Vape Experience & Learning thread.

So I saw this part of the forum is empty since the change, and being a HIGE fan of vaping and someone that loves to advocate it wherever and whenever possible, thought I would do something and make a thread.

So I invite anyone and everyone to come in and share their experiences with vaping, both the positive and the negative stuff, or just read and chat.

I guess if you need some cookie-cutter stuff
*When did you start vaping and why?
*What models have you used, what's good and bad about them?
*What have you discovered about vaping since trying it?

My vaping experience began about 6 years ago, at a time in my life that I'd regularly smoked marijuana for at least 5 years prior.
I'd read about these things in various forums and magazines and while I was pretty apprehensive of something that seemed so new to me, I was actually also hopeful of their efficiency and health benefits.

See, aside from the green I am and always have been a non-smoker.
Every time I smoked, I never really thought about it as being too negative for my health and to this day I still don't see it as all THAT bad a thing in comparison to other substances one could smoke - but, the truth is smoke isn't good for you, and your lungs will not be in optimal condition.
I won't demonise smoking weed any more than that, just that it's not that bad, but could be better for you.

Now, of course the first thing I happened to read about is The VOLCANO.
I was smitten...the thing looked so fucking cool and filled up these HUGE bags!
I had to have one.
Couldn't afford it, so for a while I waited...I mean I wanted one, even back then I knew I wanted to stop smoking completely.

I frequented another green friendly forum and tried two cheap models they had available through their store.

Vape #1:
The "smoke bubble" which is basically a well-made light-globe type vapouriser with an inhaling "straw". All glass.
It gave some nice vapes, though you had to hold a lighter under it for a ridiculously long amount of time while turning it so that your bud wouldn't overheat and smoulder.
If you put aside the irritation and time it took to do this, it did give some nice vapes for a while but essentially
*Not user-friendly
*Wastes Gas
*Smoulders weed before you've vaped it all.
*Lighting process becomes harder and more irritating with decreased sobriety.

Result - Threw away, continued smoking.

Vape #2:
The "Glass dome" type Vapouriser (Can't remember the name, but they all look similar)
I bought this one relatively cheaply at a tobacconist, it's one of the ones that looks almost like a tiny bubblegum ball machine.
I could see immediately it used cheap electrical components.
It was a matter of switch on, and switch off to regulate the heat, no temperature settings at all. So if you didn't watch your weed like a hawk, quite often stirring it...again, you end up with smouldered weed - this time a lot quicker and easier than the aforementioned model. So, irritating in different ways.
As well, this one tasted like cheap plastic, killing any pleasurable flavour.
Now, I can't speak for all models like this, but they do seem to be remarkably similar in make in a lot of cases...for this reason I feel justified in saying you should avoid these types of models.
*Smoulders weed almost instantly
*Tastes like shit

Result - Almost gave up on vaping here. Just thought "it's shit, nothing works".
Gave this one to a friend, said I never wanted to see it again. Never have.

So anyone new to vaping that's read up to this point - Let me just say that in all honesty, with the two I've just mentioned? Skip them unless you want to get a negative view of vaping from the get-go. They're quite honestly shit, annoying to use, and practically always burn or smoulder your weed which really defeats the purpose.


Vape #3 ...One year later...

The Arizer Extreme.

I'd been pretty disillusioned by vaping up until this point, I mean sure I got some cheap ones but I'd expected at least SOMETHING...what I experienced was barely a mild stone that was de-valued significantly by my irritation.

This thing changed everything for me.
It was a slick looking thing, more like a futuristic piece of cookware.
The instructions were easy to follow, and soon I was up and running watching the first bag of vapour fill up before my eyes.
I thought "this shit HAS to be smoke"...then I tasted it...delicious, smoke free, smoulder free, weed vapour particle awesomeness.
I cannot say a bad word about this unit, nothing at all.
*Works VERY efficiently
*Looks discreet
*Doesn't retain any smell
*Little slow to fill bags
*Such MAD-tasty vapour.

Sadly, at this point in my life I wasn't the most patient person and decided for something I thought would "work quicker" (Apparently the bags filling up was simply too long a process to endure... ) and sold it.
I regret that to a point, though my sale of the Extreme lead me to the discovery of my favourite more portable vape...

