Storz & Bickel Crafty+ Review: Brighton & Hove Albion in Your Pocket

The Hook: Brighton & Hove Albion Energy

Here's the thing about Brighton & Hove Albion.

They shouldn't be competing at this level. They're not a superclub. They don't have the budget of Manchester City or the legacy of Manchester United. But you watch them play and for 75 minutes they're dismantling teams with twice their resources. Precise passing, intelligent movement, punching well above their weight.

Then the 70th minute arrives. The legs go. The manager makes his substitutions. And you remember why they're not going to win the league.

The Crafty+ is that Brighton energy in your pocket.

It's got the same heater as the Mighty+. Same hybrid heating system. Same vapour path design. Same German engineering. For 4-5 bowls, it's delivering Champions League vapour from a device that actually fits in your jacket pocket. The extraction is thorough, the flavour is clean, and when it's working? You forget you're not using the bigger vape.

Then the battery icon starts flashing. And you remember.

We stock the Crafty+ at HerbVape.co.uk — details and pricing below.

The Crafty+ has never pretended to be the complete package. But for what it does — premium vapour in a pocketable form — it's still one of the best in class.

Vapour Quality 9/10

The Crafty+ is the smallest device in the S&B portable lineup that delivers proper flagship-adjacent vapour. Same heater as the Mighty+. Same cooling unit design. Same extraction quality. For a device this size, the vapour is remarkable.

The Precision Advantage: Here's what separates the Crafty+ from simpler devices like the Veazy: 170 individual temperature degrees via the app. If you're the kind of person who notices the difference between 185°C and 190°C — and some of us genuinely are — that precision matters. The Mighty+ gives you an on-device display for this. The Crafty+ requires the app. Trade-off for the smaller size.

The vapour quality itself? Extremely close to the Mighty+. I've done blind tests with mates — most can't tell the difference. The cooling unit does excellent work, the hybrid heating extracts thoroughly, and clouds are thick from the first draw to the last. But I'm docking half a point from a 9.5 because the smaller cooling unit means vapour runs slightly warmer on extended draws, and the Venty's wide-open 20 lpm airflow genuinely outclasses it. At this size? Outstanding. Against the full S&B lineup? A shade behind the bigger siblings.

The Strain Test

Two strains that test opposite ends of the spectrum through the Crafty+'s precision temperature system. The whole point of 170 temperature degrees is that different flower responds differently — so I picked a bright sativa and an ancient landrace indica to prove it.

Amnesia Haze (Sativa)

The Flower: Citrus-forward sativa, ~22% THC. Dominant terpenes: limonene (citrus), myrcene (earthy base), caryophyllene (spice). The kind of strain that rewards temperature precision and shows you what a vaporiser can do with terpenes. Amsterdam legend, UK street staple since the early 2000s.

The Pack: 0.2g, medium-fine grind, lightly tamped in the ceramic chamber.

Low Temp (175°C): First hit through the cooling unit. Bright, citrus, clean — the limonene lifts immediately, tangy lemon zest with a floral edge. The flavour profile at this temperature is indistinguishable from the Mighty+. The hybrid heating extracts evenly from the first draw, no weak starter puffs.

Mid Temp (185°C): App-adjusted, single-degree precision. The earthier notes emerge as the myrcene and caryophyllene activate, effects deepen. This is where the Amnesia starts showing its sativa character — cerebral, focused, that slight buzz behind the eyes. The sweet spot.

High Temp (210°C): Full extraction mode. The citrus has faded into roasted territory, but it's not burnt. Just complete. Every last bit of goodness extracted from the chamber. Nine full draws before the bowl was spent.

The Verdict: The Amnesia proved what the Crafty+ does best — precision stepping through a terpy sativa. You can taste the temperature transitions. The 170-degree control isn't a gimmick; it's the reason this device exists for the flavour-conscious user.

Hindu Kush (Indica) — Khiron T22

The Flower: Pure landrace indica from the Hindu Kush mountains. The oldest pain relief strain on earth, basically. ~22% THC. Dominant terpenes: myrcene (earthy, sedating), caryophyllene (peppery, anti-inflammatory), humulene (woody). No modern hybrid complexity — just ancient, honest cannabis. Available on UK medical prescription through Khiron.

The Pack: 0.2g, medium grind, lightly tamped. Dense flower, needed slightly coarser grind than the Amnesia to avoid packing too tight.

Low Temp (175°C): Earthy sandalwood opening — sweet, almost incense-like. None of the citrus brightness of the Amnesia. This is warm, dark, woody. The myrcene dominance is immediately apparent. Thin but flavourful vapour.

