The day has finally arrived! Our Herbalizer has arrived! If you couldn’t tell, we’re SUPER excited about this state-of-the-art vaporizer, and can’t wait to test it out. Touted as perhaps the only true competitor of the Volcano, we’re very curious to see if it can live up to such a billing. Here we go!


The Herbalizer recently dropped in price, and is now available at the lowest price ever from this trusted re-seller.

THE FUTURE IS NOW

Take note, connoisseurs: the next great vaporizer has arrived on the scene! Billed as the heir apparent to the Volcano Vaporizer, the Herbalizer: Limited Edition is a multi-function forced-air vaporizer that effectively extracts vital ingredients from herbs, waxes, and oils to provide clear, euphoric results. The brainchild of two former NASA engineers, the Herbalizer is raising the bar for what a vaporizer can be while emerging as the first legitimate challenger to the Volcano’s throne atop vape mountain.

Affectionately known as “The Herbie,” this brand new desktop vaporizer has developed a kind of cult following amongst the hardcore vapor connoisseur community despite the fact that the product itself didn’t even exist until very recently. This kind of buzz marketing has proven very successful for the San Diego company.

“How is the Herbalizer making such a big name for itself?” you ask. Well, there are several contributing factors to the Herbalizer’s excellence. The Herbalizer has caused quite a stir due to their team of engineers behind the scenes and some savvy marketing in the cannabis community.

In interviews, the founder of the company, Josh Young, has stated the company’s mission as something bigger than just selling a product: “We’re about to do something really big. We found a way to give people relief from the most common problems that they have.”

I had the opportunity to test the Herbalizer while attending the High Times Cannabis Cup in Denver this year, and let me tell you I was blown away. Literally. Though slightly more complicated than the Volcano, this vaporizer is every bit as powerful and potent with additional options for personal customization of the vapor experience.

What I noticed in testing the Herbalizer is that it integrates many of the major selling points used on existing popular vaporizers and across the board it improves upon them greatly. Let’s take a look at why the Herbalizer is one of the best new vaporizers of 2014 and one of our favorite desktop vapes ever created:

PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL APPEARANCE

The first thing you’ll notice about the Herbalizer is its sleek, modern appearance. The designers of the Herbalizer went to great lengths to create a legitimate medical device that patients can feel comfortable displaying in their home. Boasting a smooth, oyster-shell aesthetic, this vape most closely resembles a classic Vicks Vaporizer. You know, the kind of vaporizer mom would put by your bed when you had the flu as a kid. I personally think this is a fantastic idea, given the nature of the industry.

With marijuana being decriminalized and regulated as medicine, many non-stereotypical “stoners” will be looking for user-friendly means for ingesting their medicine and the Herbalizer answers this call in spades. It doesn’t look confusing or recreational in any way. Rather, the Herbalizer offers a non-threatening, easy-to-learn vaporizing experience that will satisfy newcomers and experienced vapor connoisseurs alike.

NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

The Herbalizer comes fully assembled with all of its essential elements right there for you to plug in and produce dense, flavorful vapor. All you need to do is power it on, select your desired method of inhalation, then load up your herb chamber. As with virtually all vaporizers, we recommend grinding up your herbs finely before filling the heat chamber.

Also, it’s advisable to read the instruction manual that comes included with the device as you embark on your first Herbalizer experiences to make sure you’re getting the most out of the expertly engineered vaporizer.

INSTANTANEOUS HEAT-UP TIME

The Herbalizer is designed by two former NASA engineers which on a surface level provides for terrific marketing copy, but also explains the meticulous design and thorough craftsmanship of this state-of-the-art vaporizer.

In an industry where so many manufacturers take shortcuts with design and construction for the purpose of expanding their profit margin (cough–all pen vapes–cough), the Herbalizer was created deliberately with user satisfaction in mind. This is evident in the 5-second heat up time, making the vapor production nearly instantaneous. That is not a typo. It goes from cold to ready in 5 seconds. “How is this possible?” you ask. It’s all about the heating process, my friends, and this one is truly a gem. It’s all based off of a sophisticated halogen bulb heating system, which I explain next.

HALOGEN BULB POWER

In true stoner fashion, the Herbalizer runs off of a tiny yet strong 300-watt halogen light bulb. Only one other vaporizer that I am aware of, the AroMed Vaporizer, makes use of a halogen bulb for creating vapor. This is basically like installing a small grow light inside your herbal vaporizer, which is pretty remarkable in the Herbalizer, considering the size and weight of the unit itself. You’d think the light and electrical connections would make this thing heavy, but it’s really pretty light (roughly 5 lbs).

The outside of the lamp is purported to reach temperatures of 800 degrees Fahrenheit, which is twice the temperature necessary for efficient vaporization, so the lamp only turns on when absolutely necessary, and it’s insulated by a safety screen next to a heat sensor which regulates the heat flow through the magnetically attached herb chamber (as you can see in the picture below).

