What are we breathing into our lungs? Hazy post-fireworks smoke lingers heavily in the air after 4th of July. There’s still something magical about watching fire flowers light up the night sky despite air pollution, PTSD-inducing loud BOOM, and increased fire risk.
Fireworks shows are quickly being replaced by drone shows, and while it’s not exactly the same as a traditional fireworks show it is a better, safer option. I wonder the same about my own smoking habits.
I love lighting up a joint or savoring flower from a bong, despite knowing that sticky black gunk is being inhaled into my lungs. Dry herb vaporizers can be a better option to still enjoy smoke while inhaling significantly less gunk into our lungs.
If you’re curious about these non-combustible vaporization devices, keep reading. Everything you need to know before you try.
In this Dry Herb Vaporizer Guide:
Benefits of Dry Herb Vaporizer vs. Smoking (Video)
What is a Dry Herb Vaporizer?
How to Use a Dry Herb Vaporizer (Video + Step-By-Step Instructions)
Price Comparison + Product Reviews
THANK YOU TO E10LABS FOR SPONSORING THIS GUIDE
Watch // Heat-Not-Burn vs. Smoking: A Lung Simulation
What is a Dry Herb Vaporizer?
A dry herb vaporizer is like a flower smoker’s version of a vape pen. It’s a device that electronically heats ground flower to a precise temperature to vaporize the oil into a vapor, without burning or combusting any plant material to create smoke.
It’s a non-combustion method that uses no fire, no lighter, no inhaling butane, more discreet and portable. The resulting smoke is more flavorful, has no burnt material or ash, and leaves less residue.
In the lung simulation video above, the brown-black residue is sticky resin from the joint. Vaporizing also contains sticky resin, but it’s cleaner and contains less black-brown residue.
Types of Dry Herb Vaporizers
Handheld Pocket Devices
Bong and Bowl Attachments
Tabletop Devices
Concerns
We don’t yet know the effects of long-term use of these devices, and whether or not we’re inhaling residue from the electronics, metals, and plastics that make up these devices. High carbon footprint for production and not enough e-waste recycling programs to properly dispose of spent devices.
How to Use a Dry Herb Vaporizer
Step 1: Make sure your device is charged and clean.
If using for the first time, heat it up to burn off any manufacturing residue.
Wipe clean with isopropyl alcohol and dry before using.
Step 2: Load the chamber with ground flower.
Depending on the device, ⅛ teaspoon to ½ teaspoon of ground herb. About the same amount as you’d place into a bowl.
Tap it down to compress lightly so the ground flower holds together and heats evenly.
When you take a dry hit (without turning on the device) and inhale, you should be able to pull air through the device easily with a tiny bit of air flow resistance.
Step 3: Press the buttons to heat the device.
Set to the temperature you’d like.
For optimum flavor, less clouds, and a lighter high use the lowest temperature setting.
For maximum clouds, use the highest red temperature setting, but it may taste burnt if it gets too hot.
Step 4: Inhale slowly.
Wait until the device reaches set temperature, the device may buzz when ready.
Place your mouth around the mouthpiece and inhale slowly.
Inhale as much or as little as you’d like. You don’t need to smoke the entire bowl in one sitting.
Wait to feel the effects. Low temp setting with light to barely visible clouds can still get you very high.
The flower is done when it starts to taste and smell burnt popcorn, and the flower is no longer green but a toasted brown color.
Step 5: Empty chamber and clean.
Discard the toasted ground flower material.
Use a q-tip swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to clean the chamber of any residue.
You don’t have to clean after each use, but it does keep it fresher and tasting nice for the next session.
You could save the discard to use for making homemade infusions, there is still maybe 5% or less T*C that could be extracted in oil or alcohol but it doesn’t taste great. It’s okay to discard.
Price Comparison + Product Reviews
I’ve personally tried 5 of the devices below, and other two I’ve heard lots of user feedback. I’ll share my thoughts and notes about each device.
