Ball vapes are the bleeding edge of dry herb vape technology and are the strongest weed vaporizers available. These vapes can get you higher than smoking. Ball vapes hit harder than any other type of cannabis consumption because THC and terpenes are extracted and inhaled on the first hit.
Ball Vapes extract FAST and have an open airflow
- Ball vapes hit hard and fast without compromising on flavor.
- No more slow hits; ball vapes can crush a bowl in one fast and hard hit.
- Ball vapes will get you higher than other vaporizers!
- The effects of ball vaporizers are more potent than smoke.
Vapor from Ball Vapes is closer to dab vapor than other dry herb vapes.
Check out my top picks for the Best Ball Vapes in 2025 below. I’ve compared them all and am happy to help you find the right one. Leave a comment or join the discord for one-on-one assistance.
Table of Contents
- What is a Ball Vape?
- Ball Vape are Still Evolving
- Diffuser vs. Injector:
- Where to Buy Ball Vapes
- Best Ball Vapes: Cordless
- Best Cordless Ball Vape: The Ace – Cordless Screwball
- Universal Baller
- Best Ball Vapes: Corded
- Ball Vape Master List
- Ball Vape Bowl Compatibility
- Portable Ball Vapes
- Cheapest Ball Vapes
- Whip Style Ball Vapes
- Ball Vapes to Share?
What is a Ball Vape?
Ball Vaporizers are a new classification of dry herb vaporizers that use a convection heater filled with balls. Ball vapes are typically filled with ruby spheres. Ball vapes are high-efficiency, high-extraction vaporizers with extremely potent vapor.
Experience the Benefits: the balls in a Ball Vaporizer exponentially increase the convection heaters’ surface area, resulting in quick, thick vapor without loss of flavor. This means you get a more efficient and flavorful vaping experience.
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 are designed to be used on a bong and have an open airflow with a highly potent, terpene-rich vapor. Ball vapes are quick and powerful, unlike traditional dry herb vaporizers that extract slowly.
Ball Vape are Still Evolving
Ball vapes are a recent innovation to dry herb vaporizers. The concept came from a community of enthusiasts, and early adopters and adaptations fueled its evolution. See my History of Ball Vapes page for the entire timeline.
Ball Vape technology has found maximum performance. These vapes smack hard, and their performance difference is subtle, but there are differences.
Most ball vapes are designed to be used on a bong. Traditional corded ball vapes are the cheapest starting point. The latest innovation is a Cordless Ball Vape that uses a stationary coil as a heating station.
A few traditional whip-style vaporizers have even been updated with balls!
Diffuser vs. Injector:
Most dry herb ball vapes fall into two categories based on their bowl and bowl connection type. Diffuser and injector ball vapes both rely on super convection from heated balls to vaporize cannabis. Diffuser-style vape heads use a female connection and a metal bowl inserted into the vaporizer for added heating power. Diffuser-style vape heads have added conduction and radiant heating, while Injector-style vape heads are 100% convection.
Three ball vapes: CH Mary on Screwball Bowl, Quartz Injector, Terp Hammer on Glass Injector Bowl
Which is better, a Diffuser or an Injector? Neither is ‘better’ as the differences are subjective. Due to the added hybrid heating, diffuser vapes with a metal bowl can often have a deeper and more thorough extraction. They can also have a stonier effect and more sedative properties. 100% convection vapor usually tastes better, but don’t roast the herb as thoroughly as a conductive diffuser.
Injector Bowl vs Diffuser Bowl: Glass injector bowls are fragile and breakable, while metal diffuser bowls are rugged and durable. Glass injector bowls are affordable and available. Replacement diffuser bowls are often 3x the cost of a single glass bowl. Glass injector bowls will be around even if the vape maker is no longer producing parts. The glass injector bowl is a standard bowl used by many other vapes.
Diffuser Bowl is Important as Diffuser Ball Vape
The Diffuser Bowl plays an essential role in the experience, and each diffuser-style ball vape performs differently. Some vapes and bowls are cross-compatible, while others are not. See my ball vape bowl compatibility table for reference.
