Best portable vaporizers for dry herb, flower and loose leaf - The 2020 edition
If you're looking for a good dry herb vape then you came to the right place. We only feature the highest rated devices we tried and liked so far.
The best portable herb vaporizers are ranked according to category, performance and the feedback we got from our readers. We considered multiple aspects when creating this extensive list.
This list will get updated regularly. If we receive new vape pens or vaporizers for herb, that surpass our expectations, we always make sure to add it to this recommended herb vapes page.
So what are we looking for, besides portability, battery life and chamber sizes? When putting together this list of our winning herb vaporizers we looked at several important things. 1) Fast heating chambers, 2) real time temperature adjustment and 3) intuitive displays. If the portable loose leaf vaporizer had any or all of these features we tested and rated the vapes accordingly.
Last but not least, Flavor. This is very important to us. The herbal taste has to be on point even during extended sessions. As a bonus: We like seeing herb vaporizer manufacturers add the most needed maintenance tools in the box.
Last updated: December 2019
Disclosure: The herb vapes featured on this page were tested by our trained team of reviewers. We use affiliate links to these products as part of the review. This means that we receive a small commission whenever you make a purchase using one of our links. However, this will never influence our opinions and ratings we give to these devices. It also doesn't affect the price you pay for any particular vape. The commissions we earn are used to keep the site up and running. This way we will always be unbiased and honest when it comes to our recommendations.
Ecigguide.com is not intended to be accessed or used by individuals under eighteen years of age. If you are under eighteen (18) years of age please leave this website immediately. We also do not provide medical advice, and all the content is for general information purposes only.
Recommended portable weed vapes in 2020
Because flavor and taste are subjective, we didn't use only our ratings when creating this list. Some people might agree on the general rankings while others might have a different opinion. We wanted to include quality to price ratio, general performance over time and feedback from our readers.
These are definitely the best overall vaporizers money can buy.
Best rated based on: | Brand | Model | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Performance | Davinci | IQ | $274.99 |
MigVapor | DRAY | $139.95 | |
Best Vapor Production | Storz & Bickel | Crafty | $339.00 |
Arizer | Solo II | $199.00 | |
Best Convection Vaporizer | Boundless | CFV | $199.95 |
Firefly Vapor | Firefly 2 | $329.99 | |
Best Flavor | Magic Flight | Launch Box | $119.00 |
PaxLabs | PAX 3 | $249.99 | |
Best Quality to Price | Mig Vapor | Herb-E | $59.95 |
DaVinci | MIQRO | $199.99 | |
Best Beginners | Migvapor | Khan | $159.95 |
Best Performance
These are the best in class dry herb vaporizers in terms of performance. They are packed with features and the build quality is exceptional. And while these devices are more expensive then what you will find in other categories, the flavor, vapor and overall experience are absolutely amazing.
Davinci IQ Vaporizer
With its 51-LED grid display and incredible vape performance, the DaVinci IQ is one of the best conduction vaporizers we tested. It has a patented Zirconia mouthpiece for crystal clear flavor and a smart path to further enhance taste and overall experience.
The IQ is powered by a removable 18650 battery and weighs under 140 grams. It's very portable, easy to use and you can use it for multiple sessions on a single charge. We really like the boost feature which enhances vapor production and flavor when you keep the fire button pressed.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Zirconia mouthpiece and oven door | Sometimes it's a bit hard to clean throughly |
Smart Path technology | |
Vibration feedback |
Verdict: The DaVinci IQ makes conduction heating absolutely shine with incredible performance and eye catching looks.
Mig Vapor DRAY
The Mig Vapor DRAY is a compact weed vape which features precise temperature control and vibration feedback. Has a rubberized outer shell and it's powered by a non removable 1800mAh battery. It's the right vape for flavor and vapor and it's extremely versatile.
It offers precise temperature adjustment, and it reaches the maximum value of 430F in around 40s. The device also features vibration feedback whenever it's ready to vape.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Precise temperature adjustment | Battery life could be a bit better |
OLED display | |
0.5g capacity |
Verdict: The MigVapor DRAY is a top of the line vaporizer for weed with various features and great build quality. It's easy to use and it can fit up to 0.5 grams inside the oven.
Best Vapor Production
If you're looking for a portable herb vaporizer with best vapor production then we definitely recommend one of these products. These are some of the most powerful devices on the market right now. They also have the technology to deliver amazing clouds and flavor.
