Help with my 1st Vape

Hi Folks,

After spending hours reading the FC forum and watching great videos on youtube I decided to join the forum and ask for help.

So far, my only experience with vapes happened a couple of months ago in US, when I met a dude who had a Volcano and a Vapir NO2. I enjoyed them both, but perhaps they are not the ideal vapes for me.

I would love if i could go to a shop and physically see/touch/try them, but I live in QLD Australia and here these are not sold anywhere (just online).

Anyway, my main criteria for choosing the vape is efficiency and secondly power. I want a vape that allows me to use small quantities of herbs and also one that vape it consistently, producing good intense vapor. Is it asking too much?

However, I have a dilemma regarding portability that I will explain laterby the way, I wish I could by a portable and powered one, but Ill have to stick with just one!

So after all my research my short list came down to:

Aromazap very efficient (0.025g per steam! Quite portable using a car adapter, but I get conserned with its power, although Ive seen people using bongs to boost it up. Do they post it to Australia? Ive tried to go up to checkout in their website and it seems that they do.

Magic Flight Launch Box great size and goes with small amounts, but its power and battery life concerns me.

Da Buddah/Silver Surfer Powerfull and can be somewhat portable if I use my car power inverter, but I dont know if it can cope with small amounts (1/4g for a session) and the glass parts are a bit concerning (can break).

Thinking on portability and my concern with MFLB battery usage I get some time tempted in getting a gas heated ones like iolite for example.

Well, those are all the question marks flying around my smoker head at the moment and I want to decide myself so that I can change my lifestyle and start vaping ASAP!

Cheers,

Marcos

Have you considered the Underdog? It's a log vape, like the Aromazap, and it's pretty cheap if you get one from the FC thread (in the 150-200 range). They will figure something out for you in terms of shipping. There's also the rockzap, which is an updated version of the aromazap, with ceramic insulation. Log vapes are generally very efficient, and from what I've read you can get some thick hits from them.
I have the MFLB, it's good for stealth and portability, but honestly the hits aren't that great, although I hear that the power adapter can change that. Personally, I chose it over gas powered portables like the wispr because I didn't want to keep restocking on butane. But if that's not a problem for you, I'd say the iolite is a solid candidate.
Hope that helps a little, I can't say I'm a vape expert, but I've been doing a lot of reading on the forums recently as well!

Dude i've went trough the vapes you wanna buy.. Many people here like them.. but not so many had tasted the UD experience.. I would never buy a UD (it was 300$ at a time seemed too much for a log vape) but i started to get very hooked up on their beauty and then i won.. in a design contest my current daily driver.. And i would trade any of my other vapes for any dog.. ( Dave is the best guy i met.. My price was a piece from the catalog but he made me a custom piece insted that normaly cost +100$ + shipped it for free (50$) to Bulgaria.. That is what i call awesome customer service) .
Video of action
You get fc bonus goods with some code you should email ask him directly..
BTW This unit has the first of the new cores same as the twigs rated for 24/7.
The HI looks awesome(not as superior as the UD) but combustion is what is keeping me off that vape.. I dont fire near wood and silicon... no no no :/. I would rather get a toasty top or ettera moxie (same price (150) + for 70$ it has optional battery pack for portability + heating element is isolated with ceramic just like CRZ + has glass stems.. )
The HI might offer better use with concentrates.

i think the mflb is a great starting point. it has you covered for home and away uses. I generally get 1-2 trenches per battery. and if you guy the powered adapter too then your battery worries will go way way down

im personally interested in a UD also. want to try one to compare against a PD unit. personally i find the restricted air path a pain on log units. heard it's better on the UD over other logs though.

my main criteria for choosing the vape is efficiency and secondly power.

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Efficiency can have different definitions with vaping, but you mention small quantities. The log vape design is a very good one for stretching your supply. A larger, whip vape like the SSV/DBV can handle small quantities as well, but due to the larger air path, your hits will be less rich (lower vapor/air ratio) and satisfying. And efficiency, as far as how much you end up using for a session, can often deal with the psychological aspect. With a small bowl like you have with a log vape, you'll tend to quit loading another bowl at some point, whereas you'll tend to vape more with a big bowled vape like an SSV, since you can easily load more, and people tend to frequently finish off a bowl, even if they don't feel the need for a bigger buzz at the time. I'm a little confused by your comment that .25g is a small amount for a session. While that may be true for you, for others it's a lot for one session. It could take around 4-6 bowls with a log type vape to vape that much, and that's a lot of hits.

As for power, I'm assuming this is what you mean- "also one that vape it consistently, producing good intense vapor." This shouldn't be an issue with any of the good, name brand models, but designs do vary. The larger whip vapes are going to produce intense vapor much easier than a log vape, and even more so compared to a small portable like the MFLB. I'd suggest checking youtube for some videos on the units you're interested in. That may give you a better idea of the kind of vapor production you can expect.

MaquinaVapor said:

Anyway, my main criteria for choosing the vape is efficiency and secondly power. I want a vape that allows me to use small quantities of herbs and also one that vape it consistently, producing good intense vapor. Is it asking too much?