Where to Buy Ball Vapes
This is your chance to support the ball vape creators and innovators. Ball vapes are a new creation. They were created by passionate cannabis users seeking the pinnacle of performance. Ball vape tech was quickly scooped up by Asian cloners who don’t even smoke weed, but they’re good at copying products and selling cheap vapes. Support the innovators.
code VAPEZONE
code TROYTIME
code VAPEZONE
Best Ball Vapes: Cordless
Wireless ball vapes are the latest interface upgrade. With a wireless desktop and a cordless ball vape, the heating coil remains stationary, and the vaporizer is removed from the heat while in use. Cordless ball vapes are designed to maintain their heat and not lose performance until several minutes have passed. The wireless heaters also have the advantage of fitting standard quartz bangers, making these desktop vaporizers perfect for dry herb and dabbing concentrates.
Removing the PIDs and cables from my desk gave me much more room to work and move. Cordless ball vapes are less prone to accidents and burns than their corded counterparts.
Best Cordless Ball Vape: The Ace – Cordless Screwball
The newest (September 2024) cordless ball vape is The Ace, formerly known as the Cordless Screwball. The Ace is filled with gem-cut rubies to gain even more power over other ball vapes. The Screwball and the cordless Ace are the best overall performers due to their wide airflow and unrelenting power.
The Ace is a simple device with a clean, minimalistic design. The magic with this cordless ball vape is in the unique bowl and its gem-cut rubies. The Ace maintains the same orientation when used on its bowl while heating in the coil. This means it can be lifted from the coil and placed on the bowl without flipping the heater.
Gem-cut rubies give the Ace massive power, and the wide diffuser design gives it plenty of airflow. Other cordless ball vapes lack the airflow to take advantage of these rubies.
My pre-production Ace is missing the coil guard. The units shipping now have a shorter coil cord.
The Ace uses a 25mm coil housing. Vapvana is selling a bundle that includes the PID and a wooden housing with a stand, coil mount, and coil guard for $378 after code TROYTIME.
The Ace is available as a standalone vape head for $111 after code TROYTIME.
It’s a 25mm vape head compatible with the DabReady and the 25mm ZenLeaf coil housings.
The Cannabis Hardware ZenLeaf housings are the nicest on the market. They pair perfectly with the VapVana Ace and serve as my daily driver. Code TROYTIME works at Cannabis Hardware and will save 5%.
Universal Baller
The Universal Baller by Terp Chasers Club needs to be at the top of this list. I’m putting it under the Ace and Screwball for now – but know that this vape has similar potency and better flavor. It’s more expensive, too, though.
Check out my Universal Baller Review to learn more about this vape. It’s cordless or corded and it has a 100% glass vapor path!
Cannabis Hardware Zenleaf
Cannabis Hardware takes the Flowerpot Vaporizer wireless with its new desktop vaporizers and accessories. The heavyweight 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.
Coupon code TROYTIME will save you 5% off EVERYTHING at Cannabis Hardware!
Cannabis Hardware has added 20-mm coil housings and vaporizers to its Zenleaf series. The 20-mm coil is more popular, and many dabbers have a 20-mm coil and PID from an old enail.
Cannabis Hardware offers multiple coil housing options, and its line is continuously growing. The one pictured above is the Fusion. For more, see my full ZenLeaf review for the full ZenLeaf lineup.
I like 25mm because it fits a standard quartz banger for dabbing, and the larger heads have a nicer power-to-airflow ratio. Use code TROYTIME to save 5% at Cannabis Hardware.
Mercury – Cordless Diffuser-Style
The Mercury cordless ball vape uses a metal bowl and has massive airflow. The updated Mercury head replaces the Mary. It has 2x the balls as the previous version and can be configured with a machined or a mesh screen. Airflow through the Mercury is open, and the vapor performance is substantial.
Mercury uses a 25-mm coil and is compatible with the Dab Ready or any other 25-mm coil heater.
