Beware of this cheap Volcano knockoff
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.
I own a fuji and yes the outside is plastic but nothing that comes in contact with direct heat is.The parts that are plastic seem to be high quality ABS. out of the two other vaporizers ive owned I like this one the best .Its very fast and has a good clean taste. my friend owns a volcano and even he agrees it works 99% as good .Do I think it will last as long as the volcano? Maybe not but it cost under 250.00 not 600.00 .also The (10) bags that came with it worked great and lasted a long time I still have most not used.
It may seem fine, but without being tested you really can’t say that it is safe. Like any knock-off item it is very likely that the makers cut corners on materials and design. If they are selling it for $250, it’s pretty obvious they are cutting corners.
Furthermore, the “fuji” knockoff is technically illegal as it violates patent law so good luck getting it fixed if it ever breaks.
Does that mean you’ve tested it? Because if so, I’m interested to see the results. I’ve been looking all over the web and can’t seem to find any information concerning actual testing. All I’ve been able to find are opinions and advertising.
We haven't tested it ourselves, but S&B; passed on the results of their testing, which were not good. The "fuji" uses plastic that is not safe for high temperatures. There are a lot of Chinese knock-offs of original vapes on the market, all the way from Box + Whip models to the Volcano. All knock-offs are characterized by cheap material and cut corners on manufacturing. The Volcano knock off is no different. We would certainly never vape out of it, based on what we know.
Just bought a Fuji vape going to test it over the next week. Seems legit enough and the price was right. I have a volcano and it has been on for the last 2 years, literally. So we’ll see how the Fuji stacks up soon enough!
I've actually tried both the Volcano Digi and the Fuji v2.
Let me just summarize and say that I own the Fuji.
I find the differences between the two negligible. IMHO these really are doing the exact same thing. Does Fuji have a plastic exterior…yep. Does it really matter? No. Not that I can see or have experienced.
Let's get real here folks. All these units consist of is a fan, a heating element, some custom molding work, a ceramic disc, a breathing connector, a herb tray, a bag connector, and some bags. Even considering patents it's ridiculous that all this costs $669 for the Volcano. I mean, there can't be more than $50 in parts here. Not only that but Volcano has reduced its warranty to 2 years and has half the bags included? 2.5 times the price…wow. I couldn't justify it.
In addition, as far as the herbs. I couldn't tell any difference whatsoever. The Fuji IMHO performed 100% exactly the same as the Volcano.
I bought a Fuji Vaporizer 2 weeks ago and it broke today – simply stopped working after ok uses – took awhile to heat up. Took it back to the store where we bought it and no refund, exchange – referred us to Warranty in Operating Instructions and e-mail address only, no address or phone numbers. I was searching for info on the company and came upon this blog – wish I found it before but I now agree – don't buy it! and it cost us over $400. We own a Volcano for several years and recommend it highly!
VapeNow Editors, you are telling us that S&B; reviewed the Fuji on their own and the results weren't good? WELL WHAT A SURPRISE. Surely they arent biased, although they are the creators of the Volcano and they would hate for the Fuji to cut in on their profits.
The Volcano should be priced at what the Fuji costs, no vap should cost more than half a thousand dollars, especially in this economic climate. I own a fuji and it is great. Sure its plastic but I opened it up and none of the plastic parts touch the heating element at all. ALSO THEY USE PORCELAIN IN THE FUJI SO IT ISNT JUST CHEAP PLASTIC.
Stop the lies and tell people the honest truth for a change. Profits over people. Peace.
I purchased a few vapes in my lifetime and have tried the volcano digital and also the fuji and phantom (which are really the same). The Fuji and Phantom were both excellent buys for the money and give you the same “product” that ALL vaporizers are designed to give. The only difference between various vapes are obviously the quality of the parts and the efficiency they can burn the herb.
