Crafty Portable Vaporizer by Storz & Bickel

Crafty Portable Vaporizer by Storz & Bickel

Very few sectors in any industry have seen the dramatic changes that have occurred within the vaporizer community. In just a few short years, vaping went from an industry making tens of millions of dollars into one that will easily eclipse three billion in total revenue. Between 2008 and 2015, sales for vaping devices jumped more than 140-fold. Where else are you going to see a return like that?

Vaping has taken the retail world by storm because of its unique fusion of technology, convenience, and safety. Product manufacturers, emboldened by the surge in popularity and financial success, are grinding their gears, churning out innovation after innovation. Primarily, herbal vaporizers have captured the attention of both the enthusiast community and the general public.

With the success and rising demand comes a responsibility to provide for the consumer base. Too often, though, the portable vaporizer market has been a race centered on aesthetic appeal, but lacking in the area of functionality.

This is where Storz & Bickel sets a different kind of standard. Storz & Bickel is a world renowned vaping innovator specializing in premium desktop e-rigs, such as the Volcano Digital and Volcano Classic. Developing a strong reputation for their advanced German engineering, Storz & Bickel's chief focus is on the user experience -- without it, nothing else matters.   

That vision, that steadfast commitment to a sole purpose is evident throughout the insanely cool lines of the Storz & Bickel Crafty Vaporizer. While other portable vaporizers promote slender, graceful aesthetics, the Crafty Vaporizer by Storz & Bickel is aiming for a muscular, robust image -- one that conveys immediate respect as a powerful device capable of burning through any herb or wax concentrate. Similar to a Hummer, the outer chassis of the Crafty is unmistakable in its true intended purpose.

To be honest, the Crafty Vaporizer by Storz & Bickel might not win too many beauty contests -- many of which are based on esoteric, avant-garde designs that may not always appeal to every vaper. Many prefer a focused, functional, and purpose-driven design that's easy to grip and comfortable to hold for long vaping sessions. If that's you, the Crafty by Storz & Bickel is your tool of choice. Lightweight at only a hair above one pound, the Crafty Vaporizer is easy to carry around town, while its "ribbed" ergonomics will ensure a firm hold on your e-device.

What ardent vapers will appreciate is the tremendous amount of thought put in by the Storz & Bickel team towards user convenience. The Crafty features a one button control mechanism that truly is a one button system -- and it doesn't require annoying series of toggling. One push of the button turns the Crafty by Storz & Bickel on. Within 60 to 90 seconds, the unit automatically heats to its default temperature setting of 365⁰F. For a thicker, more robust vaping experience, a second click will heat the Crafty Vaporizer to 383⁰F. Once the desired temperature setting is reached, an LED indicator light at the base of the Storz & Bickel Crafty will switch from red to green. Literally, in two button clicks or less, Storz & Bickel will have you vaping in no time -- now that's truly a consumer-centric innovation! 

As is evident as soon as you open the packaging of the Storz & Bickel Crafty Vaporizer, this is a very compact unit. The Crafty is only 4.3 inches tall, which will easily fit into most people's palms. In fact, it happens to be one of the smallest platforms available in the portable vaporizer market. Because of that, at first glance, it may appear that the herbal loading process may be cumbersome. However, within a few tries -- we're talking about two or three go-arounds -- the process becomes second nature.

The included "Herb Mill" grinder makes things a lot easier, which you simply set on top of the filling tray. After you grind your botanicals, a cylindrical filling aid -- which is also included in the Crafty vaporizer kit -- helps you deposit the right amount of herb into the heating basin. The filling aid and the tray have lines etched in. Just pay attention to them so as to not overfill the heating chamber. This is especially important as overfilling can lead to uneven vaporization, or worse yet, combustion. Thanks to the filling aid, though, Storz & Bickel made the Volcano Crafty essentially "idiot proof." As an added physical precaution, the center plug should rest perfectly on the filling aid -- if it doesn't, you've added too much material.

When it comes to portable vaporizers, the power source is everything -- what good is the ability to transport your vaporizer if the battery fizzles out after a few draws? Fortunately, Storz & Bickel deeply understands the enthusiast market, and have only incorporate the finest materials into their Volcano series of vaporizers.

Powering the Crafty is an integrated single lithium ion battery. Lithium is an incredibly versatile energy source, which is commonly used to power consumer electronic devices, but is also found in electric vehicles and aeronautics. The way I look at it, if the military trusts their lives to it, you can trust your vaping experience to it as well. And yes -- the Crafty by Storz & Bickel makes the absolute most of lithium's power delivery. Vapers can expect roughly one hour of use on a single charge, which is good for four or five full loads. Better yet, a full recharge is quick, usually taking a little over an hour.

A useful point of comparison here is the Crafty's bigger brother, the Mighty. For vapers that are always on the go, and need an e-device that can go the distance, I would highly recommend the Mighty. It's less than a 20% premium than the Crafty, but the Mighty offers huge power reserves through its dual lithium ion battery system. Vaping critics have noted that the Mighty can last up to six hours, and need only two hours for a full recharge. Still, irrespective of which model you pick, you will be receiving the best of Storz & Bickel's remarkable engineering acumen.

Similar to portable vaporizers of this size, the Crafty saves significant real estate on its chassis by incorporating a one button, factory preset temperature system. For casual vaping, the default 365⁰F setting is perfect for those that want to mellow down after a hard day at the office. For a higher kick, the 383⁰F should be more than adequate for even the most hardcore vapers.

Understandably, though, ardent enthusiasts would like to have absolute control over their heating environment. Not all herbs and concentrates are the same, with some materials requiring the right mix of heat and time to produce accurate translation of flavors.

