Boundless CFX+ Vaporizer Review: the Vapor Won Me Over
The Boundless CFX+ dry herb vaporizer took me for a ride. At first I was a little disappointed in some of the new features, but by the end of my tests it won me over with its cool, tasty, consistent vapor. C$179.96
Regular price:
C$224.95
The CFX+ takes a more compact form but keeps all the bells and whistles.
Boundless CFX+ Vaporizer
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Super-cool vapor
The vapor quality is tasty and satisfying, with thick clouds due to a huge oven. I think the most outstanding thing about the CFX+ is how cool the vapor is. The cooling mouthpiece and vapor path really does its job. The vapor travels through a long ceramic zirconia tube, and exits the mouthpiece cool and tasty. The mouthpiece is a departure from the Boundless CF / Boundless CFX vaporizer inspiration. Instead of the swivel stick mouthpiece, the CFX+ has a slit on the corner like a PAX 3. I like the change - it’s simpler.
On its own, the CFX+ is a joy to hit, but I want to caution owners of a CF or CFX. The CFX+ isn’t as aggressive as older versions. I can fully extract everything from a bowl, but it takes longer than it did with the CF or CFX. While the older models excelled at a full, quick extraction, the CFX+ takes a gentler route, and needs a couple more minutes to get to the same point.
Over an hour of runtime
Based on our tests, CFX+ battery performance was average for something its size. Expect to get between 60 and 80 minutes of runtime per full charge. That places it better than smaller vapes you’d expect to have shorter battery life, but nowhere near the performance of something like a Solo 2. The number of sessions you get per charge will vary with the session length and temperatures used.
Watch out for Standby mode. When the CFX+ times out for a session, it enters Standby mode, but never fully turns off. The battery will slowly drain if you don't come back and turn it off manually.
The battery meter has six bars to measure charge level. I found that when it reached two bars I still had half a battery charge to go.
Charge anywhere with USB-C
The USB-C charge port is a nice touch. Charge it up anywhere! Charge times may vary depending on your charging cable and charger. Boundless reports a one hour charge time, and mine took a little over two hours on my multi-charger that I use with everything. Check the specs on your charge equipment if yours charges a little slowly.
Big oven for large doses
One thing I love is the monster size of the CFX+ oven. It’s one of the main reasons I’ll recommend the CFX+ to smokers who want to switch to a vaporizer. The big oven helps satisfy larger appetites. Easily pack a third of a gram, and up to half a gram if you’re aggressive.
It’s also a plus if you like to share. The oven is big enough for everyone, although the first several hits off a fresh bowl will taste the best!
Ready in under 30 seconds
The CFX+ portable vaporizer will get you in and out of a session in no time. It heats up really fast - usually in less than 25 seconds. The first hit or two are likely to be wispy and flavorful before the clouds blow. The heat up time will vary slightly depending on the set temperature and how much juice is in the battery.
On the test bench the CFX+ hit 390°F in 17 to 23 seconds depending on battery level, and 430°F in 19 to 31 seconds.
Cool features, clunky menu
The CFX+ session settings are a nice addition, but the menus can be frustrating. The problem is simple - it only has two buttons, and really needs a third power button. To access and exit the custom settings, you must click both buttons at the same time, and it’s picky about the “same time” part. It was frustrating at first, but once I found the sweet spot I could do it any time. Just be ready for that hurdle in the beginning.
Once you access the menus, you can adjust the session length (two, four, six or eight minutes) and OLED screen brightness, toggle between F/C temperature scales, and pick a precision or preset temperature. But you have to use that “double-button” press that you just mastered to change any setting. A final gripe about the menu - there are five settings but only four lines at a time, so there’s always one off screen somewhere. It’s not a big deal, just clunky.
Obvious connection to CFX
The CFX+’s look can be directly traced to the CFX. The outer shells have a similar taper and finish, with glossy highlights on the top and bottom. The OLED display is the same size, but with a vertical orientation and more colors. The body has a grippy texture and distinct lines. It’s smaller than the CFX, and only slightly larger than the CF.
I love the mouthpiece. I’m a fan of the simplistic design with just a slit on the edge for the vapor to escape. It cools the vapor incredibly well, and even has a stainless steel stir tool hidden underneath, although I never need to use it.
Dry herbs only
The CFX+ is made for dry herbs only. You could spike sessions with a little concentrate buried in the middle of a load of dry herbs, but keep it small or you’ll make a big mess.
Full digital temperature control
The CFX+ arrives in Precision temperature mode, which operates like any other full digital temperature vape on the market. Select a temperature from 250F to 430F (121C - 221C). You’ll probably leave the CFX+ in Precision mode, as the Preset modes don’t seem to provide much benefit.
