A dry herb vaporizer allows you to enjoy marijuana or a legal high CBD strain. And a dry herb vaporizer allows you to do that while you're on the go.
Portable weed vaporizers also allow you to enjoy weed and oils in a much safer way.
Vaporizers don't burn the herb. Instead, they heat up to a point where essential oils like THC and other cannabinoids start to evaporate. This way you're not inhaling the nasty ash that's full of carcinogens.
Unfortunately, finding the best dry herb vaporizer for your needs can be quite tricky if you're unfamiliar with these devices. The market is full of all kinds of portable vaporizers, from discrete to flashy and from efficient and not so efficient.
Thankfully, you're in the right place!
In this article, we'll review the 10 best portable vaporizers, we'll talk about their safety, and we'll answer some of the most commonly asked questions.
We understand that some of you don't have time or patience to go through every review in this article.
This is why we've prepared this nifty little table that contains all the most essential information about the best portable dry herb vaporizers we reviewed.
Product | Warm-up | Battery life | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
70 sec | 90 min | 104-410°F | |
30 sec | 120 min | 320-430°F | |
20 sec | 45 min | 360-420°F | |
35 sec | 240 min | variable | |
60 sec | 60 min | 104-410°F | |
30 sec | 30 min | 300-430°F | |
50 sec | 60 min | 250-430°F | |
3 sec | 25 min | 340-420°F | |
25 sec | 70 min | 212-450°F | |
20 sec | 45 min | 355-420°F |
Smokers who do not want to use cigarettes anymore can switch to a different method of delivery for their tobacco or nicotine: dry herb vaporizers or electronic cigarettes. Both of them are designed to vaporize the contents of a tank.
In the first case, these contents are actual plant materials. In the second case, a consumer uses e-liquid. Two other materials are oils and waxes, but they are not cigarettes substitutions and have nothing to do with tobacco.
Below we’re going to stick with e-liquids and herbs.
If you've read the news in the past year, you might've heard that vaping can cause deadly lung infection. What you haven't heard is that most people that we hospitalized were vaping black market THC oils and not weed.
So far, there have been zero reports about people getting hospitalized because they vaped buds. Using a vaporizer to smoke weed poses minimal health risks.
These devices work by heating up the stem to a point where essential oils contained in the cannabis start to evaporate. This way, you're not inhaling any ash or toxic chemicals, just pure THC and CBD.
And since there is no need for tobacco, these machines ensure you can enjoy your dry herb completely odor-free.
With that said, we do recommend you read through the product description since some models don't have an isolated airpath. If the vapor you're inhaling goes over plastic or silicone, these materials might give off some toxins that are harmful to your lungs.
10 Best Vaporizers Reviewed
Like we mentioned before, if you're not familiar with dry herb vaporizers, finding the best model for your needs can be quite tricky. The market is full of quality products that even seasoned enthusiasts have trouble picking the right product for their needs.
This is why we decided to include portable dry herb vaporizers from every price range and every form factor. So, without further ado, here are our top 10 picks for the best portable dry herb vaporizer.
From a brand that brought us the legendary Volcano desktop vaporizers, the Storz & Bickel Mighty Vaporizer is the best dry herb vaporizer you can buy today.
This bulky medical grade vaporizer shares a lot of similarities with its cousin crafty. Still, it excels in two key areas: battery life and vapor production. The battery lasts up to 90 minutes of continual use. In real-world conditions, you can expect the battery to last anywhere between three to four days.
It all depends on how much you vape.
When it comes to vapor production, the Mighty vaporizer is on par with most desktop units. You will feel every hit in your throat, and with each exhale, you will be greeted by a thick cloud of vapor. The vapor is this good thanks to the master-crafted stainless steel heating chamber that heats up in.
We especially love the temperature control on this portable vaporizer. The Mighty features an LED screen that displays the temperature and battery life. To control the temperature settings, there are two buttons on each side of the screen. There's no hassle with Bluetooth settings or apps that require you enter your personal information.
The only downside to the Mighty dry herb vaporizers is its size. While it's not exactly a pocket vape, it's not a desktop vape either. While you can easily carry it around, it's best for home use.
- Easy to use
- 90-minute battery life
- Produces the same amount of vapor as a desktop herb vape
- Bulky
- Pricey
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Next up is a quality vaporizer whose design breathes elegance and sophistication. Still, there is so much more to them than just what meets the eye. Here are the QuantVapor Vaporizers.
First, let's talk about its appearance.
This vaporizer comes in different forms and designs, and there's something for everyone. You can choose between the Black and White matte finish ones, the Desert White Marble, or you can go for the limited editions Walnut Wood and Nero Marquina.
