Table of contents
- Quick summary
- Dry herb vaporizer: How does it work?
- What kind of herbs can I vaporize?
- Is it safe to vape flower and herbs?
- What are the benefits of vaping dry herbs?
- Is it better to vape or smoke dry herbs?
- Pros & cons of vaping dry herbs
- Types of dry herb vaporizers
- Vaporizer heater Types
- What is the best vaporizer for dry herbs?
- How do you vape dry herbs? A step-by-step guide
- Final top tips for first-time vapers
Are you new to the world of dry herb vaporizers and aren’t sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place. Dry herb vaporizers are becoming a popular alternative to smoking and it’s important to know why and how to get started.
Instead of burning your herbs, dry herb vaping devices heat them up to produce vapor that delivers all of the goodies that you’re after without the harsh chemicals. They’re more efficient, easy to use, and provide a much cleaner experience for your lungs.
There’s a lot to know, but we’ve got you covered. We’ll detail everything you need to know as a beginner, from the benefits of dry herb vaping to the different types you may find on the market. Let’s get into it.
Planet of the Vapes: Learn from the experts
We believe that vaporization is the best way to consume herbs, and it is our purpose to make it the preferred choice of herbal consumption and to spread the joy of vaping, every day. We produce comprehensive reviews and guides to help you make the best buying decision and vaporize with confidence, from start to finish. Our team of vape experts perform extensive tests and research on each product to learn just about everything there is to know and to ensure it’s worthy of your hard-earned money.
Quick summary
Here’s a quick rundown on how to vape dry herbs for beginners.
- Grind your herbs
- Pack your vape
- Power on your vape
- Pick your temperature
- Inhale your vaporized herbs
- Power off & clean your vape
Dry herb vaporizer: How does it work?
How do these dry herb vaporizers work? A dry herb vaporizer is a heater that produces gas (vapor) from dried plant material. Material is placed inside a heating chamber, or oven, that can reach temperatures well over 400F. Rather than combusting the material, like with cigarettes, vaporizers use hot air to heat the material and release its active ingredients (terpenes, for example) in the form of vapor, instead of smoke!
Some vaporizers and vape pens are battery-free and utilize a torch lighter as their heat source. These options grant you unrivaled flexibility and never have to be charged. For the rest of this guide, however, we’ll be covering electronic vapes only.
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What kind of herbs can I vaporize?
There’s a wide variety of different herbs you can vaporize. Each one provides unique benefits at specific temperatures that are only accessible with dry herb vaporizers.
- Blue Lotus - 212°F to 257°F
- Basil - 266°F
- Catnip - 257°F to 302°F
- St John's Wart - 212°F to 302°F
- Valerian - 212°F to 302°F
- Chamomile - 212°F to 257°F
- Eucalyptus - 266°F
- Green Tea - 347°F to 365°F
- Ginseng - 347°F to 392°F
- Hops - 347°F to 392°F
- Lavender - 212°F to 257°F
- Passionflower - 212°F to 302°F
- Yerba Mate - 212°F to 302°F
- Peppermint - 212°F to 302°F
- Thyme - 212°F to 302°F
- Sage - 257°F to 302°F
- Rosemary - 257°F
- Lemongrass - 257°F to 302°F
- Lemon Balm - 288°F
- Clove - 257°F to 302°F
- Aloe Vera - 347°F to 392°F
- Spearmint - 309°F
- White Lily - 257°F to 347°F
- Wild Dagga - 302°F to 347°F
- Ginger - 347°F to 392°F
Is it safe to vape flower and herbs?
Vaporizing dry herbs is perfectly safe if you do it right and take the time to learn about it. It’s becoming wildly popular among a variety of different herbal users and is quickly becoming the go-to option for many.
What are the benefits of vaping dry herbs?
Discreet
While there are plenty of vapes that will turn heads and spark a lot of curiosity, there’re just as many that deliver potent vapor in a discreet, pocketable fashion. A variety of portable vapes, like the POTV ONE, fit snugly in your palm and can be tucked away in your pocket or small bag.
Smoke also brings its stinky stench wherever you go and will stick to surfaces long after you’re finished. It’s not pleasant at all. The vapor produced from a dry herb vaporizer is light and only includes the good stuff. It doesn’t stick or linger for very long.
