Storz & Bickel is the German company in Tuttlingen that made the Volcano, the desktop vaporizer that effectively defined the category in 2000, and it's still the brand every other maker gets measured against. Is Storz & Bickel good? Yes. It's the safest premium bet in dry herb vaping. Every S&B device we've reviewed scores between 8.0 and 9.0 out of 10. None is a bad buy. The real question is which one suits how you actually vape, and that's what this page is for.
I've been vaping daily for eight years, and some S&B device has been in my rotation for most of them. The Mighty+ lives in my jacket and my mate Dave's Volcano has been running since 2008. This page is our hub for the whole brand. It covers who they are, what makes the devices different, the current line-up with our scores, which one to pick, how they stack up against Arizer and PAX, and links to every review, owner's guide, head-to-head and best-of list we've published on them.
Storz & Bickel at a glance
| Device | Type | HerbVape score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venty | Portable | 9.0/10 | Maximum output, fast heat-up, adjustable airflow |
| Volcano Hybrid | Desktop | 8.8/10 | Home sessions, balloon and whip, buy-once-for-a-decade |
| Mighty+ | Portable | 8.7/10 | Reliability, simplicity, the default recommendation |
| Plenty | Corded handheld | 8.4/10 | Big home output without Volcano money |
| Veazy | Pocket portable | 8.3/10 | First S&B, lightest body, simplest controls |
| Volcano Classic | Desktop | 8.4/10 | Balloon purists who want analogue simplicity |
| Crafty+ | Pocket portable | 8.0/10 | Pocketable S&B vapour for light users |
Scores come from our full reviews, run on the two-strain protocol (Jack Herer and Wedding Cake) described on our methodology page. You can browse everything we stock from the brand in the Storz & Bickel collection.
Who are Storz & Bickel?
The story starts in 1996, when Markus Storz, a trained graphic designer, began building a hot-air herb vaporiser in his cellar. The prototype famously borrowed its heat source from a heat gun. It became the Volcano, released in 2000 with the detachable balloon that's still the brand's signature. Jürgen Bickel, an engineer, joined as business partner, and Storz & Bickel GmbH & Co. KG grew from there. The company is still based in Tuttlingen, in south-west Germany, a town better known for surgical instrument manufacturing.
A few milestones matter if you want to understand why the brand is trusted the way it is:
- 2000: the Volcano (now the Volcano Classic) launches. It's still in production, which makes it one of the longest-running vaporisers ever made.
- 2007: the Volcano Digit brings digital temperature control to the desktop line.
- 2009: S&B is certified to ISO 13485, the quality-management standard for medical-device manufacturing. Medically certified versions of their devices followed, the Volcano Medic and later the Mighty Medic, sold as medical devices in some markets.
- 2011: the Plenty, a corded handheld with a steel cooling coil, fills the gap between portable and desktop.
- 2014: the Crafty and Mighty, the first battery-powered S&B portables, take the Volcano's hybrid heating idea mobile.
- December 2018: Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth acquires Storz & Bickel in an all-cash deal of roughly €145 million. The Tuttlingen engineering and manufacturing base stayed put, and S&B still operates as its own brand under Canopy ownership.
- 2019: the Volcano Hybrid replaces the Digit with faster heat-up, a touch display, app control and a whip option alongside the balloons. The Crafty+ arrives the same year.
- The Mighty+ follows as the successor to the original Mighty, adding USB-C and fast "supercharge" charging.
- October 2023: the Venty, S&B's fastest and most powerful portable, with adjustable airflow.
- September 2025: the Veazy, the smallest, lightest and most affordable S&B yet.
A note on 2026. In the summer, several European retailers reported that the Crafty+ and Plenty are being phased out, leaving a range built around the Venty, Veazy, Mighty+ and the two Volcanos. At the time of writing, Storz & Bickel hasn't made a formal announcement or given an end date, and retailers say both devices remain fully supported under warranty. We'll keep our reviews and guides for both live, because thousands of people own them.
