Norddampf Relict Review: The Weber BBQ of Vaporisers

The Hook: The Weber BBQ

Dave read that Nordampf was founded by vape reviewers. "So they've been slagging off everyone else's vapes for years and now they've made their own?" Correct, Dave. And it's annoyingly good.

Imagine if Which? Magazine started making washing machines. That's Nordampf. The team behind vaporizer-review.de — Germany's biggest vape review portal — spent years testing, scoring, and critiquing every portable vaporiser on the market. Then they built the Relict. Every design decision carries the weight of thousands of reviews: "We know what works because we've measured what doesn't."

The Relict is a Weber BBQ. German-engineered precision cooking. Dual heating — conduction from below like the grate, convection assist during draws like the lid-on airflow. Intellisense is the Weber iGrill probe — the vape knows what's happening before you do. It detects your inhale, boosts the heating element, and delivers denser vapour than passive devices. Not a setting. Not a mode. An automatic response to your draw.

At £108.99, the Relict is Weber pricing — more than a disposable BBQ, less than a luxury grill, justified by engineering you can taste.

Vapour Quality 8.0/10

Dual hybrid heating. Stainless steel elements. 45mm borosilicate glass mouthpiece. Intellisense boost during draws. This is engineered extraction.

At 175°C with Intellisense active, the draw-detection makes an immediate difference. The first inhale triggers a temperature boost — the vapour is noticeably denser than the same temp on a passive device. Terps arrive with authority. The dual heating distributes extraction across the 0.3g bowl from bottom and sides simultaneously — no hot spots, no cold corners.

At 190°C, the Relict hits its stride. Dense, flavourful, consistent clouds. The glass mouthpiece cools and purifies — at 45mm, it's longer than most budget devices offer. Five draws with excellent consistency. The Intellisense boost means later draws maintain density instead of tailing off.

At 210-220°C, extraction mode with dignity. The dual heating and Intellisense maintain flavour presence even at high temps. Most devices above 210°C produce hot, flat air. The Relict maintains character. The 240°C ceiling means you can push further than most competitors allow.

The 0.3g bowl is well-proportioned. Big enough for a satisfying session, small enough for efficient extraction. The stainless steel dosing capsules keep the chamber clean and loading quick.

The Strain Test

Two strains. Two Weber-level cooks. Low and slow, then hot and fast. Both perfectly done.

Motorbreath — Indica (Street)

The Flower: ChemDog × SFV OG Kush. 70/30 indica-dominant. 24-28% THC. Caryophyllene dominant, limonene, myrcene, pinene. Diesel fuel, chemical, earthy, with a surprising lemon undertone. The "motor" in the name is accurate — pungent, aggressive, unmistakable. Dense, resinous flower that tests any device.

The Pack: 0.3g medium grind, stainless steel dosing capsule.

175°C: Diesel terpenes. The caryophyllene arrives immediately — warm, peppery, pungent. Through borosilicate glass, the chemical edge is present but smooth. Intellisense kicks in on the first draw — the heating boost pulls more diesel character than a passive 175°C would deliver. Three draws. The lemon undertone is surprisingly present underneath the fuel.

190°C: Full medical extraction. The limonene emerges — bright citrus lifting the diesel. Myrcene adds body. The dual heating is earning its keep — even extraction across the capsule, no stirring, no rotation. Four draws with increasing potency. At 24-28% THC, the 0.3g load is delivering significant effect.

210°C: Deep indica body. Earthy, woody, sedating. The Intellisense maintains density. Two draws to clear. The Relict handles resinous flower without struggle — no clogging, no restricted airflow, no residue concerns beyond normal cleaning.

The Verdict: Motorbreath through the Relict at 175-190°C is a revelation. Intellisense draw-detection genuinely improves extraction of aggressive terpene profiles — the automatic boost during inhale pulls diesel and citrus notes that passive heating leaves behind. The Weber analogy holds: lid-on, dual-zone cooking, even results.

Rokshaw T20 — Sativa (Medical)

The Flower: Sativa-dominant cultivar, Columbia Care genetics. 20% THC, <1% CBD. Terpinolene, myrcene, pinene. Herbal, piney, slightly floral. Clean and functional. Terpinolene gives it a distinctive herb-garden quality — rare and delicate.

The Pack: 0.2g medium grind, loose load (no capsule — testing direct chamber flavour).

