Vaporizer 101 · Going Deeper
The Accessories That Matter (And the Ones That Don't)
"Dosing capsules changed my life. The £40 carry case did not."
Eight years and a drawer full of regrets later, only a handful of vaporizer accessories are worth your money. Dosing capsules are genuinely transformative — especially if you have ADHD or want consistent dosing. Spare screens, a decent grinder, ISO and cotton swabs, and a Boveda-controlled storage jar round out the actual essentials. Almost everything else is upsell, marketing, or marginal.
Buy the capsules. Skip the £12 "vape cleaner" that's just isopropyl alcohol in a posher bottle.
The Drawer
Sarah found the drawer last month.
I'd been keeping it in my desk — the bottom drawer, the deep one. She was looking for a USB cable and instead found: fourteen glass tubes of varying lengths, three grinders, two partially-used Boveda packs, a jar of brown powder she correctly identified as "that AVB stuff," seventeen spare screens in a sandwich bag, four dosing capsule magazines, two water pipe adapters, a bent stem, something called a "3D flow cooling stem" that I'd forgotten I owned, and approximately £200 worth of accessories I'd bought, used once, and forgotten about.
"Why," she asked, holding up what I think was a loading funnel, "do you have fourteen glass tubes?"
"Some of them are spares. In case Jake breaks another one."
"And this?" She held up a branded "VapeCleaner" bottle I'd paid £12 for.
"That's… actually just isopropyl alcohol in a nicer bottle. I got suckered."
She put everything back, closed the drawer, and walked away without comment. Sometimes silence says more than words. Later that evening she came back, opened the drawer again, pointed at the £299.99 TinyMight 2 Jake had "stored at ours" because if it stayed at his house he'd keep trying to use it, and said "this does not count as ours." Noted.
I've spent hundreds of pounds on vaporizer accessories over eight years. Technically that averages out to about the cost of a posh sandwich a week, which I've decided is a tolerable indulgence for a man with a mortgage, rain-forecasting knees, and a deep suspicion that 10 p.m. is bedtime.
Some of those accessories improved my daily experience. Some of them I used once and forgot. And some of them were solutions to problems that didn't exist, marketed by companies who know enthusiasts will buy anything with "vape" in the name. This guide separates the essential from the pointless.
The Tier System
I've organised everything into four tiers:
- Tier 1: Actually Essential — Accessories that meaningfully improve your daily vaping life. Buy these.
- Tier 2: Genuinely Useful — Not essential, but real upgrades for specific use cases. Consider these.
- Tier 3: Nice to Have — Convenience items. Won't change your life, won't waste your money.
- Tier 4: Don't Bother — Marketing over substance. Save your money.
Tier 1: Actually Essential
These are the accessories I'd tell everyone to buy. They make a genuine difference to daily use.
Dosing Capsules
What changed everything for me. Dosing capsules are small metal mesh containers that sit inside your vaporizer's chamber. You fill the capsule with ground herb instead of loading directly into the oven. Sounds minor. It isn't.
The Sunday System: every Sunday evening, I grind enough herb for the week, fill 8–16 capsules, and store them in magazines. That's it. For the entire week, my "session prep" is: grab a capsule, pop it in, vape. No grinding. No packing. No brushing out the chamber. No waiting for cool-down to reload. For someone with ADHD, this is transformative.
Before capsules, I'd sometimes default to old habits — pre-switch, in 2018, that meant rolling a spliff (Dave would like me to note that the spliff habit was mostly tobacco doing the heavy lifting, and he is correct) — because the prep felt like too much faff. Now there's no faff.
Other reasons capsules earned their place:
- Chamber cleanliness: the capsule acts as a physical barrier between herb and heating chamber. All the resin and residue stays in the capsule, not your oven. My Mighty+ chamber looks nearly new after hundreds of sessions.
- Consistent dosing: each capsule holds roughly the same amount (~0.1g for S&B capsules). Medical users who need precise dosing love this.
- Quick swapping: different strains for different purposes? Load capsules with each, swap mid-session. No cleaning between.
The honest downsides: the capsule shell takes up space, so your effective chamber capacity is slightly smaller; some users report minor airflow reduction (fix: pack slightly looser); additional cost upfront (though capsules are reusable for months).