What makes Storz & Bickel different
Hybrid heating, done properly
Almost every S&B device uses what the company calls hybrid heating. Hot air is pushed through the herb (convection), and the chamber walls are also heated (conduction). The Volcano Classic is the exception, as pure convection. In practice, hybrid heating gives even, consistent extraction without the fussy technique pure convection sometimes demands. If you want the theory, our conduction vs convection explainer covers it. The short version is that S&B devices forgive a slightly imperfect pack in a way most rivals don't.
Consistency over excitement
No S&B device is the most exciting thing in its class. The TinyMight 2 hits harder, the Solo 3 V2 tastes brighter and the PAX line is prettier. But S&B devices tend to do the same thing, the same way, every session, for years. That's why the Mighty+ is still the device I recommend first to people who just want it to work.
Medical-grade manufacturing
S&B manufactures under a medical-device quality system, and the Medic variants are certified medical devices where that category exists. For the standard consumer models, that shows up as tight tolerances, food-safe and medical-grade materials in the air path, and a paper trail for what goes into them. We describe it as a process standard, not a health claim. If you want to understand what's in your air path, read our piece on materials and air-path safety.
Warranty (UK terms, checked September 2026)
Every S&B device gets a two-year warranty as standard. If you register a Venty, Volcano Classic, Volcano Hybrid or Mighty+ at storz-bickel.com, the manufacturer adds a third year. Their support pages say to register within four weeks of purchase. The Veazy, Crafty+ and Plenty stay at two years and aren't eligible for the extension. Wear parts such as seals and screens aren't covered, and you'll need proof of purchase. My advice is simple: register the day it arrives. Nobody remembers on day 29.
The honest downsides
Three things come up again and again, in our testing and in owners' emails.
- Plastic cooling units. The portables use plastic cooling paths, not glass. Flavour purists notice.
- Sealed batteries. You can't swap the cells in any S&B portable.
- Apps. Temperature control on the Crafty+ and Veazy depends on S&B's web app for anything beyond the presets. iOS users are limited to that browser-based app.
Cleaning the cooling units is also a job in itself. Our cleaning guide will save you some pain.
The current line-up
Volcano Hybrid: 8.8/10
The flagship desktop and, to my mind, the best home vaporiser S&B makes. It heats from cold in around a minute or two. It runs from 40 to 230 °C with a touch display. And it lets you choose between the classic balloon (Easy Valve bags filled by the fan) and a whip for direct draws. The Workflows feature in the app lets you programme stepped-temperature sessions. It's expensive and loud when filling a bag, but it's the device people keep for a decade. See the full review, the owner's guide, or the product page.
Volcano Classic: 8.4/10
The original, still made, still analogue. It uses a temperature dial and a fan switch, delivers through the balloon only, and heats more slowly than the Hybrid. It's pure convection, it's close to indestructible, and it's now the cheapest way into a Volcano. Dave's 2008 Classic feels exactly like one bought new. Same dial resistance, same fan tone. That's the point of it. Choose it if you want the ritual and don't want an app anywhere near your evening. Read the review, the complete guide, or see the product page.
Venty: 9.0/10
Our highest-scoring S&B device. It heats in around 20 seconds and has adjustable airflow, from a tight sip to a wide-open pull. It runs 40 to 210 °C with an on-device display, plus optional app fine-tuning. It's the closest thing to a portable Volcano, and the one I'd hand to anyone who says S&B portables feel restrained. The trade-offs are that it's the most expensive S&B portable, it's about Mighty+ size, and it has the same plastic cooling path. Read the review or go to the product page.
Mighty+: 8.7/10
The dependable one. It has a hybrid heater, a 40 to 210 °C range with a real temperature display and no app dependency, dual internal batteries, and USB-C supercharging with the right charger. It isn't a pocket vape, more jacket-pocket and chunky. But it's the device I recommend first to anyone who wants a premium portable that just works. The cooling unit is the price you pay, since it needs regular attention. Read the review, the owner's guide, or see the product page.
