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How Much Do Vapes Cost?
Intro
Whether you're trying to quit smoking tobacco or looking to pick up a fun hobby, the cost of vaping is a question on the minds of many beginners. It can be difficult to navigate the costs of different devices, as well as determining what your long-term costs will be. How much do vapes cost, and what other expenses can vapers expect to face ongoing as they enjoy the benefits of vaping?
In this article, we'll do more than talk about how much vapes can cost. We'll also talk about the specific factors that can impact your budget, the price of particular vape parts, and the best ways to get the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to vaping.
How Much Does Vaping Cost?
The cost of vaping is going to depend on the specific device you choose and what you decide to vape. It can even come down to how you vape, so you can understand how it can be difficult to nail down a price.
For now, let's take a look at different vaping devices that could impact your overall costs:
Disposable Vapes
While disposable vapes are very convenient, they will also usually be your most expensive option for vaping. After all, you're buying an entire vaporizer when you need to refuel, so your costs will be consistently high. If being cost-effective is one of your priorities, disposable vapes will be a poor choice.
Disposable vapes are typically geared towards new entrants to vaping or tourists. In general, you can expect disposable nicotine vapes to cost $5-15 apiece and cannabis vapes to cost $30 - 60 apiece. Prices will vary depending on specific strength and brand.
Disposable Cartridges
Disposable, prefilled cartridges will be more cost-effective than disposable vapes. You keep and reuse your battery, so you're only buying cartridges as needed. It's less wasteful and more budget-friendly. Disposable, prefilled cartridges usually range from $1-5 apiece, with prefilled cannabis cartridges costing $15 - $40.
Again, prices will vary depending on the specific brand and strength of the cartridge you've chosen.
Refillable Vape Kits
The most cost-effective way to vape is to have a permanent vaping device (like a box mod with a refillable tank) and to buy bottles of vape juice. You'll pay more upfront for the device (which can range from $20 to several hundred dollars, depending on your specific setup), but your long-term costs will be much lower. Buying vape juice by the bottle is extremely cost-effective.
For example, 60mg of vape juice will range between $10-$20, but a disposable vape pen with 5mg of e-liquid could cost close to the same amount. The downside of refillable vape kits (like box mods) requires regular maintenance to perform long-term. If you don't like to tinker or play with your vaporizers, the cost savings may not be with the time investment for you.
Dry Herb and Concentrate Vape Kits
For those that prefer to vape concentrates or dry herbs, there are a wide variety of devices that are ready to use out of the box. Unlike vape juice kits, dry herb and concentrate vapes require far less maintenance to maintain a high-end vaping experience. If you want to enjoy CBD or THC in a cost-effective way, then a reusable dry herb or concentrate vape is a great choice!
Factors that Impact Cost
There are a lot of different facts that will impact your overall vaping cost, even after you have decided what method of vaping best fits your needs:
What Are You Vaping?
The substance you have chosen to vape will impact your budget. Wax concentrate and e-liquid vapes tend to have more budget-friendly designs. Dry herb vapes (since they need a large heating chamber) tend to run more expensive, even when considering off-brand devices or low-end devices.
Plan on vaping more than one substance? Then you'll need to invest in a device that is designed to handle more than one category of vape material. Generally, this requires more specialty components to be built into the vape, which will raise the front-end cost of the device you choose.
Convection vs. Conduction
If using a dry herb vaporizer, how it heats cannabis will affect the cost. Convection vapes (that use hot air to evenly bake dry herbs) usually require larger heating chambers that are lined with a heating element. The larger surface area required in a convection vape increases component costs, which will usually make these devices more expensive.
Conduction vapes (which rely on direct contact with a heating element to produce vapor) require less surface area for heating, which allows them to be less expensive. Of course, they will heat less evenly and may provide a sub-part vaping experience, so keep that in mind if you plan to vape cannabis seriously.
Battery Capacity
Batteries eventually lose their ability to recharge, which means batteries with higher capacities will have a longer lifespan. High-end devices sometimes allow the batteries to be replaced, which will save you from needing to buy a completely new device. The higher the capacity the battery has (measured in mAh), the more expensive the battery will typically be upfront.
Preferred Accessories
If you plan on using accessories with your vaping device, you'll want to be sure to include their price in your budget. Accessories include spare mesh screens, heating coils, wicks, specialty mouthpieces, and more. What accessories you can use depends on the type of vape you have, though most mid to high-end devices have some accessories to choose from.
If you are brand new to vaping, then you may want to consider a vaping kit. These kits will not only include the device but will include some extra accessories (which are often screens, heating coils, and/or cleaning tools). You'll usually get a bit of a discount when compared to buying these accessories separately.
Additional Costs Associated With Vaping
There are a few other niche items that you may want to consider when creating a vape budget. While not all devices will need these, you should keep them in mind in case you fall in love with a device that does require it:
Spare Battery or Specialty Charger
Most vapes are charged with a micro-USB cable, which is usually included with the device. Depending on what kind of device you choose, you may want to buy an additional battery or a specialty charger to avoid untimely vaping interruptions.
Cleaning Solutions and Tools
You need to keep your vape clean, and this is especially true for concentrate and dry herb vapes. Over time, the resin from the wax and cannabis will build up and can impact the flavor of the vapor being produced. There are some specialty cleaners available, though a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol is usually enough to keep your devices clean.
Specialty Vape Oils
E-liquids tend to be the most cost-effective substance to vape. If you are interested in vaping CBD or THC oils, you'll need to budget for a much higher price. Prefilled oil cartridges range in price (usually around $20-75, depending on strength and brand). Knowing that you're vaping more expensive oils may influence how much you're willing to pay upfront for a device.
Replacement Parts
If you plan to invest in a high-end device, then you'll need to consider the cost of replacement components. While usually inexpensive, common replacement components can be more expensive (depending on the brand and quality of what you buy).
For example, heating coils for concentrate pens can be made from several kinds of materials, like ceramic, quartz, or titanium. Each of those materials has a different cost, with ceramic and titanium being the most expensive. If you want to use high-end components in a high-end device, be sure to budget for it!
How Much Are Vape Coils?
Vape coils are a common heating element used in box mods or concentrate vaporizers. Coils are usually inexpensive (capping out at around $5 a coil), but how much you vape will impact how often coils need to be replaced. If you plan to heavily vape every day, you may need to replace your coil weekly, though most users can use a single coil for several weeks.
How Much Are Vape Pens?
Vape pens are a great choice for those who want to avoid the waste of disposable vapes but don't want to deal with the maintenance required in a box mod setup. Vape pens can use prefilled cartridges or refillable cartridges, though most can't handle a vape tank that is common on box mods.
Vape pens have a broad range, starting as low as $5 and topping out at around $30-40. If you want a device with a full suite of features (like precision temperature adjustment), you'll begin looking at box mod setups.
Cost of CBD Vaping
Many people look to vaping to take advantage of the numerous health benefits that vaping CBD may provide. Since extracting CBD requires more processing than other additives (like nicotine), CBD vape juice and oils are comparatively more expensive.
CBD oil cartridges and bottles of vape juice range from $20-75, depending on the brand and the concentration. The price is much higher than nicotine-infused vape juice, though the potential health benefits often make it worth the cost.
What about Advanced Vapers?
For the majority of vapers, the upfront device cost, accessories, basic components, and what you want to vape will be the biggest factors that determine how much it costs to vape. However, advanced vapers (particularly those that enjoy vaping e-liquids) may consider more advanced components, which will impact the price of their vape.
Sub-Ohm Vaping
Sub-ohm tanks can get expensive quickly. These are specialty vape tanks that have an electrical resistance lower than 1ohm. This means that a lot of electrical currents can flow at once, which allows sub-ohm tanks to produce an enormous amount of vapor in a very short amount of time. These tanks typically range between $30-100 (and this is without a battery).
You can usually buy tanks in a kit that includes a battery, and you can expect some kind of bundled discount. However, some tanks are sold as individual items only, and their price can often dwarf entire vaping devices.
Rebuildable Atomizers and Mechanical Mods
Advanced vapers may consider other specialty tanks, too. Rebuildable Atomizers (or RBAs) offer a premium e-liquid vaping experience, but they require a lot of hands-on setup and maintenance. You'll also be buying internal components (like coils and wicks), which can add up pretty fast if you're not careful!
Mechanical mods are vape batteries that connect directly to the vape tank without a chip-set interface. This means it's easier to blast power into your tank (and mechanical mods are generally less expensive). However, they require precision knowledge of what your tank can and cannot handle.
Beginners can easily burn out a vape tank by using a mechanical mod, so it's best to leave accessories like that to veteran vapers.
High Coil and Vape Juice Cost
Most advanced vapers love making big vape clouds, which require a lot of vape juice. The more e-liquid you vape through, the more you'll have to buy. You'll also need to remember to replace components like heating coils more regularly since you're working your device so much and so hard.
How to Save Money on Vaping
We've talked about the different factors that can increase your vaping costs, but now it's time to talk about how to keep costs low!
Avoid Disposables
If you have the option to avoid disposable vapes or disposable cartridges, doing so will keep your vaping costs down. Buying e-liquids by the bottle and using refillable tanks is vastly easier on your wallet than sticking to disposables. It's easy to find nicotine-infused or CBD vape juices, though CBD and THC oils are usually only sold as prefilled, disposable cartridges.
