WeedanWhine
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I've seen a lot of people requesting advice on what vaporiser to buy so I figured I'd make a thread trying to put in everything I've learnt from over 13/14 years of exclusively vaping.
I've used the cheap stuff to expensive stuff and if you know what you're doing you can get a quality device throughout the price points but there might be compromises you have to make. For example, it's easier to find quality torch-driven vapes compared to battery-powered ones.
Vaporiser Types
Conduction vs Convection is the difference in the way your vape heats the flower. Convection means you drag the hot air over the flower as you draw on the device. Conduction means the oven heats the flower without you breathing, which can mean a wasted bowl if you forget your vape is to temperature.
Some people prefer one over the other but there isn't really a 'better' one, it becomes about preference. Some say convection is more of a head high and conduction more body high but I'm not sure it's that straightforward. Personally I've got both types of device in my collection.
Manual heating vs Temp controlled
Most people want a temp-controlled device as it can be easier but a manual one can yield more control and bigger and harder hits. Something like the Mighty/Roffu would be temp-controlled and the Vaponic or the Lotus would be manual. Again it depends on your preferences, but if you can master a manual vape it can be more powerful.
Session vs On-Demand
Session vapes are those in which you usually finish the bowl in one go. It heats up and then you toke until the bowl is done and that's it. With on-demand you can have a hit or two and then leave it until you next come back to it. Session vapes can be easier to share but on-demand can be more economical.
I think there are scenarios where both work but again it's very much personal preference. I've wasted bowls in session devices before by putting them down and forgetting about them, but that can't happen with on-demand devices.
Repairability
Not something most people think of when they first get a vape, but I started to care about this a few years in. I didn't want another plastic device which was a sealed box where it died and became landfill. Something like the Tinymight is much more repairable than the Roffu.
Price
Being that cash rules everything around us, this becomes the central thing we often think about when buying a vape. You don't have to spend hundreds to get a good vape, but some good vapes do cost a pretty penny and can be worth the money.
I remember spending 30-50 on plastic pieces of crap in my early days of trying to make the switch and I'd have been better off saving that money up for one much better device. Thankfully these days better vapes are more attainable at more affordable prices.
So what should you actually buy?
This is a hard one because I don't know whether you would do better with a manual device, or a battery-powered temp-controlled one, but I'm gonna give some recommendations from super cheap upwards and give their pros and cons.
VAPONIC
One of the best tasting and hardest hitting vapes you can get. BUT it's fully manual and because it's all-glass it's easy to break but it's cheap! £39 + a torch lighter and you're away. It can take some learning but it's worth it. Full glass airpath means the best flavour and easy to clean. Convection heating in this one and on-demand.
DYNAVAP
A real classic! Overtaken in recent years by vapes like The Tempest but this is still a solid choice. You can get them around £50 for the cheaper models. It is manual heating but the click makes it easier to deal with. Conduction heating and on-demand.
ROFFU
One of the cheaper battery-powered devices that I'd recommend. Convection-heating and you have the choice to make it session or on-demand. Fairly straightforward to use, and whilst you probably can't repair it, it does have replaceable batteries so could potentially last a decent amount of time. Metal body which feels like a quality piece of kit. The ceramic mouthpiece is really nice in this IMO.
VAPMAN
Bit of leftfield shout but I know that many people wish they'd found the Vapman earlier as it's a very special little device. Might be the best microdoser you can get, but you can also pack the bowl and get some bigger sessions. This is manual-heating and on-demand, although they've introduced a click version to help make the heating easier. I've only used the original versions but never found heating an issue. Incredible flavour and effects from this conduction vape. This certainly proves that conduction vapes can have good flavour too.
Not the cheapest but you can often find B-stock at good prices and it's worth it. And if you really get into them then custom wood versions are still available from the original maker René.
COIL-BASED DESKTOP VAPES
This includes thermal twist, vapvana and all the rest. There are loads of them and prices vary but largely they do the same thing. You've got a heated head which goes over your bowl and you use convection heating to vape your flower. Highly effective! The biggest con with these is having an exposed heated coil which is easier to drop and burn yourself / the carpet
LOG VAPES
These are also desktop vapes and there are a number of companies that make these Enano, Underdog, Ed's TnT etc...
