The Ultimate Vape Guide

There are many smokers deciding to make the switch to vaping, but what is vaping exactly? What are the different types of vaporizers? What are the benefits of vaping compared to smoking?

To answer all your questions, I am giving you an in-depth guide to getting started in the vaping community and tips for a vape lifestyle brand.

Recent studies suggest that vaping is a safer, healthier alternative to tobacco smoking. Instead of lighting up a traditional tobacco cigarette, you can still get the same nicotine high from vaping. This means avoiding the side-effects and health risks that accompany smoking – as well as the stigma. When you smoke a cigarette, you exhale smoke that not only smells terrible but it leaves a stench on your clothes, your breath and even others around you (secondhand smoke).

With vaping, there is only vapor (or water vapor) that is emitted. Not only does it dissipate faster than cigarette smoke but it also smells better due to the use of flavored e-liquids. Instead of wasting money on buying pack after pack of cigarettes, you can invest in an electronic device that you can refill and recharge, saving you money…and years!

Vaping doesn’t just apply to e-cigarettes. You can also vape using cannabis products as well such as dry herb, wax, and oils.

Before we cover how vaporizers work, let’s quickly define what exactly a vaporizer is. A vaporizer is a device that delivers the benefits of either dry herbs or concentrates.

So, now that you know what a vaporizer is, your next question is most likely, “well, how does it work?” A vaporizer heats up dry herbs and concentrates to the ideal temperature – one that is high enough in which vaporization occurs, but low enough that combustion does not occur.

Most people believe that vaping was only recently established in the 1960s. However, it has been proven that the art of vaping originated in Egypt in the 5th century B.C. Herodotus, who was known as the “Father of History” recorded his encounters with inhaling cannabis vapors in his book, “The History of Herodotus.” At the time, he resided in an area known as Scythia where they would throw weed onto hot stones which would vaporize and then they would bathe in it and inhale it.

There is much speculation surrounding who truly invented the first electronic cigarette, but the one who filed a patent on the first e-cig was Joseph Robinson in 1927. While it was never commercially manufactured, Robinson still owns the patents for the first mechanical butane ignition vaporizer used for nicotine.

The electronic cigarette made a stunning comeback later in the 1960s by Herbert A. Gilbert. A Korean veteran, his blueprints are the basis for other modern-day vaporizers. He currently works for Emperor E-Cigarettes.

Between 1990 to 1994, Bill Amato (Eagle Bill) became well known for making cannabis vaporizers attractive. He advocated these vaporizers as a safe alternative to smoking. He has his exhibit in the Sensi Seed Bank’s ‘Hash Museum’ located in Amsterdam, and is credited with inventing the “Shake and Vape” vaporizer which consists of a pipe with a glass bowl where you would place your herbs and then heat up the bottom of the bowl.

For many, vaping is not just a hobby or activity. It is a way of life, and there is a vast subculture and fan base for the vaping community. Vaping has taken root with manufacturers selling sponsored gear, bars and online forums specializing in offering a vape-friendly environment, and even a whole sport just for vaping. A sport for vapers? Yep. The vaping world has their competitive sport known as cloud chasing!

Cloud chasing is a competitive sport where vapers (read: cloud chasers) attempt to create the biggest, thickest cloud of vapor possible. Competitors take long, deep draws and then release the vapor. Cloud chasing has become so popular that it has even reached a professional athletic level. Fans who spectate are referred to as cloud gazers.

There are also some vaping enthusiasts that attempt to do tricks with vapor. There are thousands of videos on social media and Youtube of these vapers blowing dense clouds and creating shapes in the air with vapor.

Vaping has spawned the creation of communities for vaping enthusiasts and people who have picked up vaping as a means of quitting tobacco smoking. There is much support for these communities.

This question shouldn’t be all too surprising. Using a vaporizer can resemble smoking a cigarette and can cause someone to ask where they are allowed to vape. Nowadays, cigarette/cigar smoking has been banned from almost anywhere except a few places. Some places do allow vaping, but however, most places do not permit it.

The government and the FDA are attempting to apply their regulations about vaping, however, vaping is considered more socially acceptable than cigarette smoking and is allowed in more places. Each city and county have their vaping rules so do your research if you are unsure. As long as you respect the people around you when you vape and are respectful of the rules, there should be no issues.

There are a few various kinds of vaporizers depending on how you want to use it. They have vaporizers for cannabis and vaporizers for those seeking a smoking alternative. There are a variety of vaporizers from table-top, electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), vaporizers that use the dry herb, oil or wax, and vaporizers that use a combination of dry herb and concentrates. Best of all, they have vape mods which are customizable for an optimal vaping experience.