Build-It-Yourself Tanks
If you're using an RBA tank, taking the DIY approach to certain components can save you a lot of money. For example, you can buy wire and make your own heating coils instead of buying them prefabricated, and you can buy wick material in bulk. It takes a significant time investment for this kind of hobby, but you see savings immediately!
Make Your Own E-Liquid
For hardcore hobbyists, you can make your own e-liquid to save on buying from a store. If you're interested in trying, we recommend following some established recipes before venturing off on your own. You should always make sure that any component you put in a homemade e-liquid is safe for vaping.
Which Vape Should I Buy?
The vape you should buy is the device that's the best compromise between what you want and what you can afford. If you value convenience above all else (and a tight budget isn't a concern), then you may decide to stick to disposables. If you want to be more budget-conscious, you may decide to invest in a reusable vape battery and tank while buying bottles of e-liquid.
We recommend following these steps when deciding what kind of vape to buy:
Determine your budget
Decide what to vape
Identify needs or wants
Locate the device that best fits all three
If you're brand new to vaping, you may want to try some budget-friendly products just to experiment. Once you know for sure what you're looking for, you can more comfortably invest in a more expensive product that better fits your vaping needs.
Summary
There are a surprising number of factors that can impact your vaping costs. It's why it's important to take the time to research different products and identify what you really want or need out of a vaping device. Remember, the most cost-effective option may not be your best option. Time investments should be considered just as much as financial ones!
For those considering getting a high-end dry herb vape with an emphasis on vapor flavor and quality, we encourage you to take a look at the Firefly 2+. It uses our unique convection heating technology to consistently produce some of the world's best-tasting dry herb vapor.
If you have questions about dry herb vaping or more, reach out to us! We'll help to guide you to an ideal device that will satisfy your vaping needs.
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Does Vaping Cause Anxiety? Let’s Find Out!
There’s been a recent increase in vaping cannabis for its medicinal value, for physical and mental health. But due to some consumers’ sensitivity to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a lot of people are asking the question - does vaping cause anxiety?
Of course, not all cannabis strains, types, or their effects on consumers can be treated equally. For strains and cannabis product types, they contain varying compounds, like cannabinoids and terpenes that produce varying effects. As for consumers, cannabis affects everyone differently based on their unique body chemistry, tolerance, weight, metabolism, and other physiological factors.
To help you decide if vaping causes anxiety, for you personally, keep reading to find out everything you need to know. In this guide, we’ll try to answer the question - does vaping cause anxiety?
Can Vaping Provide Relief from Anxiety and Stress?
Once you learn how to vape, you’ll quickly discover there’s a lot to learn about the different types of effects you may experience. For instance, vaping cannabis oil will affect you differently than vaping flower. Also, consuming a sativa-dominant strain will affect you differently than an indica-dominant strain.
So, to answer the question - can vaping relieve anxiety and stress? Studies are suggesting yes, however, it’ll be dependent on the type of strain you pack into your flower vaporizer.
What are the other effects of vaping on mental health in general? Let’s dive into it.
Effects of Vaping on Mental Health
Speaking of the different effects that cannabis can produce, one of the most notable ones is its ability to induce relaxation. It does so through various cannabinoids and terpenes, like THC, CBD (cannabidiol), limonene, linalool, and myrcene - which are all compounds that are found to produce calming, soothing, or relieving effects on the consumers.
But how? These compounds interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is primarily responsible for regulating everyday functions with the goal of maintaining homeostasis (the body’s internal stability while adjusting to external conditions). These everyday functions include mood, sleep, appetite, etc.
When consuming cannabis with a dry herb vaporizer, or when vaping concentrates, these unique compounds influence the ECS, allowing them to impact your mental health positively.
The Connection Between Vaping and Anxiety
One reason why some consumers may associate vaping with anxiety is due to the presence of THC or their unique reaction to it. Remember when we discussed how cannabis affects everyone differently? Some consumers may react to THC differently, and in some cases, experience raised levels of anxiety, or paranoia.
Often, this happens due to the person’s own tolerance or sensitivity to THC, or the dose or strength they consumed. For instance, they may not feel anxious taking one puff, but when taking three to five, they might.
If you love to vape but find the answer to the question, does vaping cause anxiety, not convincing enough, there is a simple solution. Seek out low THC cannabis concentrates, CBD-dominant flower strains, or just go ‘low and slow’ with your dosages, until you find your sweet spot of effects.
Another tip is to consume more indica-dominant strains as against sativa-dominant strains. Indica strains tend to be more relaxing, or sedating, while sativa strains are more energizing and euphoric, which at times may cause a consumer to feel anxious or overwhelmed.
How Does Vaping Affect Depression?
Vaping and anxiety isn’t the only link that consumers are curious about. Many are also wondering - does vaping worsen the symptoms of depression? Or can vaping help reduce depression?
One thing to understand about cannabis is that it’s extremely under-researched considering its wide range of potential medical benefits. Since cannabis was just recently legalized in most states in the US, and is still federally illegal, it’s been difficult for researchers to get funding to carry out definitive studies.
That means, we’re still waiting on conclusive answers to the questions - does vaping cause anxiety, and how does it affect depression? What we can share so far is the following studies linking cannabis effects with depressive symptoms:
A 2021 study found that medical marijuana was associated with a reduction of symptoms in those with clinical depression. The study’s results indicated that the participants experienced reduced anxiety and improved sleep.
Another study found that both THC and CBD showed anti-depressant effects at certain dosages.
In Canada, a recent study showed anxiety and depression symptoms eased among the majority of participants after 12-18 months of use.
Keep in mind that there are also studies reporting that cannabis may be linked to a rise in anxiety and symptoms of depression. So, as always, explore cannabis safely by going low and slow with your dosages and choosing strains that are most compatible with favorable effects for mental health conditions.
The Final Word on Does Vaping Cause Anxiety?
Anxiety is a complex condition that affects the daily lives of nearly 6.8 million adults in the US, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. In addition, a 2017 survey reported a significant number of Americans (81% of the 9,000 surveyed) believe cannabis is beneficial for health benefits.
But to find out for yourself, you’ll have to use this guide and the tips we provided on whether vaping cannabis for anxiety is the right move for you.
To help you in your exploration, it’s also recommended that you use the most high-quality vaping devices for a premium experience. Why? Simply because you don’t want to waste your expensive, top-shelf weed, in a cheap dry herb vaporizer and lose out on beneficial effects.
In that case, shop Firefly - a trusted, widely used vaporizer - for consuming flower and concentrates for effects that might benefit your health. The Firefly 2+ vaporizer is equipped with dynamic convection technology that delivers phenomenal flavor and reduces waste to get the most out of the flower or concentrates you purchase.
Use our handy guide to learn which temperature produces the most relieving effects.
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Vape Guides
Best Temp to Vape Weed
Vaping dry herbs, especially weed, has grown in popularity among former smokers and vapers alike. For traditional e-juice enthusiasts, vaping weed offers a more authentic experience with dry herbs. For traditional smokers, vaping offers a more accessible, less messy, and more discrete experience. Vaping dry herbs are here to stay.
Of course, there's more to the story than just vaping weed. Beginners will quickly learn that the process is nuanced, and different temperatures provide very different vaping experiences, even with the same kind of dry herb being used. Is there an optimal temperature for vaping weed, and if so, what is the best heat setting?
We tackle these questions and more in the article below. You'll learn about what to expect from vaping weed at different temperatures, why different temperatures provide different vaping experiences and the best devices for precision heat control.
What's the Best Temperature for Vaping Weed?
Many users want to know what’s the best temp to vape weed? It’s a hard question to answer. Why? Because every consumer has their own unique sweet spot that they prefer, just like it is the case with individual taste and desired effects.
Since the temperature directly affects how flavorful a hit may be, and the type of effects it will deliver, it’s essential to find the best temp to vape weed for your unique preferences. To help, it’s best to know that the standard range of temperatures is 320°F (160°C) to 450 (230°C).
To learn more about the best temp to vape weed in that range, here’s a breakdown of their distinct characteristics:
320°F (160°C) – 360°F (180°C): A light effect on the mental state and high levels of flavor.
360°F (180°C) – 390°F (200°C): Noticeable effects on the body and optimal levels of flavor.
390°F (200°C) – 450°F (230°C): Very strong effects on the body and low levels of flavor.
Note: the temperature ranges provided are estimates which can vary depending on the nature of your specific bud. Fresh weed that is still moist may not vaporize according to these estimates because moisture is still present. If you want to target certain cannabinoids or terpenes precisely, it's best to make sure your weed is completely dry.
Vaping Temperature Chart
Are you looking for an easy reference for cannabinoid and terpene boiling points? Take a look below! You'll find the most prominent cannabinoids and terpenes found in weed and when you can expect them to make an appearance in your vapor!
Remember, not all strains have all cannabinoids or terpenes, and these temperatures are estimates. Dryer weed will follow these estimates more closely, so if accuracy is a priority, make sure you let your weed properly dry before vaping.