I would have to say that the Fuji and Phantom are both comparable to the volcano in terms of the vapor produced but the parts are definitely cheaper for the Fuji/Phantom! Let me detail you exactly my experience. The Fuji/Phantom bags are extremely thin and thus if you do not follow the directions given then they can actually melt a bit. The herb chamber also has plastic legs that “can” melt if you again do not follow the given directions and leave it on the device for an extended period of time. Even after this plastic portion melts, there are metal tabs that can hold the chamber in place.
I do think that for the money, $670 (volcano) vs $300(Fuji/Phantom) you are still getting the same end result.
With all this being said, I recommend you go and get better bags which can be $5-10 or free if you just go to the local grocery and follow the directions that are given with the knockoff units.
P.S: My friends digital volcano had the fan fail after two and a half weeks… My roommate and I both have a Fuji and Phantom that have been working fine for the last 3 or so months.
I have had this for over a year, it is a bit slow to heat up, but I can buy 4 of these for the cost of a volcano that does not even have a digital display. If you can afford to buy a volcano, go right ahead. The Fuji is for those of us that work for a living.
So sick of reading about “cheap plastic” this and that. It’s like the same thing everywhere you read: “Plastic housing melts…” -bs, impossible -The plastic housing gets warm at the units highest operating temperature but, just warm, I would not call it hot at all. Certainly, no chance of this melting. There is no other plastic parts that would come close enough to the heating element to worry about.
You people should bitch about the real-deal Volcano costing $600 $700 $800+
so the fact that you have links to purchase the volcano on your site has nothing to do with how you feel about the fuji? I’m tired of monetary bullshit the volcano is way overpriced for what it does and everyone knows it. Of course you’re going to be against a cheaper version who claims to do the exact same thing because then your prices have to come down. Volcano has been around for years and it seems the price just keeps climbing. Maybe it’s time S&B realizes that people don’t have over half a thousand dollars to spend on a smoking device.
To bad we can’t have real dialog and not people who put up fake sites in order to manipulate others.
i just bought a fuji today by a friend i met at gym, used it twice (2 bags full so far) and it works………….whats all this hype about….i got this for $20….ithink the original is far tooooo expensive….i’ve always wanted one but cudnt offord it until my friend that sold these things by bundles at his previous store, he remembered he had one last fuji vaporizer……..gave it to me for $20………it definitely works but after reading all the reviews up top, im starting to wonder why this fuji is getting bad feedback……..
is it a safety health hazard because of it being made out of plastic….?
if so i wud want to know about it asap….
hhhhhmmmmm……..
Yeah, it’s a safety hazard with the cheap plastic. The Fuji is so cheap because of crappy materials i.e. non temperature resistant plastics that can off-gas during use and it’s produced by a no-name company. If you’re hurt using it or it breaks, good luck trying to get the company to take responsibility. We recommend the name-brands that we carry because those companies stand behind their product.
Nope, our feelings about the Fuji are based on test results we’ve seen as well as actually taking one apart and seeing how poorly / cheaply it was made. We carry several lower price bag-style vapes than the Volcano, we’re not forcing anyone to buy it. But if we had to choose between a Fuji and Volcano, it’d be a Volcano every time despite the cost.
BS! Such BS!! I have owned a fuji for over a year now, and it works perfectly fine! I have taken it apart aslo. Sure, the case is made of plastic, but EVEN if the heat was intense enough to cause off gas, you wouldn’t be breathing it in. There is also a air pump inside which pumps air from under the vape up to the metal made holding case for the heating element. No off gas gets in your vape bag. Im picking up a phantom today, suggest you do the same if you planning on a volcano. save yourself some dough for the same damn results. Teh volcano is grossly overpriced. You have to know it didn’t cost near that much to produce it. (even with the metal outside case)In short, don’t buy into this marketing BS. Do whats right for your wallet. If volcano wants to match prices, id be more than willing to buy a little better quality vape.
