V A P O R W A V E | A History and Guide To Pick The Best Vaporizer For You
Vaping — It has become synonymous with lo-fi beats you listen to while studying and Millennials that work for tech or media conglomerates. Vapes are quite literally the new wave for getting your doses of cannabis. Though it has existed as a smoking method to users for years with the first modern vaporizer called the Tilt being introduced in the late 1970s, anti-paraphernalia laws in the early 80s saw it fall into obscurity and vape history. It wasn’t until the late 1990s/ early 2000s that the Volcano weed vaporizer by Storz & Bickel became a staple in many suburban basements reintroducing vaping as a means of marijuana consumption. Social media and a rapidly increasing acceptance of marijuana use, particularly across the Millennial and Gen Z age groups, has seen vaping rise in popularity over the last 4-5 years with the CDC reporting in 2015 that 9 million adults in the United States said they are vaping regularly and the truthinitiative.org published that tobacco usage has sharply decreased in the 15-24 year old demographic despite also reporting cigarillos are still popular among teens and tobacco vaporizers are normalizing marijuana usage.
Vapes are chosen by a wide range of people for varying reasons however two commonalities seem to be shared by all; vapes are largely discreet due to their size/style and minimal marijuana smell in comparison to traditional smoking methods like joints, blunts, bowls and bongs.
Before picking any vaporizer, you want to narrow down what you want to get out of that vaporizer by asking yourself some simple questions:
Do you prefer buds, oils or other concentrates? Both?
Is portability important? Size overall?
How much are you willing to spend?
Last but not least...what aesthetic or style are you looking for? Super discreet or brazenly obvious?
There are three main categories for vaporizers both large and small on the market today; portable vapes for buds only, portable vapes for oils and concentrates only (usually referred to as pens) and desktop vapes for bud flowers like the Volcano. As a bonus category, multi-purpose vapes can come in 2-in-1 all the way up to 4-in-1 options and are great for those consumers who aren’t impartial to weed in one form or another. You can usually find these in both desktop and portable styles for a vaporizer that has range.
Desktop Vapes
Desktop or tabletop vapes are the largest type on the market and arguably the first modern vaporizers to be available to the public. Unlike their smaller counterparts these require power directly from the wall. That’s right, you have to plug it in. Due to the necessary power source, these vaporizers are best for smokers who really only do it at home and most obviously for medical marijuana patients. Especially for those who were never ever really smokers, it is known for a smoother and less harsh pull. These systems tend to be more sophisticated allowing for nuances like temperature control which can largely affect everything about the smoking experience from the taste to the high. Being able to control the temperature allows for ideal conditions for strains to be consumed at their peak release of cannabinoids and terpenes which leaves many claiming it is the purest way to smoke bud flowers in particular. The drawback here are relegated to their general size (large, clunky, obviously a vape in your house), expensive, and somewhat fragile as well. Definitely do not recommend dropping one of these bad boys.
Portable Vapes (Buds)
Portable vapes by in large are so popular because of just that; they are portable. The smaller units are battery powered (some with replaceable cell batteries and others charging from micro usb chargers) so they are always ready to take on the go. They are ideal for the movers and shakers out there who still like to grind up and break down their buds. Drawbacks include no temperature control, at least not at the level of specification as with tabletop styles. Also, cheap gets you what you paid for. Some of the more inexpensive models can heat up your buds too much and leave a bit of an unsavory burnt smell (some say like weird “popcorn”) which is still not as pungent as smoking joints or blunts while out and about.
Portable Vapes (Oils & Concentrates)
Just like with vapes for flowers, portable vaporizers for oils and concentrates are best for those who like those exclusively. So whether you are really into shatter, wax, hash or just an overall concentrate enthusiast you’ll want to browse for something that falls in this category. They have a tendency to be a little less expensive than those that are purely for buds albeit due to the heating mechanics, so if you are a little frugal you can get bang for your buck. These are also the vapes you usually see called pens on the market. They are usually slimmer almost resembling an ink pen or stylus which may lend itself to its popularity in office settings. You can also either load your own oils or easy to use cartridges. The downside here, which is often at the forefront of debate, is that concentrates can be inconsistent and pre-loaded cartridges often have CO2 oil within it, which is known to cause a very cerebral high some saying it is just “too much”. If head highs aren’t your thing you may want to pass here.
Multi-Purpose Vapes
Multi-Purpose vapes or combo vapes are definitely for those who like cannabis in all of its available forms and don’t mind spending a bit more dough. These are the most expensive of the portables out there though there are some single function vapes that are still pricey too. This style is best if you like switch it up not just between buds or concentrates but also e-cigs and if that is often it’s a good deal vs buying 2 or more different types (unless you consider yourself a collector or something and want to start your own vape Smithsonian). The only negatives here are really the pricing and that they will be larger than most single function models minus those purely for the buds, however most people will probably just think you have an e-cig setup and not notice.
Now that history and function are covered, here are some recommendations for you to check out as you research on your own to find the vape that is the best match for you.
1. Hot Box Vaporizer - Hot Box Vapors
Price: $129.99 Pros: Dummy proof, discreet Cons: Weak whip that easily falls out and gets funky
2. Volcano - Storz and Bickel
Price: $479.99 Pros: Classic, easy to use, sturdy, no whip/hose Con: Run out of bags you can’t vape, dirty bags reek like bad popcorn and burnt sesame seeds
3. E-Nano - EpicVape
Price: $189.99 Pros: Stealthy, light and surprisingly portable Cons: No temperature adjust, just a guessing game with a dial
4. IQ - Davinci
Price: $249.99 Pros: 4 temp presets, easy to clean, Cons: Gets hot after extended use, mouthpiece held by weak magnet, only pulls smooth with mouthpiece extender
5. Firefly 2 - Firefly
Price: $329.95 Pros: Only heats as pulled, seals tight, durable Cons: Can’t pack much, can’t take huge draws and for that it makes it a bit pricey
6. Crafty - Storz and Bickel
Price: $279.99 Pros: You can pack a lot, good with herb and concentrates Cons: Bulky, not the slickest design.
7. PRISM - Kandypens
Price: $127.99 Pros: Very smooth, ceramic chamber Cons: Fragile mouthpiece, definitely will break if dropped
8. Magneto - Yocan
Price: $85.00 Pros: Easy to assemble, only uses magnets, easy to dab with Cons: Effective but better options out there for long term use, best for concentrates
9. Series 3X - v2 PRO
Price: $99.00 Pros: Smooth airflow, compact 3-in-1 Cons: Tight mouthpiece, gets hot pretty fast if you intend for extended use
10. Series 7 - v2 PRO
Price: $129.99 Pros: Easy to change from buds, to concentrates, and e-liquid Cons: Best for herb not concentrates but handles well enough
11. Dual V3 - Haze
Price: $249.99 Pros: Pre-load for travel, flavorful, handles buds and concentrates equally well, unique looking Cons: Bulkier, learning curve (not the most user friendly)
FYI: Never hesitate to venture to your local shop to ask questions from people that sell (and probably use) a lot of the products you are interested in. One thing is for certain, those working in the cannabis industry will tell you if something is worth your time or not depending on your need and budget.
- AM