Temperature Guide for Cannabinoids
Temperature Guide for Terpenes
Source: National Library of Medicine, Leafly, and Steep Hill
Dry Herb Vaporizers with the Most Accurate Temperature Control
If you've already started shopping for dry herb vaporizers, you've likely noticed that they essentially all have some measure of temperature control. While this will allow you to alter the heat settings from low to high, it is not guaranteed that the temperature is correct.
Not all vaporizers are equal, and this is especially true for dry herb vaporizers. Certain styles of vapes are just better at providing precision heating control. While you're shopping, look for the following characteristics:
Convection heating (not conduction. Conduction vapes heat dry herb unevenly, so it's impossible to accurately target specific cannabinoids and terpenes.)
Digital display of set temperature, either on the device or through a connected app
Sold directly from the manufacturer (or is a trusted brand from a reliable retailer)
If your vaporizer has these qualities, then it likely is going to provide an accurate temperature reading. If you're serious about precision heating control to target specific terpenes and cannabinoids, then we recommend starting with the Firefly 2+.
It uses advanced dynamic convection technology, pairs with a computer or phone for precision heat settings, and is sold by Firefly, a leading premium brand in the vaping world.
Specific Cannabis Compounds, Their Boiling Points, and Effects
As you get more experienced with vaping weed (or if you are vaping weed for specific medicinal purposes), you may be interested in targeting particular cannabinoids and terpenes when you vape. Below, you'll find an easy reference of what cannabis compounds to expect depending on what temperature you vape at:
Cannabinoids and Terpenes at 246 - 319F (119 - 159C)
You'll vaporize cannabidiolic acid (CBDa), Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa), and cannabigerol (CBG). None of these cannabinoids are psychoactive (so you won't get a traditional high), but they can treat inflammation, depression, anxiety, and nausea. Early research suggests CBG may treat a variety of health conditions, similar to CBD.
As for terpenes, beta-Caryophyllene is the most prevalent terpene you'll activate at this low temperature. It is reported to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties potentially. If you need to vape all day to manage pain or anxiety, this is a great temperature to choose. You'll experience little to no high at this range.
Cannabinoids and Terpenes at 320 - 350F (160 - 177C)
THC and CBD will begin to boil at this temperature. The CBD will provide more potent anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety, and depression benefits, while the THC will give the typical high marijuana. You'll also start to feel more potent pain-relieving and anti-nausea qualities in this range.
You'll start to activate cannabichromene (CBC). It is the second most common cannabinoid found in weed, coming in behind THC. While more abundant, it's not as potent as a standalone cannabinoid like CBD is, but the two share similar properties (including anti-inflammatory benefits and depression and anxiety regulation).
This temperature won't give you the full strength of these cannabinoids. Instead, it will provide you with just a little taste of the experience they provide. As you move to higher temperatures, your vapor will have a much higher concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes. This is especially true for THC, CBD, and CBC, which entirely release at much higher temperatures.
You'll also activate several more terpenes when vaping within this temperature range, including alpha-pinene, beta-myrcene, and limonene. Their effects vary, depending on their specific concentrations within one particular strain, but they include stress relief, anti-anxiety, euphoria, and relaxation.
Cannabinoids and Terpenes at 351 - 400F (177 - 204C)
Along with higher CBD, THC, and CBC concentrations, you'll start to pick up on cannabinol (CBN). This cannabinoid has a potent sedation effect, so it may be a great choice to target if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Research also suggests cannabinol may be effective at treating and preventing certain kinds of cancer.
Not only will you get a more potent hit of the other terpenes previously mentioned, but you'll also start to activate linalool. Linalool may be an excellent choice for treating depression or anxiety. If lower vaping temperatures aren't producing the desired effect you want, then cranking it up to activate linalool might be a great choice.
Cannabinoids and Terpenes at 401 - 430F (205 - 221C)
You're not only going to get a taste of all the cannabinoids present, but you will get a quick and potent extraction from your weed. That means a single hit at this temperature will be far more powerful than even several hits at some of the earlier, cooler temperatures.
The cannabinoids with the highest boiling points will finally make their full appearance. Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv) and CBC will be at their strongest in this temperature range. THCv can help prevent panic attacks and act as an appetite suppressant, helping counteract the munchies associated with other cannabinoids.
Along with the other terpenes we've already mentioned, you'll also get total extraction of terpineol, pulegone, and quercetin. Their possible effects range from stronger sedation to anticonvulsants. You're also getting a more potent blast of the other terpenes present, which will help give you the full-spectrum high of the strain you are vaping.
Final Thoughts on the Best Vape Temperatures for Weed
Vaping weed is one of the best ways to enjoy the potent effects of your favorite strains. Remember, not all strains have all cannabinoids and terpenes present or in the same concentrations. Most legal dispensaries will have this information available if you're trying to target a specific cannabis compound, so be sure to ask when you go shopping!
Also, the research on how cannabinoids and terpenes affect the human body is still in the early stages. This means that we're still learning how these compounds affect the body and how different combinations of different compounds can produce other effects. Each person reacts to different cannabinoids and terpenes differently; consider this article a general guide.
Finally, the quality of the vape you choose will dramatically impact your ability to target specific compounds. If you're serious about precision, accurate heat settings that allow for cannabinoids and terpenes to be targeted, then we recommend starting with the Firefly 2+.
It is made with premium materials, features fantastic convection heating technology, and can pair with a computer or smartphone for precision heat control down to a single degree. There's a reason the New York Times described this device as producing vapor "tastier, cooler, and frankly, stronger (than) all of the models we tested." You'll have to experience it yourself to see why!
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Does Vaping Make You Tired? What We Know So Far
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been through times when we’ve hit the vape a little too hard and have immediately felt sleepy. This begs the question: does vaping make you tired, or is it just a common coincidence?
With an overall increase in vaping, many consumers are now seeking out the answer to the question: why does vaping make you tired, if it is true?
To understand the connection between vaping and feeling tired, you have to learn more about cannabis and its inner compounds. Once you have a grasp on whether and how vaping can make you tired, you can adjust the types of cannabis you consume with your weed vaporizer to avoid feeling tired, or take it right before hitting the bed to help fall asleep.
So, read our ultimate guide that seeks to answer the question: Does vaping make you tired? With all of the latest research and more.
Why Does Vaping Make You Tired?
No matter what vaping techniques you use, whether you consume concentrates or flower, it has the potential to make you tired. That’s because cannabis is chock-full of cannabinoids, which interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system or ECS. This system regulates everyday functions such as our mood, appetite, pain response, and even our sleep and wake cycle.
Of course, all cannabinoids are different. So, depending on the type of cannabinoid you consume, THC, CBD, CBN, CBC, CBG, etc., you’ll experience its unique effects through the ECS. Through research and real-time use, it’s been found that THC, CBD, and CBN have the potential to be sedating, or sleepy in effects.
Beyond cannabinoids, cannabis also contains terpenes. Terpenes not only provide cannabis’ distinct aroma, but have their own effects, too, some of which induce sleepiness.
Again, from anecdotal evidence and commentary on the subject, the following terpenes have found to be relaxing or sleepy in effects -
Terpinolene
Myrcene
Caryophyllene
Linalool
Now that you know more about the answer to - why does vaping make you tired? - let’s find out how to prevent it.
Does Vaping Make You Tired? If So, How to Prevent it?
Knowing that THC, CBD, CBN, and a handful of cannabis terpenes can make you tired, the best way to prevent sleepiness is to monitor what you consume. Why? Because every cannabis strain, be it in flower or concentrate, varies in what it contains.
Some flower strains have a lot of one type of terpene, while others have a lot of another. The same goes for THC, CBD, and also cannabinoid levels. Making it even more confusing, cannabis affects every individual differently, depending on their tolerance, weight, metabolism, and other physiological factors.
As you consume, be conscious of the strain. Look it up online to find out what compounds it has, or if you buy it legally, check the label to see how much of each compound it has. If it makes you tired, take note of it. If it keeps you awake, make a note of it, too.
To help find what’s best for you and which types of cannabis to avoid to prevent possible tiredness, you’ll have to experiment on your own. Many beginner cannabis consumers journal their use, writing down the type of product they consumed and how they felt afterwards.
Last but not least, most cannabis flower and concentrates will be labeled as either ‘indica’ or ‘sativa’. These are loose classifications of the types of effects you may feel. Indicas tend to be reserved for night-time use due to their tendency to induce slight tiredness. While sativas tend to be reserved for daytime use, as they can actually be energizing in nature.
Once you know the answer to the question - why does vaping make you tired? - you can avoid those compounds or specific products in the future.
The Latest Research on Vaping and Tiredness
Before we get into more frequently asked questions like - does vaping make you tired? - let’s dive deep into the research on cannabis and tiredness that has been conducted so far.
A 2020 study concluded CBD delivered an improvement in sleep quality among participants.
A 2021 study concluded that just one exposure to cannabis can help cut down the time it takes to fall asleep, and possibly increase the amount of total sleep.
Due to the fact that cannabis was only recently legalized, research on its precise effects is lacking. As more studies catch up, consumers are left with questions of their own.
Frequently Asked Questions on Vaping and Tiredness
It’s normal to have questions like "Does vaping cause anxiety?" and "Does vaping make you tired?" That’s why we’re trying to address these issues.
Can vaping help me sleep?
