Vapor Quality?

[KidFated.]

What is it? Vapor is vapor, right?

 

[ginolicious]

I'm so confused at this thread.

There are different kinds of vapor based on taste, density, heat, etc. This all comes into play when discussing vapor quality related to a specific device as all devices are different and do a better job than others in providing superb vapor quality.

 

[Derrrpp]

I think the term "vapor quality" is too subjective to be very useful as a descriptor on its own. I've seen different people use it to describe different things, from vapor density to vapor taste to temperature of vapor. So when someone says a vape has good vapor quality, I think more details should be in order. What aspects, specifically, make that vapor "better quality" than average?

 

[stickstones]

For me, the characteristics that are measurable (even if completely subjective, they are measurable to the individual) are taste, temperature and density. I find taste to be affected by air path materials and temperature.

In the end, we get way out there on this forum with these things. Remember the days when all we were looking to do was get lifted and have a good time?

 

[organic weed]

For me high quality vapor is a vapor that doesn't irritate your air paths -- throat, bronchis, etc. -- while still doing the job and preserving the taste without any plastic or artificial smell/taste

 

[z9]

For me high quality vapor is a vapor that doesn't irritate your air paths -- throat, bronchis, etc. -- while still doing the job and preserving the taste without any plastic or artificial smell/taste

That's all dependent on strain, moisture, curing, flushing, grind (if any), the vape being used, the vapor path, temperature, amount of convection versus conduction, draw length/strength, etc

Which is why I agree with @max - Vapor quality doesn't exist. There's just too many variables. Vapor is vapor. As @KidFated said in the OP. You don't hear people talking about smoke quality...

 

[lwien]

I find taste to be affected by air path materials and temperature.

As well as a whole bunch of other things, eh?

For me, taste + lack of heat + lack of dryness/harshness + high density + a high that is neither too racy nor too sedative yet gets me really high on two to three hits = high quality vapor. (I don't think I've used the word "high" that many times before in one sentence.)

 

[RUDE BOY]

right now what I think designates good or bad vapor quality when comparing vapes most for me at least is, how i feel about the taste along with the effects felt from a given quantity of herb and I find i do often judge by visible vapor produced although I know i feel the effects without it it's still more enjoyable if i can see decent vapor while exhaling a tasty hit. (Hope that sentence that makes sense to me tomorrow.)

But in the long run I believe "vapor is vapor" is pretty much the truth of it.

What is it? Vapor is vapor, right?

 

[CarolKing]

Some vaporizers produce harsher vapor than other units or their not as flavorful as say your fav unit.

I had a portable unit that ran very hot even on the low heat. It could be because the mouthpiece was so close to the oven. I needed water filtration for the most part. The Mico Shower WT is good but a bit overpriced.

I prefer an extended air path with less harshness but being able to taste the real flavor of the cannabis. I think most of us like to see the actual vapor, it seems more satisfying, the thicker the better.

Good taste has to start with good product - herb that is well cured ( no mold) and not too dry. Also grown by a farmer with experience that uses non pesticides. Also how the plant is handled. I've talk to farmers who are very careful how they actually handle the bud itself, with their hands. They are careful not to destroy the medicinal properties of the plant.

The actual type of cannabis whether it's a day or a night time strain - That's right vapor flavor is subjective. What I might perceive as hash or foul tasting maybe wouldn't be for someone else. How a certain strain affects one person too racy for example may effect someone else differently.

 

[organic weed]

@z9 I slightly disagree with you.... you mention a lot of factor and there ar many more, but they can be divided into 2 categories:

- strain, moisture, curing, flushing, etc are all intrinsic of the bud

- the vapor path, temperature, amount of convection versus conduction, draw length/strength, etc are all related to the vape being used

Smoke is different if it is from a pipe, a cigar, a cigarette with filter or without a filter, etc... like the vapor is different depending on the bud AND on the vaporiser.

Vapor quality is a concept that does exists for me and the definition is subjective. I wrote my definition above. If other people think there is no vapor quality, then that's their definition of vapor quality. My definition is quiet clear to myself and is what guides me in the choice of BUD and VAPE

 

[TeeJay1952]

@organic weed that is what the FC experience is all about. A collegiate atmosphere, where folks give their opinion, disagree and elucidate. What we choose to pick up on is up to the individual.