The heating process is quite fast, considering that this unit's temperature range spans between 320 and 430°F. This consumes a lot of battery life, but if you consider that the overall capacity is 1600 mAh, which is more than some advanced mods have, you won't have to worry a bit.
An OLED display is located at the top of the vaporizer, just beneath the mouthpiece. It gives you all the data you require - battery status, temperature status, and desired temperature levels.
A neat little addition is a removable mouthpiece that gives off a green and red light to let you know when the herb's oil is ready to evaporate. Once it's done, you're set to vape at home or in public since the device is not that large and easily transportable.
This vaporizer may be a bit pricey, but thanks to its stylish design, great battery, and top of the line performance, you won't regret buying it.
- Temperature range
- Overall performance
- Different and minimalistic designs
- Expensive
Our runner up is the Pax Labs Pax 3. Commonly referred to as the Apple of vaporizers, the Pax 3 is easy to use and easy to conceal.
Just like the Mighty, Pax 3 comes with a beefy battery that can last up to 90 minutes. Thanks to their incredible sensing technology that utilizes lip sensors and accelerometers, the battery will last you around 10 to 12 sessions. What's more, since this vape can sense when you're taking a drag, it won't cook the herb while you're not using it.
We especially love the design of this device.
It's an oval shape, and matte aluminum finish gives it the same minimalist style as an Apple device. The design also makes this vaporizer easily concealable. When someone notices your Pax 3, they will likely think it's a battery bank rather than a vaporizer.
The Pax 3's chamber can hold up to 0.3 grams of dry herb or concentrate (if you buy the full kit), and you can expect between 18 to 22 hits per session. And since you need at least 0.15 grams marijuana to work, this vape is a godsend for those that like long vaping sessions.
The vapor Pax 3 produces is not only thick but also incredibly tasty. We especially love the amount of vapor it produces when on the highest temperature setting.
The only issue we have with this vape is its dependency on the smartphone app. If you want to fine-tune the temperature, you have to use an app that's only available to Android users. Why? Because Apple banned all vaping apps a while back.
- Stylish
- Easy to use
- Excellent bang for the money
- Can’t use the app on iOS
- Requires at least 0.15 grams of bud to work properly
If you're looking for a portable vaporizer that delivers superb vaping experience while not breaking your bank, Arizer Solo 2 is the choice for you. While not easily concealable, this vaporizer comes with the beefiest battery among its competition.
Arizer Solo 2 is an updated version of the Solo 1 and comes with many much-needed improvements. The Solo 2 is just as bulky as its big brother, but that's understandable when you consider it comes with a 3400mAh battery. With this much juice, this vaporizer can run for almost 3 hours!
This is one of the best dry herb vaporizers we've ever used when it comes to the vaping experience. Not only is the airflow perfect both when the bowl is chock-full and when you're micro-dosing.
And since this is a hybrid vaporizer, you can use it to vape both oil and herbs. The only downside to this is that you will have to grind the bud before filling the bowl. The best thing about the whole experience is the taste of the vapor. Thanks to the glass stem, each hit from Arizer Solo 2 will be full of flavor with a satisfying throat hit.
The Arizer Solo 2 controls incredibly easily. All information is displayed on a led display, and you can fine-tune the temperature and start/pause the session.
We do have some issues with the air path.
While the stainless steel heating chamber that houses the ceramic heating element is relatively safe, the air does go over some electrical components when you draw. While there is no inherent danger in this, some folks might find this vaporizer too dangerous.
- Features a 3400mAh battery
- Incredibly easy to use
- Superb airflow and vapor quality
- Air path goes over electrical components
- Since it’s a hybrid vaporizer, you need to grind the herb before placing it into the bowl
If you're impressed with the Mighty vaporizer, but thought it was a bit too bulky, you might find the Crafty+ more up your alley.
While compromising battery life, the Crafty+ delivers the same vapor quality as other dry herb vapes from S&B. Since this is an improved version of the original Crafty, it comes with a couple of cool upgrades.
When fully charged, you can expect anywhere between 25 and 30 minutes of vaping time. While not wholly terrible, we don't recommend picking one of these herb vaporizers if you like long vaping sessions. Still, this is much better than the original Crafty.
When it comes to vapor quality, Craft+ is on par with most herb vaporizers from this price range, if not better. Each hit is tasty and full of vapor. And thanks to the improved airflow, you won't have to strain to get that perfect hit.
What's more, since these herb vaporizers feature a 30% faster heat-up time, you won't have to wait for long for the session to begin!
The build quality is just perfect.
