Arizer Air 2 vs Crafty – Top Tier Bout

I’ve been using the Arizer Air 2 a lot lately for comparisons, and one thing that I’ve noticed is that the airflow is better than I initially gave it credit for. I think something must have been blocking an air path before, because when I first started testing it the draw restriction was barely any better than it was with the original Air.

Typically, a manufacturer will calibrate a vaporizer to have a heavier draw restriction to make up for a weaker heater. More airflow means more temperature drop during every draw, which requires a bigger heater to offset.

That’s always been one of the best features of the Crafty+ (and Mighty). The airflow is almost wide open. When comparing the Crafty and Air 2, I have to admit I was a little impressed by the Air 2 considering my originally neutral feelings about the airflow. With that being said, it’s still not as open as the Crafty.

They both have great vapor in general, but the full convection heating of the Crafty delivers better flavor. You’d think the Air 2 would have smoother vapor thanks to the glass stem, but the Crafty has a cooling feature built into the mouthpiece area that allows it to match the Air 2 here.

We’re talking about exceptional vapor from either here, but the Crafty is clearly the better option in this department.

The Air 2 has the benefit of being much newer than the Crafty, so the engineering and features are all significantly updated. You’d think that would make it the default winner, but that’s not the case. Storz and Bickel, the manufacturers of the Crafty, are known for making some of the most well-made vaporizers ever, including the Volcano.

The main advantages of the Air 2 are the digital screen with full temperature control and the removable battery. The screen is nice because it makes it very easy to customize your vaping experience. The removeable battery is nice because you can expand your battery life and avoid potential vaporizer failure due to a malfunctioning battery that can’t be removed.

The Crafty is just well made across the board. It doesn’t have a digital screen, but you can still control the temperature from the Crafty app. There are two levels you set, your base temperature and your boost. When you turn on the device, it will heat to the base. If you want to bump up the temperature for more extraction, you simple activate the boost.

The Crafty also features convection heating, which was originally found in the Volcano vaporizer. As we touched on in the vapor quality section this style of heating provides huge advantages in vapor production and overall flavor.  The Crafty’s only flaw is the relatively short battery life which maxes out at about an hour. So we have to still give the slight edge to the Crafty, the convection heating really does put the power of the Volcano in the palm of  your hand.

This is a different strokes for different folks type of situation. These are both easy to use, but in very different ways.

If you like the convenience of being able to choose the exact temperature you want with the click of a button, the Air 2 will be better for you. This is doubly true if you frequently find yourself using different temperatures. All you have to do is click the up or down buttons right on the device.

If you know what temperatures you like and don’t see much reason to change, then you may find the Crafty easier. Most people operate off a base and boost temperature to begin with, and the Crafty’s setup makes switching between these levels effortless.

Portability

Battery Life

Both of these vaporizers offer precision temperature control, but the Air 2 has the more convenient setup. To adjust the temperature, you just click up or down. The screen will scroll in 1 or 10 degree increments depending on how long you hold the button. Choosing your temperature is quick and easy.

With the Crafty, you have to use the app. So you get temperature control, but it isn’t nearly as quick to adjust. The Air 2 deserves the win here.

If you’d like to see another comparison, check out our recent showdown between the Arizer Solo 2 and Arizer Air 2 and to see how these 2 units stack up against the field, be sure to check out our Portable Vaporizer Ranking Chart.