Herb Vaporisers
A herb vaporiser heats dried botanical material with hot air or a hot surface instead of setting light to it. This collection holds 17 devices covering pocket sized portables and mains powered desktop units, with prices opening at £19.99 for the Dazzvape kit and running up to the Storz & Bickel bench machines.
The range is built around three makers. PAX supplies the Flow, Mini 2 and Four, which are the slim pocket devices with app adjustable temperature. Storz & Bickel covers the serious end with the Mighty Plus handheld, the Plenty tabletop and the Volcano Classic. DazzLeaf and Dazzvape fill in the affordable portable bracket. All are sold to adults aged 18 and over only.
Conduction, convection and hybrid heating
The heating method is the single biggest difference between these devices and it changes how the vaporiser behaves.
Conduction puts the material in direct contact with a heated chamber wall. It heats fast, costs less to build and is what most compact portables use. The load nearest the wall cooks first, so stir the chamber part way through.
Convection pulls heated air through the material without the chamber itself doing the work, giving more even extraction and cleaner flavour. Desktop units like the Volcano Classic push hot air through a filling chamber and into a detachable balloon.
Hybrid designs combine both. The Storz & Bickel Mighty Plus works this way, which is why it delivers thick vapour on the first draw.
Portable or desktop
Portables
Battery powered, pocketable and quick to start. The PAX Mini 2 and PAX Four sit at the discreet end, while the Mighty Plus is a chunkier handheld that trades pocketability for output and battery life. Portables typically run a session for five to fifteen minutes before the battery or the load is spent.
Desktop units
Mains powered, far more powerful and built to be used in one place. The Volcano Classic fills a balloon that you detach and draw from at your own pace. The Plenty uses a heat exchanger and a corrugated whip instead. Desktops give the most consistent temperature control of anything here because they are not working around a battery.
Temperature control
Most dry herb vaporisers operate between roughly 160C and 220C. Lower settings give lighter, more aromatic vapour. Higher settings extract more from the same load and produce thicker vapour with a harsher mouthfeel. Devices with stepped presets, such as the PAX range, keep this simple. The Storz & Bickel units give degree by degree adjustment for anyone who wants to dial in a specific point and repeat it.
Chamber size, loading and cleaning
A portable chamber usually holds around 0.25g to 0.5g. Desktop chambers take more. Grind the material evenly and pack it firmly enough to sit level without compressing it into a plug, because airflow is what carries the heat. Too loose and it scorches at the edges. Too tight and the draw becomes hard work.
Cleaning is the maintenance job that decides how long the device lasts. Empty the chamber while it is still warm, brush out the residue and clean the vapour path with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud every few sessions. Screens clog first and are cheap to replace. A neglected vapour path is the usual reason a vaporiser starts tasting stale.
Ordering and support
These devices are age restricted and sold to adults aged 18 and over only. UK delivery is free on orders over £20. For help choosing between a portable and a desktop unit or checking which spares fit a device you own, call 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.
Herb vaporiser questions answered
What is the difference between conduction and convection?
Conduction heats the material through direct contact with the chamber wall, which is fast and keeps the device small and affordable. Convection pulls hot air through the material instead, giving more even extraction and cleaner flavour at the cost of a bigger, more complex device. Hybrid vaporisers such as the Mighty Plus use both together.
What temperature should I set?
Most dry herb devices run between about 160C and 220C. Starting low gives lighter, more aromatic vapour and makes the load last longer. Raising the temperature extracts more from the same amount of material and produces denser vapour with a harsher feel. Working upwards in small steps within a single session is the usual approach.
How often should I clean a herb vaporiser?
Brush the chamber out after every few sessions and clean the vapour path with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud roughly once a fortnight if you use the device regularly. Screens clog quickly and are inexpensive to replace. Skipping this is the most common reason a vaporiser starts to taste stale or draws harder than it should.
Should I buy a portable or a desktop vaporiser?
Buy a portable if you want something you can carry and use in short sessions. The PAX Mini 2 and PAX Four are the discreet options here. Buy a desktop such as the Volcano Classic or the Plenty if it will live in one room and you want the most consistent temperature control and the largest capacity. Desktops are mains powered so there is no battery to manage.
Do I need to grind the material first?
Yes. An even grind gives the hot air a consistent path through the chamber, which is what produces even vapour. Whole pieces leave cold spots and scorch where they touch the wall. Pack the chamber level and firm without compressing it into a solid plug, because airflow through the load is what carries the heat.
Do I have to be 18 to buy a herb vaporiser?
Yes. These devices are age restricted in the UK and Vapestore Direct sells them to adults aged 18 and over only. Every order is age verified before dispatch and identification may be requested. UK delivery is free on orders over £20 and the team can be reached on 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.