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Based on that I can not suggest anything higher than an Underdog, specifically the twig if you want something portable. You mentioned using DBV in the car with a power inverter, this is FAR more cumbersome than you could imagine. Even just the inverters themselves are fairly huge. DBV is a great vape, I just think the Underdog being much much smaller, and having a car adapter available will be the way to go. For what its worth, I've owned DBV and still like it, but the Underdog was superior in every way if you ask me. Better hits, better highs, less bud used (significantly in my experience) and much better flavor as well.

Check out the Underdog thread and make your own opinion. I'm waiting on my second UD to get finished up I wanted a full size one for home and a twig to keep in the car. There is a reason I sold my good ole DBV. I had good times with it, but for me it was unable to compete.

Another vote for the Underdog. Couldn't say enough good things about my first one so I bought 4 more to discuss

weedemon said:

im personally interested in a UD also. want to try one to compare against a PD unit. personally i find the restricted air path a pain on log units. heard it's better on the UD over other logs though.

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Better is an understatement, I don't think any other log vape has a 3/8" ID stem. There is very little draw restriction. That said, I don't think it's as efficient as other log vapes until you really get your screen distance and draw speed down, but you can get some lung-busting hits from it. I think the key to happy vaping is finding the balance between hit power and efficiency that's right for you. That's why I've come to the conclusion that my DBV is my favorite vape. With a Vapor Brothers mini wand and standard SSV heater cover, I can get whatever experience I want. I can start low temp and turn it up as I go and get many hits from a small load or I can crank up the heat and take 2 or 3 lung-busters from the same amount. You can do this to an extent with the UD by having stems with different distances to the screen, and with the UD and other logs by having a variable power supply, but the dial on the DBV or SSV is pretty convenient. Note: I wouldn't feel this way with the original DBV glass, only SSV glass with a mini wand.

Whatever vape you wind up getting, you will probably wind up wanting to try another no matter how much you love what you get. MFLB FTPW!!! (For The Portable Win) :-P

i think you have just pushed me over the edge and now i have to buy one!

weedemon said:

i think you have just pushed me over the edge and now i have to buy one!

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What an underdog? I see you've already had an SSV.

IMO, I would suggest starting off with something heavier like a DBV/SSV/LSv. I say this due to the fact that you can achieve higher temperature cannabinoid's with a vape like these. If you were to start out with a vape like the MFLB/PD/MZ/RockZap, you would be getting stronger effects than you ever would with combustion, but at least for me, after you build even the slightest tolerance (~1-2 months heavy vaping), these lower-temp vapes just do not do the job. You will always be happy with your DBV, IMO.

Mathair Naduir said:

IMO, I would suggest starting off with something heavier like a DBV/SSV/LSv. I say this due to the fact that you can achieve higher temperature cannabinoid's with a vape like these. If you were to start out with a vape like the MFLB/PD/MZ/RockZap, you would be getting stronger effects than you ever would with combustion, but at least for me, after you build even the slightest tolerance (~1-2 months heavy vaping), these lower-temp vapes just do not do the job. You will always be happy with your DBV, IMO.

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Have you tried the CRZ and the UD? I sold my LSV after getting my UD and can achieve the same high temp results.

Gonzo said:

Mathair Naduir said:

IMO, I would suggest starting off with something heavier like a DBV/SSV/LSv. I say this due to the fact that you can achieve higher temperature cannabinoid's with a vape like these. If you were to start out with a vape like the MFLB/PD/MZ/RockZap, you would be getting stronger effects than you ever would with combustion, but at least for me, after you build even the slightest tolerance (~1-2 months heavy vaping), these lower-temp vapes just do not do the job. You will always be happy with your DBV, IMO.

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Have you tried the CRZ and the UD? I sold my LSV after getting my UD and can achieve the same high temp results.

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And I sold my DBV after getting my UD lol.

darkrom said:

Gonzo said:

Mathair Naduir said:

IMO, I would suggest starting off with something heavier like a DBV/SSV/LSv. I say this due to the fact that you can achieve higher temperature cannabinoid's with a vape like these. If you were to start out with a vape like the MFLB/PD/MZ/RockZap, you would be getting stronger effects than you ever would with combustion, but at least for me, after you build even the slightest tolerance (~1-2 months heavy vaping), these lower-temp vapes just do not do the job. You will always be happy with your DBV, IMO.

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Have you tried the CRZ and the UD? I sold my LSV after getting my UD and can achieve the same high temp results.

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And I sold my DBV after getting my UD lol.

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I used DBV only twice since i got my UD.. because of faulty power supply with a specific die hard /faint dead features . First time i vaped only a little , i couldnt stand anything more that the lowest setting on the dial the first time, the second time i used it with a gong to my bong piece .. and it resulted in 3-day sore throat and i wasn't any higher... just maimed..
Anyway I remember i gave it a hard use.. which lead to chronic sore throat.. Which was partialy solve by MW and totally gone when i got my UD.. DBV is on second place for most irritating vape i've tried sofar after the MFLB.. it does mean things to my mouth and throat + i occasionally get nauseous when i eat some goo rotten inside the box..

