Beginner’s guide to vape pens

But what is a vape pen? Simply put, it is an ultra-portable vaporizer that provides all the benefits of a standard vaporizer in a compact pen-shaped device. In addition to being potentially better for the body than smoking, vaporizer pens are easy to use, produce a discreet, nearly odorless vapor, and can be taken with you on the go. In short: no matter why you use herbs, there is definitely a vaporizer pen to meet your needs.

If you’re new to vaping and want to learn more, check out our complete beginner’s guide below.

How do vaporizer pens work?

Going into the basics, vape pens are simple inventions. The only two parts you have to worry about are the heating element and the space that holds your herbs, which can either be a dry herb container, a disposable concentrate cartridge (cartridge), or something similar.

In any case, the heating element will bring your herbs to a temperature between 150-230°C. At these low temperatures, the active ingredients in the herb turn into a vapor that you can inhale in much the same way as with any other vaporizer.

Different types of vaporizer pens

There are many different vape pens available today. You can come across vaporizers for dry herbs, vaporizers for concentrates and hybrid vaporizers. As fantastic as the technology is, you will definitely understand the difference between them just from the name alone. Dry herb vaporizers are, of course, used to vaporize flowers. Concentrate vaporizers, on the other hand, are designed to work with concentrates that vary in physical consistency. Finally, hybrid vaporizers are designed to work with either flowers or concentrates (the term hybrid is also usually applied to a vaporizer equipped with both methods of heating the material – conduction and convection).

Anatomy of a vaporizer pen

Some of the most important differences between these pens can be seen in their anatomy. However, the differences are not major.

In most pens, the largest component that serves as the body is the battery. Batteries are usually lithium-ion and are either rechargeable or replaceable. They all also have a mouthpiece that you use to inhale your product of choice. This product is vaporized by a heating element. Many devices have a button to activate said heating element, although some are buttonless.

Other pens, however, do not rely on battery power. Rather, they use the power of the flame provided by the lighter. As a result, they are only a fraction of the price, plus they have the advantage of not having to be recharged. However, you can’t control the temperature at which the herb is vaporized, and they could burn as a result of the flame. The difference isn’t too dramatic, however, and vaporizers that use a flame are a great choice.

The next most important component is the material chamber. Dry herb vaporizers contain a chamber that you simply fill. With vaporizers for concentrates, you usually purchase separate disposable cartridges that you throw away and replace when you run out. Some come with permanent chambers that you can put wax in, but these are not as common. You can also have a hybrid vaporizer which, as we mentioned, can handle both dry plant and concentrate.

How to use a vaporizer pen

Now we can move on to the fun part. Before you do anything, read the instructions for the pen. We’re definitely pretty smart, but the people who made your pen know it better than anyone. Our instructions apply generally to these types of pens, not to a specific type.

Charge

The first thing to do when you get a vaping pen is to charge it. Make some tea or take a walk, as it can take some time to charge a new vaporizer for the first time.

Load

Once your vaporizer pen is charged (you may be notified by an LED light that will let you know when this has happened), insert the cartridge into it. This will either be a permanent cartridge that you fill with flower or wax, or a disposable one that you screw in and smoke. After inserting the cartridge, put the vaping pen together. Read the instructions so you know how to do it correctly.

Vaporize

You are now ready for vaporizing action! With most button-operated vaporizers, you can turn them on and off by pressing them five times. Some devices also allow you to adjust the temperature. When using a vape pen for the first time, don’t make the common mistake of pulling too hard. With vaporizers, a slow and gentle stroke is required. There is also no need to “hold” the drag in your lungs, as the good stuff in the cartridge will be absorbed immediately.

Best practices when using a vaporizer pen

As with any device, you should keep some best practices in mind. The main one, of course, is regular cleaning. It doesn’t have to be after every use, but cleaning once a week (assuming regular use) will greatly extend the life of your pen.

The cleaning process is simple – first, disassemble the pen and rid it of any residue or ash in the chamber. Then use a small tube cleaner (these are sometimes supplied with the pen) and give it a good clean. Of course, this only applies to those with permanent cartridges. If it’s disposable, your only job is to throw it away when it’s empty. Unscrew the mouthpiece, if possible, and rinse it with warm water. Do not use water on any other parts of the vaporizer as this could cause extensive damage to the device.

Other than that, just follow the basic steps when vaporizing to avoid creating a mess that needs to be cleaned up. It’s really simple, just use the appropriate amount of herb or concentrate. If you use disposable cartridges, you have nothing to worry about. However, those with permanent cartridges will need to make sure that no material leaks out of their pens before coating. This will ensure minimal residue to clean up when the time comes.

Advantages and disadvantages

As we’ve already said, vape pens have many advantages. However, we have to be careful when we talk about them because objectively, they are not an improvement on traditional smoking. It all depends on personal preference!

Advantages

Discretion and portability

Lighting a joint full of material is not exactly a discreet way to enjoy herbs, especially in public. With a vaporizer pen, there are no worries in this regard! The vapor doesn’t produce an unmistakable smell like smoking, which means you can use it virtually anywhere without attracting too much attention. In addition, vaporizer pens are small enough that you can hide them in your pocket and they are perfectly portable.

Easier dosing

Almost every herb enthusiast knows of a situation where they have taken too much. This is much less likely to happen when vaporizing. Since it is easier to control how much of the active ingredients you take, these devices are often recommended for users for medicinal reasons.

Ease of use

Inserting the cartridge into the vaporizer and pressing the button is not something you need a degree in rocket science to do. In fact, it couldn’t be much easier. Compared to the art of wrapping material in paper or even using other, more complicated vaporizers, vaporizer pens are very convenient and easy to use.

Purity

Because your vaporizer pen won’t produce smoke, you’ll be able to enjoy a much cleaner herb experience. Likewise, when you fill the cartridge or reservoir, it won’t cause as much of a mess as when you smoke. We all know the mess that is left on the table when the job is done. You also won’t have to deal with the residue of smelly ash at the end of the session.

Disadvantages

They require regular care

If you get a cheap disposable vaporizer pen, this may not be a problem. However, if you have a “real” vape pen, you’ll definitely want to keep it in shape so that you can use it for a long time. Because vaping will accumulate all kinds of sticky resin, regular cleaning and maintenance is necessary. You should also not expose your vaping pen to conditions where it could get wet or dirty.

You may need to adjust the dose

Concentrates are usually much more effective than flowers. So if you’ve just switched from smoking to vaporizing, you may be better off starting with a smaller dose of herbs at first and gradually increasing it.

They require charging

Yes, you have to charge your vape pen, but think about it: charging a vaporizer is overall easier than crushing herbs and then wrapping them in paper. The only time this might be a problem is if you’re out with a dying vaporizer and don’t have a charger. Experienced users have two or more batteries and an external charger because one battery is used and the other is charged. That way they always have a charged battery.

Explore the world of vaporizer pens

It is impossible to discuss everything about vaporizers in one article. However, we think you now know more than enough to get started. The best way to keep learning is by using a vaporizer. There are plenty of pens out there and it’s hard to choose. However, there is enough information on our site to help you choose.