Veazy: 8.3/10
S&B's newest and smallest at 134 g. It comes in four colours, a first for a brand that used to do grey and grey. It has one button and three presets: a 180 °C base, then Booster and Superbooster, each 15 °C hotter. Degree-precise control is through the web app. The heater is a different, smaller design from the rest of the portable range, and in our testing that costs a little flavour compared with the flagships. The Veazy is the natural on-ramp to the brand and the obvious successor if the Crafty+ phase-out is confirmed. Note that it has a two-year warranty, not three. Read the review, the complete guide, or see the product page.
Crafty+: 8.0/10
Genuine S&B vapour in a body that fits a jeans pocket. It's hybrid heated, with a 180 °C base and a boost button, and uses the app for precise temperatures. Battery life is the long-running complaint, at roughly four or five bowls a charge, and the battery is sealed. It's still a lovely little device for light users and as a companion to a Mighty+. But the Veazy now does most of its job for less, and retailers report it's on the way out. Read the review, the owner's guide, or see the product page.
Plenty: 8.4/10
The odd one out. It's a mains-powered handheld with an analogue dial, a big chamber and a stainless steel cooling coil. It looks like a power tool and hits like a desktop. You need a plug, and it isn't subtle, but for home users who want dense, cool vapour without Volcano money, it has always punched above its weight. It's reportedly being phased out, so if you want one, don't hang about. Read the review, the complete guide, or see the product page.
Not listed: the original Mighty (replaced by the Mighty+) and the original Crafty (replaced by the Crafty+). "Volcano Onyx" isn't a separate model. It's a matte-black colourway of the Classic and the Hybrid.
Which Storz & Bickel should you buy?
| If you… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want one portable that just works, for years | Mighty+ | On-device temperature, no app needed, the most forgiving S&B portable |
| Want the most output a portable can give | Venty | 20-second heat-up, adjustable airflow, our top-scoring S&B |
| Want your first S&B, or something light for your pocket | Veazy | 134 g, three presets, the lowest price in the range |
| Vape mostly at home and want the best experience | Volcano Hybrid | Balloon and whip, fast heat-up, programmable sessions |
| Want balloons and hate screens | Volcano Classic | Dial, switch, bag. Nothing to update, nothing to pair |
| Want big home hits on a tighter budget | Plenty | Desktop-class output from a corded handheld, while stock lasts |
| Already own a Mighty+ and want a pocket companion | Crafty+ or Veazy | Both share the dosing-capsule habit. Veazy is the newer bet |
Still torn between the two most popular portables? Our Mighty+ vs Venty head-to-head goes deep on exactly that. If you're weighing the two Volcanos, read Volcano Classic vs Volcano Hybrid. If you're completely new to this, start with our buying guide and best vaporiser for beginners list.
Storz & Bickel vs Arizer vs PAX
These are the three premium brands people cross-shop most, and they want different things.
Storz & Bickel vs Arizer. Arizer, from Canada, builds around glass. The herb sits in a borosilicate stem that doubles as the mouthpiece, so the vapour never touches plastic. That's why Arizer devices often taste brighter and why our top-scoring portable overall is the Arizer Solo 3 V2 (9.2/10). Arizers also tend to win on battery life, and some models have swappable cells. S&B wins on consistency, forgiveness and portability for the power. The Mighty+ is easier to get right on day one, and it shrugs off the odd drop far better than a glass stem does. Our Solo 3 vs Mighty+ comparison puts the two philosophies side by side, and the Arizer brand hub covers their whole range.