Yes, according to some research and reported real-time use, vaping cannabis can help you sleep, although more thorough research on this is ongoing. In fact, many edibles, oils, and concentrates made from cannabis are marketed specifically for sleep because they contain the helpful compounds we talked about earlier.
If you plan on vaping indoors before falling asleep, it’s best to choose a strain that’s indica-dominant or high in the cannabinoids THC, CBD, or CBN. It’s also best to avoid any flower that has the potential to raise your anxiety levels, as a racing mind can keep you up at night.
Will I feel sleepy in the morning after vaping?
Some sleep medications make you drowsy in the morning because they’re strong. Luckily, when you vape cannabis, those effects only last anywhere from 45 minutes to one and a half hours.
Does the amount I vape determine how tired I’ll be?
Yes, if you vape an increased amount or strength, it can affect your level of sleepiness. Even more so if the flower or concentrate you're using too much of has cannabinoids and terpenes that can make you sleepy.
Which strains are known for making you tired?
In general, consumers will tell you that the following strains make them feel tired -
Northern Lights
Bubba Kush
Grandaddy Purple
Hindu Kush
Girl Scout Cookies
Gelato
How can I avoid getting tired when vaping?
If you do start to feel sleepy when you vape, here are a few things you can do to get your energy back -
Go for a run or walk
Take a shower
Drink caffeine
Does Vaping Make You Tired? The Evidence So Far
With the information you’ve learned today, now you know the answer to the question - does vaping make you tired? - along with knowing how to avoid getting tired from vaping.
When you begin vaping for specific health and wellness benefits, it’s important to always keep learning. Stay in touch with the latest vaping news, cannabis education, and more with Firefly, one of the most trusted and advanced dry herb vaporizers on the market today.
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How to Get Rid of Vape Smell: Tips and Tricks
Vaping continues to be a popular choice for cannabis enthusiasts who want to enjoy their favorite strain without needing to smoke. However, that doesn't mean vaping doesn't have its challenges. In particular, many vapers don't know how to get rid of vape smell after they've enjoyed a long, pleasant session with their favorite weed vaporizer.
Don't fret! The experts at Firefly have you covered. We know the tips and tricks to make sure you avoid the smell of vaping while still getting the enjoyment of your favorite dry herbs!
Why Vaping Produces a Smell
Vaping produces a smell because of the heat applied to the cannabis. In weed vapes, cannabis is heated by either convection or conduction. When the cannabis is heated, it produces fumes and vapor, which is what you end up inhaling. However, just like when you bake something in the oven, the vapor from a weed vaporizer will produce smells to go along with the vapor.
Why Does a Vape’s Heating Chamber Develop Odor?
After you've had several vaping sessions with your weed vape, you may notice that the heating chamber itself has begun to have a particular odor. This happens because, as cannabis is heated in your vaporizer, an oily residue slowly forms. You will notice that the same residue begins to build on glass pipes when you smoke weed, too.
As that layer of residue gets thicker and harder, the smell it creates becomes stronger or more pungent. Fortunately, weed vapes are usually very easy to clean (you typically only need a dry cloth or rubbing alcohol, but you have to handle it with care).
Some vapes are made to help reduce this kind of odor build-up. For example, the Firefly 2+ is designed for exceptionally easy cleaning, so odor build-up isn't an issue you'll need to be concerned with when using this device.
How Do I Get Rid of Vape Smell?
Regardless of the device you use, if you don't follow some of these simple cleaning steps, you'll find that vaping weed creates strong smells inside your home. Luckily, how to get rid of vape smell from weed is a straightforward process:
1. Keep Your Carpet Clean
Smells of all kinds can get stuck in your carpet, including the smells from vapor. Remember, vapor has oil that settles when it lands on a surface. If you vape weed indoors and have a carpeted floor, that oily residue can start to build up on your carpets. Regular vacuuming will solve this issue!
2. Use Cloth to Clean Hard Surfaces
A damp cloth is usually all that's needed to remove oily vape residue from hard surfaces. Wiping down tabletops and counters can really help reduce the smell of weed vapor.
3. Use a Steam Cleaner for Your Furniture’s Fabric
If you have cloth couches or recliners, vape residue can soak into the fabric of your furniture. This is more challenging to clean than hard surfaces, but a steam cleaner is usually enough to lift the oils out of the fabric and to reduce odors for furniture.
4. Ensure Proper Ventilation
Since most vape smells come from vapor residue collecting on surfaces over time, better ventilation to keep vapor from collecting inside will reduce unwelcome smells. Consider vaping by an open window or an open door if the smell from your weed vape is starting to bother you.
5. Choose a Less Pungent Weed Strain
Certain strains of weed have sharper, more pungent flavors than others, and when you use a weed vape, those pungent flavors can soak into everything. This is a particular problem for sativa strains that have exceptionally piney flavor notes, since those aromas tend to be very, very strong.
Fortunately, not all weed strains have such a strong, natural smell, even among sativas. Choosing a strain with more mild aromas can cut down on stubborn vape smells, or at least can make cleaning up after a heavy vape session a lot easier.
6. Buy an Indoor Air Purifier
If you don't want to regularly deep clean, and extra ventilation isn't an option for you, then an indoor purifier for your vape can really help reduce smells. Just make sure you exhale near the intake of the purifier, and the machine will filter out the particulates that cause strong odors.
7. Go for a Smaller Device
If you use a desktop vaporizer, you may be creating too much vapor to avoid smells, even if you have decent ventilation or if you're using an air purifier. Switching to a smaller device that focuses more on flavor and less on vapor (like Firefly 2+) can help you to reduce the amount of vapor created, reduce smells, and still have an incredible vaping experience.
8.Use an Air Freshener
The old techniques of getting rid of unpleasant smells can still work with vape smells! Using an air freshener or scented candles to mask the smell of your vape can create a pleasant, enjoyable atmosphere in your home without you needing to change your vaping habits.
9. Vape in the Bathroom or Kitchen
Both kitchens and bathrooms usually have extra ventilation (like a hood vent or an attic fan to suck up steam), which can help to reduce the smell of using a weed vape. If you're committed to vaping indoors, but have struggled with keeping carpeted areas clean, then the hard surfaces of a kitchen or bathroom can make cleaning a lot easier.
10. Vape at Lower Temperatures
When you vape at lower temperatures, you create less vapor, which means you'll produce less vape smell with each puff. You'll need a vaporizer built to vape at lower temperatures (such as the Firefly 2+), since many vapes aren't designed for low-temperature vaping. Many weed vapes don't offer variable temperature at all, so keep that in mind if you're looking for a new device that may create less vape smell.
Getting Rid of Vape Smell Off Yourself
Heavy vapors may end up with the smell of vape on their hands and clothes. It may be easier to know how to get rid of vape smell in your home, but it can be more of a task to understand how to rid yourself of vape smell! Remember, it's easy to become nose blind to odors on yourself, so be sure to follow these tips to keep smelling fresh!
Clean and Freshen Up Your Mouth
Even though you're vaping and not smoking, you'll still have weed odors that come from your mouth. Aside from typical oral hygiene (such as brushing daily, flossing, and the use of a mouth wash), a mint, piece of gum, or an extra blast of mouthwash after a vaping session can help!
Keep Your Hands Clean
Between packing your heating chamber and holding your vape, your hands are going to be in close proximity to non-vaped weed and weed vapor. You may not realize it, but your hands can start to smell like weed pretty easily, but the fix is easy. Just remember to wash your hands after each vape session (or use sanitizer if you're not near a sink) to reduce odors on your hands.
Ensure You Wash Your Hair Properly
Did you just finish a long, heavy vape session? Even if you were in an area with decent ventilation, vapor that ends up getting in your hair can leave vapor residue, which can cause your hair to smell. Fortunately, this is another easy fix. Just wash your hair after heavy vaping sessions to make sure there aren't any stubborn vapor smells lingering.
Getting Rid of Vape Smell: Now You Know
While we can't completely prevent vape smells from occurring, we do know how to get rid of vape smells when we find them. As general rules, you should:
Vape in well-ventilated areas (or outside).
Regularly vacuum and clean the inside of your home.
Use candles or air fresheners to mask vape smells.
Be sure to follow personal hygiene recommendations and regularly wash your hands, shower, and brush your teeth.
If you think your device is to blame for chronic bad vape smells, then a smaller device that excels at reducing those smells is ideal. The Firefly 2+ could be the device you're looking for, since it:
Offers variable temperature settings. Lower temperature settings create less potent vape smells.
Uses convection heating, which doesn’t produce smoke and reduces the smell of vaping.
Has a smaller chamber, which is enough for enjoyable vaping sessions without creating too much vapor too quickly.
If you have any questions about how to reduce vaping smells, we'd love to help out. You can reach out to us with specific questions, or you can take a look at the features of Firefly 2+ to see if it's a good match for your vaping needs.
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How to Vape Concentrates
As cannabis continues to become more mainstream, it's easier to find different products on the market besides just cannabis flower. These products aren't necessarily new, but it's easier to find unique takes on cannabis, like concentrate, which has become very popular, however, some people may not know how to vape concentrates.
For many, concentrates can be intimidating, since they are vaped differently than dry herbs and have completely different strengths. Below, we'll talk about exactly what concentrates are and how to properly and safely enjoy them.
