Every Type of Vaporizer: A Visual Guide

A vaporizer is a device that heats your cannabis just enough to release its essential compounds, like THC and terpenes, without actually burning the plant.

Whether you’re using a dry herb vaporizer, a wax pen, or even a dab rig for concentrates, the concept is the same: it turns your cannabis into vapor, delivering a cleaner high without the harshness of smoke filling your lungs.

Not all vaporizers are created equal, every vaporizer type offers a different way to enjoy cannabis:

• Dry Herb: Clean, smooth hits with the natural flavor of cannabis flower.
• Concentrate pens: Potent, fast-acting vapor from oils or waxes, for higher intensity.
• Nectar Collector: Direct, micro-dosing dabs for concentrate lovers.
• Portable vapes: Small and easy to take anywhere, perfect for vaping on the move.
• Desktop: Consistent, powerful vapor for home sessions, built for comfort and performance.

Compare: Vaping vs dabbing or vaping vs bongs

How you heat changes everything

Different vaporizers use different heating methods; the one you choose makes all the difference from flavor to intensity. The two main vaporizer heating methods are convection and conduction.

Conduction heating is where the heating element (ceramic, metal, or quartz) becomes hot and the surface directly touches the ground cannabis.

• Dab rigs, nectar collectors, E-nails, and some dry herb vaporizers are conduction
• Pros: Cheaper, faster heat-up times, simpler to use, produces thicker vapors
• Cons: Uneven heating, hot spots, higher risk of smoke, less efficient

Convection heating is when the vaporizer uses hot air to heat the ground cannabis without direct contact burning (conduction).

• Some dry herb and desktop vaporizers and portable vaporizers are convection
• Pros: Even heating, better flavor, more efficient extraction, lower risk of combustion
• Cons: More expensive, larger and less portable, longer heat-up times

Dry herb vaporizers:Healthiest

Dry herb vaporizers gently heat your cannabis just enough to release the good stuff, without producing any smoke or toxins. 

Key benefit: According to Dr. Dale Gieringer, vaporizing your dry herbs at 392°F cuts harmful toxins by up to 95%. Learn the key differences between dry herb and smoking cannabis.

How it works: A dry herb vaporizer is an electronic device that heats ground cannabis flower just enough to release THC and CBD as vapor, without burning the plant (smoke). This means you inhale pure vapor, avoiding harmful smoke and toxins, for a smoother, clearer high that’s less overwhelming than traditional smoking devices.

• Clear-headed: Enjoy the benefits without the racing thoughts or heavy feelings often associated with smoking.
• Discreet: Vapor produces minimal odor and is barely visible.
• Terp surfing: Taste the full spectrum of your cannabis's natural terpenes by setting low temperatures to isolate terpenes (terp surfing).

Learn: How to use a dry herb vaporizer or what is a dry herb vape.

Desktop vaporizer

Desktop vaporizers are powerful devices that deliver the purest and most potent cannabis vapor right in the comfort of your home.

Key benefit:Desktop vaporizers have advanced heating technology powered by continuous power from an outlet, which delivers stronger effects and richer flavors than portable vaporizers.

How it works:A desktop vaporizer is a stationary device that you plug into a wall outlet, allowing for a steady stream of power. They use convection or hybrid heating to evenly vaporize your cannabis without burning it. You inhale the vapor through a whip (tube) or fill a balloon bag to enjoy vapor at your own pace.

• Powerful performance: Experience stronger effects with dense, high-quality vapor.
• Great for groups: Ideal for sharing with friends without compromising vapor quality.
• Consistent sessions: Enjoy precise temperature control and continuous power for reliable performance.

Learn: What is a desktop vaporizer

Concentrate pens

Concentrate pens are sleek, pocket-sized devices that vaporize cannabis extracts like wax or shatter anywhere you go.

Key benefit: Dab pens vaporize ultra-potent concentrates with up to 90% THC, delivering intense effects from tiny amounts. Many models are draw-activated, meaning no prep or heat time, just load and vape.

How it works: A concentrate pen uses a battery-powered heating coil to heat your cannabis extract to the perfect temperatures without burning it. Load a small amount of concentrate into the chamber, press the button, and inhale through the mouthpiece. This pulls flavorful vapor rich in cannabinoids and terpenes.

• Instant potency: Feel the effects within seconds due to rapid absorption.
• Discreet design: Minimal odor and compact size make it perfect for any occasion.
• Ready to go: Minimal set up or prep time, just inhale and enjoy.