Vape #3
The Vapostar.
This one was a little bit different, it's actually a device that you put into the stem of an existing bong/waterpipe and light through a hole in the metal cap on the top that sits over the weed - so it's cool for bong users, in that it lights in a very similar fashion and you draw air in as you normally would.

A star shape inside the unit directs the flame around the green from what I can understand, so that it heats up the small chamber that it sits in...so yeah, you heat the weed up by drawing the flame into it as you inhale.
Takes a couple of hits to do it.

Also, you can over-hit it, and it CAN burn your weed...though, it's not a difficult learning curve to get around and unlike those cheaper models I mentioned (#1 and #2) burning or smouldering your weed is not an inevitability.
Slight irritation factor, but you get around it very quickly and really this thing has some pretty delicious vapes too.

*Accessible to those familiar with bong use
*DOES use a lighter so unless you're using like bee-wick or something you might have a few gas byproducts.
*Pretty obvious what it is, you use it in a bong after all.
*Portable enough to say, take to someone ELSES bong.
*Really nice tasting vapes too.


So as I mentioned above, I realised that using a lighter with this thing might not be all that beneficial to my health. I know, it's meant to be the tiniest percentage left after the flame but I didn't really feel comfortable on the ongoing, considering how many lighters I was going through.
I tried bee-wick, to be honest though...not for this vape I don't think...you need a pretty sustained flame to get it going.
So, this lead me to give this one to a friend (who is now into vaping as much as me) after ordering my next vape.


Vape #4
The MFLB.
I don't believe I've ever read so many positive comments on a vape as I have with this one. To be honest, it wasn't my favourite vape...largely because the batteries just seemed to get drained too damn fast.
That said, it's a decent little unit, it's SUPER discreet, an idiot could use it without trouble, and it gives hm, "pretty good" vapes.
I have no real problems with this unit, and I would probably recommend it for someone that wanted to covertly use weed outdoors, but yeah just wasn't my thing.
*Nice and discreet. Looks like...a science experiment?
*Easy as all hell to use
*Batteries run out too quick and take too long to charge

Result - Enjoyed, but I was missing something...so I went back to the one I loved the most...

Vape #5
The Arizer Extreme Q
This was the model that was introduced in the time after my first one - All the points I can make about this unit are much the same as the original Extreme, though it is smaller, quicker and quieter.
This is just the most immaculately awesome vapouriser I've ever had the pleasure of using...everything is SO easy, it's just SO worth the little bit more money they charge over other popular vapes.
*Fills bags quicker
*Quieter and smaller this time around
*Vapes delicious as usual.

Result - I love it. I'm keeping it, and it will always be the vapouriser I recommend to anyone that's SERIOUS about getting into vapourisation.

Of course, one day I'd like to have that VOLCANO that first gave me the idea to get into vaping...even though I wonder how anything could possibly be better than the vape I'm currently using, it's something of a white whale, perhaps when I have one I'll return to this thread and update.


Now while I am typing this way-too-long thread (meh, I'm up late) I thought I would talk a little bit about vaping to new users, just a bit of advice and some things I've noticed.

So the first "real" vapouriser I tried I'd say was the first Extreme I had.
This one did the job well and nothing was burning or smouldering so it was at this point I decided to give up smoking weed.
I ditched my bong, lighters, pipe, everything.

I have to admit here, I wasn't entirely thrilled - while I was getting stoned it was actually very mild in effect, and the duration was pretty average to boot.
When I realised this, I actually resigned to it, I said to myself "Well, you wanted to vapourise, you wanted better health, this is it" and just figured this was going to be as good as it gets.

I kept vaping. Over the next couple of weeks though I noticed some things.
Lots of coughing. This vape shit irritated my throat.
What was happening is, I was coughing up crap that was in my throat and lungs, some of the stuff I spat out was pretty ill.
Though it calmed down.
I noticed that with the vape and without, I could breathe in a bit further.
My lungs didn't hurt as much when I exercised, and I was getting less "puffed out" as well.
Now I could attribute this to quitting smoking only, but I did a bit of research - yes vaping can aid the clearance of congestion, however built up. It also helps increase your lung capacity and performance.
True enough.