DUAL FUNCTIONALITY

The Herbalizer is a state-of-the-art herbal vaporizer that offers users the option of vaping with a medical-grade plastic tube or “whip” for direct inhalation. You can also go new-school with the balloon bag. Both options are excellent delivery methods for enjoying your medicinal blends and concentrates. The bag comes pre-assembled and features an ergonomic, rubber mouthpiece that is a little more comfortable than the hard plastic of the Volcano Vaporizer.

The whip is integrated neatly into the ovular tray of the Herbalizer for convenient storage. I found that the vapor production is a little more flavorful when using the tube attachment; the mouthpiece of the bag system has its own unique overtones which obscure the taste of the vapor just a little bit. It’s not a gross taste, but there is definitely more of a plastic taste to the bag than the whip mouthpiece.

DIGITAL TEMPERATURE DISPLAY

Nestled in the center of the unit is a bright, temperature monitor that can be touch-operated or modulated using the control buttons on the base of the device. This LED display is easy to read and use with a colorful, precise temperature gauge.

One of the hallmarks of the Herbalizer, this feature reminds me a lot of the Vaporfection viVape 2, except the Herbalizer offers users the option of using the touch-screen capability or by controlling the temperature by pressing the buttons. It’s a very friendly, almost iPad feel, which we believe will resonate well with the professional stoner and the medical marijuana patient who is brand new to the culture and doesn’t want something clunky or confusing to operate.

The temperature ranges from 290-445 degrees Fahrenheit and gave me a satisfying vapor experience every time; believe me I was skeptical that this thing could outperform the Volcano, but I tested it vigorously across the entire range of temperatures. While the lower temps will deliver thinner, cooler vapor, the performance does not suffer: flavor and effects on the brain and body are comparable to what I got from the top of the scale. The hotter temperature simply extracts a larger amount of ingredient and creates thicker vapor.

UNPARALLELED VERSATILITY WITH WAX, OILS, OR HERBS

With the Herbalizer, you can choose whether you want to vaporize or aromate. Simply choose the Aromatherapy option and attach the aromatherapy chamber for diffusing essential oils into a room, office, or yoga studio. If you want to get direct draw vaporization using dry blends, simply choose the Vaportherapy option and load your weed into the magnetic herb chamber. You can also use the Vaportherapy option with liquid oils, wax, or shatter, which is a pretty cool selling point.

They’ve really got all the bases covered with this contraption. Herbalizer even includes a tool for loading your concentrates as well as a handy oil pad that slides conveniently into the chamber so you’re never mixing the streams. I like this option and the vapor is fantastic; what’s great about vaping oils and waxes with the Herbalizer is that you get dab strength hits without having to heat up a big titanium nail with a butane torch like some kind of crack-head. Everything about this device just oozes class and professionalism.

MEZZANINE STORAGE AREA

Unlike virtually all other vaporizers out there, the Herbalizer offers a cool all-in-one storage for all of the implements necessary to enjoy any of the Herbalizer’s different functions. It also includes a handy compartment for your herbs or concentrates. This makes the whole experience very intuitive, like a daily medicine box.

COMPLETE COMPATIBILITY

If you’re like me you have to have the newest, brightest, shiniest and most elite device (I know you’re out there) in any field. You’re the guy who insists on driving a Tesla, watching TV on a 75″ Samsung Plasma, and always gets the latest iPhone iteration on the day it drops. You’re the guy who swears by his Volcano Digital and Pax Vaporizers and is on the lookout for something eye-popping that will impress the shit out of your friends, especially the ladies. You’re the professional who sets the trends, rather than follows them. Well Mr. Kindred Spirit, I can promise you that The Herbalizer will not disappoint you, not for one minute.

The Herbalizer allows users to vaporize dry ground weed in the normal herb chamber with the option of placing an oil pad into the chamber in order to vape concentrates such as hash oil, waxes or shatters. The oil pad is kind of like a little brillo pad the size of a dime which slides down into the chamber.

WE HAD TO FIND SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT

I have very few complaints about this particular unit. One of them is that the lid doesn’t really close all the way. When you shut the top of the Herbalizer, there’s a little bit of space that is still exposed. This is a very small gripe, but it still seems strange to me. For a device that is so precisely and meticulously designed internally, why not have a flawless exterior? They do a great job of securing the herbal chamber with a magnetic seal, so why not replicate that same function with the latch of the entire device?

As I mentioned this is a minor gripe; I’m assuming this is in order to make the shell easy to open for elderly patients. I suppose this is a valid argument, but my feeling is that for an elite vaporizer designed for professionals and medical patients into which so much care and attention to detail has been paid, a sensible locking mechanism could be integrated. On the whole though, this is a very attractive, efficient and powerful device that follows through on its promise to beat the Volcano Vaporizer everywhere it counts.

If you want a more thorough comparison between these two elite home vaporizers, please read our Volcano Vaporizer Review.