Learn: How to choose the right vape pen

Oil cartridge vaporizers:plug and play

Oil cartridge vaporizers are plug-and-play devices using pre-filled oil cartridges—just attach to a battery and inhale, super simple.

Key benefit: If precise dosing matters to you, cartridge oils are designed for total accuracy. With perfectly measured THC/CBD ratios, you’ll know exactly how much you’re getting in every hit whether you want a full dose or micro-dose.

How it works: An oil cart vaporizer is a battery-powered device that connects to a pre-filled cannabis oil cartridge, typically through a standard 510-thread battery. When you inhale or press a button, the device heats the oil to create vapor instantly. This means you can enjoy consistent and potent effects anytime, anywhere, without grinding, loading, or cleaning.

• Shelf life: Cartridges create airtight seals protecting the oils from exposure to oxygen, light, and moisture.
• Mix and match: Take a hit from one cart, and swap another to customize your entourage effect experience (the way cannabinoids synergistically work together with terpenes.
• Terpene preservation:Oil cartridges, especially those using CO2 extraction, preserve the full spectrum of terpenes.

Learn: How to spot real vs fake THC carts

Hybrid vaporizers:dab or flower

Hybrid vaporizers let you switch between dry herbs and concentrates in one device, giving you the freedom to enjoy cannabis any way you like.

Key benefit: With advanced hybrid vaporizers, you control the balance between conduction and convection heating. This means you can choose fuller, stronger hits with conduction or smoother, pure flavor with convection.

How it works: Hybrid vaporizers come with interchangeable chambers – one for flowers and one for concentrates like wax or oil. Swap the chamber depending on what you’re vaping, and the device adjusts its heating style for either flowers or dabs. Lower temps give you smooth, flavorful hits for flowers and higher settings are perfect for vaporizing concentrates.

• Dual-use: Easily switch between dry herbs and concentrates all in one device.
• Dynamic heating: Dynamically switch between conduction and convection heating in a single session.
• Synergistic heating: The combination of heating methods allows for incredibly fast and even heating, unlike other single heating devices.

Type: Combines both conduction and convection heating

E-nails:No more torch

An e-nail is an electronic heating system that connects to your dab rig, using a coil to heat the metal banger perfectly—no torch needed. 

Key benefit: Dabbing with a torch is rough. E-nails deliver perfect, consistent heat for flawless dabs every time. No more torches, no wasted butane, just pure, potent hits with zero effort.

How it works:An e-nail has many moving parts. It uses an electronic device that sends heat up a wire to your metal or quartz nail using electricity. You set the heat level, and the e-nail maintains it consistently. Just put your concentrate on the heated nail to vaporize it instantly. This setup removes the need for butane and makes the dabbing experience safer and more reliable.

• Safety upgrade: Eliminates the risk associated with using open-flame torches.
• Temperature precision: Dial in exact heat settings to unlock optimal flavors and effects.
• Consistent performance: Enjoy reliable, high-quality dabs every session without errors and mistakes common with torches.

Type: Conduction heating (electricity)

Dab rigs:Strongest

Dab rigs are water pipes, similar to bongs, designed for vaporizing cannabis concentrates like wax or shatter using a butane torch.

Key benefit: Dab rigs offer one of the most potent ways to consume concentrates, delivering a much more intense experience than traditional vaporizers or smoking methods.

How it works: A dab rig uses a "banger" made of glass, quartz, or titanium. You heat the nail with a torch until it's hot enough, then apply a tiny amount of concentrate with a dab wand. The heat instantly vaporizes the concentrate, and you inhale the vapor through the rig's mouthpiece. The water chamber cools the vapor, for a smooth but powerful rip.

• Maximum potency: Experience strong effects with minimal concentrate.
• Rich flavor: Enjoy the full terpene profile preserved in the vapor.
• Torch skills: Learn advanced torch tricks to customize your dab vapors

Learn: Dabbing vs vaping (the key differences) or what is a dab rig

 

Disposable vape pens:Hassle free

Disposable vape pens are pre-filled with THC oil and are meant to be maintenance-free. Just inhale, enjoy, and dispose of responsibly when finished.

Key benefit: Disposable vape pens offer unmatched convenience: no maintenance, no cleaning, no charging, and zero refills. 

How it works: A disposable vape pen is as simple as it gets. It comes pre-filled with cannabis oil and pre-charged, so you can start vaping immediately. There’s no button to press. You just inhale from the mouthpiece, and the device activates, heating the oil to produce vapor. Once the oil is gone, just throw away the pen.

• Easy to use: No setup or learning curve making it perfect for beginners.
• Ultra-portable: Slim design fits easily in your pocket or purse.
• Discreet consumption: Very little odor and vapors make it great for discreet or indoor use.

