We Love Weed Vaporizers Here at Cali Vape King It’s What We Do
We’ve been avid vaping enthusiasts since the early 2000’s when the orignal Volcano Vaporizer came out. We cover both portable and desktop dry herb vaporizers as well as concentrate vapes and acessories. Vaping is a culture, it’s out culture.
We write these reviews to provide you with an in-depth look into all the best dry herb vaporizers on the market. We also make sure to find the cheapest pricing or the best available offers online for you. Make sure to Get on Our Mailing List for the lastest reviews and give-aways!!Enjoy 🙂
What Is A Vaporizer?
Vaporizers are much different than the joints, blunts, or bongs that we’re used to seeing or using. They are designed to heat the cannabinoids up to its smoking point without actually burning the plant material. This produces a more pure smoke that tastes better and is free of combustion and any possible carcinogens. All smokers, short-term and long-term, receive immediate health benefits by switching to a vape because there is no combustion of plant material, or nasty lighter fluid being consumed.
Advantages of portable vaporizers
Portable vaporizers carry so many benefits compared to the bulky desktop vapes that we all know and love. For starters, you can take them just about anywhere. I mean, what’s not to love about the convenience of being able to spark up anytime or place you have one with you? It’s also much more discreet than just lighting up a joint or pipe and having to deal with the smell of resin and smoke. I’m not hating on joints, but most people usually just pass my pen off as an e-cig., which is super chill.
10 Best Portable Vaporizers
There seems to be a never-ending selection of low-quality vapes that break in less than 3 months and/or consistently burn your product past its smoking point. To help you see through the BS, I’ve decided to put together a list of the 10 best handheld vaporizers on the market today. There are plenty of options out there, but this list contains my own personal review of each vape that I would personally recommend.
Winner for the best portable vaporizer
It was a tough decision, but after much deliberation (and A LOT of smoke sessions) I’ve put together a review of each vape, complete with the pros and cons, price, and rating for each.
The Best “Smart” Portable Vaporizer
Pax 3
Description: The third-edition of the legendary PAX pens is the first in the family to double as both an oil and herbal vaporizer. I’ve started to dabble in concentrates and was stoked when I found out I would be able to use the PAX 3 as a mobile rig. It has a high-quality feel to it with it’s metallic casing and pop-up mouthpiece. For it’s size, it has an awesome battery-life, and is even compatible with a downloadable app that can control the temperature and lock the pen to “control use”.. (AKA it can stop your friends from taking tokes while you’re out of the room.)
Manufacturer: Pax 3 | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
The All-Around Best Portable Vape
Davinci iQ Vaporizer
Description: The Davinci iQ was one of my favorites. One of the coolest things about this model is that it comes with a 10mm and 14mm adapter that allows you to rip on the vaporizer through a bong. Talk about versatile… It has a super portable design and is full of awesome features that make it one of the best on the market.
$279.99
Manufacturer: Davinci iQ | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
Don’t Don’t Call It Mighty For Nothin’
Mighty Vaporizer
Description: Big brother to the super popular Crafty, The Mighty is a dual-battery vape that, in my opinion, is best suited for cordless home-use. It’s battery-life outlasts any other handheld vape I’ve ever reviewed, and the on-board temperature controls make switching between flower and concentrates seamless. If you’re looking for something that is super portable for on-the-go use, I would probably recommend something smaller. But if you’re an at-home smoker looking to make the switch from joint or bong smoking because of the health benefits or ease of use with a vape, The Mighty just might be the one for you.
$349
Manufacturer: Mighty | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
The “Light Saber” Vaporizer
Hydrology 9 Vaporizer
Description: With what I would consider to be the best-looking design of any vaporizer on the market today (like a mix between a lightsaber and lava lamp), the Hydrology 9 contains a unique on-board water filtration system and a patented stirring tool for optimal herb-burning efficiency. The water filtration system and adjustable intake vents help create a seamless drag with dense, flavorful vapor. It’s not the most portable vape on the list, but the user experience of this product is unmatched. I would recommend to any avid home-smoker interested in a quality cordless vape.
