Higher Cost Vaporizers Are They Worth It?

I looked and didn't see this particular thread, maybe I missed it, If I have I apologize.

IMO There is no need to spend over $300 for a good vaporizer. Unless you want to. Its not going to medicate you more than the German Brand unit or the ones tha cost $600+. Then all the accessories that we all love to buy. We all love to add to our vaporizer collections but it can become expensive. But there's always the classifieds.

Even the expensive vaporizers run into problems like the Mighty. I had my eyes on the Crafty and Mighty but lost interest after the hype. I thought the Herbalizer would be great but I can't justify the cost for one unit, plus you are put on a waiting list, I'm not sure what that's all about. The Herbie even had some problems. I want a vaporizer or equipment I can buy and get in a couple of weeks.

We are all looking for that next best vaporizer but does it have to cost the big bucks, or big bucks for me. We might have some rich folks on the FC forum so $800 might be a piece of cake.

Sadly over pricing is just part of what we do, I mean look at what most folks pay for simple plant material. I know after coughing up the $80.00 for some wire and a wood block sanity and vape prices fell off my plate. Though I am much happier and buzzy now.

It's only worth it if a more costly vaporizer provides you something that a lesser cost vaporizer can't.

In regards to the S&B portables as an example, from what I have read, there are not any other cheaper portable vaporizers that can provide the voluminous clouds while at the same time decreasing heat and harshness via their cooling chamber that they can do so if these things are a top priority for you, than they very well may be worth the price of admission.

But even putting vapor quality aside, there are other things that one has to consider such as aesthetic appeal and pride of ownership which are super subjective and therefore very hard for anyone to justify to someone else.

You are right @lwien if it takes you $600 cost wise for a vaporizer to fit your needs if you can afford it - go for it. Often vaporizers come down in price after a while. I don't see that with some German Brand vaporizers.

The Crafty I've seen where it has come down in price but not much. with the Mighty I was concerned with some of the plastic issues. It looks like that's been solved. New vaporizers sometimes have problems most of the time eventually get resolved but not always.

Vaporbrothers 2.5
Currently at $1199
http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/vaporbrothers-2-5.18715/#post-818318

I'm not really seeing the reasons behind high priced vaporizers either. I mean, if you're looking for clouds and a high priced portable is the way to do it, I guess go for it.

But I mean, I hear of people putting their abv from a volcano into an herbalaire because it's more efficient at extracting. So why not just go with the herbalaire in the first place? Sure, the volcano is better at doing bags, if big sessions is your top priority than I guess getting a vaporizer that is good at big sessions is your decision.

But I'll take a little more hassle for a vaporizer that is equally as good or better and is much cheaper any day.

If you have too hard of a heavy hitter that you use often, it will shoot your tolerance way up.

lwien said:

It's only worth it if a more costly vaporizer provides you something that a lesser cost vaporizer can't.

In regards to the S&B portables as an example, from what I have read, there are not any other cheaper portable vaporizers that can provide the voluminous clouds while at the same time decreasing heat and harshness via their cooling chamber that they can do so if these things are a top priority for you, than they very well may be worth the price of admission.

But even putting vapor quality aside, there are other things that one has to consider such as aesthetic appeal and pride of ownership which are super subjective and therefore very hard for anyone to justify to someone else.

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Your comments on the mighty/crafty are interesting. I was all set to buy one via massdrop but read that they were pretty harsh. I know there are ways to decrease that but I'd rather just buy something less expensive and work on adding water etc.

I was in the same boat for a desktop until...

I made my own for less than $300 in parts shipped (and there are plenty of places to save money to bring that down).

This is a desktop vape though. It also hits very hard and forces you to use less than .2-.3 grams of herb or you will choke.... this is my definition of efficient vaping. Hitting a 24mm vape to a 18.8mm water setup allow me to hit with ease. Because I build up heat on a large surface area I can hit it as fast as I like too. Vapes that use small heaters have to use small tubes. Sure they can hit in a similar way, but you are still sucking on a straw.

I believe high prices are having a placebo effect on some people. Imo i haven't used a expensive vape that has stood out from others that cost less as a better performer. But this my opinion every one will have their own views on this subject

lwien said:

It's only worth it if a more costly vaporizer provides you something that a lesser cost vaporizer can't.

In regards to the S&B portables as an example, from what I have read, there are not any other cheaper portable vaporizers that can provide the voluminous clouds while at the same time decreasing heat and harshness via their cooling chamber that they can do so if these things are a top priority for you, than they very well may be worth the price of admission.

But even putting vapor quality aside, there are other things that one has to consider such as aesthetic appeal and pride of ownership which are super subjective and therefore very hard for anyone to justify to someone else.

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http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/where-do-i-go-from-here.18739/page-3#post-819825

also forgot to add for 500 I got an arizer extreme q , arizer solo and a bong to hook up to my eq for 500 plus other accessories so id rather get all that than one vape.

vakednotfried said:

I believe high prices are having a placebo effect on some people.

