Stealth Vaping
Vape Guides

Stealth Vaping

While vapers love to enjoy their favorite vape products in the privacy of their own home, it's not always an option for vapers on the go. Sometimes, discreetly vaping in public is the only option, but that's often easier said than done. Since this is a common problem, stealth vaping techniques have popped up among the vaping community. For beginners, stealth vaping is likely a confusing term. Below, we'll talk about what stealth vaping specifically is, how to successfully do it, and when you should and should not try it at all. If you're interested in more comfortably vaping in public without drawing unwanted attention, then keep reading. What Is Stealth Vaping?  Stealth vaping just means "vaping without anyone else noticing." Generally, stealth vaping requires a small, discreet vaping device (like a disposable vape), and it requires using vaping techniques that produce little to no visible vapor. If you're hoping to stealth vape with a box mod or a high-powered dry herb vape, you won't have much success.  Figure 1 Woman putting Firefly 2+ in jacket pocket. Stealth vaping requires a vaporizer that can be easily concealed and traveled with. Ideally, you'll stealth vape where vaping is allowed but where you don't want to draw attention to yourself. You may also want to stealth vape if other THC options aren't available. For example, if you don't like edibles or tinctures, then stealth vaping may be your only option for daily dosing.  How to Stealth Vape  Stealth vaping isn't necessarily hard, but you'll want to make sure that you have the appropriate equipment and techniques to successfully stealth vape. Stealth vaping is different from how to vape normally, so take a look at the following steps! Step 1: Get a Discreet Vaporizer  You'll need a vaporizer that you can easily conceal or that won't otherwise draw unwanted attention. This might be a pod vape or a small, draw-fire disposable vape. You can consider larger options if you think you can use it without being too obvious about it.  Step 2: Cover Any Visible Lights  Most vaporizers have some kind of LED light that indicates the device is powered on. These lights need to be completely covered during stealth vaping or it might catch someone's eye, especially if you're vaping in low-light conditions. If you're looking for a stealth vape to buy, consider a device that doesn't light up (or has easily covered lights) during vaping.  Step 3: Take Small Puffs  Finally, stealth vaping requires you to take smaller puffs than what you might be used to. Even if you have the perfect little device with no lights, it won't matter if you're ripping huge vapor clouds from your device. Be patient, take small puffs, and blow vapor down and away from you.  If you're stealth vaping with a dry herb vape, you'll want to be sure to grab a device that focuses on performance and flavor rather than raw vapor production (like the Firefly 2+).  Stealth Vaping at Work  Stealth vaping is a popular technique used for those that want to vape at work. However, no kind of vaping is worth risking your job over. If vaping is not allowed inside your work building, wait until you have a chance to move outside or to an approved vaping area.  Figure 2 Woman in yellow sweater in kitchen holding Firefly 2+. While it may be appropriate to stealth vape at work, if vaping is not allowed, you should stick to enjoying it at home. Even if you're appropriately vaping, you might not want your co-workers to know that you vape at all. Using stealth vaping techniques in an appropriate area can make sure you're getting the THC or CBD you need to comfortably work without drawing the prying eyes of your coworkers.  When Is Stealth Vaping Acceptable?  Generally, if you're in an area that allows traditional smoking, you can also vape. This depends on what you're vaping, though. For example, even if you can vape nicotine-infused e-liquids or CBD-infused oils, local or state ordinances may prohibit vaping any kind of THC in public at all.  We encourage THC and dry herb vapers to stealth vape to avoid nosey co-workers or passing strangers in areas where they can legally do so. Even if it's legal, many vapers want their habit kept private, which is the perfect time to stealth vape!  Here are some common situations where you may want to consider stealth vaping: When visiting family or friends who are not vape or cannabis-friendly While in an approved vaping/smoking area but you want to keep your vaping habit private When you're in a casual but unfamiliar setting. The Dangers of Stealth Vaping  Stealth vaping starts to present dangers when it's performed in areas where vaping is strictly prohibited. While this isn't an exhaustive list, these are common areas that vaping is legally prohibited. You should not risk stealth vaping in these areas: Airports and airplanes Bus stops and busses Train stations and trains Hospitals Most enclosed, public areas If you get caught vaping in a store, you may just get kicked out. However, if you get caught vaping on an airplane, there are serious consequences. It can be a fine of up to $4,000, and you can be arrested and removed from the flight.  Figure 3 Travelers at an airport. You should never vape on a plane and should only vape in airports with legal, dedicated vaping spaces. It is not worth trying to stealth vape in areas where it's not allowed. If you're unsure, be sure to check state laws or country-wide laws about how vaping is regulated.  Stealth Vaping Techniques  There are some specific techniques you can follow for expert stealth vaping besides taking small hits from a small vape. These techniques are good for all vaping types, including dry herb vaping.  Hold in the Vapor  Try holding in a small puff of vapor longer the next time you want to stealth vape. Holding the vapor in gives it a chance to condensate more inside you, which means you'll exhale less vapor. An added bonus is that you'll absorb more cannabinoids and terpenes this way, too! Exhale Through the Nose  You can also try exhaling through the nose to eliminate some vapor. Your sinus cavities will help the vapor condensate more, and then the vapor will be forced downward. Both of these factors help the vapor to be thinner and less noticeable when exhaled.  Pucker Your Lips  Puckering or pursing your lips is an easy strategy to eliminate vapor. When you exhale, instead of just blowing, pucker your lips to bottleneck the exiting vapor. This will limit how quickly the vapor can leave your mouth, so a lot of it will dissipate very quickly once it's out in the open. Some vapor will end up condensing in your mouth, which means you'll blow out less, too. Blow into a Shirt or Napkin  If you can discreetly blow into a shirt or a napkin, then do it! Both materials filter and trap vapor in their fibers, which means little to no vapor is visible to onlookers. This is a very easy and extremely effective technique, just as long as you don't draw attention to yourself by blowing into your shirt or napkin. Make Sure Your Vape Is Clean  Since this style of vaping will be flavor-focused, making sure that your vape is clean is extremely important. You'll want to think about how to clean vape coils if you're using an e-liquid or concentrate vape, and you'll want to consider how to clean the heating chamber of a dry herb vape.  What Is Zero Vaping?  Zero vaping is a variety of stealth vaping that has recently begun to gain steam. Zero vaping means that zero vapor is produced, so when you exhale, no visible puffs or clouds are seen at all. This is the pinnacle of stealth vaping, and as long as you hide your vaporizer, you won't draw any unneeded attention from the vapor! It can be difficult to get used to zero vaping at first. Most vapers are used to thicker vapor clouds or seeing visible vapor as a sign that their device is working properly. It can be challenging to get e-liquid or oil vapes to a zero-vaping state, and most of these devices require significant tweaking to deliver decent hits with no vapor.  Dry herb vapes are an ideal choice for zero vaping (especially convection vapes). It's a lot easier to tell that you're getting a hit because you'll be able to taste it, and most dry herb vapes are already lighter on the vapor production side.  How to Zero Vape  Stealth vaping is usually pretty easy to pick up on, and most vapers will be comfortably stealth vaping within a few hits. Zero vaping, on the other hand, takes time to get the technique down. Remember, you aren't just trying to conceal your vapor. You want to produce no vapor at all. Here are some common strategies to zero vape: Take Tiny, Repeated Hits  The purpose of this technique is to dilute your draw with as much air as possible to eliminate visible vapor. This will take some practice to do comfortably, but almost any vaper will get the hang of it after some practice! Take a look at the following steps: Take a tiny pull from your vape. Inhale air slightly (do not exhale). Take another tiny pull from your vape. Inhale air slightly again (you still should not have exhaled yet) Repeat this process until your lungs feel full and hold your breath in, giving vapor time to mix with the oxygen in your lungs and dissipate.  Pucker or purse your lips and exhale slowly. If successful, you shouldn't see any vapor. If you do see vapor, take smaller hits and try to inhale more air before exhaling. Puff and Hold One Small Hit  This technique is similar to the stealth vaping technique we discussed earlier in this article. However, the difference will be to take a smaller hit and hold the hit in for five seconds or longer. When you exhale, be sure to purse or pucker your lips and breathe out slowly. If you still see vapor, take a smaller hit and try to hold it longer.  Why Vape Like This?   Whether you're stealth or zero vaping, there's a lot of reasons vapors would want to be more discreet. Aside from trying to avoid unwanted attention, there's a lot of other reasons someone would want to try to stealth vape or zero vape: Reduce Vapor Output  You may be in an area where you can comfortably vape at will, but you don't necessarily want to fill a room up with your vapor. Stealth or zero vaping is a considerate way to enjoy your favorite substances without forcing those around you to endure giant, puffy clouds.  