VapeNow.com Vaporizer Blog

Making the Volcano Vaporizer More Efficient

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:06:00 +0000

Lately, we've been experimenting with using different sized bags for the Volcano. The standard-sized bags or balloons that the Volcano vaporizer comes with only hold enough vapor for about four deep inhales. Then you have to take the mouthpiece off, start the Volcano up again, vaporize a whole new bag, and then put the mouthpiece back on before you can resume vaping. It's not the biggest hassle ever, but it does get pretty repetitive.

While making our video of the 10 foot bag of vapor, we realized that -- besides being awesome -- the 10 ft bag also meant that we only had to fill it once instead of 5 times. However, 10 ft is a lot of vapor and the 10 ft balloon can get unwieldy when full, so we began experimenting with somewhat smaller sizes. During our experimentation we realized that using the bigger bag is not only easier it is also more efficient because you waste less vapor. Think about whenever you attach the Solid or Easy Valve on to the Volcano or take it them. There is always a little lost vapor; however, with the bigger bag you are taking the valve on and off the Volcano valve fewer total times per filling chamber, which maximizes your vapor by eliminating waste (how to make bigger bags with the Easy Valve).

The 10 ft party bag is clearly the most efficient in this regard because it only has to be taken on and off once per filling chamber, but 10 ft isn't always the optimal size. Lately, we've been using a 3 ft long bag almost exclusively (at right). One filling chamber will fill the 3 ft bag up 4 times, which by our math equals 12 total ft of vapor. We usually fill the standard sized bags that Storz & Bickel manufacturer and package with the Volcano Vaporizer Digit systems, which are about 2 ft long, 5 times per filling chamber. That's only 10 ft of vapor, so we've been enjoying our 2 ft bonus a lot and wanted to pass on the tip. Keep vaping!

-VN

Video of the VaporGenie Handheld Vaporizer

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:59:00 +0000

The VaporGenie is unlike most vaporizers in that it uses an open flame instead of electricity for its heat source:

Being able to use a lighter -- torch-style butane is recommended -- instead of electricity (either in the form of a battery that needs recharging or an outlet that you can't take anywhere) with the VaporGenie means that it is a very portable vaporizer. The VaporGenie works by filtering the hot air from the lighter through a special ceramic filter, which is in the top part that screws on, that cools the air to a temperature that is appropriate for vaporizing by mixing it with cooler air. The drawback of the lighter is that if you're not careful you can burn whatever you are trying to vaporize: there is a little technique required. Another plus of the VaporGenie is that it is one of the cheapest vaporizers, retailing for $49.

Please see the VaporGenie Staff Review for more information.

Volatizer VM3 Portable Vaporizer Video Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:22:00 +0000

The Volatizer VM3 is a portable vaporizer manufactured by Chiro-Tec. Below is a video run-through of its operation:

The Volatizer VM3 is very well designed from a functional standpoint. It fits in the palm of your hand --about the size of two cigarette packs back-to-back -- with no exposed parts. The mouthpiece retracts beneath a sliding cover when not in use. A similar sliding cover gives access to the chamber where ceramic discs pre-filled with vaporizables are inserted. While the VM3's form is very elegant, it's price ($449) is somewhat steep considering that most other portable or handheld vaporizers retail for well under $150.

The main reason to pay the extra $300 for the Volatizer is that it is the most portable electronic vaporizer on the marker. It has an internal, rechargeable lithium-ion battery whereas other so-called "portable" vaporizers require an optional, external battery or sometimes even an actual outlet. The VM3 also has an easy-to-read digital display and comes with faux-leather carrying case. Like other portable or hand-held vaporizers, the main problem with the Volatizer VM3 is that the discs that one loads are pretty small and only yield so much vapor.

We will be posting a complete Staff Review of the Volatizer VM3 Handheld Vaporizer in the near future, in the meantime please enjoy the video.

Vapir Oxygen O2 Mini Vaporizer Video

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:05:00 +0000

The Oxgyen Mini-Vaporizer by Vapir has consistently been one of our best selling models.