The best part though?
My initial disappointment faded over this time, because it seemed like the more I vaped and the less I smoked, the more efficient it was, the more stoned/high I was getting.
At this point (I'm don't have a giant tolerance) I can sit pretty on one bag full of vapour for more'n an hour, or if I want to get completely wasted - I'll have two.
So, vaping works REALLY well for me.

I think it's important to mention though, that being persistent and patient with vaping is important - It was very tempting for me to go back to smoking during that initial period, but I didn't and now everything has turned out awesomely.
I love vaping.
I think that a lot of smokers that try vaping get a bit disappointed that it's not the same and the initial effect isn't life-changing...but the long term, it is.
The only unfortunate thing I can point out, is that if you still smoke you'll likely never get the full effect of a vape and everything it can do for you - but at very least it'll be a nice break for your lungs at the time.

I've come to discover that the duration of the stone is actually a fair amount longer than that which I'd get from smoking as well.

Another positive - When I'm out of weed, I don't hang out for it at all...I don't know if it's just me but I'd say there's something to do with burning weed that makes me crave for it a lot more than I have ever done since vaping exclusively.

Also as many of you will see in the edibles section - it's full of recipes and ideas for cooking with ABV (already been vaped) bud.
Yup, you can collect your vaping leftovers and make some REALLY great edibles with them...

So yeah that's a thread kicked off or just some rambling advice from a huge fan of vapourisation.
That's it from me.

Wow man, fantastic post.

I myself was introduced to vaporizing with my current vaporizer - the Silver Surfer. I absolutely love this unit, and couldn't imagine going back to smoking.

When I got the vaporizer, as excited as I was, I never thought it would replace my ridiculous love for smoking out of glass. I couldn't have been converted quicker though, as smoking after that has seemed increasingly unpleasant in comparison. I also completely agree with you though, smoking cannabis is far better than smoking anything else, and our lungs are capable of handling it, it's just not ideal. But health reasons aren't the reason I vaporize, they're just an added benefit. The overall experience is far better, and you get far higher.

I just love love love vapor. I've tried the MFLB, and a cheap china whip vape, and a Vapor Brothers vape.

The cheap china vape is what I actually tried first, and while it worked, it seemed more like a mild buzz - often people's complaint about vaporizing when they are new to vaporizing, or are using a crappy vape.

The Silver Surfer in comparison blows me away. The Vapor brothers is my dealer's, and while it works very well, I didn't personally find it hit as hard as my Silver Surfer, but I don't have extended use with it.

The MFLB is a great vaporizer, but I consider it sort of the hand pipe of vapes, whereas a desktop vape like the Extreme Q or my own SSV is like a nice bong.

I do want to get a portable vaporizer as I don't have one yet (I resort to my sherlock on the go unfortunately), and am leaning toward the beautiful Arizer Solo.

Wow man, fantastic post.

Haha thanks, just figured I'd leave something here for the generations and all that.

I do want to get a portable vaporizer as I don't have one yet (I resort to my sherlock on the go unfortunately), and am leaning toward the beautiful Arizer Solo.

Yeah out of all of the portable ones, this is the one I'd look at too.
Though I'm pretty biased, after using my extreme/s I have nothing but faith in the company that produces them.

The SS is another one I've heard everyone rave about, so I'd say you're in good hands there.

I've read about one called a "Purple days"? Though I've never encountered anyone that's actually used one, looks like a solid enough unit though.

Aside from the Volcano whenever the HELL I get around to buying that, there is one other I've been looking at made by a smaller company.
It's a draw-on-demand model called the Kia
Seen Here KIA Vaporizer - Herbal Vaporizers - Tobacco Vaporizers - Herbal Vaporizer - Buy Vaporizer
Bit of a stupid ad though - "Smoking experience" ha.
Cool looking unit though eh?

Though I'm pretty biased, after using my extreme/s I have nothing but faith in the company that produces them.

I've read about one called a "Purple days"? Though I've never encountered anyone that's actually used one, looks like a solid enough unit though.

Aside from the Volcano whenever the HELL I get around to buying that, there is one other I've been looking at made by a smaller company.
It's a draw-on-demand model called the Kia
Seen Here KIA Vaporizer - Herbal Vaporizers - Tobacco Vaporizers - Herbal Vaporizer - Buy Vaporizer
Bit of a stupid ad though - "Smoking experience" ha.
Cool looking unit though eh?

