on January 31, 2016
[Note: I actually formatted this nicely with hyperlinks and a table with images...so if you wish to see this post with that content and context which I actually believe is important for understanding this article please let me know!]
Hey all, hope you’re doing well this Sunday. Today where I’m at in Santa Clarita, CA it is raining and windy. Hope it’s better where you’re at! This blog is about my experience with various cannabis vaporizers. My recent accidental dropping of one of my vaporizers into my bathroom sink filled with water inspired me to write this article. How’s that for inspiration?
In 2009 I was diagnosed with vocal nodules due to having worked in call center environments for so long and having to strain my voice over the background voices of other coworkers. It was also the same year I moved to Vancouver to a much larger office. I was told that I would have to stop smoking since it only further irritates the vocal cords (I have NEVER smoked nicotine or cigarettes in my entire life, ONLY cannabis, but the doctor said that smoke is smoke doesn’t matter what I’m smoking and that it will irritate my throat and lungs…no shit eh?). I have always found that smoking joints, pipes, and bongs extremely harsh on my body but would do it anyway since I did not really know much about vaporizers at the time with the exception of going into the vape lounges and using theirs and being so impressed with how my lungs don’t hurt whenever I use them. I also have spring allergies and allergies to various air contaminants such as pollen, dust, mold, perfume, and smoke. I used to have to use two puffers because my allergy symptoms are similar to those of an asthmatic patient. So naturally based on all of my health issues that affected my voice and my respiratory system I decided to completely switch to vaporizers, especially after receiving medical advice at one of my appointments that a vaporizer would significantly reduce the irritants to my throat and lungs.
The first vaporizer I purchased was the VOLCANO DIGIT, a top of the line herbal desktop vaporizer that is often used in cannabis vaporizer lounges (at least in the ones I saw in Vancouver since I lived there for five years). It is extremely expensive ($599 USD today, though when I bought it in 2009 I paid $812 CAD including tax…I guess that works out to be the same thing now since the Canadian dollar is so shitty!). This vaporizer is as smooth and effective as it gets for its vapor and consistency, and it is pleasantly flavorful too. Once you learn how to use it it becomes easy to use. It is manufactured by Storz & Bickel in Germany. It is definitely one of the best herbal vaporizers out there. I recommend using the Solid Valve set since the parts are more durable, and it is a lot cheaper to replace just the plastic bags rather than the entire bag and plastic fitting end as in the Easy Valve set, but I can see that the Easy Valve set is more convenient since you don’t have to measure and cut out the bags.
Pros: easy to use, great for sharing, digital temperature remembers your last setting even after unplugging.
Cons: EXPENSIVE. Also if you don’t put a lot of herbs in the chamber it will take a long time to feel effects. Works best when you put a whole lot in there but of course not too much since you don’t want to block the air.
After enjoying my new Volcano vaporizer I decided I needed to have something portable. The first thing I got was this really old Vapir Oxygen Mini, and it was a MUCH older version than the one shown in the link. Put it this way: I had to walk around with a 6xAA BATTERY PACK hooked up to the TELEPHONE CORD in order to get this thing to work. WTF hey? The battery did not last very long, maybe 30 minutes if I was lucky. And from what I remember it was not always consistent in its staying hot. It worked much better when plugged in. I got tired of the bulkiness of the battery back and the iffy reliability of its heater when on the hefty battery back, so I upgraded to the Vapir NO2 which one of my friends nicknamed “the Penis Bong” since it had this phallic look to it. It was so big that he would actually hold it to his crotch while vaporizing it and pretending that he was…you know…anyway. Those were some funny sessions! Needless to say this vaporizer was not portable enough so I had to find something else.