Flavor Chasers  Many vapers prefer to enjoy the flavor of what they're vaping instead of just focusing on gigantic clouds of vapor. Flavor chasers is the term used to describe vaping enthusiasts who enjoy picking out different tasting notes of their favorite oils or dry herbs. If you want the best flavor, it actually serves you better to avoid creating large plumes of vapor. It's the same idea as to why you would want to sip on a glass of wine instead of chugging the whole bottle at once. Sipping wine means you take your time, enjoy the flavor, and can easily stop if you get comfortably inebriated. Chugging the bottle means you barely enjoy it, you might get too drunk, and you end up wasting wine that pours down the sides of your mouth. Giant plumes of vapor means that there are cannabinoids and terpenes that are getting exhaled without you absorbing them. This is especially true with dry herb vaping, where big vapor clouds mean you're missing out on everything you're exhaling. Think of the giant vapor clouds as the wine that you're spilling without getting a chance to drink it.  A More Controlled High  As we just mentioned, stealth and zero vaping is an extremely controlled process. This means it's very easy to control how high you're getting, which is important if you can't afford to get really stoned. You'll need to be more patient, but it's a great way to make sure you don't vape too much. The Firefly 2+, Stealth Vaping, and Zero Vaping  Both stealth and zero vaping are best achieved with dry herb vaporizers that have a focus on quality flavor instead of vapor production. If this sounds like the kind of vaping you're interested in, then the Firefly 2+ should be on your shopping list. It uses dual convection technology to provide on-demand, flavorful vapor that is naturally low in vapor production already. Vapers interested in trying to stealth vaping or zero vaping will have an easy time with the techniques when using the Firefly 2+.  SHOP NOW
Vape Tastes Burnt? Here’s How to Fix It
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.     SHOP NOW
THC Dosage: Finding the Right Dose For You
Photo Credit: Elsa Olofsson

THC Dosage: Finding the Right Dose For You

One of the biggest learning curves for those new to THC is finding the right "dosage." The right amount of THC will vary from person to person for a lot of different reasons (like weight, experience with THC, and even your genetic disposition). Even how you take THC, either through an edible or vaping, can change how much you end up using. It's important to know how to find the best dosage for you without taking too much (since it can be difficult to sober up from weed). In this article, we'll talk about some general dosing guides to help you get started, what you can do if you think you're too high, and some possible benefits from regularly taking THC. How Strong Is Your Cannabis-Infused Edible? Edibles are a fantastic way to enjoy some of the benefits of THC while avoiding some of the harms of smoking it. However, edibles are notorious for providing beginners with an unexpectedly strong high (which we'll talk about more in-depth a bit later). For now, you need to make sure you understand the strength of your edible.  Edibles, THC oils, and THC tinctures that are sold in legal dispensaries will have the THC concentration clearly labeled in milligrams (mg). You'll need to do some basic math to determine how much THC is in each edible gummy or cookie or how much is in a single tincture of THC oil. Fans of CBD (another common cannabinoid) will be used to this labeling. Take a look at this picture of a bottle of CBD gummies. Note that the bottle provides the total THC available while also telling how much is in each gummy: Beginners will want to be sure that they know how much is in each gummy to prevent taking too strong of a dose.  Edibles THC Dosing Chart  What's the Recommended Standard Dosage of THC? When we talk about "standard dosages" of THC, it's important to keep in mind that each person has a different experience when taking THC. Some need much stronger doses, others need much less, and some may not be able to get high from edibles at all. Keep that in mind as you begin to find your ideal dose of THC.  Having said that, there are professional recommendations of standard dosages. One study suggested starting patients with 2.5mg of THC, increasing the dose by 2.5mg as needed to a maximum of 40mg a day. Keep in mind that this was part of a formal treatment plan that included other cannabinoids, like CBD.  In general, a single dose that has 5mg to 10mg of THC is usually seen as a "standard" dose. Beginners can usually start at around 5mg without running a risk of getting uncomfortably high, but there's enough THC in 5mg that most new users will feel some kind of high. If you're concerned about getting too stoned, you can always start with 2.5mg of THC! Recommended Dosage For Tinctures You'll follow the same advice for tinctures as you do for edibles, with one important difference. Tinctures or oil are more bioavailable, which means they deliver more THC per dose than edibles. When you use a tincture or oil, you'll hold it under your tongue for several seconds, which allows some of the THC to pass directly into your bloodstream.  With edibles, you'll have to wait for the THC to make its way through your digestive system and liver. While edibles and tinctures are both very potent, tinctures are even more potent, so start with small doses first, like 2.5mg, especially if you're a beginner. Recommended Dosage For Vaping Vaping cartridges can be challenging to dose accurately. How potent a pull from a vape will depend on how big of a puff you took. Even if all of your puffs are the same, you still can't get a precision mg dosage like you can from edibles.  However, there are a few tips you can follow to find a comfortable dose. THC from vaping hits quickly, usually within 15 minutes. If you're new to vaping, take one small hit and wait until you feel how it impacts you. You'll likely want to take another hit, but vaping slowly but surely will help you land on approximately how many puffs you need for an appropriate dose.  Aside from vaping slowly, try to pull from the vape the same amount of time when you take a puff. You can even count in your head to time it. While you may not get the precision measurement for the dose, you can still calculate how many puffs you need for a comfortable high.  Recommended Dosage For Concentrates Concentrates will be dosed similarly to how you dose with vaping. You could potentially weigh how much wax you want to vape and base your dose off of that, but it's not recommended if you are vaping concentrates for the first time. Concentrates are extremely potent, and we suggest you start out slow and steady to find how many puffs you need.  Once you become more comfortable with concentrates, you can start weighing wax before you vape and base your dose off how much wax you can safely vape at once. Recommended Dosage For Flower Flower also presents challenges to dosing, but it's actually much easier to dose flower than vaping or concentrates. When you vape flower, all of the buds in the heating chamber are usually exhausted (unlike concentrates). You can weigh your flower to get a more accurate dose, but don't feel pressured to clear a heating chamber if you're just starting to use flower.  Vaping flower will hit quickly like vaping cartridges, so we recommend taking a small hit and seeing how it impacts you. As you get more comfortable with the high, you can start thinking about measuring flower to get a more precise dose.  You will need a sensitive scale that will measure to the tenths or hundredths of a gram, but if you don't want to invest in equipment, you can always measure by the pinch. It won't be as precise, but it will still be a better overall gauge than measuring puffs from vaping cartridges or concentrates.  What's a Safe Amount of THC to Consume? While you can have an uncomfortable experience taking too much THC, there's not a danger of overdoses like with opioids or stimulants. Instead, users will want to avoid taking so much THC that they experience negative side-effects, which includes: Paranoia/anxiety Nausea/vomiting Confusion Rapid changes in mood Unfortunately, the amount of THC to experience the more negative side-effects varies widely from person to person. Like we mentioned earlier, your genetic predisposition can impact how THC affects you, but it also depends on the specific edible product, even if THC concentration is the same.  Different strains of marijuana impact people in different ways and many edible products include a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, not just pure THC. The way these compounds interact can affect your high, which can make specific dosing recommendations difficult.  For beginners, starting off with a low amount of THC (2.5mg - 5mg) is the best way to find a comfortable dosage without getting too high.  How Long Does It Take to Feel Cannabis Edibles? The time it takes to feel edibles will also vary from person to person. However, most users can expect to feel some kind of high between 30 minutes to an hour after an edible has been eaten (though it can be longer for some). This is in stark contrast to vaping weed, which usually kicks in around 10 minutes (and in some cases, within the first couple of puffs).  The reason why it takes such an extended period of time to feel edibles is because of how our body metabolizes THC. Our livers turn THC into 11-Hydroxy metabolite, which gets you high like THC but is far more potent. This is one of the reasons seasoned weed vapers with high THC tolerances will look to edibles to get a stronger, more satisfying high.  The delay is also a reason that edibles are notorious for making beginners too high. Again, starting with those low 2.5mg - 5mg doses is an ideal way to experiment with edibles without having an adverse experience.  How Long Does It Take to Feel Tinctures? You're looking at a similar time frame to feel tinctures or oils when compared to edible, which is 30 minutes to an hour. While some of the THC will be absorbed through your mouth when you hold the oils or tinctures under your tongue, you still have to wait for the THC to make its way to the liver to become 11-Hydroxy metabolite.  How Long Does It Take to Feel Vaping Cartridges? Vaping will hit you pretty quickly, usually within 15 minutes. The THC goes into your bloodstream directly from your lungs, so you'll feel the high quickly. This makes it easy to get used to vaping, since you can vape slowly and quickly see whether or not you want to vape more.  How Long Does It Take to Feel Concentrates? Since concentrates are vaped, you'll feel them quickly, usually within 15 minutes. Unlike vaping flower or vape cartridges, concentrates are extremely potent. They not only hit fast but also hit hard. Make sure to vape slowly when you vape concentrates for the first time.  