I agree with weedemon i think the MFLB, possibly with a Power Adapter, might be the best choice for you to start with, and like most vaporists you will have a growing collection along the way at some point and you will be able to compare through lots of rigorous testing and vapin herbs, what it is that YOU prefer and what your needs are.

You want portable and a wall powered vape, get the MFLB + PA and you will be ready whenever! and you wont need to be using up your batteries when your sitting at home using it. But if you decide you want to go portable, just grab some batteries(which you should always keep charged up, and a good charger can seriously help the life of your batteries) and go!

I say though if you want portable, AND you want to be able to use it whenever, the MFLB is your best bet.

Given your criteria for 'good intense vapor', I would not recommend the MFLB.

i too would recommend an UD if conservation and thick hits are what you are looking for. the unrestricted airflow of UDs make them appeal to those who dislike the draw of PDs and AZ/CRZs, and they still retain the renowned log vape efficiency. i used a MFLBPA for a good while, and while it excelled as a portable, it just did not fill my needs for a good home/desktop vape.

Hi. I am thinking of buying my first vape too and i want to know wheter UD would work in europe voltage system?

Simply put, yes.

It operates on 12V, & Dave offers 220V power supplies with EU plugs as well.

Well guys very nice inputs, thank you all!

I'm definitely leaning towards getting a log vape, which for me means conservation and thick hits! And these log vapes can be portable enough for me, because I have a 300W power inverter (12V-230V) in my car. However, I haven't heard about the UD before and now I can't decide between UD and CRZ. Can anyone explain why UD is supposedly better?

darkrom said:

weedemon said:

i think you have just pushed me over the edge and now i have to buy one!

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What an underdog? I see you've already had an SSV.

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Yeah a UD!

Looks like I got #6 from the lost dogs collection!

MaquinaVapor said:

Well guys very nice inputs, thank you all!

I'm definitely leaning towards getting a log vape, which for me means conservation and thick hits! And these log vapes can be portable enough for me, because I have a 300W power inverter (12V-230V) in my car. However, I haven't heard about the UD before and now I can't decide between UD and CRZ. Can anyone explain why UD is supposedly better?

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I have not used a CRZ, but I have used a PD. and from what I have learned is that the ud, has a wider core in it (a 3/8 instead of a 1/4) the core is also completely different as it is a unique.

From dave about his cores, regarding my complaint of the restricted airflow on my PD unit

I don't have much experience with the PD but I designed my core from scratch instead of cloning the PD so it doesn't have any of the PDs weaknesses including restricted airflow. Again I don't have direct experience but FC members who do are telling me the UD has much better performance so that's all I can go by.

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hope that helps!

one is not "better" than the other, it comes down to personal preference, and what you are looking for. i personally do not like the draw of aromazaps, though i have not used a rockzap before so i cannot comment on those, but the restricted flow of the aroma/myrtlezap forces you to draw at a much slower rate. now this might not bother you, or perhaps you would even prefer it, however, i enjoy being able to pull thick clouds while inhaling at a quicker pace. whichever route you choose, you will not be disappointed.

MaquinaVapor said:

However, I haven't heard about the UD before and now I can't decide between UD and CRZ. Can anyone explain why UD is supposedly better?

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I have read the entire UD thread, and I've read most of the AZ/CRZ thread (and many many other posts on FC, particularly ones about the various log vapes). After all of that reading of people's comments and reviews, and reading the comments from the makers of the different log vapes, my opinion is that it's really really hard to say which one of the two is definitively "better". It's really more an issue of which one is "better" for a particular individual. The UD and the CRZ are very similar yet distinctly different products, each with its own quirks/style. Underdog Dave and Zapman Rick are both good artists, good businessmen, and "good people" that stand proudly behind their products. On FC you can easily find many happy and devoted fans of both UDs and CRZs, and detractors are virtually nonexistant.

That said, I've personally never tried either one (yet ), so what do I know.

stroh said:

one is not "better" than the other, it comes down to personal preference, and what you are looking for. i personally do not like the draw of aromazaps, though i have not used a rockzap before so i cannot comment on those, but the restricted flow of the aroma/myrtlezap forces you to draw at a much slower rate. now this might not bother you, or perhaps you would even prefer it, however, i enjoy being able to pull thick clouds while inhaling at a quicker pace. whichever route you choose, you will not be disappointed.

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While UD probably still has better airflow, do note the CRZ has better airflow over the original aromazaps because the stem is a tad bit wider.

stroh said:

one is not "better" than the other, it comes down to personal preference, and what you are looking for. i personally do not like the draw of aromazaps, though i have not used a rockzap before so i cannot comment on those, but the restricted flow of the aroma/myrtlezap forces you to draw at a much slower rate. now this might not bother you, or perhaps you would even prefer it, however, i enjoy being able to pull thick clouds while inhaling at a quicker pace. whichever route you choose, you will not be disappointed.

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FACT. I may be a huge underdog fan (working on toning this down) but really any log vape will be a fantastic vaporizer. I've never used the others, but my understanding is that the underdog has improved airflow. I've heard nothing but great reviews from almost every log owner out there.