Crafty Vaporizer
A bit bulkier in looks than your average dry herb vape, the Crafty from Storz & Bickel is also one of the best. In terms of vapor production it has very few competitors and it comes with its own dedicated smart phone app. German engineering at its finest to create a solid performer that gets the job done every time.
This is not the smallest or the most portable device on our best loose leaf material vapes page but it's definitely the most powerful. The built-in 2650mAh battery is pretty reasonable for enough good sessions on this monster of a vaporizer.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Best in class vapor production | Expensive |
Outstanding build quality | Not that many temperature settings |
German precision and engineering |
Verdict: Not the stealthiest of herb vape devices but certainly one of the top performers in its category.
Arizer Solo 2
The Arizer Solo 2 combines convection and conduction heating for a superior overall performance. Vapor production is off the charts and the full glass mouthpiece and oven section give the purest taste. The temperature can be fully adjustable and change the units from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
Battery life of 3,400mAh is more than reasonable and you get an aromatherapy kit in the box. Has precise temperature control and it takes around 30s for the oven to heat up. Not to mention the oven, which is easy to fill and doesn't require frequent maintenance.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Borosilicate glass mouthpiece | Proprietary charger and port |
Convection combined with conduction heating | Not as portable as some of the competitors |
Great flavor |
Verdict: The Arizer Solo 2 is one of the top performing dry herb vaporizers we ever got the chance to test with great overall vapor production, crisp flavor and impressive battery life.
Best Convection vaporizers
Convection vaporizers incorporate superior heating technology. This helps extract much better flavor, with the purest taste. Battery life is not as good as on some of the other devices but the overall experience is definitely worth it.
Boundless CFV
The Boundless CFV is one of our favorite convection heating vaporizers. The device offers adjustable and very precise temperature control as well as four different flavor rings to futher enhance your dry herb experience.
The build quality and materials used are great and the vaporizer is very esy to use. Battery life is of around 30 - 45 minutes, depending on the temperature setting, however this is expected from a convection vaporizer.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Fully adjustable temperature settings | Flavor rings don't have noticeable effects |
Convection heating | Battery life could be better for this price |
Great build quality |
Verdict: When it comes to convection vapes the Boundless CFV is hard to beat. Quality to price ratio is great and the flavor is spot on.
Firefly 2 Vaporizer
The Firefly 2 is futuristic herb vaporizer that boasts numerous high end features. The build quality is flawless, the finish is luxurious and both flavor and vapor production are top notch. It comes with its own smart-phone app and it's able to reach 400F in just 5 seconds.
Due to the full glass oven and air path, this device delivers a very pure dry herb experience. It's one of the smartest vaporizers to date and it gets the job done flawlessly.
Unfortunately it doesn't handle drops and mechanicals shocks that great, so you will need to be extra careful.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Outstanding build quality | Price tag |
One of the best designs out there | Can't use it while the battery is charging |
Looks and performance | Battery life is not that great |
Verdict: Futuristic looks meet incredible vape performance to create one of the most beautiful dry herb pens on the market today.
Best Flavor
We know flavor is subjective, but these vaporizers have scored the highest during our tests. And although the best flavor dry herb and flower vaporizer might seem like some sort of unicorn, we suggest giving anyone of these devices a try. You will be amazed by the pure taste and super-smooth vapor.
Magic Flight Launch Box Vaporizer
Despite its simplistic design and looks, the Magic Flight Launch Box is one of the best in terms of flavor. It has no circuits, no boards and no internal batteries, but yet it manages to impress with every single puff.
And while you might seem hesitant to spend over $100 on a wooden box, you have to trust us on this one. The taste you get from it surpasses even the most expensive herbal vaporizer on the market.
Unfortunately it does require a learning curve to get the best results, and battery life is not that amazing.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Price | Sub par battery life |
Design and ease of use | Have to constantly shake it between puffs |
Amazig flavor | Seems rudimentary |
Verdict: One of the greatest surprises we had when testing a weed vaporizer. Flavor on the Magic Flight Launch box is just fantastic.
PAX 3 Vaporizer
With several improvements in terms of battery life and performance, the new PAX 3 dry herb vaporizer offers a far better experience than its predecessor. State of the art technology, incredible flavor and solid vapor production with every single puff.
This is one of our favorite all time portable dry leaf vaporizers and offers super-smooth vapor. The design and air path are really impressive and the LED lights are a nice added touch.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Flavor, vapor production and build quality | Concentrates insert is a bit tricky to use |
10-year warranty | Not that resistant to drops |
15s heat up time |
Verdict: One of the best dry herb vaporizers just got better and the experience it delivers is just stellar.