Portability seems to be a significant consideration for many vaporizer users. The scope of portable and handheld vaporizers currently available is pretty limited. The Oxygen O2 Mini may be the best of the bunch, especially if you consider its price -- $99 -- versus other models such as the Volatizer VM3. For what it is, the Oxygen works well. You wouldn't want to use it for more than 1-2 people as emptying and refilling would be a huge hassle. A car charger and an external battery are also available for the O2 Mini. We'll also be posting a Staff Review of the O2 shortly (feel free to submit your own reviews). Enjoy the video!

New: The Extreme Vaporizer by Arizer

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:43:00 +0000

We're excited to announce the addition of a new vaporizer model to our store. It is the Extreme Vaporizer by Arizer:

Although we haven't had a chance to test this vapo model extensively, our first impressions are mostly positive. The Extreme produces good vapor that is fairly dense. The unit itself is well designed with a back-lit LED and easy controls. It even has a remote for long distance operation (this is a vaporizer first as far as we know). It's price of $269 is reasonable too. The only real drawback of the Extreme Vaporizer is that it is not as user friendly as the Volcano or herbalAire. One has to connect a bunch of glass pieces and plastic tubing to fill bags. Direct-inhale use is a lot simpler, but here at VapeNow we are very partial to our balloon-style vapes. Overall we are pleased to see another decent vaporizer on the market after having tried out the Extreme a few times. It's a sign that vaporizer technology and vaporizers themselves will keep getting better and less expensive.

Vapir ONE v5.0 Vaporizer Video Review

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:07:00 +0000

We've posted a video review of the Vapir ONE v.5.0 handheld vaporizer on YouTube:

The Vapir ONE 5.0 is one of our best sellers due to its portability and relatively low price. We're not crazy about the bags that Vapir sells with the unit -- they don't work as well as Volcano balloons -- but that doesn't seem to be an issue for most people. We hope to have a comprehensive Staff Review up soon. Many thanks to hand model T. Peters once again.

10+ ft. of Vapor with the Volcano Digit

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:24:00 +0000

The rolls of bags you buy from S&B are 10+ feet long. It's easy to put a new bag in the Easy Valve. So why not make a 10 foot bag and fill it up? Why not indeed:

After trying it out we are huge fans. You can ever get one whole bag out of just one largish filling chamber. It's great for groups because there is no wait time once the bag is filled up and it lasts a long time. It also seems more efficient because there is less starting and stopping. If you'd rather buy it than make it, we have 10' Party Balloons for sale in our store.

Many thanks to our friend Levels Van De Capp for the fine acting.

(more vaporizer videos)

Vaporizer Heating Elements 101

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:25:00 +0000

To someone who is just beginning to learn about vaporizers, the wide range of heating elements that come with different vaporizer models can be quite overwhelming. There is also a lot of spammy propaganda out there claiming that this or that heating element is the best. We've published the article below to aid those looking to learn about vaporizer heating elements from an unbiased source. [At right: the herbalAire's aluminum heating element]

Introduction: Our heating element can beat up your heating element...
Anyone who has taken two seconds to survey the breadth of the vaporizer market quickly notices that various brands tout their heating element as "the best available" while pointing out health risks associated with their competitors' models. Evaluating all these (sometimes conflicting) statements can be quite a task. The purpose of this article is not to endorse a specific type of heating element, but instead to gather the available information about heating elements in one place to aid people in making informed decisions when buying a vaporizer.

Why Do Heating Elements Matter?
The heating element is the most integral part of any vaporizer. It regulates the temperature of the air that catalyzes the active ingredients as the air passes through it. A note: the air passing through the heating element may be either propelled by a pump in balloon-style models i.e. the Volcano Vaporizer or by one's own in direct-inhalation style vaporizers i.e. the VaporCannon. Some models, such as the herbalAire, are capable of both balloon and direct-inhale style vaporization. A primary requirement for all heating elements is precision – you want your vaporizer to actually be at the temperature you set – but health considerations may also play when people shop for vaporizers. (more)

Read the entire article: Types of Vaporizer Heating Elements in our Articles Section

Vapezilla and SuperVapezilla Vaporizers Continue to be Unavailable for Wholesale

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:30:00 +0000

It's been awhile size we've had the Vapezilla or Super Vapezilla vaporizers in stock. About a year ago this spring, Wicked Roots (the company that distributes these two models) informed us that the VapeZilla and Super Vapezilla would be unavailable for some time, which is a shame because we have had quite a few inquiries from customers.