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The placebo effect can be just as valid and powerful as the real thing and, in my opinion, if it works it's worth just as much as an effect that was not a placebo.

Many people try to invalidate an experience by saying, "Ahh, it's just a placebo affect." I never could understand the "just a placebo affect" argument since the end result is all that matters, eh?
When it works, that old saying of "perception is reality" really comes into play.

Thanks for the interesting thread @CarolKing !

I agree, you don't need to spend a fortune to get a good vape. As far as S&B goes, I've always thought their prices were over the top. Fortunately, this is what helped me find FC in the first place. When I wanted to upgrade my box vape (good but not great) I knew what I needed was a Volcano. Looking around to try to figure out why it was so expensive, and whether it was really worth it, brought me here and led me to the EQ. Maybe not the best vape ever made (is there such a thing?), but it served me well for a couple years and I learned about this great community to boot! Have had the chance to use the Volcano a few times since, and while it does blow bags faster - and fuller if you don't know how to squeeze the most from an EQ - I'm very glad I went the way I did!

I'd rather have a home vape (most of my use), so the high priced Mighty & Crafty don't really appeal to me as being able to pack the same punch as a desktop but portable. What I'm looking for in a portable is something that works well enough for top offs, or if I'm away from home for a couple days. My less expensive portables do this just fine, and my nano keeps me happy as a clam at home.

Agree with @vakednotfried , that most may be better off with 2 vapes (one for home and one for out) for less money. Plus, provides you with a backup in case one goes on the fritz. And, don't even think you have to go near $500 for that combo.

It is all very personal, and I get the "status" part and even the placebo part that @lwien mentions. Kind of agree that if that works for you and you want to spend the money, go for it. But, by the same token I kind of feel bad for folks that are stuck in that mode. And, maybe wrongly so. They may get it and still enjoy going that way. To me it's kind of like dishing out the big money for a "lower" end Lexus or Acura that are virtually the same as the Toyotas and Hondas that they have as a platform. Sure they are a bit nicer and carry some status with the emblem, but just not my cup of tea.

Don't really have any regrets about any of my vape purchases. Even that old box vape that is out going from person to person so they can get a feel for vaping themselves. Each of my other ones except for the EQ are still in the rotation, and even that got pulled out a while back so I could blow bags at a party.

From all I have tried, and that's not really too many, the VapMan still steals my heart as the best bang for the buck vape out there. Yeah, you have to use the butane torch and it does take some practice to get the technique down, but it still amazes me just how well it does and how versatile it is at the amazing $100 price point.

One other thing I find kind of interesting while we're here on the topic. It seems from reading that many of the more expensive vapes tend to eat up more material to get you to the same place. Cheaper ones can certainly do this, too. My imag+ is a good example. But always strikes me as kind of funny that my nano (less than $150 when I got it at introductory price), seems to be so much more efficient with my stash than more expensive vapes - S&B products a good example. The Herbie seems to be different, but if I'm spending that much on a vape I would expect it to keep my consumption prices lower. Going again to the Lexus/Acura comparison, I'd rather spend much less on a VW Jetta TDI and be getting 50+ miles a gallon than have a little more plush ride with more status and be getting 25 - 35 mpg. But hey, that's just me. If others are happy with different, I don't mind and am glad they're happy. Though must admit, I do kind of pity them a bit sometimes.

lwien said:

The placebo effect can be just as valid and powerful as the real thing and, in my opinion, if it works it's worth just as much as an effect that was not a placebo.

Many people try to invalidate an experience by saying, "Ahh, it's just a placebo affect." I never could understand the "just a placebo affect" argument since the end result is all that matters, eh?
When it works, that old saying of "perception is reality" really comes into play.

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I was implying that a placebo effect may effect peoples decision to buy a vape buying seeing a high price and assuming it is the top shop due to price of course there is other factors at play i just feel that as a first time vape buyer they me be led to believe that a higher price automatically means perfection.,

as long as it medicates you and is effecient any price can be justified

flotntoke said:

It seems from reading that many of the more expensive vapes tend to eat up more material to get you to the same place.

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I don't know man. My MiniVap, one of the most expensive portables on the market, happens to be one of the most efficient vaporizers that I have ever used in that it rivals my old PD.

I think when getting a new vaporizer many of us are in the honeymoon phase anyway usually the first few weeks. So I think it takes us a little while before we can make a knowledgeable and clear review of a vaporizer. I usually like to wait to make a review after a few few week where I have a more clear perception of the good and bad qualities of a vaporizer.

edit
I really like the looks of the MiniVap. I see its on vapornations website for 20% off of $519. With 20% off but it's sold out. Thanks @lwien for flairing up my VAS.
I was looking at a pic of the MiniVap and it looks so big comparing it in size to the Solo.

