To find the best vaporizer, you need to think about how you intend to use it. Where will you vape? What will you vape? Think about what is important to you - do you prefer stealthiness or power? Dry herb or concentrate?
With all this in mind, our team of expert vape connoisseurs have compiled a list of the best portable vaporizers for 2018, with a description of each to help you decide which one is the best portable vaporizer for you.
PAX 3 vaporizer – where style meets high tech
PAX has been at the forefront of the best portable vaporizers for a few years. Their latest model, the PAX 3 offers several advantages over the excellent previous generation PAX 2, despite it coming in the same form factor. You get a better battery that holds more charge and heats up faster. You are also able to vape concentrates, thanks to the concentrate insert which is included in the box.
The PAX 3 is one of the best portable vaporizers due to its stealth factor. You can slip it into your bag or pocket, and no-one would know what it was. It’s perfect for a night out with friends. For those wanting to microdose, you can insert the oven lid that reduces the chamber capacity by 50%. This makes the PAX 3 a great portable vaporizer for those who want to make their favourite dry herbs last.
The PAX 3 can connect to your smartphone with an app. This allows you to customise your experience, and tweak the temperature settings to your preference. Having a smart vape enables you to update your vape to the latest firmware. PAX incrementally improve their software over time, so that you can benefit from an even better experience.
VapCap M Vaporizer - distinctive and powerful
The VapCap M from DynaVap is the best flame powered vape. It is one of the best portable vaporizers for those who like to vape both herbs and concentrates. Thanks to the fact there is no complex electronics in the device, it is one of the cheapest vapes on the market. It has the size of a pen – which makes it incredibly stealthy. The vapour quality is superb, which is why many vape connoisseurs prefer the VapCap over any other portable vape.
The VapCap M is made entering in-house in a small company in the USA. This gives them complete control over the products they produce, and makes sure that all VapCap M’s are of the highest possible quality.
The VapCap M is the best portable vaporizer for people who want to vape for extended periods, without having to be dependent on a power source. It’s ideal for camping trips or hikes in the wilderness. You could even heat it up on a campfire or with a candle. But our favourite method is with a jet torch flame lighter, preferably filled with refined butane gas.
Once you own a VapCap M it’s just the start. It’s a fantastic way into the whole DynaVap range that includes different fine materials and finishes such as ornate woods or titanium.
Boundless CFX Vaporizer – the next level of vaporizing
The Boundless CFX is one of the best portable vaporizers in terms of power to price ratio. It comes in a solid casing that can withstand some serious knocks. The powerful battery makes sure that the dry herbs you put in the large heating chamber are quickly heated, using convection technology. The result is copious clouds of dense vapour. A big battery also means an extended battery life – so you can leave the mains behind for long periods of time.
Another reason that makes the Boundless CFX vaporizer one of the best portable vaporizers of 2018 is the fact it is the only portable vaporizer on the market with a colour screen. You can easily read the temperature display, even if it is sunny. It displays the actual temperature, desired temperature, heating time and the battery status. It has an auto cut off to help preserve battery life and your dry herb.
Apart from dry herbs, you can also vape oils and concentrates, using the included accessories.
The CFX can be fast charged via a DC adapter or trickle charged through a USB cable. This hybrid style of charging means you can fast charge at home and also easily charge whilst on the go with the USB - giving you the best of both worlds.
The Boundless CFX is a powerful, great value and versatile portable vaporizer.
Firefly 2 Vaporizer - smooth, flavourful draws of herbal goodness
Firefly 2 is the best portable vaporizer in terms of vapour quality. If you care about the taste of your vapour, this is the vape you must seriously consider.
Once your Firefly2 vaporizer is loaded with your favourite therapeutic herb (or concentrate), it’s just a case of lightly pressing the tips of your fingers on the two touch sensors on either side of the body. This can be reconfigured to be activated by just one button if you prefer to use the excellent Firefly app.
The Firefly 2 is a beautiful vape to look at, and feels great in your hand, thanks to the superb build quality. To reduce weight, the body is made from a magnesium alloy – which helps make it 55% lighter and 33% smaller than its 2014 predecessor; the original Firefly. The low thermo-conductivity of this material also helps to stop the Firefly from burning your hands when you use it.
There is no doubt that this is a premium product. This high level of quality is also applied to the inside with the performance matching the great looks. Third party reviewers love it too. TechCrunch in their review says it “creates a smooth, flavorful draw and can extract the maximum in herbal pleasure out of a little bit of material.”
Mighty Vaporizer - pure rugged power
The Mighty is the best portable vaporizer for many users due to its high power and durable construction. Many refer to its manufacturer - Storz and Bickel - as the Mercedes Benz of vaporizer brands. You get everything you need in the box, and have full control over the temperature of the heater that produces convection heat, which you draw through the larger than average heating chamber.
The Mighty vaporizer is one of the best portable vaporizers for medicinal users, as it comes with dosing capsules that you can pre-fill allowing you to quickly load when you need to. It’s easy and intuitive to use as you just turn it on with one press then adjust the temperature with the up and down arrows. Haptic feedback buzzes to alert you it has reached your desired temperature.
The Mighty packs two powerful batteries which means it heats fast and the charge lasts for a long time.
The Mighty is the best portable vaporizer for those who need something rugged. The case is made from high-quality plastic that would be at home on a power tool. It would not be out of place in your toolkit. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to experience a powerful hit of vapour.
