Desktop Vaporizers

Desktop vaporizers are the larger, usually mains powered vaporizers which are intended for use at home. Tabletop vapes have become very popular since the first models of Storz & Bickel's iconic Volcano vaporizer, with its distinctive balloon arrangement, started showing up in the coffeeshops of Amsterdam a few years ago. Desktop vaporizers are able to employ much more advanced vaping technology than portable vapes due to their larger size. Here at Everyone Does It you’ll find all the leading models of desktop vaporizer, such as Arizer Extreme Q, Plenty Vaporizer, Da Buddha Vaporizer and Arizer V Tower.

What is a desktop vaporizer?

Desktop vaporizers, also called tabletop vaporizers, were one of the first types of vapes that came on the market as an alternative to more traditional methods of smoking dry herbs or concentrates - such as in roll ups, pipes, or water bongs. Since then, they have also set the benchmark for what vaporizers can be - they’re generally the biggest, most powerful, and long lasting vaporizers around.

The main difference between desktop vaporizers and the other main type of vape - portable vaporizers - is that they must be plugged in directly to the mains to be used, and thus must be stationary, on a flat surface. However, the vapour produced by desktop vapes is generally much superior in quality than with vape pens.  

All desktop vaporizers use the convection heating method, which means that hot air is used to heat your herbs or wax, as opposed to a heating element such as a coil. This also helps to prevent your material from combusting and leaving a burnt taste in your vapour.

What types of desktop vape are available?

When searching the market for a new desktop vaporizer, you’ll come across a wide variety of products that come in all shapes and sizes.

It’s important to know the differences between different types in order to get the best product for your own needs, especially considering many models can cost hundreds of pounds. For example, some desktop vapes will be better suited to dry herbs, while others will be used for concentrates or wax.

Desktop vapes typically come in three main styles - whip style, forced air/balloon bag, and multi-functional. All of these work in fundamentally different ways, while they also look completely different too. Let’s take a look at the different styles of desktop vape and what they mean:

Whip Style

Whip style vaporizers have a ‘whip’ attachment, which is used to draw the vapour out. These typically look like a transparent, coiling tube, but are made up of three distinct parts.

The first of these is the wand, which is where you insert your dry herbs or concentrate, and is usually made of glass. Next is the tubing itself, which is the coiled tube part which the vapour travels down, and is often made of silicon. And on the other end is the mouthpiece, which is where you draw the vapour from. These are also typically made of glass.

Whip style vapes are exceptionally easy to use (some even offer hands-free vaping), and they’re also typically the cheapest type of desktop vaporizer, thus making them the most popular choice for regular vapers and newbies alike.

Forced Air

Forced air vaporizers, sometimes called balloon bag vaporizers, are the gold standard of desktop vapes. They are pretty advanced machines, providing top-quality vapour that’s unmatched by other products, but this also means they’re often the most expensive.

The name ‘forced air’ comes from the heating system these devices use. After placing your dry herbs or concentrate into the heating chamber, an internal fan blows hot air over it, creating a powerful vapour stream that then fills a balloon bag for you to inhale. Some forced air vaporizers have a whip attachment instead, which make them look more similar to whip style vapes.

The main difference between forced air vapes and whip style ones, is that the vapour is created automatically - you don’t have to inhale to start burning your herbs or wax. Forced air vaporizers also come with precise temperature controls, while you can also set the speed of the fan, and thus the strength of the airflow. All of this allows you to play around with your device to find the perfect settings for you.

Multi-Functional

A small number of desktop vaporizers combine the technology of both whip style and forced air vapes, and these are known as multi-functional vaporizers. This versatility gives you even greater control over the way you vape.

Multi-functional vaporizers are often very advanced machine, coming with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a top-level vape, such as precise heat and fan controls, and LED displays.

How to use a desktop vaporizer

Using your desktop vaporizer is fairly straightforward, as both whip style and forced air vapes are designed to give you a streamlined vaping experience. Whichever type of desktop vape you have, the process is pretty much the same, with the main difference being the method of delivery from the heating chamber to the mouthpiece.

To begin using your dektop vaporizer, follow these simple steps:

1. Put your ground herbs or wax concentrate into the wand or heating chamber. If using a dry herb vaporizer, make sure not to pack them too tightly, as there needs to be enough room for the air to move around the chamber.
2. Turn on your vaporizer and choose your preferred temperature and fan settings. This can either be done with button controls, an LED digital display, or even with remote controls via a mobile app, depending on the type of device you have.
3. Once the vaporizer has heated up to your desired temperature, the fan will kick in and hot air will be pushed through your herbs or wax, creating a stream of vapour. You then simply have to inhale through the mouthpiece to activate the vapour and get a smooth, strong hit.
4. Once you’ve finished your vaping session and turned it off at the mains, it’s important to clean your desktop vaporizer. You should do this after each use to maintain your device and keep your vapour tasting fresh. The best way to do this is by first letting your device cool down, then clean the heating chamber or wand with isopropyl alcohol, rinse it out with water, and then leave it to dry.

Benefits of desktop vaporizers

There are many benefits to using desktop vaporizers over portable vapes, but there are also some drawbacks too. It’s important to weigh these up before deciding which type of device is right for you, but ultimately it will come down to your personal preference and budget.

Pros

• Better quality vapour than portable vapes
• Versatile styles and drawing methods
• Ideal for long, group sessions
• Highly durable and thus a long-term investment

Cons

• Typically much more expensive than portable vapes
• More bulky and less discreet than portable vapes
• Some devices can be difficult to use for beginners
• Vast majority require to be plugged in to the mains

What are the best desktop vaporizers?

When searching for a new vaporizers, you’ll come across a huge range of desktop vapes, and the list is growing. With the perfect type of desktop vaporizer coming down to personal preference, and such a wide range of products with different features and price points, it’s difficult to say which one device is the best.

However, here at EDIT we stock all of the top desktop vaporizers from all of the most trusted and respected brands. These include:

• Arizer Extreme Q
• Dr Dabber Switch
• Plenty Vaporizer
• Da Buddha Vaporizer
• Arizer V Tower