VaporFi Stratus Dry Herb Vaporizer Review

Here at BC, we mainly stick to eJuice-only vaporizers because…well, those are the ones that take clearomizers. However, we wouldn’t be a complete source for vaping information without offering insights on all the latest products, like the VaporFi Stratus Dry Herb Vaporizer.

As the name obviously suggests, this vape is intended for use with dry herbs—aka cannabis, unless someone wants to be the first to report actually using tobacco in one of these things. Although the plant resides in a legal gray area, if you feel this review violates your moral sensibilities, feel free to read it again in 5 years or so when the law says it’s okay for everyone. Also, there’s always the chance that someone just really wants to enjoy the essence of steamed lavender or mint with the VaporFi, and those people don’t need your judgement.

In any event, the VaporFi Stratus is designed to “take your vaping to the stratosphere” (see what they did there?) with its internal oven that heats dry herbs without burning. It also features a system of ventilation slots to improve temperature management for its 430 degree maximum output. With a flood of similar personal vaporizer hitting the market since a few states decided they like millions in added tax revenue better than an incalculable number of wasted law enforcement resources, is this latest offering right for you? Find out in today’s VaporFi Stratus Dry Herb Vaporizer Review.

Specs

• Weight: 2.6oz
• Battery: Non-removable 2200 mAh li-polymer battery
• Colors: Black or Red
• Temperature Range: 350°F – 430°F
• 100-240V USB Wall Charger Adapter

What’s New- VaporFi Stratus Dry Herb Vaporizer

The VaporFi Stratus Dry Herb Vaporizer takes a few steps up from its predecessor the Orbit with a high visibility OLED display and battery level display. The VaporFi Stratus also features temperature control from a minimum level of 350F to a maximum temperature of 430F for clean, efficient dry herb vaporization.

Power Source

Unlike tabletop models, the VaporFi Stratus Dry Herb Vaporizer is totally cordless during operation, drawing its power from an internal 2200 mAh battery. An included USB charger brings the VaporFi Stratus to full power in about 2.5 hours, and the Stratus also includes a wall adapter in case you don’t carry a laptop around.

Temperature Control

The temperature control feature of the VaporFi Stratus Dry Herb Vaporizer allows precision control over the heating element, allowing adjustment from 350F to 430F in increments of a single degree. Do you like your dry herb vapor at 408 or 409? The Stratus empowers you to find out how discerning your dry herb tastes can be.

Performance

The VaporFi Stratus exhibits an impressive level of performance, with thick, dense clouds of vapor produced on the majority of pulls. The Stratus delivers a good level of medication with a minimal amount of dry herb, so it’s an outstanding investment for those who tend to burn through their supply faster than intended. Trust us, if you don’t feel the intended effect with the Stratus, you need to speak with the salesperson.

The interface of the Stratus is easy to use, with the OLED screen and simple controls creating a device that’s practically ready for liftoff right out of the box. We (almost) mean literally: The VaporFi heats up to vaping temperature in about a minute, which is about as fast as any portable dry herb vaporizer currently available. The temperature control feature of the VaporFi Stratus is highly accurate, and we definitely enjoyed the ability to fine tune the temperature of the device down to 1 degree.

Build Quality

One of the biggest weaknesses of VaporFi’s previous personal dry herb vape, the Orbit, was its relatively large size. While it wasn’t a huge device overall, it was significantly less streamlined than other popular dry herb vapes like the Pax and Snoop Foreman’s G-Pen.

VaporFi addressed this disadvantage with the Stratus, giving it a significantly smaller profile that is lightweight without feeling overly cheap, though we wonder if plastic was the best choice here. You probably won’t pass it down to your firstborn, but the VaporFi Stratus should hold up just fine for many a flight.

The capacity of the Stratus’ oven is about 1.5g, which is sufficient for a good session. Stealth is another fairly important facet of design with devices like this, and the VaporFi Stratus only vaguely resembles what it actually is. In the hand, you may be able to pass it off as a retro-chic mp3 player or a really funky inhaler, although during use a mild and quickly dissipating aroma of dry herbs may fill the immediate area so your explanation may suffer at that point.

We Would Have Liked to See…

While the VaporFi Stratus is a solid device overall, a few shortcomings keep it from standing as the best option for portable dry herb vaporization on the market. One area that will draw mixed reviews is the choice of material used.

While the plastic type used for the main body of this dry herb vape certainly seems durable enough to withstand normal wear and tear, we’re not sure how it would hold up to an impact event or other accidental build-testing experience. The metallic ring near the top is a good example of this, as we could see where it won’t always be there (even though it doesn’t serve any real purpose). It’s a bit like having a shot glass made of fine crystal: it’ll probably hold up fine as long as you’re reasonably sober.

Another issue is a minor flaw in the design of the VaporFi Stratus. Like the rest of the device, the mouthpiece is made of plastic, and in order to access the chamber and fill it with dry herbs, you must first press it down. Such an obvious point of eventual failure should probably be made of a hardier material, but as long as everything’s up to code, the Stratus works just great.

Overview

The bottom line is that the VaporFi Stratus Dry Herb Vaporizer is an excellent product for its price point. Simple operation, precision temperature control and efficient herb use with a potent punch are a winning recipe for this type of device, and the Stratus delivers on all these fronts. We can recommend it as a top-flight introduction to dry herb vaping for users who still regularly burn their dry herbs like cave men.

For users who already own a high quality portable dry herb vape, the VaporFi Stratus probably won’t give you anything you don’t already have. While solid in both form and function, it doesn’t outdo any of the other top dry herb vapes on the market. While it’s a good upgrade from the basics, those making a lateral move won’t find anything new.

Overall, the VaporFi Stratus is an outstanding value at around $100, and shows off performance comparable to dry herb vapes costing double or more, so those are reasons to appreciate it. Also, this review was a singular opportunity to massively overuse the phrase “dry herb,” which nobody but vape manufacturers and cooking show hosts use, so that was fun.

As for less glowing aspects, the build quality could be improved slightly and dry herb vaping veterans won’t find much to be fascinated with. Nevertheless, for the balance of price and possibilities, the Stratus may just be the portable dry herb vaporizer’s grand entry into the mainstream. Thanks for your time, and dry herbs to all our loyal readers.