Hobbies have an odd way of turning into passions, and the enjoyment of holy herb is no different.
I’m not sure how common my cannabis consumption arc is, but in terms of the tools I’ve used to enjoy my flower over the years, things have continually evolved…
From cheap Chinese glass handpipes under campus bridges to jankily rolled joints to blunts and bongs to French cones and ball vapes.
I’ve been happy packing cones and eating edibles these days. The 50-count cone towers from OCB are the cleanest burning I’ve found, and the folks at Good Tide produce a rosin gummy that tastes so good and hits so hard I can’t resist.
But alas, there is always a new summit, and the kind nerds at r/Vaporents showed me a whole new exciting world of super tasty, easy-to-use, and healthier consumption in the ball vaporizer, or just “ball vape” as they are most commonly called.
What Are Ball Vapes?
The “ball” in ball vape refers to the small peppercorn-ish size of the lab-produced ruby balls that fill every ball vape and function as a thermal retention mechanism.
All ball vapes contain these ruby balls, which are heated in small “hammer” like tools that remind me a lot of espresso portafilters.
Then, when you inhale through your bong or water pipe, with the ball vape held above your herb, you pull ambient air through the porous, ruby-filled internals of the ball vape to vaporize your herb.
It’s just like holding a little oven over your bowl instead of a flame, and because there is no flame (ball vape temps are controlled digitally with precision), there is no fear of combustion, and because there is no combustion, you get some of the tastiest rips of your life.
An additional benefit of vaping over combusting is that you can very quickly accumulate a whole bunch of AVB (already vaped bud), which still contains plenty enough cannabinoids to be used in making edibles.
So you’re getting twice the mileage out of your flower by vaping, first with the vapor itself and secondarily, via the edibles you can make with the vaped flower afterwards!
Why I Highly Recommend Investing in a Ball Vape
After years of consuming some of the best cannabis flower known to man in Oregon and Washington states, I’ve continually refined my processes for maximum pleasure.
This includes everything from investing in some cool eco-friendly Re:Stash glass mason-style stashjars to learning how to make my own brownies and cookies.
Cannabis-wise, I am a flavor-chaser at heart. Yes, I also desire the stoney effects, but I really love geeking out over new or “exotic” cultivars, particularly how they smell and taste.
Being a deli-style state, I get plenty of amazing smells every time I go to the dispensary, but when it comes to flavor, a lot of that is stripped out when the herb is burnt.
Yes, using clean, thin paper and a low-temperature heat source like a hemp wick [link] can help retain some flavor; the more volatile molecules don’t stand a chance.
With ball vaping, you set your temperature to whatever number you want. You can run it super low for smaller clouds but maximum fresh herbal flavor, or you can run your ball vape at a higher temp for more thorough, cloudy extraction.
I still love smoking joints and edibles and tinctures, but I use my ball vape weekly as well, especially when I buy some new flower and am keen to dive right into it.
Different Types of Ball Vapes Explained
It is worth noting that since ball vapes are kind of on the bleeding edge of stoner tech, the world is small but incredibly deep.
There are a handful of “big” reputable manufacturers with strong community sentiment, and they all offer something unique in terms of vape functionality, size, accessories, materials, and aesthetics.
The most significant differentiation is between wired and wireless systems. The wired being better for workspace/computer desk setups, whereas the wireless has worked well for me for more social settings in my living room.
Deciding where you will use your ball vape is a crucial consideration, as it will dictate whether you use a wired/wireless model.
Once you decide between wired and wireless, you have to choose between an injector and a diffuser head. Injectors fit within bowls and “inject” hot air directly over your dry herb, whereas diffusers cup over your bowl.
My advice is to take a thorough inventory of your existing glassware, including your bongs and bowls, as matching a new ball vape to your existing glassware is ideal for cost savings.
Everything after that is gravy, as there are great products of both styles, all offering really fun and unique takes on what is just a really pleasurable way of consuming herb.
The size of the ball vape, the material it is made of, its thermal efficiency, and the kinds of accessories and support available are all additional factors to consider if you decide to dive headfirst into ball vapes.
After two years of experimentation, I ultimately landed on a wireless Dab Ready System from Oldhead and a Smoke Hwaterpipeerpipe to pair it with for my daily driver, and it kicks ass.
Conclusion: Invest In Yourself, Invest in Your Health
The flavor you get when ripping out of a ball vape is unforgettable. The rips can be just as big as in traditional bongs, but much smoother and less irritating, and twice as tasty, IMO.
Smoking some fresh Terple or Durban Poison genetics through a mild-temperature ball-vapwaterpiper-pipe setup is utterly sublime.
The smoothness and lack of irritation make ball vapes the perfect vacation for your lungs.
Sure, it’s still easier to get super creamy, thick clouds via combusting a massive bowl, and if you’re happy with just that, more power to you. I still enjoy ripping a hot one from time to time as well.
Long-term, reducing the amount of combusted material going into your lungs probably ain’t a bad idea, and rotating between joints and a ball vape has been a fun combo that’s kept me even-keeled and having fun for years now.
No, the quality ball vape systems aren’t as cheap as gas station glass, but I hope none of you are actually comparing these two methods with any seriousness.
If you found this post and read this far, you’ve likely already heard of or done some research on ball vapes and are just looking for some encouragement in terms of pulling the trigger and investing in the kit, and so with that, I will leave you with:
Yes, it’s worth it. You will not regret your decision. I promise.
Now go buy that ball vape and treat your lungs to a trip to Flavortown!
