Overview
The Inhalater is a discontinued portable dry herb vaporizer that was manufactured by a Canadian company and sold primarily through eBay and the manufacturer's website. The original Inhalater portable, which appeared around 2010, was an externally heated flame-powered vaporizer that used an alcohol lamp or lighter as its heat source. The device later evolved into a battery-powered electronic portable vaporizer (sometimes referred to informally as the Inhalater XP or later revisions), which gained a more substantial following within the vaporizer community. The battery-powered version featured electronic temperature control and a larger herb chamber compared to many competing portables of its era.
The original flame-powered model utilized external convection-style heating, while the later electronic versions employed a hybrid heating approach with battery power. The Inhalater occupied a unique niche in the portable vaporizer market during the early-to-mid 2010s, retailing at approximately $250 USD — a premium price point that placed it in direct competition with devices like the Pax and Arizer Solo.
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Type | Portable dry herb vaporizer |
| Heating Method | Original: external flame (alcohol lamp/lighter); Later versions: electronic (hybrid) |
| Power Source | Original: alcohol lamp or lighter (Zippo compatible); Later: rechargeable battery |
| Dimensions | Approximately 5.75" × 1.25" (original model) |
| Chamber Material | Polyimide (high-temperature organic resin) |
| Mouthpiece Material | Polyimide |
| Chamber Capacity | Larger than the Arizer Solo; accommodated users who found the Solo's bowl too small |
| Retail Price | ~$250 USD |
| Accessories | Glass capsules, alcohol lamp (included with original), carrying case |
| Manufacturer Location | Canada |
| Status | Discontinued |
Polyimide, the material used for the herb chamber and mouthpiece, was noted by the manufacturer and early reviewers for its outstanding thermal stability, dielectric strength, mechanical strength, temperature stability, and chemical resistance. Community members noted that it was commonly used in medical devices, lending credibility to its safety profile.
Community Reception
Community reception of the Inhalater was mixed, reflecting both genuine appreciation from owners and skepticism from those who questioned its value proposition.
Positive sentiment centered on several key aspects:
- Build quality: Early reviewers described the construction as "very well made," praising the use of polyimide and the overall fit and finish of the device.
- Portability: The original model was praised for its compact size, fitting easily into a pocket "without a huge bulge," comparing favorably in this regard to devices like the Vapman.
- Chamber capacity: Users who found the Arizer Solo's chamber "ridiculously small" specifically sought out the Inhalater for its larger bowl, which could hold roughly double the material. This was one of the device's most frequently cited advantages.
- Vapor quality: The Inhalater was generally regarded as one of the better-performing portables available during its market tenure, with at least one community member noting it was "apparently the best portable" during a period in late 2012 to early 2013.
Criticisms and concerns included:
- Price: At $250, several community members felt the device was overpriced. One member expressed the view that companies should "focus more on affordable portables," noting that competing devices like the Launch Box, VaporGenie, and Lotus were available at around $100 or less. Another member's reaction to the price was simply: "Sounds like a lot for a lighter based vape."
- Complexity: The original flame-powered model was criticized as "too complicated for its own good," particularly given that simpler and cheaper alternatives existed.
- Accessory availability: Glass capsules for the Inhalater were only available from the manufacturer in Canada, causing frustration for US-based users who did not want to deal with international shipping delays. At least one community member actively sought domestic US sources for spare capsules.
- Limited ownership overlap: Because the Inhalater and its direct competitors (especially the Pax) occupied similar price points and use cases, community members noted that there was relatively little overlap in ownership, making head-to-head comparisons difficult to find. As one well-known community member observed, "You won't find a lot of overlap because these are so similar."
Overall, the community regarded the Inhalater as a capable performer that was somewhat overshadowed by more widely adopted competitors and hampered by limited availability and a premium price tag.
Tips & Techniques
Community-shared tips were relatively sparse given the device's niche status, but several practical insights emerged:
Loading:
- The Inhalater's larger chamber compared to devices like the Solo made it suitable for users with higher consumption needs. Community members who found the Solo insufficient specifically praised the Inhalater's capacity.
Heat Source (Original Flame Model):
- The included alcohol lamp was recommended for home use.
- For portable use, one early reviewer recommended using a Zippo lighter filled with 91% isopropyl alcohol rather than standard butane or Zippo fluid. The rationale was that isopropyl alcohol burns cleanly and "doesn't create any nasty looking soot on the unit," which was a common issue when using butane or conventional lighter fuel.
Glass Capsules:
- The Inhalater utilized glass capsules that served as the herb containment system. Users were advised to keep spares on hand, as these were only available from the manufacturer in Canada and shipping could be slow.
