Ball vapes are the bleeding edge of vape technology and are considered the strongest vaporizers available. These dry herb vapes can get you higher than smoking and provide quite a few benefits over the other Best Desktop Vaporizers.
- Ball vapes hit hard and fast without compromising on flavor.
- No more slow hits, ball vapes can crush a bowl in one hit.
- Ball vapes will get you higher than other vaporizers!
- The effects of ball vaporizers are stronger than smoke.
- Vapor from these vapes is closer to dab vapor than other dry herb vapes.
Check out my top picks for the Best Ball Vapes in 2023 below and hit me up in the comments with any questions.
How are Ball Vapes Different?
Ball vaporizers extract THC and cannabinoids from the dry herb quickly using extremely hot air with high airflow.
Ball vapes have an open airflow and an extremely potent, terpene-rich vapor.
What IS A BALL VAPE?
A “Ball Vaporizer” comes from the literal use of glass or ruby balls within the heater.
The balls exponentially increase the convection heaters’ surface area, resulting in quick, thick vapor without loss of flavor.
Terp Hammer / Dab Ready
- RECOMMENDATION: 95%
Benefits: Cordless ball vape holds heat for several minutes. Also heats a standard 25mm quartz banger for dabs!
Features: Thick titanium walled head for heat retention, 52 ruby terp pearls inside for massive convection power
code TROYTIME
The cordless Terp Hammer has been a life-changing addition to my desk. The newfound freedom of no tangly wires to worry about has absolutely improved my quality of life. Removing the PIDs and cables from my desk opened up so much more room to work and move. The Dab Ready and Terp Hammer have earned the #1 Best Desktop of 2023 for its ability to quickly switch between dabs and dry herb due to its 25mm standard coil heating.
The Terp Hammer itself hits as hard as most injector-style ball vapes, but it’s not quite as fierce and responsive as the PID-powered ball vapes.
After updating my Terp Hammer to 3mm balls, it hits harder and is less of a power compromise. 100% reach test winner.
I believe that cordless ball vapes are the future and the Terp Hammer is only the beginning. The Dab Ready and its stationary coil design have opened up a whole new branch of innovation for other makers to build off.
The Dab Ready and Terp Hammer have Revolutionized Ball Vapes
The “hot hole” movement has DIYers building homemade coil mounts to heat bangers and ball vapes without all the tangly cords. Other vaporizer brands have also joined the cordless revolution with coil housings and cordless ball vapes.
ZenLeaf Fusion: Banger & Ball Vape Heater Housing
Cannabis Hardware takes the Flowerpot Vaporizer wireless with their new desktop vaporizers. The coil housings work on the same concept as the Dab Ready – a 25mm axial coil mounted in a heat shield with a built-in controller. The Cannabis Hardware ZenLeaf housings are lower profile and heavy-duty aluminum. They’re heavy and expensive. And I love them.
There are 5 different coil housing options. The one pictured above is the Fusion. See my full ZenLeaf review for more.
Best Cordless Ball Vapes
Thanks to the innovations of the Terp Hammer, ball vapes have officially gone cordless. Cordless ball vapes are currently in rapid development and evolving quickly. Current cordless ball vapes all use the standard 25mm coil size, making them all cross-compatible with each other’s coils.
Jane // Injector-Style Ball Vape
The Jane Head is a full convection cordless vaporizer with an 18mm male injector joint as its interface. This is a standard injector interface that fits the commonly found 18mm female glass bowl.
Jane is a Titanium head filled with 3mm ruby balls. It’s heated in any of the Zenleaf heaters or compatible coil housings like the Dab Ready.
Jane’s full convection is ripping with power and perfect for day-time or night-time consumption.
Mary \\ Diffuser-Style Ball Vape
Mary has the same ball-vape power as Jane but adds additional conduction for even more extraction.
The Mary Head is designed to fit over and around the titanium Shovelhead bowl, fully enrobing the bowl and herb in heat.
The added conduction produces a darker roast with a more thorough extraction and a heavier stoney feeling.
The Mary is great for Indica-style effects and a more sedative high.
I reach for Jane as my daily driver but keep Mary nearby for evening shut-down sessions. Both of these cordless ball vapes are great and I love having both varieties available without unplugging things and dealing with coil connections. Use code TROYTIME to save 5% at Cannabis Hardware or check out my ZenLeaf review.
Best Corded/PID Ball Vapes
Ball vapes are still evolving and we’re still in the early stages of the revolution! PID powered ball vapes have led the power race for the last year because PIDs and 20mm barrel coils are relatively easy to acquire and the format works well for ball vape heads that interface with bongs.
