The PAX Grinder is exactly what you’d expect from the brand behind some of the most design-driven vaporizers: minimalist, clever, and aimed squarely at everyday cannabis users who care about consistency more than gimmicks.
Design & Build
PAX’s flagship grinder is a 3-piece, threadless aluminum unit with a distinctive rounded-square profile. It measures about 2.5″ x 2.5″ x 1.77″ and is made from heavy-duty (often described as “aircraft-grade”) aluminum, keeping it both sturdy and surprisingly lightweight.
Instead of traditional screw threads, the grinder uses strong magnets to snap the parts together. This “threadless magnetic closure” is one of its signature features, eliminating cross-threading and making it effortless to open even with sticky herb. The ergonomic square shape is designed to sit comfortably in the hand and give you more leverage than a tiny round puck, which reviewers at retailers like 421Store and LighterUSA consistently call out as a plus.
If you prefer a more traditional look, PAX also makes a 4-piece round aluminum grinder in matte black with a soft-touch carry pouch, but this review focuses on the square 3-piece model.
Links:
Grind Performance
PAX designed this grinder to produce a consistent medium grind, which is ideal for joints, bowls, and—unsurprisingly—the conduction ovens in PAX vaporizers. The teeth layout and hole pattern aren’t overly aggressive, so you don’t end up with powder; instead you get fluffy, evenly shredded flower that still has some structure.
Gear Patrol’s hands-on review notes that the lack of a kief chamber is a feature, not a bug: by keeping trichomes with the flower rather than sifting them out, more cannabinoids and terpenes end up in the material you actually vape or smoke. That philosophy lines up well with users who value full-spectrum sessions over collecting kief.
If you’re chasing ultra-fine grinds for conduction vapes that prefer powder or super-chunky material for certain glass setups, the “locked-in” medium grind may feel limiting. But for most casual and daily consumers, it hits the sweet spot.
Ease of Use & Maintenance
The magnetic, threadless design makes the grinder incredibly fast to load and empty—no endless twisting to unscrew multiple sections. The internal surfaces are smooth, which helps reduce buildup, and the 3-piece design means fewer nooks and crannies than a 4-piece with a kief screen.
That said, at least one user review on YouTube reports magnets loosening after extended use, which is worth noting if you’re especially hard on your gear. Most retailer descriptions, however, still emphasize durability and long-term reliability.
Price & Who It’s For
The PAX Grinder typically retails in the ~$50–$60 range depending on the shop and bundle deals. That puts it above budget acrylic or generic metal grinders but comfortably below ultra-premium, CNC-obsessed options.
It’s a great fit if:
- You already own a PAX vaporizer and want a matching, purpose-built grinder.
- You prefer a medium grind and don’t care about collecting kief.
- You value sleek aesthetics and grab-and-go simplicity over lots of extra parts.
If you’re a dedicated kief hoarder or you like to customize grind sizes with different plates or screens, a 4-piece or modular premium grinder might suit you better.
Bottom Line
The PAX Grinder is a thoughtfully designed, medium-grind workhorse that complements the PAX ecosystem but stands on its own as a stylish everyday grinder. Strong magnets, an ergonomic shape, and consistent performance make it a solid choice for most cannabis consumers who want an easy, design-forward tool—especially those who see kief catchers as unnecessary rather than essential.