Mid Temp (190°C): The hash notes emerge. Sweet, spicy, unmistakably old-school. This is what cannabis tasted like before everything was a cross of something else. Effects are heavy — body-first, settling into the shoulders, quieting the noise. The Crafty+'s precision lets you sit at exactly this temperature and ride it.

High Temp (205°C): Full ancient kush territory. Dense, earthy, proper sedating. The humulene woodiness takes over. Seven full draws before the bowl looked properly spent — slightly fewer than the Amnesia due to the denser flower.

The Verdict: The Hindu Kush proved the Crafty+ handles indicas as competently as sativas. The temperature precision matters even more here — at 175°C you get the sandalwood sweetness; at 205°C you get the full knockout. Two completely different experiences from the same bowl, controlled by single-degree adjustments. That's the Crafty+ argument in one strain test.

Design & Build 8.5/10

She's right. I should have. But I didn't, because the Crafty+ fits in my jacket pocket and the Mighty+ doesn't, and I'm an optimist about battery life despite years of evidence to the contrary.

That's the Crafty+ trade-off in one anecdote.

Build Quality Reality:

The build itself is properly solid. This is Mighty+ DNA in a smaller body — same materials, same cooling unit design, same German engineering confidence. The medical-grade PEEK plastic is high-quality, the buttons respond cleanly, and the thing feels like a serious tool. It's not trying to be cute. It's not available in coral or teal. It's a black brick that does a job.

At 135g, it's virtually identical to the Veazy in weight. But the form factor is different: the Crafty+ is shorter and wider (111mm × 57mm × 33mm), while the Veazy is taller and slimmer. The Crafty+ fits in a jacket pocket; the Veazy fits in jeans. Different trade-offs for different wardrobes.

What People Don't Mention:

• Ribbed exterior acts as a heat sink — the device stays comfortable even during extended sessions
• Swivel mouthpiece protects the unit during pocket carry
• Built-in stir tool hidden in the base (doubles as a fill aid)
• Chamber stands upright for easy loading — no awkward angles
• Ceramic-coated chamber (2021+ models) reduces sticking and makes cleaning easier

The cooling unit is the same proven design from the Mighty+, which means excellent vapour cooling and annoying cleaning sessions. Brighton energy — beautiful football, questionable bench depth.

Battery & Charging 6.5/10

This is where we need to be properly honest.

The Crafty+ gets 4-5 bowls per charge. That's real-world, tested, at normal temperatures. Some sessions you'll squeeze out 5. Some days you'll get 4. If you're running hot constantly, expect the lower end.

The Context:

• Venty: 10-14 bowls per charge
• Mighty+: 6-8 bowls per charge
• Veazy: ~7 sessions per charge
• Crafty+: 4-5 bowls per charge

The Crafty+ is the battery runt of the S&B portable lineup, and it always has been. Brighton legs at the 70th minute.

The Specs:

• USB-C: Yes (the 2021 update finally killed the micro-USB nightmare)
• Pass-through charging: Yes
• Replaceable battery: No (sealed unit)
• Charge time: ~90 minutes full charge
• Fast charging: 80% in ~45 minutes with 45W+ brick

The Tamagotchi Comparison:

Using a Crafty+ is like owning a Tamagotchi. You need to feed it regularly or it dies on you at the worst possible moment. This is partly an ADHD problem — my phone lives at 15%, I've let actual plants die from neglect — but it's also a genuine Crafty+ limitation. The battery capacity just isn't there.

The Saving Grace:

Pass-through charging. You can use it while plugged in, which turns it into a corded session vape. Not ideal, but functional. For home use when you've forgotten to charge (again), this feature has saved me more times than I want to admit.

Ease of Use 9/10

Once you get past the battery anxiety, the Crafty+ is genuinely excellent to use.

The Interface:

One button plus the app. Click to turn on, long-press to start heating. The LED lights show battery level and heating status. Double-click activates the boost (+15°C). Triple-click activates Superboost (210°C). Simple enough to learn in one session.

The App Advantage:

This is where the Crafty+ separates from simpler devices. Full temperature control from 40-210°C in single-degree increments. Set your starting temp, programme boost temperatures, track usage statistics, even locate a lost device via Bluetooth (it vibrates and flashes).

If you're the kind of person who has opinions about optimal temperatures for different strains, this is your interface. The Veazy's 3-step system covers 90% of use cases, but the Crafty+ gives you that extra 10% of precision.

Loading:

Standard S&B process. Medium-fine grind, fill the oven, light tamp. 0.25g fits comfortably. The ceramic-coated chamber (2021+ models) makes loading and unloading easier — herb doesn't stick like it did on the original aluminium chamber.

