Volcano Classic Vaporizer Review

The Volcano Classic is a desktop vaporizer made by Storz and Bickel and one of my highest-rated desktop vaporizers. It’s built extremely well, produces top-tier vapor quality (taste, temp, density), and it’s one of the easiest to use.

Storz and Bickel make a few other vaporizers, including the new Crafty Plus (Crafty+ Review), the Mighty Plus (Mighty+ Review), and a couple of other versions of the Volcano. I will get more into the different Volcano versions later on in this Volcano Classic vaporizer review. I also have a full video review at the bottom of the article.

A CLASSIC for two decades… Not much has changed since the Volcano was first sold back in 2000. The biggest change is the fact that you can only get the Easy Valve system now. Other than that, it still uses basically the same internals and offers the same features. A power switch that turns on the heater, an analog turn dial for temperature control, and a fan switch to force air into a turkey bag or “balloon.”

My few complaints with the Volcano Classic are that it does take a few minutes to heat up, and the bags need to be replaced often if you are a heavier user like yours truly. Also, the fan and the bags are pretty loud. You couldn’t blow up a bag without someone in the other room knowing about it.

I’ve been running a version of the Volcano (Classic, Digit, Hybrid, Gold Edition) daily for over a decade myself, and I’ve only ever had one issue. The power switch went out, and they had it fixed and back to me in under a week.

If you’re looking for a desktop vaporizer to satisfy all your at-home dry herb vaporizing needs, look no further than the Volcano Classic vape. Like I said earlier, Storz and Bickel offer a couple of different versions of the Volcano, which I’ll get more into down below, but you honestly can’t go wrong with any of them. Read on below for my full Volcano Classic Vaporizer Review.

What Included with Volcano Classic

The kits are the same in both the Classic and Digit Volcano vaporizers. The unit itself is the only thing that changes. The Gold Edition Classic vaporizer is the same as well but with a 24k Gold Plated shell.

Easy Valve Filling Chamber System

The Easy Valve system is a maintenance-free design. It offers a single, replaceable balloon size. They last me anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on how much herb I’m vaping and if I clear out the bag every time.

Volcano Fan-Assist

The Volcano uses a forced-air system to fill balloons and even work with the whip system on the new Volcano Hybrid. It also has a couple of different versions to choose from, the Digit and the Classic. I have the Volcano Classic, but I’ll go ahead and explain the features for both of them.

S&B Volcano Vaporizers

The Volcano vaporizers are the best desktop vaporizers that you can buy. They are long-lasting, safe, and backed by an excellent warranty. They also offer excellent customer service which is something of a rarity in this day in age.

If you don’t have a budget for a desktop vaporizer, I recommend going straight for the Hybrid. It’s the best, the newest, and offers the most features, including a new whip system.

If you decide you don’t need all the features the Hybrid offers like quicker heat-up times, quicker fill times, and a digital temperature display for precise control, the Volcano Classic is, by all means, everything you need. The hybrid redesigned the filling chamber and it honestly adds a bit more conduction to the hybrid system. I feel like the old classic offers more of a convection heating system which slightly improves the flavor.

The Gold is more of a connoisseur’s vaporizer and maybe the perfect vaporizer for “Goldmember”. “I loveeee gollllllldd”. They sent me on out with a nice note and man is it a beautiful vaporizer, but it’s exactly the same function-wise as the regular Volcano Vaporizer. This is definitely the vape to flex with and bring over to a party with all your friends. Believe me, when I say, everyone will love the look of the Gold Classic Vaporizer.

The bottom line is you can’t make a wrong choice. You will enjoy any of these vaporizers, just as I have for a decade. Read more about each of the Volcano vaporizers below.

Volcano Classic

The Volcano Classic is the analog version of the Volcano vaporizer, and it retails for $479. You don’t get the digital temperature display, but the turn dial is still straightforward to use and allows you to set the unit’s temperature ranging from one to nine. 1 is the lowest temperature setting, and 9 is the highest.

My favorite way to vape with the classic is to start the first few bags on 5 and end the last one on level 7.

Like I mentioned above, the Classic Volcano has stood the test of time and while it might not have all the fancy features, it doesn’t exactly what you need it to do, which is get you medicated safely and quickly. The Volcano vaporizer is by far my most used vaporizer and has been for the last 10 years.

Volcano Digit (Discontinued)

It looks like Storz and Bickel have stopped selling the Volcano Digit. The newer version of this vaporizer is the Volcano Hybrid which I talk more about below. The Digit was the upgraded version of the classic vaporizer offering a digital temperature display with precise temp control and an auto-shutoff timer that I wasn’t really a fan of. You can still find this vaporizer for sale out in the wild but proceed with caution because people will be trying to offload not only legit ones but fakes as well. Hit me up with any questions or concerns down in the comments below.

The new Hybrid lets you change the auto-shutoff timer via the Storz and Bickel app. One of the perks of the Volcano is always having it on ready to go. The Hybrid also heats up in about 30 seconds. The Digit took over two minutes to get to temp. Again, not a huge deal but now we don’t have to deal with it.

Volcano Classic Gold Edition

First things first, the Classic Volcano and the Gold Edition Classic Volcano are the same, minus the 24k Gold Plating. They use the same filling chamber, same balloons, same internals, everything.

The Volcano Classic GOLD EDITION retails for $599, which is the same price as the Classic Volcano Digital version. Click the link for a full breakdown, including the history of how the Volcano vaporizer came to be.

Volcano Hybrid

The Volcano Hybrid Vaporizer is the newest upgraded version of the Volcano vaporizer, and it’s honestly my most used vaporizer of any I’ve tested. It heats up much faster, offers precise temp control, and now comes with a whip option!