What Exactly Is A Cannabis Concentrate?
THC concentrates are concentrated forms of resin that are extremely potent when vaped. There's a lot of common concentrates available, like:
Wax
Live resin
Shatter
Hash
Rosin
While there's subtle differences between different kinds of concentrates, they all share the same characteristic of being high in potency and delivering robust flavor profiles. You can expect concentrates to be three times as strong as top shelf weed, and even stronger compared to less expensive, less potent bud.
Why Are People Opting For Concentrates?
Concentrates are more potent than other forms of weed and the effects are felt very quickly. Customers who have a high tolerance to THC may switch to concentrates to get faster, stronger highs without needing to vape an enormous amount of marijuana. This is very common for medical marijuana patients who may be using weed to help manage chronic pain.
Benefits of Vaping Cannabis Concentrates
Thinking about whether or not you should vape cannabis concentrates? Take a look at some of the benefits concentrates provide:
Potent Vaping
As we mentioned, the biggest advantage to vaping concentrates is how potent they are. They are great for quick highs without long vaping sessions, especially for medical marijuana patients or for recreational users who have built a high tolerance to THC.
Great Flavor
Concentrates strip the plant material away, but they keep all the terpenes from the source marijuana. That means you get deep, flavorful vapor when you vape concentrates. Flavor-chasers often prefer concentrates, even if their tolerance is low, because the flavor experience is so much more enriched than vaping dry herbs.
Discreet Vaping
When you vape concentrates, you produce less vapor than you do with vaping dry herbs. After all, it takes less vapor to get more high, which means it's easier to discreetly vape concentrates than it is to vape dry herbs. If you plan on vaping while traveling or in areas where you don't want to draw attention to yourself, then consider trying concentrates.
How Do You Use a Concentrate Vaporizer?
How you use a concentrate vaporizer will vary from model to model or brand to brand, but there are general guidelines you can follow. These standard steps will give you a good idea of what you need to be prepared for when you use a concentrate vaporizer:
Ensure that your device is fully charged.
Load the heating chamber. Some concentrate-only devices will have an exposed coil you place wax on. Other dual-purpose vapes (like the Firefly 2+) will have a concentrate pad to place wax on.
You do not want to leave wax in the heating chamber. Only load a small amount that you believe you can vape in a single sitting. Concentrates should never be stored in the heating chamber of a vape.
Once your heating chamber is loaded, power on your device.
If available, set your temperature settings (some wax vapes have only one heating setting. Other vapes, like the Firefly 2+, allow for variable heating).
Press the power button or alternative to "fire" the device. This will create vapor for you to inhale.
Vape until no more vapor is produced or until the taste of the vapor deteriorates.
Power down the device and allow it to completely cool. Then, wipe away any spent concentrate from the heating chamber.
How To Store Cannabis Concentrates
There's a lot of different ways to store concentrates, and there's different options depending on the specific concentrate you are storing:
Silicone containers: ideal for short-term storage of any concentrate. Silicone containers are great for travel, too!
Glass containers: ideal for anything but shatter or hash. You need the smallest possible containers to limit airflow. For long-term storage, you'll need to vacuum seal the jar.
Parchment paper: excellent for extra sticky concentrates like hash or shatter. For long-term storage, wrap up the concentrate in paper and place it in a resealable plastic bag.
Regardless of what kind of concentrate you're storing or how you're storing it, you should always keep it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight.
How Do Concentrates Make You Feel?
Everyone will feel the effects of concentrates differently and different strains will produce different effects, but generally, people should expect a stronger high with concentrates. Concentrates are extremely potent, and top-shelf concentrates (like live resin), are extra potent. If you are vaping concentrates for the first time, be sure to start off slowly so you don't get too high.
How Can You Clean a Concentrate Vaporizer?
While specific steps will vary between models, here are some common guidelines to follow when cleaning a concentrate vaporizer:
Make sure the device is powered off and the heating chamber has completely cooled.
Open the heating chamber and carefully remove spent wax with a dab cleaning tool or toothpick. Do not dig at the heating coil. This can damage the heating coil, which means you'll need to replace it.
Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the coils down and anywhere else you see residue.
Rinse the coil with water to remove the rubbing alcohol and allow it to air dry.
Before your next use, dry fire the coils for 5-10 seconds. This will make sure any remaining rubbing alcohol is burnt off.
If you're using a dual-purpose vaporizer, which may use a concentrate pad instead of heating coils, the clean-up is easy. Soak the pads in rubbing alcohol and rinse them with water, allowing them to air dry!
How To Choose the Best Concentrate Vaporizer For You?
If you want to pick the best concentrate vaporizer for you, you need to know what you need out of a concentrate vaporizer! Here are some common questions to ask yourself when you're shopping for a new device:
Do I want to only vape concentrates, or do I want a dual purpose wax and dry herb vaporizer?
Do I want variable heating, or is one standard heat setting ok?
Do I want a large, powerful device, or do I want a smaller device that's easier to travel with, and use in public?
Conclusion
Concentrate vaping is a growing trend, even for new vapers who are still learning how to vape. Take time to pick a device that fits your interest and be sure to start off with small amounts of concentrate so you don't get too high too quickly. It's the best way to safely enjoy suburb tasting, potent vapor. The Firefly 2+ vaporizer works equally superb with both dry herb and concentrates.
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Vape Guides
Firefly 2+ vs Crafty
When vapers are serious about dry herb vaping, it's common to start looking at higher-end vaping devices. More advanced devices offer more impressive battery life, larger dry herb capacity, and a more satisfying vaping experience. You'll still find several options to choose from in the high-end vaporizer market, with each model offering unique advantages and overall experiences.
Two of the most popular dry herb vapes available today are the Firefly 2+ and the Crafty+, made by Stroz and Bickel. While both devices offer excellent vaping experiences when compared to lower-end devices, there are noticeable differences when examining a Crafty+ vs. Firefly 2+ comparison.
Curious about the differences? Below, we'll take a close look at each device, comparing features, performance, ease of use, and even their respective warranties! If you've been trying to decide between these two devices, you owe it to yourself to see how they compare below.
FIREFLY 2 PLUS VS CRAFTY
We'll get into some of the more specific details, but the biggest difference between the Firefly 2+ and the Crafty+ is how they heat dry herbs and their overall build. These will also be the differences that are most likely to impact which device you ultimately choose.
The Crafty+ uses a standard heating mechanism, which is a mixture of convection and conduction heating. Dry herbs are heated by both flowing, hot air (convection) and are also heated by direct contact with a heating element.
The Firefly 2+ uses proprietary dynamic convection heating, which is different than a standard convection vape. Not only is hot air used to create vapor, but the unique technology inside the Firefly 2+ offers more precise temperature control to target and enjoy all cannabinoids and terpenes in the dry herb.
Heating Speed
It's a common problem for dry herb vape beginners to be unsure when they should take a hit. After all, most dry herb vapes take time to heat up and begin producing vapor. For example, the Crafty+ will take around a minute to reach temperature and actually produce vapor.
The Firefly 2+ is one of the few devices on the market that avoids this problem entirely. It uses on-demand heating, which means you'll go from a completely powered-down device to taking hits of vapor in around five seconds. It's about as fast as vaping e-liquids, and beginners will enjoy avoiding the vaping delay.
Build Differences
The other significant difference between these two devices is their overall build. The Firefly 2+ uses a full metal build for the exterior, while the Crafty+ uses a plastic mold to house internal components. We'll talk a bit later as to why the overall build quality is important when choosing a dry herb vape.
Source: https://craftyvape.org/
Design
Each of these devices takes a completely different approach to the overall design. The Crafty+ was made as a smaller version of the Mighty, so it has a focus of being more compact and easier to handle. However, true to the Storz & Bickel brand, the Crafty+ offers a tremendous amount of power, especially when you consider that it's meant to be smaller and easier to travel with.
However, the Crafty+ has a rather bulky, inelegant design (a common criticism of the overall brand), and this is a point where the Firefly 2+ shines. It makes use of its all-metal finish to provide a sleek, satisfying aesthetic, and its design is naturally more discreet than the Crafty+.
Good Design Award
The design philosophy behind Firefly vapes is so finely tuned that it won the prestigious Good Design Award in 2019. This award is given to products that "go above and beyond ordinary consumer product design." While this specific award was for our original Firefly vape, the Firefly 2+ takes that original design philosophy and adds some excellent performance updates.
Firefly was the only vape brand to win this award in 2019, which should give you an idea of how much thought was put into the aesthetic design. Considering that Firefly was founded by a former Apple product designer, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Firefly is laser focused on appealing, functional aesthetics.
Dry Herb and Cannabis Concentrates
If you're interested in a hybrid device that can handle both dry herbs and cannabis concentrates, you're in luck! Both the Firefly 2+ and the Crafty+ are designed with both substances in mind, and each brand has a reputation of handling concentrates very well.
With that said, overall flavor quality is not the same, and we'll touch a bit on that later in this article.
Ease of Use
Vapers will find that both the Firefly 2+ and the Crafty+ are easy to use. Both devices load easily, and both devices use a companion app to provide precision heating options. Neither device offers advanced features that would be challenging for a user to learn, so the majority of vapers will enjoy an easy experience with either device.
