Finding Your First Dry Herb Vaporizer: A Newcomer’s Guide to Making the Right Choice

September 03, 2024

Buying a vaporizer can feel pretty overwhelming, especially if you're new to the game. It’s a big investment, so you definitely want to make sure you’re not ending up with something that’s going to give out on you. This guide is here to help anyone looking to pick up their first dry herb vaporizer. Keep in mind, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the best vaporizer for weed—it really depends on what you’re into.

If you’re just starting your cannabis journey, welcome! You might be curious about how a vaporizer works (and even if you’ve been at this for a while, there’s always more to learn). So here’s a quick rundown:

A vaporizer is basically a device that heats up dry herbs, concentrates, or e-liquids just enough to extract their active compounds without actually burning them. Instead of using an open flame, it uses controlled heat to create vapor, which you then inhale to get your dose of THC and CBD— the main players in cannabis.

Related article: Marijuana Effects: THC and CBD, and the Entourage Effect!

If you haven’t tried vaping weed yet, there are a bunch of reasons to consider it, which we’ll get into. Vaporizers are often seen as a “healthier” option and are known for being more discreet. While there’s no one reason to switch, whatever your reason is, it’s a good one. These days, a lot of people are choosing vaporizers to get high, each for their own reasons.

Vaping vs. Smoking: Understanding the Risks and Benefits

Vaping is generally less harmful than smoking weed, but how safe it is depends on a few key factors:

Whether the vaporizer uses convection or conduction heating.
The type of material the vaporizer is made from.
The temperature you’re vaping your herb at.
Whether your herb has pesticides or other chemicals in it.

Also, keep in mind that even breathing in too much oxygen can cause cell oxidation, so you want to be careful with anything unusual you’re inhaling. While vaping isn’t totally “healthy,” it’s definitely a better alternative to smoking.

In Germany, vaping weed and using edibles are both seen as safe options. Fun fact: the medical version of The Mighty Vaporizer by Storz & Bickle is actually covered by national health insurance there. But don’t forget, the psychological risks, like addiction and anxiety, are still on the table with vaping—just like with smoking—since both involve cannabis.

Finding the Perfect Vape: Lessons from My Under $75 Mistake

Finding your first vaporizer can be a bit of a rollercoaster, and it might even hit your wallet hard if you’re not ready for it. A couple of years ago, I was in the same boat, trying to figure it all out, and I ended up making some mistakes along the way. I bought the wrong vaporizer and ended up wasting $75. It was such a frustrating and confusing experience that I almost wanted to throw in the towel—it felt like being back in high school all over again!

These days, the market is packed with all sorts of new and unique vaporizers. So, how do you cut through the noise and find the one that’s right for you? That’s where we come in. We’re here to help you navigate this journey with some solid tips and advice. We’ll also walk you through the basic types and features of the most common vaporizers out there. Unlike my experience, you won’t have to go it alone on your search!

Vaporizer Basics: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Before diving into the nitty-gritty like brand names and prices, it’s super important to get familiar with the basics of vaporizers. Knowing what to look for when buying your first one is key. This guide is here to help you with that by covering:

The available technologies
The pros and cons of vaporizing weed
How to find a vaporizer that fits your lifestyle
Important factors to consider before buying
Budget tips (we’ll tackle this last because finding a vaporizer that meets your needs is more important than just going for the cheapest option)

To help you pick the "right" vaporizer—or at least ask the right questions when you visit your local smoke shop—start by asking yourself these questions (and hey, feel free to ask me anything too):

How many people will be using the vaporizer? Is it just for you or will you share it with roommates? Personally, my vaporizer is strictly for personal use. When I’m with friends, I go for a desktop vaporizer or my trusty old bong/bowl.
How often do you smoke during the day? How many hits do you typically take in a session?
Do you need something portable or just for home use? Is keeping it discreet important?
What’s your experience level with vaping? How comfortable are you with it?
Battery-powered vs. butane-operated portable vaporizers: Battery-powered ones need charging, which might not be ideal if you’re a frequent smoker. Butane-operated vaporizers have a bit of a learning curve, but they pack a punch in extraction power.
Replaceable batteries vs. non-replaceable batteries.
How much are you willing to spend? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Sometimes spending more means better quality, but not always. I’d suggest starting with a budget of $80 or more. Going below $80 could leave you disappointed.