CarolKing said:

I really like the looks of the MiniVap. I see its on vapornations website for 20% off of $519. With 20% off but it's sold out. Thanks @lwien for flairing up my VAS.

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Sorry, but in regards to price, check it out with StickStones. He's selling them.

lwien said:

Sorry, but in regards to price, check it out with StickStones. He's selling them.

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Argh!! Didn't need to know this either, but thanks. Have read a bit about the amazing MiniVap and was one of the primary reasons I said "many" instead of "all". It is the one that scares me the most in regards to this topic. I'm afraid to learn to much more about this one for fear I won't be able to afford to load it for a while after I would get one.

CarolKing said:

I looked and didn't see this particular thread, maybe I missed it, If I have I apologize.

IMO There is no need to spend over $300 for a good vaporizer. Unless you want to. Its not going to medicate you more than the German Brand unit or the ones tha cost $600+. Then all the accessories that we all love to buy. We all love to add to our vaporizer collections but it can become expensive. But there's always the classifieds.

Even the expensive vaporizers run into problems like the Mighty. I had my eyes on the Crafty and Mighty but lost interest after the hype. I thought the Herbalizer would be great but I can't justify the cost for one unit, plus you are put on a waiting list, I'm not sure what that's all about. The Herbie even had some problems. I want a vaporizer or equipment I can buy and get in a couple of weeks.

We are all looking for that next best vaporizer but does it have to cost the big bucks, or big bucks for me. We might have some rich folks on the FC forum so $800 might be a piece of cake.

Click to expand...

I can only say that for me that there's no correlation between how much I enjoy a vaporizer and how much it cost. Using the Lotus is as much fun as the Volcano, if not more. The Volcano is easier, but I prefer vapes that require a little manual ingenuity and vaporizer virtuosity for the best results. I don't think there is or ever will be a "best" vaporizer, just the vape that's best for that moment.

dabselector said:

Vaporbrothers 2.5
Currently at $1199
http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/vaporbrothers-2-5.18715/#post-818318

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I love the VaporBrothers company but what in the hell is that price about....

O_O

Hmmmm, my Mighty has had the 004 error come up a few times, but then went right back to working perfectly. The only plastic issues I have noticed is some top very thin pieces of plastic trim at the top of the main part of the unit with the lid off (the very top fins). These can snap out over time if you bump them, but serve as no issue at all to the function of the device. I've got like 6 friends with Mighty's and none of them has had any issue but a 004 which went away and left their Mighty still working after a few mins.

Not a single other portable I have ever used tastes as good or hits as hard as the Mighty (except the crafty, but it's lack of battery life renders it useless for my purposes).

I replaced my Sublimator with a Mighty because it hit as hard as the sub (but in a session rather than in one hit - which I do miss) but tasted so much better! The Mighty tastes better than any other flower vape I've ever owned. Look at the bottom of my sig to see some others I've had.

IMO, the answer to are high cost vapes worth it is yes and no.

Some high cost vapes provide better taste, extraction and/or clouds than cheaper competitors. Some are arguably just overpriced. Some are both unequivocally better than competitors but also arguably overpriced.

That VB 2.5, for example, seems to offer some potential benefits over a high end e-nail like an SiC/d-nail combo, but does it justify the almost 3x the price?

I still to this day cant find something that will out shine the sublimator for large hits so that makes it worth it to me.

I was allowed to send a high value vape back because I was so disappointed. I thought I was buying :the Answer" when it was (just) another vape. (IMHO) I think expectations that get too lofty are the cause. My bad.

I do tend to think these vaporizers in general are quite overpriced for what they are tbh.

My first vape ever was a really cheap TitanII vape from china for around £20 which actually vaporized but the USB socket broke after only a few days.
After the Titan broke, I had to go back to combustion.. But after vaping for a couple of days I found I really don't like combusting buds in a bong any more, it tastes awful and I'm sure I can taste butane from the flame now.

So I bought an Arizer Air to continue vaping and in the hope that it will last a bit longer..
Was it worth 6/7 times the price of the TitanII?
Do I get 6 times as medicated?
To me it was worth it, I don't think I'm getting any better effects from the AA, but I do expect it to last and it's keeping me away from combustion.

Which brings me to today.

The AA has worked well for nearly 2 weeks now, but now I find myself wanting more control and I had some throat irritation from the AA over the weekend. While I know I could order adapters and water tools for the AA.. I'm not looking to have a desk full of paraphernalia.

After reading through a few threads on here, I've come to the conclusion that the Mighty might be better fit for less draw restriction and throat irritation, so ended up ordering one of those this morning (looking forward to finishing work tomorrow lol).

I do think these things are quite expensive, and I'm a bit too new to this to give any long term opinions, but I'm hoping it's a "you get what you pay for" kind of scenario.