Volcano Classic Vaporizer Review – Still worth the money?

Updated: March 5, 2024
Editors Note: Storz And Bickel have launched a newer, digital version of this Vaporizer: The Volcano Hybrid.

Released way back in 1999, the original Volcano desktop vaporizer has truly reshaped the scene and was one of the most pivotal advancements in herb consumption technology. Made in Germany by Storz & Bickel, the Volcano Classic has not only been a fan favorite for two decades. Though new advancements have been made in the form of the Volcano Digit and new Volcano Hybrid, we review the Volcano Classic to see how it stands up even today!

The Volcano Classic while very useful for some vapor sessions, the unit itself is considered a 1rst generation vaporizer. Over the years leading companies have been introducing newer generations that are geared toward more portable devices that can generate similar vapor production as a desktop vaporizer. These dynamics slowly lowered the popularity of stationary vaporizers in favor of portable vaporizers.

If this is your first foray into the world of vaporization, check out our vapor vs smoke demonstration for a cool sneak peek of the potential effects of both when inhaled!

Review: Volcano Classic

Classic Volcano Vaporizer Review

Classic Volcano Vaporizer heating coilsHow it Works – Revisiting the Volcano Classic

The Volcano Classic takes quite a while to heat up, so turn it on and choose your heat setting. Remove the chamber and pack it full of fluffy, ground herb and wait for the device to finish warming up.

Attach a balloon before starting the pump. Once the balloon fills up with sweet vapor, remove it and either turn off the fan or add another bag. At that point you’re basically set!

Classic Volcano Vaporizer mouth pieceVapor Quality – Is the Volcano Classic still a top contender? 

Hands down the Volcano has set the standard for vapor quality since its conception and still today sets the bar quite high. While the classic is now overshadowed by its brother, the Volcano Hybrid, it still pumps out dense, flavorful, and very potent vapor, even when compared to newer albeit lower priced options such as the Arizer XQ2.

Very good extraction and top notch vapor which is smooth and easily to inhale are trademarks of the Volcano classic and there’s a good reason why it still is highly regarded even today. While not the best of the best anymore, it’s still up there and by no means a slouch.

Classic Volcano Vaporizer front displayManufacturing Quality – Is the Volcano Classic still built strong? 

Not a single vaporizer has stood the test of time as well as the Volcano has. Any Volcano vaporizer review on the internet will always mention the sheer durability of these things. The legendary Storz and Bickel build quality has been part of why the company grew to such size and dominance in the market. There are huge amounts of stories from users who report their unit lasting over 10 years and some which just leave the device turned on permanently, never turning it off. Sounds like madness, but it’s a testament to how well they’re built. The build quality is expected due to the price tag. That being said, I believe that the price is well worth it considering vaporizers help you save money by being more efficient at vaporizing herbs. Enough to pay back for themselves.

The kit Storz & Bickel includes is enough to get you going to, featuring the device itself, herb chamber,  5 balloons, easy valve adapter and mouthpiece, herb grinder, screens, Volcano drip pad, cleaning brush, user manual, and air filter. Professional, German, and well built, you’ll be more than satisfied with the complete kit.

Classic Volcano Vaporizer power controlTemperature Flexibility – Dialing in  your temperatures. 

While the Volcano Classic doesn’t have incremental temperature control, the dial serves well to tune your temperature.

Higher the dial – the hotter the vapor is. Most people vaporizer around a 7-8 but it all comes down to preference.

Classic Volcano Vaporizer in useEase of Use – How easy is the Volcano Classic to Use? 

The Volcano Classic is super simple to use. Turn it on, load up the chamber, let the balloon fill and inhale! Sure it takes a couple sessions to get the routine down, but the Volcano does very well once you nail it and provides consistent results. Inhaling herb from a bag seems strange, but it makes passing off to friends and strangers incredibly easy too!

