Portable vaporizer buyers guide: What should...


Portable vaporizer buyers guide: What should you know before buying?

A portable vaporizer has to do a lot of things. It should be small enough to be easily transported. It should be able to withstand daily use and should offer a variety of settings. Each vaporizer has something unique that sets it apart from other devices.

That's exactly why we've looked into this subject and created a summary for you. This guide is divided into categories such as portability, battery life, operation, temperature control, vapor quality, cleaning and maintenance, discretion and the material used (herbs, concentrates, etc.). Here you will find many tips to find the right vaporizer for your needs, as well as a selection of portable vaporizers that we can recommend. Have fun reading and discovering.

Portable vaporizers are available in all types, sizes and price ranges. There are conduction and convection heating methods, there are internal and external rechargeable batteries, different chamber sizes and different technical specifications.

Before you find the right portable vaporizer for you, you should ask yourself a few questions. These questions will help you determine the type of vaporizer that best suits your needs. For example, if your priority is vapor quality and easy cleaning, the Firefly 2+ might be a good choice.

  1. Where are you planning to use your portable vaporizer?
  2. Do you use the device alone or with friends?
  3. Is the Vaporizer used much without being able to recharge it?
  4. How important is discretion, size, mobility, taste, vapor and odor development?
  5. Should it be a session vaporizer (10-15 minutes, similar to a joint)? or do you want an on demand vaporizer for the fast hit on the go?
  6. What's your budget? For example "No budget" or 300 € +, 200-300 €, 100-200 €, under 100 €?
  7. Which materials are vaporized? (herbs, resin or concentrate)

The best thing to do is take notes about your answers. It quickly becomes clear what you should look out for when buying a portable vaporizer.

Battery life:

Portable vaporizer technology is constantly being improved. Modern devices have powerful batteries that have been optimized for frequent use. Some vaporizers can also be used during charging (Pass Through function). Portable vaporizers such as the Mighty and Arizer Solo 2 have been optimized for endurance and consistency, and they give you many sessions before they need to be re-charged.

There are some devices like the Davinci Miqro or the Focusvape Pro that have replaceable batteries. This setup makes it easy to change the battery when needed. It's handy for people who travel a lot and don't have the ability to charge. Accessories such as car chargers or Powerbanks make it very easy to charge the battery on the go, so the battery life doesn't have to be limited if the batteries are permanently installed.

This brief overview gives you a basic understanding of battery terminology. So you know what it's all about when you read this.

  • Lithium Ion Battery - This is the most popular battery type. Compared to conventional rechargeable batteries, a lithium-ion battery has twice the energy, is lighter and better for the environment.
  • mAh - (milliampere hour) indicates how long the battery will last before it needs to be recharged.

Our recommendation: Arizer Solo 3.

Use with herbs and concentrates:

Generally, there are portable vaporizers that are designed for use with different materials. They are a good alternative for people who like to enjoy a good wax or oil. For those who only use one or the other material, we recommend a device that has been specially optimized for this purpose.

For most vaporizers it is best to grind the herbs finely. This creates a large surface area of the herbs and improves performance. Only small quantities of pea-sized concentrates should be packed into a vaporizer. Many vaporizers have special accessories for this, such as liquid pads or capsules.

Operation and Functionality:

Portable vaporizers can be a little more difficult to use than tabletop vaporizers, in the sense that they provide much less control over vapor production and often have more limited temperature ranges and controls.

In fact, many portable vaporizers are equipped with very simple temperature controls. Many devices rely on pre-programmed settings to control the temperature at which the herbs are heated. This is not a problem for the occasional consumer. In general, people who need very accurate temperature control will probably be more satisfied with a desktop unit. The dependence on pre-programmed temperature settings can be a small blessing for inexperienced users who are not 100% sure which temperature is the right one at the moment.

Newer models often come with a digital display where the temperature can be controlled down to the degree. Another highlight is the app function, which some vaporizers like the Crafty+ offer. With it many parameters can be set and the vaporizer can be optimally adjusted to personal needs. Disadvantage: Many extra functions are only available if the smartphone is available.