Manufacturer: Hydrology 9 | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
The Gansta Pen
G Pen Elite Vape Pen
Description: The G Pen brand is known for its sleek, ultra-portable product-line and the Elite fits in well. Its size is comparable to the PAX 2 & 3, so it’s definitely pocket-sized if you’re looking for something with on-the-go capability. As with all the G Pen products, the Elite has a minimalist look and design that makes it super easy to use and maintain. Across the handhelds under $200, the Elite takes the crown.
Manufacturer: G Pen Elite | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
Mighty’s Little Beefy Brother
Crafty Vaporizer
Description: From the makers of the legendary Volcano, Storz & Bickel, The Crafty is a solid handheld vape with a discreet design that looks similar to some of the e-cigs I’ve seen around. It has a vented hard-plastic casing that makes it super grippy and, more importantly, allows for more efficient heat dispersion. If you’ve ever experienced the downside of a portable vape with a shell that heats up too fast then I’m sure you appreciate how awesome that is.
Manufacturer: Crafty | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
The “Peoples Choice”
Ghost MV1 Vaporizer
Description: The Ghost MV1 is a close competitor with the Hydrology 9 for most unique design. It has a super futuristic look and feel to it, and you can just tell by looking at it that it is one fine piece of equipment. The metallic finish options in nickel and rose gold are my two personal favorites. The MV1 has a retractable glass mouthpiece that helps with vapor cooling, and there is little to no draw resistance due to the high-quality internals. As one of the more premium vapes on the market, I would recommend the Ghost to anyone looking to invest in a solid piece of hardware for both at-home and on-the-go use.
$295
Manufacturer: Ghost MV1 | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
Best Compact Flavor
Firefly 2 Vaporizer
Description: The second installment in the Firefly family is considerable lighter and smaller than the original model. As one of my favorite pens for loose leaf smoking, I found it hard to believe that they were able to make such noticeable improvements to the second version. The insta-toke heating chamber gave consistent pulls that were jam packed full of flavor and vapor. It has a super discreet design and is very easy to maintain given that there are almost no moving parts other than the mouthpiece.
Manufacturer: Firefly 2 | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
Runner Up Best Vape Under $200
Arizer Air Vaporizer
Description: Runner-up for best handheld vape under 200 bucks is the Air. With a vented top to keep the body cool and a glass mouthpiece for optimal flavor, it is a solid choice for the economical stoner looking to enter the portable vape scene. The Air is an improved version of the Solo, and it has a smaller body and mouthpiece that make it much more portable than the original. It is a single-use vape for flower, so it isn’t exactly something I would go for since becoming a big fan of concentrates, but it’s still solid nonetheless.
Manufacturer: Arizer Air | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
The Best Dual Type Vaporizer
Haze V3 Dual Vaporizer
Description: The Haze V3 is a beast. It’s actually the world’s first handheld vaporizer to boast a dual-chamber bowl system. Essentially, you can get real creative with different combinations of your favorite flavors, and also have the ability to smoke both flower and concentrates in the same session. (pretty cool right?..) It’s also extremely durable and is definitely on the higher-end of the spectrum.
Manufacturer: Haze V3 Pen | Oven: Ceramic | Oven-capacity: .3 gr | Wax-compatible: No | Battery life: 3-5 sessions | Temp control: +/- 1 | Smartphone connectivity: Yes | Warranty: 10 years
Guide to Buying a Portable Vaporizer
So what’s the best vape for you? Well… there are a couple of things to consider when searching for a vape pen that suits your needs.
Durability
Like I mentioned earlier, there are endless amounts of low-quality vape pens. I can’t tell you how many $20 pens I went through before finally deciding to buy a solid portable. So with that said, durability played a huge role in the making of this top ten list and I hope it plays a role in your decision-process as well. (You WILL NOT regret it)
Portability
Handheld vaporizers vary in size. They will all be cordless, but they won’t all be able to fit in your pocket. Depending on if you’re an at-home smoker or an on-the-go smoker, you may want to consider if you need a vape that can fit in your pocket.