These vapes are not exactly ideal for users who only take a couple of draws and are done, instead, they are perfect for group sessions or users who are comfortable tackling a full bowl on their own.

These vaporizers are not ideal on the portability scale due to their large size. However, these vapes usually come with the best technology found in vaporizers. These vapes are on the higher level as far as cost but offer adjustable and more precise temperature control settings. Keep in mind that some herbs and concentrates vaporize at different temperatures which affect vapor flavor. Invest in a good table-top vaporizer which will vaporize the flower at the optimal temperature to deliver you the most flavorful vaping experience.

Volcano Vaporizer

The Volcano vaporizer by far is one of the most popular tabletop vaporizers. It’s perfect for users who have a flexible budget and are looking for a table-top vaporizer that gives them an amazing vaping experience. It comes in two different designs – Classic and Digital.

The Volcano vaporizer was first established in 2000 by the Storz & Bickel company in Tuttlingen, Germany. It’s known for creating top-notch vaporizers in both quality, design, and engineering.

It was also one of the first companies to receive an ISO or an International Organization for Standardization manufacturing certification. One of the unique features of the Volcano is that it is compatible with a variety of different vaping methods. You can use the balloon method or whip method depending on the length of session and your preference.

If you are looking for something smaller and more portable, a portable dry herb vape would be your best option. These vaporizers are perfect for enthusiasts who are always on the go, and while most of them are dry-herb only, there are some that are compatible with both dry herb and concentrate. These vapes function the same way as a table-top vaporizer, with the only difference being that they run on a battery and come in a compact design that is suitable for taking on-the-go.

Unlike desktop vaporizers, portable vapes are limited in their features. While some of the more new vapes have more precise temperature control, there are others that lack these features.

Vape pens, like dry herb vaporizers, are ideal for users who are looking for something smaller and portable. These vaporizers use concentrates versus flower and are perfect for concentrate enthusiasts who have a low budget but still want an amazing vaping experience.

These vaporizers look just like pens (hence the name “vape pen”) and are very popular because of their inexpensive battery and the oil used is smooth and lasts a long time. While there have been issues with some vape pens concerning battery life and leakage, these occurrences happen rarely. Some vaporizers require you to load your concentrate which is fine if you can’t afford vape pens that use cartridges but it can be tough to achieve the right consistency of oil that would normally be found in cartridge pens.

If you decide to pick up a cartridge-based oil vape pen, note that the oil used can cause different effects compared to other types of cannabis oil. Some describe their experience as focused more on the brain with fewer effects on the body but these experiences vary. Keep in mind that propylene glycol is used to dilute cartridge oils to help mix the oil to the right consistency to vape. If this is a deal breaker, you can always opt for a vape pen that doesn’t use cartridges.

Vape Mods are like regular portable vapes but…on steroids…so to speak! These vaporizers are very customizable with the ability to attach additional parts and are usually more powerful and packed with more features than your standard portable vape. Some of these functions include better build quality, touch-screen functionality, shatter-resistant glass, bigger tanks, and more airflow control. These vape mods range in price from cheap to very expensive.

Vape Mods are optimal for those who want to control their vaping experience. Depending on how you customize your mod, you can create vapor that is easy on the throat and provides a rich and flavorful vaping experience, or, for cloud chasing, you can produce a thick vapor that lets you do vape tricks and make huge plumes of vapor.

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigs are probably one of the most common vaporizers in the vaping community. These vaporizers are battery-powered, and their design mimics the feel of smoking a tobacco cigarette. They don’t use tobacco but rather e-liquids which come in a variety of flavors and with or without nicotine. They are relatively easy to use by just pushing a button or taking a draw.

There are many brands of electronic cigarettes out there; some look like cigarettes while others look like vape pens and resemble USB sticks. E-cigs range in price with the weaker, disposable electronic cigarettes being on the cheaper side while the higher-quality ones are at the more expensive end.

Well, there you have it. I hope that after reading this guide, of sorts, that you have a better understanding of what vaping is, what kind of vaporizers exist, and how to use them. Keep in mind that vaporizers are intended for people who want to stop smoking, have already stopped, or simply enjoy using it for cannabis. It is never suggested that if you are underage or if you have never smoked to begin vaping. It is always important to be mindful of the people around who you choose not to vape. Vape responsibly! Enjoy 🙂