Price Comparison of Dry Herb Vaporizers
$60 – Iven by e10 Labs
$129 – Launch Box by Magic Flight
$200 – PAX Plus
$299 – DaVinci IQ3
$350 – Modül + Dok by Stundenglass
$449 – Venty by Storz & Bickel
$479 – Volcano Classic by Storz & Bickel
Iven by e10 Labs
Affordable, slim design fits nicely and discreetly in your pocket or purse. Easy to load and pack flower into the chamber. The $60 price point makes it accessible and easier on the wallet to replace. Comes in 3 colors - blue, green, and gray. Can get an attachment to use with a water bong for additional flavor and filtration, which is kinda goofy looking but I like the clean bong smoking experience and the carb feature for better airflow. It’s a very good performing handheld pocket device to try without an expensive investment.
Pros: Price, size, and slim design.
Cons: Device material feels budget-friendly. Small device with less airflow (for those who want big rips).
Launch Box by Magic Flight
Zero waste, crafted from a single block of hardwood, and ultra-durable. Pocket-sized device uses rechargeable batteries and a charging cable. I have not personally used this one, but fans of this device rave about its long-lasting durability and portability. The quote carved on the back is a nice touch: “Love is that which enables choice, always stronger than fear. Always choose on the basis of love.”
Pros: Durable and eco-friendly.
Cons: Design and parts look homemade, not aesthetic.
PAX Plus
Design and aesthetically beautiful with fun color options. Opt for the better performing PAX Plus and skip the cheaper Mini and PAX 3. It heats and smokes better, and the weight and materials feel good in my hand. Comes with a bunch of accessories and customization options, including different bowls, mouth pieces, cleaning bits and bobs, and a magnetic charging cable. Says it can be used to smoke concentrates, but I wouldn’t recommend it as it’s messy and not a good experience.
Pros: Aesthetic design and functionality.
Cons: Price, it’s an expensive device with parts that need to be replaced. The tiny screens inside the chamber that get burnt out over time or lost.
DaVinci IQ3
Rectangular pocket-sized design is attractive. Uses a cooling system to cool vapor by 50% and precise 1-degree temperature adjustments. Removable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery. I have not personally used this device, but it’s sold at the shop I work at and I have seen multiple people return the device or tell me that it didn’t work well for them.
Pros: Precision temperature control.
Cons: Tiny chamber for ground flower. Smallest I’ve seen and frustrating to open.
Modül + Dok by Stundenglass
A tabletop vaporizing device with magnetic removable glass bong attachment that can be used for dry herb vaporizing and concentrates by changing out the chambers. I just received one as a gift and have been enjoying this! It’s a dry herb vaporizer meets bong bubbler that uses a battery with screen and dial button to set temperature and time.
Pros: Beautiful and fun to use.
Cons: Too hot, burns flower. Dry herb chamber has a fixed temperature of 540 degrees F and is not adjustable. It gets too hot, too fast resulting in a burnt flavor sooner than I’d like during my session.
Venty by Storz & Bickel
High-performing, long-lasting and durable. Made by the inventors of the Volcano, this newest portable addition is beloved by all who own it for its function and reliability. Many users also love their Mighty+. Designwise, it’s a large handheld device that’s too big for a pocket and looks like a black and orange walkie talkie.
Pros: Function and reliability.
Cons: Wildly expensive. Not cute.
Volcano Classic by Storz & Bickel
The OG pioneer and ultimate tabletop vaporizer for the best flavor and smoking experience. A pyramid-shaped base with a detachable food-safe balloon bag that fills up with vapor that’s inhaled.
Pros: Flavor and craftsmanship.
Cons: Wildly expensive. Bulky and large. Need to buy replacement balloons.
Wanted to give Tiny Might a device made in Finland a shoutout. The person who introduced this device to me swears by it and says it's the longest lasting and best pocket vaporizer for 349 Euros.
And EXTRA BIG THANK YOU to e10 Labs for sponsoring content for this week’s post, plus providing snacks and devices at last month’s Forage & Feast urban foraging walk, and Pizza & Za in the park events.
XOXO, Christina W.
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