Here are the 10 best vaporizers we reviewed in 2016
New models, new features, new users made for an exciting year for vapes
Another year has passed, and it’s time to recap the best vaporizers we’ve reviewed in 2016. This year brought many new models with features that could only be dreamed of a short time ago, and with the raft of states legalizing in November many more consumers might try their hand at one of them.
Cannabist critics have been separating the flowers from the shake, as it were, and have settled upon this list of the ten best vapes they’ve reviewed this year. As the march of advancement continues on, they’ll be sure to keep sifting through new models as they come in the future. Here are the ten best vapes we’ve reviewed, as ranked by our staff:
1. Pax 3
“The core hardware and software powering the Pax 3 are functionally amazing. It puffs great with cannabis flowers or hash oil. No need to draw super slow, just breath intuitively. It’s slicker than Astroglide.”
2. DaVinci IQ
“There are plenty of high-end portable vaporizer options on the market, including the Pax 3 and the Firefly 2… Each model offers its own unique trade-offs, and DaVinci’s IQ brings an embarrassment of riches to vape consumers… Instead of using glass as they have in the past, DaVinci uses the ultra-durable zirconium for its vapor path, as it’s an extremely poor conductor of heat (making it ideal to line a heating chamber with) and ludicrously strong.”
3. Firefly 2
“The thoughtful deliberation informing its redesign is evident in every component and curve. It creates wonderfully flavorful, cool vapor, handles flowers and oil, feels good in the hand, looks great and functions well. That quality comes at a premium, but if it is in your price range, the Firefly 2 is a great investment.”
4. Crafty
“For dry flowers or hash oil, the Crafty is a damn good portable vaporizer. It is far better than most products on the market, and it ranks in the top tier with portables like the Pax 2, the Firefly, and others. … Perhaps most importantly, the Crafty gives super good flavor, which indicates it has effective temperature control and components that aren’t off-gassing to the point of noticeably degrading your pot puffs.”
5. Grasshopper
“There’s something oddly satisfying about using a well-made, powerful tool. … You only need to wait a maximum of five seconds for the Grasshopper to reach its target temperature. Normally I’d blast a product for doing what amounts to using a chainsaw to cut butter, but the Grasshopper makes the most of its highly emissive all-titanium casing to mitigate the issues of substantial heat inside its chassis.”
6. Vapium Summit Plus
“The Vapium Summit Plus definitely places function over form to appeal to those who don’t want a lot to fuss over… It’s very portable — the unit is about the size of half a deck of cards — and weighs only 88 grams. With an IP54 rating, it can take a splash and keep out dust, but don’t take that to mean you should shower with it.”
7. Muad-dib Magic Flight Launch Box
“Not everybody needs a steampunk single hitter, but many people certainly do. Beyond the gorgeous craftsmanship, tokin’ travelers and home hash oilers will appreciate the Muad-Dib’s small size, light weight, quickness and resourceful consumption of common batteries.”
8. Source Orb XL
“The Source Orb XL is a great option for heavy hitters and lovers of large bowls. The quartz rod triple-coil atomizer blasts heat and creates dense clouds of cannabis oil. The variable-wattage battery works with many atomizers and Source created several coilless options worth checking out.”
9. G Pen Elite
“[The] G Pen Elite works pretty well. It heats up to a maximum of 428 degrees Fahrenheit within 30 seconds and maintains steady temperature. It produces tasty clouds of vapor, and I don’t get any weird plastic-y flavors sometimes found in budget re-branded vapes. It’s like someone told the factory, hey, don’t put plastic on parts that get super hot. And that’s appreciated.”
10. Dr. Dabber Boost
“The body is mostly metal and feels sturdy, and the glass is super classy. The thought put into the attachment points shines through. Friction from two o-rings keeps the glass percolator snugly on the ceramic top. … It travels perfectly in the included foam-padded carrying case.”
