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VapeHeatLabConvection
A vaporization heating method where hot air passes over cannabis to heat it evenly without direct contact with a heated surface.
Convection is a vaporization heating method where hot air is drawn or pushed through cannabis material to heat it evenly and extract cannabinoids and terpenes without direct contact with a heated surface. This approach is used in many premium dry herb vaporizers and is considered superior to conduction heating for flavor and extraction efficiency.
How Convection Vaporizing Works
In a convection vaporizer, a heating element warms the air, which then flows through the cannabis chamber when the user inhales (or in forced-air desktop units, when a fan pushes the air). The hot air contacts every surface of the ground herb, heating it uniformly. Because the cannabis only heats when air passes through it, convection vaporizers do not cook the material between draws. This prevents the scorching and uneven extraction that can occur with conduction vaporizers.
Benefits for Consumers
Convection heating produces smoother, more flavorful vapor because the cannabis is heated evenly and at a more consistent temperature. The flavor tends to be cleaner and more true to the strain's terpene profile, especially at lower temperature settings. Convection vaporizers also extract cannabinoids more efficiently, meaning you get more effect from the same amount of flower. The trade-off is that convection vaporizers are typically more expensive and may take slightly longer to heat up than conduction models. Popular convection or hybrid vaporizers include the Mighty, Crafty, Firefly, and Volcano.