Vaporizer Glossary A–Z — All Terms Explained
Quick navigation: Balloon | Bowl | Conduction | Convection | Dosing Capsule | Draw Resistance | Hybrid | Mouthpiece | On-Demand | Pass-Through | Session | Stem | Terpenes | Torch | VAS | Whip | WPA | 510 Thread | 18650 | Burn-Off
Balloon
A balloon (also bag) is an inflatable plastic bag that fills with vapor. Most famous example: the Volcano by Storz & Bickel. The balloon is filled at the device, then detached and emptied at leisure. Ideal for groups and relaxed vaping without time pressure.
Bowl (Herb Chamber)
The bowl (or herb chamber) is the heart of every vaporizer — the chamber where you load your herbal material. Size and material (ceramic, stainless steel, titanium) affect flavor and efficiency. A cleanly filled chamber with evenly ground material gives the best result.
Conduction
Conduction means heat transfer by direct contact: the herbal material touches the hot chamber wall and is heated this way. Advantage: fast heat-up. Disadvantage: uneven heating if the material is not stirred regularly. More: Convection vs. Conduction.
Convection
Convection heats the material through hot air: the airflow is heated before passing through the herb chamber. Result: even heating, cleaner flavor, less risk of combustion. Convection vaporizers are generally considered higher quality but often cost more. More: Convection vs. Conduction in detail.
Dosing Capsule
A dosing capsule is a small metal sleeve (usually aluminium) that is pre-filled with herbs and inserted into the vaporizer. Advantages: faster loading, more hygienic, no loose material. Best known from Storz & Bickel (Mighty, Crafty). More: Dosing capsules compared.
Draw Resistance
Draw resistance describes how much effort you need to pull air through the vaporizer. High draw resistance requires a firm pull (narrow airpath), low resistance lets air flow freely. The ideal draw resistance is personal — smokers often prefer a little more resistance.
Hybrid
A hybrid vaporizer combines conduction and convection. The chamber wall preheats the material by conduction while the airflow also heats it by convection. Result: fast heat-up like conduction, even vapor like convection. Examples: Mighty+, Venty, Crafty+.
Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece is the part of the vaporizer you put to your lips when vaping. Materials: plastic, ceramic, glass or metal. Glass mouthpieces are considered the most flavor-neutral. Many manufacturers offer replaceable mouthpieces in different lengths. Regular cleaning is important.
On-Demand
An on-demand vaporizer only heats during a draw and cools down immediately after. This saves material and battery. Ideal for microdosing and solo sessions. More: Session vs. On-Demand compared.
Pass-Through Charging
Pass-through charging means you can vape while the device charges via USB-C. Not all devices support this. Especially handy for desktop sessions or when the battery is already low. Examples with pass-through: Mighty+, PAX Plus.
Session Mode
In session mode, the vaporizer heats to a set temperature and holds it until you switch it off or a timer runs out (typically 5–10 minutes). The device heats continuously — even during pauses. Good for beginners and groups. More: Session vs. On-Demand.
Stem (Glass Tube)
A stem (glass tube) is the mouthpiece used in Arizer vaporizers. The glass tube serves as both mouthpiece and container for the herbal material. Advantage: pure glass flavor, easy to clean. Disadvantage: fragile. Arizer stems come in different lengths and also as water pipe adapter variants.
Terpenes
Terpenes are aromatic compounds responsible for the aroma and flavor of herbs and plants. In a vaporizer, terpenes vaporize at lower temperatures (120–160 °C) before the active compounds. To taste terpenes first, vape at lower temperatures. The vaporizer temperature guide explains this in more detail: Temperature guide.
Torch (Butane Lighter)
A torch is a butane gas lighter used for manually heated vaporizers such as the DynaVap. The torch heats the metal cap of the DynaVap until a click signals that the correct temperature has been reached. No power, no battery — pure vaporizer operation. More: Butane Vaporizer Guide.
VAS (Vaporizer Acquisition Syndrome)
VAS stands for Vaporizer Acquisition Syndrome — the urge to keep buying more and newer vaporizers even though you already own several. A humorous concept from the vaporizer community. Having a "healthy" VAS at least means doing thorough research before every purchase.
Whip (Tube)
A whip is a silicone tube that connects a desktop vaporizer to the mouthpiece. Classic desktop vaporizers like the Aromed or old Volcano versions had whip connections. Balloon systems are more common today. Whip systems allow relaxed vaping from a greater distance from the device.
WPA (Water Pipe Adapter)
A WPA (water pipe adapter) connects the vaporizer to a bong or water filter. The vapor passes through water, which cools and filters it. Many vaporizers have WPA accessories (e.g. Storz & Bickel, Arizer). More: Vaporizer WPA guide.
510 Thread
The 510 thread is the industry-standard connector for atomizers and batteries. Originally from the e-cigarette world, it is now used in many pen vaporizers and atomizers. A 510 battery fits any 510 atomizer — making it easy to mix components from different manufacturers.
18650 (Battery Format)
The 18650 is a standardized rechargeable battery format (18 mm diameter, 65 mm height, lithium-ion). Many high-quality vaporizers use 18650 batteries because they are easy to swap out. Examples: Arizer Solo 3, DaVinci IQ3. A charged spare battery significantly extends vaping time.
Burn-Off (Oven Cleaning)
A burn-off (also burn-in or oven cleaning) is a first heating cycle at maximum temperature without any herb. This burns off manufacturing residues and protective coatings from the chamber. Recommended for every new vaporizer — 2 to 3 cycles at maximum temperature with good ventilation. More: Cleaning guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does mAh mean for vaporizer batteries?
mAh (milliampere-hours) is the capacity of a battery. The higher the value, the more sessions are possible. A Mighty+ has 5800 mAh (8–12 sessions), a Crafty+ only 3000 mAh (5–8 sessions). As a rule of thumb: 1000 mAh equals roughly 1–2 short sessions.
What is VAS in vaporizer culture?
VAS (Vaporizer Acquisition Syndrome) is a humorous concept from the vaporizer community for the urge to keep buying more devices. Not a medical term — more of an inside joke that everyone understands who has ever ordered a second vaporizer while the first still works perfectly.
What is the difference between conduction and convection?
With conduction, the herbal material is heated by contact with the hot chamber wall. With convection, hot air heats the material. Convection is generally considered more even and flavor-cleaner. Detailed comparison here.
What is a WPA and what do I need it for?
A WPA (water pipe adapter) connects your vaporizer to a bong or water filter. The vapor is cooled and filtered by the water — making it softer and smoother. Especially noticeable at higher temperatures. Many S&B and Arizer devices have official WPA accessories.
What does session mode mean for a vaporizer?
In session mode, the vaporizer heats to a target temperature and holds it until you switch it off — usually 5 to 10 minutes. The device keeps running even when you are not drawing. Ideal for beginners and groups. The opposite is on-demand mode.
Conclusion
Vaporizer terminology sounds daunting at first, but it really is not. Once you can tell convection from conduction and know what a dosing capsule or WPA is, every buying decision gets easier. Read more: Beginner guide, Convection vs. Conduction, Cleaning guide.