How Long Does It Take to Feel Flower? As with cartridges and concentrates, flower will also hit within 15 minutes. How high you get will depend on the concentration of THC in the flower. Vaping flower has the benefits of enjoying other natural cannabinoids in cannabis (like CBD), so the high you'll feel might be different when compared to vaping cartridges or concentrates.  What Is a Good MG Dose for Edibles? While a good dose for each person is different, looking at "standard" dosing advice can be a useful benchmark for future edible sessions. While new uses should start a low dose regardless of the kind of experience they want, the following will be helpful in guiding new users when they experiment with more potent edibles: 1-5mg Edible Dosing As we've mentioned, this is a great starting place for beginners. If you start at 2.5mg or less, you may not even feel a ‘high’ (but you may experience some benefits, like increased appetite or decreased anxiety). Most users feel something at 5mg, but this dosage can be too light even for those that are brand new to edibles.  Regardless, we recommend starting no higher than 5mg for your first edible experience (remember, you can always work your way up to more potent doses!) 5mg-10mg Edible Dosing This is where almost all beginners will feel a decent high, especially at the 10mg level. Feelings of euphoria and increased appetite are common, as well as general relaxation. The 10mg level is a common dose to help with falling and staying asleep.  If you're new to edibles or THC tinctures and 5mg didn't do much for you, then 10mg is a great dose to try next. It will be significantly stronger without running the risk of being too potent. 10mg - 20mg Edible Dosing This range is very potent for beginners (and far too potent for many). This is especially true with the 15mg - 20mg range, which is a rare place for beginners to start. If you are an experienced cannabis user, 15mg is a great place to start, but you'll likely end up in some of the higher MG ranges.  Effects at this level can help some users with acute pain, significant sleep problems, or other users with chronic pain problems.  20mg-30mg Edible Dosing This range will be debilitating for nearly any beginner. However, for experienced THC users, this may be the ideal range for providing a strong, satisfying high (especially if THC tolerance has taken the edge off of vaping cannabis). Even intermediate cannabis users might find this level too high, and those that take it can expect the high to last several hours. 30mg-50mg Edible Dosing Experienced users with a strong THC tolerance will often look to this range for potent, long-lasting effects. This is especially true for users with acute, chronic pain or for those that need help sleeping through the entire night. For the majority of users, 50mg will cause sleepiness and strong pain relief (though you can expect a strong case of the munchies, too).  50mg-100mg+ This range is usually reserved for users that have severe, chronic conditions (like cancer or Crohn’s disease). It is incredibly potent, and if you don't already have a significant tolerance to THC, it's almost certain you'll experience the negative effects of taking too much THC we mentioned earlier.  Some users may end up working their way to this dosage level, but no one should start at this level. The majority of users that take edibles or THC tinctures will never regularly take doses at this level.  What Is a Good MG Dose For Tinctures? You can use the above guide pretty closely for oils or tinctures. You can measure tinctures in mg doses, just like edibles, though you'll have to pay close attention to the included dropper. If you're using tinctures for the first time, try taking a dose that is 5-10% weaker than your normal edible dose, since tinctures get more THC into your bloodstream than edibles do. What Is a Good MG Dose For Cartridges, Concentrates, and Flower? Unfortunately, you won't be able to measure out precise mg doses with cartridges, concentrates, or flower. You can consider weighing your wax or bud before loading it into the heating chamber, but we recommend you vape slowly and find how many puffs work best for your needs. Can You Overdose on THC? What Happens if You Take Too Much? We mentioned earlier that it's basically impossible to overdose from THC. In this book, Weed: The User's Guide, David Schmader discusses the data he gathered from experts about how much THC someone would need to consume for a lethal dose. The result?  "...A fatal dose of marijuana would require ingestion of fifteen hundred pounds in fifteen minutes."  Users can rest assured that you aren't going to have a lethal overdose of marijuana. That doesn't mean you can't have an unpleasant experience from taking too much too quickly, though. As we said earlier, getting too high can make you feel anxious, paranoid, nauseous, and can even cause irrational thoughts or hallucinations.  If you start off with low doses and work your way up to a comfortable THC level, then your chances of ever getting too high are pretty slim.  What Are the Benefits of Taking Small Amounts of THC Regularly? We've spent a lot of time talking about what can happen if you get too high, but there's also a lot of great, potential benefits for those that take small amounts of THC regularly. Here are some benefits that users may experience: Chronic pain relief (helping people to transition off of opioid painkillers) Nausea relief (especially among cancer patients going through chemotherapy) Muscle spasm control Appetite stimulant    Again, these are possible outcomes. Research into how THC affects the body is still new, so it's hard to make concrete health claims. For many users, they may find relief from a variety of health conditions through moderate use of THC edibles.   Tips For Relieving Overconsumption of Edibles Even if you're careful, you may have an experience where you have eaten too potent of edibles too quickly. If you ever feel as though you're too high, there are several steps you can take to help sober up from weed. Here are a few to keep in mind when taking edibles: Move to a comfortable environment, stay calm, and remind yourself that you are not in any physical danger. You can't overdose on weed.  Take a strong dose of CBD (double the dose you had of THC). Some research suggests that CBD might take the edge off of a THC high.  Chew on some lemon rinds. Lemons have limonene, which may help calm you down if you are feeling panicky during your high.  Aside from those tips, make sure to drink plenty of water, grab some snacks, and allow the THC to work its way out of your body.  Tips For Relieving Overuse of Tinctures, Vape Cartridges, Concentrates, and Flower Fortunately, the tips for helping calm down a high that is too strong are the same regardless of what form of cannabis you consumed. If you're too high from vape cartridges, concentrates, or flower, you can rest assured knowing that their high is short-lived compared to tinctures and edibles.  Try to get comfortable, take some CBD, if available, and you'll start to come down from your high before you know it! SHOP NOW
VG vs PG: What's the Difference?
Vape Guides

VG vs PG: What's the Difference?

If you already know how to vape, then you likely have already used PG and VG, even if you don't know it! However, it's always best to know what you're putting inside your body, and the ingredients to your favorite vape juices are no different. Regardless of the brand of e-juice you enjoy, you'll come across PG, VG, or a mixture of the two in essentially all nicotine vape juices.  What exactly are those ingredients, and is it safe to vape PG and VG? In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at what these two ingredients are, how they compare, why vapers would prefer one over the other, and if these ingredients are safe for frequent vapers.  PG vs. VG  PG and VG are both abbreviations for common vaping ingredients, with PG standing for propylene glycol and VG standing for vegetable glycerin. We'll get into what makes each of these components different in a few sections, but let's start with how they're similar: Both are odorless and commonly infused with nicotine and other flavors in vape juices. Both are considered "sugar alcohols" and used in all kinds of consumable products, not just vape juices. They each are easily vaporized (which is why they are popular vape components). Neither are known to cause any health issues when vaped or consumed, although studies on these ingredients are limited. PG and VG can be mixed in varying ratios to produce different vaporizing effects. Now, let's dive into each specific component, starting with PG! What Is Propylene Glycol (PG)?   Propylene glycol is a sugar alcohol with a thin viscosity. PG doesn't have an odor or a taste, and since it is also seen as safe and nontoxic, PG is found in all kinds of different products. PG has a unique characteristic of being a "humectant," which means it can be used to keep certain products moist.  How Is It Used?  All of these characteristics together make it an ideal choice to help preserve certain kinds of human and pet food, a medium for food flavorings, and even as a delivery component in inhalers (like we said, it vaporizes easily). It's the main component in fog machines and, of course, vape juices! You'll also find PG in different oral hygiene products (like toothpaste), a variety of beauty products, and certain medical components.  Is It Safe?   The FDA has categorized PG as "generally recognized as safe" when used as an ingredient in consumable products. If you see PG as an ingredient in food or a topical beauty product, the evidence seems to be clear that PG will not cause any negative side effects.  However, vaping is another story. Long-term research hasn't been done yet (because PG hasn't been vaped and studied long enough for concrete conclusions). Early research indicates that PG might be associated with some "cytotoxic properties," which means PG caused cell death.  That same study states that researchers suspect that the cell-killing properties are more likely associated with "the production process and materials used in flavorings" as opposed to the PG itself. Vapers should use caution while vaping (especially when vaping flavored e-liquids with nicotine), but research hasn't yet shown us that vaping PG is particularly harmful.  What Is Vegetable Glycerin (VG)?  Vegetable glycerin is a viscous sugar alcohol. Just like PG, VG doesn't have a color or odor, but it does have a taste. It's sweet and is often used in vape juices to help bring out sugary or candy-like flavors. You may see VG simply referred to as "glycerin," so just remember that both of those terms refer to the same substance! How Is It Used?  