S&B builds its products out of medical-grade materials and doesn't use any fragile glass pieces. The oven is made out of high-grade stainless steel and features a ceramic heating element. The vapor path doesn't go over any electrical components, so you don't have to worry about accidentally damaging your lungs.
We only wish they added temperature control buttons on the device itself. To fine-tune the heat, you have to use an app that's only available for Android users since apple banned vaping apps a while ago.
- Compact
- Easy to use
- Excellent build quality
- Short battery life
- Requires an app for fine-tuning
If you enjoy vaping weed when on the go, you need vape you can easily carry in your pocket. One such device is the Davinci Miqro, one of the best portable weed vaporizers on the market. What's more, this is one of the most compact herb vapes you can find.
We were really impressed by the build quality and the design of this vape.
Micro herb vapes feature a perfect blend of minimalist design and compactness. The Davinci Miqro is just 3 inches tall and doesn't feature any embellishments. This means you won't have any trouble slipping this device under the radar since it can easily fit into your pocket.
When it comes to vapor quality, this device is on par with the Crafty+. The vapor is quite thick and full of flavor. These devices will produce the same quality vapor, no matter if you're micro-dosing or packing the oven full.
We especially love the addition of a ceramic bead.
You can place the oven if you're micro-dosing. This way, you ensure each bit of your dry herbs is vaporized. Unfortunately, draw resistance increases the more you pack the oven, but that's understandable for such a compact device.
When it comes to temperature control settings, there are no smartphone apps required. You control the temperature by pressing on the temperature control buttons located on the side of the device.
And if you want to super-boost it, you can just hold on to the power button, and the device will heat up in only 30 seconds.
- Stealthy and portable
- 30 Seconds heat up time
- Excellent vapor path
- Only for dry herbs, not compatible with concentrates
- Gets a bit hot when in use
If Davinci Miqro is too small for you, then you might be interested in its bigger cousin, the IQ 2. Davinci IQ 2 is a bit bulkier and slower than the MIQRO, but offers better vapor quality and battery life and is just as simple to use.
The first thing you'll notice when you hold this portable dry herb vape is the fantastic build quality. Just like everything from this brand, this vape just oozes quality. Everything from the stainless steel oven to the brushed aluminum shell feels high-quality.
Thankfully, the looks don't deceive. Davinci IQ 2 produces incredibly tasty vapor. With each draw, you will be greeted with thick vapor that's full of flavor.
The vapor path doesn't go over any plastic materials, so you don't have to worry about damaging your lungs. Instead, the vapor path goes through a special that enhances the flavor and cools down the vapor for a more enjoyable session.
The draw resistance is another astonishing thing about the Davinci IQ2. Even when the bowl is packed to the brim, you won't have any trouble drawing.
Davinci IQ 2's heat up time of just 60 seconds isn't lighting fast, but it's not slow either. Even high-end vapes like the Mighty take up to 90 seconds to heat up. Still, for an ultra-portable device, the heat up time should be shorter.
When it comes to the battery, the Davinci IQ2 is on par with its competition. On a full charge, you can expect the Davinci IQ 2 to give you around 80 minutes of vaping enjoyment.
- Designed for stealth
- Excellent battery life
- Superb flavor delivery thanks to the special vapor path
- Slowish heat up time
- More expensive than Miqro
If you're looking for an inconspicuous ultra-fast portable vape, FireFly2 is made for you! And if you love smoking flowers from a pipe, the FireFly 2+ will be right up your alley because it's designed to work just like one!
Unlike other vaporizers that utilize an enclosed oven, the FireFly 2+ features an open bowl that allows you to see your dry herb or concentrate as you vape it. While this does look cool, it makes vaping in public almost impossible.
This vaporizer is best enjoyed when you're somewhere more private.
There's a good reason why the FireFly 2+ has an open bowl. Since this is a portable convection vaporizer, you will have to stir your herb if you want to draw out every single bit of THC. The main advantage of convection heating is incredibly fast heat up time. It takes only a couple of seconds for the FireFly 2+ to heat up!
And once it heats up and you take your first draw, you will be greeted by the rich flavor and smooth vapor. The vape will automatically up the temperature as you draw to ensure it evaporates every bit of oil from your dry herb.
Even though the vapor path doesn't go over any harmful materials, the draw resistance is a bit of a problem with this dry herb vape. You will have to work for your hit, which is why we don't recommend you pack the bowl too much.
We also don't like how complicated the controls are.
Because there's only one button, you'll have to frequently check the manual if you want to adjust the temperature. You can use the phone app, but only if you're an Android user.