For sure, I've heard nothing but good things about the Extreme Q and the Solo. Definitely a sold company.

The volcano is definitely the best bag vaporizer, but personally I prefer a whip experience, so I wouldn't pay that money for it. But if I did have a volcano-sized budget......I'd absolutely get the VapeXhale Cloud - which looks like the best vape on the market in my eyes.

As for the Purple Days, it's a gorgeous log vape, and while they're still around, the company is out of business. So there's no customer service to speak of.

However, the log vape market has since exploded, and if you want a conservative log vape that does the same thing the Purple Days did but far better, with current customer service - check out the Heat Island (HI) or the Rock zap or ceramic rock zap (CRZ).

They're incredible log vapes, and after I purchase a portable vaporizer - this is next on my list. I love me some gorgeous wood =].

A little over a year ago after some extensive reading on the subject I decided to make the plunge in to vapor and bought a DBV. I went vapor for a few reasons but mostly just because I wanted to try something new and I heard they conserve your weed pretty good. Now I pretty much exclusively vapor bong with my DBV and GMD setup and love it. I cant honestly think of anything I dont like about the DBV it fully satisfies my needs.

I got a MFLB a long time ago and used it so much it started having no effect. Then I got an Arizer solo and it blew me away. I take four preloaded stems with me everywhere and the new GonG and stealth adapters for the solo make it the what I feel is the ultimate personal portable and with the power adapter, desk vape.

I recently upgraded my setup with a herbalaire. However, it's easy to go through way to much green with that guy so I keep it for the odd time I want bags or have visitors. But the taste you can get from that thing is amazing. I made my own whip with a EQ elbow for Vapebonging.

Hmm, I have an MFLB and ive been curious to other portables. How is the Arizer compared to the mflb

Hmm, I have an MFLB and ive been curious to other portables. How is the Arizer compared to the mflb

Quite a bit thicker vapor, with much less of a learning curve, and the Arizer would also be temperature controlled, and much more similar to a desktop in terms of heating element and path. It's a very strong contender in the vaporizer market overall, while remaining quite portable, with some of the longest lasting battery lives.

Hmm, I have an MFLB and ive been curious to other portables. How is the Arizer compared to the mflb

I have both and the arizer solo is hands down a better vape.

I have both the iolite & atmosraw. The iolite is super cool. The vapor thickness varies depending on how long u let it brew in the chamber. Outside of having to gauge how much butane was left in it, the iolite is almost perfect. You also can collect the leftovers.


But the motherfuckin atmosraw??? Game changer. It doesn't use gas or a Lil battery. It uses a rechargeable battery that can be charged via USB. Some say it's more of an electronic pipe than a vaporizer. I say, I don't care. I like the discreet-ness of vaporizers. I don't care bout the health factor, which all of us pretty much sacrificed a long time ago. It produces a strong solid hit that lasts probably a good 3-5 pulls per bowl pack. Only downside is that it turns your stash into ashes. I say it's a fair trade.

I have both the iolite & atmosraw. The iolite is super cool. The vapor thickness varies depending on how long u let it brew in the chamber. Outside of having to gauge how much butane was left in it, the iolite is almost perfect. You also can collect the leftovers.

But the motherfuckin atmosraw??? Game changer. It doesn't use gas or a Lil battery. It uses a rechargeable battery that can be charged via USB. Some say it's more of an electronic pipe than a vaporizer. I say, I don't care. I like the discreet-ness of vaporizers. I don't care bout the health factor, which all of us pretty much sacrificed a long time ago. It produces a strong solid hit that lasts probably a good 3-5 pulls per bowl pack. Only downside is that it turns your stash into ashes. I say it's a fair trade.

Then it isn't a vaporizer though? And if it isn't a vaporizer, besides the health differences, I'd be more worried about the fact that combustion is going to destroy a lot of actives. It wouldn't have any of the advantages a vape has..

I don't care bout the health factor, which all of us pretty much sacrificed a long time ago.

Not sure I get your meaning there...unless you
a: Regularly smoke tobacco
b: Smoke weed still
c: Already have emphysema or lung/throat cancer

...there's nothing you can't really fix or get better in terms of the negative aspects of smoking, when you go over to vaping.