Venus – Cordless Injector-Style
Venus is a full convection injector vape that uses any 25mm coil heater. Venus has replaced the Jane vape head. It has more balls and is more affordable than the previous version.
Venus uses any 18mm glass injector bowl. Its vapor is powerful, and its airflow is open. The Venus will hit harder than the Terp Hammer, but Venus vapor is not as smooth as the Terp Hammer.
The Pulse: 20mm Cordless Ball Vape by Cannabis Hardware
Terp Hammer by Old Head
The cordless Terp Hammer was the first cordless ball vape. The Dab Ready and Terp Hammer have earned the #1 Best Desktop of 2024 for their ability to quickly switch between dabs and dry herb due to its 25mm standard coil heating and well-designed housing with a built-in PID and coil guard.
The Terp Hammer hits as hard as most injector-style ball vapes. It’s not as fierce and responsive as the PID-powered ball vapes, but the difference is not catastrophic. The Terp Hammer will blow any traditional dry herb vape away.
The Terp Hammer comes pre-installed with 4mm ruby balls. After updating my Terp Hammer to 3mm balls, it hits even harder and is less of a power compromise.
Terp Hammer is $199 or $499 when bundled with the Dab Ready heater. This is a great value and my #1 pick for the best desktop vaporizer. The Terp Ready bundle includes a glass bowl for dry herb but does not include a 25mm quartz banger. The Old Head quartz bangers are high quality and affordable at only $39 for an auto-spinner banger with a marble cap. Check out my Terp Hammer + Dab Ready Review to see it in action.
See my full Terp Hammer + Dab Ready Review to learn more. I recommend buying the Terp Hammer with the Dab Ready directly from Old Head. Use code TROYTIME to save $50 off the bundle. (Code will not work for just the Terp Hammer)
Cordless Ball Vape | Coil size | Interface | # of balls | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vapvana Ace | 25mm | Diffuser | 600+ 2.5 Gem | |
Terp Hammer | 25 | Injector – 18mm | 52 – 4mm (142 – 3mm)* | |
Mercury | 25 | Diffuser (Shovelhead) | 240 – 3mm | 186 |
Venus | 25 | Injector – 18mm | 240 – 3mm | 186 |
Wave | 20 | 14 or 18mm-inj ** | 140 – 3mm | 138 |
Pulse | 20 | Injector – 18mm | 140 – 3mm | 163 |
Swift | 20 | Injector – 14mm | 140 – 3mm | 163 |
IO Hornet | 16 | Multiple | 100 – 2.5mm | 200 |
** The Wave can be converted to a 14 or 18-mm injector
Or use an 18-mm injector bowl with a basket screen for microdosing.
Cordless Ball Vapes for 20mm Coils
Cannabis Hardware has released miniature versions of the Venus and Mercury for 20mm coil heaters. The Wave is a 20mm diffuser that pairs with the metal Shovelhead post and provides a deeper roast. The Pulse is a 20mm injector that will work with any 18mm injector bowl and provide a full convection experience.
The Wave is a modular vape head that can be adapted to three different bowl configurations. It can be used as a 14mm injector, an 18mm injector, or a diffuser connection to a Shovelhead post with a basket screen. This design was inspired by a community mod that cleverly used the Shovelhead bowl as a ball-filled vape head. The Wave is an agile and powerful microdoser!
A 14mm injector named Swift is also available for microdosing. Massive vapor clouds are extra satisfying when produced from tiny amounts of herb. The 14 mm-sized injector is great for smaller bowls, and the Pulse is an excellent option for smokers looking to conserve their herbs.
The standard 18mm injector is also great at microdosing. The 14mm microdosing advantage comes from the narrower bowl size and increased airspeed. This makes a fuller vapor than the same microdose-sized amount of herb would make with an 18mm injector. The 14mm bowl is best used with .05-.15. The 18mm bowl is best with .15 but will hold .4g.
Cordless Ball Vapes for 16mm Coils
Vapvana has been developing at 16mm cordless ball vape that will launch in 2025.