Similar to PG, VG is used in a lot of different applications. It's a humectant, just like PG, so you'll find it in topical beauty products, and it's used as a common baking ingredient to help keep food moist. Its sweet flavor makes it a great candidate for certain food flavorings as well as certain medicines (like cough syrups).  Is It Safe?  When VG is used in foods or other consumable products, it gets the same FDA rating of "generally recognized as safe" that PG gets. VG is used in a lot of food products, and there isn't any evidence to suggest that eating it will cause a health risk.  Again, you get a bit of a different story when you consider vaping VG. The study we mentioned earlier that stated that PG might have cytotoxic properties came to the same conclusion with VG, with the disclaimer that it might be the additives besides VG and PG causing harm.  Another study specifically looking at VG inhalation in rats showed that there appears to be only a small chance of risk when VG is inhaled. (In that study, VG is referred to as glycerol, which is the same substance).  Early research into vaping VG shows that it's probably safe, but a lot more research is needed to make any concrete claims one way or the other. This ambiguity of risk (along with PG and VG usually being infused with nicotine) is a reason why vaping laws have been quickly changing and why readers commonly ask how old do you have to be to vape? What's with the VG and PG Ratio in E-liquid?  When you buy vape juice, you'll usually see a "vg:pg" ratio listed as part of the ingredients. That ratio can vary (for example, while a 50/50 ratio is common, it's also common to see more pg than vg, more vg than pg, or exclusively one ingredient instead of the other).  Changing the VG and PG ratio changes how the vapor feels in your throat, how quickly vapor can be made, and the overall flavor of the vape juice in question. Let's take a look at how each of these ingredients can impact your vaping experience.  Differences Between PG and VG for Vapers   Different juices use different ratios of PG and VG to create a specific experience for customers. Here are some of the most notable differences between vaping each ingredient: PG Mimics Smoke Better (Throat-Hit)  PG provides a more authentic "throat-hit" (or how the vapor feels when it's inhaled) when compared to VG. That usually means the vapor is a bit hotter and harsher, which helps it mimic the feel of inhaling actual smoke. This characteristic may not appeal to everyone, but it is fantastic for tobacco smokers looking to transition away from smoking.  The authentic throat-hit feels more like tobacco smoke, which helps smokers enjoy the experience more. The closer the vaping experience is to smoking, the more likely they are to stick with vaping and kick smoking for good. There isn't a guarantee that PG will help customers stop using tobacco, but the authentic "throat-hit" definitely helps! VG Is Smoother and More Tolerable than PG   That authentic "throat-hit" is a turn-off for a lot of vapers. For some, PG irritates their throat and lungs too much to really enjoy smoking PG vape juices at all, which is where VG juices come in! VG e-liquids tend to provide a smoother, more pleasant vaping experience. While you don't get the same "throat-hit," many vapers prefer the smoother experience. VG Produces More Vapor  Earlier, we mentioned that VG was thicker (or more viscous) than PG and that quality allows VG to create more vapor. That vapor tends to be really thick and dense, and expert vapers who are "cloud chasers" (or vapers that value making enormous clouds over all else) gravitate towards e-liquids with high VG ratios.  Beginner vapers usually don't care about making an enormous amount of vapor when they first start, which is why vape juices with high VG ratios are usually pursued by more experienced users.  PG Produces More Authentic Flavor  PG is very thin and completely tasteless, which makes it an excellent vehicle for delivering authentic, fresh flavors. Remember, VG is just a bit sweet, which will hurt vape recipes that aim to have a savory taste (like tobacco flavors or exotic flavors like popcorn).  This doesn't mean that if you want an authentic flavor, you should only go after high PG e-liquids. Most vapers won't be able to tell the difference (especially beginners), but more experienced vapers looking for a specific taste usually gravitate towards high PG vape juices.  PG Is Better for Vape Tanks with Wicks  If your vape tank uses a wick to soak up e-liquids and bring them in contact with a heating element, then you'll have a better vaping experience with PG recipes. PG is very thin, which means a wick will be able to soak it a lot easier. VG takes longer to soak into wicks, and if you aren't patient enough, you could end up accidentally scorching your wick.  If your tank doesn't use a wick or is a more modern tank that uses a clearomizer, then you can usually vape any kind of e-liquid without much worry. If you're using an older, more basic style of tank, you'll want to be careful not to use high VG e-liquids.  Is PG or VG Safer to Inhale?  Early research indicates that there isn't a significant safety difference between vaping PG or VG (in fact, one of the earlier cases we discussed used PG and VG in the experiment). However, it's important to keep track of new research as it's released to make sure you're vaping as safely as possible! Which is the Best PG VG Ratio for Me?  There isn't a blanket answer for the specific PG and VG ratio that you'll like the best. It'll depend on your particular taste and what types of vapes you plan to use. However, there are a few factors to keep in mind when you are deciding which kind of e-liquid you want to use on a regular basis. You Should Use Higher PG Ratios If…  You want a more authentic flavor from the ingredients in your vape juice You're looking for a "throat hit" that mimics real smoke You're using an older style vape tank or have a vape tank that uses a wick You Should Use Higher VG Ratios If…  You want maximum vapor production. You want a smoother vaping experience, or if you don't tolerate PG well. The vast majority of available vape juices use varying ratios of PG and VG. You'll need to experiment with different ratios and flavors to determine which specific ratio is ideal for your tastes and for your device! SHOP NOW
Firefly 2 vs. Crafty
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+, and considering that it comes with a second battery in the box, 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! SHOP NOW
How to Sober Up From Weed
Cannabis Education

How to Sober Up From Weed

Marijuana can be a fantastic way to manage pain, treat certain mental disorders, and relax. While enjoying weed definitely has fewer drawbacks than drinking too much alcohol, getting too high too quickly can create a miserable experience. This is common with those new to marijuana or seasoned users trying a stronger form of weed (like dabs) for the first time.  Luckily, there are ways that you can counteract getting too high. In this article, we'll talk about what it really means to be "too high," how to sober up from being too stoned, and steps you can take to avoid getting too high in the future.  How Long Does THC Stay in Your System? How long you stay high once you've ingested THC will depend on what method you used to consume it and how much of it you consumed. If you vaped or smoked, you'll typically start to feel the effects within 10-15 minutes, with those effects lasting several hours (usually capping between three and four hours).  Dabs Smoking or vaping a dab will give you a more intense and often longer high. Dabs (usually in the form of wax) have concentrated amounts of THC (much higher than marijuana flower). That means the high can hit within a few minutes and will last 1-3 hours. While the high will be much more intense, its duration will last close to the same as other inhalation methods.  Depending on how concentrated your dab is, it's possible that the high could last longer (especially if you take several hits). Regardless, we do not recommend that beginners start with dabs, as it will be very easy to get too high too quickly.  Edibles  Unlike dabs and bud, the THC from edibles is absorbed through your digestive system (not your lungs). Since the THC has to work its way through your stomach and your liver, it takes much longer to actually feel high. It usually takes 30-60 minutes to feel the effects of an edible (and sometimes longer).  However, edibles make up for their delay in how potent they are. When THC is processed in the liver, it is changed to 11-Hydroxy metabolite, which is much more potent than THC. Even if you take an edible with a small amount of THC in it, you can still get extremely high from it. This means it's easy for beginners to get too high on edibles, since it's slow to hit and hits much harder than typical vaping or smoking.  How Long Can You Detect THC in Your System?  While the effects of THC can be noticeable for several hours, you can actually test positive for THC use for weeks, even months after you've taken a hit or popped an edible. This does not mean you'll be high this long, but since THC binds to lipids (like your body fat), it can remain detectable for weeks or months.  You should keep in mind the more you use THC products, the more THC builds up in your body fat. If you're a heavy user and stop, it can easily be months before all of the THC has cleared from your body. How Will I Know If I'm Too High? As the former US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously said on how to tell the difference between art and porn, you'll "know it when you see it." There's no particular threshold of being high that should trigger alarms since it's practically impossible to overdose on THC. Instead, "being too high" means you are stoned enough to feel physically or mentally uncomfortable. More extreme symptoms of being too high include: Pronounced paranoia and anxiety Panic attacks Motor-function impairment  Hallucinations  Irrational thoughts Nausea  If you feel any of these symptoms strongly, you're likely too high. While you shouldn’t be at physical risk for consuming too much marijuana, it's still not comfortable to be afraid, anxious, or delusional. These symptoms can run counter to the typical effects of feeling high, which are often the exact opposite of these symptoms.  More importantly, if you experience psychotic thoughts or hallucinations, you may end up putting yourself in danger (even if the THC itself isn't a health risk).  Can I Overdose on THC?   