Packing the XQ2 Elbow Adapter Versus the Bowl: A Hands-On Method
In short: there are three ways to load an Arizer XQ2. A full bowl pack puts medium-ground dry herb loosely in the glass bowl and suits bigger loads, sharing and balloons. The small end of the Connoisseur bowl (Arizer calls it the Flavor Chamber) takes a smaller load in the same bowl. An elbow pack leaves the bowl empty and puts a small load in the end of the glass elbow, so every draw is pulled through the herb. Arizer doesn't publish elbow-packing instructions, so the method below is the one owners commonly use. Start bowl packs around Arizer's 185 °C preset, give elbow packs longer to heat, and never compress either load.
Which glass to buy is covered separately in our XQ2 glass guide. Here we cover how to load each option, how to set heat and fan for it, and how to tell which suits you. Our bowls and elbows below are also listed for the Extreme Q and V-Tower. The V-Tower has no fan, so it's whip-only.
- What changes between the methods
- Method 1: the full bowl pack
- Method 2: the small end of the Connoisseur bowl
- Method 3: the elbow pack
- Heat and fan for each method
- Which method suits you?
- Common mistakes
- Quick answers
What Changes Between the Methods
The XQ2 heats air beneath the glass bowl, and that air rises, or is pulled, up through the bowl into the elbow and whip. The only thing you're changing is where the herb sits in that stream of hot air.
- Full bowl: the herb lies loose across the bowl, close to the heat. It's forgiving and takes a big load, and stirring between draws helps it heat evenly.
- Small chamber: the same idea, using the smaller of the Connoisseur bowl's two chambers.
- Elbow: the herb sits in the narrow end of the elbow, above an empty bowl. The air passes through a small load, which in our experience suits small sessions well. Because it sits further from the heater, give it longer to come up to temperature.
Method 1: The Full Bowl Pack
- Grind medium. Too fine and it can get past the screen.
- Check the screen. Arizer's Connoisseur bowls have a glass screen built in. In a standard cyclone bowl, use a screen so herb isn't pulled into the whip: Arizer's flat screen, or one of our screen caps, which are made for cyclone bowl use. (In Arizer's range, dome screens are for the elbow and mini whip.)
- Fill loosely. Spread the herb evenly and don't press it down, because the hot air has to move through it.
- Seat the bowl and heat. Put the bowl on the heater, fit the elbow and whip, and wait for the unit to reach temperature. In Dynamic lighting mode, the LEDs blink green twice when it gets there.
- Draw slowly and stir. Use the stainless steel stirring tool that comes with the XQ2 to turn the herb over every few draws. Arizer warns that hot parts are a burn hazard, so use the Tuff BowlGrips when you handle the bowl.
Spare bowls: our Connoisseur-style bowls with a glass screen or standard cyclone bowls both fit the XQ2, Extreme Q and V-Tower.
Method 2: The Small End of the Connoisseur Bowl
Arizer describes its Glass Connoisseur Bowl as having two chamber sizes: a large Cloud Chamber and a small Flavor Chamber for lighter loads. The XQ2 comes with two of these bowls. This is the easiest step down from a full bowl, because nothing else in your setup changes.
- Load the smaller Flavor Chamber instead of the Cloud Chamber, filling it loosely with medium-ground dry herb.
- Seat the bowl, fit the elbow and whip, and heat as normal.
- Stir as needed, and check the colour of the herb to judge progress.
It's a good middle ground if a full bowl is more than you want, but you'd rather keep loading the bowl.
Method 3: The Elbow Pack
You can elbow pack with a standard elbow and dome screen, or with an elbow built for it. Arizer's own Glass Elbow Adapter comes with a dome screen; the packing steps below are the common owner method rather than an Arizer instruction.
With a standard elbow and a dome screen
- Turn the glass elbow upside down so the male end points up.
- Fill the cup of a dome screen with a small load of medium-ground herb, then press the screen, cup side first, into the male end of the elbow so the herb is trapped inside the glass.
- Leave the bowl empty, push the elbow into the bowl and attach the whip.
- Heat, then give it an extra minute or two before your first draw, and draw slowly.
With a purpose-built elbow
Our Microdose elbow is made for exactly this. A glass screen sits about 10 mm inside the male end, forming a small chamber. Pack herb into that end, up to the glass screen, without compressing it, then push the elbow into an empty bowl. There's no metal screen to fall out, bend or replace.
Our other glass-screen elbows aren't described as elbow-pack pieces. The Comfort Curve elbow has a built-in glass screen and a longer swept curve than a 90° elbow. If two people are sharing a full bowl, the dual-whip elbow has two outlets and a built-in glass screen.
Heat and Fan for Each Method
The XQ2 runs from 50 to 260 °C. Its remote has three presets, which default to 170, 185 and 200 °C. These are our suggested starting points, not Arizer guidance:
- Full bowl: start on the middle preset (185 °C) and step up a few degrees as the herb browns and the vapour thins.
- Small chamber: the same starting point.
- Elbow: the herb sits further from the heater, so try the top preset (200 °C) and allow extra heat-up time before deciding it needs more.
The fan has four settings: low, medium, high and off. For whip draws you can leave it off and let your own draw pull the air through, or use it on low for an easier pull. Use the fan to fill a balloon. More detail on settings is in our XQ2 whip setup tips.
Which Method Suits You?
| Our experience | Full bowl | Connoisseur small chamber | Elbow pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load size | Largest | Small | Smallest |
| Best for | Sharing, balloons, long sessions | Solo whip sessions with no extra kit | Solo whip sessions, small loads |
| Time before first draw | Shortest | Short | Longest |
| Stirring | Every few draws | Occasionally | Rarely |
| Cleaning | Bowl and screen | Bowl | Elbow; bowl stays cleaner |
Common Mistakes
- Packing the elbow tight: the draw turns into hard work and the middle doesn't heat. Fill it, but don't compress it.
- Grinding too fine for the elbow: fine particles block the screen and slow everything down.
- Drawing too soon: an elbow pack needs extra time to come up to temperature.
- Running a worn screen: if a balloon takes more than two to three minutes to fill, Arizer suggests cleaning or replacing the dome screen and the bag.
Glass elbows and whips for all three desktops are in our XQ2, Extreme Q and V-Tower whips and elbows collection.
Quick Answers
Can I elbow pack an Extreme Q?
Yes. Our elbows, including the Microdose, are listed for the Extreme Q, XQ2 and V-Tower, and the loading steps are the same.
Do I still need a bowl for an elbow pack?
Yes. The bowl stays on the heater, empty, with the elbow sitting in it.
Which method is most efficient?
In our experience, the elbow for small amounts, and the full bowl for sharing or filling balloons.
Can I fill a balloon from an elbow pack?
You can. For balloons, a full bowl is the simpler choice.