I love my Fuji!
i beleive the fuji is a health hazard in fact as a test i filled a bad at its highest temperature with no plant material and it smelled like toxic plastic, the bags themselves may be a hazard as well considering they melt slightly at its highest temperature. i would say if you own a fuji just try to keep the temp down and you should be okay. not everyone can afford the real volcano but if you can save up the money to do so i would choose the volcano. the fuji i played with stop working after about 3 weeks, the thing shorted on me and i was forced to ake it apart to fix it. now it isnt even able to reach quickly but eh it is much cheaper. all in all just buy what you can afford or just use a lightbulb lol they all have the same desired effect.
Post a link to the results please. Otherwise this is just nonsense, manipulative, propaganda.
pretty much all the sorry ass’s that bought a volcano are sour because the phantom works just as well.
Vape Now editors,
Can you make all this data and test results you are talking about available for everyone to look at? And could you give some specifics(how many parts does each have? what are those parts made out of?) instead of using vague terms like poorly and cheaply?
You said earlier the plastic melts? is that documented anywhere?
I appreciate the consumer input in this forum. Refreshing to get some honest advice for once.
My question tho is whether or not the Fuji has a louder fan than the Volcano. I’ve used Volcanoes liked their low operational volume compared to others like a Vapir that feels like a lawnmower.
Thanks
i own a volcano it was exspensive but like anything else you get what you pay for
Here’s the way I see it,, IF A US COMPANY SENDS OUT THEIR PRODUCT TO BE MADE IN CHINA, SUCKS FOR THEM!!! I’ll buy the knock off every time, seeing more times then not, there made to the same specs by the same china men in the same type factory next door.. I’ve made a point of avoiding US company’s who sold us out to china by sending our jobs oversees only to bring their junk back with a US name brand attached. IF IT’S MADE IN CHINA ”’ THEN BUY CHINA ”’ Only then will they pull the plug on sending our jobs there..
my china knock off plasma cutter and MANY other shop items still work great 5 6 years in..
I found mine in a rubbish pile, it looked like a dog chewed the cord in 1/2, so I fixed the cord, works fair, the temp reading is off as on my S&B Volcano I start vape at a low temp & work up from there, on my Ground Score Phantom I have to start at a higher temp & run it without the filling chamber then back it off a bit to get it to heat up without waiting forever, the heating element exhibits some temp swings and is not as stable as the real deal but maybe the bad cord was not its only reason it was thrown away. from what I’ve seen the price is right ( $129 @ Amazon ) & if you can’t afford a Cadillac a Pinto works fine. this is better than most cheapo ones I bought before spending my children’s inheritance on a $600 S&B but it has been well worth it as I’ve had it almost four years. the freebie phantom had no filling chamber or valve but the S&B parts work on both so now I have one for my living room & one for my bedroom.
I’ve had one of these for a couple years. Never used it the first 2 because I could never get it to work right.
I’ve since learned the indicator light is basically useless. It comes on in 2 minutes and it takes 15-20 to actually heat up. If someone has one of these and it suddenly stops working…Fear not. I’ll almost guarantee the wires from the heating element have pulled loose. You take the bottom off by unscrewing the legs. The wires run from element to a circuit board. Problem is, the connectors into the board are only 1/16 or so long and just push in. What’s worse is the ”tower” that holds heating element up tends to loosen with use and that pulls the wires out of the board. If you add another nut to secure the first and glue the connectors into the board, you have a pretty good machine.
Never had anything melt and I have this thing on nearly constantly. No interior plastic parts that melt as is often stated.
i was in possession of a friend’s Volcano for almost 2 weeks and fell in love with it. But I’m seriously contemplating buying the Phantom Digital, just for the cheaper price tag. I’ve read tons of reviews on them, and this is the first time I’ve read that any kind of plastic melts on the things.
I’ve been an AVID Iolite user for the past year or so… and Im talking all day, everyday, anywhere and everywhere. The Iolite is completely made of plastic, and I’ve passed out and left that thing on, and it’s never melted. Not even close.
So I trust that the plastic Fuji chose to use for their vape is safe from melting. I’ve also read that the Phantom Digital (2nd gen) surpasses the original Fuji Phantom by leaps and bounds! I think the one you have pictured here, and used for this review, was their first model.