Type: Conduction heating

Electric dab rigs:100% extraction

Electric dab rigs are the best concentrate vaporizers, eliminating the need for a dab torch.

Key benefit: Electric dab rigs are specifically optimized for concentrates, delivering near 100% extraction with minimal waste. They vaporize more efficiently than any other device, require less cleaning, and provide much smoother hits because of water percolation.

How it works: An electric rig heats a small dish made of quartz or ceramic using a large internal battery. Once the dish reaches vaporization temperatures, you place some concentrate dabs in the dish, and it instantly turns to vapor. The vapor then travels through the water to bubble and cool, delivering a smooth and filtered hit without using a torch.

• Keeps flavor fresh: Fast heating locks in the natural flavors of your concentrate, so you taste every hit just like it’s meant to be.
• Control your clouds: Adjust the airflow to make your hits as light or thick as you want.
• Maximizes potency: Designed specifically for concentrates, this device extracts almost all the power from each dab, giving you stronger hits with less waste.

Learn: What is an electric dab rig or best dab temperature

Nectar collectors:Micro-dosing

Nectar collectors or dab straws are thin glass tubes that let you vaporize concentrate from a dish with a torch. Think of it like a portable glass dab rig.

Key benefit: The unique design of nectar collectors makes it great for micro dosing concentrates. You can take extremely small and measured hits, which is very hard to replicate with dab rigs but still get near 100% extraction rates on micro hits. 

How it works: A nectar collector has a heated tip that you touch directly to your concentrate. Heat the tip with a torch until it’s orange, let it cool for a bit, then gently dip it into the concentrate and inhale through the mouthpiece. This method vaporizes dabs instantly, letting you control exactly how much you intake. Simple, efficient, and surprisingly precise.

• Mind-blowing efficiency:Direct contact vaporization extracts nearly 100% of concentrates, maximizing your stash.
• Flavor explosion:Instant vaporization captures peak terpene profiles, delivering unmatched taste and aroma.
• Precise control:Easily take tiny, measured hits for a perfectly tailored experience every time.

Learn: What is a nectar collector

Water pipe compatible vaporizers

Water pipe compatible vaporizers are an electronic vaporizer that connects to your bong using a water pipe adapter (WPA). The WPA replaces the bong’s bowl, allowing the vaporizer to deliver smoother vapors into your bong’s water chamber for water diffusion.

Key benefit: Water filtration and diffusion dramatically cool hot vapor, which lets you vaporize cannabis at much higher temperatures for larger hits without throat irritation or coughing. Bigger hits, richer vapors, zero coughing.

How it works: Simply attach your vaporizer to your bong with an adapter. Load your herb or concentrate into the vaporizer, and as the vaporization heats the vapors travel through the water in your bong. The percolator in your bong creates water bubbles that filter out impurities, cool the vapor, and give you a smooth inhale without any coughing.

• Flavor nirvana:Water cooling preserves delicate terpenes, unlocking flavorful tastes you've never experienced before.
• Ultimate customization:Dial in your perfect temps and tweak water levels and temperatures for a very smooth and custom experience
• Two-in-one magic:Seamlessly switch between smooth water-filtered hits and potent dry herb vaping in one device.

Type: Conduction, convection, or hybrid heating.

Stealth vaporizers

Stealth vaporizers let you enjoy cannabis discreetly using devices disguised as everyday items like stealth vape lighters or keychains.

Key benefit: They offer ultimate discretion by mimicking common objects, allowing you to vape without drawing unwanted attention. Many of these devices like the Lit Vape Battery, let you store carts inside of the lighter for maximum stealth.

How it works: These vaporizers are cleverly designed to look like regular items but are usually a 510-threaded battery for vaporizing cannabis. They work by attaching compatible cartridges to the device to vaporize oil concentrate. These devices were meant to blend into the environment and not raise any suspicion. 

• Disguised design: Looks like a lighter or keychain, keeping your sessions low-key.
• Easy portability: Compact and lightweight for vaping on the go.
• Quick activation: Simple operation lets you vape swiftly and discreetly.

Type: Conduction heating

Metal dry herb vaporizers

A metal dry herb vaporizer is non-electric and uses a torch to heat your cannabis into vapor, giving you pure flavor without smoke in an indestructible and portable design.

Key benefit: Metal dry herb vaporizers use a unique heating method where it evenly heats cannabis flowers in a very small chamber, allowing you to extract more cannabinoids from your herb in fewer hits. The metal build and small size make this truly the most travel-friendly vaporizer on the market.