Dosing capsules work perfectly — same ecosystem as the Mighty+, Venty, and Veazy. Pre-load capsules, swap them in, no mess. Essential for the 'I forgot to charge' crowd who need quick sessions.

Haptic Feedback:

The Crafty+ vibrates when it reaches temperature — brilliant for pocketing during heat-up. No need to stare at LED lights. Just feel the buzz and you're good to go.

Cleaning & Maintenance 6/10

The Crafty+ cooling unit is the same design as the Mighty+, which means the same cleaning reality.

The O-Ring Situation:

Cleaning Timeline:

• After 10 bowls: Light residue, still fine
• After 20 bowls: Noticeable buildup, flavour starting to muddy
• After 30+ bowls: Proper teardown required, airflow restricted

The Process:

1. Remove cooling unit
2. Disassemble CU (carefully — those O-rings)
3. Soak everything in ISO for 20-30 minutes
4. Scrub the mesh screens with a brush
5. Rinse, dry completely, reassemble
6. Swear you'll do it more often

It's not the worst cleaning experience — but it's fiddlier than simpler devices. The trade-off for excellent vapour cooling is maintenance overhead. The Veazy's smaller, simpler CU is genuinely easier to maintain.

Portability 8/10

The Crafty+ was the most pocketable S&B portable until the Veazy arrived. It fits in a jacket pocket comfortably. Jeans are tighter — it works, but you know it's there.

Dimensions: 111mm × 57mm × 33mm at 135g

The Veazy is taller but slimmer — different pocket geometries for different people. The Crafty+ is the opposite: shorter but wider.

Stealth Factor: The matte black finish is stealthy enough. No bright colours, no obvious branding visible at a glance. It looks like a tech gadget, not explicitly a vaporiser — though anyone who knows will recognise it immediately.

The USB-C Advantage: Same charger as your phone. Charge from power banks, car chargers, laptop ports. No proprietary cable to forget at home.

For genuine everyday carry where you need S&B vapour quality, the Crafty+ remains a strong option. Just remember to charge it. Brighton energy — brilliant on the pitch, questionable fitness off it.

How I Actually Use This

Default Setup: App-controlled temperatures, starting at 180°C and stepping up in 5-10 degree increments through the session. Loose pack of roughly 0.2g — I find it vapes more evenly than fully packing the chamber. The whole ritual takes about 8 minutes from turn-on to spent chamber.

When I Reach For It: When I'm leaving the house and genuinely need portability. Jacket pocket carry for actual days out. Restaurant visits (back-garden sessions, not indoors — let's be clear). Days where the Mighty+ would feel like overkill but I still want S&B quality.

When I Don't: Home sessions belong to the Mighty+. I'm not sitting on my sofa with the Crafty+ when I've got something bigger with better battery waiting. When the battery is below 20% I don't bother — those last 2-3 hits aren't worth the stress. And when I know I'll need more than 4-5 bowls, I leave it behind entirely.

Honest Cleaning Reality: Same cooling unit as the Mighty+, same resin buildup reality. I should clean every 20 bowls. I probably push 30 before I actually do it. The O-rings remain my nemesis.

Session Frequency: 2-3 times per week as a rotation piece, not a daily driver. It's my 'I need to leave the house and bring S&B quality' device. That frequency means battery management stays manageable — I'm not draining it daily, so the Tamagotchi problem stays theoretical rather than lived reality.

Medical Use Notes

I'm not a doctor. I'm a bloke with chronic pain and ADHD who's been using cannabis medicinally for years now. This is my experience, not medical advice. If you're considering medical cannabis, talk to a prescribing clinic — I've linked some resources at the bottom of this review.

For Pain Management: The Crafty+ serves specific medical needs when portable — same quality extraction as the Mighty+ in a device that fits in a pocket during appointments, errands, or days when leaving the house is the goal. The 170-degree temperature control matters for medical dosing. Not every strain responds the same at 180°C versus 190°C, and if you're managing symptoms rather than chasing novelty, that level of control becomes genuinely useful.

For ADHD/Focus: I use the Crafty+ for lower-temp microdose sessions with sativa-leaning strains when I need to be functional but away from home. The app remembers your last session temps, so consistency is built-in rather than guessed. The Veazy's 3-step system is simpler but less precise for dialling in ADHD-specific doses.

The Medical User's Concern: Battery reliability. If you depend on cannabis for pain management, a dead battery at an inconvenient moment isn't just annoying — it's a medical failure. The Mighty+ or Venty solve this problem. The Crafty+ requires discipline: charge it every night, keep awareness of remaining capacity, have a backup plan. Doable, but requires thinking ahead more than other S&B portables.