TKO Ball Vape
- RECOMMENDATION: 97%
Superb Flavor & Performance
Metal Bowl for added thermal performance
290 3mm balls
Injector Compatible w/upgrades
Best Overall Flavor/Extraction
Freight Train Pro
- RECOMMENDATION: 97%
High airflow & Performance
High Powered Vapor
60 4mm balls
titanium head & injector
sturdy wooden vape stand
B-Zero Flowerpot
- RECOMMENDATION: 95%
High Airflow & Performance
100+3mm or 4mm balls
Screen secured balls
affordable ball vape
USA Made Titanium
Hardest Hitting Ball Vape Flowerpot B2 – Dabs + Dry Herb at the SAME TIME
No other vape can do it like the B2 – Dabs and dry herb vapor at the same time. THIS IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS.
The B2 Flowerpot is still one of the absolute hardest-hitting dry herb vapes., regardless of dabs and double-deckers. Its airflow is open and free-flowing with the perfect amount of gentle restriction from the 3mm balls inside. One or two-hit flower extraction is no problem with this beast.
The SIC or Sapphire dabbing surface on top means you can have a traditional dab while also vaping your dry herb – this intense vaping experience is known as the Double Decker and produces a considerably longer and stronger high than a normal dab or flower bowl alone.
Features: US Made Medical Grade Titanium – SIC or Sapphire Dab Dish – PID / Enail powered – Fits 14mm/18mm glass
Our Recommendation – If you’re starting fresh, pick up the essentials bundle and don’t look back. It comes with everything you need to end Vape Envy once and for all.
If you already have a 20mm e-nail at home, you may be able to save some money by re-using your coil and controller. The B2 requires a 20mm clockwise coil. Don’t skimp on the stand though, the head of this device is 500F+ and will burn or melt anything it touches.
Pros
- Dabs + Flower Together
- Will Last Forever
- Hardest Hitting Vape
- USA Made
- Injector or Diffuser
Cons
- Dab Temps and Flower Temps don’t align for perfect double deckers
- Dabs are somewhat muted through balls
I have a lot more info in my latest Flowerpot vaporizer comparison which features a comparison between the new F16 and F22 ball heads vs. the B-Zero, B1, and B2 models. The Flowerpot B2 Essential Bundle retails for $565 and you can click here to check it out directly from Cannabis Hardware. Don’t forget to use coupon code TROYTIME to save 5%.
Vgoodiez has a cheaper B2 bundle with some alternative configurations. You can use code TROYTIME5 at Vgoodiez to save 5% on Flowerpot vape bundles.
Flowerpot B-Zero – Budget Ball Vape
The Flowerpot B-ZERO is Cannabis Hardware’s budget ball vape. With an exposed coil and injector only lower half, this vape head is secured in the coil using a snap-ring, and the balls are held in with double-woven titanium screens that will not budge.
The B-Zero wins me over for daytime use 100% of the time. I get “less stoney” from its full convection power. This was my #1 vape until the Terp Hammer came along and cut the cords.
The B-Zero is a full convection injector that hits as hard as the B2 but without the added conduction of the shovelhead bowl.
The B-Zero can be used with the titanium shovel-head bowl or with 18mm female glass bowls.
The B-Zero has equal or greater airflow than the B2
Flowerpot B-ZERO 420 Vapezone Bundle
B-Zero Flowerpot Pricing – Starting at $40 without balls. I recommend the $309 Essentials bundle. They’ll fill it with balls and install everything for you. This is important because it requires a snap-ring and not everyone has the special tools. Of course,
Do you want to vape just like me? Cannabis Hardware offers the 420 Vapezone Signature BZERO Bundle ($746) (pictured above in green) which includes quite a few extras. Don’t forget to use coupon code TROYTIME to save 5%.
Vgoodiez also has a budget-friendly B-Zero bundle available for 265. Code TROYTIME5 will work on Vgoodiez bundles.
Features: US Made Medical Grade Titanium – uses 3mm or 4mm balls – PID / Enail powered – Fits 14mm/18mm glass – injector only
High Airflow & Performance
100+3mm or 4mm balls
Screen secured balls
Affordable ball vape
USA Made Titanium
Our Recommendation – If you don’t mind some assembly and piecing things together you can build this vape out any way you like it. I like using the B-0 with 3mm ruby balls and I use it with a glass injector bowl that has a metal screen.
excellent round up troy
love the redesign
No mention of the tiodw line up why is that?
