Dry herb vaporizers have hardcore adherents in the vaping community who appreciate their superior flavor as well as their ease of use and maintenance. Dry herb vaporizer advocates also tend to extoll the more laid-back, natural high they can get from dry herb vaporizers compared to cartridge vaporizers, often comparing the experience as similar to beer compared to cartridge’s “hard liquor”. Of course, there are also vape enthusiasts who appreciate both cartridge and dry herb vaping for their own merits.
As of writing, there are already thousands of different models of dry herb vaporizer on the market. The question of what is the “best dry herb vaporizer” can be incredibly subjective, because while they broadly operate on the same principle, they are meant for different types of vapers with different lifestyles.
Some vapers may only vape socially, while others might do it 24/7. Most vapers are somewhat in-between. However, lifestyle goes beyond vaping frequency. Some vapers need their rig to be portable while others are more focused on getting a high-quality vaping experience above anything else.
Here are some things to look out for when choosing the best dry herb vaporizer for your use.
Build quality and durability
“Cry once, buy once” definitely applies to dry herb vaporizer. As a general rule, the cheapest vape rigs available don’t tend to last very long and many of them can be unsafe to use after a while. As much as possible, you should purchase a vaporizer with a decent build quality because lower cost vaporizers not only tend to deliver an inferior vaping experience, they also pose a risk of injury as well.
Battery capacity vs. size
As a rule, the smaller a portable dry herb vaporizer is, the shorter their battery capacity and the fewer hits they can deliver before needing to recharge. Their heating chambers and heaters also tend to be smaller and less powerful. Larger portables may have significantly better battery capacities and heating characteristics, but they may lose much of their discreetness and may no longer fit in a regular clothes pocket, which might also mean you’ll use them less often.
If you prefer a desktop dry herb vaporizer, however, the battery life conundrum is moot since these units are powered through a wall socket. They are also usually too large to seriously consider carrying around.
Vapor quality
If you value the quality of the vapor above everything else, then a desktop unit might be a better fit for you. Desktop dry herb vaporizers have more powerful heaters, more responsive heating elements, and better overall control of the vaping experience.
Thankfully, there are plenty of great portable dry herb vaporizers that will also deliver almost as good of an experience, though you may still be limited by the size of the heating chamber, battery capacity, and the power of the heating element.
There is a lot of subjectivity on what makes “quality vapor”, so it’s always worth trying out different dry herb vaporizers when possible.
Ergonomics
Not all sizes, shapes, and layouts will work for all vapers. Whichever dry herb vaporizer you pick, it should be comfortable to hold and use. Even if a specific model provides a good number of features, if it’s awkward or uncomfortable to use, you should consider finding a vape pen that is more intuitive to handle.
In the end, the best dry herb vaporizer is the one that is simplest to use and provides you the most enjoyment. Take your time choosing the right pen and you’ll be rewarded with years of hassle-free vaping enjoyment.
