The Crafty+ has been one of the smaller Storz and Bickel portable vaporizers for years now and it still packs basically the same type of hybrid heating you get from the larger Mighty models. You get a ceramic-coated chamber, dosing capsule support, USB-C charging and three temperatures available directly from the vaporizer. The Crafty+ weighs 135 grams too, so this is the S&B portable I would look at if the bigger units are just more vaporizer than you want to carry around.
The Crafty+ takes around a minute to heat up and the draw is pretty free-flowing. I like that combination for simple session-style use. Load the chamber, wait for the vibration, and start taking draws. There really isn’t much to figure out with the Crafty+, and that’s one of the things it does best.
Battery life is where the smaller size catches up with it. There is only one internal non-replaceable battery, and the Crafty+ cannot be used while it is charging, so I wouldn’t pick this one for heavy all-day use. If you want something smaller for solo sessions, the Crafty+ is a good option. It’s easy to throw in a backpack for a walk, hike, or just hanging outside, and you’re not carrying around one of the larger S&B units.
There isn’t much I would add to the Crafty+ right away. Storz and Bickel includes the USB-C cable, three normal screens, three coarse screens, three sealing rings, one dosing capsule and a cleaning brush. You basically need some dry herb and a grinder and you’re ready to go.
I like that Storz and Bickel gives you one dosing capsule with the Crafty+ so you can try it before buying a bunch of them. If you end up liking capsules, you can get a pack of 40 and the magazine holds eight at a time. Load the magazine before heading out and you’ve got eight capsules ready to go. That’s a lot easier than carrying your grinder and loose herb around with you.
I like the Filling Aid if you’re loading the Crafty+ with loose herb instead of dosing capsules. Fill the top with your ground herb and push it down into the chamber, and you don’t have to be nearly as careful around that small opening. It’s a simple accessory, but for regular direct loading I would definitely pick one up.
Other than that, I would use the Crafty+ as it comes. Spare screens, seals, mouthpieces and complete cooling units are readily available when the original parts eventually need replacing. I like seeing that kind of parts support on a vaporizer that has already been around this long.
Build Quality and Design
The Crafty+ uses a PEEK plastic body with ribs running all around the outside. I actually like the ribbed design because it gives you a good grip and helps keep some of the heat away from your hand. It doesn’t feel as premium as some of the metal vaporizers out there, but the Crafty+ is lightweight, tough and I’ve never really had a problem with the plastic design.
Everything on the Crafty+ is controlled with one button and there’s no screen. The LEDs show battery and heating status, while the vibration lets you know when the vaporizer is ready. I actually like how simple this is because I’m not spending much time looking at the Crafty+ while I’m using it. Press the button, wait for the vibration, and you’re pretty much good to go.
The cooling unit twists onto the top and the mouthpiece folds back down when you’re finished. I like the folding mouthpiece because there isn’t anything sticking out when the Crafty+ goes into a pocket or backpack. The cooling unit can also be taken apart when it gets dirty, and replacement units are easy to find if you eventually want a fresh one.
Heating and Temperature Control
The Crafty+ gives you three temperature levels from the button, and I think that’s enough for most of the sessions I would use this vaporizer for. The base temperature is 180°C (356°F), a double-click takes you to 195°C (383°F), and the Super-Boost adds another 15°C to whatever temperature you’re already using. You can change those settings through the web app if you want different temperatures.
I would start the Crafty+ at the lower temperature and work my way up as the bowl starts to fade. You get the better flavor at the beginning and then bump the temperature up to finish the bowl. The Crafty+ uses a hybrid heater with both convection and conduction, and it does a good job of heating the herbs evenly without much work on your end.
Heat-up time is around a minute, which isn’t especially fast anymore. There are plenty of newer portables that will be ready before the Crafty+, but a minute doesn’t bother me much for this type of session vaporizer. Turn it on while you’re getting your herb ready and it’s usually not something I would spend much time worrying about.
Vapor Quality and Airflow
Vapor quality is where the Crafty+ still holds up really well. The first few draws at the lower temperatures have good flavor, and you can get some pretty thick vapor once you start moving the temperature up. The cooling unit also does a good job of cooling everything down before the vapor reaches the mouthpiece.
I like the airflow on the Crafty+ too. You don’t have to pull very hard to get a good draw, and that makes longer sessions a lot more comfortable. Take a slow draw and let the heater do the work. There really isn’t much technique involved.