 

[VapourHaze]

Water tastes different when drunk from a plastic cup to a metal cup and a glass cup. The same applies to vapour.

I dont care for conduction vs convection arguments ... all vapes are different and have their own quirks and personality.

Much more important to me is the holistic user experience. Not 'vapour quality' or percentage of convection etc.

Guess thats why i love the vapman so much .. i have a much stronger connection to it than any other vape ive used.

 

[max]

'Quality', as it is used here, refers to better or lesser, as in 'this material is better quality (for a specific purpose) than that material'. Since there's no secret or special technology for producing 'better' all around vapor, I think it's misleading to use that term. Doing so promotes the myth that a high end vape can produce 'better' vapor, or a vape with an all glass path delivers better vapor. With all glass the taste may be better for some, but taste, like density, volume, and temp, are all separate attributes of vapor production, and each can vary from one vape to another, and even vary according to how just a single model is used. I don't think lumping all or even some of these attributes into 'quality' is a good idea, especially since most attributes of vapor are subjective, as far as good or bad. One vaporist may like high density vapor, another may not. A big hitter doesn't produce better vapor than a stealth portable, just more vapor per hit. Some will love the big hits. Others would rather sip.

I think we need to be specific about the different attributes of vapor production and delivery. 'Quality' is just too vague and potentially misleading.

 

[lwien]

I don't think lumping all or even some of these attributes into 'quality' is a good idea, especially since most attributes of vapor are subjective, as far as good or bad.

Isn't this true of almost everything though? Something that could be of high quality doesn't mean that THAT quality is going to be appreciated by everyone, eh?

 

[KidFated.]

I think we need to be specific about the different attributes of vapor production and delivery. 'Quality' is just too vague and potentially misleading.

Exactly why I created this thread. It's mentioned in every thread am I always get almost annoyed. I think a better question to be asking when talking about vapor, "how are the vapor qualities?" Ie taste harshness density etc

 

[max]

Isn't this true of almost everything though? Something that could be of high quality doesn't mean that THAT quality is going to be appreciated by everyone, eh?

Again I think it's about the definition of 'quality'. People are using the term here to mean 'better', as in something that everyone wants. Steel is obviously a better quality material than wood for the business end of a hammer, but the handle end is more of a preference, when it comes to steel or wood. The quality of the handle, when using the hammer, is more about how it feels to you during use. And your preference of material could change, depending on whether you had to hammer all damn day long, every day, or just deliver a few whacks now and then.

So in dictionary terms, with 'quality', we're talking about character or nature (quality of a sound) with vapor, instead of grade of excellence (food of poor quality; silks of fine quality).

 

[jojo monkey]

I blame advertising for the generic use of the word.

I like putting two vapes side by side and loading them with the same herb. If I take a hit from both vapes a few seconds apart I find it allows for nice comparison of the extraction. This is how I judge the quality of the vapor. I am a delusional human so the longer I wait between hits the more I can fool myself.

Taste is an indicator of the amount of terpenes that are extracted. The more terpenes you get, the more subjective effects you will "feel".

http://www.hightimes.com/read/talking-terpenes

 

[lwien]

The more terpenes you get, the more subjective effects you will "feel".

The more terpenes I get, the more subjective effects I will "feel".------fixed.

 

[jojo monkey]

This is a nice read.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/

Tepenes don't work? What about aroma therapy?

Ever vape with a head cold? How high could you get?

 

[Tommy10]

Personally the qualities I like in vapor are thick density, warm enough to bite a little but not harsh, and flavour is nice but as long as there is no offensive taste im down. I judge most of how I like my vapor on exhale and seeing the cloud and getting the slight after taste, how it goes down is of less concern.
Funny how people can have completely opposite ideas, many would consider quality vapor to be cool and tastey with less concern of clouds on exhale. Good topic!

 

[mitchgo61]

Flavor. Coolness. Density.

Quality.

 

[hoptimum]

In the hands of a capable vaporist, any well designed vaporizer should produce good "quality" vapor. A bigger variable is the quality of the herb, IMO.