Best Quality to Price ratio
These are definitely not the cheapest portable vaporizers for weed, but the ones that offer the best bang for your buck. They are packed with features, deliver great vapor and flavor and most importantly: they are easy to use. Great for beginners and intermediates alike, these portable dry herb vapes are our top picks.
Mig Vapor Herb-E
The MigVapor Herb-E is hands down one of the best quality to price dry herb vaporizers on the market today. It's very well built, easy to use and ultra portable. The devices has two temperature settings and battery life is more than decent.
Flavor and vapor are really impressive for this price range and you can pack up to 0.4 grams of botanical inside its oven. It's also one of the products we mostly recommend to beginners due to its simplicity.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Ultra-portable | The chamber is made from aluminum |
Easy to use | |
Great quality to price ratio |
Verdict: The MigVapor Herb-E vaporizer is fun to use, ultra portable and has two temperature presets. It produces really good vapor and flavor in this price range and comes with amazing warranty.
Davinci MIQRO
The Davinci MIQRO is a small and portable herb vaporizer powered by a single 18350 battery. It's one of the lightest devices featured on this page, weighing at just around 100 grams. You can also get it in Amethyst, Rust, Cobalt, Graphite, and Onyx to match your vibrant lifestyle.
The vaporizer uses the same Zirconia ceramic air path as it's bigger brother and delivers stellar flavor. The build quality is really good and it offers the best bang for your buck.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Zirconia air path for purest flavor | Sub-par battery life |
Solid build quality | Vapor production could be better |
Smarth path temp control |
Verdict: The Davinci MIQRO vape is well built, ultra-portable and comes in a wide range of colors. It offers excellent quality to price ratio and it's powered by a removable 18350 battery.
MigVapor The Four Vaporizer
The MigVapor Four Vaporizer is a great dry herb device that comes with the best quality to price ratio and it's mainly addressed at beginners. It has five select-able temperature presets, a glass mouthpiece and a huge ceramic oven. It only uses conduction heating but it does an amazing job and it's paired with a good 2500mAh battery that easily lasts between 8-12 sessions.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Very easy to use | The oven needs to be stirred |
Glass mouthpiece | Only 5 temperature presets |
Massive 1g oven |
Verdict: The MigVapor Four Vaporizer is well built, dependable and very easy to use. The massive chamber and great battery life make it a product we definitely recommend.
Beginners
After serious testing and thought we decided that these are the best dry herb vaporizers for beginners. The devices are easy to use, portable and are great for non-experienced users. The process is intuitive and the flavor and vapor production are spot on.
Migvapor Khan Vaporizer
When it comes to vaporizers for beginners the Migvapor Khan Vaporizer offers great quality and performance at an affordable price. It features a nice glass mouthpiece, ceramic oven and a bubble attachment to help cool down the vapor even more. Battery life is stellar and built quality is on par with MigVapor's previous products.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Full temperature control | Tricky to adjust temperature |
Glass mouthpiece and bubble attachment | It can get pretty hot |
Great battery life | Only conduction heating |
Verdict: The Khan dry herb vaporizer offers fully adjustable temperature, a glass mouthpiece as well as a bubbler attachment and very good battery life. It's a product we definitely recommend and it's clearly our number #1 pick in this category.
Eclipse Dry Herb Vaporizer
Hey The combination between glass mouthpiece, ceramic chamber and top oven placement make the Eclipse Herb Vaporizer a really good quality to price ratio competitor. You can adjust temperature between 300F - 435F in one degree increments.
It takes a maximum of 40s for the device to reach peak value. Battery life is great and flavor as well as vapor production are pretty surprising for this price range.
What we liked | What we didn't like |
---|---|
Full temperature control | The mouthpiece is delicate |
Glass mouthpiece | A bit of a hassle co clean the oven |
Great battery life |
Verdict: In the best quality to price ratio category it’s hard to find a product better than the Eclipse Herb Vaporizer. This 2200mAh portable herb vape offers really good flavor temperature is fully adjustable.
