We’ve talked to more vaporizer experts, read more editorial and buyer reviews, and tried more models firsthand than most people ever get the chance to.

I’ve covered cannabis for Rolling Stone and Vox, among other outlets, for close to 10 years. I co-founded — and from 2016 to 2021 operated — the feminist cannabis-culture zine and brand Graze Club (formerly known as Dope Girls), raising funds for nonprofits such as the Last Prisoner Project, which promotes clemency for people serving time for cannabis-related offenses.

Over nine years of reviewing vaporizers for Wirecutter, the previous authors of this guide and I have done the following:

• We’ve consulted several experts, including Bud, the reviewer at The Vape Critic, and Buzz, the man behind the curtain at Vaporizer Wizard. (Both sites include affiliate links for some products they recommend, as explained in The Vape Critic’s disclosure page and Vaporizer Wizard’s disclosure page.) We also spoke with staff members at 15 cannabis dispensaries around the country to learn about top-selling items at their shops and what they’d buy for family and friends.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.
• A note of disclosure: Vaporizer manufacturer Grenco Science co-sponsored a Dope Girls print issue and release party in October 2019.

If you’re completely new to cannabis, or if you’ve been a casual pot smoker in the past, you should know that using a vaporizer is a great way to avoid the by-products of combustion, as well as to skip the sticky, icky ash mess that’s an inevitable part of smoking joints, pipes, and bongs.

A dry-herb vaporizer, like all of those we reviewed for this guide, heats dried cannabis (or cannabis concentrate) that you pack into the device’s oven, producing inhalable vapors. Dressed in a sleek and discreet housing, a portable vaporizer feels like something you can bring to a dinner party, along with a bottle of wine.

If you’re a patient looking to use medical cannabis for symptom relief, portable vaporizers offer additional benefits. A quality vaporizer for ground cannabis flowers can reliably hit a consistent dosage with precision temperature controls, allowing you to better control the effects. That’s not as easy to accomplish with edibles or smoking.

Note: Portable vaporizers are legal — unless you use them with a substance that federal and/or local law says is illegal. Cannabis is illegal in some places.

We’ve considered more than 50 portable vaporizers, selecting them mostly based on input from experts at sites including The Vape Critic and Vaporizer Wizard, as well as from owners in enthusiast forums, including FuckCombustion and the r/vaporents subreddit. We also called 15 dispensaries across the country to see what budtenders have bought for themselves. We’ve panel-tested 20 models over the years to get an idea of how people with differing levels of cannabis familiarity think about the experience of using different vaporizers.

For this guide, we didn’t consider vaporizers for oils, extracts, wax, cartridges, or other concentrates. We also didn’t consider e-cigarettes or other products specifically for tobacco or nicotine use. The devices that are used with these substances are broadly called vaporizers, which is confusing. Our coverage here is limited to flower vaporizers for old-fashioned buds. We concluded that this product category is the best entry point for most people because it provides a lot of options in terms of flavors, effects, and potency.

We also focused only on portable models — no offense to fans of tabletop favorites like the Storz & Bickel Volcano Hybrid. We evaluated models for on-the-go use, as well as for longer vaporizing sessions, such as when you’re hiking, snuggling on the couch, or relaxing around a backyard fire.

As we tested and retested portable cannabis vaporizers, we considered several important features:

• Easy to use: We looked for models with clear, intuitive controls to start up the device, see when it’s ready, adjust the temperature, and check battery life. We wanted the device’s oven to be easy to load, quick to heat up, and unlikely to burn material if you forget that it’s on. Vaporizers transfer heat to packed material via conduction (direct contact), convection (air circulation), or some combination of the two (hybrid). A quality vape should be as intuitive and easy to use as sparking a joint or using a pipe or a simple bong.

• Pleasing vapor: We wanted vapor that was good enough to never warrant smoking instead. As a result, we dismissed vaporizers that produced unpleasant flavors (like burnt popcorn) or harsh or uncomfortably hot vapor, as well as any that tended to clog or caused unusual difficulty in inhaling. Truly great models produce vapors that taste good, don’t burn, and feel like you’re drinking from a straw.

• Easy to clean: Cleaning is an important factor with vaporizers because all devices require cleaning. The best models can be reliably returned to near-mint condition with minimal effort on your part. In contrast, the worst models have parts that need frequent replacement, areas you can’t fully clean, or a cumbersome disassembly process. We avoided models with long, skinny airways that you have to ream out with pipe cleaners — they’re too hard to get truly clean.