Mostly because I don’t have mine yet to test and review. It’s included on my ball vape history page
Hey Troy, have watched many of your & Jerry videos on You Tube. Now on Twitch & here. You have helped me in my decisions so far with grinders & other items. . I have purchased 2 BCG. Factory 2nd on 1st & waiting on second. Will have all 3 Grind Plates as well. Thank you for your guidance. Really struggling with new Vaporizer decision. Have a Volcano & Mighty. Wanting a Thermal Extraction unit for more hitting power. I bought a G9 dab unit to help & it works ok. You recommend the B-0, B-1, B-2 & freight train. I prefer B2 as you say it is a stronger high but it is more expensive. Living in Canada pushes me towards FT because it is available in Canada from Pete & no guessing on final bill total with exchange rate & freight. Is the high that much less with FT to worry about? Do you see the ball extractor options growing to offer more options with less $$? May be best to wait? Retired & stretching the $$ as much as possible these days. Thanks for all your & Jerry videos. Really enjoying the ones with Pete & Austin, great info & conversations.
Hello Troy. I love your honest no BS reviews. I just bought the Zeus Arc GTS Hub and very disappointed. I was hoping the dosing capsules would really work. After using it, it remains getting clogged easily and always needing to be maintenance , plus the vapor quality is very inconsistent.
So, after looking at other vapes, I saw your Flower Pot reviews. Wow I may be looking at that but, I cannot get to that 500 price point. Is there anything similar that will hit like a bong so you get that intense knock out high. So if you could explain anything further about the Flower Pot and how I could buy something like that from your perspective would be really great. Thanks agin.
USA Made should be a Con.
Other than that, nice list.
Does curaleaf carry this?
Bought the “Caroma” / mention. As an all-electric, it has the horsepower, dials, harness and necessary glass. Ive added sic ceramic bearings for speed, ceramic bowl & ceramic screen allowing a 100% ceramic track. Im ready for fuel.
We need you to review the Taroma360.
In Troy we trust.
FYI typo: it’s spelled Ceroma not Caroma in case someone is just Googling the name. Thanks
Hello Troy,
I have only one questions, hopefully you may have better news then A.I.!
How dangerous are Ball Vapes, regarding glass dust?
Because….some “A.I.” Facts…..
….at 600 Kelvin (around 327°C or 621°F), it’s possible that glass pearls could generate dust if rubbed against each other, due to the heat and friction causing microscopic damage to the surface of the pearls……
….yes, glass dust can definitely be dangerous to your lungs if inhaled. Glass dust is extremely fine and sharp, which means that it can easily be inhaled into the lungs, where it can cause irritation and inflammation.
….If two materials have the exact same Mohs hardness, they can indeed scratch each other….
…as the glass beads rub, microscopic surface imperfections come into play. These imperfections can lead to abrasion, causing tiny fragments or dust particles to break off. The exact amount of dust generated depends on factors like bead surface texture, hardness, and the presence of impurities. At 600 Kelvin, the increased mobility of atoms and molecules due to higher temperature may enhance the likelihood of abrasion and dust formation.
…in summary, glass beads made from quartz can indeed generate dust when rubbed against each other, especially at elevated temperatures. However, the specific outcome depends on various material properties and conditions.
And unfortunately:
…..a waterpipe, also known as a bong, is not designed to filter out dust particles like the kind that could potentially be generated by ceramic or glass pearls at high temperatures.
I would really like to get a ball vape, but I’m extremely worried about it.
So, what is your opinion?
Wish you all the best.
Martin :-)
If you’re that worried about glass shards then you probably should be just as worried about what vaping does to you. We all die eventually no need to live in perpetual fear.
This sounds like conjecture to me, if not a complete scare story – the glass balls (if that’s what are being used) are static in the heater, they shouldn’t be constantly rubbing against each other, and any slight movement due to loose packing, will be unlikely to create anything dangerous being low friction (not being pressed together, just loose).
Additionally the dangers glass fragments could cause would be very dependent on the size. To cause damage from sharp edges, they would need to be moderately large, while if extremely small, then the dangers would be more likely to be due to particulate damage instead, but without exact data on this it’s pretty hard to make anything of it that’s meaningful.
There would need to be some careful trials of possible conditions that could cause the fragmentation, and then any particles could be collected and analysed, and compared to any existing data on glass fragment inhalation causing health issues, and what they may be. In other words, as Larry says, there are lots of more serious and known dangers in inhaling cannabis compounds (e.g. did you know very high temp dabbing creates benzene (among other toxins), a known and very toxic and carcinogenic compound?).
And if you were still worried, lots of other types of non-quartz based balls available instead that the glass could be swapped with.
I’ve used the Terp Hammer nearly everyday since the 1st drop, and have pretty much become complacent. Need an add on. Where does the Jane stand? How is the Jane production as opposed to the Terp Hammer???
They’re very similar. I run 3mm in both the Jane and Terp Hammer, and the Terp Hammer wins my reach test over Jane every time. It’s smoother and delivers a better hit.
Plus the Terp Hammer can vape whole nugs directly in its injector tip!
Upon the search for the pinnacle of wireless, I ended up grabbing a couple TKO enhancements resulting in total glee.