Odd Preset temperature settings
The CFX+ has four Preset temperature settings to choose from (378F/192C, 400F/204C, 414F/212C, 428F/220C), but I fail to see the point. Once chosen, the temperature buttons are inactive as the vape hits the temp and runs the whole session there. The only time I imagine this to be helpful is when I pass the vape around the room and don’t want anyone to change the temp. Otherwise, it only makes things harder. You have to engage the clunky menu to activate it, and again to change it back to Precision mode.
My gripes
Overall, the CFX+ is a nice upgrade, but there are some real head scratchers with the controls. The Preset temp modes seem useless to me, and the menu options are tough to navigate without a third button. Standby mode is a fail - if you don’t come back and turn the vape off yourself, it will drain the battery. It won’t auto shutoff. Hopefully they fix that in future versions.
Boundless CFX+ vaporizer Pros and Cons
| Pros 👍 | Cons 👎 |
| Big oven | Clunky digital display menu |
| Cool, tasty vapor | Standby mode drains battery |
| Precise temperature control | |
| Quick heat up | |
| Pocketable | |
| USB-C charge port | |
Bottom lineThe CFX+ portable vape has its shortcomings, but the big oven, fast heat up, and cool, tasty vapor make up for it. |
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Quick comparison: CFX+ vs CF vs CFX
If this were my first Boundless purchase, I’d get the CFX+. It’s about the size of the CF (which is no longer available) with more features than the CFX, but only $30 more. If you’re coming from the CF or CFX, then I’d look a little closer. The vapor is lighter with the CFX+, so if you’re a fan of the fast, big clouds that lean towards thickness over flavor, you may be a little disappointed.
Warranty
Boundless covers any workmanship and defect issues for three years, with a 90-day warranty on the battery. Like all of our products, the CFX+ is covered by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
What’s in the box
- 1 x CFX+ Vaporizer
- 1 x Cleaning Brush
- 1 x Stir Tool
- 1 x USB-C Cable (Wall Charger Adapter Not Included)
- 1 x User Manual
For best results
We’re working hard on our Tips and Tricks article, so keep an eye out. In the meantime, pack that big heating chamber with a third of a gram or less. More than that and the draw resistance and airflow was too restrictive for my taste. And don’t be afraid to throw whole flowers in there. You don’t have to grind with a vape like this.
Easy maintenance
We’ll help you get things back to new with our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide, coming soon. Between now and then, make sure to empty out the bowl after your session. Otherwise, herbs can stick to the oven and the screens will get dirty a lot quicker. When you’re done, just empty the bowl into the trash, and brush off the screen and bowl.
Who is the Boundless CFX+ for?
What stands out to me about the CFX+ is the huge bowl and cool, tasty vapor. It’s reliable and simple to use. Boundless Technology fans will appreciate the upgrade to the company’s flagship vaporizer. The CFX+ is smaller than the CFX, with more features and a big color screen. The vapor is lighter and more comfortable, which I welcome. Those that don’t, can extend the session timer a few minutes for that extra roasty taste.
Who is the Boundless CFX+ not for?
The problem with the CFX+ is it isn’t very compelling at its price point. Similarly priced vapes are smaller or have better battery life and, unless you’re Storz & Bickel, are made of better materials than plastic. If the CFX+ were $30 to $50 less, it would scream value. At $180, it’s a good vape at a decent price.
Conclusion
The Boundless CFX+ is a solid product, but it’s not irresistible. I struggled with this review at first because I was disappointed in the execution of the new features. But the more I used the CFX+, the more I found I didn’t care about its shortcomings.
Yes, the menu is clunky, but I rarely use it. It’s more of a set-it-and-forget-it kind of thing. There’s no excuse for the battery drain in standby mode, but once I extended my session timer it became a moot point, as I turned the vape off manually before it was done most of the time. And while I was worried Boundless fans would miss the clouds of the CFX, I preferred the tastier vapor of the CFX+. At the end of the day, the CFX+ is an imperfect but solid upgrade.
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Boundless CFX+: FAQs
Q: Are Boundless vapes good?
A: Yes. Boundless dry herb vaporizers focus on clouds at the expense of flavor, with big bowls for larger appetites. They’re affordable, too!
Q: Is the Boundless CFX+ conduction or convection?
A: The Boundless CFX+ vape is a conduction vaporizer, but it’s big and strong enough to feel like it has some convection help. You can tell it’s conduction when you turn it on without the mouthpiece installed. With herbs in the oven, it will start to vaporize without a hit.
Q: Is the Boundless CFX+ worth it?
A: At $180, it’s worth it for the right person. If you prize a big, flavorful bowl and cool vapor, it might be down your alley. If you’re into features, the CFX+ execution could disappoint.
