Please help a newbie choose a desktop vaporizer

Hi all. I've been reading this forum for the last two days - using the search function and checking archived threads. While it's been great, I think I'm suffering from information overload. I need to make a decision pretty quickly for health reasons, so hoping a few questions can be answered.

My requirements:

Solitary user
In UK (so need a compatible model and something I can order from here/not US)
Ease of use (could customise later, but need it to work "out of the box")
Good Hit w/Quick start-up
Easy on lungs (very important)
Durability (prefer something with parts not likely to break - wouldn't we all!)
Economical use of bud
Good for one person who currently tokes from a bong about 8 times per day

Taste not too important (as long as hit is good)
Have the budget to buy whatever is most suitable (obviously would like to spend less)

I've not had good luck with the DBV - the whip attachment and glass mouthpiece were, in my experience, poorly designed.

I'd be willing to invest in a Volcano, but this doesn't look like it's a good choice for just one person (would waste too much bud).

So, based on what I'm looking for and what's readily available (ie. I could order today and it will be here tomorrow), I've narrowed it down to the HerbalAire or Extreme Q.

I've looked at all the comparison threads and opinions seem pretty evenly split. (I'm so confused.)

The HerbalAire seems the better choice for durability (non breakable) and bag inhalation.
The Extreme Q seems better for the whip.

At this point, I'm leaning towards the HerbalAire - but before I go ahead and order, is there another vape I should be considering? Was I wrong to eliminate the Volcano (would it be suitable for one person)?

Any assistance would be very, very gratefully received. Thanks in advance!

Hmm i dont think that the volcano is a multi-person only vape. I use mine alone and never had any issues.
I can only compare against the other vapes i own. Compared to the LSV the volcano is more efficient. The same goes for the MFLB, no matter how long i "suck" on the load there in the end the volcano will extract a nother bag fromt he same herb.
The main downsides of the volcano are in other areas
* its quite noisy. Filling the bag will create noise and also using it, its like a bag of chips.
* It can dry you out if you overuse it. Keeping something to drink handy or filtering thru water will help there.
* bags only.

Besides that its a great vape. I have this one sitting on my pc at all times. Works great while gaming. Fill a balloon and consume when in need. No need to pay much attention because failing at filling a balloon is hard. With many other vapes you cannot operate one handed without looking while playing =).

However since you are a bong user volano hits could be to "light" for you. I will not create the same dense vapor you can expect from other vapes. For you i guess a vape using the standard water pipe would be best since you are used to this from bong smoking. I can only talk about the LSV in that area. Its a really nice tool for that. Using it with the water pipe adapter really makes it shine. But you should consider that using a vaporizer with a wpa adapter is much more work than using something like the volcano. Its cleaning * 10 and you need to pay attention to it or glass will break. So for me the LSV is more like the sunday driver, for daily use i mostly rely on the volcano.

no matter what you pick, you will end up with more than one vape =)

enjoy the journey

I owned an Extreme for a long time (it was my first) and I've tried the HA a few times (whip + bubbler). If I were choosing today, I'd go with the HA. The Extreme is an excellent unit but the HA is a lot more durable and less fuss. You don't have to grind for the HA.

The Volcano is a bag vape, and in my opinion bags are only useful for sharing with a group. When bags are full, vapour is always condensing inside them and as it ages, this adds a foul taste. If you want bags both the HA and Extreme Q can blow them, but direct draw is a better experience as far as I'm concerned.

Was I wrong to eliminate the Volcano (would it be suitable for one person)?

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A bag of vapor is a bag of vapor- doesn't really matter which model produces it. And yes you can end up with too much vapor sometimes if you miscalculate. I've actually let a mostly full bag of vapor go to waste more than once, because I'd already sucked in too much. You can certainly shut the vape off, but once you've filled a bag it's either inhale it all or waste it. You can also eliminate the Volcano if you want to save quite a bit of money. The herbalAire is very reliable and unlike the 'cano, also offers direct draw. I used a herbie for a couple of years and was very satisfied with it. You will need to add another screen at the top of the crucible if you're using ground bud. Otherwise your mouthpiece screen will get clogged up pretty quick. This model was designed to use pieces instead of ground herb.

Check Vaposhop's price on the herbalAire via this link on our retailers page- http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/retailer-discussion-discounts.1802/
(for a 10% discount). You may find it's your best price. I know everyonedoesit.com has it, but their price is higher.