The IO Hornet is the first 16mm cordless ball vape to the market. The Hornet is designed to be compatible with multiple bowls. It can be used as a diffuser or as an injector.
Click here to see my IO Hornet Review
or BUY ONE for $200. Use code VAPEZONE to save 10%
Best Ball Vapes: Corded
Corded ball vapes are still more popular than cordless because they’re cheaper and more powerful.
Cordless vapes are more convenient, safer, and much less cumbersome. The power difference is less substantial with injector-style cordless vapes because they don’t lose as much heat to the metal bowl.
Diffuser-style corded ball vapes have the most relentless and consistent vaping power. Heavy smokers and all-day vape users may find the power difference worth dealing with the cord.
VapVana Screwball
The Screwball has become my favorite and has earned the #1 Best Corded Ball Vape title. It is one of the most potent ball vapes available, and it’s been refined and perfected to provide a satisfying and thorough experience without breaking the bank.
The Screwball is filled with 750 tiny gem-cut rubies instead of the typical ruby balls. This change gives the Screwball a smooth and powerful convection airflow with massive power.
This vape is versatile and agile. It works exceptionally well with large doses or small ones, big hits or little ones. The screwball pairs perfectly with the metal bowl it includes. The Screwball is #1 on my list of the best-corded ball vapes. This vape hits so great, and the bowl is exceptional. The kit includes everything but the bong. It even comes with a little stainless steel scoop!
Check out my Screwball Review to learn more about this badass vape.
Or use code TROYTIME to save 10% and get the Screwball bundle for $350.
SAVE MORE AT VAPVANA! My code is only 10% BUT Vapvana hands out 15% coupons on his homepage. Click Here to go to his homepage.
Freight Train by Old Head
The recently upgraded Freight Train earns the #2 spot on this list because it’s a refined and polished product that provides the complete experience. Old Head is one of the OG makers in the ball vape space, and it continues to lead the market in performance and innovation.
The 2024 Freight Train is an Injector-Style ball vape. Unlike other ball vapes, it comes with a coil guard! The 2024 version also has a premium stand mounted to the temperature controller.
The Freight Train is sold as a complete package for $399. It’s great for beginners because it includes a good PID, a great stand, and a friendly coil guard to prevent burns. The included glass injector bowl has a 14mm joint. The Freight Train is compatible with any 18mm glass injector bowl. These bowls are common and affordable. There are even heady injector bowls!
The Freight Train is not as powerful as the Screwball, but it is still a very powerful extraction device. In a blind vapor taste test, a casual vape user would not notice the difference. They may even find the full convection vapor more flavorful without being weaker because of the full convection flavor difference.
The Freight Train is a full-convection injector with a ribbed tip to prevent sticking in the glass bowl. The elongated nozzle can even be used to vape whole nuggets in a fun and effective way.
This is my favorite ball vape setup to loan out because the PID and stand are connected. This makes the whole setup much more efficient on a desk because it becomes a singular footprint.
The Freight Train (2024 edition) is $399 direct from Old Head.
Cannabis Hardware B1 Flowerpot
The B1 Flowerpot was the original king of high-airflow, maximum-potency ball vapes and the “inspiration” for many other ball vapes. It pushes high airflow to its limits and achieves extreme convection power with its 3mm or 4mm balls.
I prefer 3mm balls. This size allows a mostly open airflow with a subtle touch of resistance that doesn’t feel restricted. I want to inhale fast and hard without strain on my throat or lungs. 3mm balls provide more surface area than 4mm balls.
The USA-made B1 Flowerpot is the original diffuser-style ball vape. It utilizes the titanium Shovelhead Bowl and connects in a way that rapidly heats the bowl. This preheating of the bowl will amplify the extraction rate and produce a darker roast with more sedative and stoney effects.
B1 vaporizer pushes out THICK MILKY VAPOR.
While the B1 design covers its heating coil, the exterior of the vape head is still dangerously hot.
The B1 can also be used with a glass diffuser bowl. These specially designed bowls mimic the Shovelhead fitting but will not preheat as well as their titanium counterparts.
