Combustion vs. Combustion-Free Heating Vaporizers

Switching over from a pipe/bong to a vaporizer for your flower can instantly bring loads more satisfaction to your daily hobby. A vaporizer gives you more control over how you experience the qualities of your session, all while offering more convenience, travel-friendliness and discretion than the more traditional types of setups.

If you’re ready to invest in your first flower vaporizer, then you first have to choose between two different methods of heat: combustion or non-combustion, which usually comes in the form of convection. Both methods are equally capable of ensuring a satisfying vape, so you’ll want to consider them based on your specific priorities as a flower enthusiast.

Combustion-Based Vaporizers

Combustion vaporizers are new to the market, so we don’t blame you if you never even knew there was such a thing until now. And, their name is a little deceptive, because they’re not actually creating vapor, but smoke. Combustion is the reaction that occurs when a direct flame makes contact with the flower, hence creating smoke rather than vapor. Combustion vaporizers are small, handheld devices that conceal an internal flame that heats the dry herb with the press of a button.

So, why choose a combustion vaporizer rather than a traditional pipe? Well, it’s far more discreet since everything is contained within the chassis, and this means less smoke and odor with each pull. Besides that, it looks and feels like a traditional vaporizer, which means that it’s super portable, doesn’t draw attention and is far easier to use overall. Plus, you don’t have to worry about smoking on a windy day, which can cause the flame to struggle to light your herbs, since everything is enclosed. The same applies to windy days, and cold days when the average lighter struggles to work.

Pros

With a combustion-based vaporizer, the main appeal is more potency. Smoke is denser than vapor, since it contains less water that dilutes the compounds it’s carrying. This means that each hit is basically more potent in terms of both its effects and its flavor.

Another benefit is that these types of devices tend to be notably more affordable than convection-based vaporizers, since they are simpler in design. So, if you love the idea of a more compact, travel-friendly way to enjoy your herb, but your budget is tight at the moment, this can be an excellent choice.

Cons

Combustion-based vaporizers are pretty much the ideal choice for someone who prefers smoke over vapor, and wants a more travel-friendly, discreet way to enjoy their hobby. Unlike other types of vaporizers, you don’t really have the ability to adjust output settings, since the heat source can’t be changed. And, you are more likely to get some harshness on the inhale since smoke, again, is denser than vapor.

Combustion-Free Vaporizers

Flower vaporizers heat the flower inside the chamber in one of two ways: through convection, or through conduction. Conduction involves the heat source making direct contact with the flower. Because it comes with a higher chance of burning the actual material, the large majority of today’s flower vapes use convection instead.

Convection fills the chamber with hot air that swirls around, so that the flower never actually gets heated directly. Instead, it heats up internally, which naturally produces vapor. This greatly reduces the risk of burning, and also allows for better flavor and reduced waste of product.

These types of vaporizers come with adjustable heat settings, so that you can control how much heat is applied each time you go in for a puff. In terms of the precise adjustable settings, they’re going to vary from model to model.

Pros

Both convection and conduction-based vaporizers are still more discreet than combustion-based, because they release vapor rather than smoke, which dissipates into the air more quickly and carries less of an odor. And, they tend to come with a lot of adjustable settings that let you control the output. This way, you can decide how strong each hit of vapor is.

These types of vaporizers are also going to be less harsh, which is great if you have a sensitive throat and cough easily. The inhales are smoother, but still give you a nice serving of your favorite dry herb compounds.

Cons

One drawback with convection and conduction-based vaporizers is that the hits aren’t as potent. That’s because the water component of vapor plays a role in diluting what’s inhaled. Now, don’t think this means that the hits are going to be weak, because that isn’t the case. Especially if you’re a beginner, you likely won’t have any complaints whatsoever. But, those who are used to smoking may notice that the overall effects are just slightly less strong than what they are used to.

The Vaporizer Choice is Yours!

All types of flower devices come with their unique pros and cons, which shows us that it really just comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. So, what is it that you want when you go for a nice dry herb session? Convenience? Flavor? Customizability? Take all of these factors into account, and find the ultimate device based on what type of experience you’re looking for. Good news, there are all kinds of models out there today as technology continues to advance and evolve, so that there’s the perfect setup for everyone.