The Best Dry Herb Vapes 2020
- DaVinci IQ – Performance winner
- MigVapor DRAY - High ranking conduction heating dry herb vaporizer
- Crafty - Outstanding vapor production
- Utillian 721 - The Ultimate Convection vape
- Magic Flight Launch Box - Purest flavor
- MigVapor Herb-E – Great quality to price ratio
- Firefly 2 – Looks/design
- MigVapor Khan – Our top choice for beginners
- Davinci MIQRO – Amazing quality to price ratio for a midrange vaporizer
Top lists are difficult to do when it comes to dry herb vaporizers. Many times flavor and vapor production are subjective or depend on the mixes you're using. Don't expect to be chasing clouds because with dry herbs it's mostly about the taste and experience. Your budget plays a crucial role in this category but there are always good alternatives. Don't forget to do some in depth research before buying a herbal vape pen and don't hesitate to contact us if you have more questions.
*Note: We update this list on a regular basis. The prices mentioned are the lowest at the moment. If by any chance you find these vapes somewhere for less please contact us and we will make sure you will always get the lowest rates.
Herb vaporizers explained
What is a portable dry herb vaporizer?
Dry herb vaporizers are portable devices which heat up the grinded plant mixture just below the point of combustion. This makes the essential oils volatile and ready to be inhaled. Compared to traditional methods, with dry herb vapes you don’t get any smoke and ash, therefore no carcinogens.
These vaporizers work either by conduction or convection and are powered by a built in or removable battery. It can take between a couple of seconds to up to a minute for device to reach optimum temperature for vaping . Current from the battery heats up the chamber, which is made from stainless steel or ceramic.
Depending on the type of chamber, placement of the chamber, type of air path and mouthpiece, dry herb vaporizers offer different types of experiences. Cheaper devices have the chamber right below the plastic or silicone mouthpiece and use convection to heat up the plant mixture.
More expensive portable vapes have the chamber at the bottom, longer air paths, ceramic chambers and glass mouthpieces. Some models even use convection heating, which makes them even more efficient.
The main types of dry herb vaporizers
Electronic dry herb vaporizers fall into three separate categories: pen vaporizers, portable vaporizers and desktop vaporizers. Pen vaporizers are the cheapest and the most basic while desktop plant vaporizers are the most expensive but offer the best flavor and vapor and are great for shared sessions.
Pen vaporizers consist of a small built-in battery and a small chamber for dry herb. They usually have a single temperature preset and are mostly intended for beginners and medicinal use. Flavor and vapor are not that great but they do a decent job at extracting the essential oils from the plant. Not to be confused with DAB pens, which are specifically designed to work with waxes and concentrates.
Portable vaporizers are the most commonly used and the most popular. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes but they all serve a single purpose: to offer a great on the go dry herb experience. The oven usually a total capacity between 0.2 – 0.5 grams and the internal or removable battery is rated for 1,200 – 3,400mAh.
Portable herb vapes usually have one or more temperature presets and some models even feature precise temperature adjustment in 1F increments. The oven is made from ceramic, stainless steel, aluminum, or glass and it uses either conduction of convection heating.
Desktop vaporizers are the most expensive and they produce the most vapor. However, they are not that portable. These devices don't have an internal battery and they need to be plugged in to a mains power supply. They offer the most accurate temperature control and the experience is hands down one of the best you can have.
Convection heating or conduction heating?
Most dry herb vaporizers we tested use conduction heating. This is a very easy to implement technology and can produce pretty good results. Conduction means heat is transferred to the grinded botanical by direct contact.
This method isn’t that expensive, works well and accounts for good vapor and flavor. The cons are uneven vaporization, having to constantly stir through the mixture and a higher risk of partial combustion. Convection heating is more complicated and therefore more expensive to implement. Convection means the dry herb is heated indirectly, though a steady stream of hot air. This accounts for much better flavor, and more consistency throughout the session.
The risk of combustion is also very low. First con of this method however is the high price of convection vaporizers. Second con is that these devices need constant and more in depth cleaning. The chamber can easily get clogged with vaporized residue. This in turns stops the steam of hot air from uniformly reaching the dried botanical.
With conduction heating the plant material needs to be compacted inside the chamber. In the case of convection the mixture has to be looser so that air can circulate freely through it.
The 3 main parts of a dry herb vaporizer
Any portable dry herb vape consists of three main parts: the body, the chamber or oven and the mouthpiece. The body can have a single button or multiple buttons. Dry herb vapes with a single button usually have one or more LED notification lights.
These are the easiest to use. Multiple button vaporizers are a bit more complex. They usually have temperature adjustment, and LCD display and allow for more control over the vape experience. The body also holds the battery. This can be built-in or user replaceable. Capacity ranges from 1000 - 3000mAh and usually the bigger, the better.