Easy Charging
Most vaporizers have Lithium-ion batteries that can hold a long charge, and there are others which come with disposable batteries. I would recommend the Lithium battery powered versions for their ease of use and eco-friendliness. (Take note of the battery details I discuss when comparing reviews.)
Taste and Vapor Density
Each portable pen gives out a unique taste and texture. Some give out greater vapor output than others, and some are adjustable to suite your own personal preference.
Apart from these couple of tips, there are other important factors to consider such as maintenance requirement, loading chamber size, and its special features — temp control, dual-purpose (herb/oil), or iPhone app compatibility (yes, that’s a thing). Just keep these tips in mind when choosing your portable vaporizer, and you’ll be all right!
Most Popular Vapes This Month
These are the most popular and trending vaporizers of 2018
9.2 TOTAL SCORE: Arizer Air II- Summary Well it’s here everyone! The Arizer Air II is out and unlike the new Iphones, there are actually significant differences between the two...
9.5 TOTAL SCORE: Vapir Rise Review Vapir Rise Vape Review Summary Vapir is a company that has been operating out of California since 1997 when they created the Advanced Inhalation...
9.4 TOTAL SCORE: Haze Dual V3 Vaporizer Review Summary Unique, dual-chamber design: Conduction for concentrate and convection for dry herb Multiple chamber and screen combinations: varies airflow Easy to operate,...
9.6 TOTAL SCORE: Firefly 2 Review: Always Solid Draws and Reminds Me of Smoking A Bowl (which I love) It's my new favorite toy! (for now) 🙂 I have to...
9.8 TOTAL SCORE: DaVinci IQ Review: The Best Portable Vaporizer DaVinci IQ Vaporizer Review Summary This baby packs a punch! I'm truly impressed with the technology that went into this...
10 TOTAL SCORE: Crafty Review From the makers of the legendary Volcano, Storz & Bickel, The Crafty is a solid handheld vape with a discreet design that looks similar to...
FAQS
Dry herb (aka marijuana) vaporizers are usually portable electronic devices that consist of some sort of chamber or “oven” and a draw method used to extract the herb. Vaporizers vary in quality and price but most have some sort of temperature control in place.
The process of vaping happens when the dry herb is heated to a high enough temperature to releact the THC and CBD from the plant. This produces the vapor you see when you vape. The vapor is inhaled (and usually held in for a second) and released. This will produce the sames euphoric feeling you get when you smoke your herb.
Vaping is generally a much “Cleaner” high. When compated to traditinoal combustion smoking, the high is much clear and you don’t get the intense crash feeling that comes with traditional smoking.
The advanced technology today means the latest and greatest vapes, like the Pax 3 and the Hydrology9 come with integrated apps.
There are a number of quality stores that supply authentic vapes on the market. These stores include giants like Vapor Nation and Vape-Smart but sometimes, we go straight to the companies provide the best values for your money, weather you’re provided a “coupon” for more expensive sites.
You may have heard the term “Dry Hit”in passing or among fellow avid vaping enthusiasts. A dry hit is that moment when you take your draw but the catromizre or atomizers isn’t fully filled or saturated. This produces a nasty ass burnt flavor and is NOT the business.
You’re going to get a lot of different answers out there. All in all, it’s going to depend on the vaporizer your use and the herb situation. Each case is unique. That being said, here is what Herb.co says:
Mellow Feel-Good High: 320 °F
Intense Energetic High: 365 °F
Deep Body Relaxation High: 428 °F
The two main methods are Convection and Conduction
Conduction vaping referes to having direct contact between your dry herb and some form of heat source. This process produces a vapor, thus avoiding unhealthy side-effects of tranditional combustion.
Convection vaping is a heating form that consists of passing heated air through the weed (material). Thinkg of a how a convection oven works. Same process. What makes convection unique is that if reaches all your dry herb at once. This makes the actual vaping process much more efficient than its coduction counterpart.
Most of the harm from smoking (combustion) comes from the thousands of chemicals that are burned and then inhales via smoke. This is especially useful if the user/patient has any sort of problematic respitory issues.
If you really need me to spell it out for you… I’m sorry… it’s no use at this point.