What is the difference between the different vape pens on the market today?

It’s only been 15 years since the first vaporizer hit the market. But in that time, vaping has grown into an $18 billion industry that’s expected to grow 10-fold by 2030. Vaping is mostly associated with nicotine as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, but enthusiasm for vaping cannabis is growing. This trend is expected to continue, especially as legalization continues to spread in both the US and Europe.

Vape manufacturers are responding accordingly and there is a wider selection of vape pens on the market than ever before, many of which are aimed specifically or primarily at cannabis users.

basic principles

Before we dive into the details of the different types of vaporizers out there today, it’s worth taking a step back to understand the basic principles of vaporizing. A vape pen contains an element or coil that heats your cannabis and turns it into vapor for you to inhale. This differs from smoking cannabis, where instead you use combustion, meaning you light it and inhale the smoke.

Vaporization requires significantly lower temperatures than combustion, and research strongly suggests it can release more cannabinoids as a result. The result? A smoother taste and potentially enhanced benefits for medical marijuana users.

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It is also strongly suggested that vaping cannabis, like cigarettes, is better for your health. There are fewer toxins and carcinogens in a cannabis joint than in a regular cigarette, but setting plant material on fire releases compounds like benzene, toluene, and naphthalene — not things you want to inhale if you can avoid it.

So there are clearly compelling reasons why you should consider vaping as a way of consuming cannabis, and we can see why the market is growing at a CAGR of around 30 percent. These are exciting times in the world of vaping and there is more variety of vape pens on the market than ever before.

CBD Vape Pens

CBD’s popularity has gone through the roof in recent years as more and more people have recognized its therapeutic benefits. Vaping CBD is convenient, discreet, and offers better bioavailability than other methods like capsules or tinctures. A CBD vape pen usually consists of a tank for your CBD vape juice attached to a rechargeable filament battery. Small, slim and unobtrusive, it slips easily into your pocket or purse.

Pens with THC oil

Sometimes known as a weed pen, this is a simple yet technologically innovative device consisting of a battery that powers a heating coil to heat cannabis oil stored in a cartridge. CCELL has pioneered the development of these beyond the traditional “vape pens” and creating devices that are more akin to fashion accessories.

Not only do they look good, but they are also very user-friendly and therefore popular with vaping newbies. The DART was CCELL’s first system, and its unusual appearance – not much larger than a USB stick and shaped similarly – took the world by storm. Other models such as BELLO, PALM and M3 followed. Each has its own distinctive look.

However, there is more to these pod vapes than looks. The CCELLs use custom ceramic heating elements that impart optimal flavor and high-quality electrical components. They also have the benefit of being very discreet – not only are they small, but they also produce minimal odor so you can use them in public without drawing attention to yourself.

Portable dry herb vape pods

Vaporizing dry herb allows you to enjoy your weed the way nature intended, but through vaporization rather than combustion. The main benefit here is that there are none of the solvents or mysterious ingredients to worry about when using vape juice or concentrates – it’s just weed and nothing else.

This type of vaporizer is like a tiny oven that heats your weed to just the right temperature using either convection or conduction. Dry herbs vaporize at a lower temperature than concentrates, delivering what many people believe to be a purer and more natural flavor.

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Dry herb vape pods have come a long way in recent years. Innovative products like the Daypipe are as sleek and stylish as the latest oil capsules and offer amazing comfort. For example, this particular model allows you to chamber eight separate 0.2g bowls of weed, which you can then enjoy all day or all night as you please – no hassle and no mess.

A dry herb capsule needs to be kept clean, but that’s no big deal with the latest models and only takes a few minutes of your time.

Desktop vaporizer

These monsters couldn’t be more different than the small and discreet pods we’ve covered so far. They use convection to heat either concentrates or dried herbs, depending on the type. Desktop vapes have been around for years, but the latest models like the Volcano incorporate cutting-edge technologies like an app that allows them to be operated from your smartphone.

They still look a bit archaic next to the latest pods, but desktop vapes still have their place. There’s no substitute if you want to vape socially with others, and the fact that they’re mains powered means they’re mighty strong and can go on for as long as you want.

Which one is right for you?

It should be clear by now that there is no simple answer to this question. It basically depends on your personal needs, budget and lifestyle.

Most medical and recreational users will go for pod style vapes because they are so convenient and there are dozens of styles to look at. However, if consuming cannabis is a highlight of your social interactions, then it’s definitely worth trying a desktop vape to enjoy the extra pleasure that a shared experience can bring.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.