Vaping 101

Tabletop vaporizers

These devices are stationary temperature control units. They come in many varieties, but all include four main features:

1. Temperature dial to regulate the temperature
2. Heating element to heat the cannabis flower or concentrates
3. Heating chamber where you put the cannabis flower or concentrates
4. Mouthpiece attachment

Some tabletop vaporizers use a bag to collect the vapour (detached prior to inhalation). Other products use a long tube that is attached to the heating chamber and allows the vapour to move directly from the heating chamber to the person using the device. Most tabletop vaporizers of this style are used to vaporize cannabis flower.

Since they function similarly, e-nail (electric nail) dab rigs could also be considered tabletop vaporizers. This device lets you vaporize concentrates or flower using an electric nail.

Pros

• Precision when it comes to temperature control
• Flexibility to use whatever flower or concentrates you want
• Reusable, minimizing packaging waste
• Minimal odour

Cons

• Limited portability
• Requires some effort to learn how to use
• Can get expensive

Portable vaporizers

These devices are small, discreet vaporizers that operate similarly to tabletop vaporizers with the exception that they are more portable. Portable vaporizers include a chamber to hold the cannabis flower or concentrate, a heating element, and a battery. Most portable units contain variable temperature control devices that are controlled with the click of a button or turn of a small dial. This activates the battery, which heats the element and vaporizes the flower or concentrate within the chamber, sending it into the mouthpiece for inhalation.

Portable vaporizers are easy and discreet to use since the cannabis vapour creates a less potent aroma. They can be used to consume many forms of concentrate including badder, budder, and shatter, as well as flower.

Before you buy: It’s important to distinguish between portable dry herb vaporizers, wax vaporizers, and hybrids. Dry herb vapes and wax vapes are designed to work with specific types of cannabis products, hybrid vaporizers like the PAX 3 offer consumers the best of both worlds because they are compatible with both flower and wax concentrates.

Pros

• Very easy to use
• Great portability
• Flexibility to use whatever flower or concentrates you want
• Reusable, minimizing packaging waste

Cons

• Can get pricey depending on the device

Vape pens

Vape pens, hash pens, weed pens are all terms for a type of vaporizer made to vaporize cannabis distillates and oils. They are called pens because of the compact design of the vape device.

A reusable vape pen consists of a battery and a cartridge. Reusable vape pens are really half-reusable since you use the same battery with multiple cartridges, but discard the empty cartridge once you’ve vaporized all the oil inside.

Vape batteries come in a variety of styles — there’s one to fit any personal preference. Some have buttons, some don’t. Some feature a cylindrical shape, some are rectangular. Some offer a limited battery life, while others offer a long battery life and the ability to recharge. Probably the most common weed pen battery is the 510 thread.

Vape cartridges contain three elements:

1. Mouthpiece
2. Chamber (filled with oil or distillate and contains concentrated amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes)
3. Heating element, which is activated by the vape battery

Disposable vape pens contain all of the same elements, but they’re sealed up in one sleek, single-use package.

Pros

• Very easy to use
• Highly portable
• Definitely the least expensive option to try

Cons

• Partly or entirely disposable = wasteful
• Can only be used with distillate or oil cartridges
• Can get expensive if you vape regularly