The B1 is a great vape and an important part of Flowerpot’s evolution. It’s made for connoisseurs with high expectations, and the B1 delivers. While a few other ball vapes match the B1’s airflow and performance, nothing can match the level of luxury and customization of the Flowerpot.
The $472 B1 Flowerpot bundle includes a nice stand, a PID, and the titanium Shovelhead Bowl.
Save 5% at Cannabis Hardware with code TROYTIME.
VGoodiez has a slightly cheaper version with a cheaper stand and cheaper PID.
B-Zero (B0) – Original Budget Ball Vape
As DIY ball vapes peaked, the B-Zero launched as a safer, bare-minimum ball vape made with existing parts from Cannabis Hardware’s already popular line of vaporizers. The B-Zero (B0) took concepts and learnings from DIY ball vapes and made them safe and secure. It’s a basic 18mm injector vape wrapped in a 20mm coil. The vape is locked into the coil with an industrial-looking snap ring, and the balls are held securely inside.
The B-Zero is a small vape with massive power! This tiny injector is filled with 100 ruby balls (3mm) and has a very comfortable airflow. It works with any draw speed but is best with a long, fast inhale.
The $270 B-Zero bundle from Cannabis Hardware now includes a PID-mounted stand! This bundle is a great value if you don’t already own a PID and coil. If you have a PID and 20mm coil to use, Cannabis Hardware sells all of its components individually, so you only need to buy the vape head, bowl, and balls!
Check out my B-Zero Review to see this vape in action.
Remember code TROYTIME to save 5% at Cannabis Hardware.
And code TROYTIME5 to save 5% off CH stuff at Vgoodiez.
Other Good Corded Ball Vapes
The ball vape market has blossomed with bastardized versions of the mostly-the-same-shit. But there are a few more notable vape heads that are worth mentioning!
The ZX from GoPhase3 is a 14-mm injector made of black ceramic zirconia. This vape can be used with a 14-mm injector bowl or the included zirconia bowl. The ZX has a beautiful vapor signature and enough power to plow through a bowl in one hit. It is a PRE-ORDER for $300.
Ball Vape Master List
BALL VAPE | POWER | COIL | BALLS | BOWL TYPE | VAPE HEAD $* | BUNDLE $* | Supporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B0 Flowerpot | corded | 20mm | 100 – 3mm | 18mm injector | 80 | 270 | |
B1 Flowerpot | corded | 20mm | 145 – 3mm | 22mm diffuser | 135 | 472 | |
F-16 Flowerpot | corded | 20mm | 180 – 3mm | 18mm Injector | 125 | N/A | |
F-22 Flowerpot | corded | 20mm | 180 – 3mm | 22mm Diffuser | 125 | 434 | |
Flowerpot Tomcat | corded | 20mm | 180 – 3mm | 18mm Injector + Diffuser | 142 | N/A | |
Freight Train | corded | 20mm | 54 – 4mm | 18mm Injector | N/A | $399 | |
Screwball | corded | 25mm | 750 – 2.5mm gem | 23mm Diffuser | N/A | $299 | |
Pinch Hitter | corded | 20mm | 300 – 3mm | N/A | |||
Ace | wireless | 25mm | 600 2.5mm gem | 23mm Diffuser | TROYTIME | ||
Terp Hammer | wireless | 25mm | 55 – 4mm (142 – 3mm)*** | 18mm Injector | 199 | $499 | |
ZX | corded | 16mm | 80 – 3mm | 14mm Injector | $100 + $90 bowl | $300 (pre order) | Sent Vape |
ZXL | corded | 20mm | 3mm | 18mm Injector | $250 w/bowl | $350 (pre order) | N/A |
ZXXL | wireless | 25mm | 3mm | 22mm Diffuser | $450 w/bowl | N/A | N/A |
** Old Head code is only valid on Terp Ready bundles
*** Terp Hammer only ships with 4mm. Swapping to 3mm requires tools and effort.
Ball Vape Bowl Compatibility
Injector-style ball vapes can reliably be used in any other injector bowl of the same size. The Injectors use a standard scientific joint style that’s universally accepted.