• Good battery life, simple charger: It’s most convenient when a vaporizer uses a common charging port (such as Micro-USB or USB-C) that works with cables you probably already have. A proprietary charger, such as a dock or a unique cable, is not as convenient, but we didn’t dismiss models for that alone. We’ve found that on most good vaporizers, the battery life lasts for about four bowls, without a ton of differentiation among models. We appreciate vaporizers that have user-replaceable rechargeable batteries, but that feature isn’t crucial. And we like models that feature session modes, so they last long enough between charges for several pulls over a longer stretch of time.

• Attractive and functional design: A great vaporizer looks nice and feels good in the hand, and it has a body durable enough to survive a drop (which is inevitable). It also has a simple and effective mouthpiece that feels natural on your lips — and doesn’t burn them. Subtle additions, such as concealed cleaning tools or aligned magnetic oven closures, also contribute to a satisfying experience. Many vaporizers put all of the necessary info and controls on the body of the unit, while others rely on an app. For simplicity, we prefer a vaporizer to be controllable without a smartphone app, but we didn’t dismiss any models based on that factor.

Top pick

The best portable vaporizer

Planet of the Vapes Lobo

This vaporizer heats quickly, produces tasty vapors, fits easily in a pocket or purse, and is relatively simple to clean. You can’t use this device while it’s charging, though.

$160 from Planet of the Vapes

The Planet of the Vapes Lobo is a straightforward, reliable, even stylish vaporizer. Its hybrid heating system uses both convection and conduction technology to heat dried cannabis quickly and efficiently. The unit buzzes when it’s ready to use, and the onboard LED screen displays the temperature, the battery charge level, and a five-minute countdown until the unit automatically turns off (a nice guardrail for safety and to keep herbs from burning unnecessarily).

It’s easy to load and hold. The loading chamber is easy to access, sliding out with the glass sipping straw. A small silicone grip on either side of the chamber makes the Lobo a good option for people with hand-mobility concerns, as well as for anyone reloading after a handful of sessions. In addition to facilitating cleaning, the silicone grips make the Lobo easy to hold in a nondominant hand and harder to fumble in general.

It heats up quickly. The Lobo can reach the temperature you set in around 30 seconds.

It produces flavorful vapors. Although its vapors were not quite as tasty and pronounced as those of our upgrade pick, the Lobo more than held its own in our panel tests. Don’t expect massive plumes with this unit, though.

It’s set-and-forget. The Lobo doesn’t make you think. It’s easy to navigate — even for beginners — and built to accommodate short attention spans. Its clear LED display indicators and the buzz it issues when powering on or off make navigating the experience pretty self-explanatory.

But you can also customize it. Vaping hobbyists will enjoy adjusting the temperature, which ranges from 320 to 430 degrees Fahrenheit, by using the straightforward up and down control buttons.

Whether you’re sharing around a circle or enjoying a robust solo vape, you can modify the session length from three to six minutes in 30-second intervals depending on your specific need, after which the device powers down — a safety feature that also prevents charring your material unnecessarily.

You can customize your experience with dosing capsules ($12), as well as glass add-ons such as a mini bubbler ($14) or a water pipe adapter ($8), among others.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

You can’t use it while charging. So you’ll have to plan ahead.

It holds a bit less flower than our other picks. Its marginally smaller bowl, in comparison with those of most models, means that for larger or longer sessions you’ll need to plan on packing up a few times.

Planet of the Vapes doesn’t ship to Massachusetts. The company cites “regulatory reasons and a recent increase in excise taxes” and says that it “[hopes] to resume shipping to Massachusetts.” We’ll update this guide if the policy changes.

Runner-up

Amazing airflow, cool vapor

Apollo AirVape Legacy Pro

This model is just as easy to load as our top pick. But it doesn’t last quite as long on a single charge, and its vapors are slightly lacking in flavor.

$189 from AirVape USA

The Apollo AirVape Legacy Pro, which our test panel deemed a close second to the Planet of the Vapes Lobo, is a weighty piece that feels good in your pocket. Like our top pick, it uses both convection and conduction heating, but it fully powers up a touch slower than the Lobo, taking about 15 more seconds. The onboard temperature controls are easy to use, and the device is simple to clean. Its adjustable microdosing disc helps you pack your bowl economically while allowing easy airflow.

It provides an experience similar to that of our top pick. The Legacy Pro’s digital display is a cinch to read in any light. In our tests, its vapor tasted clean and great, and our panelists appreciated the larger bowl size, which allows for longer sessions. However, the conduction heating works less efficiently with smaller amounts of flower. And with slightly restricted airflow, the flavor from the Legacy Pro dissipates faster than that of the Lobo.

Accessing the loading chamber is supremely easy. The case snaps open, providing quick bowl access. Our panelists found this process simple, even while they were stoned, especially in comparison with accessing the bowl on the Storz & Bickel Venty. Another chamber contains an easily removable glass straw that you pull from (it’s a breeze to clean).

