Vaping can be an expensive hobby, especially if you consider yourself a collector. While some like to keep up with all the latest products, others are simply looking for a way to vape while also cutting down on costs. Fortunately, vaping doesn’t have to be expensive at all. In fact, it may be able to save you money in the long run.

Read our three big tips for vaping on a budget.

3 tips for vaping on a budget:

1. Buy a good quality vape

Here’s a scenario we see all too often: someone buys a cheap knock off vape thinking they’re getting a great deal and have found a way to vaporize for less money. The vaporiser works for a couple of months until it starts to falter, and the owner constantly has to buy replacement parts to keep their vape performing well. Eventually, this person gets fed up or their vaporizer breaks completely and they contact us for a replacement. Most commonly, they will end up spending even more money on a better quality vaporiser after already shelling out hundreds of dollars on the first “cheap” one.

Sometimes, vaping on a budget means saving up for a good quality vape so you won’t have to deal with this situation yourself.

Think of a good vaporizer as an investment – it doesn´t matter whether it is a portable vape or a desktop vape. It may cost more upfront, but the long term savings that a good vaporizer will afford you are worth it. Compared to a cheap, low quality unit, a high quality vape will be more efficient with your herb, have a much better build quality, and will last you a lot longer.

How a good quality vape saves you money:

• It will last longer
• Less money spent on replacement parts
• Increased efficiency conserves your herb
• Good warranty period for security

Note: “Good quality” doesn’t mean “most expensive”

When we talk about “high quality” vaporisers, we do not mean “the most expensive vaporiser on the market,” but rather one that it is of sound build quality, performs well, and is made by a reputable company. For instance, the Volcano may be pricey but it also has decades of satisfied customers behind it, as well as a highly reputable company that stands behind their products.

Not every expensive vaporizer has the same level of integrity. There are many expensive vaporizers out there that claim to be the best, but they ultimately fall short in performance, material quality, or the quality of the company who makes them. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a vaporiser is the best simply because it costs a lot of money.

Often, some of the best vaporizers we recommend to people are mid-range and moderately priced. Arizer units like the Solo or the Air are popular favourites among those looking for a good quality vaporizer for a reasonable price.

2. Keep it clean

The best way to get the most use out of any vaporizer is to keep it clean. Even the best units will eventually stop performing if the air path is all gummed up with residue and clogged with debris. Not only does residue build-up affect your vape's performance, but it also isn’t very fun to vape out of. A dirty air path can lead to decreased vapour output, unpleasant odours and a bad taste.

Keeping your vape clean doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. Something as simple as brushing out the herb chamber after every session goes a long way in keeping your vape working. A good vape with regular use should only need a thorough cleaning every fortnight or so. Don’t think you have to spend money on expensive cleaning kits or supplies either; you can clean your vape with cheap every day items.

Essential Cleaning Supplies:

• A bottle of Isopropyl alcohol (available from the hardware store)
• Cleaning brush
• Pipe cleaners
• Cotton swabs
• Spare screens

TIP:  If you own a vape with glass parts, you can fill a jar with Isopropyl alcohol and use it for soaking your glass pieces. This jar can be kept for up to a couple of months, which will make your Iso last longer! Just drop your glass in whenever it needs a clean.

3. Prepare your material

When combusting, anything goes. With vaporisation, you will get optimal results from material that is as dry as possible and ground finely. The aim of vaping is conservation, and this is always beneficial if you’re vaping to cut down on costs! If you want to conserve your blends as much as possible and save money, then a little preparation goes a long way.

The grind: your herb should be ground as finely as possible for the best vapour production - this is easiest with a good quality grinder. Smaller particles vaporize more effectively because a finer grind increases the surface area of your herbs. When air is able to pass more easily through and around your blend, more active ingredients can be released as vapour. You will find that you get more potent effects from a smaller amount of herb if you use a grinder.

Moisture: Different material has different moisture content, for example, fresh Lavender flowers will have more moisture than dried sage leaves. It seems like the opposite would be true, but herbal blends vape less effectively if they are too moist. Material with a higher moisture content will produce harsher and less pleasant vapour than material that is drier.

If your material seems a bit moist, you can set it out to dry. Simply grind your blend and spread it out on some paper in a cool dry spot. Once it has dried out, it’s ready to vaporize!

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