Feels and tastes better
Smoke is harsh and smelly. It doesn’t taste great and it feels extremely harsh on your throat and lungs. Vaporizers deliver the goodies in a gentler form that reveals unique herbal flavors that you didn’t even know existed in your plant. It’s the best way to experience everything your herbs have to offer.
Portability
Like we mentioned before, many small dry herb vaporizers will fit conveniently in a small bag or purse, or even in your pocket. Take it out and about and enjoy a session wherever you go, and easily store it away when you’re finished. Portable dry herb vapes allow you to take a few hits here and there, when it’s convenient for you, instead of waiting for the herbs to burn out or tossing them early.
Efficiency
Combustion destroys a lot of the herbal compounds that you’re after and turns them into harmful byproducts that you don’t want in your lungs. Vaporizing releases these compounds, instead of destroying them, and provides a more well-rounded experience that you won’t find with smoking. Because vaporizing squeezes every bit out of your material, you use a whole lot less. Most people report that they use about a third to a half less than they did when they were smoking. It’s a win-win!
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Is it better to vape or smoke dry herbs?
We may be a little biased, but vaping is the superior method to consume your dry herbs. Your lungs and wallet will thank you as soon as you make the switch. Pick up a dry herb vaporizer and enjoy herbal flavors and aromas you didn’t know were hidden under all the smoke. But that’s not all. Vaporizers are discreet, easy to use, and can give you different effects from the same herbs by changing up the temperatures.
Is vaping dry herbs more potent?
Vapor is more potent than smoke. Vapor preserves more of the rich qualities that we’re after so each puff is more potent. That’s one of the reasons vaporizers have smaller bowls than pipes and bubblers - you don’t need to use as much.
Pros & cons of vaping dry herbs
| Pros 👍 | Cons 👎 |
| Discreet | Costs more upfront |
| Efficient | Slight learning curve |
| Tastes great | |
| Easier on the lungs | |
| Different temperature settings | |
Bottom lineThere are more reasons than not to switch to dry herb vaporizing, and it’s not as daunting as it may seem. With a little know-how and the right equipment, you’ll be an expert in no time. |
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Types of dry herb vaporizers
There are two main types of vaporizers you’ll find on the market. Portable vaporizers are cordless and can fit inside most bags or purses, but need a charger to fill up the battery. Some can slip inside a small pocket. Desktop vaporizers plug into a power outlet and provide all-day power.
Portable dry herb vaporizers
Portable vaporizers are popular for their compact, handheld design that can easily slip into most pockets or small bags, and are the go-to options for many of our at-home and on-the-go users. These vapes utilize an internal battery for power, or in some cases, a torch lighter, and can provide rich, satisfying vapor production wherever you are. Check out our best portable vapes guide for our top picks.
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Desktop dry herb vaporizers
On the other hand, desktop vaporizers have a much larger footprint and plug directly into a power outlet for long, powerful sessions. These vapes are popular among strictly at-home users and heavy hitters for their superior power, larger ovens with a larger surface area, and ability to drive parties or large groups of friends. These options generally cost more, but are built to last for years and years.
Vaporizer heater Types
Conduction vaporizers
Conduction vaporizers, like the XMAX Starry Vaporizer, act as mini-ovens and heat your herbs through direct contact over the course of a session. They’re typically easier to use, more consistent, more energy efficient, and less expensive than other types of heaters. They’re great for light users who prefer small sips over large rips. Conduction vapes, however, cook your herbs in between hits and lose taste quicker. They’re not as efficient or tasty as other options.
Convection vaporizers
Vaporizers with convection heating, like the Firefly 2+, separate the heat source from the chamber and only heat the air and your herbs as you inhale. They’re much more efficient and produce the tastiest vapor on the market. They’re the go-to option for connoisseur-level experiences, but they’re very taxing on the battery (for portable options) and are more expensive.
Check out our list of the best convection vapes for a full rundown.
Hybrid vaporizers
Most dry herb vaporizers today, like the Storz & Bickel Mighty+ and Volcano Hybrid, fall into the hybrid category. These vapes preheat the herbs to a lower temperature, and heat the incoming air at a higher temperature to finish it off during your hit. These vaporizers have become wildly popular because they are consistent and easy to use, and fully extract everything from your herbs in less time.
What is the best vaporizer for dry herbs?