You can remove the glass mouthpiece so it doesn’t chip or get smashed in transit, and you can charge the Legacy Pro via USB-C or wirelessly.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It powers up more slowly than our top pick. But not overly so. The Legacy Pro takes 45 seconds, versus the Lobo’s 30.

Upgrade pick

Exceptional performance and flavor

Storz & Bickel Venty

This vaporizer packs a flavorful punch in a portable chassis. Its hardy plastic casing is built to withstand even the klutziest user.

$449 from STORZ & BICKEL

$337 from To The Cloud

A superlative portable vaporizer in almost every respect, the Storz & Bickel Venty heats quickly and produces exceptionally tasty vapor that our testers unanimously ranked the best.

You can customize your experience more than with our other picks. That’s because, in addition to temperature, you can also tinker with the airflow. The Venty offers adjustable airflow, and that, combined with the Venty’s temperature toggling, gives you a fully customizable experience, no app required.

A web app is available, if you want to use it. Alternatively, you can use Bluetooth to toggle the device vibrations on and off, and you can activate an optimization feature that slows battery aging, though it makes the device charge more slowly.

Compared with our other picks, the Venty pulls the widest hits. With the Lobo, it’s easy to overpack the loading chamber with flower, restricting airflow, but that isn’t the case with the Venty, whose airflow is unrivaled.

It feels indestructible, and you can use it while it’s charging. The device feels supremely solid in the hand, and it easily withstood our test tumbles. Plus, as you can with the DaVinci Miqro-C, you can still toke on the Venty even when the battery is totally drained, as long as it’s plugged in to charge. (Note, however, that if you use the Venty while it’s plugged in, charging slows significantly.)

While the USB-C Supercharger, an optional accessory, is an additional expense, it’s worth buying to accelerate the battery recharge time.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It’s not particularly discreet. Although the Venty is the smallest Storz & Bickel vape, it’s larger than our other picks; it’s arguably the least discreet model of the three, but it’s still plenty portable.

If you want a great vaporizer you can pair with an app: The Pax Plus, a previous pick in this guide, is easy to load and fairly intuitive to use. But it’s more expensive than our current top pick, the Planet of the Vapes Lobo, and more fiddly overall. It is warrantied for 10 years, it heats quickly via conduction (in about 20 seconds), it pulls well, and it produces vapors with great flavor. It’s easy enough to clean, with no impossible-to-reach parts. Although the Plus can connect to the Pax app (Android or desktop), which lets you tinker with the temperature and other device settings, this model is fully functional without it. We don’t love this vaporizer’s proprietary charger, non-replaceable battery, and oddly shaped mouthpiece, however.

The Pax Mini is a smaller-capacity, more-portable version of the Pax Plus. Unlike the Pax Plus, which can also work with cannabis concentrates, the Mini is designed for packing with flower only.

If you can’t (or don’t want to) spend $150 or more: The DaVinci Miqro-C is a portable, mostly conduction-heated vaporizer that our test panelists enjoyed using, though not as much as they liked using our picks. It has an easy-to-replace battery, and it’s covered by a longer warranty than most models in its price range. Load it up just below the mouthpiece, tap the control button five times to turn it on, and use the intuitive up and down arrows to adjust the preset temperature controls. (If you forget any of that, instructions are printed underneath the device.) This model’s deep chamber can be difficult to load. Like the Storz & Bickel Venty, the Miqro-C can be used while it’s charging, no specialty cable required. The Miqro-C’s components are a bit harder to clean than those of our picks; this is especially true of its mouthpiece, which consists of a slightly concave opening lined with ridges that can collect lip balm.

With regular cleaning, portable vaporizers can work better and longer, but not all parts of every vaporizer need to be (or can be) cleaned. Always refer to a model’s manual or instructional videos for care and maintenance instructions specific to the device. (Check out the videos for the Planet of the Vapes Lobo, the AirVape Legacy Pro, and the Storz & Bickel Mighty.) Still, a few general cleaning tips apply to virtually every vape.

Frequent cleaning — including emptying spent material from the heating chamber each time you use a vaporizer — helps prevent the sort of residue buildup that often necessitates a deeper clean. For a quick spot-cleaning of the chamber between uses, consider keeping alcohol wipes or isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs with your vaporizer.

To do a thorough cleaning, you need to access the chamber, vapor path (or air path), and mouthpiece per the manufacturer’s instructions. Note that moisture can cause substantial damage to a vaporizer’s heating element and other electronics. None of our picks should ever be fully submerged in liquid while assembled. You can easily clean most glass, steel, and silicone components with isopropyl alcohol; for stubborn residue, consider soaking the individual components in alcohol. You can clean most vapor paths using pipe-cleaner brushes, such as those included with some of our picks. Be sure to wipe each piece clean, and let each piece dry fully before reassembling your device.

