As cannabis becomes mainstream in the UK, more and more people are exploring the world of dry herb vaporisers as a healthier alternative to smoking.
Before we give you the rundown of the best vapes for weed in the country, let us explain what dry herb vapes are and why they are so great.
What is a dry herb vape?
A dry herb vaporiser is a machine that uses heat to vaporise the essential oils of cannabis and ‘dry herbs’.
They all have a small chamber that acts as an oven. All you have to do is fill this chamber with your herb and turn the vape on.
The vaporiser will heat the chamber up to a pre-set temperature (usually in the range of 180-210°C / 356-410°F). This heat will boil the oils present in the plant (known as the essential oils) so that you can inhale them, usually through a mouthpiece.
The essential oil of cannabis (its resin) is where all cannabinoids, terpenes, and many other beneficial plant compounds are found.
Most dry herb vapes are battery-powered. However, some are mechanical and require you to use a torch lighter to heat them.
They can be small and portable or so big they have to sit on a desktop. In fact, style, features, and price all vary widely.
How are dry herb vapes healthier than smoking?
While there it has been found that no link exists between cannabis smoke and lung cancer or irreversible lung damage, it is undeniable that when you burn cannabis (like in a joint or pipe), the act of combustion gives off harmful chemicals, like carbon monoxide.
By using a dry herb vape, however, the plant matter never reaches temperatures hot enough to cause combustion. Therefore, no harmful chemicals are produced and you’re only inhaling vaporised plant oils.
Not only that, a recent study has found that vaping weed rather than smoking it results in a lot more THC being absorbed into your bloodstream, which means a more powerful high.
The 8 best dry herb vapes in the UK
1. Nectar Hex Vaporizer
The brand new Nectar Hex Vaporizer is an incredible, almost futuristic device. Its revolutionary features and state-of-the-art technology have taken the vaping experience to a new level. Not only does a 24ct gold-plated chamber lie at the heart of the Nectar Hex, you won’t find any plastic used anywhere in the device!
This sophisticated design not only enhances flavour extraction but also extends battery life (has a removable battery, too, which is beyond useful) and protects your herbs from contamination. Along with offering superior performance, the Hex is super easy to clean, sessions are customisable with temperature and time controls, and it heats up in a flash.
Buy here and use code ‘HEXHAP10′ for 10% off!
2. Firefly 2 – £223.56
The second edition of the Firefly is everything you could need in a dry herb vape. It’s small, quick to heat (takes just 3 seconds), and a doddle to maintain.
Using a unique convection heating system, this portable vape extracts huge flavour from your weed and delivers it via a cooling borosilicate glass vapour path. It can also be used with concentrates, making it the best dry herb vape around right now.
3. Pax 2 – £129
The Pax 2 wasn’t originally on this list. However, especially now that its price has dropped to less than £120, it deserves to be here, even higher up than its successor, the Pax 3 (no.8).
This vape is so good because it’s so easy to use. All you need to do click one discreet button to turn it on, and again to turn it off. It then heats up quickly and produces thick, flavoursome clouds reliably.
It’s also durable, the battery also lasts for a long time, and it’s just so discreet and stylish.
4. Dynavap Omni – £135
This is such a cool little dry herb vape once you get used to it. It doesn’t use batteries so you have to heat up the chamber with a torch lighter. When it is hot enough, the device will ‘click’ twice.
Then, you simply take a puff like you would a joint. In fact, it’s so similar to smoking a joint that is could make the switch from smoking to vaping much easier for many.
5. Volcano Classis Onyx – £358.20
Now, this beast of a vape from Storz & Bickel is an impressive piece of kit. It sits on your desktop and rather than inhaling directly from the vape, you fill up huge bags with vapour which you then suck on.
The Volcano is one of the most reliable and well-known dry herb vapes, as well the only vaporiser approved by Health Canada for medical cannabis users.
6. Crafty+ V2 Vaporizer – £298
Also made by the illustrious German brand Storz & Bickel, the Crafty is without a doubt one of the best handheld dry herb vapes on the market.
As well as being portable and discreet, the Crafty produces great vapour, heats up quickly, the battery lasts a long time, and it’s so simple to use that it’s great for beginners.
