Boy, i missed this band wagon and I am way late to this party. But this vaporizer is absolutly great.
Temperature control. This matters more and more to me. Temperature control on a Herbalizer is perfect. The temperature probe is literally a couple millimeters below your herb. The heatsource is a light bulb that can only reach around 800F max. The processor turns the light bulb heat source on for fractions of time and at variable wattage to only heat the air as much as needed to reach temp and no more. The fan blowing air on the temp sensor setting adds more temp control consistency. Result: when you set the temp, air only at that temp blows on your herb. As a result, even when totally cooked, herb never tastes poorly. No burnt popcorn or charred taste, ever. The flavor of your herb just diminishes as you vape. Increase temp and you will release vapor at that higher boiling point. I love being able dial in temperature for effect and titration very precisely.
Low temps. Low temps taste outstanding and cool. Clean, maybe a little diluted flavor wise. Because of the long whip, maybe? In comparison, a Firefly 2 on low probably has a slightly stronger turpine taste and flavor profile (shorter, glass, vapor path), but it's close. Herbalizer has much bigger cloud production though as all of the herb is heated completely and evenly with never a need to stir. Low temperature taste, clouds, and enjoyability is basically as good as it gets IME.
High temps. The highest temperatures are cool and as cloudy as any vaporizer I've used. The temperature does not go as high as an Evo, so yes an Evo can get bigger clouds, on the margin, on its highest settings. But i rarely go that high (past 3pm on the Evo dial) with the Evo. On regularly used temps, Herbalizer wins on flavor, vapor coolness, with equal or better cloud production; I'd rather use an Herbalizer than my Clouds or Evos or anything else. That's a pretty big statement.
Heat up time. There is not any to speak of. Perfect.
THE FAN. I am a HUGE fan of the fan. More high end vaporizers need this feature. Allows you to get a huge draw in less than a second or three. Makes vaping feel far more natural. Allows you causally take a draw (like a cigarette) and have a casual conversation while doing so. The urge or necessity to look like a idiot drawing for 10-15 seconds is eliminated. I'd love to see a nice fan like this on a portable unit.
Water pipes. You can use them and they work well. Either a hydrotube on top with homemade or purchased connection or with tubing and gong adapters. Larger tubing, I use 3/8" inner diameter silicone with 1/8" wall thickness to reduce flow restriction.
Aromatherapy. Yup does it. Cool. Definitely works. Some reviews say otherwise. They're wrong. It's a nice mild scent. You can ramp it up by putting the steel pad in the herb chamber.
Construction quality. Man some reviews try to criticize this thing for something. Build quality is very good, despite some others saying otherwise. Yes the shell is plastic. But it's nice. The clam shell fits nicely together. I disagree with those who say it doesnt. The LCD screen in color is nice. The fans are quiet. But not silent. Small trade off for having instant heat up and amazing vapor being effortlessly shot into your lungs.
Putting the whip away. Make a figure 8 with the whip. Then fold in half so it's two small circles on top of each other about the size of where it lay's in the machine. Lay the whip with both ends towards the hinge in the back. Do this and 80% of the time, the whip requires no readjustment and the unit's clamshell closes flush without hassle instantly. Don't think anyone has said this, but it works very well and eliminates that criticism.
Top screen clogging. I've read this criticism and seen a few "fixes." My top screen doesnt clog easily so I dont have this probably at all. I'm a heavy user and cleaning is infrequent, quick, and easy. Place the herb chamber in iso and salt. Shake. Use the included brush and rub the bristles on the top and bottom screen, with salt and iso, for a few seconds. Rinse in hot water. Cleaning done. Whip can be soaked every long while. I haven't cleaned my whip yet and dont see a need yet after daily use for a couple weeks or so.
Bowl size and efficiency. Good size. Filled completely, a heavy user is medicated. A second bowl and you're definitely medicated. Very efficient use of herb.
Time to get medicated. With instant heat up times, from turning on, filling the bowl, and vaping, i'm medicated completely in less than 5 minutes. Hard to beat. Prefilled bowl and I can step downstairs and medicate in 2 minutes, then resume whatever I was doing. Perfect.
Discrete. Looks nice when not in use. Family friendly to the degree it gets no attention out in the open.
Bags. Cheaper admittedly. But old nasty bags aren't my bag. So them being more disposable is not much of downside for me. And no one has to hold the bag while filling. Just lean the empty bag on the lid while filling. It will pop up straight when full.
My favorite. Pushing the vapor through 14 feet of 3/8" inner diameter stainless steel tubing that has been frozen. I do this with the evo and it's great. The fan on the Herbalizer takes this up a notch because no more draw restriction at all! Vapor is menthol cold and very tasty. You can even shoot the cold vapor into a frozen mug and drink the vapor like a milk shake. Bad ass.
Desire to use compared to other vapes in line up. I'm using this vape, a pax 2, a cloud-evo, and a firewood 5 lately. The herbalizer is definately my prefered unit but the others have their times and situations I want them instead.
Bottom line. If anyone sees a deal on a herbalizer on ebay or otherwise, totally worth getting one. Nothing is better that I've used. Even if no warranty. It's possibly a perfect desktop.