It’s hard to pick one vaporizer as the very best. All vape devices aspire to be the number one choice, but we believe there’s a best dry herb vaporier for each person, and everyone’s different. Some users want to vaporize at much as possible in one sitting, while others prefer slow, relaxing sessions with little herbs. Check out our Best Portable Vapes Guide to see our top picks for each need.
How do you vape dry herbs? A step-by-step guide
Step 1: Grind your herbs
Do you need to grind for dry herb vapes? Many vapes can vaporize whole flowers, but grinding produces the best results. The type of grind will depend on the type of dry herb vaporizer, but generally, conduction vaporizers perform best with a finer grind, while convection vaporizers prefer a coarser grind. If you’re unsure, go with a medium grind. Check out our full guide on How to Use a Dry Herb Grinder for Beginners Guide for more info.
Step 2: Pack your vape
Next, take your vaporizer and fill the oven with your ground herbs. For conduction vaporizers, fill it to brim and pack it down tightly. Repeat this until it’s packed nice and tight to the top.
Convection and hybrid vaporizers are the exact opposite. They don’t like tight packs. Instead, fill the oven loosely until there's a small mound on top, and then gently press it into the oven until it's flush with the rim.
Step 3: Power on your vape
Turn it on! With most vaporizers, press the power button quickly five times. Others might need a triple-press, or a long press of the power button. Refer to your vaporizer’s user manual if you’re unsure.
Step 4: Pick your temperature
Some vaporizes use different temperature controls. Some utlize precise control down to a single degree, while others have preset controls. We’ll cover a few temperature ranges to choose but this will also apply to preset settings.
Low-level vaping temperatures - 370°F/187°C and below
This temperature range produces the tastiest vapor and is perfect for chasing flavor rather than clouds. Hits are light and wispy, but full of flavor and will provide gentle, but noticeable effects. This is a safe zone to start if you’re not yet sure what you're looking for. You can always bump it up later.
Mid-level vaping temperatures - 370°F/187°C to 390°F/198°C
This temperature range is a nice happy-medium. Hits are noticeably thicker, but still produce satisfying flavors that pack a punch. Perfect for those that want a little more ‘oomph’ from their hits, but also plenty of flavor.
High-level vaping temperatures - 390°F/198°C and above
This is where flavor starts to take a dive, but thick clouds come to play. Your first few hits will pack in some flavorful accents, but will quickly dissipate as the clouds ramp up. This is the best place to start if you want big clouds and strong effects from the get-go.
Step 5: Inhale your vaporized herbs
Once your dry herb vaporizer reaches your desired temperature, it’s time to hit it! Start with a slow, relaxed inhale through the mouthpiece for about seven to ten seconds, and then exhale. Keep the airflow nice and steady. Your first hit or two will be light and flavorful but will ramp up as your session rolls.
Step 6: Power off & clean your vape
When you’re all finished with your session, turn your vaping device off the same way you turned it on and let it cool for about a minute. If you’re saving the rest for later, you’re good. Leave it and come back to it later.
How do you clean your dry herb vape?
If your herbs are spent, take a cleaning brush and clear out the oven while it’s still warm. This will prevent the load from sticking to the oven and keep your vape running longer before its time for a deep cleaning.
Deep cleanings involve soaking the dirty parts of your vape and thorough wipe-downs. Which parts to soak or wipe depends on your dry herb vaporizer. We have a number of in-depth cleaning guides so check out our blog for your specific vaporizer.
Final top tips for first-time vapers
Be aware of where you can and cannot vape
You may wonder if the same smoking rules apply to vaporizers. As a safe, general rule, if you can’t smoke somewhere, you also can’t vape. If you’re unsure, ask around or just step outside and enjoy your session.
The quality of your herbs will affect the quality of your experience
Vaporizers are only half of the equation. High-quality, expertly harvested plant material will feel and taste better and provide the best overall vaping experience. Keep your herbs in an airtight container and store them in a dark, cool environment to maintain its freshness.
Experiment!
Over time, you’ll discover little nuances or rituals that cater to your own personal vaping style. Don’t be afraid to mess around with different vapes, grinds, packs, temperatures, and any other components of your session to dial in your very own unique way of vaporizing.
If we missed anything, or if you have any questions or concerns about getting started, let us know in the comments!
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