Best Place to Start for a New Vaper

[CharonBucephalus]

Hi, my name's Charon and I've recently made the decision to switch to vaping for health-related reasons. I tried a plug-in vaporizer at my co-worker's house a few years ago and really enjoyed it but never really invested in one of my own (through sheer laziness more than anything). Now, I'm really feeling an urgency in making the jump to vaping. I don't have a ton of spare cash so I was thinking of saving up for a portable vaporizer as opposed to a better plug-in model. First of all, is that a mistake? Are portable models vastly inferior? Secondly, what's a portable model on the market that's the right balance of quality and affordability? A Pax? Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

[His_Highness]

Quality and affordability......Arizer Solo is a common suggestion for a starter vape. Easy to use, efficient, built like a tank, great battery life, proven over time and has plenty of accessories you can expand into. It's a portable but it's strong enough to stand against some of the better desktops.

I don't know where you're located but you can get them from PuffItUp here in the US and they'll take good care of you. With the discount code you can get the package for $160. If you contact Randy from PIU he will probably cut you a better deal and shipping will be free if you're in the states. If you can find it for less elsewhere Randy/PIU will usually price match too.

IMO - One of the better vapes around and PIU is known for treating their customers like family.

http://www.puffitup.com/category-s/61.htm

 

[Delta3DStudios]

I tried a plug-in vaporizer at my co-worker's house a few years ago and really enjoyed it but never really invested in one of my own (through sheer laziness more than anything)

Can you describe the vaporizer? Brand? Style? Etc

I don't have a ton of spare cash so I was thinking of saving up for a portable vaporizer as opposed to a better plug-in model. First of all, is that a mistake?

First of all, you should understand that a vaporizer is simply an oven designed to cook the herb. In general even low cost electronic battery powered vaporizers will get you where you want to go, they're just a (LOT) slower at cooking the herb thoroughly. (Some of my vapes take almost 30 minutes to finish an entire session)

Price does not direct correlate to performance, so keep that in mind. Spending $500 doesn't instantly make it a better vaporizer than a $100 vape

First of all, is that a mistake? Are portable models vastly inferior? Secondly, what's a portable model on the market that's the right balance of quality and affordability? A Pax? Any help would be very much appreciated.

It all depends on your budget, and your needs. So far we know that you've got a small budget, and you're interested in a portable.

There are all types of portables on the market, from tiny stealthy vapes. To large insane cloud machines which are NOT discrete at all.

Do you want a portable for around town, or your back porch?

There are tons of options on the market. The Pax is one of the bigger names in the portable industry, but does that make them the best? Nah. The Pax caters to the portable stealth market. If stealth isn't a big concern, then you can get by with a much cheaper vape.

Desktop vapes in general don't have any power conservation limitations. As such you'll find that Desktop vaporizers tend to give a bigger "bang for the buck" in terms of performance for price. There are quite a few desktop options under $150 which would satisfy most users of the forum (if they had a place to use a desktop vape, not everyone does).

Alternatively, there are a few butane powered vapes on the market. These are usually budget-friendly vaporizers which can produce large clouds and are portable. However butane vapes typically aren't very beginner friendly (easy to combust). The only butane vape I'd recommend for a newbie is the Dynavap Vapcap.

 

[HighSeasSailor]

Welcome aboard, you've made the right decision!

There's nothing wrong with a portable. You're absolutely right that they offer a great mix of convenience and usability, and a quality portable will definitely satisfy.

Pax 2 is definitely a great vape, it's what I chose for my first vaporizer merely to try it out as a method of consumption, and I was so impressed that I've stopped combusting by choice, because I just like it better. The fact that my lungs feel 100% better has only confirmed to me that I made the right choice.

Even if you do decide to get a plug in model later, you'll still be glad you have a portable, so dive right in and welcome to the club.

 

[Mr.Newton]

I would suggest checking out Vaporwarehouse.com,it's where I have purchased all my vaporizers,bubbler,and other parts.They have been operating for years now,I've been buying from them for years, and give fast delivery,usually shipped the day I place my order and they are in the US and I live in Canada.They have a large selection with reasonable prices.I have 2 vaporbrothers hands free vaporizers,1 is a spare.I have no need or desire to shop anywhere else for what I need in the vaping department.They are a reputable dealer and get my vote.Happy vaping

 

[Squiby]

For an efficient, affordable, pleasurable vaporizer, I would recommend the Dynavap Vapcaps.