Why Vaporizers Are Gaining Popularity: A Cleaner, Smoother High

Vaporizers are a pretty modern way to enjoy dry herbs (like cannabis and tobacco), concentrates, and essential oils. A lot of people in the vaping community believe that vaporizers offer a cleaner experience, are great for social settings because they don’t produce much odor, and can give you a more controlled and pure high.

The sensation you get from vaporizing dry herbs can be pretty different from the usual ways of smoking, like using bongs, bowls, or joints. It’s something that varies from person to person. Personally, I go through phases where I’ll smoke nothing but blunts for a month, then switch to dry herb vaping when I get tired of blunts. It’s kinda like having a favorite food you binge on for a while before switching things up, only to eventually come back to that original favorite.

When you’re vaporizing, the high can feel smoother and more controlled compared to traditional smoking methods, which can sometimes be rougher on your throat and lungs. The vapor you get from a vaporizer has fewer toxins and potentially harmful stuff than the smoke from burning your herb. This cleaner experience, along with the option to tweak temperature settings and the lack of heavy smoke odor, is why more people are turning to vaporizers. It’s a more customized and discreet way to enjoy your dry herbs.

Related article: Wax vs. Dry Herb Vaporizers: What’s better?

Portable Vaporizer vs. Desktop Vaporizer?

Choosing between a portable dry herb vaporizer and a desktop dry herb vaporizer really comes down to what you're into and how you plan to use it. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key differences:

Portable Dry Herb Vaporizer: This one’s all about mobility. It’s small, lightweight, and usually runs on batteries, so you can take it with you wherever you go. Perfect for outdoor activities, travel, or when you wanna keep things discreet. The trade-off? Portable vaporizers typically have a shorter battery life and a smaller chamber compared to desktop models.
Desktop Dry Herb Vaporizer: These are the heavy hitters, designed to stay put—usually at home. They’re known for producing top-notch vapor and come with advanced features. Since they’re plugged into an outlet, you get consistent power without worrying about battery life. Desktop models also have bigger chambers, which means longer sessions, and they often offer precise temperature control and better airflow for a smoother vapor.

So, if portability and convenience are what you’re after, a portable dry herb vaporizer could be your go-to. But if you’re all about vapor quality, longer sessions, and those extra features, a desktop dry herb vaporizer might be more your speed. Think about your lifestyle, how you like to use your vaporizer, and what kind of experience you’re aiming for when making your choice.

Conduction or Convection vaporizers?

ultimate-guide-buy-marijuana-dry-herb-convection-conduction-vaporizer

When deciding between conduction and convection dry herb vaporizers, it's key to understand how they work and how they’ll impact your vaping experience.

Conduction Dry Herb Vaporizers: These vaporizers heat your dry herb, oil, or wax by making direct contact with a hot surface. It’s a simple method, but it can sometimes lead to uneven heating, which might affect the taste and quality of your vapor. Some vaporizers try to fix this by using a ceramic bowl (oven) to help even things out. One downside of conduction vaporizers is that they can keep cooking your herb even when you’re not using them, which might lead to waste.
Convection Dry Herb Vaporizers: Convection vaporizers heat your herb, oil, or wax with warm air that’s generated in a separate compartment. This heated air then passes through the bowl with your product. Convection vaporizers usually provide more even heating, giving you a smoother vapor and better flavor. They’re often seen as safer too, since there’s no direct contact between the heating element and the herb.

In a nutshell, conduction vaporizers offer a simple heating process but can sometimes have issues with uneven heating and waste. Convection vaporizers, on the other hand, use hot air to provide more even and controlled heating, leading to a better overall experience. When you’re choosing between the two, think about what’s most important to you—whether it’s vapor quality, efficiency, or just what fits your style best.

Maintaining/cleaning your vaporizer

Let’s keep it simple when it comes to cleaning your vaporizer. Most vaporizers are pretty easy to clean, so you don’t need to base your decision on that. But if easy cleaning is a big deal for you, Arizer vaporizers are a solid choice. Cleaning them is a breeze—all you have to do is soak the stem in some isopropyl alcohol (ISO) or warm water, and you’re good to go!

