at checkout for discount)

- Warranty: 1 year

- Manufacturer: VICES OZ, Australia

**What’s in the box:**

- 1x Vices JoyStik Vaporizer

- 1x Leather Cap Remover keychain

- 1x Vices Vape Stand

- 2x Replacement Screens

- Butane torch lighter not included

**Compatibility:**

- Fits 10mm and 14mm joints via silicone sleeve

- Compatible with DynaVap-style induction heaters (confirm coil fit before ordering)

- No app; battery-free

**Early coverage:**

- Troy & Jerry — Best Portables list (ranked #8); “Baller Stick Vape from Down Under”

- 420VapeZone — Full review; “Budget Stick Vape w/BALLS”

**Where to buy:**

- VICES direct (use code TROYANDJERRY for 10% off)

- Planet of the Vapes

**Questions and things to find out over time:**

- 0.25g bowl — efficient for a single heat cycle, or does it typically need multiple heats?

- This vape has no case. Will that significantly hold it back?

- This vape was made primarily for torches. How well does it work with an induction heater?

- Which induction heaters fit the cap geometry?

- How does it compare to the Tempest 2 at this price point?

[FortyFistHits]

Don’t sleep on this stick at just around $100. It’s not as premium as the Tempest 2, but performance is there.

Joystick rip

[terponator]

Looks like a copy of the Tempest, except for the visual temperature indicator, which seems to be the one part that wasn’t replicated. I’m not really a fan of this kind of approach. Adding a pentagram and a nut doesn’t make it a new original product.

[stickstones]

You should look into it more. He’s pretty straight up about the inspirations and the goals of the product.

[terponator]

What exactly were the intentions and goals behind it? @stickstones

I get the idea of making a more affordable Tempest-like device, but to me, using cheaper materials and changing a few details doesn’t automatically make it an original product.

Mad Heaters clearly put a lot of thought and development into the Tempest, and this feels very close to that work, especially with the visual temperature indicator being the main obvious difference and the stem design, which also isn’t exactly a new concept.

Mad Heaters were also inspired by earlier makers like Phattpiggie/TA, but the Tempest doesn’t feel like a straight copy to me, it feels like a real evolution of the idea.

Inspiration is normal in any industry, but if the community supports products that are this derivative mainly because they are cheaper, I worry it discourages real innovation from smaller makers.

[FortyFistHits]

Keep in mind, they’re in Australia and from my understanding that makes importing or obtaining other vapes a bit of a pain in the ass for them from what I gather.

The glass stem is different from the intercooler the tempest uses and actually gives it a flavor edge.

[FortyFistHits]

Not saying the point isn’t a valid one, but the other side of the coin, this isn’t hurting what someone like say Simrell is putting out, expanding his ecosystem and making a kick ass vape nearly $200 more than this one.

People will buy the $100 JoyStik and be totally satisfied.

Others will buy it, wonder about the tempest and buy that too…or the Simrell..or the Dani’s.

There is plenty of potential users to go around.

Having a device that can perform like the JoyStik at its price point helps the entire DHV community as it’s relatively tiny compared to those who

[terponator]

If they were only selling in Australia where the Tempest is difficult to get, then fair enough, I could understand the argument for making a more accessible alternative. But they’re selling worldwide and directly competing with the original product.

What I don’t think is fair is that Mad Heaters invested years of development, testing, and money into creating the Tempest and especially its thermal engine concept, only for another company to release something that feels extremely close and sell it for less.

To me, the stem isn’t what makes the Tempest unique. There are countless stem designs out there. The defining part is the thermal engine itself, and that’s where the similarities become hard to ignore.

And honestly, I think most innovators would feel the same way if someone reproduced the core concept of their product and undercut them on price globally.

I have no issue with inspiration or competition. But personally, this feels less like evolution and more like a very direct reproduction of someone else’s work.

[420vapezone]

On one hand, the Joystik is a lot like the tempest

On the other hand, the tempest is a lot like all the other ball vapes and stick vapes

On the third hand, all of these ball vapes are copying the same functionality

On the fourth hand, the joystik comes stock with functions and features (and a price) that no other stick ball vape has.

[stickstones]

Whatever you do, don’t get into desktop ball vapes, or you’ll be swimming in it. I’ve counseled multiple manufacturers, after their product went to market, that their job now was to make it better and cheaper, or someone else will…

[FortyFistHits]

There’s only so many ways you can put hot balls in a cap. DynaVap tried a slightly different approach with the THC cap and Ballr, as they wanted to keep compatibility with their Eco System. Those caps don’t work as well as the vapes that use a screw on method to lock the bowl to the cap.

Throw in the fact that a lot of these are outsourced manufactured by Crossing and the like..yeah.

Expecting them to restrict sales to Australia would be … not smart by a business sense so I can’t fault them there. I see the argument, but VICES does put out some other cool stuff that no one else is, like the Coma, and the yet to be seen Wireless Ball Vape CannonBall thing and the BoomStick.

Anyway, now that I figured out how videos work, here’s the JoyStik torch heated.

[TheDabHut]

@terponator

If they were only selling in Australia where the Tempest is difficult to get, then fair enough, I could understand the argument for making a more accessible alternative. But they’re selling worldwide and directly competing with the original product.

I was kind of told to watch my words on this forum by someone in this thread, so I shouldn’t be saying this but I 100% agree.

This isn’t an Australia-only company and the reason why they are getting upvoted, while you’re not is simple, they have financial incentive to say it’s innovation and people seem to be cool with it. No hate just keeping it real. This place has a long way before it can capture the tone of FC and achieve lasting result. Telling vendors not to have opinions in other threads was one of the things that made FC intolerant and push people away.

[stickstones]

Why do you think that rule exists?

[TheDabHut]

I think thoughtful conversation is a good thing as long as it’s not turning toxic. Vendors have opinions too.

that user made a very valid point and it seems that no one is willing to be honest. It’s a clone product but since it’s cheap and available it’s pushed. No hate like I said it’s just obvious and there should be counter points in any forum. It doesn’t have to turn into something more.

@stickstones

Why do you think that rule exists?

[420vapezone]

I don’t think its fair to call it a clone. It does some things better, has some improvements, and it does some things worse.

The same thing happened a few years ago when everyone labeled every new ball vape as a “b-zero clone”

[stickstones]

you didn’t answer my question. try again.

[stickstones]

Carry on with the Joystick conversation. Those that want to talk about forum rules can do so here.

[Northernhigh420]

Realistically same could be said about every stick that has balls in it are more or less the same, Same could be said about the Majority of ball vapes in general. Really see no issue with it stems vastly different, it’s SS head not a TI, Doesn’t work well in the Yll. I really don’t consider this even remotely competition to the Tempest 2 which is a better device by quite a bit in my opinion. IT has more similarities to a Stunner then a Tempest in use basically an SS Stunner with a Click

[Flow]

Anyone knows how to get one in EU ?

[FortyFistHits]

Does Vices ship there? I ordered direct and had no issues in the US.