Session Timing: From first draw to noticeable pain relief: about 3-5 minutes (faster than edibles, comparable to the Mighty+). Effects last 1-2 hours depending on strain and temperature. The pass-through charging means you can use it while plugged in during long pain management sessions — clunky, but functional.

Value for Money 6.5/10

At £186.99, the Crafty+ sits in an uncomfortable position — squeezed from above and below.

The Mighty+ Problem: At £255.99, the Mighty+ costs £69 more and delivers dramatically better battery (6-8 bowls), an on-device screen, and the same vapour quality. If portability isn't essential, the Mighty+ is objectively better value.

The Venty Problem: At £304.99, the Venty solves every Crafty+ problem — 10-14 bowls, 20-second heat-up, best-in-class airflow — for £118 more.

So who's it for? The person who specifically needs S&B vapour quality, single-degree precision, and genuine pocket carry. That person exists — but the Veazy at £21 more has narrowed the window considerably.

Would I buy it again? Honestly, I'd probably stretch to the Venty. But I don't regret owning the Crafty+ — it's served its role perfectly as the 'S&B quality in a jacket pocket' device. Brighton didn't need to win the league to be worth watching.

Vs the Competition

Vs Veazy (£207.99)

The uncomfortable comparison. The Veazy costs £21 more, delivers better battery life (7 sessions vs 4-5), faster heat-up (40s vs 60s), and a slimmer profile. For most people, the Veazy wins. The Crafty+ only pulls ahead if you specifically want single-degree temperature control and slightly better vapour from the solid metal heater vs the Veazy's mesh. Established reliability data also favours the Crafty+ if you're risk-averse about newer devices. Full Veazy review → | Mighty+ vs Crafty+ →

Vs Mighty+ (£255.99)

Same vapour quality, same heater, same ecosystem — the Mighty+ is essentially the Crafty+ with a bigger battery and an on-device screen. At £186.99 versus £255.99, the Mighty+ costs £69 more and delivers 6-8 bowls per charge instead of 4-5. If portability isn't essential, the Mighty+ is objectively the better purchase. The Crafty+ only makes sense if you genuinely need the smaller size and are willing to live with battery anxiety. Full Mighty+ review → | Mighty+ vs Crafty+ →

Vs Venty (£304.99)

The performance king. 10-14 bowls per charge, best-in-class airflow, narrower profile for pocket carry, full temperature control via built-in screen. There's almost no reason to buy a Crafty+ if you can stretch to a Venty, except price sensitivity. The Crafty+ is £118 cheaper and delivers adequate performance; the Venty delivers excellent performance. For daily users, the Venty's battery life solves the core Crafty+ problem. Full Venty review → | Mighty+ vs Venty →

Vs TinyMight 2 (£299.99)

Completely different philosophy. The TinyMight 2 is on-demand convection — instant heat, massive single hits, glass stem fragility. The Crafty+ is session-style hybrid heating — consistent, reliable, no technique required. The TinyMight 2 hits harder on individual draws; the Crafty+ delivers more even sessions. If you want raw power and don't mind learning a technique, TinyMight 2. If you want to press a button and get S&B consistency, Crafty+.

The Verdict: 75 Minutes of Brilliance

The Brighton bookend.

Brighton will never win the Premier League. The Crafty+ will never be the Mighty+. But for 75 minutes — for 4-5 bowls, for a day out, for genuine pocket carry — it'll outplay anything in its class.

Eighteen months in, the Crafty+ still lives in my rotation. Not as my daily driver — that role goes to the Mighty+ for home sessions and the Venty when I want that wide-open airflow. But when I need S&B vapour quality in a jacket pocket with single-degree precision? The Crafty+ is what I reach for.

The battery anxiety is real. The Veazy has narrowed this device's audience considerably — better battery, slimmer profile, £21 more. But the Crafty+ still makes vapour the Veazy can't match, from a solid metal heater the Veazy doesn't have, with 170 temperature degrees the Veazy can't offer.

— Dennis M.

For the precision crowd, the trade-off is still worth it. You just need to be honest with yourself about whether you're that person — because for everyone else, the Veazy is the better buy.

Category average is 7.6. The 8.0 reflects that the Crafty+ still makes fantastic vapour — same heater as the Mighty+, same extraction quality — and the 170-degree precision is unmatched at this size. But the battery holds it back, and the Veazy now undercuts it on real-world value: better battery life, slimmer profile, and only £21 more. The Crafty+ is still the right device for precision temperature steppers who need pocket carry. For everyone else, the window has narrowed considerably.