They can range from sippers to monster hits, depending on the device and the heat you run them at. These can be good for clumsy people as you are highly unlikely to burn yourself, and they look much nicer on the table than the coil-based vapes. These are convection heating that is on-demand. Can find some cheaper options but you will generally have to pay a decent amount, and you might need to get a power supply separately for them.
TINYMIGHT
A real classic! Removable battery, convection heating that can be on-demand or session. It can be repaired and it's definitely at the pricy end of the spectrum but I don't know anyone who regrets buying one.
DIRECT TORCH BASED DEVICES
I'm including Sticky Brick, Vapor Genies, Dougs Woodery Nova etc...
These can be monstrous devices, you can get coil-based desktop vape performance in a much smaller and better-looking package. They can take some learning and you can easily burn a bowl in them but sometimes you have to do that to learn where the limits are.
DREAMWOOD GLOW
This might be the most repairable vape on the list. It connects to a battery mod, often used with ecigs, and it uses easily available ecig coils as the heat source. So this is very easy to service yourself and will easily give years of good performance. Out the box this is a manual vape and you'll need to learn the technique.
You can make this into a temp-controlled device, but that means swapping in stainless steel coils and getting a compatible temp controlled mod and that's a whole rabbit hole to go down. Personally I use mine as a manual vape and it's all good.
LOTUS
Another one that can kinda do it all if you're prepared to learn the technique. You can have chilled sessions or monstrous hits depending how you heat this. Very easy to repair, usually only need the top heating plate replacing every so often.
There are a number of vapes I've not listed, I've not included the Mighty, or the Pax. It's not because they're bad devices, they're fine but they're not great value-for-money IMO, and they're not exactly heavy-hitters. There are also a ton of devices these days and I can't be arsd listing everything
I think a lot of people try to switch to vaping and get recommended a mid-tier device and it isn't enough for them to make that switch. I've tried to include options that are capable of giving very solid hits.
Also one thing to note, you might need more then one vape. The one you like at home might not be the best for out-and-about so multiple may be needed. Often you can justify this using the savings from your weed going further but it is something to bear in mind.
Happy to answer any questions, but if you are asking for a vape recommendation specifically then please let me know the budget and what kinda situations you'll want to use it in and any issues you may have with using certain types of devices.
I hope this help! Switching to exclusively vaping my weed has made a huge positive difference to my quality-of-life so I want to share that with everyone else.
I've used the cheap stuff to expensive stuff and if you know what you're doing you can get a quality device throughout the price points but there might be compromises you have to make. For example, it's easier to find quality torch-driven vapes compared to battery-powered ones.
Vaporiser Types
Conduction vs Convection is the difference in the way your vape heats the flower. Convection means you drag the hot air over the flower as you draw on the device. Conduction means the oven heats the flower without you breathing, which can mean a wasted bowl if you forget your vape is to temperature.
Some people prefer one over the other but there isn't really a 'better' one, it becomes about preference. Some say convection is more of a head high and conduction more body high but I'm not sure it's that straightforward. Personally I've got both types of device in my collection.
Manual heating vs Temp controlled
Most people want a temp-controlled device as it can be easier but a manual one can yield more control and bigger and harder hits. Something like the Mighty/Roffu would be temp-controlled and the Vaponic or the Lotus would be manual. Again it depends on your preferences, but if you can master a manual vape it can be more powerful.
Session vs On-Demand
Session vapes are those in which you usually finish the bowl in one go. It heats up and then you toke until the bowl is done and that's it. With on-demand you can have a hit or two and then leave it until you next come back to it. Session vapes can be easier to share but on-demand can be more economical.
I think there are scenarios where both work but again it's very much personal preference. I've wasted bowls in session devices before by putting them down and forgetting about them, but that can't happen with on-demand devices.
Repairability
Not something most people think of when they first get a vape, but I started to care about this a few years in. I didn't want another plastic device which was a sealed box where it died and became landfill. Something like the Tinymight is much more repairable than the Roffu.
Price
Being that cash rules everything around us, this becomes the central thing we often think about when buying a vape. You don't have to spend hundreds to get a good vape, but some good vapes do cost a pretty penny and can be worth the money.
I remember spending 30-50 on plastic pieces of crap in my early days of trying to make the switch and I'd have been better off saving that money up for one much better device. Thankfully these days better vapes are more attainable at more affordable prices.
So what should you actually buy?
This is a hard one because I don't know whether you would do better with a manual device, or a battery-powered temp-controlled one, but I'm gonna give some recommendations from super cheap upwards and give their pros and cons.