Compatibility cheat sheet:
| Device | Capsule System | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Mighty+, Crafty+ V2, Venty | S&B Dosing Capsules (official) | Included 1; Magazine of 8 sold separately |
| Volcano | S&B Capsules + Chamber Reducer | Requires reducer ring |
| PAX devices | BudKups (third-party) | 3-pack or 6-pack kits |
| DaVinci IQ2 | DaVinci capsules (official) | Native support |
| DynaVap | DynaVap capsules (~0.06g each) | Stainless steel, all standard tips |
| XMAX V3 Pro | Katalyzer third-party capsules | Stainless or gold-plated |
The magazine: the S&B Magazine holds 8 capsules, has a built-in filling aid (the lid inverts to become a funnel), and fits in a pocket. It's become my daily carry alongside my phone, wallet, and keys.
If your device supports capsules and you vape regularly, this is the single best quality-of-life upgrade you can make.
Spare Screens
Screens clog. Screens bend. Screens get lost when you're cleaning at 11 p.m. and you're not paying attention. They're also device-specific (different sizes for different brands) and cost almost nothing — typically £3–8 for a pack of 10–20.
A clogged screen restricts airflow significantly. You'll draw harder, get less vapour, and wonder if your device is broken. The fix is a £0.30 screen replacement. Cleaning partially restores screen function, but after enough heat cycles and ISO soaks, screens deform. Having spares means never suffering degraded airflow because of a screen you've been "meaning to replace."
A Proper Grinder
If you're vaping without grinding, you're wasting herb. Vaporisation heats the outer surfaces of plant material — more surface area means more efficient extraction. Whole nugs have minimal surface area. Ground herb has dramatically more.
You probably already own a grinder. But if you're using a cheap plastic one from a corner shop, consider upgrading. For vaporiser users specifically:
| Feature | 2-Piece | 4-Piece |
|---|---|---|
| Parts | Top + bottom with teeth | Top, grinding chamber, screen, kief catcher |
| Kief collection | No — stays mixed with herb | Yes — falls through mesh into bottom |
| Consistency | Less consistent — no size gate | More consistent — herb falls through once ground |
| Cleaning | Simple — 2 surfaces | More complex — 4 parts, screen needs attention |
| Best for | Portability, full trichome retention | Consistent grind, vaporiser users, kief collection |
Material matters: avoid cheap plastic grinders — they shed microplastic particles as teeth wear. Properly anodised aluminium is the standard for quality grinders. Stainless steel is more expensive, marginally better durability, not necessary.
A decent 4-piece aluminium grinder costs £15–25. The difference between a £20 grinder and an £80 grinder is aesthetics, not grind quality. Your vaporiser doesn't know how much you spent.
Isopropyl Alcohol + Cotton Swabs
The cleaning duo. This is covered extensively in I Hate Cleaning Too, but the short version:
- Isopropyl alcohol, 91%+ (70% works but slower)
- Cotton swabs (Q-tips)
- Pipe cleaners (for airpaths)
- Small container for soaking parts
91% works because the 9% water content actually helps it penetrate goopy resin better than 99% pure ISO. It dissolves resin effectively, evaporates cleanly without residue, and is non-toxic when properly rinsed.
Don't pay £12 for branded "vape cleaner." Any pharmacy sells 500ml of 91% ISO for £3–5. ISO is safe for glass, ceramic, and metal parts. Don't soak plastic or silicone — use only a dampened swab for those. Ask me how I know about the £12 thing.
Tier 2: Genuinely Useful
Not essential for everyone, but real upgrades for specific use cases.
Water Pipe Adapter (WPA)
A WPA replaces your vaporiser's mouthpiece and connects to a standard glass water pipe (bong). Vapour passes through water before you inhale.
- Dramatically cooler vapour: water filtration is the most effective cooling available
- Enables higher temperatures: 200°C+ sessions become comfortable instead of harsh
- Smoother hits: deeper draws, denser clouds, no throat burn
- It's just fun: there's something satisfying about vape-through-water
The first time I used a WPA with my Mighty+ at 205°C, I took the kind of draw that would normally have me coughing for a minute. Instead: smooth, cool, dense. I just sat there grinning. Sarah walked in, saw me hunched over a water pipe connected to what she thought was a perfectly good portable device, and said "you're making this hobby more complicated on purpose." She wasn't entirely wrong.
(Higher temps become comfortable with water cooling — The Temperature Guide explains why you might want to push past 195°C.)