Unlike the Volcano Hybrid or Extreme Q vaporizer, the Classic is only usable with a balloon and offers no whip support so just keep that in mind. While the balloons do need replacing every couple of months, we’ve found that getting a Volcano bag roll for some quick and easy DIY balloons is pretty inexpensive.

On the same note, cleaning is very simple as the herb chamber and screens only get marginally dirty and the cleaning brush does great at keeping things clean. Even neglected, the Volcano performs incredibly well, but its always best to stay on top of cleaning!

Classic Volcano Vaporizer reachReach – Will the Volcano Classic be the life of the party? 

The Volcano is a great device for vaporizing cannabis if you have a few friends over. It can easily satisfy up to 3 or 4 people at once. In fact, the Volcano can easily be the life of the party and the perfect talking piece.

Where the Volcano falls a bit short is for single user sessions. Storz however has developed a solution for this in the form of the Volcano EASY VALVE  filling chamber reducer, making the Volcano Classic viable for solo sessions.

Something to take into consideration when talking about devices that use this bag system is that the vapor inside tends to get stale if not consumed close to immediately. Newer generations of vaporizers have steered away from the bag system for reasons like these.

Classic Volcano Vaporizer full kitOverall Experience – Still a beast 20 years later

You’d never think a device unchanged since 1999 still kicks as hard as modern marvels, but that’s exactly what the Volcano Classic does.

For its retail price, it’s a costly kit but still performs exceedingly well. Sure, it’s beaten by both the Volcano Digit, Volcano Hybrid, and other units by other companies, but you really won’t be disappointed at all.

While the Volcano bags will eventually need replacing after about 500 refills, these things last forever and we’re sure yours will be the same if you pick one up. Still a viable choice in today’s market, if a bargain price pops up, don’t hesitate to pick it up!

If our Volcano vape review hasn’t convinced you to pick a Volcano up and you want something more portable, you may want to take a look at something like the Utillian 722, it can rival the Volcano’s vapor production at a fraction of the size while still being a convection style vaporizer.

To see a full list of the best convection vaporizers on the market check our article here.

Warning: Not Compatible with ZEUS Iceborn
This vaporizer is not compatible with the ZEUS Iceborn, a revolutionary new vapor cooling system designed to produce cooler draws and bigger clouds when connected to your vaporizer. The ZEUS Iceborn adds an additional 2 points to the vapor quality score of compatible units, so we highly recommend considering a whip-compatible vaporizer to take advantage of this stellar ZEUS accessory item. All compatible vaporizers will have a compatibility notice.

Thank you for reading today’s Classic Volcano Review.  As usual feel free to leave your comments or questions in the section below. Remember, you can do so anonymously! :)TorontoV Team

Score 8.5 Great

Pros

  • +

    Easy to use - ideal for beginners.

  • +

    Able to satisfy multiple users at once, acting as a great conversation starter during gatherings.

  • +

    High-class vapor quality - Offers dense, flavorful, and potent vapor.

  • +

    Premium build quality offers durability and a long lifespan.

  • +

    Comes with a full starter set, including balloons, a grinder, and other necessary accessories, offering good value.

Cons

  • -

    Lacks precise temperature control, offering only 8 pre-set temperature settings, which might not suit everyone's preferences.

  • -

    Takes a considerable amount of time to heat up.

  • -

    Bulky and non-portable - lacking the portability that newer generation vaporizers offer.

  • 8.5
Share.
About Author
Avatar for Alex Karakatsanis

Alex is a cannabis enthusiast, long time vaporizer lover, writer and filmmaker. He is also a board and video game nerd with a penchant for hosting a weekly board game night. Partygoers have been heard saying things like “is anyone else going to show up?” and “I don’t think I can make it next week”. He strives to make people laugh at every opportunity and sees cannabis as a helpful tool in doing so.

The reviews and ratings are based on personal and decade-plus of industry experience. Such content is based on the opinion of the Editor/Author. They are solely provided as a basis for research and should be used only as guidance. We encourage thorough research by all visitors to attain the most objective viewpoint before purchasing.