Despite pioneering the genre, dry herb vaporizers are the underdogs of the vaporizing world. While pens, concentrate vapes, and electronic systems like e-rigs dominate the stoner market, many tend to write off flower vapes as catering to a more medicinal crowd. When it comes down to it, most recreational users prefer to combust flower with a Bic and vaporize concentrates with a Peak, as opposed to vaporizing the flower itself.
It’s a totally different and more nuanced experience to vaporize flower than it is to smoke it — and the high is different, too. Smoking slaps you in the face, but vaping creeps behind your eyes. Instead of eviscerating all the chemical compounds like terpenes and cannabinoids with an uber hot flame, you’re vaporizing these compounds at a lower temperature and getting the most out of your flower. Also, vaporized weed has been decarboxylated, meaning you can use the vaped weed to make edibles later, stretching your stash even further.
As the objective of cannabis use moves away from over consumption and the hokey-stoner vibe it entailed, more sophisticated users are seeing the beauty in vaporizing flower. Thus, dry herb vapes are making a comeback, riding the new wave of health-conscious, lifestyle-based consumers.
Not only are flower vapes one of the safest ways to consume cannabis — especially during a respiratory-based pandemic — they offer a full-spectrum terpene experience that can’t be achieved through smoking. Due to this litany of advantages, the flower vape market has seen a spike in cool new vapes. Here are our favorite dry herb vaporizers on the market.
DaVinci IQ2
For a luxe vaping experience, check out the brand new DaVinci IQ2. Heavy, chic, and pricey to boot, this beautifully executed handheld vape is compatible with both dry herb and concentrates.
Great for conserving flower and savoring the flavor, the IQ2 also comes with an app that can measure dosage based on strain and vapor density.
Price: $295
Volcano Hybrid Vaporizer
The Volcano by euro vape lords Storz and Bickel is the most nostalgic and best selling desktop vaporizer of all time. With its large triangular base and party bag full of vapor, it’s an iconic and fun design that’s managed to peak our interest for over twenty years.
The Volcano’s most recent incarnation, the Volcano Hybrid, has high tech upgrades to the beloved analog device, resulting in one hell of a product. The future isn’t all what it’s cracked up to be, but at least we can control Volcano rips from an app on our phones.
Price: $699
PAX 3
The Pax 3 is a widely beloved dual use vaporizer that is as beautiful as it is effective. Portable, and having one of the most discrete designs on our list today, this vaporizer is simple to use, but also has app capabilities for a personalized experience. The Pax 3 is available in two kits, the “Basic Kit” vaporizes flower only, and the more expensive “Complete Kit,” which includes a concentrate insert.
Price: $250
G Pen Elite
LA vape brand G Pen helped pioneer the genre of hand held vaporizers in the mid 2010s. Known for their quality and well-designed devices with luxe details, G Pen has a ton of great products. My personal favorite is the Elite.
Classic and simple, it just works. This little portable convection vaporizer features an LED display, temperature control, and a signature ceramic heating element that heats flower quickly and evenly between 200 and 428°F.
Price: $119.95
Firefly 2+
The last dual use device on our list is the lightning fast Firefly 2. This touch sensor activated portable convection vaporizer stands out for its on-demand heating feature, versatility in accepting both flower and concentrates, and a glass heating chamber with ember glow LED design that mimics the feeling of smoking a bowl.
At $249.95, it’s still in the realm of affordability when it comes to multi-use vapes with tech features. It’s a sleek little vape that packs a punch, producing consistent, great tasting vapor.
Price: $249.95
Airvape X
Simple, well-constructed, and friendly for the consumer who may not be the most tech-savvy, the Airvape X is a solid product. At the crux of why Airvape X is cool is its lightning fast heating capability and affordable price tag. It also comes with a lifetime warranty for peace of mind.
Price: $139
Arizer Air II
The Arizer Air II is a portable convection vaporizer from Arizer, a veteran brand known for their no nonsense, high-quality vapes. Blurring the line between a high end at-home vaporizing system and a portable vape for on-the-go use, this is a great product for the quarantine era, where the only place you’re going is to the kitchen then back to the couch.
Price: $149.99
Crafty+
With its survivalist aesthetic and powerful heating capabilities, the Crafty+ by Storz and Bickel is just plain cool. It looks like binoculars, gets you super high, and feels good in the hand. Simply insert flower, wait a few seconds, and you’re ready to go. A perfect companion for all your upcoming springtime adventures.
Price: $279
Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps