The herbalAire is an interesting vape, it works a little differently than most others.
The manufacturer considers this a “tri-function” vaporizer, saying it can used with a whip, a balloon, or you can direct draw. I wouldn’t personally ever draw directly from this unit without the whip attached, so I consider this a dual-mode vape like the Extreme-Q.
What’s different about this one is that you are NOT supposed to grind your material before packing the herb chamber. They basically want you to just pack your material down inside the “crucible” and almost create a solid block for the heat to pass through, they call it “espresso mode”.
I find myself using a little more material than average with this unit but I think it performs well in whip-mode and the vapor is strong with a fresh, clean taste.
The balloon system I’m not really thrilled with, I think having the fan or blower separate from the main housing is a little bit of an inconvenience. Also, since the “fan” for this vape is really just an aquarium pump, it makes it feel a little cheesy.
One issue I mention in the video is that particles get through the mouthpiece screen and travel up into the bag when using the vape in balloon-mode. This is how it works out of the box, but I’m actually wrong when I say the mouthpiece screen is built-in and you can’t change it, because you actually can remove that screen and replace it with a finer one if you were so inclined.
Stay up!
-Bud
Video transcription:
This newer version, I’m pretty sure, is the first version to have these LED lights on the bottom. They’ll change colors when the vape is doing different things. When you first turn it on, it’s blue. That means it’s heating up. When it reaches the set temperature, the light will turn green. That’s basically it, to get it going. It only takes a few minutes to warm up. It’s not one of those vapes that takes a very long time.
The way this one works is actually very different from all the other vaporizers I’ve reviewed. What I mean by that is they actually tell you in the manual not to grind your material that you’re putting in, not to grind your herbs at all. This is definitely unique, because no other vape tells you to do that. If that’s really a good thing is debatable, I guess. I don’t really know if it’s the most efficient way to go about vaporizing.
One of the cool things about grinding up your material before vaping is that you have a really good idea of how much you’re putting in. Sometimes, when your herbs are all clumped up, or it’s in dense form, you can’t really tell how much it actually is or how much it weighs or anything like that. For them to tell you that you should just be putting in clumps of your material, not grinding it up, makes it a little difficult to gauge how much you’re actually using.
This piece that I’m holding here is the crucible piece, they call it. This is the part that you would pack your material in, then drop it inside of the top of the unit. If you look inside the top of the unit, you’ll notice that at the bottom of the chamber there’s a bunch of little holes or jets. These are the heat jets, where the heat comes up from the unit.
It’s going to travel up through those holes, directly through the screen at the bottom of the crucible through your material. Then, there’s this mouthpiece part. That goes on top of the unit after you put the crucible in. There’s also a little screen at the bottom of the mouthpiece.
An important note about this mouthpiece part, you’ll notice that it’s kind of loose when you first put it in. The way it works is, it’s going to be loose when you first put it in, but the material that it’s made of, as it heats up, it’s going to expand a little bit. The seal will tighten up, so that it’s not just going to easily fall out. You do need to leave it there and give it about a minute for it to actually heat up and get stuck.
Then, what you would do, if you were using it in whip mode, for instance, this is the whip it includes. You would take this end, and you would just plug it in to the top of the mouthpiece. Then, you would just take a draw, just like you would with any other vape. You would take a nice ten to 15 second pull to get a good amount of vapor.
What I found is that the vapor it produces is pretty good. I like it. It has a nice, clean taste. It feels fresh. It’s not very harsh. It might be a little on the hot side, a little warm, but it’s not bad. As far as vapor quality, I’m satisfied with that. I think the vapor quality is good with this one.
What I did find however, in my own testing, was that it does seem to work better, and you’ll get better vapor and more vapor if you put a decent amount of material inside the chamber or the crucible. If you try using only a pea-size amount, like they recommend starting with in the manual, I didn’t really get good results with that. I kind of had to put in a good amount, make sure the bottom screen is completely covered, and leave a little bit more than that.
Then, it seems to work really well. This is not one of those vapes that’s going to work really well with a tiny pinch of material. Again, remember that you’re not grinding the material that you put in here. For the heat to actually be hitting nice, you need to pack down a good amount.
Now, I’ll show you the balloon mode, which I don’t really think is that great. I’m not really impressed with it. If you’re considering buying this vape for the balloon function, I’d probably recommend you maybe look at one of the other models for that. The way the bag system works with this, they give you all the pieces separate.
This is the bag that I put together already. They’ll give you the bag material. They’ll give you a couple of mouthpieces and a couple of clamps. You just have to put it all together. It’s not very difficult. There is no valve on the bag or anything. This is one of those vapes where you have to plug it with your finger in between draws.
What you would do after you assemble your bag is, you would take this little straw piece they include, and you would stick this in the top of the mouthpiece. Then, you would take the mouthpiece part of your balloon, and that also fits right on that straw piece like that. I’m just going to move this to the side and show you, because this is the part that gets kind of weird, in my opinion.
This vape doesn’t have a built-in fan, like other balloon vapes have to force the air up and fill the balloon with vapor. What they give you with this vape is an aquarium pump, basically the same kind of air pump that you would use for a fish tank. They also give you this piece of tubing. What you’re supposed to do is connect this tubing to the output of the pump. There’s a little input port on the back of the unit here, where you plug this other end into. What you’re supposed to do to start filling the bag is just turn on the power for the pump.
Once you start doing that, the bag will start to fill. It’s not a very fast filling bag. It will take a little while, a couple minutes. I’m not going to fill a full bag here. I just wanted to give you an example. One of the other issues that this vape has, that I found, in addition to the pump system just being kind of weird, is that the screen in the mouthpiece part here is a very coarse screen, meaning that the pore size is large. It’s not a fine screen.
What I found is that particles of my material get pushed up into the balloon, even though I didn’t even grind my material. Just little flakes or little particles that happen to be in my material from packing it in, they will be pushed up into the balloon. They’ll get stuck on the sides. When the balloon is full, and I go to draw from it, some of these particles will come out through the mouthpiece into my mouth, which is definitely not good.
Like I said, I couldn’t avoid this, even with not grinding my material at all. The only way that I could see completely eliminating that issue is by somehow fashioning a finer screen to insert into the bottom of the mouthpiece here. The screen is built in to the mouthpiece, so I don’t really know how you would even do that.
Fortunately for this vape, the particles traveling up through the mouthpiece doesn’t seem to be an issue when you’re using it in whip mode. I’m just guessing that’s because the flow of air isn’t as intense, so it doesn’t push all the particles up. It only seems to be an issue when you have the pump attached, and you’re trying to fill the balloon.
Again, just to summarize briefly, I think it’s a pretty good performing vape. The vapor will be a good quality. It’s going to taste good. It’s going to be potent. I do think that it’s good for using in whip mode. It’s pretty enjoyable like that. I’m not very thrilled with the balloon system with this one. It’s just not very user friendly. I don’t really like it, so I wouldn’t really recommend it for use like that.
That’s pretty much all there is to it. I might have left out a couple things. If you have any questions that I didn’t answer, feel free to let me know. I’ll do my best to help you out. If you think you really like this one, and you want to give it a try, and you want to buy it, I put a link in the description to the authorized dealer that I bought mine from, which is the place I’d recommend you check out if you’re going to buy it online.
You could also check out my homepage on my website, Vapecritic.com, where you will see the rating that I gave to this vape and where it falls among the other vapes I’ve reviewed. As always, I really appreciate you taking the time to watch my stuff, and stay up!
Last year HerblAire kindly replaced my H2 at no charge so I’ve had over 3 years of reliable use. I noticed they improved the connection between the cord and the H2.2, where the previous unit probably failed. I like companies that learn from their mistakes ;-).