Device compatibility:
| Device | WPA Option | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mighty+, Crafty+ V2 | Multiple third-party options | ~£20–25 |
| PAX | Universal WPA | ~£18 |
| Arizer (Solo, Air) | Frosted Glass Aroma Tube (native) | ~£15 |
| DynaVap | Water Tool Adapter | ~£21 |
| XMAX V3 Pro | Glass or silicone WPA | ~£3–15 |
Arizer devices are special — their glass stems are essentially WPAs already. Flip them into a water pipe and you're done. The Solo 3 v2's XL stem in particular provides noticeably cooler vapour than the standard stem. (Dave runs a Solo 3 and will use any prompt whatsoever to explain this.)
Spare/Upgraded Mouthpieces & Stems
Arizer glass stems: if you own an Arizer device, buy spare stems. They're glass. They break. Jake cracked one within a weekend of borrowing my Solo 2. I've broken two myself — dropped one, sat on another (don't ask).
- Standard stems: keep 2–3 spares
- XL stems: noticeably cooler vapour than standard — the extra length and volume make a difference
- Bent stems: more comfortable for reading or reclining
3D Flow / Dimpled Stems: these have divots on the inside that create a winding path for vapour, cooling it as it travels. Originally a DynaVap thing, now available for various devices. Community verdict: they perform better than straight stems. Improvement isn't massive, but it is noticeable.
S&B Cooling Units: the stock Storz & Bickel cooling unit is excellent. Keep it clean and it'll last years. Third-party options exist but aren't necessary upgrades. (My mate Tom, who runs a Crafty+ V2, cleans his weekly and has never felt the need to upgrade it. His morning cough, for the record, has been gone for six years. Unrelated but true.)
If these terms are new, Vaporizer Jargon Decoded explains everything.
Storage Container (for herb)
Proper storage matters more than most people realise. Boveda's lab testing found that cannabis stored with 2-way humidity control at 62% RH retained 18% more terpenoids and 23% more cannabinoids than controls without humidity control. This is one of the few accessory claims with actual lab data behind it.
I learned this the hard way when I left a bag of flower on my desk for two weeks during a heatwave. It turned to dust. The terpene profile of that particular strain? Gone. It vaped like cardboard.
Too dry: trichomes become brittle and break off. Terpenes evaporate. Harsh, flavourless vapour. Too wet: won't vaporise efficiently. First draws are weak until the bowl dries out. Mould risk.
The fix: Mason jar + Boveda 62% pack. That's it. The airtight seal keeps moisture stable; the Boveda maintains precise humidity. Use 62% for standard UK conditions; 58% for warmer rooms (>21°C), long-term storage, or if you prefer drier herb. Boveda packs are £2–4 each and last 2–4 months. Jars are £2 at a charity shop. Cheap upgrade with measurable benefits.
AVB Container
You're saving your AVB, right? Already Vaped Bud still contains cannabinoids — estimates suggest 10–30% of original content depending on your vaping temperature. Lower-temp sessions leave more potent AVB; higher temps leave less.
The key advantage: AVB is already decarboxylated. The heat from your vaporiser converted THCA to THC. You can use it directly in butter, oil, or high-fat recipes without the usual decarb step.
Mine lives in a dedicated mason jar in the fridge, between Sarah's hummus and the Heinz tomato soup Dave once abandoned in our kitchen and nobody has had the courage to throw out.
I used a sandwich bag for my first six months. It got everywhere. Crumbs in my desk, in my keyboard, on my clothes. A jar is better. (See the full AVB Guide for what to do with it.)
Tier 3: Nice to Have
Carry Case / Smell-Proof Bag
If you travel with your vape, a carry case makes sense. Smell-proof bags with activated carbon lining genuinely work — the carbon absorbs odour molecules.
The honest take: a small zippered pouch works. You don't need a £40 branded case. The smell-proof technology is the same whether you spend £10 or £40. The real smell-proof solution is a small jar for herb plus a clean, emptied device. The warm device immediately after use is the main culprit.
My colleague Amit, who travels for work more than most airlines would find comfortable, has a useful field note: airport security doesn't care about a clean, empty vaporizer in a pouch the way they care about anything that smells. His rule — stop using the device at least 48 hours before a flight, wipe the mouthpiece and chamber, leave the herb at home. He's been through about thirty airports with a dry herb vape and has never been pulled aside.