No. While a hypothetical lethal dose of THC exists, it's essentially impossible to overdose on THC. If you were smoking or vaping, you'd pass out (often called greening out) before you got anywhere close to a lethal dose. If you were taking edible, you'd risk a toxic dose of salt or sugar from the candy before you'd be in danger of THC.   That being said, you shouldn't take an enormous dose of THC you aren't ready for. If it triggers a psychotic episode, you may put yourself at a safety risk or make irrational decisions (like attempting to drive). Even if you can't overdose, you should try not to get too high, and you should keep the following steps in mind on how to sober up!  How Can I Prevent Getting Too High?  Once you're too high, it can be difficult to sober up without waiting it out. The best way to avoid the experience is to have a firm plan in place to not get too high in the first place. That can be easier said than done (especially for newbies), but there are easy strategies you can follow to avoid getting too high. Vape or Smoke Slowly  If vaping or smoking for the first time, go slow! Take one or two hits and then wait 15-20 minutes for the effects to kick in. From there, if you feel like you need more, take one or two more hits and wait again. Vaping in an incremental way makes it extremely difficult to get too high.  Start with Low-Dose Edibles  Edibles can provide a very strong high, much stronger than vaping or smoking. This is why it's important to start with low-dose edibles for your first few times (usually around 5mg). It can take 30 minutes to an hour for edibles to kick in, so it may take you a few tries to find an ideal dose that gets you pleasantly high (but not too high).  You should take extra precautions when using edibles since the high can not only be stronger, but it can last much, much longer. Start with low doses and work your way up to something comfortable! What Are the Typical Results of Getting High? Negative side-effects of marijuana are not the typical experience of consuming weed. In fact, when you control your dosage and are in a comfortable environment to get high, the results of THC intoxication can be very enjoyable. Some of the more positive effects of getting high include: General euphoria (or just feeling physically and mentally good) Possible pain reduction Calmness and relaxation Warped perceptions of time (it may feel like time moves very slowly or that time moves very quickly) Increased appetite (often called "the munchies") Increased creative energy These positive effects are why vaping or consuming THC has grown in popularity. Weed is often used to help sleep disorders, certain mental disorders, and chronic pain. It's also often used recreationally because who doesn't enjoy feeling relaxed and happy?  You'll quickly learn that, while the typical effects of getting high are good, it's important to not get too high. Otherwise, you'll risk those nasty side effects we mentioned earlier.  How to Sober Up From Weed  There's not a way to magically become "un high" if you feel you've become too stoned. If you are starting to experience uncomfortable symptoms of being too high, there are steps you can take to alleviate the uncomfortable experience and get back to the good parts of being high! Take a look at how to sober up from weed fast. Stay Hydrated and Eat a Snack When you get too high, it's easy to get "stuck" in your head and get disconnected from the outside world. These are common symptoms of a panic attack, and one of the best ways to fight against a panic attack is to "reconnect" or "ground" yourself back to reality. One of the best ways to do that is through taste, so if you're too high, take a nibble of a tasty snack! Drinking water and staying hydrated is always a good idea. Consuming THC can cause dry mouth, but it doesn't actually cause dehydration as alcohol intake does. Regardless, getting a cool drink of water (or your choice of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverage) is another great way to ground your mind if you feel yourself panicking because you're too high.  Chew on Peppercorns or Lemon Slices  You may think we recommend chewing on peppercorns or lemons because they have strong flavors. While that helps, there is actually interesting science at work when you take a nibble of a lemon rind or a peppercorn. They both have terpenes, which promote different moods and mindsets. In marijuana, terpenes can affect the "kind" of high you have and how it hits.  When you nibble on black pepper, you'll be ingesting pinene, and caryophyllene terpenes, which research indicates can help counteract the high of THC. Lemons have limonene, which is now to have relaxing and anti-stress properties, which is perfect for when you are spiraling because you've had too much weed.  It can be hard to get these items if you're way too stoned. If you're concerned about getting too high, grab some lemon rinds and peppercorns before you start vaping! Take a Deep Breath and Get Comfortable  The most important thing you can do to stop spiraling when you're too high is to mentally take control again. Take a long, deep breath to ground yourself and calm your thoughts. Get into a physically comfortable position, which will help you relax. You may even end up falling asleep! When you are taking deep, controlled breaths, remind yourself that you are not in physical danger, you are not experiencing a medical emergency, and that the uncomfortable parts of being too high will eventually pass.  Take a Shower or a Bath  Taking a hot shower or bath will help sober you up in several different ways. First, a warm shower will help you relax if you're struggling with panic or anxiety. Next, contact with the hot water will help ground you (similarly to how tasting a potent flavor would).  Some claim that a hot shower actually dampens a THC high, though there isn't much research or science behind the claim. Regardless, a warm bath or shower can help relax and calm you during a difficult high! Find a Distraction  It's easy to get trapped in your head and experience looping thoughts if you're too high. An excellent way to get out of your own head is to find a distraction to keep your thoughts occupied. This could be a TV show that is a go-to comfort series, a video game, a fidget (like a fidget-spinner or a silicone pop mat).  Regardless of what you use, a distraction can help you take the focus off being too high and onto an external distraction.  Use a Safety Plan After you've been high (or too high) a few times, you'll start to get a good idea of what problems you might face. If you've been uncomfortably high a couple of times, be sure to note: What caused you to get too high? (edibles, dabs, or just vaping too much?) What part of being high did you not enjoy? What helped you calm down? What made your anxiety or panic worse? Having a plan in place makes it easy to take steps to calm yourself down if you find yourself uncomfortably high. This will be useful if you plan on getting high in an unfamiliar place (like a friend's house or while camping) since you can pack items that will help soothe you.  Take CBD   CBD, which is another cannabinoid found in cannabis, may be able to help sober you up from a THC high. Research suggests that CBD can counteract THC's psychoactive properties, which means CBD might help sober you up or prevent getting too high, to begin with.  The science on how CBD and THC interact is still new, and scientists are still studying how they both interact with the human body. Even if CBD doesn't directly interfere with your body absorbing THC, it still can provide calming, anti-anxiety properties that can still help you when you're too high. How to Use CBD  There are a lot of different ways you can use CBD. However, if you plan on having it handy if you get too high on THC, there are a few methods that will work best. They include: Oil tinctures Dry herb vaping (specifically hemp) CBD edibles These methods will get CBD into your bloodstream quickly, so you could start feeling the effects in 20 minutes. If you use a tincture or edibles, it could take up to an hour for the CBD to start taking effect.  The Bottom Line  Weed is a useful (and fun) tool, but it's important to create positive experiences if you plan on vaping or consuming weed on a regular basis. Remember, there are easy ways to enjoy being high without having to worry about getting too high: Be mindful of your dosage (and if you aren't sure how much to take, start low and go slow) Enjoy THC in a safe, comfortable space (especially if it will be your first time) Have plenty of snacks and non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages handy Stock up on lemon rinds, peppercorns, and CBD products to counteract a strong high Make sure you are around friends that you trust and will help if you get too high The more you enjoy weed, the easier it will be to avoid getting too high. Just be sure to enjoy responsibly and safely!     SHOP NOW
Types of Vape Mods
Vape Guides

Types of Vape Mods

Intro There are all kinds of vape mods to choose from in today's market, which can make shopping a bit overwhelming. These differences are more than just brand or stylistic choices. You'll find unique features and uses as you explore the types of vape mods you may want. We've found that many beginners struggle to discern and choose between the different vape mods available.  Inside this article, the Firefly team discusses the different types of vape mods you can expect to find, what those mods are designed for, and how to pick the best vape mod for your vaping needs! What Is a Vape Mod? Originally, vape mods were "modified vaporizers." They were homemade devices (or heavily modified retail devices) designed to quickly create large plumes of vapor. These devices were used at a risk, as sparks, fires, and ruined vaping components were common.  The popularity of vape mods continued to grow, regardless of the difficulties, and eventually, mainstream vaping companies caught on. Nowadays, vape mods are high-end vaping devices with powerful batteries, plenty of precision heating features and are compatible with a wide range of vaping accessories (like vape tanks).  You should note that "vape mods" do not include all types of vapes. As you're reading, if a vape mod doesn't seem like a good fit, there are all kinds of vaping options that may be a better choice for you.  Different Types of Vape Mods While there are a lot of sub-categories of vape mods (which we will get into later in the article), there are two major categories of vape mods you'll find on the market: regulated and unregulated mods. If you're familiar with how to use a vape pen, then some of the features of a regulated mod may look and feel familiar.  