From my experience, I haven’t found any vaporizer particularly tough to clean, so I wouldn’t stress too much about that when picking one. Vaporizers are generally user-friendly in this area. While Arizer vaporizers do stand out for their super easy cleaning process, overall, most vaporizers are designed to be convenient to clean. So, when you’re choosing your vaporizer, focus more on performance, features, and what suits your needs best.

Comparing Vaporizer Smells: Oil Cartridges, Concentrates, and Dry Herb

First off, vaporizers are way less noticeable than smoking. Let me break it down for you:

Oil Cartridges: When you vape weed, there’s still some smell, but oil cartridges, or 510 thread cartridges, aren’t what we’re focusing on here. They do, however, have the least noticeable smell. If you’re curious about them, check out this other post for more info.
Concentrates/Wax: Concentrates create less smell overall compared to dry herb, and the smell is different—so it might not catch as much attention. Keep in mind, there are many types of concentrates, each with its own smell, so it’s tough to make a blanket statement. A word of caution: a little concentrate goes a long way, so be careful not to overdo it. Using too much can build up your tolerance, making you need more over time. Go slow and make it last.
Bud/Dry Herb: Vaping dry herb might produce a bit more smell, but it’s still way less than smoking and disappears faster. You can light some incense or open a window to clear it out in a few minutes. Plus, the smell doesn’t cling to your clothes or fabrics.

If you’re worried about the smell, you can use a gadget to blow the vapor through, which helps remove the odor. A cheaper option is to use a paper towel roll stuffed with dryer sheets.

Finally, What’s Your Budget?

I want to share my journey of budgeting and choosing a vaporizer to hopefully help you out when it’s your turn to buy one. At first, I figured I could snag a vaporizer for under $100, since I’m used to smoking from a glass pipe and didn’t plan on using the device all that much.

I started by looking for vaporizers in that under-$100 range. But as I dug deeper, I realized there were a ton of options across different price points. Desktop vaporizers were out—they were too big and pricey, around $300—so I zeroed in on portable ones.

But here’s the thing: the more I looked into portable vaporizers under $100, the more I noticed that reviews were hit or miss, with a lot of people complaining about a lack of flavor.

Since taste is a big deal for me, I decided to up my budget to $200+ for a better experience. I wanted a vaporizer that was discreet but also delivered great flavor.

Glass Stem for Better Taste: During my research, I came across a comment recommending a vaporizer with glass tubing for better taste. This was a game-changer for me since I’m a big fan of my glass pipe.

So, I bumped up my budget to accommodate a glass vaporizer with excellent flavor. After a lot of searching, I finally found a vaporizer that checked all my boxes, even though it was a bit over my original budget. Not only did it meet my expectations, but it also came with a handy carrying case.

Through this whole process, I learned that vaporizers offer more than just discretion—they provide a top-notch experience. I realized the value of having a vaporizer that’s not just for occasional use. It’s now a regular part of my routine, giving me great taste, quick heating, long battery life, easy maintenance, and an all-around fantastic experience.

Quick Tip: When you’ve narrowed down your options, compare similar vaporizers using online reviews. These can give you valuable insights from industry experts who’ve actually used the products.

Remember, stick to your budget and don’t feel pressured to spend more than you’re comfortable with. If you need advice on finding the best vaporizer within your budget, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help as a consultant, not a salesperson.

In the end, I went with the ArGo. I’ve been using it for years now, and I couldn’t be happier.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the right vaporizer might take some time, but trust me, it's worth the effort. Putting in the time to find the perfect fit will save you money and get you the experience you're after.

I recommend checking out this subreddit about dry herb vaporizer—they’ve got an amazing and super helpful community. I personally learned a ton from it.

One last thing to keep in mind: vaping is a personal journey. Everyone’s got their own preferences—some people like rolling joints, others prefer small wooden bowls, some dig larger bubblers, and some even go for wax heated with a torch. When you’re looking at different devices, you’ll see both positive and negative reviews for each one. Trust your gut, stick to what you want from your device, and remember, you know your own needs better than anyone else. Find the vaporizer that’s right for YOU!

Stay toasty, my friends!

Also in Smoke Shop Blog

From Pipes to Vaporizers: How to Pick the Right Smoking Tool for You