I like to mix up my herb to target my peripheral neuropathy. I’ve been buying 5/8 fine copper screens and I use them in the can instead of screwing around with the dinky ones in the white mouthpiece. I use a glass hookah bulb thing to connect it to my bong with high temp food grade flexible tubing, available by the foot on ebay. The original tubing sucks.
What bubblers and aquarium pumps have other people used? It’s too tipsy for the units that set on top. If you could put the unit upside down on top of the bubbler and outlet for the whip.
I’m still running on the original Herbalaire, and concerning the need to run a full crucible, I do it, and it takes roughly .5 grams of flower. I take two bags off of that, and then change out the crucible, saving the vaped material. At that point, the vaped flower seems to still have half the potency remaining, but harder to vape, so I make edibles out of it once I’ve saved enough, and the edibles are still very potent. The Herbalaire does not overheat the flower, so the edible has no burned taste to it. All in all, this vape lets you use every part of the pig, up to and including the squeal.
Love it. Have tons of glass 14 & 18mm.
Bags for wife.
Better than vapir,arizer…etc
I want something that I can take a toke, wait a while and take a toke again later, repeating throughout the day. They say this one doesn’t heat the herb unless you’re drawing or using the fan, is that true? My first choice was the Elevape for that reason, but since I got the news it’s back-ordered I started doing more research and came across the Herbalaire.
This is the easiest desktop to use! I Own the Extreme Q and the vapexhale. I love the vapexhale quality and the vape quality that comes from this vaporizer but, when I want something easy and quick I use the herbalAire 2.2. The vape is very good in density and quality. The Vapexhale produces a better tasting clean vape but you have to be careful with this vape since the glass pieces can break and I have broken the glass tubing connection on the unit already. It fell on my carpet with the water tool connected on the unit. If your looking for a vape that is quick and easy to use and gives you good quality vape and dense clouds than this vape is for you. In addition, you can get three herbalAire 2.2’s for the price of one vapexhale. I like the herbalAire 2.2 better than the Extreme Q. I find the Extreme Q does not produce very dense clouds of vape but it is far superior in filling bags over the herbalAire 2.2. If you want to use bags look at the Volcano or the VapirRise or the Extreme Q. The herbalAire company is very nice in helping you with any questions or issues you have with their products. All of their products are made in Canada so its a quality made product verses a China made product with questionable materials.
Can you vape without crucible?
Thanks!
This is a lovely little machine. Prior to the HerbalAire investment, I had the little Genie thing that’s fired up with a butane lighter. I always wound up with a charred mess in that thing, so clearly I need the temp dial.
I start out at 350F, then after a draw or three, bump it up to 375. [some text redacted]
Dusty brown remnants look to be good gravy coloring, probably flash-fried in a little butter first. Have read of swallowing the crumble in gel caps, but I have no gel caps. (Anyone done this?)
Right around 350-365, it’s rather like inhaling one’s spinach.
The remnants are still good for baking edibles. I add an extra Tbsp of vanilla to every recipe anyway, which covers up any toasty flavor.
The material has obviously already be decarbed by the heating, so gel caps work. I’ve tried it, and it’s no different than any other edible, just less tasty. You’ll be able to equate one capsule to one edible, roughly, assuming you don’t bake brownies the size of a Landrover.
I do have a herbalaire 1.1 and i use to suck direcly on the white teflon straws. It’s just a great vaporizer.
One tip i can give: If you own a arizer solo, you can use the glass stem to inhale. Just slide it into the herb container and you’re good to go ;)
hi vape critic
i do think another review of this vape is needed. ive owned a SSV, LSV, Solo, H2.2 and herbalaire elite.
i still own the SSV and solo but sold my LSV (combustion machine imo) and H2.2 to get the elite.
you should review the elite.
one thing that herbalaire should address is the quality of their tubing they supply with thier vapes (elite included) ive replaced the whip and pump tubing with MFLB whip tubing, soft and a lot better than the stiffer stuff they supply.
the claim of the herbalaire vapes using spent material from other top end vapes and making another bag out of it is totally true, apart from the LSV which i runs too hot and is close to combustion, good for some not for me.
