UK Vaporizer for dry herb?

I have been reading online for months now about vaporizers, and, having recently switched from rolling tobacco to eliquids anyway, now seems a sensible time to take the plunge.

But, despite extensive research, I have not been able to decide conclusively on what I want. I struggle with decision-making at the best of times, and when the decision involves substantial investment I am even more likely to procrastinate.

My main reasons for cannabis use are pain relief and brain relief. I have fibromyalgia, arthritis, spondylosis, osteomalacia, dysthymia, anxiety and various other lifelong conditions.

I am used to smoking dry herb with tobacco, and have used a bong only a handful of times at the most, though I suspect I might like the option of a vaporizer/bong combo. The bag option is not crucial, but since this will be a long-term investment, it would perhaps be nice to have this versatility. I can't take long draws, and prefer a cooler temperature vape.

I only really intend this to be for home use, although I can see that portability might be useful on occasion.

So, I am after some help please!

I have ruled out the following:

MFLB - I don't know why, but I don't like the battery concept. I can very much see this holds its reputation for good reason, but its not for me right now.

Vapir "anything" - I have seen respected forum members' opinions on this topic, and read various reports of poor quality and bad service

Volcano - it's just too expensive. Isn't it?

Plenty - I was really liking the idea of this one, but the fact it doesn't actually sit upright annoys me too much.

Other things that matter to me:

Temperature control
Ease of use
Easy to clean
UK availability
Durability (daily use)
Efficiency
Quality of parts (e.g. glass over plastic)

Vaporizers I keep coming back to:

Firefly (the cult tv geek in me can't help it!)
Herbalaire
Silver Surfer
Life Saber
Pax Ploom
Extreme Q
Da Vinci Ascent

I could ramble on some more, but hopefully the above will yield some great advice to begin with!

Thank you!

@Iwien (not sure how to tag)

The da buddha and silver surfer would be a good place to start. Simple, rugged and potent, and they won't break the bank

Thanks @hoptimum

Are there any UK sellers you would be able to recommend for those two?

Everyone does it carries both, but the dbv looks out of stock at the moment. They have the ssv

@hoptimum would you recommend the ssv over the herbalaire? If so, why?

The herbalaire has many supporters for its versatility as a bag and whip vaporizer, and for its efficiency. You dont even need to grind your herb. But as a whip vaporizer only I tend to prefer the ssv and dbv. Thats not to say that the HA would not be a good choice and serve you very well.

Some like the herbalAire for direct draw, but (aside from using with water filtration) out of the box my experience is that the DBV or SSV can provide much bigger hits. The herbalAire is a great buy, backed by a top rate company, but if you're not going to use the bag fill feature on a regular basis, I'd get a 7th Floor vape. I also found that filling bags prompted me to use considerably more product than with a whip model. If price is a factor I'd also seriously consider the DBV vs. the SSV. I prefer the latter, but the differences are minor-ergonomics and a slight difference in amount of vapor per hit (this doesn't mean you lose any vapor).

Quality of parts

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Any plastic you get on a quality vape (any of those you've listed) is going to be a high temp, hi tech plastic. I don't know why you're considering portables, along with heavy duty home units though. Portables have built-in limitations. Long term you're going to need new batteries and hit size will be much less in order to provide stealth and portability. Get a portable and a home unit by all means, if your use dictates it, but it's an apples and oranges comparison.

Thanks for that info, you phrased it perfectly so I understand. I can get lost in some terminology!

I think I have mis-used the term "efficiency"... what I meant is "bang for your buck" per use.

From your experience, how does the LSV compare with the DBV, HA and SSV, against my criteria?

Regarding plenty, it easily adapts to a kickstand with the included brush- so don't let sitting upright be the only deterrent from this vape. It is a beast.

@FlyingLow Do you happen to have a picture of what you mean?

The Plenty includes this handy brush, that also doubles as a makeshift kickstand. I sometimes prefer to use one of my broken driver bits (shown with both).

Simply insert into one of the screw holes on towards the bottom of the unit.


I will add, the Plenty is an excellent first vape:

• no learning curve.
• easily maintained/cleaned.
• nearly indestructible, there is nothing to break.
• Effective

Moreover, the Plenty packs a lung busting punch; which I don't know if it is for you- but it is exactly what I needed to give me my fix and ween myself off tobacco entirely. I have not smoked tobacco in 2 years this November, and I could not have done it without this beast... I will never go down that road again.

The other vapes you mentioned are mostly descent, but I have not had experience with them all. From what I understand the Herbalizer is a serious machine worth consideration if you have funds, and is super versatile in comparison... but it is over 2x the cost of a Plenty. I also travel with mine a ton. From festivals to the beach, she packs up easy and blends right into all my aircraft tools and equipment. Many are not nuts for the aesthetics of this vape, but I love it. It is somewhat inconspicuous.

@FlyingLow thank you so much - really food for thought.

I've never heard the Plenty described as inconspicuous before, but I'll take your word for it.