VAPONIC
One of the best tasting and hardest hitting vapes you can get. BUT it's fully manual and because it's all-glass it's easy to break but it's cheap! £39 + a torch lighter and you're away. It can take some learning but it's worth it. Full glass airpath means the best flavour and easy to clean. Convection heating in this one and on-demand.
DYNAVAP
A real classic! Overtaken in recent years by vapes like The Tempest but this is still a solid choice. You can get them around £50 for the cheaper models. It is manual heating but the click makes it easier to deal with. Conduction heating and on-demand.
ROFFU
One of the cheaper battery-powered devices that I'd recommend. Convection-heating and you have the choice to make it session or on-demand. Fairly straightforward to use, and whilst you probably can't repair it, it does have replaceable batteries so could potentially last a decent amount of time. Metal body which feels like a quality piece of kit. The ceramic mouthpiece is really nice in this IMO.
VAPMAN
Bit of leftfield shout but I know that many people wish they'd found the Vapman earlier as it's a very special little device. Might be the best microdoser you can get, but you can also pack the bowl and get some bigger sessions. This is manual-heating and on-demand, although they've introduced a click version to help make the heating easier. I've only used the original versions but never found heating an issue. Incredible flavour and effects from this conduction vape. This certainly proves that conduction vapes can have good flavour too.
Not the cheapest but you can often find B-stock at good prices and it's worth it. And if you really get into them then custom wood versions are still available from the original maker René.
COIL-BASED DESKTOP VAPES
This includes thermal twist, vapvana and all the rest. There are loads of them and prices vary but largely they do the same thing. You've got a heated head which goes over your bowl and you use convection heating to vape your flower. Highly effective! The biggest con with these is having an exposed heated coil which is easier to drop and burn yourself / the carpet
LOG VAPES
These are also desktop vapes and there are a number of companies that make these Enano, Underdog, Ed's TnT etc...
They can range from sippers to monster hits, depending on the device and the heat you run them at. These can be good for clumsy people as you are highly unlikely to burn yourself, and they look much nicer on the table than the coil-based vapes. These are convection heating that is on-demand. Can find some cheaper options but you will generally have to pay a decent amount, and you might need to get a power supply separately for them.
TINYMIGHT
A real classic! Removable battery, convection heating that can be on-demand or session. It can be repaired and it's definitely at the pricy end of the spectrum but I don't know anyone who regrets buying one.
DIRECT TORCH BASED DEVICES
I'm including Sticky Brick, Vapor Genies, Dougs Woodery Nova etc...
These can be monstrous devices, you can get coil-based desktop vape performance in a much smaller and better-looking package. They can take some learning and you can easily burn a bowl in them but sometimes you have to do that to learn where the limits are.
DREAMWOOD GLOW
This might be the most repairable vape on the list. It connects to a battery mod, often used with ecigs, and it uses easily available ecig coils as the heat source. So this is very easy to service yourself and will easily give years of good performance. Out the box this is a manual vape and you'll need to learn the technique.
You can make this into a temp-controlled device, but that means swapping in stainless steel coils and getting a compatible temp controlled mod and that's a whole rabbit hole to go down. Personally I use mine as a manual vape and it's all good.
LOTUS
Another one that can kinda do it all if you're prepared to learn the technique. You can have chilled sessions or monstrous hits depending how you heat this. Very easy to repair, usually only need the top heating plate replacing every so often.
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There are a number of vapes I've not listed, I've not included the Mighty, or the Pax. It's not because they're bad devices, they're fine but they're not great value-for-money IMO, and they're not exactly heavy-hitters. There are also a ton of devices these days and I can't be arsd listing everything
I think a lot of people try to switch to vaping and get recommended a mid-tier device and it isn't enough for them to make that switch. I've tried to include options that are capable of giving very solid hits.
Also one thing to note, you might need more then one vape. The one you like at home might not be the best for out-and-about so multiple may be needed. Often you can justify this using the savings from your weed going further but it is something to bear in mind.
Happy to answer any questions, but if you are asking for a vape recommendation specifically then please let me know the budget and what kinda situations you'll want to use it in and any issues you may have with using certain types of devices.
I hope this help! Switching to exclusively vaping my weed has made a huge positive difference to my quality-of-life so I want to share that with everyone else.