Since receiving my Vapcaps, I have put all others aside. The reason is that:

- The vapour quality is excellent. It is smooth and flavorful.

- The Vapcaps are tiny but powerful vaporizers, so they take almost no space, fit nicely in your pocket or purse and are so beautiful that they can be displayed. They are the size and shape of a cigarette.

- They are heated with an exterior heat source. This means you don't need electricity or have to worry about short battery life or have to cart around wires and plugins. The Vapcap can be heated with any heat source; butane torch, regular Bic lighter, candle, oil lamp, stove flame or element, etc. This has turned out to be a big deal for me in terms of convenience.

- They are EASY to use. Fill the bowl, place the cap over the bowl and heat with your heat source of choice. When the chamber is up to temperature, the cap will make an audible click. Stop heating and toke. When the bowl is ready to be reheated the cap clicks again. Easy peasy.

- They are incredibly attractive. Vapcaps have a modular build so your can switch out bodies and mouthpieces without tools to give your Vapcap a custom and personalized look. They are beautiful and classy.

- Vapcaps are very affordable. There are several models to choose from; $30 - $150, and you can upgrade later. This is a fraction of the cost many larger more expensive but not necessarily better vapes.

Check out the Dynavap thread on this forum.

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/dynavap-vapcap.18853/page-212#post-996745

The inventor, George provides awesome customer service and is a joy to deal with. Here is a link to the Dynavap website.

http://www.dynavap.com/product-category/vapcap-vaporizers/

Here is a small sampling of them....

Good luck finding the best vape for you.

 

[Tommy10]

If I were saving up for a portable and wanted a good balance between cost and quality, I'd get an Arizer solo, or if you aren't against butane vapes, a Vapcap or vapman.

 

[little maggie]

I agree about both the solo and vapman. The solo is very easy to use, works well and is reasonable priced. Mine has lasted years. The air is similar but smaller. I don't know about the Pax but there are quite a few with a good balance that are reasonably priced and less well known If you live in the us, puff it up is a great place to buy and there is a discount for fc members.
If you don't mind butane, you can get a dynavap classic for $30 to try it out. I haven't done well with some of the butane vapes that are popular but the dynavap is simple to use. If you end up liking it the wood version is still only $90 which is a great price for something so beautiful and simple.
A third suggestion is the milaana. You won't find that advertised or available in many places but it is also simple to use and solid. Check out the Milaana thread too
Or:http://www.rastabuddhatao.net/milaana

 

[Mr.Newton]

I would suggest checking out Vaporwarehouse.com,it's where I have purchased all my vaporizers,bubbler,and other parts.They have been operating for years now,I've been buying from them for years, and give fast delivery,usually shipped the day I place my order and they are in the US and I live in Canada.They have a large selection with reasonable prices.I have 2 vaporbrothers hands free vaporizers,1 is a spare.I have no need or desire to shop anywhere else for what I need in the vaping department.They are a reputable dealer and get my vote.Happy vaping

https://www.vaporwarehouse.com/

 

[psychonaut]

Another +1 for vapcap, very affordable and works with a lighter. If you find yourself liking vaping, I would start saving up for a crafty or mighty. They're portable and medicate extremely efficiently. I use flower, kief and shatter in mine.

 

[CharonBucephalus]

Thanks so much, everyone! You've given me a lot to think about. The kind that my co-worker had was a tabletop plug-in variety. From what I remember, it was a silver, rectangular box with a a clear plastic tube extending from it with the mouthpiece. I pretty much mentioned a portable vaporizer more because I assumed that portability meant that it would be less effective but probably more affordable (which I'm now seeing really isn't the case). Portability and inconspicuousness isn't super important to me because I don't often smoke weed on the go so I imagine I'll be vaping at home 99.9% of the time. Before this thread, I didn't really know anything - now I know so much that I have to just sift through the info and make a decision! Thanks so much, everyone!

 

[Squiby]

Thanks so much, everyone!

Our pleasure. Stick around, the FC community is a great crowd.