Regulated Mods These are the mods you're most likely to see available. They're called "regulated" because there are circuit boards that act as fail-safes to prevent dangerous surges of energy coursing through your device. This can prevent damage to your battery, internal components and can prevent sparks and fires when using a powerful device.  Regulated mods have grown to dominate the market since they meet the needs of the vast majority of vaping enthusiasts, even veterans who want exceptionally large plumes of vapor created quickly and easily.  Unregulated Mods True to their name, these are mods that do not have a circuit board inside. This means power flows directly from your battery to your vape tank (or related attachment). These devices are not for beginners. You should have extensive knowledge of vaping devices, general electrical systems, and a solid grasp of Ohm's Law before using these vapes.  When in the hands of an experienced vaper, unregulated mods can provide unmatched vapor production. However, the risk of short-circuits, discharges, and even fires is very, very real.  Two Kinds of Regulated Mods: Tube Mod and Box Mod When you start shopping for a vape mod, box mods and tube mods will be the most common devices you run across. These are easy to find in your local vape store, dispensaries, and online e-retailers. These devices are similar but have some key differences.  Tube Mods Tube mods look a lot like vape pens, and they essentially are! They maintain the cylindrical design that vape pens are famous for, though they usually are thicker to accommodate a larger battery. Tube mods can also accommodate sub-ohm tanks in addition to clearomizers, which makes them a great choice for experienced vapers that want a more travel-friendly device. Tube mods can sometimes be limited with features (especially with variable heating options). However, they are often budget-friendly, and the support for sub-ohm tanks makes them a viable choice for cloud-chasing vapers.  Box Mods Box mods, as you might expect, are usually boxy in design. They have batteries with high mAh capacity (usually 1500mAh and up) and power a variety of useful features for experienced vapers. These devices are fantastic for vapers wanting to quickly and easily create enormous vape clouds or for vapers looking to use concentrate or dry herb vaping attachments.  Box mods will have plenty of features, compared to tube mods which may only support a single heat setting or a set resistance. Most box mods will have features like: Precision voltage control (being able to adjust the voltage by small increments) Precision temperature control (being able to adjust the temperature by a few degrees) Large, replaceable batteries Support for sub-ohm tanks Informative LED screens that show the above information in an easy-to-read manner You'll find a lot of variations within box mods, but you can expect to find the above features in most types of vape brands.  Unregulated Mod - Mechanical Mod When you see a mechanical mod, you may be surprised by the design. Even though they are meant for experienced vapers, these devices look very, very simple. The body of the mod will be a simple battery (usually in a cylindrical shape) that directly attaches to an atomizer. The only feature you'll find on a mechanical mod is the power button, which is used to fire hits.  Mechanical mods are used by vapers who build their own atomizers (which are called rebuildable atomizers, or RBAs) and coils. The idea is to create a highly customized vaping experience that is catered exactly to what the user wants. These unregulated setups create an unmatched amount of vapor, though they require immense expertise to properly build and use. Are Vape Mods a Good Choice for You? It completely depends on what you want out of a vaping device. For users who are more experienced, have a better idea of the specific features they're looking for, and are ready to pay a premium for a high-end device, vape mods can be an excellent choice. If you aren't sure what you want out of a device, we don't recommend investing in an expensive device.  However, if the common features of a vape mod (especially box mods) seem appealing, there are many entry-level options that won't break the bank. Take your time shopping and see if there's a box mod that's a fit for what you want! Pros and Cons If you're trying to decide if a vape mod is a good fit, consider the following pros and cons. While these specific pros and cons may vary between models or types of vape brands, it should serve as a good, general guide to helping you decide what device to buy. Pros Higher vapor production Better tasting vapor More powerful batteries for longer sessions between charges Precision heating settings to find the perfect option for your unique vaping needs Availability of a variety of attachments, tanks, and coils Cons Generally more expensive Require more maintenance and more expertise to properly operate Longer charge time Batteries may be sold separately  What Is a Pod Mod? Even though "mod" is in the name, pod mods are very different devices from vape mods. Pod mods are extremely simple, stripped-down vaping devices that are usually set apart by unique, modern-looking designs. Pod mods typically do not allow for precision heating, and most are draw-fire operated (meaning they don't have a power button).  Pod mods have grown in popularity due to their ease of use. All you do is connect a disposable or reusable pod to your device, and you can quickly begin vaping. Without the distraction of a full suite of features, pod mods are particularly popular among beginner vapers who are just getting started.      Anatomy of a Pod Mod Pod mods have a simple anatomy, and while the specifics will vary between brands, this is what you can usually expect to find: Mouthpiece Disposable or refillable pod (sometimes called a cartridge) An LED light indicating battery strength (this is often absent on lower-end pod mods) A port for charging (usually micro-USB). What Are the Characteristics of a Pod Mod? Since pod mods are meant to be simple, beginner-friendly devices, most will share common traits. If the majority of these characteristics are appealing to you, then a pod mod might be the device for you! Low Voltage You won't get super spicy hits with pod mods. The voltage provided will be low (around 15W or below). Low voltage keeps hits cooler, though it will restrict overall vapor production.  Intended for Nicotine Users The vast majority of pod mods are designed to use nicotine-infused vape juice (and more specifically, salt nicotine). Salt nicotine provides very potent doses (usually 20mg and higher of nicotine per cartridge). This makes them ideal for heavy smokers transitioning away from tobacco.  Portable Pod mods are usually small and discreet, which makes them a perfect choice for vaping on the go. Many pod mods have nontraditional designs that are not easily identified. This may be an ideal choice if you're trying to vape in public without drawing a lot of attention to yourself.  Mouth to Lung (not Direct to Lung) Most pod mods are mouth-to-lung (MTL) devices. Users first draw vapor into their mouths, then inhale the vapor into their lungs (instead of breathing vapor directly into their lungs). This is a trait that will mostly appeal to former smokers since you smoke tobacco cigarettes with a similar technique.  Are Pod Mods a Good Fit for You? Pros and Cons Trying to decide if a pod mod might be a better choice than a vape mod? Pod mods have distinct pros and cons that will make it easy to determine if the device will be a good fit! Pros Portable and light Discreet Beginner-friendly Ideal for former smokers Cons Low vapor production No variable heating options Disposable pods can get expensive Typically designed for salt nicotine, which is very potent What You Need to Know Before Using Pod Mods You've read a lot of information about pod mods, so take a moment to consider some of these highlighted facts. We've talked about most of these, but it's important to keep them in mind when trying to decide if pod mods would be a good choice for your vaping needs: Pod Mods Are For Beginners Pod mods aren't just beginner-friendly. They are for beginners. If you're an experienced vaper and enjoy using box or tube mods, you are going to be disappointed with how limiting pod mods are.  You Pay a Premium for Convenience and a Modern Design Pod mods have gained a loyal following being they are easy, convenient, and discreet. Unless you're using refillable pods, the cost of using pod mods is quite high. Even when compared to traditional disposable vape cartridges for vape pens, you'll see a premium price. If you're trying to vape on a budget, pod mods likely aren't for you (but there are many other great choices!) Pod Mods Have Nicotine Users in Mind If you don't like to vape nicotine, or are more interested in vaping THC or CBD, then a pod mod is not going to be an ideal choice. Most pod mods (disposable or otherwise) are designed to vaporize salt nicotine-infused vape liquid, so unless that's your goal, your needs will be better served looking at vape mods or even dry herb or concentrate vapes.  What Device Works Best For You? There's no clear-cut way to quickly determine which device is right for you. You'll need to take the time to consider your specific needs and see which kind of device might be best. If you're overwhelmed with choices, ask yourself some of the following questions. It will help narrow down your choices and make it more likely you get a device you love on the first try! What do I want to vape? (Vape juice, dry herbs, concentrates, or a combination) What's my budget? (certain devices, like box mods, are more expensive) Do I plan on frequently traveling with this device? (if so, consider a vape with a travel-friendly design) What features do I want on my vape? (Do you want to be able to change the temperature, or do you want simplicity and easy use?) Do I want a cost-effective device that needs maintenance, or am I willing to pay a premium for disposable choices? After asking yourself these questions, you may even discover that a vape mod isn't the right kind of device for you at all. For example, if you're interested in how to vape dry herbs, then the Firefly 2+ (which is not a vape mod) may be the best fit for your needs! Regardless, take your time to identify your needs and wants, and be patient while shopping for devices. It's the best way to find a fantastic device without a lot of trial and error! SHOP NOW
Can You Bring a Vape on a Plane?
Vape Guides

Can You Bring a Vape on a Plane?