Over time, lithium-ion batteries, like those in all of our picks, degrade. They’ll eventually hold less charge overall. You can buy and install your own replacement batteries for all three of our picks.

Storz & Bickel recommends storing the Venty at a battery capacity between 20% (one bar) and 80% (four), and occasionally fully draining the battery before recharging it, to “adjust the battery capacity and keep the battery gauge correct.”

We previously recommended the AirVape X. But we’ve found the newer AirVape Legacy Pro — with its improved design and easier charging — to be a better choice overall.

The Arizer Solo III produced tasty vapors, and our test panelists appreciated the lighting feature, which shows the device’s progress while it’s heating up. Its body is similar to that of the Pax Plus, but this model is far more weighty. We appreciate its long-running battery — which lasts up to three hours — but it isn’t user-replaceable, and it takes three hours to fully charge. (You can use the device while it’s charging.)

Although the now-discontinued Arizer Air produced tasty vapors, we disliked the digital display and DC-input charger. Our testers found its design, with its conspicuous glass stem, polarizing, and they noted that it wasn’t something most people would want to tote around. We chose not to test the Air II (also discontinued) or the Air Max, which has a design similar to that of previous models but charges via USB-C. In our tests, the ArGo created smooth and tasty vapors, on a par with those of our picks. But it is a touch trickier to operate and lacks the optional accessories that set the Planet of the Vapes Lobo apart.

Compared with previous versions in the line, the DaVinci IQ3 has a bigger battery and a bigger oven — holding just over half a gram — plus an improved cooling chamber. However, it still has significant drawbacks. The battery lid can be tricky to close, and the charging port is awkwardly placed, as it was on the IQ2 version we previously tested. The IQ3 has a shorter battery life than our picks.

The Firefly 2+ was previously a pick in this guide and remains a great device. It’s currently unavailable, however, as parent company Slang Worldwide looks to sell the Firefly brand. Unlike our other picks, the Firefly 2+ has an exposed bowl, so you can easily see when it’s time to repack. Although this is not the device that most people would reach for regularly, its unique design provides a pleasant shared experience. We’ve found it a worthwhile addition to an existing vape collection.

We wanted to test the beloved Firewood (the latest version is the 8), but it is sold out more often than it is available.

The Grenco Science G Pen Elite II uses hybrid heating, which boosts its efficiency and improves taste significantly in comparison with the original Elite model we tested (which is no longer available). The Elite II has a user-friendly interface on a full-color LED display, including temperature control (aficionados will likely appreciate the precision) and session-time toggles, among others. It charges faster than its earlier iteration, needing about an hour and a half to fully charge, and in our experience it lasts about an hour per charge.

The Grenco Science G Pen Pro is a variation on the device that’s also marketed as the X Pen Pro. It’s the epitome of a generic vaporizer, with none of the nice touches that the Grenco G Pen Elite and G Pen Elite II offer. Shaped like a small flashlight, the G Pen Pro’s plastic body matches its plastic mouthpiece. It also matches the taste: The vapor was thin and plasticky on every setting in our tests. You control the whole device with a single button, and it gives you feedback with just a single light.

The Linx Gaia requires a cap to protect its glass stem, and the vapor quality in our tests was just so-so.

The Magic Flight Launch Box heats up ridiculously fast, and it features a unique, retro design. Its positives, however, begin and end in that it looks organic and cool. You heat the flower by pushing an external battery into the vape body; this task can be difficult, especially for people with hand-mobility challenges. Additionally, the Launch Box offers just one setting, and if you hold the battery in too long, you can easily scorch your cannabis accidentally. It isn’t exactly intuitive to use, even as its clear closure flap helps you gauge how much vapor you’re about to pull.

We previously recommended the Storz & Bickel Mighty, which remains a solid choice. Compared with the Venty model, which we now recommend as our upgrade pick, the Mighty is bulkier and takes longer to heat up (90 seconds versus the Venty’s 20). The Storz & Bickel Crafty+ provides a similar experience.
The Tinymight 2 features a cooling unit and offers robust flavor, plus two modes (on-demand and session). This model runs on a rechargeable and easily replaceable 18650 battery. Overall, though, our testers found it confusing to use and difficult to clean.

The XMax Starry is easy to load and offers intuitive onboard temperature controls, but the DaVinci Miqro-C is a better overall choice for a similar price. The similarly priced XMax V3 Pro produces great flavor, and its vapors are cooled by a ceramic disc in the mouthpiece. But it feels a bit awkward to use — this model easily earned the nickname “penny whistle” from our panel of testers. It’s also less portable than the Miqro-C because it’s so long.

Stock issues kept us from testing the Yllvape Angus Enhanced, which requires two (replaceable) 18650 batteries.

Mark Smirniotis and Jordan McMahon contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.