 

[CarolKing]

If you want a desk top but the ease of a portable I would suggest the Solo. You can get one for around $150 - $160, Sometimes cheaper. A very sturdy unit that will last a long time. The battery can be replaced after 2 or 3 years by the owner.

Check out @PuffItUp Last Call. The section is at the end of the menu. They had the Davinci original portable vaporizer for only $59 or was it $49? It was inexpensive. This was last night.

@stickstones is a good resource PM him.

Almost foRgot to welcome you @CharonBucephalus. Glad you were able to find us.

 

[CharonBucephalus]

Thanks again, everyone! Lots of options to consider but I'll check them all out and (hopefully in a paycheck or two) buy the right one!

 

[little maggie]

If you want to consider a desktop, check out the log vapes. They are very simple and last forever. Also, except for the dynavaps, there price is comparable to many of the portables.. Right now the underdog and the enano are the 2 that are easily accessible. The Hi's are great but have a very long wait. And ED tnt is designing a new one but it's not ready yet.
The underdog starts at about $190, includes several stems of your choice, and has a great little cup for aromatherapy. They have a thread here:http://underdogvapes.com/home
Enano starts at the same price and comes with 1 stem of your choice but also includes variable power. https://epicvape.com/ I have both and like them equally

 

[Macc_z]

Thanks so much, everyone! You've given me a lot to think about. The kind that my co-worker had was a tabletop plug-in variety. From what I remember, it was a silver, rectangular box with a a clear plastic tube extending from it with the mouthpiece. I pretty much mentioned a portable vaporizer more because I assumed that portability meant that it would be less effective but probably more affordable (which I'm now seeing really isn't the case). Portability and inconspicuousness isn't super important to me because I don't often smoke weed on the go so I imagine I'll be vaping at home 99.9% of the time. Before this thread, I didn't really know anything - now I know so much that I have to just sift through the info and make a decision! Thanks so much, everyone!

If you're going to vape at home... stick with a desktop to fully enjoy the experience. The E-nano is an excellent start and is worth every penny. The taste of convection will have you hooked and wanting more.

Definitely check out Dynavap's products however, there is a learning curve with butane vapes but once you got the hang out it you're golden.

Experiment a little, there are a lot of vapes out there. Have fun but most importantly find a vape you will stick with and enjoy for years to come.

 

[CharonBucephalus]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, everyone! I guess as a follow-up question: are there any vape brands/models that you'd recommend avoiding like the plague? I already got the idea that, with the exception of the recommended DynaVap Vap Cap, butane models are a bit confusing for new vapers so I think I'll steer clear of butane options unless I go with the VapCap. Anything else I should definitely avoid?

 

[little maggie]

I think you'll find mixed reactions to your comment about butane. Many people find the other butane vapes, like the vapman, simple to use as well. I'm not one of them. I tend to not do well with vapes that are not totally simple. Having said that, you might want to check out the sticky brick thread. It's remake of a butane vape I have and is pretty simple to use. The sticky brick/daisy is not very portable. It's like a butane version of a log.
Not to be repetitive but I have quite a few vapes but the only ones I use now are the milaana and vapcap- other than logs.

 

[Vapor_Eyes]

I'll throw in a vote for a log vape. Any one will do, I like the E-Nano because of the built in variable temperature.

Log vapes give delicious, rich vapor from tiny amounts of material. They are capable of huge hits and work great with water pipes. And they are tiny, so they are very portable even though they have to be plugged in. It is possible to run them off of a power pack for true portability.

My nano is smaller than 2 of my 3 portables. Only my Grasshopper is smaller than my nano. I also have a CFX and Sticky Brick.

 

[Delta3DStudios]

are there any vape brands/models that you'd recommend avoiding like the plague?

I personally would avoid anything from Kandypens, Grenco Science, and Atmos - and all vaporizers which look similar to those vapes (they are sold under many brand names including snoop dog vapes)

 

[Squiby]

/

I personally would avoid anything from Kandypens, Grenco Science, and Atmos - and all vaporizers which look similar to those vapes (they are sold under many brand names including snoop dog vapes)

I wholeheartedly agree. The battery operated pens really scrape the bottom of the vape barrel, in my experience. It's too bad too because I have noticed that they are displayed prominently in just about every head shop in my area. It puts a new user at a disadvantage and may put them off vaping all together.