Diffuser connections are not universal, and some ball vapes use proprietary connections.
Diffuser Bowl | Compatible Ball Vapes | Bowl Rating | Bowl Price |
|---|---|---|---|
CH ShovelHead | B1, F16, F22, Mercury, Venus, Screwball, Pinch Hitter | 4.5/5 Best Diffuser Bowl. It doesn’t work great with injectors… | |
CH Matrix | B1, F16, F22, Mercury, Venus, Screwball, Pinch Hitter, Freight Train, Ace | 4.5/5 It is a great all-around bowl, agile and modular. | |
VapVana Screwball | B1, F22, Mercury, Scrweball, Pinch Hitter | 5/5 | |
VapVana MicroScrew / Pinch Hitter | Screwball, Pinch Hitter | 5/5 |
Portable Ball Vapes
While a few early ball vapes were portable, there haven’t been many since the discovery of wall-power. Technology has evolved, and manufacturers have found new ways to make these powerful vapes portable.
The Tempest and Stunner are both portable ball vapes that rely on the heat of a small butane torch. These two vapes are blunt-sized and pocketable. They both use white zirconium balls with titanium housings. The Stunner is more affordable, and it shows. The Tempest is much more refined and usable at the mouth, but both vapes do best on a bong. These micro-sized ball vapes can chuck massive clouds with the proper heating technique.
The Stunner has become my preferred portable ball vape. The creator is constantly improving this vaporizer. It’s also more affordable and more readily available than the Tempest. Stunner is even in my Top 10 Portable Dry Herb Vaporizers of 2025!
MGVS sells the Stunner in multiple configurations, including stemless. Click Here to buy a Stunner.
EGLVape makes a couple of battery-powered portable ball vapes. The 2con and the CAT use small battery-powered coils and balls to create a super-powerful dry herb vaporizer. These vapes aren’t great, but the heater technology is functional and promising. Look for a full review this Fall.
Cheapest Ball Vapes
You’re inhaling through these vaporizers, and these vapes are also hot and dangerous. This is not the type of vape you want to cheap out, but there are ways to save a few bucks if you’re handy and a bit on the wild side.
Already have a PID?
You can save money by reusing compatible parts if you own a PID and coil from an e-nail. Amazon has PIDS and coils as low as $90. The PID and coil often account for $100-$200 of the costs. PID controllers and coils can be wired incompatible, so be careful swapping coils and controllers.
Several ball vapes can be purchased without PID and coil. Cannabis Hardware sells all of its vape heads individually.
Pinky Ball Vape (DIY)
The Pinky is a DIY ball vape made using a TIG welding nozzle filled with balls. These ceramic nozzles are a common size and a trusted material, and they fit perfectly in a 20mm coil with little effort. If you already have a 20mm coil with a PID, building a Pinky will cost you less than $25 and will perform similarly to $400 ball vapes. I recommend buying a safe and secure ball vape over building a Pinky or other makeshift vape. The Pinky is great but will only be as safe as you make it. Hot balls are dangerous.
TiTi DIY / Vgoodiez Build
The TiTi is similar to the Pinky. It uses a 16mm coil and a Titanium male joint piece from a Cannabis Hardware Shovelhead Bowl. The TiTi suffers from the same ball-security risks as the Pinky—pressure-fit screens are used to contain the balls. Banging this vape around can cause the screen to fall out and dump hot balls. VGoodiez sells pre-built TiTi ball vapes for $224.
DIY Cordless Ball Vapes & Wireless Heating Stations Builds
Vape hackers and handy stoners have built DIY options for coiled heating stations, or “hot holes,” as well as cordless ball vapes. Clamp-mounting a coil is surprisingly easy if you’re handy. Cannabis Hardware makes an easily mounted coil-clamping device called The Clampy.
Cordless Ball Vapes have also been concocted out of the ShovelHead Bowl. Credit goes to Molly in the 420vapezone Discord for this crazy little hack. Hit up Discord if you’re going the whole vape-hacker route.