Storz & Bickel vs PAX. PAX devices are conduction ovens in beautiful, pocketable bodies. They're built for discretion and quick sips, not big sessions. The PAX Plus scored 7.5/10 with us, which is good at being small and stylish but not in the same league for vapour. If stealth matters more than output, look at the PAX Mini 2, PAX 4 or PAX Flow reviews. If vapour quality matters more, the Veazy is the S&B that competes most directly on size.
| Storz & Bickel | Arizer | PAX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home country | Germany | Canada | USA |
| Heating | Hybrid (convection plus conduction) | Hybrid, increasingly convection-led | Conduction oven |
| Vapour path | Plastic cooling units (portables) | Borosilicate glass | Mixed materials |
| Strength | Consistency, build, support | Flavour, battery life | Design, discretion |
| Weak spot | Sealed batteries, cooling-unit cleaning | Exposed glass stems, loading technique | Output, flavour at higher temps |
Everything we've published on Storz & Bickel
Reviews
- Storz & Bickel Venty Review: The Range Rover Sport of Vapes: 9.0/10
- Storz & Bickel Volcano Hybrid Review: The Abbey Road Remaster of Vaporisers: 8.8/10
- Storz & Bickel Mighty+ Review: The Land Rover Defender of Vaporisers: 8.7/10
- Storz & Bickel Plenty Review: The Marmite of Vaporisers: 8.4/10
- Storz & Bickel Veazy Review: The Great British Bake Off of Vaporisers: 8.3/10
- Storz & Bickel Volcano Classic Review: 8.4/10
- Storz & Bickel Crafty+ Review: Brighton & Hove Albion in Your Pocket: 8.0/10
Owner's guides
- Storz & Bickel Mighty+: The Owner's Guide
- Storz & Bickel Volcano Hybrid: The Owner's Guide
- Storz & Bickel Volcano Classic: The Complete Guide
- Storz & Bickel Veazy: The Complete Guide
- Storz & Bickel Crafty+: The Owner's Guide
- Storz & Bickel Plenty: The Complete Guide
Head-to-heads
- Mighty+ vs Venty
- Mighty+ vs Crafty+
- Volcano Classic vs Volcano Hybrid
- Arizer Solo 3 vs Mighty+
- Mighty+ vs TinyMight 2
- TinyMight 2 vs Venty
Best-of lists featuring S&B devices
- Best Dry Herb Vaporizers 2026
- Best Portable Vaporizers 2026
- Best Desktop Vaporizers 2026
- Best Session Vaporizers 2026
- Best Convection Vaporizers 2026
- Best Vaporizers for Flavour 2026
- Best Vaporizer for Beginners 2026
- Best Vaporizer Under £200 (2026)
- Best On-Demand Vaporizers 2026
Background reading
Storz & Bickel FAQ
Is Storz & Bickel a good brand?
Yes. It's the most consistent premium vaporiser maker we test. Every current S&B device we've reviewed scores 8.0 or higher, and the brand's strengths are the unglamorous ones: build quality, repeatable results, spare-parts availability and a manufacturer warranty that UK retailers can process locally.
Where are Storz & Bickel vaporizers made?
In Tuttlingen, Germany, where the company is based. It has been owned by Canopy Growth since December 2018 but still designs and builds its devices there.
What warranty do Storz & Bickel devices have in the UK?
Two years as standard on everything. Register a Venty, Mighty+, Volcano Classic or Volcano Hybrid at storz-bickel.com within four weeks of purchase and you get a third year. The Veazy, Crafty+ and Plenty stay at two years.
Which Storz & Bickel is best for beginners?
The Mighty+ if you want the most forgiving device and don't mind the size. The Veazy if you want something small and simple at a lower price. Both use the same dosing capsules and neither needs a steep learning curve.
Are the Crafty+ and Plenty discontinued?
European retailers reported a phase-out in mid-2026, but Storz & Bickel hasn't announced an end date at the time of writing. Both remain supported under warranty, and spare parts are still widely available, including in our S&B collection.
Do I need the app?
Not for the Mighty+, Venty, Volcano Classic or Plenty. You need it for degree-precise temperatures on the Crafty+ and Veazy, and it unlocks Workflows on the Volcano Hybrid. On iOS it's a browser-based web app rather than an App Store download.
Dennis M., 42, lives in Manchester with his partner Sarah. He's been vaping daily since 2018 and writing for HerbVape since 2023. Works in IT, has ADHD, holds a UK medical cannabis prescription for chronic pain management. Opinions are his own. HerbVape pays him to be honest, not to sell you shite.