I remember seeing the Da Vinci portable vaporizer in some Vancouver head shops, but I was not prepared to spend too much more money at the time since I was taking care of some vet bills. So I held off on it. My “penis bong” worked just fine, and I did not care if people giggled at me when I was toking on it outside of venues. In various dispensaries I started seeing vaporizer pens that can be used with concentrates such as oil, crumble, wax, shatter, etc. So I invested in my first vaporizer pen set which consisted of two batteries, two oil tanks, and some mouthpieces and charging cables/adapters. This was the Joyetech eGo-T vaporizer pen to be used with oils. It even came with this green leopard patterned case! It worked well, though at the time some of the potency of the various oils I obtained in Vancouver were questionable, and there were almost no sativa strains unlike in Los Angeles (I cannot do too many indica or I end up taking a long nap which isn’t good when I desire productivity!). Even when I moved from Vancouver to Los Angles in June 2014 there were no pre-filled oil cartridges in Vancouver. Anyway while I was still in Vancouver I discovered that there are much more efficient oil tanks such as the Kanger Pro-Tank which I ended up using on my eGo batteries (I’ve tried both the Kanger Pro-Tank-2 and the Kanger mini Protank-2). But injecting oil into these tanks can be a messy procedure, plus the coils and atomizers in these tanks would easily burn out or get clogged due to the heavy thickness of cannabis oil (I am pretty sure that these tanks were originally designed for nicotine e-juice and not cannabis–I am glad that today we have pre-filled disposable cartridges, though I hope to eventually see more environmentally friendly options…I digress!).
Anyway I started seeing these microG Pens by Grenco Science in Vancouver; they were sold in head shops and dispensaries. I was delighted because there were many sativa strains available in crumble, shatter, and other solid state concentrates (meaning concentrates that are not always in oil form). I got one of those starter kits that came with two batteries and two chambers and other accessories. I loaded these bad boys with shatter and crumble, and lo and behold, I ended up with my own portable dabber! The use of these concentrate pens skyrocketed my cannabis tolerance.
Before I moved to Los Angeles I ended up selling/giving away a bunch of my vapes and their accessories. So after I moved I bought the Dabbler by Vapor Brothers. This model was highly regarded by High Times in 2014. I found this concentrates pen a lot sturdier than the microG, so I was so satisfied that I got two of them. Still though with certain concentrates that aren’t so pure I would end up with these icky residue (this happened on the microG too) that seemed to clog the chamber. I would have to keep buying more chambers/heaters, but that is just the nature of the beast; in vape pens like these you’ll always have to go through those heaters regularly because they wear out. Also with a device like the Volcano or the other herb vaporizers it’s the metal screens that you go through; those wear out too.
So yes I got tired of clogged heaters and having to replace them. I was also aware that the cost of concentrates can be a lot more than flowers and wanted an option to vaporize herbs. So I purchased the Da Vinci original vaporizer. It worked exactly the same as my “penis bong” Vapir NO2 but was MUCH more portable! It looked like a walkie talkie. I still have it. It’s the vape that I accidentally dropped in the water-filled bathroom sink. But you know what’s funny? It still works…OK it’s not really charging right now, but the heater works when plugged in, and I was able to use it. I must say that this is the toughest portable vape ever…I must have dropped it at least 50 times…and it just keeps going and going…even the last time in which I dropped it in the water! I want to get another one. In fact it would be nice to be able to carry two on me since the battery dies after an hour, and having two hours of portable vaping is good for me especially since I go to school and have to vape outside a lot since I am a considerate person like that. Da Vinci makes a much more superior model called the Ascent, but I am afraid that the glass mouthpiece would shatter in my possession. That glass mouthpiece, however, is responsible for the much more flavorful sips in this model…I am tempted to buy…one day! Haven’t even tried the Ascent yet.