168°C: Pure terpinolene. The most volatile terpene, the hardest to capture, the easiest to lose. Through the Relict's glass mouthpiece at 168°C, the terpinolene arrives intact — floral, herbal, incense-like. The 1°C precision matters here: 168°C captures terpinolene, 175°C begins to degrade it. Two draws of unusual, beautiful flavour that budget devices simply cannot preserve.

180°C: Fuller profile. Pinene sharpens the floral base — clean, focused, alert. Myrcene adds grounding. Three draws. The sativa effects are clear: uplifting, creative, clear-headed. The Intellisense boost during draws is gentle at this temp — it doesn't overwhelm the delicate profile.

192°C: Maximum sativa extraction. Herbal, piney, complete. Two draws. Cap it here. Higher temps flatten the terpinolene.

The Verdict: Rokshaw T20 through the Relict at 168°C is the clinical precision test. For medical patients prescribed terpinolene-dominant strains for ADHD focus, the Relict's precision is clinically relevant. The Intellisense adapts to the lighter draw style that sativa extraction demands. Smart device, delicate strain, perfect match.

Design & Build 8.0/10

Anodised aluminium body. Cylindrical profile. 45mm borosilicate glass mouthpiece. Auto-rotating OLED display. Stainless steel internals. 138g.

The Relict feels like a device designed by people who've reviewed hundreds of devices. Every decision carries purpose. The glass mouthpiece is 45mm because shorter mouthpieces compromise flavour. The OLED auto-rotates because they know people use vapes through bongs. The dosing capsules are stainless steel because they know plastic capsules taint flavour. The 14/18mm bong adapter compatibility exists because they know their audience.

The cylindrical profile sits naturally in the hand. The weight distribution is balanced. The aluminium body is robust without being heavy. At 138g, it's lighter than the Mighty+ by over 100g.

Mum test: GOOD. Three-button interface is simple. Intellisense means Mum doesn't need to time her draws.

Battery & Charging 7.5/10

2600mAh. USB-C. About two hours to charge. Sealed.

Real-world: 7-10 sessions at 190°C. The 0.3g bowl and Intellisense draw some power, but the 2600mAh handles it comfortably. A heavy user gets through an evening and then some. A moderate user can stretch two days.

The Intellisense boost during draws is the battery variable — active sensing and temperature boosting consume more than passive heating. Still, the battery life is competitive with the Wolkenkraft Aris (also 2600mAh) and outlasts the Smono No.3 (1600mAh) significantly.

The Spec Check:

• USB-C: yes
• Fast Charging: standard USB-C, ~2 hours
• Pass-Through: TBC
• Replaceable Battery: no (sealed)

Ease of Use 8.0/10

Three-button interface. OLED display. 1°C precision. Intellisense automates the hard part.

The Intellisense is the ease-of-use revolution. Most vaporisers require you to learn draw technique — slow, steady, paced. The Relict detects your draw speed and adjusts heating to match. Draw harder, it heats more. Draw slower, it backs off. This isn't a mode. It's automatic. First-timers produce dense vapour without instruction.

Dosing capsules simplify loading. Pop a pre-packed capsule in, set the temp, draw. The OLED confirms everything — temp, battery, session timer. The auto-rotation is a delightful touch when using with a water pipe.

Cleaning & Maintenance 7.0/10

Dosing capsules keep the chamber significantly cleaner than direct loading. The glass mouthpiece pops off and soaks clean in ISO. The chamber itself is stainless steel — brushes out with the included tool.

Cleaning timeline:

• After every 3-4 sessions: brush chamber or swap capsule
• Weekly: ISO soak glass mouthpiece
• Fortnightly: pipe cleaner through airpath
• Monthly: deep clean, inspect seals

Not as revolutionary as the Wolkenkraft Aris's ECA system — the airpath isn't fully accessible. But the dosing capsules prevent most buildup, and the glass mouthpiece cleans beautifully.

Portability 7.5/10

138g. Slim cylindrical profile. Pocketable in a jacket or trouser pocket. The glass mouthpiece adds fragility — a silicone cap or case is advisable for pocket carry.

Stealth is moderate. The cylindrical profile doesn't scream "vaporiser" but the glass mouthpiece protrudes. For discrete use, pocket the device and cap the glass. In use, it's visually unremarkable from a distance.

How I Actually Use This

My Default Setup:

• Temperature: 185°C. The Intellisense-assisted sweet spot
• Pack: 0.3g medium grind, stainless steel dosing capsule
• Session: Full session cycle, 4-6 draws

When I Reach For It: When I want smart extraction without thinking. The Intellisense means I draw naturally and the device compensates. No technique coaching. No draw speed management. Just inhale and let the sensor do its job. Also through the bong adapter — the auto-rotating OLED and dense Intellisense-boosted vapour make it an excellent water pipe companion.