As you would expect, Storz & Bickel does not leave you hanging. As a completely free option, the company website offers a remote control app powered by Bluetooth which allows you to precisely set the temperature for the Crafty's "default" and "booster" settings using your smartphone. That's actually an incredibly intelligent design. Other portable vaporizers include a Bluetooth app for precision temperature control -- however, you have to constantly set the temperature every time you vape. With the Crafty by Storz & Bickel, you can save your settings into the unit. That way, if you're going through identical or similar loads, you don't have to fiddle with your phone.

Another nice touch is the fact that Storz & Bickel isn't an "upgrade snob." The remote control app is compatible with a now-aging iPhone 4S or higher, and an Android 4.3 and up. Along with that compatibility, you can use the app to gauge your battery life status, and toggle on or off the vibration function of the Crafty (this vaporizer, in addition to the LED indicator switch, vibrates when the desired temperature has been reached).

No matter what heat setting you choose, whether the factory presets or your own smartphone-enabled concoctions, be prepared for serious vaping cloud production. Quite literally, there is nothing in the market at this price, at this size, that will emit the kind of clouds you will regularly see from the Crafty. Thankfully, the Crafty integrates a ceramic heating chamber, which provides a smoother texture and doesn't beat up your lungs.  

In addition to these attributes, the Crafty Vaporizer by Storz & Bickel utilizes a cooling chamber, as well as cooling fins, which are structurally incorporated into the chassis. These distinctive elements help cool off the vapes before you draw, which enhances the flavor and the overall experience. For those vapers that use herbal solutions for medicinal purposes, they will certainly appreciate the cooling elements of the Crafty Vaporizer, as it increases draw time and thus, extended relief. Aside from the medicinal benefit, the Crafty is also very much appropriate for vapers with a lower tolerance of heated inhalation.    

Several critics and industry analysts have reviewed the Crafty vaporizer and have come to the conclusion that this is one of the best vaporizers ever built. That's because it combines the advanced innovations present in the higher-priced Mighty, but in a much more compact platform.

First, the Crafty by Storz & Bickel utilizes a hybrid system, combining full hot air convection heating with conduction. Typically, most vaporizers rely on one of the two principles. Convection vaporizers rely on passing hot air around and through herbal blends, while conduction vaporizers work by contact with a heated surface. While modern vaporizers incorporate varying degrees of both elements, the Crafty effortlessly utilizes the best of both worlds.

Storz & Bickel knows a thing or two about convection heating -- they're the ones that introduced the concept to the retail market in 2000 with their Volcano Vaporizer (known now as the Classic). Convection was addressed as a solution to some of the problems associated with early conduction vaporizers -- ie. uneven heating and combusting of herbal components.

In the Crafty, the convection process is accomplished via heat generation in the base of the device, which then naturally rises up past the insulated chamber to the loading bowl. There, the hot air creates a convection current through and around the shredded botanicals. In order to make the most of this natural and efficient vaping process, there must be separation between the heat generation and the herbal content. Otherwise, if the distance is too close, there runs the risk of contact between the herbs and the heating element, thus creating possible combustion. The unique aspect of the Crafty is that Storz & Bickel were able to maximize this distance without risking combustion while keeping the height of the chassis as short as it is.

The convection principle is exactly the reason why the Volcano Classic (or its successor, the Volcano Digital) is one of the world's best-selling and most popular desktop e-rig unit. With a balloon bag filled with vapor, there is zero contact between the herbal flavors and the heating element. However, that doesn't mean that conduction is completely useless. While convection is superior from a flavor translation perspective, it does take time for the heating process to complete. Understanding this dilemma, Storz & Bickel incorporated conduction principles into the Crafty Vaporizer, which ensures vapor creation from the very first breath. 

The brilliance of the Storz & Bickel Crafty Vaporizer is just how amazingly intuitive the platform really is. You wouldn't think that judging by its premium status. Typically, a higher price tag comes with the expectation of a higher level of knowledge and sophistication.  

In sharp contrast, Storz & Bickel created the opposite effect with the Crafty Vaporizer. Instead of making the Crafty complex and technically involved, the platform has a gentle learning curve for which anybody can be accustomed -- seasoned vapers, traditional cigarette smokers, even those that find the practice completely foreign.

Here's something that everyone, but especially newcomers, can appreciate -- no unnecessary components! Many of the core elements of the Crafty by Storz & Bickel are integrated into the platform, which equates to less digging around for parts and more time vaping. All you really need to enjoy the Crafty Vaporizer out of the box is the included grinder and filling aid -- and of course your essential flavors!

Sadly, the good times can't last indefinitely. Thankfully, when your Crafty taps out, and needs a good cleaning, the procedure is quick and painless. Disassembly is intuitive, and Storz & Bickel includes a nifty cleaning brush with the Crafty. After you've swept herbal excess out of the chamber, you can use a Q-tip to remove baked in residue. This is an important tip if you're going to switch from plant materials to concentrates like oil or wax. 

The unavoidable question is whether the Storz & Bickel Crafty Vaporizer is worth its premium price tag. In terms of performance, there is no question -- a broad consensus of experts, critics, and enthusiast review have remarked that there is nothing like the Storz & Bickel series of vaporizers in the market. Both the Crafty and the Mighty feature nearly identical user experience.

Ultimately, the bottom line comes down to your lifestyle and intended usage of the vaporizer. If extended battery life is a must, the Mighty is a no-brainer. However, if you need something discreet and easily transportable, the Crafty is your prime choice.   

Backed by a two-year warranty and tremendously positive consumer reviews, Storz & Bickel has once again delivered an engineering marvel. The Storz & Bickel Crafty Vaporizer earns top marks in smooth draws and a premium experience for any skill level.