Eventually a lot of pre-filled oil cartridges hit the market, and I gravitated to those since I got tired of having to replace heaters, tanks, and other vape parts. Sometimes these pre-filled oil cartridges can be pricey, but if you know where to go you can get a good deal. My favorite brands right now are Honey Vape (I can’t find their website–someone help!), Spliffin, and Liquid Gold. I like some other ones such as Jetty Extracts, Bhang Stick, and Dank Tanks, but I prefer the first three the I mentioned since to me they feel more potent and taste better. It may also have to do with what batteries I use since the combination of battery and cartridge can make a difference in the optimal vaporization. I now own so many batteries from the standard eGo variety to the eGo-C Twist changeable voltage battery to the Buck Naked Skinny to the King Pen battery (can’t find the product on their site, but it is a mini one similar to the Buck Naked Skinny battery), to this GolDrop battery that automatically turns on when you inhale (actually their concentrates are worth mentioning…but I’ve tried only ONE…their bubblegum oil…which actually tasted like bubblegum…would like to try more!). I’ve even gone through some disposable pens such as the Yolo 5 and others (I imagine you have to be very rich to be able to afford to use these regularly!). There are other brands of concentrate oils, cartridges, and pens that I enjoy using, but I guess that the bottom line is that the oil pens with cartridges or disposable options are the most convenient of the vaporizers to use.
In the future I plan to invest in the following vaporizers/parts:
* Hebe Titan 2 portable herbal vaporizer or equivalent. This one is rebranded as the G Pro Vaporizer, K-Vape 2.0, and many other brands. I like it because it has a micro-USB connection rather than an AC adapter as in other portable herbal vapes such as the Da Vinci original. Also the price varies, but the cheapest I have seen it is $50 at a head shop about 30 minutes away from me.
* The Herbalizer desktop vaporizer. I have personally tried this one, and it works just like the Volcano except it can also be used with concentrates. Definitely on my future to-buy list.
* More Dabbler replacement heaters since most of mine are clogged with gunk. In the future I will be sure to buy clean shatter/wax/crumble concentrates only!
Anyway I hope you enjoyed my blog about vaporizers. Once I get a hold of some more vaporizers I will let you know what I think of them. I must say that ever since I have switched to vaporizing I find smoking cannabis very difficult and hard on my lungs. And I have no desire to smoke it anymore; I especially do not want to run the risk of ruining my voice or reducing my lung capacity sing I sing. So vape on!
Did you like this article? If so a small donation would go a long ways to help me buy more vapes and test them out! Then I could tell you more and maybe even make a video! Oh and I would like to write about edibles too…more to come! And if it is raining where you’re at, keep dry and stay high! Also if anyone has any suggestions about good vaporizers I would love to hear from you!
Hey all, hope you’re doing well this Sunday. Today where I’m at in Santa Clarita, CA it is raining and windy. Hope it’s better where you’re at! This blog is about my experience with various cannabis vaporizers. My recent accidental dropping of one of my vaporizers into my bathroom sink filled with water inspired me to write this article. How’s that for inspiration?
In 2009 I was diagnosed with vocal nodules due to having worked in call center environments for so long and having to strain my voice over the background voices of other coworkers. It was also the same year I moved to Vancouver to a much larger office. I was told that I would have to stop smoking since it only further irritates the vocal cords (I have NEVER smoked nicotine or cigarettes in my entire life, ONLY cannabis, but the doctor said that smoke is smoke doesn’t matter what I’m smoking and that it will irritate my throat and lungs…no shit eh?). I have always found that smoking joints, pipes, and bongs extremely harsh on my body but would do it anyway since I did not really know much about vaporizers at the time with the exception of going into the vape lounges and using theirs and being so impressed with how my lungs don’t hurt whenever I use them. I also have spring allergies and allergies to various air contaminants such as pollen, dust, mold, perfume, and smoke. I used to have to use two puffers because my allergy symptoms are similar to those of an asthmatic patient. So naturally based on all of my health issues that affected my voice and my respiratory system I decided to completely switch to vaporizers, especially after receiving medical advice at one of my appointments that a vaporizer would significantly reduce the irritants to my throat and lungs.
The first vaporizer I purchased was the VOLCANO DIGIT, a top of the line herbal desktop vaporizer that is often used in cannabis vaporizer lounges (at least in the ones I saw in Vancouver since I lived there for five years). It is extremely expensive ($599 USD today, though when I bought it in 2009 I paid $812 CAD including tax…I guess that works out to be the same thing now since the Canadian dollar is so shitty!). This vaporizer is as smooth and effective as it gets for its vapor and consistency, and it is pleasantly flavorful too. Once you learn how to use it it becomes easy to use. It is manufactured by Storz & Bickel in Germany. It is definitely one of the best herbal vaporizers out there. I recommend using the Solid Valve set since the parts are more durable, and it is a lot cheaper to replace just the plastic bags rather than the entire bag and plastic fitting end as in the Easy Valve set, but I can see that the Easy Valve set is more convenient since you don’t have to measure and cut out the bags.