The vaporizing oven or chamber is placed on the top or bottom part and it’s usually covered by a door or by the mouthpiece itself. This is made from ceramic or stainless steel. Usual capacity is between 0.2 - 0.5 grams. When the chamber is placed on the bottom of the device, vapor has more time to cool since it travels a longer path.
Last but not least we have the mouthpiece. This can be made from plastic, silicone or glass. Glass mouthpieces usually allow the vapor to cool down before it reaches the lips. On some herb vapes the mouthpiece is completely flat. This might seem a bit odd at first, but the overall experience is pretty good.
Multi purpose vaporizers
As the name probably says it, multi purpose vaporizers can work with either e-liquids, dry herb and waxes. These devices come with interchangeable chambers, each one destined for a particular type of use.
They offer great versatility, especially in the case of users who enjoy both e-liquids and ground botanical or waxes.
Dry herb vapes for beginners
We recommend beginners to look for an entry level vaporizer. This usually doesn’t cost as much as high end devices but delivers a good amount of vapor and flavor. Heating type is usually conduction, and the chamber is placed on top.
Starter dry herb vaporizers come with a single button and one temperature setting. They have an LED notification light which indicates when it’s ready to vape. Battery life is not that great, and it’s not the type of device intended for shared sessions.
Loose leaf vaporizers for intermediate users
Mid range dry herb vaporizers are very popular. These devices usually have more than one temperature preset and the chamber is also placed on top. Battery life is a lot better than on entry level vapes.
The chamber can be either stainless steel or ceramic and the regular capacity is between 0.2 - 0.3 grams. In terms of vapor production and flavor it all depends on brand and model. However the experience is noticeable improved in comparison to low budget vaporizers.
Portable herb vapes for experienced users
Experienced users usually look for the best devices money can buy. These state of the art vaporizers include high end features and their batteries are amazing. Everything from Zirconia or glass air-paths to Bluetooth, smartphone app, and convection heating.
Vapor production on such a device is far superior to entry level or mid range products. Flavor is pure, odor is concealed and multiple temperature presets allow a more in depth tuning of the overall experience.
Grinder and grind tips for portable dry herb vaporizers
The experience you get from a portable dry herb vaporizer is often directly linked to how finely you grind your botanical and how well you pack it. It's very important to understand which type of grinder to use and how to pack the chamber in order the get the most of your device.
Dry herb grinders come in a variety of shapes and sizes; however the most commonly used are the cylindrical models. A good grinder has to be made from a high quality, lightweight metal like aluminum and feature a ceramic nonstick coating.
Other features like magnetic lids and lift-up stainless steel screens are also big pros to look for. A good grinder will definitely improve on aspects as vapor production and flavor and that's why it's best to avoid the cheaper, non-reliable models.
The way you grind and load the oven also has a big impact on overall performance. If you do it properly you will be able to enjoy better flavor as well as smoother and richer vapor. It's always better to grind your dry herb as finely as possible. This is will improve the overall experience on the wide majority of portable vaporizers. A 4-piece metal grinder does wonders in this case.
When packing the chamber there is one important aspect you need to consider: does your vaporizer use conduction or convection heating? Conduction vaporizers work better with a tightly packed oven, however you will need to stir the material from time to time in order to keep the vaporization process uniform.
Convection vaporizers on the other hand require hot air to pass through the bowl and this means you need to pack the herb loosely. An important tip is to only pack the oven up to 80 – 90% of its capacity. This will ensure great performance and the best possible flavor.
The minimum amount of herb you can pack into the bowl of your dry herb vape is so that it's uniformly spread on the bottom surface area. However, you will always get the best results when packing up to 50% or higher. In this case use a screen on top of the botanical to compress it.
Herb vaporizer buyer's guide
When it comes to dry herb vaporizers, your budget is the most important when making a purchase. Nowadays you can get some very capable vaporizer for just around $60. These are great for beginners and will deliver an adequate amount of flavor and vapor. If you are willing to spend a bit more, then the quality of these products are even better. You get more features, adjustable temperature and great battery life.
Most herbal vaporizers are very easy to use and they work in the same way. They have an oven which you will need to pack tightly or loosely with dry herb, and then it's just a matter of selecting the temperature and hitting the power button. Conduction vaporizers work better when the oven is tightly packed while convection vaporizer require more space for the air to pass through.
The important thing is not to expect similar vapor or clouds to e-liquid mods. This is simply not the case with weed vaporizers, as these devices are more focused on flavor and extracting all the volatile substances inside the herb. Powerful convection vaporizers will definitely have more noticeable vapor, but the temperatures are also higher.