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, the Mighty Plus, and a couple of other versions of the Volcano. I will get more into the different Volcano versions later in this Volcano Classic vaporizer review.
The Volcano Classic ($479) is one of my highest-rated desktop vaporizers, just behind the Volcano Hybrid. You can click here to check out the Volcano Classic directly from Storz and Bickel. Read my full Volcano Vaporizer Review below with more buying options, coupon codes, and comparisons.
Table of Contents
Volcano Classic Quick Synopsis
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 or Hybrid 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. 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.
Included + Accessories
What’s Included w/ the Volcano Classic
- Volcano Classic Vaporizer
- Easy Valve Filling Chamber
- 5 x Easy Valve Balloons
- 5 x Easy Valve Mouthpieces
- 6 x Easy Valve Screens
- 3 x Easy Valve Clips
- Grinder
- Cleaning Tools
- Concentrate Pads
- Air Filter Set
- Manual
The kits are the same in both the Classic and Hybric Volcano vaporizers. The unit itself is the only thing that changes.
Ease of Use
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 works with the whip system on the new Volcano Hybrid.
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 – Volcano vaporizers are easy to clean, especially if you keep clean out the chamber after each session. Check out a quick cleaning guide down below.
Volcano Vaporizer Cleaning:
- 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,…“
Classic vs Hybrid
Classic vs. Hybrid – 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.
Budget Desktop Options
Budget Desktop Options: If you are still looking for a quality desktop vape but cannot justify the volcano price, I recommend looking at the newly released Arizer XQ2 Vaporizer, which is an upgraded version of the Arizer Extreme-Q. Check out my Arizer XQ2 Review for more info.
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 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 Volcano Classic or the Volcano Hybrid, 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 were 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 much better system if you use concentrates often but still want to use dry herbs as well. Check out my full Ditanium 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.
Buying Options + Coupon Codes
Volcano Classic Review Video
Check out my Volcano Vaporizer Review video on youtube here.
Technical Specs
| Name: | Volcano Classic Vaporizer |
| Manufacturer: | Storz and Bickel |
| Price: | $479 |
| Materials: | Dry Herbs and Concentrates |
| Temp Range: | 226F – 446F (108C – 230C) |
| Heating: | Hybrid |
| Warranty: | 3 Years |
Pros and Cons
Volcano Classic Vaporizer
The Volcano Classic is a dry herb desktop vaporizer made by Storz and Bickel. It uses a fan to fill balloons full of vapor and the newest model, the Hybrid, comes with a whip attachment. It's a bit pricey but it's definitely worth it.
Product Brand: Storz and Bickel
9.5
Pros
- Easy to Use
- A+ Flavor
- Reliable
- Efficient
- Good for Groups
Cons
- Price
- Size
- Noise
- Analog
