Conduction vs. Convection

In the world of vaping, enthusiasts are not lacking in terms of variety. The number of vaporizers on the market has increased dramatically over the last several years. In light of both preferences and price range, a vaporizer made with someone just like you in mind probably exists.That being said, despite the hundreds of units on the market, there are really only three kinds of vaporizers: conduction, convection, and hybrid.

While most people have a favorite, both conduction and convection vaporizers have their pros and cons. Here we’ll talk about what convection and conduction mean, and which vaporizer is best for you.

Conduction

Conduction simply means that heat is being transferred by direct contact. Therefore, in a conduction vape, the heating element will come into direct contact with your herbs.

Direct contact between the herb and heating element isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, one legitimate concern involving conduction vaporizers is combustion.

To be clear, not all conduction vapes cause combustion. That being said, when combustion occurs in a vaporizer, it typically happens in a conduction vape. It all has to do with the temperature settings and material used in the herb chamber.

One big plus for conduction vapes is the fact that they’re typically far less expensive than convection vapes. If you’re on a tight budget a conduction vaporizer is probably your best choice, but make sure you know what you’re buying.

Convection

Convection refers the transfer of heat through liquid or gas. When it comes to vaping, the gas used to transfer heat is just air. In a convection vape, there’s typically an air path between the heating element and the herb chamber. The air is heated, and when you take a pull the hot air is vaporizing the contents of your vaporizer.

This means that there are no hot surfaces in direct contact with your herbs. This means that there’s virtually no chance of combustion. It also produces vapor with far superior taste.

The downside, as you may have guessed, is the price tag. They are typically more expensive, but even if you’re on a budget there are fantastic options. As the vape market has grown, there have been more companies producing more units, and therefore there’s more competition.

Naturally, this means companies are pricing their vapes more competitively.

Which is the best?

While it is true that conduction vaporizers can be found for lower prices, there are so many low-priced convection and hybrid vapes (vaporizers that incorporate both convection and conduction) that the technology has almost been rendered irrelevant. There are still high-end devices that rely exclusively on conduction, but they’re few and far between.

If you’re on an extremely tight budget, a good conduction vaporizer will suit your needs. However, if it’s at all possible, my advice would be to get a convection or hybrid vaporizer. The benefits greatly outweigh the difference in price, and at this point, the price difference really isn’t that significant