Convection vs. conduction

Convection vs. conduction – Different heating methods for herbal vaporizers.

Before you compare the different features of vaporizers, you should decide which heating method is right for you before buying one. Convection or conduction – the choice is yours. But what is the difference anyway? We explain both vaporization methods, the respective advantages and disadvantages and what else you should look for when buying a herbal vaporizer.

Herbal vaporizers or so-called vaporizers (short: vapes) all work according to the same principle: Through a constant supply of heat, the various organic ingredients of herbs are activated and dissolved from the plant material without burning it. This is not only particularly low in pollutants, but also inconspicuous and very low in odor.

The two similar heating methods of a vaporizer – conduction and convection – sound similar, but have very different effects on the density, intensity and aroma of the vapor.

Steaming by means of conduction

Conduction describes the direct heating method. This means that the herb material has contact with the heating element, i.e. the heating chamber. The chamber quickly reaches the set temperature and thus also immediately heats the herb material. Heat conduction results in a heavy, dense vapor.
If you want a reasonably uniform evaporation of the material in a conduction evaporator, you have to turn it several times, because not all the herbal material has contact with the heating chamber.
Once you have started a session, it is usually not possible to stop it early without discarding the herbs.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Conduction

Advantages

Denser, full of steam

Fast and direct heating of the material

Inexpensive to purchase

Sometimes smaller and / or lighter

Disadvantages

Steam can be very hot & tart

Risk of burns from direct contact

Less efficient, as even heating is not possible, the herbs must be turned over for this purpose

Requires a lot of herbs material
Temperature more difficult to regulate

Session cannot be interrupted and resumed later

And what is convection then?

With convection heating technology, the herbs used are heated indirectly. In plain language, this means that the actual heating element is located separately and below the herb chamber and does not heat the herb material, but the air that flows through the chamber during the draught. The hot air releases the aromas and active ingredients from your herbs and creates a gentle vaporization of these extracts.
The fully insulated air path of heat convection provides even and gentle heating of the herbs and produces a purer, but not quite as dense, steam as the conduction method. Since the active ingredients are gradually removed from the herbs by drawing hot air and they do not burn, you can interrupt your session at any time and continue at a later time. Thus, with convection evaporator nothing is wasted.

Advantages & disadvantages of convection

Convection or conduction – which is better?

So which is the ideal method? If you look at the list of advantages and disadvantages a, the convection evaporator scores in most cases. However, you shouldn’t just blindly go by the pros and cons of the different vaporization methods. It is not possible for us to say which of the two is the better method for you, as the decision depends entirely on your individual needs and preferences. If you have friends or acquaintances who already vape, it’s best to try both devices before you decide.

What else should you look for when buying a vaporizer?

Accessories for herbs, oils & waxes

Ideally, you can vape your vaporizer using different capsules for the heating chamber different substances. This gives you the flexibility to decide whether you want to vaporize dry material or wax and oil.

Removable mouthpiece

No matter what herbs or waxes you vaporize, after some time unsightly deposits will settle on the mouthpiece. Therefore, make sure that you can remove and clean the mouthpiece. A glass mouthpiece is particularly hygienic. If visible ugly residue bothers you too, definitely check out our black glass mouthpieces. Not only are they stylish, but they’ll keep your device looking top-notch even after a few sessions until you find a few minutes to clean it.