Then it isn't a vaporizer though? And if it isn't a vaporizer, besides the health differences, I'd be more worried about the fact that combustion is going to destroy a lot of actives. It wouldn't have any of the advantages a vape has..

i say it is. its not producing "smoke". i honestly dont know why people are saying its not a vaporizer.

it has PLENTY of the advantages that a COMPETING vape has plus some:
-saves herb (in a less is more sense)
-relatively no smell
-self-heats
-doesnt use batteries or butane
-discreet (if thats a big deal to you)
-portable

Not sure I get your meaning there...unless you
a: Regularly smoke tobacco
b: Smoke weed still
c: Already have emphysema or lung/throat cancer

...there's nothing you can't really fix or get better in terms of the negative aspects of smoking, when you go over to vaping.

all im saying is that theres no need to be this health snob (not saying you are or anybody else here is) when it comes to smoking pot in general. the act of introducing "foreign agents" even as natural as marijuana, albeit smoke OR otherwise, isnt necessarily the best thing for your lungs. hence what i said.


i hope what i said is a little more clear

how can you say its a vape when its very obviously combusting the herb and emitting smoke....by all definitions it definitely isn't....

This reminds me of a time I told a friend that I no longer smoke weed.
Because, I vapourise.
"You can't say you don't smoke weed anymore, you still do."
No, I vapourise. I don't smoke weed anymore.
"Yeah but you still smoke weed"
No, I don't.

...and so on and so on...
Different matter but this conversation reminds me of that.

No offense to you SSS but really you're in the wrong area of the forum and definitely the wrong thread to be talking about that particular product.
By definition, it's not a vapouriser.
It's kind of like calling a grill, a microwave see?
Might be better (might not) than a lot of smoking devices but it doesn't really come into play. I made this thread largely so that people could discuss vapourisers, and not alternative smoking products.
I'm not a health snob (not saying that you were saying I was either) but, I can't really endorse or agree with anyone talking about a non-vape product here...like, by all means if it's a good product to you, rave on about it - just do it in the right place yeah?
The intention of this thread was to talk about and promote vapourisation.

You can adjust the screen in the heating chamber so it doesn't combust.


Like I said, it is a vaporizer.

I'm comparing atmos raw against the iolite I have, which is also a great device and truer to the definition of a vaporizer.


Btw, Im going to pretend like the tone of your post doesn't sound slightly pretentious/condescending just for the sake of keeping it moving.




But yeah, it's a vaporizer, homies.

Edited by SirStickStickly, 04 April 2012 - 12:07 PM.

Btw, Im going to pretend like the tone of your post doesn't sound slightly pretentious/condescending just for the sake of keeping it moving.

Cry me a fucking river...I tried to be polite and respectful to you and you come at me with this shit?
You're the one calling a smoking device a vapouriser, I'm the one telling it how it is.
Pretentious?
Check out a mirror.

...Done.

You can adjust the screen in the heating chamber so it doesn't combust.

Like I said, it is a vaporizer.

I'm comparing atmos raw against the iolite I have, which is also a great device and truer to the definition of a vaporizer.

Btw, Im going to pretend like the tone of your post doesn't sound slightly pretentious/condescending just for the sake of keeping it moving.

But yeah, it's a vaporizer, homies.

Hmmm. I wasn't trying to sound condescending if you were referring to me, but from your description (turns it to ashes?) It sure sounds like combustion. If you're able to keep it from that point then that's fantastic. But from your own description it sounded like low temp combustion.

Valuable information! Looking forward to seeing your notes posted.

All three of your only posts are in the vape section and make it extremely clear you didn't read a thing as they're all generic in nature. Bot poster? Or trying to get enough posts to make a thread?

Cry me a fucking river...I tried to be polite and respectful to you and you come at me with this shit?
You're the one calling a smoking device a vapouriser, I'm the one telling it how it is.
Pretentious?
Check out a mirror.

...Done.

No worries man, I'm just telling you how it sounded. If it don't apply, let it fly.

It just came across like u were pretty much telling me that I don't know what I'm talking about...and that may be slightly my fault with what I said initially.