The Herbalizer Might Just Be The World’s Smartest Vaporizer

Designed by two former NASA engineers, the Herbalizer is being touted as the world’s first smartvape™. It is capable of vaporizing flowers and concentrates in VaporTherapy™ mode, and diffusing essential oils in aromatherapy mode.

Herbalizer Designs The World’s First Smartvape™

Based in San Diego, Herbalizer is relatively new to the vaporizer space. Nonetheless, they took great care to create a vaporizer unlike any other.

A number of businesses have focused their efforts on developing next-generation vaporizing solutions. While companies like UpToke, Firefly, and Indica have approached the market from the angle of portable vaporization, a few companies are taking a slightly different route.

Herbalizer saw a gap in the home use medical vaporizer market for people who require consistency and repeatability with instantaneous delivery. Acting accordingly, they released The Herbalizer (aka Herbie) in late 2013.

Judging from its retail price ($729), Herbie is most comparable to the Volcano from Storz & Bickel. However, the technology that went into it is unlike anything else that I’ve personally encountered.

According to Josh Young, CEO and President, Herbalizer is “creating ways to change lives in ways previously thought impossible,” much like Apple did when creating the early generations of smart phones. With its smart technology, discreet medical design, versatility, rapid heat up time, and impressive ability to deliver a controlled and repeatable experience, Herbie is the world’s first smartvape™.

Herbalizer: A Multi-Purpose, American-Made Vaporizer

Herbie is a first generation vaporizer, but the Herbalizer team is no stranger to technology. Young and his co-founder, Bob Pratt, have 35 years combined aerospace experience, and each spent a considerable amount of time working for NASA before embarking on a mission to create a vaporizer easy enough for their mothers to use.

“Herbie has a sensor directly under the chamber/bowl for precise temperature control (between 290° and 445° F).”

As mentioned above, The Herbalizer retails at $729. While this is clearly one of the most expensive vaporizers on the market, it’s not unreasonable when you consider the range of use and innovative technology under the hood.

For instance, The Herbalizer utilizes a small 300 watt halogen light bulb as the heat source. It is capable of reaching temperatures as high as 800° F, which explains the need for another Herbie innovation – it has a sensor directly under the chamber/bowl for precise temperature control (between 290° and 445° F). Most vaporizers on the market gauge the temperature from the heater itself, leaving it up to the consumer to reach the desired effects with some guesswork involved. (Note: Lower temperatures typically cause more uplifting, anxiety-relieving effects and higher temperatures are typically good for pain relief.)

The Herbalizer is a 100% percent convection vaporizer, meaning that air passes over the heat source and, in turn, vaporizes the desired elements (herbs, concentrates, etc.) in the chamber.

How To Use The Herbalizer Vaporizer

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a limited edition Herbalizer, which arrived in a package that doubles as a carrying case. Upon opening the package, I was happy to see that it comes with (4) SqueezeValve™ balloons (vapor bags) included.

Also included in the package was (1) 3ft silicone whip, (1) magnetic bowl, (1) stash box, (1) grinder card, (1) 2ml DeFunk essential oil, (2) aroma pads, (2) spare bowl screens, (1) quick start guide, (1) cleaning brush, (1) detachable power cord, and Herbalizer’s VaporTherapy™ herbal blend.

Aesthetically speaking, The Herbalizer looks like a mixture of an egg and a UFO, and opens like a clam shell. It is sleek and totally inconspicuous to the untrained eye – only people in the know will have a clue that it is a vaporizer upon first glance.

As I mentioned earlier, Herbie has multiple uses. Its Aromatherapy setting boasts two different fan speeds, one of which is incredibly low (and quiet) to allow essential oils to fill the room. On the VaporTherapy™ setting, patients are able to make choose between vaporizing with A.) a silicone whip, B.) Herbie’s patent-pending SqueezeValve bag system, or C.) freestyle vapors directly from the bowl to fill a small room. Complete the following steps, and you will be well on your way to Herbalizing:

A.) Aromatherapy Mode

1. Open the mezzanine storage (under the top shell) and remove the aromapad from the front.
2. Apply 2-5 drops of essential oil on the aromapad and return it to the front of the mezzanine.
3. Press the aromatherapy button (to the left of the fan).
4. Set the timer from 1 minute to 1 hour using the control bar.
5. The fan speed is automatically set on high. For a more quiet experience, press the fan button once.
6. Close the lid and aromatherapy will begin – it will shut off automatically when the timer runs out.

B.) VaporTherapy™ Mode With Dried Flowers, Herbs, Etc.

