When it comes to the cutting edge of cannabis, we're living in the vapor age. Gone are the days when options were limited to massive desktop rigs like the OG Volcano (still a classic, by the way). New tech bursts onto the scene every year, boasting innovative features, fresh customisations, and streamlined experiences. This may be the year the vaping industry reaches a fever pitch of performance, style, power, and portability. Whether you prefer the elegant simplicity of a well-made manual vape or the bells and whistles of the latest smart rig, 2021 has a vape for you.

Here are our top 5 vaporizers of 2021 (including two smart rigs).

G Pen Pro

• Suitable for: Dry herb
• Heat tech: Conduction
• Price: €79.00

G Pen is a leader in the cannabis vaping industry. With the G Pen Pro, you get the quality they're known for at a price point under €100. This electronic vape pen offers a sleek design with single-button controls. The ceramic heating chamber holds .25g of dry herb and reaches temp in around 30 seconds. Vape at your preferred heat range with three easy presets: 190°C, 204°C, 228°C. Since different cannabinoids and terpenes evaporate at different temperatures, these options allow you to get the most out of the strain you are sampling.

G Pen Pro’s aluminium outer casing is light yet durable. The pen itself is compact and efficient, fitting easily in your pocket or purse for a discreet vaping experience. Maintenance and cleaning are easy too, thanks to the removable silicone mouthpiece. Overall, the G Pen Pro is a great budget option for those seeking a portable pen that can effortlessly handle any dry herb.

Focus V CARTA Smart Rig

• Suitable for: Dry herb and wax
• Heat tech: Convection
• Price: €250.00

Finally, the power of a desktop rig in a portable device. The Focus V CARTA Smart Rig is the perfect marriage of form and function. It has an ergonomic design and offers a ton of powerful customisations and features through the CARTA app. In addition to four out-of-the-box temperature presets ranging from 315–504°C, the app allows you to precisely adjust the temperature down to the degree. It also includes a remote control function and a dab counter, and the rig itself features haptic feedback so you know when your vape has reached optimal temp.

Fitted with a removable glass top for increased portability, the Focus V CARTA includes two buckets for your atomiser. Quartz heats up quickly and gives you that extra smooth finish, while titanium stays hot longer and offers a resilience perfect for travelling. Unlike many portable rigs that need to be plugged in to charge, the CARTA offers true portability with two removable, rechargeable 1200mAh batteries. That means you can use the rig while charging a second set of batteries, giving you an uninterrupted vaping experience (you'll get around 40 dabs from a single charge).

DynaVap "M" — 2021 Edition

• Suitable for: Dry herb
• Heat tech: Manual
• Price: €78.00

The latest version of DynaVap's manual one-hitter is built to last through the apocalypse. Made from medical-grade stainless steel, it has an industrial feel that manages to be rugged yet sleek. For DynaVap, the devil is in the details, and they've remained committed to perfecting every aspect of the "DynaVap M" through its various iterations. The 2021 version represents the pinnacle of their design philosophy, combining the sturdy simplicity of a manual vape with the luxury of sharp design, flawless features, and high-end materials. The extraction chamber doubles as a built-in grinder, and the "adjust-a-bowl" feature lets you adjust the size of the chamber to fit 0.1 or 0.05 grams, making the "M" microdose-friendly.

Geometric cuts and engravings on the stem not only look cool, but also help guide your fingers to the dual "chiral" airports and angled rocker. The result is an easy synergy between the vape and your hand, making the "M" intuitive to handle, even with your eyes closed. The "M" is 100% stainless steel and made in the USA. Even the packaging is recyclable, highlighting the enormous amount of thought and consideration DynaVap puts into its products.

G Pen Dash

• Suitable for: Dry herb
• Heat tech: Conduction (glass-coated stainless-steel conduction oven)
• Price: €69.95

G Pen’s second entry on our list is a pocket-sized and completely portable vaporizer that is bound to impress. What sets the G Pen Dash apart from other devices is the unique heating chamber. Made from glass-glazed stainless steel, efficiency is key with this device. Giving you three temperatures to choose from—190°C, 205°C, and 220°C—it's effortless to dial in a setting; thanks to the LED indicator and smart button system, you can cycle through the temperatures with ease. It will even vibrate once you've hit the optimal heat. Although not offering complete customisation, the preset temperatures are enough to get the full flavours, aromas, and effects from your chosen herb.

Measuring at 3.6 inches (~9.1cm) and featuring an ergonomic design with a lightweight aluminium alloy body, it's robust, durable, and can definitely handle life on the move. The easy-to-load chamber provides ample room to pack in finely milled herb. Once loaded, the removable mouthpiece slots back into position thanks to its magnetised seal. This makes maintenance and cleaning a breeze. Simply remove the mouthpiece to gain access to the chamber, where you can use cotton buds or a brush to keep your G Pen Dash gleaming and ready to use.

Puffco Peak Pro

• Suitable for: Concentrates
• Heat tech: Convection
• Price: €399.99

The Puffco Peak Pro is a future-facing smart rig at the top end of the market. It's even easy to use for beginners—you get a top-notch vaping experience with the basic settings. That said, the real benefit of the Peak Pro comes from the app, which offers plenty of customisations for concentrate connoisseurs who want to go beyond the four pre-programmed heat profiles. This combination of accessibility and technological tailoring means the Peak Pro is a smart rig you can grow with. The app offers a great user experience and myriad options, without being overwhelming or difficult to navigate. We're talking customised temp, time, and boost mode, along with space to save dozens of personal heat profiles. You can even customise the colour of the LEDs, selecting from three gently pulsating light patterns, plus Stealth Mode.

Even without the app, the Peak Pro is a true smart rig. It offers auto-shutoff and real-time temp control; sensors embedded in the chamber modulate your temp level so it's always consistent. The power dock doubles as a wireless charger and portable power bank for your other devices. When you're at home, the dock also helps to stabilise the rig for secure desktop functionality. The Peak Pro takes 30 seconds to heat up, with a heating chamber 40% larger than the original Peak. Battery life covers around 30 sessions.

Honourable Mention: The Return of the VaporGenie

Cannabis vaporizers have evolved by leaps and bounds, but we'd be remiss if we didn't pay homage to the classics. Calling itself the “world's first vaporizing pipe”, the VaporGenie is back for 2021, and in great style! This pocket-sized vaporizer has an unassuming pipe design that houses some pretty remarkable technology.

Featuring an ample bowl containing a patented heat-resistant ceramic filter, vapers can heat their herb to the ideal temperature without combusting it. As a result, every hit from the VaporGenie is bound to be smooth, cool, and, most of all, flavourful. Simply heat with a lighter and take a hit. This is truly an effortless yet classy device. Available in hard-carved maple, walnut, or oak, the wood finish gives the VaporGenie a timeless style that is bound to turn a few heads. This is a classic way to enjoy your favourite herb, and with no battery life to worry about, this vaporizer is ready when you are.