Portable vaporizers offer significant advantages when it comes to convenience. They are very lightweight and are usually turned on with a single push of a button, which means they are often much more portable and faster to heat than desktops, which often take a while to heat the herbs. Nowadays, many portable devices that come onto the market have fairly robust control interfaces and are becoming more sophisticated.

Our recommendation: TinyMight 2, XMAX Starry 4, Arizer Air MAX

Vapor Quality:

Portable vaporizers are slightly easier and their smaller heating chambers can generally not generate the same high-quality vapor as a table unit. Battery limitations make them less effective and consistent than desktop vaporizers. This does not mean, however, that there are no devices that cannot also produce high-quality and full vapor. However, it makes sense to dig a little deeper into your pocket here, as some cheaper devices can often have their problems in this area.

Our recommendation: Davinci IQ2.

Discretion:

Portable vaporizers are small and therefore the best choice for people who value discretion. They can easily be stored in a drawer, pocket, trouser pocket or glove compartment. Devices like the Fenix Mini or Davinci Micro disappear almost completely in the hand. There are also vaporizers like the Grasshopper for example. It looks like a high-quality pen, heats up quickly and is very discreet.

Our recommendation: PAX Plus, Zeus Arc, DaVinci MIQRO-C

Butane powered portable vaporizers:

Butan vaporizers are something special in the vaporizer world - they are not powered by a battery, so they do not need to be recharged. Most devices of this type are based on convection, in which the herbs are heated with a hot stream of air that guarantees the taste and quality of the vapor. In addition, some butane vaporizers are sold at very reasonable prices, whereas portable convection vaporizers powered by a battery usually represent a larger investment.

Our recommendation: Dynavap Vapcap M, Vapman 2.0

Cleaning and maintenance:

The cleaning of portable vaporizers is pretty easy. When the vaporizers clog the vapor path or the chamber, it's time to clean the device. All removable metal and glass parts can be placed in isopropyl alcohol (Iso). Take care with silikon and plastic. They should only come into contact with alcohol for a short time. Too long soaking can lead to the detachment of small parts. You can simply put the parts to be cleaned in a ZipLock bag and add Iso. Close the bag tightly again and shake. Then rinse the parts with clear water. In the case of persistent soiling, an old toothbrush can also be used. Allow to dry completely. If you take care of your vaporizer, you will get more and the performance is optimized with a clean device.

Top 5 Portable Vaporizers:

No matter if you are looking for excellent vapor quality, high-tech features or the most discreet pocket device possible. We've selected five very good portable vaporizers from different areas to help you get started.

The Mighty+

The Mighty+ is the ultimate portable vaporizer. It combines high efficiency with the convenience of a portable device and is designed for those who don't want to sacrifice performance on the go.

PAX Plus

Maybe the most portable vaporizer currently available and the ultimate option when it comes to discretion. With intelligent motion and lip recognition technologies, PAX Plus is an intuitive little herb vaporizer.

Arizer Air MAX

Smaller and easier to transport than its older brother, the Solo 2, the Arizer Air MAX is a redesign of one of the most popular portable vaporizers on the market. The Arizer Solo has been a favorite among many people for years, and the Air offers the same high-quality performance in a smaller package.

Flowermate V5 Nano

One of the most popular mobile vaporizers under 150 euros. The Flowermate V5 Nano comes with high-end features in a trouser pocket format. With digital temperature control, LED display, a ceramic chamber, the replaceable battery and a glass mouthpiece, the V5 Nano meets all the requirements of a quality product at an affordable price.

VapCap M by DynaVap

This vaporizer can be operated with an external heat source and is hard to beat in terms of vapor quality, taste and simplicity. Only the learning curve in handling the device can represent a small challange.

Finding the best portable vaporizer will lead to a different result for everybody. We have tested these devices extensively, rely on feedback from our customers and are therefore convinced of their quality. Every vaporizer has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important that the purchase decision is based on personal factors.

Portable vaporizers surprise and continue to amaze. Many of the devices listed here are updates of older models. Most companies continue to rely on their original designs to make their devices even better.

We hope that we could give you a little insight into the world of mobile vaporizers. If you have questions about a specific device, please feel free to call us or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you and your experiences.

Your Verdampftnochmal Team