Confused between on-demand vs. session vapes? The market is filled with new and different types of dry herb vaporizers for you to choose from. Unsurprisingly, it has become challenging for weed vape buyers to navigate their way through the myriad of options available to them and decide which one suits their needs best. In particular, weed vape buyers will choose from either ‘on-demand’ vaporizers or ‘session vaporizers’.

Keep reading to find out more about on-demand vs. session vapes to understand the key differences between them and how each of them can influence your weed vaping experience.

What is on-demand vaping?

On-demand vaporizers will typically make use of convection heating technology, but there are some exceptions as all convection heating vapes are not on-demand vapes.

With on-demand vaporizers, you do not have to vape all of your weed in one single session. You can space out your weed vaping with breaks in between without having to wash the contents of your vaporizer’s chamber or oven. With these devices, you have the ability to vape as much or as little as you want to. Enjoy your weed stash throughout an extended period, or the whole day if you like!

How does it work?

The use of convection heating technology allows on-demand vaporizers to heat up quickly and cool down just as fast.

With on-demand vapes, the device first heats the air that is at room temperature within the vaporizer’s chamber. Next, this incredibly hot air passes through your weed and vaporizes its cannabinoid contents along its path. Finally, it escapes the device and enters your mouth.

The efficiency of on-demand vapes lies in being able to control and manage the supply of heat. Note that the vaporizer’s chamber does not retain heat between hits which means that you can take your time between taking draws from your on-demand vape.

High-end and truly ‘on-demand’ vapes will heat up and cool down very quickly (in under less than 10 seconds). However, there are other on-demand dry herb vaporizers in the market that can take up to 20 or 30 seconds to heat up and be ready to vape.

If you vape on the go and do not want to sit down for an intense weed vaping session, then you will find that on-demand vapes are more suited to you. However, do note that there are relatively fewer vaporizers available that are authentically ‘on-demand’ and capable of delivering an instantaneous hit.

What is session vaping?

You will find that session vaporizers are far more common than on-demand ones. Unlike on-demand vaporizers, session dry herb vaporizers make use of conduction heating technology. Your weed will need to be consumed in one continuous session without interruptions. This heating method ‘bakes’ your herbs in between the puffs that you take.

Think of session vapes as being similar to smoking a joint. You light them up and continue to smoke until they are completely extinguished. You cannot stop in between if you want to get the most out of your weed vaping experience.

How does it work?

Session vapes work with permanent heat emission through the vape chamber whose walls are in contact with your herbs. The device warms up your weed at a chosen temperature just before they reach combustion. When you take a puff, the air wafts through the heated herbs and a sweet combination of THC and CBD vapor enters your mouth.

With session vapes, all of the weed in your vaporizer’s chamber need to be inhaled in a single sitting. Session or conduction vaporizers will usually take some time to heat (30 – 60 seconds) and need just as long to cool down. This process works in a continuous cycle where heat arrives in the vape oven chamber at the configured temperature and then cools down until all your botanical herbs have been used up.

It would be a waste of your weed stash to either stop or interrupt your session because the chamber will continue to provide heat and vaporize your herbs. This process will happen whether you choose to inhale or not. Don’t waste a perfectly enjoyable session!

Hybrid vaporizers

It is worth mentioning that there are a few dry herb vaporizers in the market that make use of both conduction and convection heating methods. The conduction keeps the weed heated between puffs and the convection is used to produce vapor every time you take a draw.

The use of a combination of heating technologies is why these vapes are called ‘hybrid’ vapes. However, the heating method is dominantly convection which is why you will notice that they may be put in the same category as on-demand vapes.

Which vaporizer is better for weed?

When it comes to weed, the difference between the two dry herb vaping devices and their heating technology lies between how effectively they can vaporize dry herbs and the speed with which they deliver the hit.

Here’s the verdict:

When it comes to on-demand vs. session vapes, the consensus is that on-demand vapes are ideal for micro-dosing and inhaling a potent vapor that will give you a long-lasting high. However, they are usually on the pricier end and may not be budget-friendly for everyone. If high-quality weed vaping is your only concern, then the price point may not bother you.

On the other hand, session vapes have a better learning curve, are easier to use, and most weed vape buyers will be immediately comfortable with session vapes. It all comes down to making an informed decision keeping in mind your weed vaping style and preferences.