The Firefly 2+ uses touch sensors to activate heating on the device. While this is a great safety feature (it's almost impossible to accidentally turn it on), some users struggle to get used to touching sensors on each side of the device to fire. The vast majority of users quickly get used to this feature, but beginners to the device should keep it in mind when they first vape.
Cleaning
While the actual vaping portion for each device is pretty easy, cleaning the devices offers a very different take. The Firefly 2+ is very simple to clean. The metal top lid is easily removed, and a dry microfiber cloth (or an isopropyl alcohol wipe) is generally all you need to get your device clean and shiny.
The Crafty+ is far more challenging to clean. The entire device needs to be disassembled for cleaning, and each component needs to be carefully scrubbed. For certain components, you may need to soak them in a cleaning solution (like rubbing alcohol) to make sure the device is completely clean. For beginners, the cleaning process may feel a bit daunting.
If you find that you struggle to keep up with cleaning maintenance (or are intimidated by taking your device apart), then the cleaning requirements of the Crafty+ may be a deal-breaker for you.
Vapor Quality and Taste
The Firefly 2+ simply cannot be beaten in terms of overall flavor and vapor quality. Its unique dynamic convection technology, exceptional airflow, and borosilicate glass vapor path means that vapor is quickly produced, maintains authentic, rich flavor, and is consistently cool and smooth. The performance holds up regardless of if dry herbs or concentrates are being used.
The Crafty+ also offers great-tasting vapor and was one of the first brands to focus on quality vapor taste. It uses hybrid heating technology to produce a ton of vapor, and hits from the device are generally tasty and smooth. However, towards the end of your bowl, it's common to get harsher, hot hits (which results from the use of conduction heating technology).
Plastic Taste
Remember when we mentioned that build materials in a vape were important? Any dry herb vape that uses a large number of plastic components runs the risk of plastic flavor leaching into the vapor. While the Crafty+ seems to avoid this problem most of the time, there are still informal reports of users struggling to get rid of the plastic flavor.
You can usually get rid of the plastic taste by performing "burn-offs" (when the device is heated without any dry herbs inside). However, flavor chasers will want to keep this in mind when deciding which dry herb vape to purchase.
Manufacturing Quality
We mentioned earlier that one of the biggest criticisms of the Crafty+ is its plastic, bulky design. With that in mind, the rest of the device's build is excellent, and the Crafty+ has a solid reputation for long-lasting performance.
The Firefly 2+ has exceptional build quality, which is one of the primary factors for producing consistently great tasting vapor. The modern-looking build, magnetic bowl cover, and glass vapor path all come together to provide a satisfying visual appeal that produces fantastic results.
Portability
You may be surprised to hear that neither device is particularly portable. Both are fairly large and, compared to devices specifically designed for incognito travel or use, these devices seem bulky. If you want a powerful device that produces great-tasting vapor, you'll usually sacrifice a bit on the size of the device.
Having said that, when you compare the two, the Crafty+ is larger and bulkier than the Firefly 2+. As we said earlier, the Crafty+ was designed as a more portable alternative to the Mighty (which it is), but when compared to the Firefly 2+, it's still far less compact.
The Firefly 2+ will fit into the palm of some users' hands, and you'll find that it's noticeably trimmer than the Crafty+. Still, you'll need to keep in mind that neither of these devices has portability as a primary concern, which is common for high-end dry herb vapes.
Device Size
To give you a better idea of how their sizes differ, take a look at the specifications of each device:
Crafty+
Height: 4.4in (11.1cm)
Depth: 1.3in (3.2cm)
Width: 2.3in (5.7cm)
Weight: 5oz (141g)
Firefly 2+
Height: 5.1in (13cm)
Depth: 0.95in (2.4cm)
Width: 1.4in (3.5cm)
Weight: 4.9oz (140g)
Battery Life
Both devices have a fairly modest battery life, which will typically last around 45 minutes for each device. However, the Firefly 2+ has some significant advantages in its design that helps to extend single-session use.
You can remove and replace the battery in the Firefly 2+, which means, you can effectively double your vaping time by switching batteries. Over time, as batteries begin to fail, you can purchase replacement batteries without needing to purchase an all-new device.
The Crafty+ sports an internal battery, which means once it runs out of juice, you'll need to wait to charge it back up. You also won't have the option to replace the battery as its discharge time decreases with extended use.
Should you find yourself with either device and not enough charge to vape, both the Firefly 2+ and the Crafty+ support pass-through charging, so you can still enjoy a vape session while you have the device plugged in and charging!
Temperature Flexibility
While the Firefly 2+ and the Crafty+ offer some manual temperature adjustments on the device, each will require the companion app for access to more precise temperature settings. On the Firefly, you can manually adjust the temperature in 20 degree portions, while the Crafty+ allows access to three preset temperatures and the option to "boost" the heat for a big hit of vapor.
The Crafty+ supports vaping between 104-410F (40-210C), which is a wide range that will vaporize nearly all cannabinoids. The Firefly 2+ supports vaping between 200F-500F (93-260C), which allows it to vaporize all cannabinoids and allows it to provide a fantastic concentrated vaping experience.
The Crafty+ can also vaporize concentrates, but the low max temperature may be too low for seasoned concentrate enthusiasts.
Accessories
If you look at what comes with each device, the Crafty+ will give you a little more right out of the box. Inside the box, you'll get:
Micro-USB charger
Concentrate vaping pad
Extra mesh screens
Extra O-rings
Cleaning brush
Grinder
Filling tool
With the Firefly 2+, you'll get:
USB 3.0 Charger
Charging dock
Concentrate vaping pad
3 rubbing alcohol wipes
Some of the extras in the Crafty+ aren't compatible with the Firefly 2+ (for example, the Firefly 2+ doesn't use O-rings). The addition of the grinder and filling tool with the Crafty+ may appeal to beginner vapers who haven't already bought those companion accessories.
Price
There is a significant price difference between these two devices (which is one of the reasons the Crafty+ offers a more robust accessory offering). The Crafty+ will cost you €298 (about $346), while the Firefly 2+ is $249.95 (or about €214).
It may feel like you're getting more bang for your buck with the Crafty+, but you're essentially "pre-paying" for the extra accessories. Depending on what specific grinder and related accessories come with the Crafty+, you may be end up paying a premium for accessories you could have bought separately at a better price point.
Warranty
Finally, each device offers a two-year warranty, and Storz and Bickel will give you an extra year if you register the device with them. Aside from that, there isn't much difference between the warranty coverage provided for each device.
Conclusion
Both the Firefly 2+ and Crafty+ offer above-average dry herb vaping experiences. Let's look at a summary of their strengths and weaknesses.
Firefly 2+ Pros and Cons
Superior vapor flavor
Convection-only heating
Higher build quality
Higher max temperature for concentrates
Easier cleaning
Dual sensors can trip up beginners
Crafty+ Pros and Cons
Excellent vapor flavor and production
Larger heating chamber for dry herbs
Hybrid convection and conduction heating
Can be difficult to remove the plastic taste from new devices
Bulkier and heavier design
Complicated cleaning process
Which device is right for you will depend on your specific preferences and needs. We encourage you to take time to identify what you value most in a dry herb vaping device and then to choose the device that you think will be the best fit!
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Vape Guides
Vape Tastes Burnt? Here’s How to Fix It
Nothing is worse than looking forward to a tasty mouthful of vapor only to be met with a nasty, burnt flavor meeting your taste buds. A vape that tastes burnt can ruin a vape session and can be infuriating to fix. Many vape users give up trying to resolve the issue and end up buying a completely new device, which can be a needless and hefty expense.
Trying to pinpoint why a vape tastes burnt can be a chore because different vapes will taste burnt for various reasons. A few questions you’ll need to determine to begin troubleshooting the root cause, include: Are you using oil, dry herb, or a wax vape? Does your vape have a disposable design, is your cartridge refillable, or do you have a high-end box mod setup? If you're new to vaping, it can feel impossible to diagnose the issue, let alone resolve it.
Fortunately, you don't have to worry about figuring out the problem on your own! The experts are here to discuss the most common reasons your vape tastes burnt and the best strategies to follow to fix the issue. We'll also talk about when it's time to replace your device.
Burnt Hits vs. Dry Hits
Before determining why your vape creates a burnt flavor, you need to determine that what you're experiencing is a burnt hit. Dry hits are often confused with burnt hits, but they are very different experiences that have very different solutions.
A dry hit is the precursor to a burnt hit. Dry hits are caused by a dry wick, which happens when your vape tank or cartridge is running low on vape juice or THC concentrate. You may suddenly realize that your pen is creating less vapor than usual, the traditional flavor of your vape juice is weaker, or there's a strange, subtle flavor that was not previously present.
The solution to a dry hit is simple. Just add more vape juice or THC concentrate! Refilling the vape tank will re-saturate the wick, which will allow your vape to produce vapor normally. If you're using a disposable oil cartridge or disposable vape, a dry hit signifies that you need to buy a new disposable.
If you take too many dry hits from a vape pen, you will eventually start getting burnt hits, which are less than pleasant. Heed the warning of the dry hit and refill your vape tank or replace the disposable as soon as you can.
Why Does Your Vape Taste Burnt?
It can be confusing and frustrating when your vape tastes burnt, out of nowhere. So why do vapes taste burnt, and how can you fix it or avoid it from happening in the future?