My setup: £12 smell-proof pouch from Amazon. Works fine. The branded case I bought for £35 does the exact same job and currently lives in the drawer.
Loading Tools / Funnels
Small scoops and funnels for loading chambers. Some devices come with them. Useful for small chambers like the DynaVap (~0.06–0.1g capacity) or for filling dosing capsules neatly. The honest alternative: a folded business card works perfectly. I've been using the same technique for eight years. The exception: if you're filling lots of capsules, a proper funnel saves time. The S&B Magazine has a built-in filling aid — the lid inverts to become a funnel. Clever design.
Stands / Charging Docks
Desktop stands keep portables upright, preventing spills from loaded chambers. Useful if you leave your device sitting on a desk between sessions. Charging docks were more relevant when devices used proprietary chargers. Now that everything is USB-C, dedicated docks are mostly obsolete. Nice organisation, not essential functionality.
Tier 4: Don't Bother
"Vaporizer Cleaning Solutions" (Branded)
These are isopropyl alcohol in fancier packaging at 2–3x the price. I bought a bottle of "VapeCleaner" for £12 before I knew better. It cleaned exactly as well as the £3 bottle of 91% ISO from Boots. Because it was 91% ISO from Boots, repackaged with a label that said "vaporizer" on it.
The exception: some devices have plastic or silicone components that shouldn't be soaked in ISO. For these, specialised gentler cleaners exist and are legitimate products. Check your device manual.
The rule: if the bottle says "isopropyl alcohol" in the ingredients and costs more than £5 for 500ml, you're paying for marketing.
Ultra-Premium Grinders (£80+)
I've tested grinders at various price points. The difference between a £20 aluminium grinder and an £80 designer grinder is: aesthetics (the expensive one looks nicer), brand prestige (you're paying for a logo), and marginally better ergonomics (sometimes). The grind quality is nearly identical.
Your vaporiser does not know how much you spent on your grinder.
The one exception: users with arthritis, grip issues, or hand conditions may genuinely benefit from premium grinders with larger knurled surfaces, bigger handles, and smoother action. This is an accessibility need, not a luxury purchase.
Device-Specific "Performance Mods"
Forum culture loves mods. Custom stems, aftermarket heaters, modified screens, 3D-printed adapters… Most are marginal improvements for significant hassle. I've spent hours on mods that made maybe 5% difference to my experience. Not worth it for most users.
The one exception worth mentioning: DynaVap induction heaters. If you own a DynaVap and struggle with the torch technique, an induction heater (e.g. the Ispire Wand at ~£99) eliminates the entire skill barrier. Press the DynaVap into the chamber, wait for the click, inhale. No torch skill required. Transformative, not marginal.
If You're Buying Your First Vaporizer, Add These
Worth every penny. Not upsells — just the accessories that make daily vaping pleasant. Total: roughly £31–58. Use code DENNIS5 at checkout for 5% off.
Dosing Capsules (if compatible)
£8–15 · reusable for months
The single best quality-of-life upgrade for any compatible device. Sunday-prep your week, swap strains mid-session, keep your chamber spotless. ADHD-compatible. Medical-dose-friendly. Buy these.
Spare Screen Pack
£3–8 for 10–20
Device-specific. Buy a pack with your device and forget about it for a year. A £0.30 screen replacement fixes the "my vape feels weak" problem 30% of the time.
4-Piece Aluminium Grinder
£15–25
Consistent grind, kief catcher, no microplastic shedding. Don't pay £80 for a designer logo — your vape can't tell the difference.
ISO 91% + Cotton Swabs + Pipe Cleaners
£5–10 from any pharmacy
Don't pay £12 for branded "vape cleaner." Boots ISO is the same liquid. The cleaning duo handles 95% of maintenance — see the Cleaning Guide.
Mason Jar + Boveda 62% Pack
+£5
23% more cannabinoids and 18% more terpenoids retained vs uncontrolled storage (Boveda lab data). Cheapest upgrade with the most measurable benefit.
Water Pipe Adapter (WPA)
+£15–25
Cooler vapour, comfortable 200°C+ sessions, denser draws. Skip if you don't already own a water pipe and don't want one.
Use code DENNIS5 at checkout on herbvape.co.uk for 5% off any order.