and saying the bag option isnt as good as the whip is really confusing. whip is good but bag is better, its one new gauze (in the mouthpiece) from being great. also what happens when the fan goes in the volc, extreme q and vapir rise for e.g? you have to bin or send off for fixing or replacement. not with the herbalaire’s the pump goes and you can source a aquariam pump and your back in business, cheesy or not i see it as a bonus. more life to your vape.
please vape critic get some better tubing some gauzes and have another go with the H2.2 or get the elite and review that.
daily driver 1st to the SSV (2nd) and solo (3rd)
I’ve had mine for 4 years,works great.A salesperson at a major vape retailer said the HerbalAire is second only to the Volcano.Not as pricy as the Volcano and the pump built-in would be better on the HerbalAire but there’s where the added cost is.I’ll put up with the inconvenience .
Tried many others and so far I’ll stick with the HerbalAire.Unit gets a bit hot but it’s just not an issue.
Most good vape retailers will have cleaning solutions for the parts,they can get gummy after a few uses.
Love the tip about using oven bags,makes sense.
I have a Herbalaire (in fact I’m using it now), and it will work with unground material. But I have found that chopping the stuff up first will produce thicker vapour.
cheers
I have tried too many vaporizers to count and this was the third I purchased. I have a volcano and a ssv and have tried many high end vaporizers like the vapexhale and i must say the herbalaire stomps on them all in the efficiency department. Best vape made imo
I’m just updating my earlier post. In February I bought a Plenty vape and have used it regularly since, but I’m going to get another HerbalAire this week. The Plenty is great – uniquely easy to use, great taste and great tokes – but it’s too strong! As a medical user I prefer not getting too self-consciously wrecked, at least during the day, and with the Plenty I always looked wrecked – red eyes etc. HerbalAire is more subtle and seamless – It doesn’t bag out my eyes.. The Plenty is great for giving deep sleep.
I researched the shit out of vapes prior to buying this. Tried a number of others too including the Volcano (good too but very $$$).
I love this thing! Had it about four years. Did some mods like glow in the dark indices, etc. I use the bag method 95% of the time, never experienced inhaled particles. Still using my first bag too. Have not needed to replace anything yet, crucible, mouthpiece, straws, etc. Canadian made, very high quality.
Honestly, this review is not very accurate. I have owned it for the past 8 years and it is by far one of the top one’s in the market. The very fact that you stated the unit is not the best for the bag method shows that you really don’t know what you are taking about – not to offend you, but it’s true! (also, that you take money or benefits from some manufacturers which is the hallmark of an unworthy reviewer)
IN Fact – this unit is the most efficient bag system on the market – it will even produce vapor out of material that is considered spent in the Volcano. I have the unit and the high output pump and it is phenomenal.
a friend with a Volcano actually asked to trade and I laughed. at him of course because I would never trade such a phenomenal piece.
I agree 100% with M1kek9 here.
The HA has been my daily driver for almost 8 yrs now, and never a problem.
It makes great bags but really shines, inverted into my bubbler. It’s built like a thermos, gives great tasting vapour, gives the best & deepest extraction (whole compressed buds, or ground, doesn’t matter), and is rugged as hell. And all for ~ $150 these days! Best vape bargain on the market, imo.
Too bad The Vape Critic takes money and/or benefits from certain vape manufacturers. Makes most of his reviews irrelevant…
this is what sold me and its true…i was happy to drop the 600 bills on a volcano until the shop owner filled enough volcano bags that nothing but air was going in the bags,
Then he dumped out the brown dry volcano spent materials and repacked a herbalaire with the old volcano waste.