Intro While vaping has been around for decades (you may be surprised by how long vaping has been around), rules and regulations about when and where you can vape are slowly catching up. This is especially true at airports and on airplanes, which regularly review and revamp guidelines for what you can and can't bring on planes.  Unexpected hurdles can cause major travel interruptions, especially if you have a high-end device you can't fly with! In this article, we'll detail exactly how to fly with your favorite vaping device. This includes not only following general guidelines for what you're allowed to bring but also the best safety tips to make sure your device gets from point A to point B without damage.  Let's tackle the big question first! Can you bring a vape on a plane? Can You Travel with Your Vape Supplies? If you want a regular hit of nicotine or need doses of CBD for health reasons, being able to fly with your preferred vaping supplies can make or break travel plans. Fortunately, if you're flying within North America (the U.S., Canada, or Mexico), you should have little to no problems flying with most vaping supplies, as long as they are strictly nicotine or CBD vaping products.  Can You Travel with Your THC Vape Supplies? You cannot travel with any kind of THC product. Currently, THC (the chemical compound found in cannabis that gets users high) is a Schedule 1 prohibited substance in the United States. Airports are governed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which means airports fall under federal jurisdiction.  Even if you live in a state that has recreational marijuana available, you should never bring it to the airport. If you have devices or glassware that has marijuana residue, that could be enough for confiscation or fines. The best advice is to leave your weed vape supplies securely at home! Can You Travel Internationally with Your Vape Supplies? It depends on which country you're going to. Many countries have outright banned all vaping substances and equipment. Do not attempt to smuggle vaping equipment into countries that have a broad ban. You could end up with hefty fines or even getting arrested.  Below, you'll find a list of countries that have a broad, strict ban on all vaping supplies: Argentina Brazil Brunei Cambodia China Dubai Hong Kong India Japan Norway Singapore Taiwan Thailand Turkey Venezuela Vietnam Just like in the U.S., the law about vaping tends to change quickly. Even if your destination country is not on this list, you should review the most recent regulations they may have regarding vaping supplies. Can You Travel with CBD and Hemp Vape Supplies? This is a gray area that travelers should be cautious about. It is perfectly legal to travel with hemp and CBD since both have been federally legal since 2018. However, law enforcement officers (and the TSA) may still confiscate anything that looks like marijuana, even if you have documentation to the contrary.  To avoid possible problems or loss of product, we don't recommend traveling with hemp since it can be difficult to distinguish from marijuana. CBD-infused vape juice and oils are easier to travel with, though you should still carry documentation stating that the products do not contain THC above the federal limit.  Carry-On Only: How to Transport Your Supplies If you are traveling to or within a vape-friendly country, you almost certainly can bring all of your vaping supplies (barring THC products, of course). However, there are certain rules on how you can bring them onto a plane. Namely, vape supplies can only be transported in your carry-on luggage.  This rule isn't unique to vaping devices, either. Any item that is powered by a battery cannot be stored on checked luggage. Any vape pen, box mod, or other vaping devices will need to be on your person on the plane. If for some reason, you can't carry it, you will have to throw it away before boarding the plane. Make sure you have carry-on space for your vape! Traveling with Vape Juice Your vape juice can be brought in your carry-on or your checked luggage. If you want to have it in your carry-on, you'll need to make sure that it is in a container that holds less than 3.4oz (100mL), which is the standard rule for all carry-on liquids.  If you have a bigger bottle you want to travel with, you'll need to pack it in your checked luggage.  Pack Your Vape Supplies Carefully The last thing you want is to break a high-end box mod or have a spill of sticky e-liquid. You should take time to properly pack all your vaping supplies to avoid damage to expensive equipment and unexpected messes!  Packing a Box or Pod Mod You should disassemble your device as much as possible before packing (especially removing any connected accessories, like vape tanks). Connection points are weak, which can lead to easier device damage should your bag get tossed around.  Once disassembled (as much as possible), wrap your device in bubble wrap, a shirt, or something that is soft and cushiony. You want to avoid getting abrasions on your device as well as cushioning it from damage from other items in your bag.  Finally, pack the device away from the outside of your bag. This will give ample protection from damage should something impact your carry-on or if you drop your bag. Most airlines also allow for a "personal item" (a small bag like a purse or backpack) to be always kept with you. If you have space for your vaping supplies, this would be an ideal storage area! Packing Vape Juice A vape juice spill in your carry-on can be an absolute traveling disaster. You can’t be too safe in making sure you prevent spills, so look at the following recommendations to keep vape juice in their containers! Make sure the lid of your e-liquid bottle is securely tightened.  Wrap masking tape around the bottle to close any holes that may leak.  Place the bottles in a Zip-Lock bag or other waterproof containers.  With multiple layers of protection like this, it will be unlikely that you will experience any unfortunate spills while traveling.   Packing Dry Herb and Concentrate Vapes While we don’t recommend traveling with your dry herb or concentrate supply (like hemp or CBD wax), the devices themselves can be brought with no trouble. Make sure to thoroughly clean the heating chamber before packing since the TSA may confiscate the device if it smells or has a residue that indicates marijuana or THC product use.   Once cleaned, wrap your device in a soft cloth or bubble wrap (similarly to how you would pack a disassembled box mod). Keep it away from the edges of your bag, and consider carrying it with you in your personal item instead of your carry-on.  Can You Bring a Vape on a Plane?  Yes! As long as you follow the above guidelines, you can bring your favorite vaping device onto your plane. If you are traveling internationally, be sure to check the legal status of vaping supplies. You can't check your vape devices, but they will be welcome in your carry-on or personal item. If you are traveling with CBD products, you should bring proof that it is not a THC product. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two, and TSA agents have the final say on what can and cannot be brought onto planes.  Can You Bring a Vape on a Plane Under 21? Surprisingly, yes! Even though you have to be 21 to buy vaping products, the TSA typically won't confiscate vaping devices from passengers under 21 years old. Their role is to keep dangerous materials off planes (not enforce age restrictions on certain devices or substances).  While we don't recommend those under the age of 21 vapes, those wondering if you can bring a vape on a plane under 21 can rest assured that they can.  Can You Vape in the Airport? Airports treat vaping as they treat smoking, and since you can't smoke at most airports, you won't be able to vape in most airports, either. There are a few airports (like Nashville International) that have designated smoking lounges where you can also vape, but those lounges are few and far between.  Currently, airports like Dulles International, Miami International, Barcelona International, and McCarren are some of the few airports that allow vaping in some capacity. They'll still have specific, dedicated spaces for vaping (just like they do for smoking), so double-check to see where their dedicated smoking areas or lounges are located.  You should always check the specific airports you intend to travel to in order to see if they have updated their vaping rules. Again, regulations regarding vaping tend to change quickly, so it's best to check the most up-to-date information available.  Specific Airline Policies on Vaping While each airline uses different wording in their policies, they all point to the same conclusion: you are never allowed to vape on a plane under any circumstance. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a clear policy prohibiting vaping on flights, and fines for vaping on planes range from $2-$4000.  If you've tampered with smoke detectors or are seen as ignoring the instructions of a flight attendant, you could be arrested and permanently banned from that specific airline (or flying altogether).  Simply put, it is not worth the risk. Never attempt to vape on an airplane.  How to Take Care of Your Vape Abroad Taking care of your vaping device while traveling abroad is simple. You'll want to follow the standard procedures of how to vape to keep your device in working order.  Keep in mind that vaping products or replacement parts may be more difficult to find (depending on the make and model of your device), so pack extras if you plan on an extended stay.  Of course, remember to make sure that vaping is legal in the country you're going to! Be Prepared for Safety There are a few tips you can follow to be sure you fly as safely as possible with your vaping device. This is all prep that should be done before you enter the airport: If you want to vape immediately after landing, make sure your vape is charged before boarding your plane. You are not allowed to charge battery-powered devices (like vapes) on planes. Empty all e-liquid out of your vape tank. It is possible your device will leak when the air pressure in the cabin changes.  Turn off your vape before boarding. While rare, devices can misfire (causing shorts or electrical fires), which is extremely dangerous if it occurs while in the air.  Stay Safe When You Travel As long as you adhere to the law, you won't have a problem traveling with your vape. Once at your destination, be courteous with your vaping, especially if in a different country. Even if vaping is legal, there may be different cultural norms regarding when and where you can vape. Be thoughtful and polite and be a good guest for wherever you may be visiting!   SHOP NOW
How to Clean Vape Coil
Vape Guides

How to Clean Vape Coil