Anybody here have a Phantom Digital? Im curious if it’s louder/quieter than the Volcano…
volcanos cost money because they were the best available , UNTIL, copies were made.
Now they have no choice but to say the copies are dangerous, IF they wish to retain such a high profit margin.
It was intentionally over priced to take into coinsideration the eventual copiers being able to do the same job for 25% of the price.
Does anyone really believe $250 doesnt include a massive profit??
they wouldnt exist otherwise!
regardless…i work hard enough to own an original, but it IS a disgusting price!!
Funny. You didn’t even take that picture. My Fuji works like a champ and been using it for a LONG time. I owned a Volcano that failed after a year and a half. Regardless of maker, they are both doing the same thing in similar ways. All electronic/electrical items are subject to fail. IMHO the Volcanos are the nicest, material wise, and also overpriced. I’ll gladly swap metal for plastic and save $500. =)
We bought a Phantom in Salt Lake for $120 2years ago. It stopped working today. It has given us signs over the last 3 months that it was going, we kept having to turn up the temperature and wait longer for it to heat up. After 2 years of daily heavy use and testing, I say this. The bags are terrible, buy turkey bags, seal the opening, cut open the corner and attach to shuttle. Our Phantom has digital screen, however there is no thermostat, it is more of a time controller for the heating element. An S&B Volcano will stay within it’s 10 degree temp range at all times. The Phantom will get exceptionally hot if you leave it on, the digi screen means nothing in regards to actual temp. The Phantom does have a 30min auto shut off timer! (This is a good idea!) The S&B does not. Our Phantom fell apart a couple times, (We do travel with it) the area the shuttle sits on kept coming loose, about 4 times this happened, open it and fix it. The S&B never fell apart. S&B Volcano has an air intake filter at the bottom feeding the fan. The Phantom gets the air only from the top of the unit with no filter. (No Termostat, No air filter, different air intake design) no trademark infringement. It’s that simple. Phantom is slower to fill, but equally effective, just inconsistent, you get the hang of it. It seems to me that the ceramic heating element, air box fan, and other components are exactly the same in the Phantom and the S&B. They are basic electrical components that can be bought from any supplier. Now I need another Vape. What do I do now???? I’m not rich and/but you get what you pay for. I’ve been through hotbox’s, the Vapir ONE (total junk, tasted like pool chemicals), and other handhelds, Extreme Q, and other Volcano wannabe’s. I could of had an S&B for the price of all of those. A Phantom or an S&B Volcano. You get what you pay for, and I never felt my health was in danger using a Phantom, just don’t use their bags they will melt.
Lastly, the Phantom, it is a China knockoff, if S&B would make their whole package more affordable around $400, or just the Volcano alone for $300, I would totally buy one.
Also the picture above is not a real Phantom, it’s Fuji but it is not a Phantom. And it is definitely a Piece OF Shizzle. I actually broke this one just turning it on in the store.
Just found out I have cancer, so I am thinking about getting a vaporizer. But I am not sure if I can come up with the cash needed for a Volcano. Are there others that work as well but do not cost, and do not have the controvercy of the Fuji
I bought a Phantom by Fugi with the digital display. I had had no problems with this unit. I set the temp and wait 5 min, purge the filling chamber and attach the bag. It may be made cheaper but Ive owned a Volcano and prefer the Phantom over it. Compare $600 to $140 and how close they perform its no match. Will it last as long, maybe not but I can buy 3 for the same price.
I bought a Fuji… It is not all cheap crap! It worked fine. I oactually OVERHEATED the ceramic bas that the product container sits on. It cracked and I can NOT FIND ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS!!! I will buy a solid piece of aluminum and lathe myself the part. It will be better than either machine comes with. It is a drag that I cannot get a replacement though! $200.00 for a Fuji ( i broke mine it was not the vapes fault or inferiorness), $600.00+ for my Volcano. They work the same Folks! The Plastic is nowhere near the contact points with heat. The Bags However… Plastic and filled with heated and Vaporized material… Both of them use PLASTIC BAGS!!!