When we checked back with Wicked Roots this past fall and were dismayed to learn that their operations had been disrupted by the wildfires that were going on in California at that time.

We had hoped things would be running smoothly by now, but our latest email elicited only this terse reply:

All wholesale orders have been suspended.

WR

When we asked if they had any idea when things would resume they said that they "not have any idea at this time."

We're not exactly sure what's going on with the Super Vapezilla and the Vapezilla Classic, but it sure is annoying. We still have some accessories, including glass whips and tubing, for the Super Vapezilla and the Vapezilla Classic vaporizers, but for the foreseeable future it seems that vaporizer enthusiasts will have to look elsewhere. If you're already looking in this price range, we recommend the S&B Volcano Vaporizer. And if anyone knows what's going on or has heard through the grapevine, please let us know.

Beware of this cheap Volcano knockoff

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:10:00 +0000

It's recently come to our attention that a company has stolen Storz & Bickel's design for the Volcano Classic Vaporizer and manufactured some of their own knockoffs, called "Fuji Vaporizers". Do not buy these imitations. Although they are the same basic design (see picture below), the materials used are far inferior to the ones S&B uses to make their vapes. The shell on the Fuji Vaporizer is plastic as opposed to metal. Other parts are also made of low quality plastic, which has a tendency to melt during use. This is a huge health risk. Steer clear of the Fuji Vaporizer.

Volcanos Are BACK; Storz & Bickel resume importing popular Vaporizer

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:44:00 +0000

I just got off the phone with our distributor having received the best possible news ever: the S&B Volcano, the cream of the vaporizer crop, is once again available in the U.S. We have just placed a large order and you may pre-order Volcanoes here. We have both the Digit and Classic models on the way and should be shipping them out to customers within a week. Volcano accessories and bags will become available shortly.
Storz & Bickel seem to have resolved their customs issues and, altough the company was definitely hurt by the situation in the short run, things seem to be back on track. So if you've been looking to purchase the best vaporizer currently on the market, congratulations, you finally can!

The Elusive Volcano Vaporizer

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:53:00 +0000

It's been awhile since we first announced the shortage of Volcano Digits and Classics and the supply chain problems Storz & Bickel were having. Since then we have had a number of inquiries regarding the availability of Volcanoes.

The good news is that S&B is planning to have Volcano Vaporizers (both Digits and Classics) available in the U.S. They have not suspended import, they have only run into some supply chain issues, which they are working to correct. In an interview he gave on January 21st, Michael Schwartz, S&B's head of marketing, reaffirmed this fact, stating that S&B Volcanoes would be available within the next two weeks (Feb 5th by our count). We're keeping our fingers crossed that this is true and will keep updating our blog as things develop. Not being able to purchase the best vaporizer around is a drag. Until then... Stay up!

An Explanation of Box Vaporizers

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:18:00 +0000

Box Vaporizers were one of the first styles of vapes to become widely popular. They are relatively cheap ($100-$200), but still very functional. All Box-Style Vaporizers share similar designs: they consist of a box, which houses the cylindrical heating element, and a whip, which is basically a piece of plastic tube with a glass mouthpiece on one end and a glass opening on the other end that fits over the heating element. They are also all direct-inhale. To use, you turn the vape on, let it heat up, fill your vaporizer whip with material, place the whip over the heating element, and inhale the vapor.

Although the operation of box vaporizers is fairly straightforward, there is a degree of technique involve in the inhalation. You must modulate your breath to achieve the proper rate of airflow past the heating element. Try experiment with short puffs and then long, deep, slow inhales to get a sense of what results from different inhalation styles. Once you figure out how to use a box vaporizer, such as the Vaporbrothers Vaporizer, it can be very rewarding; however, there is a learning curve.

Other models of box-style vapes include the VaporCannon Vaporizer, the VaporBox, and the VaporTower Vaporizer. All these modules come with a standard vapor whip and you can upgrade to a hands free whip for $10-$20 depending on the model.

You'll notice that the all the VaporTower is the only model that stands upright. All other box vaporizers are slightly angled upwards. According to the manufacturer of the VaporTower and the VaporBox:

"There is really no benefit to trying the VaporBox if you are using a VaporTower. The design of all angled boxes, including the VaporBox is flawed and inferior. Reason is gravity, the herbs falls down to the tip of the heater and/or into the box. We came up with the VaporTower idea by simply flipping over a VaporBox and holding it with the heater pointing straight down so herbs would sit flat on the screen instead of on the glass inner handkit. It was so much better that we designed the VaporTower with vertical placement vs. horizontal or some arbitrary angle. Yet the angled boxes are still more popular due to being on the market for 8 years now."