Without a doubt, the most cost-effective way to vape is to get a reusable vaporizer or vape tank. Buying your own bottles of vape juice, dry herb, or wax gives you so much more bang for your buck than buying disposable cartridges or disposable vapes. However, you only get to enjoy the savings if you properly maintain your devices.  One of the most important pieces of maintenance for vape tanks or heating chambers is to make sure that your vape coils are kept clean. While it isn't necessarily hard to clean vape coils, it's very easy to ruin coils (or even entire tanks) if you don't clean them the proper way.  Curious about the best way to keep your vape pen, tank, and coils clean? In this article, we’ll teach you how (and more) below!   Why Is Cleaning Your Vape Important? There are several reasons why it's important to clean your vape on a regular basis. Let's take a look at some of the most important reasons below: Maintenance Check When you take apart your vape to clean it, it gives you an opportunity to visually inspect the internal components of your device. For vape juice pens, it's a great chance to see if the heating coil needs replacing, if you need to replace the wick material, or if there are any other parts or components that don't look quite right.  For dry herb and wax vapes, it's a chance to prevent vapor path clogs before they start. If you're using a conduction vape pen, it's also a good chance to see if the heating coils just need to be cleaned or need to be replaced entirely.  Maintain Quality Flavor A clean vape makes for clean tasting vapor, and dirty vapes are a common cause for burnt tasting flavors. Your heating coils will eventually need to be replaced, and towards the end of their life, they will create nasty, harsh vapor that can ruin a quality vaping session. Regular cleaning will avoid this issue almost entirely, which is why it should be part of your vaping habit. Improved Overall Vaping Experience A well-maintained, clean vape just makes for a better overall experience. Not only will your flavor be consistently delicious, but you'll avoid making your vape a nasty, sticky experience. You may find it difficult to use a touchscreen on a vape covered in residue, while devices with physical buttons may stop working entirely if they get gunked up.  What Are the Components to Clean in a Vape Device? The specific components that you'll want to focus on will vary depending on what the vape is designed to do. You'll also see some variation based on specific brands and models, though the following information will give you a good idea of what to expect with most general devices: What Are the Components to Clean in an E-Liquid Vape? E-liquid vapes have the most parts to consider when thinking about regular cleaning. This is because more advanced vape tanks (like those with rebuildable atomizers) have several intricate parts that need to be removed for cleaning. First, you'll see the drip tip (or the mouthpiece). Originally called drip tips because you would literally drip vape juice into this piece onto coils, these pieces now are basically mouthpieces. You will want to be sure to keep this part clean since vapor will always make contact here on its way to your lungs.  Next, you have the vape tank (the device that holds your vape juice). They will usually have a lid that connects directly to the drip tip, and that lid needs to be kept clean, as it is part of the vapor path. Inside the tank, you'll find heating coils (or a heating element that heats your juice) and possibly a wick that soaks up vape juice to be placed into contact with the coils.  What Are the Components to Clean in a Dry Herb or Wax Vape? Dry herb and wax vapes are usually simpler than e-liquid vapes. Wax vapes will have a heating chamber with coils, which connects to the mouthpiece. Dry herb vapes might have heating coils (if they are conduction vapes), which will lead to a mesh filter before opening into the vapor path.    If you're using a convection vape, you may or may not have exposed heating elements. Many convection vapes use built-in heating chambers or walls that require little cleaning or maintenance, but they also can't be replaced. They will usually have a mesh screen (like conduction vapes), and the mesh screen in both styles will need to be replaced on a regular basis.  When to Clean Your Vape Device Usually, you'll want to do a minor clean on your vaping device once every 1-2 weeks, with a deeper clean every month, but it’s dependent on how often you are using your vape device. This will help avoid experiencing unexpected burnt flavors and will help keep your internal components in working order.  There are also other specific instances that you may need to make an unscheduled clean. Common reasons include:  A Burnt or Unpleasant Flavor We've mentioned this several times, but a bad vapor taste almost always means you need to clean out your device. It can also help diagnose other problems if the nasty flavors persist after cleaning.  Low Vapor Output If your vapor path is clogged or your heating coils are caked with residue (a common problem with wax vapes), you'll notice a significant decrease in vapor production. A clean may be needed to clear out clogs so you can get bigger, more satisfying hits.  Changing Vape Juice Flavors If you're using a vape juice device, you'll usually want to clean the tank out if switching between flavors. This is because the residue of the previous oil will remain (and will still be saturated into the wick). If you want crisp, authentic flavors from your juice, you'll need to clean the tank when you change out flavors.  What Are the Common Cleaning Techniques? Whether you're looking for a quick clean or a more thorough, deep clean, there are several techniques you can rely on to get solid results.  Standard Liquid Cleaners The most common cleaning techniques involve a liquid cleaner, like rubbing alcohol or warm water. A quick warm water rinse is great for basic cleanings, while more in-depth cleanings benefit from rubbing alcohol or other dedicated cleaning agents. While household agents (like vinegar) are often used, we encourage you to follow your manufacturer's recommendations. If you are cleaning inside of a vape juice tank, you should not use rubbing alcohol (also called isopropyl alcohol). It ignites easily and is extremely dangerous if vaporized and inhaled. Dry Cleaning (or Burn-Off Cleaning) This is a great technique if using a dry herb or wax vape with coils that have caked-on residue. You'll remove any vaping substance from inside the heating chamber and crank up the heat to the coils. When the coils have cooled, you can use a cotton swab with a cleaning solution to brush away any lingering gunk that may still be on the coils.  This technique is similar to how some ovens self-clean, and it's a great strategy for cleaning off newer coils. Older coils may not be able to use this strategy well since coils lose their ability to reach peak temperatures over time. Ultrasonic Cleaning If you have ever gone to a jewelry store and watched them clean jewelry in a small bath of water, you've seen ultrasonic cleaning in action. The water acts as a medium for ultrasonic vibrations to travel, which effectively knocks off the dirt and grime that may have built up inside your device.  You'll get an excellent clean from these devices, though you'll want to consider the upfront cost of this kind of cleaner, as well as any maintenance it may need for long-term use.  How to Clean a Vape Tank Depending on how dirty your vape tank is, there are several different methods you can use to get it comfortably clean. You may be able to get away with just a warm water rinse, or you may need a heftier cleaning agent (like baking soda) to get the job done.  Water Rinse If your vape tank just needs a quick clean, then a water rinse is ideal. All that a water rinse involves is: Disassemble your vape tank. Allow warm water to run over each individual component. Place each component on a towel to air dry.  For bigger parts of the vape tank, you can use a paper towel or microfiber cloth to gently dry it, but air drying is the best way to safely and thoroughly dry the internal components. Deep-Clean Soak If your vape tank needs a more thorough clean, soaking is the best way to tackle stubborn residue. There are several cleaning agents for soaking to consider, including:   Grain alcohol (do not use rubbing alcohol) Vodka Vinegar Baking Soda Lemon juice Dish soap and warm water With each of these cleaning agents, you'll let your vape tank soak for 1-2 hours. Afterward, thoroughly rinse components under running water and allow them to air dry.  Ultrasonic Cleaner Finally, if you opt to invest in an ultrasonic cleaner, simply take your vape tank apart, fill your ultrasonic cleaner with water, and allow the device to go through a cleaning cycle (usually around 10 minutes). You'll want to follow included device instructions for more specific instructions, but the process is very simple regardless of which cleaner you end up with.  When to Replace Your Vape Tank While vape tanks with proper maintenance can last for a long time, there will come a time that you need to replace the tank. Common signs include dwindling vapor production (even when primary components are replaced and clogs are removed), a stubborn, unpleasant flavor, or persistent leaks.  How to Clean Your Vape Coils If you just want to clean your vape coils, the process is easy! The most important step in cleaning vape coils is to make sure you are only cleaning your vape coils, which means the other components need to be removed. For most vape tanks, this includes removing the drip tip, top cap, the bottom base, and the quartz or plastic tank cover.  Once the vape coil is isolated, you'll soak it, as we discussed earlier. You can use warm water and dish soap, vinegar, baking soda, or grain alcohol, and you'll soak for as long as you think you need to (usually 1-2 hours, but a longer soaking session won't damage the coils).    After soaking, rinse the coil in running, warm water for 20-30 seconds, and allow it to completely air dry before reassembling your vape tank.  How Long Do Vape Coils Last? The life of a vape coil will depend largely on how often you use it, how well you take care of it, and what you are vaping. For example, coils used for wax vaping have a very short lifespan compared to coils in vape tanks, but a heavy vape juice vaper may need to replace their coils more often than a casual wax vaper.    In general, heating coils can last up to a month, though this will depend on the factors we mentioned before.  How to Clean a Vape Pen? Vape pens usually require much less cleaning than a vape tank will (especially if using prefilled, disposable cartridges). However, you'll still want to keep residue from building up on the outside of the device (which will naturally happen as vapor comes into contact with the outside of the pen).    To clean a vape pen, take a dry cloth and wipe down the outside. This is usually all you'll need to do to keep a vape pen from getting sticky, gross, and hard to use. If you need a more thorough clean, wipe the device down with a damp rag. You'll never soak a vape pen or use harsher cleaning agents (like the ones we mentioned before). Conclusion Keeping your vape coils and vape tanks clean is pivotal to keep your device long-lasting and your vapor tasting great. Luckily, most cleaning for any style of vape is relatively simple and straightforward. Just be sure to put in the occasional time to keep the device clean and to keep watch of any signs that you need a deeper clean or a component replaced.  Looking for a long-lasting, easy-to-clean dry herb vape? Then take a look at the Firefly 2+. It's simple design makes it easy to maintain, but its high-quality components consistently provide some of the best-tasting vapor cannabis vapes have to offer!   SHOP NOW