1. Open the lid – Herbie will automatically turn on when doing so.
2. Press the VaporTherapy™ button (to the right of the fan).
3. Remove the magnetic bowl by tilting it forward – DO NOT pull up or twist to remove.
4. Fill the bowl halfway with loosely ground material and return it to its original position.
5. Choose your desired effects (uplifting to balanced) and temperature using the control bar – temps range between 290° and 445° F with 1° intervals.
6. Insert the silicone whip or SqueezeValve™ Balloon to the top of the magnetic bowl – both pieces are easily attached.
7. Press the fan button to fill your balloon with vapor. This also can be used for assisted vapor delivery with the whip system, though it is not necessary.
8. Once your vapor bag is full (in balloon mode), squeeze the sides of the valve without ridges in order to open an airpath, and inhale to clear the bag.

C.) VaporTherapy™ Mode With Concentrates

1. Open the lid – Herbie will automatically turn on when doing so.
2. Press the VaporTherapy™ button (to the right of the fan).
3. Remove the magnetic bowl by tilting it forward – DO NOT pull up or twist to remove.
4. Apply your extract to the top of an aroma pad (found in the mezzanine storage compartment).
5. Place the pad in the magnetic bowl and return it to its original position.
6. Choose your desired effects (uplifting to balanced) and temperature using the control bar – temps range between 400° F and 445° F with 1° intervals.
7. Insert the silicone whip or SqueezeValve™ Balloon to the top of the magnetic bowl – I preferred using the whip for concentrates.
8. Press the fan button to fill your balloon with vapor. I found the fan to come in handy when vaporizing concentrates in The Herbalizer.
9. Once your vapor bag is full (in balloon mode), squeeze the sides of the valve without ridges in order to open an airpath, and inhale to clear the bag.

What We Liked About The Herbalizer Vaporizer

• Intuitive design – I was able to use both the whip and balloon system without even glancing at the directions.
• Instant heat-up – Herbie is capable of reaching the desired temperature in just 5 seconds, which means no more waiting when you need relief.
• Versatility – vaporize herbs or concentrates in bag, whip, or freestyle mode.
• Automatic power feature – simply open The Herbalizer to turn in on and close it to turn it off.
• Automatic shut-off – for safety, Herbie is set to turn off after 35 minutes of use, or in the event that the unit tips over.
• LCD screen that automatically adjusts to the light in the room.
• Precise temperature control – you are able to accurately adjust your vaporizing temperature in 1° intervals for consistent and repeatable extractions.
• Comes with dual temperature display (Celsius and Fahrenheit).
• Inconspicuous design – The Herbalizer could sit on your living room table and no one would have a clue what it is.
• Mezzanine storage allows Herbie to house all the necessary accessories – this would be great for traveling.
• The SqueezeValve™ system is by far the easiest bag system that I’ve personally come across.
• Optional assisted delivery (fan) for the whip system is great for patients with weak lungs. It also cools the vapor, which makes it less likely to irritate your throat.
• Insulated bowl prevents you from burning yourself – be aware that it can still be a little hot.
• Becuase the bowl is insulated, you can easily stir your herbs between draws – this allows for even extraction of the desired compounds.
• Herbalizer offers a 2-year warranty on the Herbalizer.
• Herbie is also backed by a 5-year quality guarantee (limited edition only).
• The Herbalizer is made in the USA… ‘merica!

How Could The Herbalizer Be Improved?

• The whip can be a little hot to the touch when detaching it from the bowl – some sort insulation should easily resolve this.
• Offering The Herbalizer in different shell colors would allow for more personalization.
• An option for a quieter fan in VaporTherapy™ mode would be a plus – this was always one of my favorite qualities of the Vapir Rise.
• $729 makes the market for The Herbalizer relatively small. I understand that a small fortune went into product development (roughly $1 million), but that’s a lot of money for a vaporizer and/or aromatherapy device.
• Although Herbie is capable of vaporizing concentrates, I did not experience the same sort of vapor thickness that I want when taking a dab. For this reason, I would prefer the VapeXhale Cloud EVO with the VapeXNail attachment for heavy-hit dabbing.
• An all-glass vapor path would be closer to my liking as far as flavor is concerned. That being said, the SqueezeValve™ balloon was definitely the more flavorful VaporTherapy™ option.

The Herbalizer: The World’s First Smartvape™

Herbie is certainly worth buying if you can afford the price tag ($729). Despite my preference I personally will be keeping it in the rotation to vaporize flowers, considering how fast and easy the unit is to operate.

“The rapid start-up time and precise temperature control make this one of the most impressive flower vaporizers that I’ve ever seen.”

The Herbalizer impressed me overall – I can honestly say I would feel comfortable giving this unit to my mother and she would have no problem figuring it out. The design is sleek, and there is no shortage of innovative technology at work here.

The rapid start-up time and precise temperature control make this one of the most impressive flower vaporizers that I’ve ever seen. It is easy to operate and is among the best options available for medical marijuana patients.