Whip Style Ball Vapes
These ball vapes maintain the traditional Desktop Vaporizer look and feel. These vapes use a stationary heater filled with balls. Weed is loaded into a glass wand with a bowlpiece that connects to the heater. Vapor flows through the wand and whip and is inhaled directly or through a bubbler.
Vapor Brothers 1.5 Desktop Vaporizer (Now with BALLS)
One of the oldest dry herb vaporizers on the market has been upgraded to take advantage of ball vape technology. This wooden vape housing with a little knob and a glass vapor nipple is what most people think of when they think of a desktop vaporizer. Now that it has balls, it performs how most people want their desktop vaporizer to perform.
The original VB1.0 was released more than twenty years ago. I have no idea how they stayed in business this long, but I’m glad they made it, and I’m even more happy they upgraded it.
The upgraded 1.5 has potent vapor like other ball vapes. It works great with a fast or slow inhale. The whip does a pretty good job of cooling the vapor and comes with a bong adapter, too.
This design is timeless, and the LED-lit underside makes the Vapor Brothers look badass and modern. I generally avoid whips, but this vape is super fun to use.
And it’s a ball vape, so it hits hard and tastes fantastic!
The Vapor Brother VB1.5 is $399 but goes on sale for $300 quite often.
Balled Silver Surfer / SSV43
The SSV43 mod was one of the earliest ball vape mods and remains one of the most potent desktop ball vapes. The Silver Surfer has been on the market for over a decade, and it’s capable of heavy hits with the right technique, even without balls. The Ruby Ball SSV43 mod made the vape much easier to use and so much more powerful.
While 7th Floor Steve initially rejected the modifications, he eventually tried the ball mod and implemented the idea after two years of popularity in the community. The updated and balled SSV is $300.
If you’re looking for something to pull out of your pocket at a party, ball vapes aren’t quite there yet. The Stunner and Tempest qualify, but torches are intimidating for many.
Any brand-made vaporizer listed above is great for sharing in a sesh-style space. PIDs, hot vape heads, and bongs require more awareness and commitment than a portable vape or even smoking, but the rewards are worth the requirements.
The best ball vapes for traveling and carrying to a sesh are the Zenleaf systems and the Dab Ready + Terp Hammer. My favorite corded vapes are the Screwball and B-Zero.
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.
Hey Dean, sorry for missing your comment – and double sorry that you spent money on the Zeus :(
Did you ever settle in on a ball vape? My favorite budget friendly bundle is the Screwball.
Crossing Technology Ruby Twist is only $200 for the kit including Hybrid Ti/Boro. Matrix Bowl and PID
USA Made should be a Con.
Other than that, nice list.
Maybe if you’re not an American?
There’s also an element of supporting the innovators vs the cloners who don’t even consume cannabis.
The best thing I have that was made in China is my wife, the rest of their products I don’t like so much.
Does curaleaf carry this?
you mean like the medical dispensary? LOL I doubt it….though my local web menu lol surprised me, I saw they were selling the Decarboylator some cheap brand lol and now I’m drawing a blank….Ardent? I think it was called for like $100 but then I found a machine on Alliexpress for half that lol. getting psyched up to make some tincture…..lol
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
I’ll try to get my hands on one!
I was hoping you could do a review on the Crossing Tech wireless One Hit Wonder or WOHW. It’s priced lower then the screwball while being an injector and a defuser with 520 green cut rubies. It seems like a deal. I’m definitely picking one up and seeing how it works.
I plan to review, as I have one here. It’s not as nice as the screwball or Ace and it doesn’t hit quite the same, but it’s a good budget option. Not good for big bowls or back to back hits
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.
90% of your ball Vapes now use Ruby pearls not quartz
My opinion is don’t trust AI for information and research.
And a very sound opinion that is!