Temperature Guide
Detailed temperature data specific to the Inhalater was limited in community discussions. The later electronic versions offered temperature control, but specific community-agreed sweet spots were not extensively documented in the available threads.
General community guidance for portable vaporizers of this era suggested:
- Low temperatures (180–190°C / 356–374°F): Best for flavor preservation and lighter effects.
- Medium temperatures (190–200°C / 374–392°F): Balanced extraction of flavor and active compounds.
- Higher temperatures (200–210°C+ / 392–410°F+): Maximum extraction and denser vapor, at the cost of flavor.
For comparison, community members noted that the Pax's lowest setting was 185°C / 365°F, which was considered by some to be already too high for optimal flavor preservation — suggesting that users who prioritized taste may have preferred the Inhalater's potentially wider temperature range, though specific temperature settings for the Inhalater's electronic version were not detailed in the available discussions.
Maintenance & Cleaning
Specific maintenance protocols for the Inhalater were not extensively documented in the reviewed community threads. General best practices for devices of this type would include:
- Regular cleaning of the polyimide chamber and mouthpiece to prevent residue buildup.
- Cleaning of the glass capsules, which were integral to the device's function.
- For the original flame-powered model, periodic cleaning of the exterior to remove any soot that might accumulate from butane or lighter fuel use (this was specifically why one reviewer recommended using isopropyl alcohol as fuel instead).
Common Issues & Fixes
Accessory sourcing difficulties: The most commonly reported frustration was obtaining replacement glass capsules, which were only available from the Canadian manufacturer. US-based users experienced delays with international shipping. The community solution was to seek capsules from fellow users domestically, though this was not always successful.
Soot buildup (original model): When using butane lighters or standard Zippo fuel with the original flame-powered model, soot would accumulate on the exterior. The recommended fix was to switch to a Zippo filled with 91% isopropyl alcohol, which burned cleanly.
General reliability concerns: At least one prospective buyer specifically asked about "reliability/quality of the vaporizer in the long run," suggesting this was a consideration for the community, though detailed long-term reliability reports were not extensively documented in the available threads.
Accessories & Modifications
- Alcohol lamp: Included with the original flame-powered model for home use.
- Glass capsules: Essential accessories for the Inhalater, serving as the herb containment system. These were sourced from the manufacturer in Canada.
- Zippo lighter: Recommended by the community as the preferred portable heat source for the original model, ideally filled with 91% isopropyl alcohol for clean burning.
No community modifications such as water pipe adapter (WPA) setups or third-party accessory compatibility were documented in the available discussions.
Comparisons
The Inhalater was most frequently compared to three contemporaneous portables:
Inhalater vs. Arizer Solo
One community member characterized the comparison as choosing between fundamentally different use cases: "One is a pocket vape for stealth vaping. The other is half portable-half home vape." The Solo was widely regarded as excellent for vapor quality (with some community members calling it "as good as a desktop vape"), but its smaller chamber capacity and restrictive draw were cited as significant drawbacks by users who preferred the Inhalater. One Solo owner described its capacity as "ridiculously small" and specifically sought the Inhalater for its approximately double chamber size. The Solo lacked stealth credentials compared to the more pocketable Inhalater.
Inhalater vs. Pax
Both devices were priced at $250 and targeted the discreet portable market, which a community member noted meant "you won't find a lot of overlap" in ownership. The Pax was criticized for flavor performance — its lowest temperature setting of 185°C / 365°F was considered too high by taste-conscious users, and its continuously heated oven caused flavor to deteriorate faster and generated more odor. The Pax was noted to add "its own note to the flavour," described as "not unpleasant, just different." The Pax excelled at thorough extraction at higher temperatures (capable of turning ABV "nearly black") but at significant taste cost. Users prioritizing discretion for use in cars or similar settings considered both devices viable, though direct comparative data from dual owners was scarce.
Inhalater vs. Budget Portables (Launch Box, VaporGenie, Lotus)
Community skeptics questioned the Inhalater's value proposition relative to these budget alternatives, all priced at approximately $100 or less. The argument was that these devices "work great" for portability needs, and spending $250 on the Inhalater was difficult to justify. Supporters of the Inhalater countered implicitly by pointing to its build quality, chamber capacity, and overall performance capabilities.
Inhalater vs. ThermoVape T1
The ThermoVape T1 appeared in comparison discussions alongside the Inhalater, Solo, and Pax, though detailed head-to-head analysis was limited. At least one community member who already owned a ThermoVape Revolution considered purchasing the T1 conversion kit as an alternative to the Inhalater.