7. PAX 3 – £179
As the newest vape from industry leaders PAX Labs, the PAX 3 has fast become their flagship model. It is great for both flower and concentrates, has a large chamber (50% bigger than the PAX 2), heats quickly, and, most importantly, produces dense clouds of vapour that are full of flavour.
The PAX 3 is one of the best-selling dry herb vapes in the UK for good reason.
8. DaVinci IQ – £219.99
When the DaVinci IQ was released towards the end of 2016, dry herb vapers around the world rejoiced. This cool little vape is so compact and discreet, yet still features a very long-lasting battery.
One feature that you’ll love about the DaVinci is the unique ceramic zirconia vapour path, which creates super fresh and flavoursome vapour.
Good list, but the XMAX Starry V2 is noticeable by its omission. It’s sturdy, the chamber size is perfect and it produces great vapour (via a superb mouthpiece that doesn’t overheat). In addition, battery life is great and it’s a total non-event to clean.
The Pax 3 appears to be good – but not as good as it should have been.
Volcano – so sci-fi! Love it.
Great website – more herb reviews, please! 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll check it out.
That’s because the PAX 2 was so good!
And thank you for your support, more herb reviews are on the way very soon.
hey , howzit goin . i have over the years noticed that any vaporizers i try seem to make the vaped product taste like ….well something different if im honest , like im vaping some cabbage or something ….this is from the origional volcano to the pax 2 and beyond . is it just me who thinks this and everyone else is on some sort of market research programme,all kidding themselves over these new products that seem to need improving at quality level every year… or am i right ? this has put me off purchasing any vaporizer …..Mazar dont taste like Mazar in a vaporizer…but it does taste like it should in a skin….no tobacco . i would honestly love to move onto a vaporizer but dont want to spend over £100 on something that kills the flavour which is half my reason for partaking in the first place
Hi j, thanks for the comment.
I have to say that my vaping experience has been mixed. I find it depends on the bud. Some I can get nice, very flavourful clouds, while others don’t seem to offer much.
It still isn’t as potent a flavour as if I had smoked a pure joint, but I find it very satisfying still. And I find the high more enjoyable. I’ve had a couple of the vapes in this list and they all do the job well, in my opinion. I’m currently loving the V2 (number.2) for its functionality and price.
Get a simplistic Titan II, it was my starter dry herb vape and I’m well pleased on the results given when you go different heat ranges in it. 359°-best taste mild potency, 392°-great taste/ middle ground upper high and the 420°-428° its highest setting, still good taste but definitely the most potency put out with the greatest effect here at this range, $49 US dollars.
There is no knowledge of CBD Vaping here. The BEST is the Sticky Brick Junior. No batteries, usb cables or electronic components. Small, portable and will go back to back with any vapourizer on any market, and they are available in the UK too. I load a skimpy pipe and it pulls five times with great clouds. Stir after every pipe for best results. I know they are made in America, but they sell them in the UK, so they ARE the best in the UK. Try it, you’ll see.
Thanks for the comment and the recommendation. You have piqued my interest for sure. Sticky Brick Jar goes to the top of my Wishlist. Will update here soon 🙂
Just wondering if anyone has used both the Dynavap and Davinci IQ? I have the Dynavap but been offered a Davinci IQ at a good price. I read that tops can pop off during use due to a rubber seal expanding with the heat and also a magnet falling off is that true?
Thanks
Got a Davinci IQ in the Hempelf sale was half price plus discount code took it to £95 delivered next day down from £200..
Have to say it is good and a cool device but I just seem to prefer to go for the Dynavap all the time. But I think I got better flavour from the Davinci probably due to better temp control but I also felt like I had a harsher feeling throat and dry the next day, Maybe just have to get used to using it…
I got the Davinci glass spacers to reduce the chamber size
Very informative site…thanks
Michael
Hi,
It’s unclear to me how to use these things. If you fill a vape chamber with herb, how many pulls do you get/how many times can you heat it up before needing to refill?
Thanks.
It depends on the device, but it should last for a few minutes of regular puffing. Its tastes great at the start and slowly gets more harsh. You can pause during a sesh and come back to it, but it won’t taste as good as the first few hits.