When I Don't: When I want pure convection flavour at low temps — the Smono No.3 or Wolkenkraft Aris are cleaner below 180°C. The Relict's conduction element adds warmth at low temps that pure convection avoids.

Medical Use Notes

I'm not a doctor. I'm a bloke with chronic pain and ADHD who's been using cannabis medicinally for years now. This is my experience, not medical advice. If you're considering medical cannabis, talk to a prescribing clinic — not a vaporiser review.

For Pain Management: Intellisense draw-detection ensures consistent vapour delivery regardless of draw technique — critical for medical patients who aren't experienced vapers. The 1°C precision from 160°C enables terpene-specific targeting. The 0.3g bowl with dosing capsules supports consistent, repeatable dosing. The glass mouthpiece ensures vapour path purity. For medical use between £100-150, the Relict is the strongest recommendation.

For ADHD: The Intellisense removes the technique variable — one less thing to manage when executive function is low. Terpinolene preservation at 168°C (demonstrated in the Rokshaw test) is directly relevant for ADHD focus strains. The three-button interface is simple. The OLED provides visual confirmation.

Value for Money 8.5/10

£108.99 for dual hybrid heating, Intellisense draw-detection, 45mm borosilicate glass mouthpiece, auto-rotating OLED, 1°C precision from 160-240°C, stainless steel dosing capsules, 14/18mm bong adapter compatibility, 2600mAh battery, USB-C, and 138g.

The Smono 4 Pro does hybrid for less — without Intellisense, without glass, without bong compatibility, without capsules. The Wolkenkraft Aris does pure convection with ECA for more — better cleaning but no draw-detection and a smaller bowl.

The Relict sits in the sweet spot. More capable than the budget devices, less expensive than the premium devices, and Intellisense is unique at any price. Reviewers who spent years evaluating value propositions built a device that IS the value proposition.

Score Breakdown

Vs the Competition

Vs Smono 4 Pro

Less money for hybrid heating, a 3000mAh battery, ceramic zirconia and an OLED. The 4 Pro has more battery (3000 vs 2600mAh) and a lower price. The Relict has Intellisense, glass mouthpiece, dosing capsules, bong compatibility, and a wider temp range (160-240 vs 160-220°C). The 4 Pro is the budget all-rounder. The Relict is the smart upgrade.

Nordampf Relict vs Smono 4 Pro

Vs Wolkenkraft Aris

More money for pure convection, titanium, ECA cleaning, and a 5-year warranty. The Aris has better cleaning (ECA), purer convection, and a longer warranty. The Relict has Intellisense, a bigger bowl (0.3 vs 0.15g), and bong compatibility. German mid-range shootout: the Aris is cleaner, the Relict is smarter.

Vs XLUX Roffu

Around the same price for dual convection chambers, a removable 18650, and an on-demand mode. The Roffu has swappable batteries and on-demand capability. The Relict has Intellisense, an auto-rotating OLED, bong compatibility, and better build consistency. Both are excellent — the Roffu for versatility, the Relict for intelligence.

Vs Nordampf Hammah

Cheaper, from the same manufacturer, for hybrid heating with a GlassPod system at 85g. The Hammah is lighter and cheaper. The Relict has Intellisense, a bigger bowl, a glass mouthpiece, a wider temp range, and bong compatibility. Same family, different weight class.

The Verdict (The Bookend)

Dave read that Nordampf was founded by vape reviewers. He laughed. Then he tried the Relict. Then he stopped laughing.

That's the Weber effect. A newcomer enters a market full of established brands and says "we've been watching you all do this wrong." The audacity. The arrogance. The annoyingly good results.

The Relict isn't perfect. The brand is new. The long-term data doesn't exist. The self-reviewing origin story deserves scrutiny. But the Intellisense draw-detection is genuine innovation — the first vaporiser I've used that adapts to my inhalation in real time. The dual heating is even and consistent. The glass mouthpiece is pure. The OLED that auto-rotates in a bong is a detail that only people who use vapes would think of.

Nordampf built the device they wanted to review. Reviewers turned manufacturers, critics turned creators, opinion turned into engineering. Whether the brand survives five years is unknown. Whether the Relict survives a week of hard use is known: it does. Comfortably.

Dave's been slagging off everyone's vapes for years. Now he's using the one built by people who did the same thing professionally. Just one more cook.