These claims agree with our experience. The VaporTower is the best box-style vaporizer that we have used to date. The vertical design makes a lot of sense when you take into account that hot air rises, something that other box vapes seem to have overlooked.

VapeNow T-Shirts Are Here!

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:38:00 +0000

We want to let everyone know that have designed our first edition Offici a l Vape Now.com T-Shirts. The shirts read "VapeNow: It's not a Pipe Dream" on the front and features an artistic rendition of VapeNow.com on the back. We have them in Carolina blue, Burnt orange and Natural cotton. They are 100% Authentic pre-shrunk Hanes Tagless T-Shirts. Be the first on your block to rock one. Sizes S-XXL.

VooDoo v5.0 Vaporizers Available Again

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:42:00 +0000

We received some good news from Pyro Products today. They notified us that their popular VooDoo Vaporizer model is available again. Version 5.0 of the VooDoo incorporates a better fan and higher quality heating elements. However, there are only a limited number of these available so place your orders now if you want to make sure to get one!

herbalAire H2.1 Vaporizer Video

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:06:00 +0000

Our most recent video features the herbalAire Vaporizer by herbalAire Ltd. Fine work again by T. Peters.

As we've said before, the herbalAire is in our opinion the second best vaporizer on the market right now, after the Volcano. It is very efficient and easy to use. Read our Staff Review on the herbalAire.

The AroMed Vaporizer 4.0

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:48:00 +0000

This video features the AroMed 4.0 Vaporizer by Research & Experience. Thanks to T. Peters for his expert hand modeling.

The AroMed 4 is a direct inhale vaporizer. However, it is much different than other direct inhale units, such as the VaporTower or VaporCannon. The AroMed uses a halogen bulb instead of a ceramic heating element for a heat sources, which is a kind of cool feature. The whole setup looks more like a chemistry class that ran into a desk lamp than a vaporizer, but it does produce vapor. We haven't used it enough to decided whether we like it or not. Once we do, we'll post a full review. -VN

VapeNow: Your Official North American herbalAire Distributor

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:24:00 +0000

We pleased to announce that VapeNow is now the Official North American distributor for the herbalAire Vaporizer! With the recent closing of S&B America and the subsequent drying up of the Volcano Vaporizer supply, the herbalAire is now the best balloon-style vaporizer on the American market. It's much cheaper than the Volcano, but it may be even more efficient. As an added bonus the herbalAire can also be used for direct inhale as well.

If you are a qualified retail outlet or distributor interested in carrying the herbalAire, please visit our Wholesale section for more info.

S&B No Longer Importing Volcanoes to the U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:20:00 +0000

We were shocked and dismayed last week when we learned that Storz & Bickel America is closing its doors at the end of 2007 and, even worse, S&B is no longer importing the Volcano Classic or Digit models to the U.S.

This is bad news coming in the middle of the Holiday Season. We are entirely sold out of Digits, but we do have some Classics in stock. Get them while you can! We also have some assorted parts and extra bags, but it seems as if these may be in short supply soon too. Hopefully someone will make Volcanoes available in the U.S. before too long. We have already been talking to a few people about this and it seems likely, but not for some time.

The Volcano Digit and Classic Vaporizers are by far the best models on the market; however, in light of S&B's decision to discontinue importing them we believe that the best vaporizer model left on the U.S. market is the herbalAire. It is less expensive than the Volcano, while still extracting the same amount of vapor. Only problem is that it has a much slower pump. Read our herbalAire Staff Review.

We'll be sure to keep you posted on any developments with regard to Volcanoes, thanks for reading. -VN

New Toll Free Vaporizer Hotline

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:27:00 +0000

Hi everyone. We're excited to announce the debut of our brand new vaporizer hotline:

(888) 44-VAPOR

or numerically: (888) 448-2767

Want to check up on your order or have a question about a vaporizer? Don't hesitate to give us a call. We're more than happy to help and if we aren't available when you call, leave a message. We will get back to you ASAP.