- Ultra-fast heat up time
- Compact and portable
- Innovative design
- Not quite inconspicuous
- Can be fine-tuned only through an app
Xmax is a well-known brand that brought us many excellent and affordable portable vaporizers, and the Starry V3 is no exception. This compact little vape is perfect for any beginner that's looking to enjoy some dry herb when on the go.
We love the minimalist design of the Xmax Starry V3. There are no unnecessary embellishments or tacky graphics. The shell is constructed out of high-quality powder-coated aluminum, and the only graphic on it is the company's logo. And since it's so compact, most people will confuse it for a lighter.
The chamber can take up to 0.3 grams of dry herb, which is quite astonishing for such a compact device. With this much herb, you can enjoy extended vaping sessions wherever you go!
As for the vapor quality, it's just what you would expect from a vaporizer at this price point. You won't be blowing out thick clouds of vape, but you will enjoy the full flavor and aroma of your dry herb. The airflow is on par with other devices in its competition, just as long as you don't pack the chamber up to its max capacity.
When it comes to temperature control, this is one of the most user-friendly devices around. The digital display will show you the current battery charge, and you can fine-tune the temperature setting by using the buttons next to the display.
The coolest thing about this device is the removable battery. You can quickly beef up this vape's battery life by just getting a beefier 18650 battery!
- Simple to use
- Removable battery
- Very affordable
- Gets uncomfortably hot when in use
- Constricted airflow when packed full
So far, we've talked about a lot of compact portable vaporizers, but none are so compact as the Arivape XS Go. XS Go dry herb vapes are also incredibly beginner-friendly, all thanks to their one-button control.
For such a small and affordable vape, the Airvape XS Go doesn't feel that cheap. The molded ABS plastic body feels quite firm in the hand and doesn't flex at all.
Don't worry about the plastic reaching your lungs; the vapor airpath is isolated and doesn't go over any plastic components except for the mouthpiece. And since the vapor is quite cold when it reaches the mouthpiece, it won't cause the plastic to leak any dangerous chemicals.
This little thing can provide you with 5 to 8 sessions per charge when it comes to battery life. This is quite astonishing when you realize this device is less than four inches tall and one inch in width.
As for the vapor quality, don't expect to blow out thick clouds of vapor when using this vaporizer. Although it utilizes hybrid convection/conduction heating, this device can't reach temperatures over 210°C. Thankfully, the chamber that houses the ceramic heater can take up to 0.25 grams of dry herb, so you can add more if you don't feel the hit after your first session.
Besides the low heat output, our only gripe is the plastic mouthpiece. This part of the device will get uncomfortably hot the longer you draw.
- Very affordable
- Incredibly compact and lightweight
- Can fit easily into any pocket
- The plastic mouthpiece gets hot when you draw too much
- Can heat up only up to 210°C
Vaporizer 101
1. What Does a Vaporizer Do?
When you smoke, you literally inhale burnt plant matter plus all the poisons used to preserve it. Burning the material causes an acrid aroma and flavor.
If you want a healthier option but do not wish to give up the physical smoking routine or ditch nicotine, you can switch to the vapor method.
Plants are not burned (theoretically): they are heated so much that water vapor is released from the plant (or e-liquid becomes vapor) and that is the part you inhale.
Scientists and doctors don’t always agree with each other, but consumers believe this is far safer than inhaling smoke from cigarettes. They report constantly on Facebook and Youtube about how vaping changed their lives for the better.
2. How Does the Vaporizer Make Vapor?
Your device is comprised of several parts.
One is a power source that provides energy to an atomizer (usually a battery but potentially butane or mains power). The atomizer is like a ring on your stovetop. It becomes very hot and transfers that heat to contents in a chamber or to the air which is forced into a chamber containing your chosen ingredient.
After a little while, the vapor is released to the mouthpiece of your vaporizer and you inhale it.
Some vaporizers give you the option to have vapor forced into your lungs; convenient if your lungs are in poor shape owing to asthma or COPD.
3. What Do Vaporizers Look Like?
Handheld vaporizers come in several shapes but the pen-style is a favorite. This is easy to conceal and sits naturally in your hand.
A cigalike measures slightly longer than a cigarette but all other vaporizers are much bigger: 6″ and more. They come in several shades of blue, red, and purple plus sedate shades like silver, white, and black. The tank might be covered or transparent. Mouthpieces also vary in shape, size, material, and color (rubber, acrylic, glass, and steel).
With herbal vaporizers, a good rule is to avoid $40 cheap rechargeable devices. Prepare to spend a little more money for a device that acts as a true vaporizer, creating only vapor and not smoke. Cheap devices are inclined to burn herbs and their build quality is unreliable.