Voila…..thick clouds of milky vapour filling the herbalaire bags..will pay for itself in no time
How long do you leave it from when the green
Comes on
@Debbi – you will know its totally spent by the taste and potency, there’s no “scientific” time period etc as all herbs vary
As for using it when its done for things like butter etc, don’t totally expend the herb if you want to do that, this one can really sap it – once again, as you use it, you’ll gain experience and can then judge for yourself :)
When it comes to revaping, I personally wouldn’t revape – its pretty hot in there and whenever I revaped, it was nowhere near as potent, rather load less instead of filling it up with intent to revape – its a convection vape (think convection oven), I find it to work perfectly fine with a lesser load :)
Hope this helps and sorry for such a delayed response.
@Bud, I know this vape quite well, so decided to share , hope you dont mind :)
yes, the spent material from the Herbal Aire is meant for the garbage – that is because it truly extracts everything. like the commented said, don’t spend it all if you want to use it after as this will extract everything – less efficient vapes that have poor extraction will have something left over, but who wants a vaporizer that can’t extract everything?
Disagree. each bowl is vaped for two bags, and then edibled. The edibles seem to indicate about half potency left in the vaped flower. I just double up on vaped material in the recipe (and I always add lecithin and extra vanilla), and the results are sterling. Every cent spent on product ends up producing.
I’ve had my herbalaire for over 5 years and have used it regularly – I have Parkinson’s (PD) and vape every 3 or 4 hours, and since I am often unable to sleep more than or 3 or 4 hours, the vaporizer gets a heavy work out. Although it’s very endurable, over these years I have dropped it or knocked it over at least a dozen times a day due to parkinson’s as well as not having it in a good location. Although the plastic dial knob broke off after 2 years that was no problem as the metal knob remained. I knew it was going to die soon and I was planning to get another one soon but yesterday it passed it’s last electrical charge. The light just won’t come on. I’m still impressed with it’s durability because parkinson’s is really hard on objects.
I loved this vaporizer and always used the bag. If you want to fill the bags fast (30 seconds) u can get the stronger air pump that allows u to fill several bags at once. I think that herbalaire does extract more smoke than other vapes because of the 17 (?) air streams it has.
Up until now I was going to get another one as I was very happy with it, but after reading some reviews on new ones I’m going to have to consider the others. I’ll probably go to the vapor lounge and check them out.
Thanks for your reviews…
Hey thanks for sharing your experiences with this vape, let me know if you have any questions about any others!
honestly man, this is the only vape anyone every needs!
This is all new to me, I am trying a herbalAire, deciding if I want to buy it off someone. When do you know when the herb is no longer useful? Can the left over herb be used for anything. I understand the unit shuts off after 30 minutes, is the herb done then as well? Should it be used for 5 min shut off, then turned back on later when I want to use it again?
Thanks
@debbi
you will know it’s spent because the bags will start to fill with just air and very little vapor. you can extract one bag and then shut it off and come back for another, but the taste lessens with each subsequent fill, so I would just put single doses in.
You can cook with the left overs and make some edibles
Good vaporizer had mine for 7years still workin great. Nice too be able to adjust heat
Minus the strange way of filling balloons how does this vape stack up against the Extreme Q as far as vapor quality and potency?
The vapor from it is potent but a little on the hot side
that’s probably because you had the temperature set high. set it to 360 and forget it. never have to adjust it and the vapor is very dense. almost too dense for some people
Hi, glad to see you’ve reviewed this :)
From my own XP, I’ve owned a H2.1 for years (my first vape) … and I never get particles coming out into the bags / balloons … could be the 2.2’s pump is stronger? (the screens do look to be just as course) – suks if I didn’t notice it all this while XD – But yeah, besides some minor staining, my bags don’t have any particles in them.
*Tip – I replace leaky bags with oven roasting bags, its food grade heat resistant plastic – cheap and convenient ;)
Besides the wait on bag fill – which my mates really like, the other issue I have with it is resin / gunk buildup – those plasticy parts can be really sticky together when cool.
Out of interest, on efficiency, I think you got that little scope tool where u can see the trichomes? – I’m keen to know how much more efficient it is as it claims to be – I normally suck out as much as I can till the herb is a really dark brown nug.