How it works: This vaporizer uses a metal cap that you heat with a torch until it clicks, signaling it’s ready. Place your dry herb in the small chamber, heat the cap with a torch, and once it clicks inhale through the mouthpiece. The smaller compartment vaporizes your herb without burning it, giving you a smooth and flavorful hit with zero electronics needed.

• Master the ritual: This vaporizer rewards skill with a personalized experience, allowing you to perfect your technique and enjoy the process.
• Built to last: Its durable, all-metal design means you never have to worry about drops, breaks, or electronics failing.
• Precise control: The adjustable chamber lets you micro-dose easily, giving you efficient, customized sessions every time.

Type: Conduction heating (torch)

Electric dab straws

Electric dab straws are the electric versions of nectar collectors where the device heats the nail electronically and you place the tip of the nail into the vapor directly and inhale the vapors through the mouthpiece.

Key benefit: Unlike traditional nectar collectors which use a torch, electric dab straws maintain a steady temperature throughout the session. This prevents heat fluctuations on the tip, which pulls more rich, robust, and reliable dabs.

How it works: An electric dab straw heats up with a battery-powered tip. Press the heat button and once it reaches vaporization temperatures, just touch the tip of the straw on to your concentrate while inhaling through the mouthpiece. This instantly vaporizes the concentrate without the need for a torch.

• Torch-free dabbing: Safer operation without open flames.
• Portable convenience: Compact design allows for dabbing anywhere.
• User-friendly: Simple operation suitable for all experience levels.

Type: Conduction heating (electric)

E-liquid vaporizers

E-liquid vaporizers use flavored liquids to deliver nicotine or cannabis extracts in vapor form, offering an alternative to traditional smoking.

Key benefit: They provide a customizable experience with a wide range of flavors and strengths, catering to personal preferences.

How it works: The device consists of a battery, a tank or cartridge filled with e-liquid, and a heating element called an atomizer. When activated, the atomizer heats the e-liquid, turning it into vapor that you inhale. This method avoids combustion, reducing exposure to harmful toxins found in smoke.

• Flavor variety: Choose from countless e-liquid flavors to suit your taste.
• Controlled intake: Select your preferred nicotine or cannabis concentration.
• Reusable systems: Refillable tanks and rechargeable batteries make it cost-effective and eco-friendly.

Type: Conduction heating

Portable vaporizers

Portable vaporizers heat your cannabis on the go, delivering the benefits of vaporization in a pocket-sized device.

Key benefit: Portable vaporizers offer discreet, immediate relief wherever you are, ideal for quick symptom management.

How it works: A portable vaporizer is a battery-powered device that heats your cannabis (dry herb or concentrates) to a precise temperature, releasing active compounds as vapor without burning the material. This means you inhale pure vapor without smoke or strong odors, allowing for a smoother, more controlled experience wherever you are.

• Discreet use: Compact design and minimal odor make it perfect for private consumption.
• Instant access: Quick heat-up times let you medicate when you need it most.
• Personalized sessions: Adjustable temperature settings for customized effects.

Type: Conduction, convection, or hybrid heating

3-in-1 Vaporizers

3-in-1 vaporizers let you enjoy dry herbs, concentrates, and oils all with one device, offering unmatched versatility.

Key benefit: They provide the flexibility to switch between different cannabis forms effortlessly, saving you money and space.

How it works: A 3-in-1 vaporizer comes with interchangeable chambers or attachments for dry herbs, concentrates, and oils. Simply swap the chamber, select the appropriate temperature setting, and enjoy your chosen material. This all-in-one solution means you can explore various forms of cannabis without needing multiple devices.

• Versatile use: Vaporize dry herb, wax, and oil with a single device.
• Economical choice: No need to purchase separate vaporizers.
• Convenient switching: Easily change materials to suit your preference.

Type: Hybrid heating 

Final thoughts

In conclusion, choosing the right vaporizer comes down to understanding how each type works and what you want from your cannabis experience. Whether you’re looking for the pure flavor and control of adry herb vaporizer, the powerful hits of aconcentrate-specific vape, or the portability of avape pen, each device offers something unique. 

Hybrid vaporizers give you the best of both worlds, whiledesktop models deliver unmatched precision and power for those who prioritize session quality. For those who want something simple and effective,disposable pens andportable vapes are great options on the go. Each type caters to different needs, but all promise smoother, more efficient consumption compared to traditional smoking. 

By visualizing how each type works, you can better decide which vaporizer will elevate your experience, making each session tailored to your preferences.