SLX Grinder
The SLX was already the best grinder around, and the V2.5 (Released early 2020) makes it even better. It retains all the positives of the original while improving the build quality. It has a smooth grinding action that does not require any effort, it grinds the herbs to a perfectly fluffy consistency, and it never needs to be cleaned. So, regardless of which kind of vaporizer you have, the SLX will be the perfect companion for it.
Zeus Bolt 2 Grinder
The Zeus Bolt 2 is an appealing choice for vapers that are looking for a low-cost grinder. It has a smooth grinding action and shreds down the herbs consistently. The scoop and the carrying bag are nice additional features that can be useful especially if you're traveling. However, this grinder needs to be cleaned more often than other manual grinders.
Tectonic9
The Tectonic9 is a manual grinder with an electronic dispensing action that makes it easy to use while keeping it portable-friendly. The grind consistency was good, and you can drop the herbs directly into your vaporizer. However, the additional complications involved with operating this grinder, plus the fact that it needs to be charged, means that it is not for everyone.
Space Case Grinder
Space Case grinders have a solid reputation because of their build quality and durability. They do an excellent job of grinding down dry herb, but you'll need to clean out the grinder afterward, which can be a hassle. They're also on the expensive side, and if you can afford it, then this grinder can serve you for years.
Santa Cruz Shredder
The Santa Cruz Shredder is one of the better grinders I've used because of how simple it is to use and how efficient the grind is. It's pretty expensive, though, and it involves more cleaning than I like. Despite those problems, it's easy to admire how well-engineered this grinder is when you use it. It turns super smooth, and the consistency is perfect for vaping.
Herb/Weed Grinders Buying Guide
What are Herb/Weed Grinders?
Herb grinders, aka weed grinders, do exactly as they say, they grind up the herb into a vaporizer-friendly consistency. This is necessary since large nugs won’t fit into most vaporizers and even if they could, they won’t get vaporized completely. Grinders can be either manual or electric, each of which has their pros and cons that we’ll get into later. However, I can tell you now that the grinder is the most important accessory to any vaporizer because you can’t use the vaporizer without it. So, now that you know that, let’s take a closer look at herb grinders.
Why Is It Important To Use a Good Grinder?
A grinder will break down the herb and give it a greater surface area so that it better fills the oven of the vaporizer. This allows the oven to evenly heat the herb, which improves the flavor and vapor production of the herb. Thoroughly ground herb also provides a better high because the terpenes and cannabinoids present in the herb are released more efficiently. Well ground herb also improves the airflow of the vaporizer and makes it easier to access the vapor because the heated air can pass through the ground-up herb more easily.
Manual VS Electric Grinders
Manual or electric is the main concern here since they are the two types of weed grinders from which to choose . Manual grinders require some elbow grease of course, but they are pretty easy to use and they have a few advantages:
- You never have to worry if they are charged or not
- They include their own receptacle to catch and distribute the ground herb
- The good ones rarely, if ever, need cleaning
- Most of them include kief catchers to collect some of the most potent parts of the herb
- They are more portable-friendly than electric grinders
Electric grinders are not as popular as manual grinders since they don’t perform as many of the same functions as manual grinders do. Plus they are more high-maintenance since they need to be cleaned and charged regularly. Still, they do have a few advantages over manual grinders:
- Can be easily used by anyone
- It’s a little easier to calibrate the consistency of the grind
Overall, manual grinders are the way to go, even for newbie vapers. Electric grinders should only be used by people who have trouble using manual grinders.
FAQs
Yes. Unground weed won’t fit inside the herb chambers of most vaporizers and even if it does, it won’t get vaped evenly. That will create an extremely sub-par vaping experience.
In most cases, a fine consistency is the best because it creates a bigger surface area that is conducive to a quality vaping experience. However, there are some vaporizers that work better with a medium grind because herb that’s ground too fine can clog up the airpath.
Manual weed grinders don’t need to be cleaned because the grinding area is a non-stick surface so no residue can get stuck to it after the ground weed has been removed. Electric grinders do need to be cleaned since weed residue can get stuck to the blades of the grinder.
Kief is the more common moniker for the trichomes found on the cannabis plants’ resin glands. They are among the most THC-rich parts of the plant but they are so fine that it is possible for them to pass through the holes of the grinder and get left behind when the rest of the weed gets vaped. In manual grinders, a kief catcher is a fine mesh screen that catches the kief so that it can be used. Some vapers sprinkle the kief over the ground herb to create a more potent vaping experience.
In general, manual grinders are better because they are more functional and more portable than electric grinders. However, if it is not possible for you to operate a manual grinder, then you should get an electric one.
Glossary
- Dry herb vaporizer – A device that heats up—but does not burn—weed to create a vapor that is inhaled by the user.
- Draw resistance – The amount of effort required to inhale from the mouthpiece of a vaporizer. Low draw resistance requires very little effort on the part of the user while high draw resistance means the user has to inhale harder.
- Teeth – In manual grinders, the teeth are what do the grinding. They can be diamond or trapezoid-shaped and they come in numbers that range between twenty and thirty.
- Chambers – These are the number of pieces that constitute a manual grinder. The minimum number of chambers is two and the maximum is four.
- Kief – Very fine particulates on the surface of the cannabis plant. They have a higher concentration of THC than the rest of the plant.