Pros: easy to use, great for sharing, digital temperature remembers your last setting even after unplugging.
Cons: EXPENSIVE. Also if you don’t put a lot of herbs in the chamber it will take a long time to feel effects. Works best when you put a whole lot in there but of course not too much since you don’t want to block the air.
After enjoying my new Volcano vaporizer I decided I needed to have something portable. The first thing I got was this really old Vapir Oxygen Mini, and it was a MUCH older version than the one shown in the link. Put it this way: I had to walk around with a 6xAA BATTERY PACK hooked up to the TELEPHONE CORD in order to get this thing to work. WTF hey? The battery did not last very long, maybe 30 minutes if I was lucky. And from what I remember it was not always consistent in its staying hot. It worked much better when plugged in. I got tired of the bulkiness of the battery back and the iffy reliability of its heater when on the hefty battery back, so I upgraded to the Vapir NO2 which one of my friends nicknamed “the Penis Bong” since it had this phallic look to it. It was so big that he would actually hold it to his crotch while vaporizing it and pretending that he was…you know…anyway. Those were some funny sessions! Needless to say this vaporizer was not portable enough so I had to find something else.
I remember seeing the Da Vinci portable vaporizer in some Vancouver head shops, but I was not prepared to spend too much more money at the time since I was taking care of some vet bills. So I held off on it. My “penis bong” worked just fine, and I did not care if people giggled at me when I was toking on it outside of venues. In various dispensaries I started seeing vaporizer pens that can be used with concentrates such as oil, crumble, wax, shatter, etc. So I invested in my first vaporizer pen set which consisted of two batteries, two oil tanks, and some mouthpieces and charging cables/adapters. This was the Joyetech eGo-T vaporizer pen to be used with oils. It even came with this green leopard patterned case! It worked well, though at the time some of the potency of the various oils I obtained in Vancouver were questionable, and there were almost no sativa strains unlike in Los Angeles (I cannot do too many indica or I end up taking a long nap which isn’t good when I desire productivity!). Even when I moved from Vancouver to Los Angles in June 2014 there were no pre-filled oil cartridges in Vancouver. Anyway while I was still in Vancouver I discovered that there are much more efficient oil tanks such as the Kanger Pro-Tank which I ended up using on my eGo batteries (I’ve tried both the Kanger Pro-Tank-2 and the Kanger mini Protank-2). But injecting oil into these tanks can be a messy procedure, plus the coils and atomizers in these tanks would easily burn out or get clogged due to the heavy thickness of cannabis oil (I am pretty sure that these tanks were originally designed for nicotine e-juice and not cannabis–I am glad that today we have pre-filled disposable cartridges, though I hope to eventually see more environmentally friendly options…I digress!).
Anyway I started seeing these microG Pens by Grenco Science in Vancouver; they were sold in head shops and dispensaries. I was delighted because there were many sativa strains available in crumble, shatter, and other solid state concentrates (meaning concentrates that are not always in oil form). I got one of those starter kits that came with two batteries and two chambers and other accessories. I loaded these bad boys with shatter and crumble, and lo and behold, I ended up with my own portable dabber! The use of these concentrate pens skyrocketed my cannabis tolerance.
Before I moved to Los Angeles I ended up selling/giving away a bunch of my vapes and their accessories. So after I moved I bought the Dabbler by Vapor Brothers. This model was highly regarded by High Times in 2014. I found this concentrates pen a lot sturdier than the microG, so I was so satisfied that I got two of them. Still though with certain concentrates that aren’t so pure I would end up with these icky residue (this happened on the microG too) that seemed to clog the chamber. I would have to keep buying more chambers/heaters, but that is just the nature of the beast; in vape pens like these you’ll always have to go through those heaters regularly because they wear out. Also with a device like the Volcano or the other herb vaporizers it’s the metal screens that you go through; those wear out too.
