Convection vs Conduction: Which is the Right Cannabis Vaporizer for You?

Introduction

Vaporizers come in all shapes, price ranges and sizes, but at the core, they all serve the same purpose: to heat your cannabis material to a temperature that turns the active ingredients into vapor, but doesn’t in any way combust it. The vapor is then inhaled, delivering the cannabinoids and terpenes in their full glory without any of the harmful by-products of combustion.  This not only tastes better and is healthier, but it’s also a much more efficient method to consume your cannabis. But not all vaporizers are created equal, and some are just plain bad. The two main types of vaporizers are convection and conduction, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

How convection vaporizers work

A convection vaporizer is a device that heats cannabis to a temperature below the point of combustion, producing vapor instead of smoke. Your flower stays in place and it's only exposed to hot air that's going to run through and around the material which is going to cause it to vaporize as opposed to a conduction vaporizer which is going to use actual heat transfer from the oven walls into the material itself. This convection process provides a clean and flavor-rich vapor hit, as well as potent effects. If you're looking for the best possible vaporizing experience, convection is usually the way to go.

How conduction vaporizers work

A conduction vaporizer is a type of cannabis vaporizer that uses contact heat to transfer the heat inside of the cannabis material load, rather than using hot air like convection vaporizers. This produces a thicker and quicker vaporization of the material, and allows for a more packed bowl. Conduction vaporizers can vary greatly in form and function, but the easiest way to think about them is that they work like a frying pan. When you cook chicken on a frying pan, the frying pan is hot and the chicken starts cold. When you place the meat on the frying pan, the heat transfers through by contact all the way into the center of that meat, fully cooking even the inside, although the heat never touches it directly. A conduction vaporizer operates under that same principle - the walls of the chamber get warm which transfers the heat by contact all the way into the center of your flower load, which is the reason you can pack conduction vaporizers much more densely than with their convection counterparts.

Which type of vaporizer is right for you?

So which type of vape is right for you? Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. If you're just getting started with vaping or working with a tight budget, a conduction vape may be the way to go, and make no mistake - you’ll be very happy with your choice. But if you're looking for top-notch flavor and the most performance you can possibly get, a convection vape is probably worth the investment in your case. And never forget, there are a plethora of Hybrid models to choose from which can give you the best of both worlds! Whichever type you are considering, email us so we can help you find the perfect model for your needs. And if you can't decide, why not try both? :)