A number of box-style vaporizers provide very high-powered vaping plus protective features like defense against a short circuit or overheating. The mod and tank are usually separate although a few devices combine the two (an eGrip by JoyeTech, for instance). The battery could be built-in or removable.
Numerous vaporizers for dry herbs are one-piece items such as the VaporFi Orbit and the Firefly. Herbs are pushed in from the top or sometimes the bottom of a device. A battery is situated at the bottom. If the battery is not removable, a micro-port provides a means of recharging the battery. Certain models resemble puffers or pipes.
The examples above are portable, handheld, wireless vaporizers. They are the most practical, convenient, and sometimes high-tech units for individuals who would have otherwise smoked cigarettes while driving or during a break from work.
Several (like the DaVinci Ascent) allow the user to customize their temperature. Some of even the most popular brands, however, are known to become too hot and burn herbs. This takes you back to smoking again minus many cigarette toxins.
If you have a choice, select convection heating instead of conduction.
The latter style heats herbs through direct contact. Convection heating causes hot air to circulate through materials and is more efficient at reaching the entire batch.
You could also consider switching from plant materials to e-liquids in order to attain the flavor of tobacco and nicotine without the risk of burning plants. Although liquids are heated via the conduction method, there is nothing solid to burn.
The trouble with e-liquid for many vapers, however, is that they do not authentically replicate tobacco flavor.
4. Methods of Delivery
Some devices are too large to hold in your hand and certainly aren’t portable.
These table-top units are for home-use and some of them are amazing little machines. One has an onboard computer which sends messages to users daily.
Another comes with bags so vapers don’t even have to inhale very hard: they just open the bag and breathe. This bag can be shared around the room with others too.
Some devices allow you to set a bowl on the top and create an aromatic atmosphere rather than directly inhaling anything.
Many tabletop (desktop) units are so basic that they are favored by college students and people with little money to spend because they are the cheapest to own. Certain ones plug in; others are battery-operated.
5. Best Vaporizer Brands?
If you are thinking of vaping herbs and you want a stealthy handheld device, the PAX 3 is a great unit with many modern features in spite of its tiny size. The Storz & Bickel Mighty is huge, heavy, but effective and high-tech. The PAX 3 costs about $250 and the Mighty is priced around $350. If you want something cheap, visit Grenco Science.
When it comes to tabletop (desktop) delivery, the Storz & Bickel Volcano has been a high quality favorite for years. Editions from a decade ago are still functioning, thanks to precision German manufacturing. Arizer also makes an excellent product. Their Extreme can be operated remotely or up close.
If you want an e liquid vaporizer, Kanger, Innokin, Sigelei, JoyeTech, and Smok are all excellent Chinese companies. Their numerous mods are compatible with many types of atomizers and fire at temperatures easily hot enough to vaporize dry plants.
Best Portable Vaporizers FAQs
How to buy a portable vaporizer?
When on the prowl for the portable vaporizer for your needs, you need to consider four key factors:
What is the best brand for portable dry herb vaporizers?
This is a difficult question to answer.
There are so quite a few excellent brands out there. Still, if we were hard-pressed for an answer, we would have to say Storz & Bickel. This brand has the best track record of them all.
What's more, they are one of just a handful of brands that use medical grade materials in their products.
On top of that, every model from their lineup delivers incredibly tasty and thick vapor.
What is the best portable vaporizer for weed?
In our modest pinon, the best portable vaporizer for weed is the Arizer Solo 2.
This vaporizer utilizes a unique glass stem and stainless steel bowl to deliver you high-quality vapor that's full of flavor.
On top of that, it's also compatible with concentrates. The only downside to this vaporizer is its bulky size.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of our article. All that's left is to tally up the results.
There are lots of awesome portable vaporizers out there. However, the best one is the Mighty Vaporizer. Although it's a bit bulky, it is on par with most desktop vaporizers. The vapor it produces is thick and tasty, the battery life is superb, and it's incredibly easy to use.
If that's not your niche, you should undoubtedly try the QuantVapor Vaporizers. They offer so many options for the appearance of their vaporizers, and their efficiency is on point. You'll also rest assured knowing that your battery won't give out mid-vaping.
And if you're into something sleeker, our runner up might be better suited for your needs. PAX 3 is one of the most feature-rich portable vaporizers in the world. Besides producing lots of thick, flavorful vapor, PAX 3 is also incredibly easy to use.
This “Apple iPhone of portable vapes” utilizes multiple sensors to know exactly how much heat you need for the best possible vaping session.