So yes I got tired of clogged heaters and having to replace them. I was also aware that the cost of concentrates can be a lot more than flowers and wanted an option to vaporize herbs. So I purchased the Da Vinci original vaporizer. It worked exactly the same as my “penis bong” Vapir NO2 but was MUCH more portable! It looked like a walkie talkie. I still have it. It’s the vape that I accidentally dropped in the water-filled bathroom sink. But you know what’s funny? It still works…OK it’s not really charging right now, but the heater works when plugged in, and I was able to use it. I must say that this is the toughest portable vape ever…I must have dropped it at least 50 times…and it just keeps going and going…even the last time in which I dropped it in the water! I want to get another one. In fact it would be nice to be able to carry two on me since the battery dies after an hour, and having two hours of portable vaping is good for me especially since I go to school and have to vape outside a lot since I am a considerate person like that. Da Vinci makes a much more superior model called the Ascent, but I am afraid that the glass mouthpiece would shatter in my possession. That glass mouthpiece, however, is responsible for the much more flavorful sips in this model…I am tempted to buy…one day! Haven’t even tried the Ascent yet.
Eventually a lot of pre-filled oil cartridges hit the market, and I gravitated to those since I got tired of having to replace heaters, tanks, and other vape parts. Sometimes these pre-filled oil cartridges can be pricey, but if you know where to go you can get a good deal. My favorite brands right now are Honey Vape (I can’t find their website–someone help!), Spliffin, and Liquid Gold. I like some other ones such as Jetty Extracts, Bhang Stick, and Dank Tanks, but I prefer the first three the I mentioned since to me they feel more potent and taste better. It may also have to do with what batteries I use since the combination of battery and cartridge can make a difference in the optimal vaporization. I now own so many batteries from the standard eGo variety to the eGo-C Twist changeable voltage battery to the Buck Naked Skinny to the King Pen battery (can’t find the product on their site, but it is a mini one similar to the Buck Naked Skinny battery), to this GolDrop battery that automatically turns on when you inhale (actually their concentrates are worth mentioning…but I’ve tried only ONE…their bubblegum oil…which actually tasted like bubblegum…would like to try more!). I’ve even gone through some disposable pens such as the Yolo 5 and others (I imagine you have to be very rich to be able to afford to use these regularly!). There are other brands of concentrate oils, cartridges, and pens that I enjoy using, but I guess that the bottom line is that the oil pens with cartridges or disposable options are the most convenient of the vaporizers to use.
In the future I plan to invest in the following vaporizers/parts:
* Hebe Titan 2 portable herbal vaporizer or equivalent. This one is rebranded as the G Pro Vaporizer, K-Vape 2.0, and many other brands. I like it because it has a micro-USB connection rather than an AC adapter as in other portable herbal vapes such as the Da Vinci original. Also the price varies, but the cheapest I have seen it is $50 at a head shop about 30 minutes away from me.
* The Herbalizer desktop vaporizer. I have personally tried this one, and it works just like the Volcano except it can also be used with concentrates. Definitely on my future to-buy list.
* More Dabbler replacement heaters since most of mine are clogged with gunk. In the future I will be sure to buy clean shatter/wax/crumble concentrates only!
Anyway I hope you enjoyed my blog about vaporizers. Once I get a hold of some more vaporizers I will let you know what I think of them. I must say that ever since I have switched to vaporizing I find smoking cannabis very difficult and hard on my lungs. And I have no desire to smoke it anymore; I especially do not want to run the risk of ruining my voice or reducing my lung capacity sing I sing. So vape on!
Did you like this article? If so a small donation would go a long ways to help me buy more vapes and test them out! Then I could tell you more and maybe even make a video! Oh and I would like to write about edibles too…more to come! And if it is raining where you’re at, keep dry and stay high! Also if anyone has any suggestions about good vaporizers I would love to hear from you!
Be the first person to like this.
Sponsored