First and foremost, don’t get too stressed when your vape tastes burnt, as it’s more common than you think. Plus, you can easily fix the problem.
Vapes that taste burnt typically come from the atomizer coil’s wick being burned up and dried out. When a dried-out coil heats up, it’s only natural that it’ll produce an unpleasant, burnt taste since the wick that’s supposed to heat up the flower you’re trying to consume itself burns.
Also, you might experience a vape tasting burnt when the wick isn’t getting fully saturated by the concentrate. Instead of heating up the concentrate, the wick will char itself, which produces a hit that tastes like burning, or what’s known as a ‘dry hit’.
Too Much Wattage
Pumping in too much power too quickly is a quick way to burn your wick, even if vape juice is present. This is usually an issue with box mod-style vapes, which sport a powerful battery that can output a massive amount of power. To avoid this issue, start at a low power setting and work your way up until you find that vaping sweet spot.
Vaping Too Much Too Quickly
If you are taking large drags back-to-back, you may exhaust the vape juice that was soaked into your wick. If you vape faster than the wick can draw up vape juice, you'll end up burning the wick, resulting in a scorched flavor.
Vaping the Wrong Kind of E-liquid
Different vape tanks are built to handle different kinds of vape juice. High vegetable glycerin (VG) vape juices are thicker and contain more sugar than other vape juice mixes. The result can be a clogged juice or vapor path, preventing vape juice from flowing freely, resulting in the vape juice scorching.
Old or Scorched Coils
If you have a refillable vape tank, you may taste a consistent scorched flavor because your coils are old. All vape tanks will eventually need their coils replaced (or the entire tank replaced), as the march of time is relentless upon all things. If you have confirmed your wick is not scorched and note that you have plenty of vape juice and still taste a burnt flavor, it is time to replace the coils.
If your vape tank does not have replaceable coils, you'll need to buy a new vape tank. Most rebuildable atomizers (RBA) can exchange coils, though this feature is rare among disposable cartridges or disposable vapes.
What's the Best Way to Prevent Burnt Hits?
Now that we know what causes burnt hits, it's time to learn how to prevent them in the first place. Remember, your primary goal is to keep the wick from burning, and there are several ways to do so.
Keep Your Vape Tank Filled
The most common reason wicks get burnt is that there isn't enough vape juice in your vape tank. Regularly filling the tank before it starts to get empty is the easiest, most straightforward strategy to keeping your wick protected and avoiding burnt hits.
Prime Your Coils
If you use a vape tank that allows you to replace your wick, you should have the ability to prime your coils. This means you pre-soak your wick manually before turning your vape pen on and letting it sit for around 10 minutes. The steps to priming your coils will vary from product to product, so be sure to study the accompanying manuals that come with your vaping equipment.
Avoid Installing Too Much Wick Material
Overstuffing your coils with too much cotton or other material is an easy way to get burnt hits. Too much wick material means your wick will have a tough time becoming completely saturated, which means there will always be a part of the wick exposed to direct heat. This increases the chance that you burn your wick, which creates a scorched flavor.
Ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions on what kind of wick to use and how much material to use.
Use the Right Vape Battery with the Right Vape Tank
Even if a vape tank can physically attach to a vape battery, this doesn't mean they are genuinely compatible. If you have a vape battery that is extremely powerful connected to a vape tank with modest power requirements, it will be very easy to fry your coils. This ruins your vape tank since there is no way to unfry scorched coils.
As we said before, it's a good rule of thumb to start with a low power setting when using a vape tank for the first time and work your way up. We recommend that beginners buy vape kits (vape batteries paired with an ideal vape tank) to avoid running into incompatible equipment.
Regularly Replace Your Vape Coils
If you are using an RBA-style vape tank, regularly replacing the coils on a set schedule is a fantastic way to avoid getting nasty, scorched hits. It's the same idea as getting new tires before you get a flat. Replace your coils when you know they are close to the end of their life but before they begin to fail and produce burnt nasty-tasting hits.
Other Ways to Avoid Burnt Hits
There are a variety of different ways to avoid burnt hits, depending on your vaping device. While less common, the following techniques could help prevent getting the occasional nasty burnt hit.
Use the Right Vape Juice
Most vape devices are not built to handle high concentrations of VG (likewise, the vast majority of vape juice available has at least a 1:1 ratio of VG and propylene glycol (PG). This ratio will rarely cause issues for your vape tank, nor will vape juices with higher concentrations of PG.
Use a Disposable Vape
The likelihood of you getting burnt hits from a disposable vape are meager (unless the device has some kind of defect). If you don't like the idea of having to constantly maintain your vape tank, consider switching to disposables, like the Firefly Mini. The battery is designed for the attached cartridge and is charged with enough power to run out at about the same time the oil does.
Switch to Dry Herb Vaping
Dry herb vapes that use convection heating will rarely if ever, give nasty, scorched hits. The reason for this is the temperature of the heating chamber is never high enough to cause combustion, so you never actually "burn" the dry herb or marijuana inside. You will eventually exhaust the dry herb, but you won't ever get a burnt hit.
If you like the idea of vaping dry herbs with a high-quality device to avoid burnt hits, then looking at the Firefly 2+ is a great place to start shopping.
How Can We Stop Our Coils From Burning Out?
Unfortunately, all coils will eventually burn out. Though you can't stave off the certainty of entropy, there are a few steps you can follow to stretch the life of your coils as much as possible. Remember, you need to regularly replace your coils (or eventually replace your vape tank) regardless of whether you follow these steps!
Avoid Using Too Much Power Too Quickly
If you crank your vape to the highest possible temperature the first time you use a vape tank, you run a very good chance you will roast your coils. Even if the coils are rated for the temperature level you want to use, pushing a surge of power through a cold coil could ruin the sensitive electronics involved. Start slow and work your way up to your ideal temperature!
This is especially true if you were storing your vape in an abnormally cold location. Of course, you shouldn't be keeping your device in extreme temperature conditions anyway.
Avoid Overusing High-VG Vape Juices
VG juices are generally very thick and have high sugar content. Over time, this will create buildup on your coils more quickly than other juice ratios, which will cut the life of your coils short. If you are sold on vaping high-VG e-liquids, be sure to buy a vape tank that is specifically designed to handle the unique properties VG juices have.
Clean Your Coils
Since residue buildup is a common culprit for coils burning out, keeping coils clean is a great way to extend their life. Again, not all coils can be cleaned (especially if your cartridge is disposable or the vape tank isn't designed to be disassembled), but for those that can, clean them!
Most coils follow a simple cleaning process of allowing them to cool and using a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol to gently rub off residue. Your specific vape tank may have unique steps for coil cleaning, so be sure to follow the detailed instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Refill Regularly
As we have mentioned, the absolute best thing you can do to avoid getting burnt hits is to regularly refill your vape juice tank. Many tanks are designed specifically for easy refilling, which may be attractive if you hate the idea of having to periodically clean up vape juice messes.
Keep your vape juice tank primarily full most of the time and will bring your experience with burnt hits to a minimum.
Conclusion
Burnt hits are nasty, gross surprises when they come. However, if you follow our advice above, you'll find that burnt hits will be few and far between. It takes some effort and due diligence, but the work is worth it to consistently have delicious tasting vapor!
If the work to avoid scorched hits from a refillable vape tank isn't attractive to you, consider moving to disposable vapes. They take the work out of maintaining a device, and while burnt hits are possible, they will be exceedingly rare. If you enjoy vaping THC-oil, consider picking up the Firefly Mini (the premium choice for disposable THC-oil vapes).
If you want to move away from vaping oils or e-juices altogether, vaping dry herbs or cannabis flower may be an attractive option. If you're new to dry herb vaping we’d recommend considering Firefly 2+ which will offer an incredibly smooth, satisfying dry herb vaping experience. You can learn more about what to expect from the Firefly 2+ in this detailed Vaping 360 review.
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Vape Guides
Vaping 101: How to Vape Properly
Unless you've been living in a bunker, you've probably noticed that vaping has exploded into mainstream culture. You would seen celebs promoting their favorite cannabis brands, people wanting to learn how to vape, legislatures placing the vaping industry under scrutiny, and multiple vape shops pop up in your hometown. It’s clear that vaping is here to stay!
However, if you're new to vaping, how to start and what devices to choose can feel overwhelming. Even deciding what to vape can be confusing (not to mention legally ambiguous). How do you choose what to vape and what kind of vape to use?
Does this sound like you? Then you're at the right place! In this article, we'll explain what vaping is, how to choose what to vape and what kind of device to use, and we'll even provide a brief overview of some legal concerns you should keep an eye out on.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is the act of using a device to produce vapor meant to be inhaled. Vaporizers (often called vapes or vape pens) use a battery to heat your substance of choice. When heated, the substance produces vapor, which you can inhale and enjoy.
The vaping process mimics smoking traditional tobacco (in fact, many vaping substances are infused with nicotine). Many smokers who want to quit smoking will switch to vaping, which allows them to wean off nicotine while avoiding the dangers of inhaling smoke.
