Vaporizers and Vapes

Vaporizers are one of the latest and greatest innovations in the smoking industry. Vaporizers precisely heat your oil, dry herb, or e-liquid to the ideal temperature for vaporization. The idea behind a vape is to heat your herbs or concentrates up just enough to enjoy the effects and flavors, but not enough to actually combust them. When combustion occurs, carcinogens and other toxins are released that are unhealthy to the smoker. Available in a variety of different styles with several different heating elements, vapes use state of the art technology to deliver a healthier smoking experience.

Vaporizer companies often make several different size vaporizers, giving vape fans portable or tabletop options. Typically, a handheld vaporizer will contain a heating chamber (metal or ceramic) and a battery or energy source (electric or butane). Handheld vapes are usually conduction, generating heat via a coil as it’s tricky to fit elaborate convection systems within the confines of the vape pen shape. Tabletop vaporizers are often powered with convection heating and function to circulate heat around your herbs or concentrates, like an oven. Smoke Cartel carries both convection and conduction vaporizers. If you’re looking for an excellent concentrate vape that you can easily slip into your pocket, check out Stok Dab Pens. If you’re interested in trying the best vaping experience money can buy, check out the Herbalizer.

Should I get a pen or a desktop vape?

Both pens and desktop vaporizers are designed to work with no more than one or two different products—e-juice, dry herb, or concentrates. Some desktop models are compatible with all three, but you may have to buy separate devices if you like to alternate between products. Most buyers like to start with an inexpensive portable vaporizer pen that they can discretely use in public. Even with dry herb, there is no burning of the actual product—so there is little to no smell to offend others around you. No matter what type of product is in your vape pen, you will need to change the coil and/or wick every so often. A corroded or burnt looking coil and reduced vapor volume will alert you to when it’s time to change these elements. Some users also like to have extra pen batteries on hand in case the charge fades midway through a session. Be sure to view the accessories page to stock up on extra coils and batteries.

Dry Herb Vapes - Dab Pens - E-Juice Vapes

When it comes to product, every vape user has different preferences. Dry herb is a little easier to clean out of a vape pen than other product, but you will have to grind dry herb thoroughly before loading the pen to get the most out of it. Aluminum grinders work the best, although some users prefer the natural look of wooden grinders. When it comes to grinders, the more teeth it has, the better. Grinders can come as a single chamber unit or have multiple chambers for sifting and separating the content of the dry herb. Depending on the user’s needs, they may opt for a single, double, or triple compartment grinder. Concentrates may give you a more intense hit, but they do require more frequent cleaning as they tend to leave sticky residue on the coil and inside of the pen. E-juice is simple to load and comes in a flavor for just about any palate. However, e-juice users will need to thoroughly clean their device before switching flavors as “ghost flavor” will be present after use and may mix with another flavor for an unpleasant taste.

Discretion and Flexibility

As stated above, pens give users the option of discrete portability, but some vape users prefer the social aspect that desktop vaporizers provide. These units can be more customizable than pens in terms of temperature setting, fan speed, and method of inhalation. Desktop vaporizers will come with a whip (long tube used for inhalation), a balloon, or both. Some units include several whip attachment points for multi-user enjoyment. Regular cleaning maintenance on the whip will help with its longevity, but you may still need to eventually replace this part. With a balloon accessory, users wait for the bag to fill with vapor before detaching and inhaling from the balloon. Balloons may also need replacement after several uses, but both balloons and whips are relatively inexpensive. Desktop vaporizers are designed to hold more product for group settings, but single users can also utilize these units for personal use.

Vapes at Smoke Cartel

Modern technology and the growing trend of vaping have increased the design and functionality of both pen and desktop vaporizers in recent years. Although we look forward to any improvements vaporizer manufacturers will produce in the near future, we guarantee any user can find the right device for their needs below.