A Vape Reviewer’s Checklist to Help You Find the Best Vaporizer for You

When it comes to finding a vaporizer that is right for you, you need a good checklist that covers all the factors that would play a role in buying a vaporizer – whether it’s a desktop vaporizer, a portable vaporizer, a herbal vaporizer, a concentrate vaporizer or a 510 battery.

Vaporizer manufacturers don’t always tell the whole truth so a cannabis vaporizer buying checklist will help you pick the best option.

Choosing a vaporizer is not an easy task. There are so many options out there for you to choose from.

So how do you make the right decision? You can try to work it out yourself or you can use this weed vaporizer buying checklist.

You see, we have used and reviewed well over 100 different vapes and we have seen the most pros and cons with any type of vaporizer.

Based on our experience the below checklist items could be helpful to consider before you buy your next vaporizer.

Cannabis Vaporizer Buying Checklist

1 – How often do you vaporize?

One of the first things to consider is how often do you use cannabis? Someone vaping several times a day may require a different device compared to someone who is vaping once or twice a week. The more frequently you vape, the more it makes sense to invest in a device that can take heavy use.

2 – What do you vape most often?

Obviously, if you vape dry herbs only, you need a dry herb vape. If you vape concentrates … you get the picture. If you vape more than one material (such as buds and wax) you’ll have to consider if a hybrid dry herb/wax vape or two dedicated devices are the best for you.

3 – Where do you vaporize most often?

Portable vaporizers have come a long way and most people don’t even consider getting a desktop vaporizer these days. However, if you are vaping larger amounts of cannabis at home (which many patients do), a desktop vape might be something to consider. They are easier to maintain and have no batteries to worry about.

4 – Consider options to power your vaporizer

Desktop vapes are usually plugged in while portable vaporizers can be powered by batteries or butane gas.

4a – If you are buying a desktop vaporizer, make sure you are getting the right voltage (110V US, 220V EU, Australia, etc) and the correct power plug for your country.

4b – If you are getting a portable vaporizer, you have the option of battery-powered, or butane gas-powered devices.

Batteries are very convenient if you live in the city. Some vaporizers are built with inbuilt batteries, so when your battery dies, you have to muck around with screws to take the battery out and sourcing replacement may not always be easy. The advantage to built-in batteries is that they are usually (not always) bigger as they stiles the available space better. A bigger battery means more power. More power means quicker heat-up time and longer vaping session times.

More and more vaporizers are built with replaceable batteries. The big advantage is that you can keep spares and swap over any time your battery goes. Also if a battery dies, you don’t have to open your device up to replace it.

Some people (including myself) like the taste of the vapor from gas-powered vapes. Also for campers or off-the-grid living, butane gas can be a very convenient way to heat up a vape.

It is also fair to mention here, that with butane gas vapes, there are ones that you just fill up with gas and it does the heating and there are others that you heat with a butane jet flame torch.

5 – Are you allowed to vaporize?

Discretion may or may not be important to you depending on your circumstances. Some vapes are specifically designed to be discreet in order to avoid unwanted attention. If discretion is important to you, make sure you choose accordingly.

6 – Materials used to build the vaporizer

Make sure you are aware of what materials are used for the chamber of the vaporizer, screens, and other elements of the vapor path. Glass, copper, brass, titanium, and stainless steel are considered to be safe while some plastic materials might be more susceptible to affect the taste and quality of your vapor.

7 – Baking chamber position

Some vaporizers have their herb chamber on the top while others on the bottom. This affects the length of the vapor path and therefore the temperature of the vapor.

It comes down to personal preference, I personally prefer the top chamber position, especially if there are options for a longer mouthpiece so the vapor isn’t too hot.

8 – Vapor delivery method

Most portable vaporizers offer a mouthpiece to deliver the vapor to your mouth. Some have a water bubbler, but that’s about it.

With desktop vapes, there are two main delivery methods. Whip vaporizers use a plastic tube to deliver the vapor. Balloon collection systems utilize a plastic ballon to capture and deliver the vapor. Both, the whip and balloon methods deliver cooler vapor than portable devices.

9 – Cleaning vaporizers really sucks

The most underestimated and most often missed consideration is cleaning.

All vaporizers look nice and clean when they are new. Having said that, vaping produces a lot of resin built-up on parts and they need regular cleaning. No way around it, it is the nature of the beast. People new to dry herb vaping usually underestimate the importance of keeping your device clean.

Some vaporizers take a lot of time to clean, while others are much easier. Some vapes on the lower end of the market can’t really even be cleaned properly …

As resin and residues are building up on your vaporizer parts, the taste and quality of your vapor start to get affected by these residues. Screens clog up, it becomes harder and harder to draw … you get the picture.

The easier it is to clean, the more time you save and the better quality vapor you consume.

10 – Single vaporizer or one of a collection

It does make a difference if you are buying a vaporizer that will be your only vape until it dies or if you are planning to have one or two other vapes down the track.

For example, I love butane-powered vapes and I have quite a few of them, however, if I could have only one vape, I would choose a portable electric vaporizer as that is what I use more often.

11 – Manufacturer’s reputation

The Cannabis Vaporizer Buying Checklist wouldn’t be complete without considering the manufacturer’s reputation. Many vaporizer manufacturers come and go. Once they are out of business, your manufacturer’s warranty may not mean much. Manufacturers who have been around for a while (at least a few years) and offer good support with their products are the safest bet.

And always consider other consumption methods as well. Vaporizing cannabis buds is a great way to consume cannabis with minimal downsides and it is very smart to have a good vaporizer. However, edibles are also very effective for patients and recreational users alike.

Some states and countries with legal cannabis offer a wide range of cannabis edibles and even beverages. Cannabis-infused drinks are becoming hugely popular.

According to Fortune Business Insights™, The global cannabis beverages market size stood at $367.4 million in 2019 and is projected to reach $8,521.6 million by 2027, at a compound annual growth rate of 50.9% in the forecast period.

All the best with finding the perfect vaporizer for you.

As the vape industry continues to grow, more and more people are entering the market looking to find the best vaporizer for them. We hope this cannabis vaporizer buying checklist will help you find the best vape for you! If you have any questions or concerns about finding the best vape for you, please let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from our readers!