Crafty Vaporizer - Mighty quality on the go
The Crafty from Storz and Bickel is the best portable vaporizer for those wanting to have a Mighty-like experience, but in a small form factor. It’s perfect for those who want to take a vape with them but need it to be small and rugged - skiers or boarders for example. The vape experience is exactly the same as the larger Mighty, although it takes slightly longer to heat due to there just being one battery. That said, the battery life is excellent and will easily last for several days of moderate use without having to recharge.
You control the temperature settings via your smartphone. Their app is one of the best on the market and the setup is intuitive. Removing the buttons and screen to control the temperature allows Storz and Bickel to pack in more battery, giving you a better experience than other portable vapes on the market around the same size would.
Loading is as easy as the Mighty and it is shipped with a loading tool. You can also use the same system of capsules that you can pre-load to make things easier whilst on the go. The rugged materials and design mean you can just chuck it in your backpack without having to worry about it getting scratched up or opening accidentally and spilling out your dry herb.
DaVinci IQ Vaporizer - the smartest portable vape
The DaVinci IQ has been on the market for a while now but it still holds its own and is the best portable vape for those who want both stealth and great tasting vapour. It is a smart vape that connects to your phone. Via the app, you can change the “smart paths” which are custom heating profiles. It sounds complicated – but don’t worry, it comes shipped with four predefined heating profiles that will suit most people. You can also switch to a mode that allows you to dial in the exact temperature you prefer.
There are some great design touches to the IQ. To load, there is a smooth loading tray – something that I wish more vapes included. There is also a handy poking tool integrated into the design that tucks away neatly.
The taste of your dry herb when heated in the DaVinci vaporizer is wonderfully clean. You can even improve the taste by loading up the flavour enhancing stash jar that slide in the top and the vapour passes through it giving double the taste. To top it off, the IQ has a removable battery so you can bring a spare, should you need it.
Ghost MV1 Vaporizer - cutting edge innovation
The Ghost MV1 is the best portable vaporizer for those looking for something new and innovative. The MV1 is the first vaporizer from the US manufacturer Ghost. Aside from looking like a prop from Battlestar Galactica, it serves up copious sublime tasting clouds of vapour from your dry herbs and concentrates.
The loading mechanism of the Ghost MV1 vaporizer is unlike anything we have seen before. You preload ceramic crucibles, then open a door to insert it into the heat path. Once primed to vape it is ready in seconds and you can take a true convection draw. You hold the button to apply the heat as per a pen vape - this is innovative for a dry herb vape. It doesn’t just handle dry herbs though. Switch out the herb crucible for one with a concentrate pad, change to concentrate temperature and you are ready to vape concentrates.
If you are a vape connoisseur and wish to tweak the four pre-set temperatures, you can via the Ghost Vape app on your phone. The Ghost MV1 can be charged via USB, alternatively, they also offer a fast charger that plugs into the mains. This, in conjunction with an additional battery, will always ensure your Ghost is ready to vape when you are.
(Update July 2020: VapoShop no longer carries the Ghost MV1)
Linx Gaia Vaporizer - classy design and materials
The Gaia from Linx is the best portable vaporizer for those who want a classy looking device that performs well. What sets the Gaia apart from the competition is the fact that the heating chamber is made from quartz - a material popular in high-end dab rigs. Using quartz means no steel or ceramic to impact the taste. This gives the vapour a distinctive and refined flavour.
The classic design is suitable for someone who likes tactile objects. It is reminiscent of an old hip flask. The mouthpiece is made of glass and is protected by a metal cap that is held in place with magnets. The Linx Gaia vaporizer allows the air to flow directly over the heating element, thus avoiding any plastic parts or electronic components. Not only is this a healthy approach it produces great tasting vapour.
The Gaia is extremely pocketable, due to its stealthy dimensions. What’s more, it can be had at a very reasonable price. The Gaia comes in a selection of colours which look great on the brushed metal body.
The Gaia’s innovative quartz heating chamber, clean vapour path design, unique air insulation, compact size, temperature variability and glass mouthpiece make the Linx Gaia a design classic and one of the best portable vaporizers available in 2018.
PuffCo Plus Vaporizer - a sleek dab rig in your pocket
The PuffCo Plus is the best portable pen vaporizer for concentrates. This Brooklyn designed pen vape is as sleek as it is beautiful. PuffCo integrate a clever system for loading. You open the PuffCo Plus and reveal a tip which you can dip in oils or other sticky substances - they call it the dart.
When you heat the PuffCo Plus, the hot air melts the concentrate from the dart onto the heating element which vaporises instantly. It’s the perfect way to control your dosage and is the best portable pen vaporizer for those wanting to micro-dose. Of course, not everyone wishes to micro-dose - so don’t worry, the PuffCo can handle more than enough concentrate to keep you satisfied.
You can either hold the button to vape on one of the three temperature settings or enter “sesh mode” which gives continuous heat for 12 seconds.
The Puffco Plus vaporizer has a coil-free all ceramic bowl meaning cleaning has never been easier. Simply run a sesh on high temperature then wipe clean with one of the included cotton cleaning swabs.
It’s not just us in VapoShop towers who love the PuffCo Plus High Times is also very fond of it saying it offers “The biggest clouds of vapour we could find with no compromise to the flavour of high-quality extracts.”
Best portable vaporizers conclusion
Finding the best portable vape is not an easy task given the huge selection available on the market. Hopefully, the guide above helps you to identify the best portable vaporizer for you. In case you have any questions do not hesitate to contact our customer support who would be delighted to help you find the right choice.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.