While the basics of vaping are simple, it can get confusing when you start to look at what you can vape. Below we break down the categories of the most popular vaping substances:
Vape Juice
Vape juice (often called e-liquid, vape liquid, or oil) is the most popular vaporizer substance. It's usually made of a mix of vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavoring. Vape juices are commonly infused with nicotine, though many flavors are available that are nicotine-free.
Vape juices are usually used in a vape pen or box mod, where the vape battery connects to a vape tank. The vape tank is filled with your choice of vape juice, heated, and vaporized by an atomizer. That vapor is drawn out when you take a hit, allowing you to get a mouthful of tasty vapor.
Dry Herbs
Dry herbs are an increasingly popular substance used in vaporizers. They are an easy-to-use alternative to smoking, especially for those who enjoy vaping their choice of dry herb while on the go. Dry herb vapes can be used for cannabis (like hemp or marijuana), along with any other concoction of dry herbs you enjoy vaping; some popular ones include lavender and eucalyptus.
Dry herb vaporizers will fall into two categories. The first is a convection vape; convection vaporizers use heated air for baking the dry herb to produce vapor (nothing is burned, so no smoke is made). The vapor is then drawn into the lungs when you take a vapor puff.
The other category of dry herb vaporizers is conduction vapes. Conduction vapes apply a heat source directly to your dry herbs. The temperature is still low enough to create smoke, so genuine vapor no is still produced.
Concentrates (Dabs)
The final category of vaporizers is concentrate vaporizers. These devices vaporize wax (usually THC or CBD wax) and are an excellent alternative to traditional dab rig setups. Many vapers love concentrate vapes due to their portability, mess-free operation, and overall ease of use.
Concentrate vapes operate similarly to dry herb vapes; in fact, many vaporizers have dry herb and concentrate vaping functionality like the Firefly 2+. They have a heating chamber where wax is placed directly on a heating coil. Most concentrate vapes will be conduction vapes since they need direct contact with a high heat source to vaporize.
How to Vape: A Simple Guide
Next is learning exactly how to vape to get the most out of your flower, or concentrate. So let’s go through a step-by-step process of how to get started with vaping.
Step 1: Charge the Device
You won't have much luck vaping if your vape battery is dead. If you are using a vaporizer for the first time, make sure it has a full charge before diving in! While some devices come fully charged, others will have only a partial charge (or no charge at all!).
Step 2: Load the Device
Once you're sure the device is charged, you'll want to load the device with your preferred vaping substance. If you are vaping e-liquids, you'll either connect your prefilled cartridge or manually load your vape tank. For dry herbs or concentrates, you'll load the heating chamber according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Step 3: Power On the Device
Most vaporizers power on in the same way. Locate the power button and quickly press it five times. This will power on the device, allowing you to change heat settings (if available). For dry herb vaporizers, this will usually start the process of warming up the heating chamber.
Some simpler vapes will skip this step because they don't have a power button. These vapes are called "draw fire" vapes, which means when you take a hit, the device will automatically power on and produce vapor. Typically, you'll only see draw-fire vapes on e-liquid devices.
Step 4: Adjust Heating Settings
If your vaporizer has the option to adjust heat settings, now is the time to do it! We recommend that you start with the lowest heat settings and work your way up. That's the best way to avoid making too hot or too harsh vapor for your liking.
Step 5: Take a Puff
When the device is turned on and you have adjusted the heat settings to your liking, it's time to take a hit! Some devices will require that you press and hold the power button to take a hit, while others will have a designated "trigger" button for this function.
Other devices, primarily with dry herb vaporizers, don't have a trigger button. Instead, you place your heat setting, wait for the device to reach temperature and produce vapor, and then take hits as vapor is produced.
Step 6: Repeat!
Continue the process of hitting the trigger and taking hits until you have had your fill. If you notice that less and less vapor is being produced, you may need to refill your vape tank or heating chamber. This is especially true with dry herb vapes, as the packed dry herb will become "spent" and eventually stop producing vapor.
Step 7: Clean and Store
The final step in vaping for the first time is to clean and store your vaporizer. E-juice vaporizers need minimal cleaning (unless you made a mess filling your vape tank). Dry herb and concentrate vaporizers should have their heating chambers wholly cleaned out once they have cooled.
You should never store dry herbs or wax inside of the vape device. This not only makes it more likely to produce a mess in the future (especially with wax), but it can also damage or produce unnecessary wear and tear on the vaporizer's heating components.
How to Choose a Vape Pen
Buy a Vape Pen or Vaporizer
Obviously, to learn how to vape, you’ve got to start off by buying a vape pen or vaporizer. As we’ve already mentioned, there are different types of vape pens available on the market today.
Dry herb vaporizers
Oil vaporizers or dab pens
Vape pen batteries to connect with a vape cart
Each and every one of these vapes will come with some type of power mechanism, heating element, and mouthpiece to heat up your chosen material for inhaling.
To best get acquainted with the model you choose, it’s best to read the instructions thoroughly and check the manual or product details for any questions you might have.
Choose What Material to Vape
Once you have purchased your vape pen or vaporizer, it’s time to decide exactly what material to vape. If you’re a beginner, it’s crucial to understand that various product types have different potencies.
For instance, dry herb or flower is the least potent, while concentrates and oils are the most potent. Here’s what you need to know as you set out on how to vape. With more potent products, you’ll typically be able to take fewer hits to achieve your desired effects as against the least potent products, such as flower, which might take more material or longer to deliver the effects you want.
With that said, it’s also important to know that flower is typically less expensive than oils or concentrates. So, deciding what’s right for you will come down to your frequency of use, budget, and preferences for potency.
Ideally, choose what you want to vape before you purchase a vape pen or vaporizer, to ensure the model you pick is equipped to handle what you want. Unless, of course, you choose a vape pen that can accommodate flower, oils, and concentrates.
How to Inhale Vape Properly
Whether you are a former smoker or intrigued by vaping in general, you might be surprised to find that there are several different kinds of techniques for inhaling. What methods you use will ultimately depend on your personal preference!
The two techniques you'll consider are mouth-to-lung (MTL) inhaling and direct-to-lung (DTL) inhaling.
What's Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) Inhaling?
MTL inhaling is when you draw vapor into your mouth, hold it, and then breathe it in deeply. For traditional tobacco smokers, this will feel familiar, as this is one of the most popular ways to take a puff off of a cigarette.
MTL inhaling is also the technique most beginners will start with. It allows you to learn how to feel the amount of vapor in your mouth, feel how hot the vapor is, and prevent getting a quick lungful of scalding hot vapor.
You'll see vapers using MTL when they're more focused on enjoying the flavor of the vapor than they are creating enormous vape clouds. Of course, for those that enjoy creating massive vapor clouds, there's direct-to-lung inhaling.
What's Direct-to-Lung (DTL) Inhaling?
DTL inhaling is when you inhale vapor directly from the device into your lungs in one long breath. Vaping enthusiasts who love making huge vapor clouds gravitate towards this technique since it produces far more vapor than MTL vaping.
Of course, you have to be careful when using DTL inhaling, especially if you are new to vaping. You won't have the safety net of holding the vapor in your mouth, so it's easy to get an entire lungful of vapor that is far too hot for your liking.
Once you become more familiar with your specific vaping device and your chosen vaping substance, DTL inhaling is a popular choice for many vapers, especially those that enjoy e-liquid vaping.
Finding a Suitable Device
Now that you have a solid idea of what vaping is and the options available to you, you need to decide what kind of vaping device you'd like to have. The best way to do this is to make a list of what you want out of vaping and the machine that best fits what you're looking for.
If you're new to vaping, you may not be sure what questions you should be asking yourself. The following questions will help narrow your scope of choices for when you're deciding what kind of vape you want.
What's Your Budget?
What you're willing to spend will quickly narrow down your choices. It's not a bad strategy to start with a low-end, budget-friendly device while you're discovering what you do or do not want. However, you should keep in mind that you'll get what you pay for, and more expensive vaporizers are generally much higher quality.
What Do You Want to Vape?
Do you want to vape e-liquids, dry herbs, or concentrates? Maybe you want the option to vape more than one of the choices! Knowing what you want to vape will narrow the scope of device choices significantly. If you aren't sure what you want to vape the most or know that you want to vape various substances, a box mod may be a fantastic choice.
Where Do You Want to Vape?
Do you plan on vaping in the privacy of your home, or do you plan on vaping while on the go? Vaporizers come in various designs, with some catering to a sleek, inconspicuous design, while others focus more on power and features than being discrete.
What Features Do You Want?
Do you want the ability to change the temperature in your vaporizer? Maybe you want a device with a vibrant, digital display loaded with features? You could want a vaporizer that works well but doesn't have a lot of customizable options. Determining what specific features are important to you will help you land on a device that you love.
Once you take the time to ask yourself these questions, choosing a device will be a much easier exercise.
Conclusion
Vaping is a fantastic hobby that millions of people have grown to love. Many enthusiasts use vaping as a tool to avoid smoking tobacco, while others use vaping for medicinal purposes, like using CBD or THC to treat chronic pain. Regardless of why you're interested in vaping; the market is full of fantastic vaping options that can fill whatever specific vaping need you have.
Are you in the market for a high-end, dry herb vaporizer? Firefly vapes are award-winning convection vaporizers that provide the best dry herb vaping experience available. Take a look at the devices we offer and reach out to us with any further questions you may have.
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