I wasn’t sure about the whip at first, but it’s honestly a game-changer. The amount of vapor I can get through the whip with the fan assist is almost too much. You can also use the whip without the fan if that’s not your thing, but I’m extremely happy with the new system either way. I’ve also been having a lot of fun using the whip with a glass bubbler at home.

Volcano Classic vs. Hybrid

I like the Volcano Hybrid over the Classic Volcano because of the quick heat-up times and fast filling balloons. I know it doesn’t make that big of a difference when you’re at home, but it’s nice to be able to get in a quick session without having to wait for the Volcano to heat up.

The digital display and big temp buttons allow for precise control over the temperatures you are vaping at and the S&B app allows you to adjust all kinds of settings, like auto-shutoff times or turning on the Hybrid vape with your phone (Android Only). You can do it with the Storz and Bickel web app as well.

Price is the biggest difference here while you don’t need all the bells and whistles the Hybrid offers, they sure are nice. In the end, my Volcano Classic has been running pretty much all day every day for the better part of 10 years. It’s still going strong to this day.

Hybrid Whip + Classic Volcano

Does the Hybrid whip work with the Classic Volcano? The whip DOES work with the Classic Volcano, but it doesn’t secure down the same way and could fall off while in use. The Hybrid Filling Chamber is completely redesigned, and it’s similar to the Plenty vaporizer now. So you can make it work, but it’s much better with the new Hybrid chamber system.

All in all, I recommend giving my Volcano Hybrid Review a look before you pull the trigger on the Classic.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Volcano Cleaning Frequency

I honestly clean my filling chamber once every couple of weeks. I’ve even gone over a month without cleaning anything. I don’t recommend this, especially if you value vapor taste, but it can basically function forever. It’s important to note that I brush out the chamber and the screen on the mouthpiece after every session. This helps keep everything cleaner for longer.

How To Clean the Volcano

• Heat your Volcano. Higher temps work best.
• Place your empty filling chamber on top of the heating element.
• Turn on the fan and let it run for about 20 seconds.
• Turn off the fan and remove the filling chamber.
• From here, you can use a paper towel or q-tip to wipe out all the debris.

If you have an extremely dirty filling chamber, you can place the bowl and screens in some isopropyl alcohol for 30 minutes or so and then clean them off. Make sure everything is completely dry before you use it again.

Warranty Info

The Volcano Classic, Volcano Digit (digital), and the Easy Valve filling chamber are covered for three years from defects in materials and workmanship.

From Storz and Bickel: “Company warrants solely to the original purchaser of the Products that for the warranty period” (36 months), “the Products will be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use,…“

Volcano Vaporizer Review Wrap-Up

Overall, if you’re in the market for a desktop vaporizer with a proven name and track record, the Volcano Classic is your best bet. Whether you choose the Classic, the Digit, the Volcano Hybrid, or the new Gold Edition, you can’t go wrong.

Three words to describe the Volcano vaporizers… simple, reliable, and consistent. They just work, and they work well.

Concentrate Use: The only reason I wouldn’t get the Volcano is if I would be using a lot of concentrates. It does work with the included mesh pad, but it’s definitely not the best. I would recommend something like the Ditanium. The Ditanium is a is a much better system if you use concentrates often but still want to use dry herbs as well. Check out my full Ditanium desktop vaporizer review and hit me up with any questions. I’ll be making a Ditanium vs Volcano Hybrid comparison article here soon and will update this article when it’s complete.

Classic vs. Hybrid vs. Gold, what would the Wizard do? If you don’t care about the faster heat up time, quicker fill times, Bluetooth options, on vape digital display with temp adjustments, or the new whip system, basically all the bells and whistles, then go with the Volcano Classic. When it comes down to it they basically function the same way and produce similar results.

If you enjoy the finer things in life and get excited about the bells and whistles (like yours truly), go straight for the Hybrid. The whip system is a nice addition and a good alternative to using the bags. Sometimes it’s just easier to fill a chamber and use the whip, especially if you’re trying to conserve herb and not fill an entire balloon.

Just to be clear, this is more than likely the only desktop vaporizer you will ever need, or want to buy. So keep that in mind when deciding between the Hybrid and Classic. Over time, I think you will truly come to enjoy the quicker heat-up times, faster fill times, and ease of use when it comes to changing temps.

I would, however, take a peek at my Gold Edition Volcano Classic article. She is most definitely a beaut.

Budget Desktop Options: If you are still looking for a quality desktop vape but cannot justify the volcano price, I recommend looking at the Extreme Q review, a “multi-use” desktop vaporizer, and the newly released Arizer XQ2 Vaporizer which is an upgraded version of the Arizer Extreme-Q.

It offers both a balloon and a whip option. I don’t feel like it offers anywhere near the same vapor quality as the Volcano, and it has a few design flaws, but it is less expensive. You can also check out my buying guide for the best desktop vaporizers for more at-home vape options.

If you think you might want a portable vaporizer instead of a desktop, check out my Mighty+ vaporizer review. Storz and Bickel also make the Mighty, and a lot of people jokingly call it the portable Volcano because of the rock-solid performance and consistency, which portables are not generally known for.

Volcano Classic Review Video

Check out my Volcano Vaporizer Review video on youtube here.

Volcano Classic Vaporizer

The Volcano Classic is a dry herb desktop vaporizer made by Storz and Bickel. It's also featured in a 24KT Gold Version.

Product Brand: Storz and Bickel

Editor's Rating:
9.5