Thanks everyone for your input. The HerbalAire seems to be a good choice for me, and I think I'll go with it (will wait until tomorrow in case someone offers a good reason not to!).

Max, thanks so much for linking to Vaposhop on your retailers page. Unfortunately, they're in the Netherlands and so it would be longer delivery (plus I think their items have an EU (not UK) plug).

I've seen some good prices on Ebay UK which I might go with as everyonedoesit seems to only be selling the 2.1 and I might as well go for the H2.2

Although I fear I might be opening up a whole new can of worms, have I been wrong to not consider portables? (I just assumed desktop/Home vapes would be more durable/better quality.)
Thanks again, everyone. The expert advice is very much appreciated.

Portable Units in general do not pack the same punch as desktop units. But there are some very fine units out there. Check out a Arizer Solo for instance.

But i think its best to have a decent desktop vape + a portable one in the long run.
Since collecting vapes seems to be so much fun i guess that in the end you will have multiple of each category anyway =)

have I been wrong to not consider portables?

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My view is get a portable if it's important (or convenient) to be able to use it on the go. But most portables can't deliver the hits (size wise) you can get from an AC model. The Solo is the closest to a home vape. As for durability, eventually any portable will need a new battery (if you keep it and use it long enough), and unless it's user replaceable, that's something to consider.

The Herbalaire is a great choice. The Solo stems fit inside pretty well allowing for a more efficient session (IMO).
http://www.puffitup.com/Arizer-Solo-Straight-Replacement-Wand-p/arizersolowandstraight.htm

I'd look into a log vape though. Usually ignored by new vaporists. Perfect to run through a water piece 8 times a day.

For the price of a volcano, you can buy a log vape, an Herbalaire, and a Solo (portable).

Magic9, I think new vaporists like me ignore the suggestion for a log vape because I know I for one can't understand them!

I'm also uncertain how to tape through a water piece, or attach anything to a bong. This is all brand new to me, which is why I'm looking for a device that I can simply plug in and go.

But you've got me intrigued now and I think I'll youtube a log vape and see if I can figure it out.

Such a great and helpful community here! Thanks again, all.

Whenever anyone asks me what vape they should get i recommend a solo. It's so easy to use and i think that it is durable, except for the glass stems, which is no big deal. There are wood stems and Gong adapters available also.

EDIT: from what i understand a log vape is always on, and you simply insert your stem and then inhale to your desire. Im not totally sure though, as i don't own one. but from what i've heard they are more work to get the perfect hit.

max said:

My view is get a portable if it's important (or convenient) to be able to use it on the go. But most portables can't deliver the hits (size wise) you can get from an AC model. The Solo is the closest to a home vape. As for durability, eventually any portable will need a new battery (if you keep it and use it long enough), and unless it's user replaceable, that's something to consider.

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I'd say the only exception to that (that I've tried) is the Lotus vape. I recently got one and it rivals or beats all of the desktop vapes in my sig. Haven't tried hitting it dry yet, so I can't comment on that. However if OP has/intends to use a waterpipe, the Lotus has my wholehearted recommendation.

log vapes work kind of like the LSV, there is a heating element inside that you draw air past to heat the air then draw the hot air over the herb. I always overlooked logs until I tried one, now I know I will always own at least one log. Here is a video of my UD through a water pipe so you can see how well logs work and how you can vape through water.

westcountrygirl said:

Magic9, I think new vaporists like me ignore the suggestion for a log cap because I know I for one can't understand them!

I'm also uncertain how to tape through a water piece, or attach anything to a bong. This is all brand new to me, which is why I'm looking for a device that I can simply plug in and go.

But you've got me intrigued now and I think I'll youtube a log vape and see if I can figure it out.

Such a great and helpful community here! Thanks again, all.

Click to expand...

http://www.vaporreviewblog.com/underdog-vaporizer-review/

http://www.thevaporizerblog.com/under-dog-vaporizer-review/

The 2nd link has a video. You load material into stem, put stem into vape, inhale. Easy.
For the water pipe, put stem into 14mm downstem, put vape on top (upside down), inhale.

THANK YOU, Clouded Vision and Magic9!

My (current) plan is to buy a HA and investigate log vapes which I was having trouble understanding how they could possibly work... your posts, links and videos were very, very helpful.