AI may regurgitate something true and useful, but it’s incapable for deciding what is correct! Human’s still have some use still! ;O)
Please tell me how much my Ruby’s are running against each other. I don’t know what you’re using, but my in my Ruby Twist, the gems aren’t moving around. They’re definitely not moving around enough to scratch the surface of each other.
hmm…… lol maybe someone could get this https://youtu.be/0Pwj6BuS8Ds?si=uhJTJRQsHRBJgTWx dude set up with a ball vape lol……and just keep loading bowls upon bowls to see what kind of “glass dust” end up in the “chamber”
I’ve been on the fence, with ball vapes, I like my micro bowls so much lol, and on some of these ball vape videos they are putting heaping bowls of product in the bowl lol. my .2 gram in my POTV lasts me all work day. temp step from 320-370. then at lunch Ill go from 370-410 temp stepping within a 3 or 4 minute sesh. on the LOBO.
but I remember seeing this “dummy” set up, and had to post it lol. I’ve actually seen in college courses where they hook up a skeleton/dummy to show the effects but cant seem to find it on YouTube.
The water will indeed filter out heavy particles like glass shards. Just think about it for a minute and it’ll make sense.
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.
Congrats!! Cordless ball vapes are so fun to use
I’m shopping for my first ball vape and have narrowed it down to the Screwball or the VB-1.5. I like the VB-1.5 for its convenience and the option to just use the whip without a bong, not sure if that’s practical with the Screwball. What are your thoughts?
The 1.5 is a nice vape and it hits hard! It won’t hit quite as hard and open as the Screwball, but it’s great. I like using a bong, so for me the Screwball wins. If you like the traditional format, get the VB1.5 :)
Hey Troy,
Looking at the couch log xl or the screwball. Any preference on your part for one over the other?
Couch Log is a really fun little microdoser for daily use… but I’d go Screwball. Screwball can microdose AND it can megadose. it can hit soft or it can hit hard. It can heatsoak or hit it quick for full convection.
Screwball is the best ball vape on the market right now.
I added a diffuser bowl compatibility section after the ball vape master list. Should I add glass injector bowls to that table?
List is really good but I’d recommend double checking some of the stuff around the Wave it is hard to understand
Thanks Erin! It’s a confusing vape and that whole section could use a complete rewrite. I’ll get on it!
Dude you CRUSH so hard! LOVE your honest reviews.
With the ACE kit, I was told that I can heat a terp slurper. Is that true or did I misunderstand?
I don’t see how it would fit within the coils…but Vapvana said it can…unless I misunderstood.
A lot of people use coils to heat slurpers, but it just doesn’t work all that well.
The melt dish gets much hotter than the column, and the column is where vaporization is meant to happen – so the performance is weird and the slurper does NOT function as designed.
People still do it, but people also still save their roaches.
The coil works fine for buckets though!
No Qaroma?
Nah, not a fan. Too fragile and lacking performance.
Hi Troy, thanks for the honest reviews!
I have a question about the compatibility of the mercury and the vapvana screwball bowl you listed above.
Is there any trick to get them working together? As soon as the mercury gehts contact with the screwball bowl, both instantly get almost “welded” because of the heat expansion oft the bowl :D You only geht them separated agian with tools and big force.
I have the same issue. They’re not compatible :(
It’s why I stick with the Ace though, because that Pinch Hitter bowl is PERFECT
Ahh, too bad and thanks for your answer. Hoped you know some magic trick to avoid this ;) I’m waiting for the Ace – hope everything will work fine at the customs.
Great roundup of ball vapes here. Concise and inclusive list of all of the best brands. Great information, Troy!
I would add in the Ball Vapes to Share section that corded ball vapes will provide a better sharing experience then their cordless counterparts due to heat loss once removed from the coil. For the best hit, you will really need to reheat the head between bowls. This is not a problem with corded ball vapes.
Great point Chris, thanks!
I’ll be overhauling this page soon and will definitely include more insights like that
I would like to get the wireless ZXXL, but want to see it in action. Are you planning a Phase3 Wireless ZXXL demonstration?
The Wireless ZXXL looks enticing, but I did not pre-order it.