I'm really struggling to make up my mind. I like the simplicity of the whip design, but keep reading that glass is far preferable to silicon, which makes sense. I would be using it on the sofa (it will live on the adjacent coffee table), and every evening, so something which can be used well like that is important. Looking at the LSV videos, it might be a touch large to be doing that with? I haven't got any preference as regards "bong-type" hits, since I've really no bong experience. I just want to vape my herb not smoke it, and in the best way possible for me.

scarlettohaira said:

I'm really struggling to make up my mind. I like the simplicity of the whip design, but keep reading that glass is far preferable to silicon, which makes sense. I would be using it on the sofa (it will live on the adjacent coffee table), and every evening, so something which can be used well like that is important. Looking at the LSV videos, it might be a touch large to be doing that with? I haven't got any preference as regards "bong-type" hits, since I've really no bong experience. I just want to vape my herb not smoke it, and in the best way possible for me.

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So far as I can tell, no one has tasted anything except vapor through the DBV or SSV whips. I certainly haven't.

hoptimum said:

I've never heard the Plenty described as inconspicuous before, but I'll take your word for it.

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Is it big and bulky? ...Certainly!
But it looks nothing like any smoking device you have ever seen.

Being that I am a hobbyist with a workshop at my house, the Plenty blends right in with all the rest of my hand tools and power tools hanging over my workbench...

Technique-wise, which would I be able to use in a similar way to an itaste MVP?

(Thinking of draw strength & length; my drags are short and sharp-ish).

What about an e-nano against my criteria? Obviously no balloon capability, but that doesn't have to be a deal breaker.

scarlettohaira said:

Technique-wise, which would I be able to use in a similar way to an itaste MVP?

(Thinking of draw strength & length; my drags are short and sharp-ish).

What about an e-nano against my criteria? Obviously no balloon capability, but that doesn't have to be a deal breaker.

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enano would be a good choice, too. Smaller bowls so depending on how much you want to consume, you might have to refill it more often

Don't you have to pick up the plenty and hold down a trigger for every hit ? not really on the same level when speaking of a whip/wand style vape like the ssv, da buddha IMHO not saying it doesn't work just saying it isn't really in the "Whip" vaporizer category, Sitting back with a whip/wand type vape where the vaporizer stays on the table is much different as is the control you have over your end results.

My recommendation for you would be the SSV or Da Buddha

I really like the e-nano, and am sure I would get on well with it. However, I can't find clear details on international returns or shipping and am a little apprehensive about how easy any problem would be to resolve. Also not sure about UK availability for add-ons and accessories. I could tolerate the shipping time for the vaporizer, but I want to be able to get my hands on parts etc fairly quickly and painlessly.

So, I seem now to have whittled it down to the SSV, the HA (any opinion as to 2.2 vs Elite?), the Extreme Q (wait - where did that come from?) and the e-nano (if I can find peace of mind about the aforementioned concerns).

MORE HELP PLEASE!

E-nano is a great option, I have one on Andy's bench now

@RUDE BOY ~ The trigger kicks on the heating element, and goes to the level that you set on the dial. Click it once, it heats up and retains heat for a few minutes. Click it again to bring it back up to your desired temp. As you get used to it, it is really easy keep it dialed in. I raise the dial to max over the course of about 10-15 mins. It has the most even roast of any vape I have used- never a hint of combustion, excellent temp control.

Thanks @FlyingLow i wasn't certain how the trigger/heating system worked, I don't in anyway want to imply the Plenty's not a worthy vape to consider. I've never used one, only held one and that doesn't count for much. Someone I trust told me they like their Plenty a lot and would replace it should need arise so i gotta believe it performs well. I believe in my head I merged the OP in this thead with another that was leaning more towards whip/wand vapes.


sorry for the hijack !

I really like the e-nano, and am sure I would get on well with it. However, I can't find clear details on international returns or shipping and am a little apprehensive about how easy any problem would be to resolve. Also not sure about UK availability for add-ons and accessories. I could tolerate the shipping time for the vaporizer, but I want to be able to get my hands on parts etc fairly quickly and painlessly.

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Not the best choice for non US buyers with these concerns. I'd recommend the SSV or HA, and having owned and used both extensively, I'd give a big edge to the SSV for big hits. The HA is a great choice if you're going to use the bag fill option, but otherwise I'd go with 7th Floor. Also consider the DBV. It only differs from the SSV in ergonomics and appearance. The electronics and heater are the same, just a horizontal, one hand free connection and slightly different hits as far as vapor volume.

I'm in the UK and I love my dabuddha, I got it on ebay but everyonedoesit.com is a very legit site. I own a solo, a flashvape and a wychwood vaporizer and I only ever use my dabuddha, its easy fast, very reliable and consistently puts out big hits.
My friends brother has a plenty which I've used twice and I really didn't like it, the bowl was massive, the temperature dial wasn't any good. Packed I got light vapor, tried a few things like putting the liquid pad as a spacer but I found it massively inferior in terms of ease of use vs my DBV. However, I have only used it twice and vapes can take time.
Anyhow, you may have made a decision by now but it is an excellent choice to get into vaping, enjoy.