The way I see it, with its plethora of information FC really performs a much needed community service. Thank God I found my way here when I did!

 

[HighSeasSailor]

For an efficient, affordable, pleasurable vaporizer, I would recommend the Dynavap Vapcaps.

Since receiving my Vapcaps, I have put all others aside. The reason is that:

- The vapour quality is excellent. It is smooth and flavorful.

- The Vapcaps are tiny but powerful vaporizers, so they take almost no space, fit nicely in your pocket or purse and are so beautiful that they can be displayed. They are the size and shape of a cigarette.

- They are heated with an exterior heat source. This means you don't need electricity or have to worry about short battery life or have to cart around wires and plugins. The Vapcap can be heated with any heat source; butane torch, regular Bic lighter, candle, oil lamp, stove flame or element, etc. This has turned out to be a big deal for me in terms of convenience.

- They are EASY to use. Fill the bowl, place the cap over the bowl and heat with your heat source of choice. When the chamber is up to temperature, the cap will make an audible click. Stop heating and toke. When the bowl is ready to be reheated the cap clicks again. Easy peasy.

- They are incredibly attractive. Vapcaps have a modular build so your can switch out bodies and mouthpieces without tools to give your Vapcap a custom and personalized look. They are beautiful and classy.

- Vapcaps are very affordable. There are several models to choose from; $30 - $150, and you can upgrade later. This is a fraction of the cost many larger more expensive but not necessarily better vapes.

Check out the Dynavap thread on this forum.

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/dynavap-vapcap.18853/page-212#post-996745

The inventor, George provides awesome customer service and is a joy to deal with. Here is a link to the Dynavap website.

http://www.dynavap.com/product-category/vapcap-vaporizers/

Here is a small sampling of them....

Good luck finding the best vape for you.

I...actually kind of want one now. I wasn't sure about the butane thing but these look nice. Can you get an XL with all burl like that?

 

[Squiby]

I...actually kind of want one now. I wasn't sure about the butane thing but these look nice. Can you get an XL with all burl like that?

Yeah, these are fantastic vapes!!! I really only use my Vapcaps now. All the other vapes sit quietly in the corner gathering dust.

George the inventor, @VapCap brings updates, innovations and new ideas to the Dynavap forum. The modular build is genious. You can get extra bodies, stems or VonGs without getting a whole new setup.

I just had a look at the website and there is still a listing for the Ti Woody burl. The XL condenser kit has an option for exotic wood mouth pieces. Choose exotic and include a note to George at the checkout page that you would like a burl mp to match. He will set you up. You can also contact him directly if you have a specific request prior go placing an order.

So, yes, you can have an an XL Ti Woody all Burl, if you like.

Here is a pic of my stash of Vapcaps. I have bits and dabs of burl; a burl mp on my short blackwood body, a burl 14mm VonG short body and a cherished raw edge burl Dynastash. It is a beautiful wood.

 

[CharonBucephalus]

Awesome, thanks again! You guys are right, FuckCombustion does provide a much-needed resource for people like me who don't have a full grasp on the mechanics of vaping. It's easy to fall into the trappings of an inferior product. Thanks again for the wealth of information. Still deciding on what to go with but can't wait for pay day all the same.

 

[little maggie]

What is that beautiful light colored wood with the dark circles on it?
I would add that George is one of the most responsive inventors at FC. He generally responds to email questions within the same day in spite of how busy he is.

Yeah, these are fantastic vapes!!! I really only use my Vapcaps now. All the other vapes sit quietly in the corner gathering dust.

George the inventor, @VapCap brings updates, innovations and new ideas to the Dynavap forum. The modular build is genious. You can get extra bodies, stems or VonGs without getting a whole new setup.

I just had a look at the website and there is still a listing for the Ti Woody burl. The XL condenser kit has an option for exotic wood mouth pieces. Choose exotic and include a note to George at the checkout page that you would like a burl mp to match. He will set you up. You can also contact him directly if you have a specific request prior go placing an order.

So, yes, you can have an an XL Ti Woody all Burl, if you like.

Here is a pic of my stash of Vapcaps. I have bits and dabs of burl; a burl mp on my short blackwood body, a burl 14mm VonG short body and a cherished raw edge burl Dynastash. It is a beautiful wood.