November 29, 2021

The vaping industry has witnessed a tremendous revolution since Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik invented the first modern vaporizer in the early 2000s. What began as a tobacco-cessation aid has gradually evolved into a lifestyle. This might explain the growing number of celebrity vapers worldwide.

But if you’re new to the whole idea of vaping, there’s a lot to learn before joining in on the craze. For instance, you’d need to know the various types of vaporizers out there.

As you shall find, all vape devices are not made equal. These devices range in design and functionality, from fairly basic to highly sophisticated ones.

Read on for insights on everything you need to know about vaping devices.

The Anatomy of a Vaporizer

It’s essential to understand the anatomy of a vaporizer before becoming a vaper. This information will be beneficial when you’re shopping for the DART Metal One Hitter or other vape accessories from established retailers.

A vaporizer consists of the following major components;

1. Vape tank: A vape tank acts as a reservoir that holds your vape juice in place. The tank is usually at the base of a vaporizer.

Some vape tanks are single-use, whereas others are replaceable. Single-use tanks are generally more affordable but tend to increase environmental degradation compared to their replaceable counterparts.

Related article: Can I Vape Cannabis with a Sub-Ohm Tank?

2. Battery: A battery is simply the device that powers your vaporizer. Vape batteries are either replaceable or disposable.

Just like single-use tanks, disposable batteries are not so eco-friendly.

Use discount code "421store" to get 25% off your next purchase of any of our vape batteries here. 

3. Atomizer: An atomizer is the part of a vape device that receives direct electrical energy from the battery. It then converts that energy into heat energy.

Atomizers usually contain coils and a wick that extends from the actual heating chamber to the vape tank. As the vaporizer heats up, the wick transfers heat energy from the atomizer to the tank, where it vaporizes the e-liquid.

4. Drip tip: Also known as the mouthpiece, a vaporizer’s drip tip is the part that you suck into to draw the heated vapor into your mouth.

So, a typical vaping process unfolds as follows;

• You administer your vape juice into the vape tank
• You turn the battery on
• The atomizer vaporizes the e-juice using a wick
• You suck into the mouthpiece to draw vapor into your mouth.

Types of Vaping Devices by Design and Functionality

The vape market teems with hundreds of different vaporizers to suit varied user preferences. Some of these gadgets are designed with durability in mind, whereas others are perfect for vapers looking for a touch of style and elegance.

The following are the major types of vaping devices by design and functionality;

1. Cigalikes: Cigalikes are the most basic vaporizers you’ll ever find. These vape devices are similar to traditional cigarettes in shape and size, hence the moniker. Mostly they're for nicotine, Cigalikes are recommended for beginners due to their relative ease of use and affordability.

 

2. Vape Pens: Vape pens are slightly bigger than cigalikes but more affordable than later-generation e-cigs. These vaporizers usually contain in-built liquid cartridges and more powerful batteries.

Their pen-like design makes them easy to slip into your back pocket for maximum portability.

    iii.          Mods

Mods are technically the modified versions of vape pens. They come with superior features, including longer-lasting batteries, larger tank storage, and temperature control features.

Most mods also feature built-in batteries, rebuildable atomizers, and variable voltage.

    iv.          Mechanical Mods, RDAs, and RDTAs

Mechanical mods do not require circuitry to operate. Instead, they work via a firing pin which transfers electrical current directly to the atomizer.

Rebuildable Dripping Atomizers, commonly abbreviated as RDAs, require no tanks to operate. These devices hold your e-juice in the wick or a small well, designed at the bottom of the vape unit. To operate RDAs, you simply drip your vape juice onto the coil and fire the device.

Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomizers (RDTAs) operate in a near-similar manner as RDAs. The primary difference is that RDTAs use a vape tank in addition to coils and wicks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever since we came to understand just how harmful cigarettes can be around half a century ago, there have been different initiatives to try to wean smokers from their habit. The most effective were always the more heavy-handed, such as piling on the tax dollars and banning smoking in more and more places. The advent of vaping, however changed all that, adopting a carrot instead of a stick and providing a healthier alternative to smoking.  

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that vaporizers are becoming just as important to cannabis smokers, especially in this new era of tolerance and legalization. Yet the technology and the vast array of choices available on the market can be more than a little bewildering. Essentially you have two decisions to make. The first is the type of heat source the vaporizer uses and the second concerns the vaporizer style itself.  

Choose your heat source

A vaporizer heats your weed to the point where the cannabinoids evaporate. There are essentially two types of vaporizers here, conduction or convection. Both methods heat the cannabis to just below its combustion point, releasing the cannabinoids but without the accompanying smoke that can contain harmful compounds.   

• Conduction vapes use a simple heating element. They are cheaper and easier to use, especially for anyone who is new to vaping.  

• Convection vapes use a system of hot air circulation instead. These provide more even heating and eliminates the risk of the weed actually combusting. 

• Hybrid vapes have a 2-in-1 heating system that utilizes both conduction and convection heating, bringing the best of both worlds.  

Choose your vaporizer

There are three basic categories of vaporizer.  

• A vape pen is the e-cigarette type of vaporizer that is a common sight on every street. Vape pens are cheap, easy to use and discrete. There’s also a huge choice of styles. Almost all vape pens use conduction heating, so you need to be vigilant to make sure the heat doesn’t get too high and burn your weed.  

• Portable vaporizers are a little larger but still, as the name implies, things you can carry around with you in an inside pocket or handbag. You can get conduction, convection and hybrid vapes in portable form. They are more expensive that vape pens, but even a convection-type portable vaporizer can be bought for less than $100. Expect to pay about $150 for a hybrid. 

• Finally, there are the desktop or stationary vaporizers. These are not things you will typically carry around with you, as they need to be plugged in. From a quality perspective, a desktop simply can’t be beaten. Operating by convection or as hybrids, they deliver a high-quality vapor. For sure, they represent a bigger financial investment, and you can pay anything from $150 to more than $500 for the latest hybrid vaporizers. However, that money buys you a lot of functionality. 

Which is right for you? 

Choosing the right vaporizer really depends on your needs and your budget. A vape pen is fine for enjoying a no-nonsense smoke. But if enjoying cannabis is an important part of your social life, a good desktop vaporizer that allows for group vaping is something you should seriously consider.  

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