Concentrate Vaporizer Overview
Vaporizing concentrates has taken off as a preferred way to enjoy cannabis extracts, as it only require a small amount to have a powerful effect. When enjoying concentrates, the right vaporizer is essential for the best vape experience. This guide will introduce you to concentrate vaporizers, explain how they work, and help you decide which one is right for you.
What are concentrate vaporizers?
Cannabis concentrates are extracted from the cannabis plant, resulting in a substance with more concentrated cannabis compounds. Popular concentrates on the market today include shatter, wax, budder, hash, live rosin, and live resin.
A concentrate vaporizer, as the name suggests, is a device used to vaporize these concentrates. Consuming concentrates requires the use of a particular device or accessories designed to handle them. Let's take a look at how some of the most common concentrate vaporizers work.
How do concentrate vaporizers work?
Concentrate vaporizers are similar to other portable vaporizers in their functionality. Each consists of a battery, which supplies power to the heating element. The heating element warms to a selected temperature, bringing your chosen concentrate to its boiling point and vaporizing it. Many portable vaporizers have a chamber or oven, into which you load your material. Some concentrate vaporizers allow you to load your material directly, while others require the use of a concentrate pad or insert.
Vaporizers typically rely on two heating methods: conduction heating and convection heating. Conduction heating occurs when the material is heated directly by physical contact with the heating element. In some cases, the entire chamber heats up, while in others the material rests on a heated surface. Once the heating element warms to the material's boiling point, it vaporizes and can be inhaled through the mouthpiece.
The other heating method vaporizers commonly employ is known as convection heating. Convection heating occurs whenever material is indirectly vaporized by the passage of hot air. In a convection vaporizer, the heating element warms the air around it. Then, either when the consumer draws on the mouthpiece or with the help of a built-in fan, the hot air is forced through the chamber and over the material, vaporizing it as it goes.
What are the different concentrate vaporizers?
Concentrate vaporizers come in many different shapes and sizes. The type of vape you choose depends on your session goals:
- Dab pens: Also known as wax or concentrate pens, dab pens are similar in size to vape pens but use a chamber to vaporize concentrates. They tend to have the simplest set of features and the lowest price.
- Portable vaporizers: Portable vapes offer increased battery life and functionality in a compact and discreet package. Some devices, like the PAX, are compatible with both dry herb and concentrates.
- Desktop vaporizers: Finally, desktop vapes are large and powerful stationary units that are designed to stay at home. They offer a wide range of features and temperature settings at the of portability.
If you're looking for a mobile, discreet experience, dab pens and portable vaporizers are likely the choice for you. For ultimate performance choose the desktop vaporizer. Next up is finding the brand and model that works for you.
What factors should I look for when buying one?
When buying a concentrate vaporizer, it's important to keep in mind the type of session you want to have. Vaping is often about personal preference, so you should ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I want to use this for long sessions? If you prefer longer sessions, you will likely need a vape with a longer battery life and a larger oven capacity.
- Do I want to be discreet? If discretion is your priority, you will want to select a vape with a compact design as well as temperature control for vapor production.
- Which concentrates do I want to use? Knowing which cannabis concentrates you intend to vaporize and the device capabilities can help you narrow down the field.
In addition to these questions about session type, you should also consider:
- Aesthetic: Vaporizers vary widely in appearance, so be sure you actually like the way yours looks. It's subjective but necessary.
- Settings: Some vaporizers have temperature settings and app connectivity, while others are more straightforward to use.
- Accessories: Accessories are an important part of the experience, from daily use to carry to maintenance.
- Maintenance: Consider the difficulty and frequency with which you will have to clean your vaporizer to keep it running well.
- Warranty: Most vaporizers also come with a limited warranty, so you should compare the terms and warranty length.
Finding the right concentrate vaporizer
Take your time, do your research, and soon enough you will end up with a concentrate vaporizer that suits your preferences. The popularity of concentrates will only continue to rise, with new products being introduced each year. With the right concentrate vaporizer you'll be good to go.