Phedor Vaporizer Review

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:30:00 +0000

The handheld Phedor Vaporizer is one of our top-selling models. We think this is likely due to the fact that it is highly portable. Its competition is somewhat lacking: the VaporGenie is not a true, electronic vaporizer and the Oxygen O2 Mini handheld has some design issues i.e. a tiny filling chamber. Read more about the Phedor in our most recent Staff Review.

There is clearly a lot demand for a good, portable vaporizer, but the technology is still catching up. The three handheld models we carry all approach vaporization differently. The Oxygen Mini is the only true, electronic vaporizer, but it's still hard to scale all the components down. The VaporGenie mixes hot air from a lighter with cooler air. And the Phedor is a lot more like a lighter than a vaporizer. We're interested to see how this area develops. Hopefully, good portable vaporizers will be available in the not-too-distant-future!

Get Your VapeNow Stickers!

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:37:00 +0000

Exciting news! Over the past month we have been designing our brand new stickers. We received them early this week and have to say that we are very pleased with the results (the big margins are for printing and trimming purposes):

Sticker #1:

Sticker#2:

If anyone would like a free sticker or two, just send us your mailing address. We'll send some stickers to you free of charge. We hope you all like the designs and would be happy to hear any suggestions/comments.

In vaporizer related news, there are a couple new developments you may be interested in.

We are now carrying the Aromed 4.0. Like the Volcano, this herbal vaporizer is manufactured in Germany, hopefully the Aromed will prove to be as effective We've been testing it out and will post a full review soon. It's cheaper than the Volcano at only $440 and uses a halogen bulb to heat the vaporizable material, which is pretty cool. It actually looks like a high tech, digital reading lamp instead of a vaporizer. The Aromed is availble in Euro or US plugs.
We continue to wait for our first shipment of Vapezilla Classics. Hopefully they will arrive in time for Christmas!

We hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and didn't eat too much turkey.

Happy Holidays!
-VN

The VaporTower Take 2

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:41:00 +0000

At first we were not very pleased with the VaporTower. However, after refining our inhalation technique we were able to get very nice results. Try setting the dial at about 1 o'clock and taking long slow inhales interspersed with shorter puffs. We have posted a full Staff Review on our site for those of you interested in the details. Our basic conclusion is that the VaporTower is a nice direct inhale vaporizer, perhaps the best on the market. It's main competition seems to be the Vapor Cannon 3G. We also have more pictures of the VaporTower.

The VaporTower was created by vaportower.com.

Update on Super & Classic Vapezilla

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:34:00 +0000

Unfortunately we continue to be sold out of Super and Classic Vapezilla Vaporizers:

We received an email from Wicked Roots (the company that manufactures the Phedor, the Classic Vapezilla, and the Super Vapezilla Vaporizer models) yesterday saying that they were having supply problems due to the secondary CA Wildfires that are in the vicinity of their facilities. Our best wishes our with them.

We have plenty of Phedors in stock, but we don't have any Super or Classic Vapezillas. Distribution is supposed to resume in December and we're hoping to get Classic Vapezillas in stock for Christmas. The availability of the Super Vapezilla is less certain, which is unfortunate because it is their best vaporizer of the three they make. We will keep you posted with updates.

HerbalAire Vaporizer Review

noreply@blogger.com (VapeNow Editors) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:56:00 +0000

This post is a brief review of the HerbalAire Vaporizer. You can also read our full Staff Review of the HerbalAire.

The HerbalAire is one of the top 5 vaporizers on the market right now. It compares favorably to the S&B Volcano, which is collectively recognized as the "best" vaporizer. Th HerbalAire generates vapor of similar density with the same efficiency of a Volcano. It's also smaller, and more portable. You can use the HerbalAire without the air pump for direct inhale.

Best of all, at $250 the HerbalAire is substantially less expensive than the Volcano. The HerbalAire is not without it's flaws, however. The air pump is downright horrible: bags can take 3-5 minutes to fill (30 seconds for the Volcano). The balloon is not a great design either, we made our own because the ones that come with the model are just too small. Additionally, you can't close the balloon's opening and vapor always gets out. Hopefully these problems will be fixed in the future. As is, the HerbalAire is just a "good model," not a "great one," but still perhaps the best option if a Volcano is too expensive.