Two of the greatest vaporizers to ever hit the market, the Arizer Solo Portable Vaporizer and the Hydrology9 by Cloudious9, go head-to-head in this VapeFuse comparison post: Arizer Solo vs. Hydrology9. Both of these vaping powerhouses are capable of producing insane clouds of tasty herb vapor and are widely recognized as some of the greatest portable vaporizers on the market.

What’s interesting to note about the two vapes is that neither the Arizer Solo or the Hydrology9 feature any kind of screen, both instead utilizing a system of lights to communicate what the current temp is. Read on as I walk you through two of my all-time favorite devices, if you’re a portable vaping fanatic this will be one for you!

Arizer Solo – RRP$240au/180usd

One of the most highly-acclaimed portable vaporizers of our time, the Arizer Solo, has been killing the vape game for over half a decade. The VapeFuse store has seen many of these bad boys come and go in our time, and we know that when an Arizer Solo gets a new home we won’t be seeing it again. While the Solo may appear to be quite fragile due to the protruding glass Aroma Tube, it’s actually a brick of a device that can withstand a thumping! The Arizer Solo is big on both flavor and vapor production, and for its size it’s the most economic device I’ve come across in terms of herb consumption.

Canadian company Arizer Tech recently gave the Solo an upgrade in the form of the Arizer Solo II. This new version features an upgraded digital display, a slimmer frame, and fresh new packaging. While many old school vapers still prefer the Solo’s simple analog interface, the additional battery power, customizable vaping experience, and better airflow have pushed many vapers towards the improved Solo II. Funnily enough, the chamber and vapor path didn’t change at all, which is a true testament to the ultra-premium nature of the original device.

Hydrology9 by Cloudious9 – RRP$390aud/285usd

The hottest product to hit the VapeFuse store this past quarter is most definitely the Hydrology9 aqua-filtered portable vaporizers by US company Cloudious9. One of the main reasons the Hydrology9 has taken the vaping market by storm is due to its inbuilt spill-proof aqua bubbler that helps to cool the herb vapor to perfection. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to have a session on a DaVinci IQ Portable Vape, you’ll be able to gauge what you’re in for with the ultra-premium Hydrology9!

Cloudious9’s masterpiece actually goes one better than the affable IQ by introducing water into the mix. The Hydrology9’s next-level cooling power makes it my absolute top pick if you’re a herb vaper that’s obsessed with flavor. A device this powerful, however, requires a butt-load of battery to power the internal heating unit. If you’re looking for a vaporizer to take on-the-go If you’re using Piece Water Natural H2O solution instead of water you’re gonna save a bunch of time on cleaning your device.

The Hydrology9 and Arizer Solo have very different chamber styles, but both are nonetheless super effective in their own right! Arizer Tech’s pure-convection vaping style is yet to be replicated, making it the go-to for herb connoisseurs on a budget. As there is little to no contact between the device and the herbs, the only heat the herbs receive is from the air you inhale. This means that glass and hot air are the only things in your vapor path, which amounts in a phenomenal tasting vapor. Cloudious9’s pilot project the Hydrology9 features a bottom-loading teflon baking chamber that accommodates roughly 0.3 grams of dried herb. It also features a never-before-seen titanium stirring pin for rotating the herbs in the chamber mid-session. Ingenious.

The Arizer Solo’s All-Glass Aroma Tube holds up to 0.15 grams of dried herb, so roughly half that of the Hydrology9. Its all-glass vapor path produces a super-sweet vapor that seems to be never-ending! At some stage, we have to do a sesh video where I just toke on the Solo until no more vapor comes out. My bet is we’d be there for over twenty minutes! To use the device, you pack your ground herb into the end of the glass Aroma Tube and insert it into the heated chamber. With the Arizer portable vapes, you need to take a good few pulls on the tube before the vapor starts to blow. It is good practice to start your session on level 3 (190°C / 374°F).

Due to the large deposit of water present in the Hydrology9’s top-half, care must be taken when filling the device. I constructed a small cone-shaped funnel out of a sticky note to help load in the ground herb, as there is not much of a concave around the Hydrology9’s chamber. Take careful note not to over-pack the chamber as this may result in the titanium rotation pin not fitting in. Once the chambers packed, simply click the operation button three times to kick-start the heating process.

Cloudious9 has failed to mention the various operating temperatures that the Hydrology9 utilizes to produce sweet herb vapor. The lowest temp is indicated by a blue light, followed by yellow, orange, purple, and finally, red. You don’t really need to know about the temperatures – just start on blue and work your way up when you’re getting less vapor. This device for some reason delivers a lot more intense high than other vapes I’ve come across. In terms of both flavor and vapor production the Hydrology9 is the best in the business. It’s not necessarily the most user-friendly device, or the most portable, but if you’re after a vape to do your herbs terp profile justice, the Hydrology9 is your vape.

Available in both black and silver, the Arizer Solo has seven (7) precision temperature settings that range from 50°C (122°F) to 210°C (410°). This seems like a super wide temperature range, and it is, but don’t be fooled. After the initial low temp on level one (50°C), level two jumps right up to 185°C (365°F) with each numbered increment resulting in a 5°C increase in temp.

Cloudious9’s Hydrology9 Portable Vape comes equipped with both short and long Micro-USB charging cables, meaning you can keep your device’s battery loaded up either at home or on the go. The Arizer Solo, on the other hand, has a huge inbuilt DC battery that is charged via the external wall charger. This takes roughly an hour to deliver a full charge, but the battery is 5 times that of the Hydrology9.

With vaporizers this good it is always hard to pick a clear winner in the battle of the Arizer Solo vs. Hydrology9. If you’re still looking to decide which one is right for you, here are some notes:

1. The Hydrology9’s inbuilt aqua-filtration system and large size limits its portability a bit. If you were to equip it with the Leather Carry Case, it actually passes as a thermos and is super discreet. Even so, this is more of an at home model.
2. Although the Solo may appear fragile and lacks Micro-USB charging capabilities, its insane battery life makes it the perfect device to take on the go.
3. The Hydrology9 offers better flavor and denser clouds of vapor, but it is not as economical as the Arizer Solo, which delivers the same result with half the herb.

Whatever you decide, you can be sure that the product you’re getting is going to rock your world!