The flavor does start dropping off as you get deeper into the bowl, which is normal for a session vaporizer that keeps the chamber hot. I usually care more about getting the bowl evenly finished at that point anyway. The Crafty+ does a good job there, and you shouldn’t need to keep opening the chamber and stirring the herbs between draws.
Chamber, Loading and Efficiency
The Crafty+ chamber holds around 0.25 grams, which is a pretty good amount for a portable this size. I like a medium grind and a fairly loose pack with the herbs filled up to the top of the chamber. Don’t pack it down too tight because you’ll just restrict the airflow and make the Crafty+ harder to draw from.
Smaller loads work too, but I like the dosing capsules for that. You can put less herb in a capsule and use the included drip pad on top to keep everything in place. It’s an easy way to use a smaller amount without having the herb moving around inside the chamber.
Extraction is pretty even with the Crafty+, and you normally shouldn’t need to stop halfway through the session to stir the bowl. That’s one of the things I like about the hybrid heater. Load it, work your way through the temperatures, and the herb should come out pretty evenly browned when you’re finished.
Battery Life and Charging
The Crafty+ has one internal battery and you can expect around 40 minutes of use before you need to charge it again. That works out to a handful of sessions depending on your temperatures and how long you leave the heater running. It’s enough for me for a smaller portable, but the Mighty models are definitely better if battery life is a priority.
I like that the newer Crafty+ charges over USB-C, and a full charge takes around 90 minutes. Unfortunately, you can’t use the Crafty+ while it’s charging. Run the battery dead and you’re done until you get some charge back into it.
I do wish Storz and Bickel used a replaceable battery here. Throwing an extra battery in your bag would make the Crafty+ much easier to take camping or use for a full day away from a charger. If you’re only using it for a few sessions at home or taking it out for a couple hours, the battery should be plenty.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The Crafty+ isn’t too bad to clean, but the cooling unit definitely needs the most attention. It comes apart so you can get inside and clean the resin that builds up in the vapor path. I would stay on top of this because a dirty cooling unit can start restricting the airflow.
The chamber is pretty easy to keep clean. I like to brush out the leftover herbs after a session and clean the screen once it starts getting dirty. Dosing capsules help quite a bit here too, and I would use them if you want to keep most of the mess out of the chamber.
You’ll also want to clean the mouthpiece and check the seals whenever you take the cooling unit apart. Storz and Bickel sells replacement screens, seals, mouthpieces and complete cooling units, so finding those parts isn’t difficult. I like that you can replace the little stuff as it wears out instead of having to replace the whole vaporizer.
Price and Value
The Crafty+ is one of those vaporizers where I would check the price before making a decision. It has been around for quite a while now, and there are a lot more good portable vaporizers to choose from than when the Crafty+ first came out. I like the Crafty+, but I wouldn’t pay a big premium just because it has the Storz and Bickel name on it.
I would be much more interested in the Crafty+ when it drops closer to $200. You’re still getting the hybrid heater, easy airflow and the same simple session experience, and those are the things I actually like about this vaporizer. The replacement parts and dosing capsule system are nice to have too.
If the Crafty+ is selling much above $200, I would probably start looking at some other options. You’re still stuck with the internal battery, there’s no screen and the heat-up time is pretty slow compared to some of the newer portables. I still like the Crafty+, but those things are a lot easier to live with when you’re getting it for a good price.
Crafty+ vs Veazy
The Veazy is the newer option and I would definitely look at it before paying full price for the Crafty+. It weighs about the same at 134 grams, but the Veazy heats up in around 40 seconds compared to roughly a minute with the Crafty+. Both use hybrid heating, have the same 40°C to 210°C temperature range and give you three temperature settings from the button.
The Crafty+ is still the one I would look at when it’s on sale. Storz and Bickel currently has it at $223.20, while the Veazy is $249. That’s only about $26 between them, though, and at that price I would probably spend the extra money and get the newer Veazy.
If the Crafty+ drops closer to $200 or below, then I like it a lot more. The vapor quality is still good, the airflow is easy and there are years of replacement parts and accessories already available for it. I wouldn’t replace a working Crafty+ just to get a Veazy, but if I was buying my first small S&B portable today, price would decide this one for me.
Who Should Buy the Crafty+?
I would get the Crafty+ if you want a smaller Storz and Bickel vaporizer and don’t need the extra battery life of the Mighty models. It’s easy to use, the airflow is good and you don’t have to spend much time figuring out how to get good vapor from it. The 135-gram size also makes it much easier to throw in a backpack and take with you.
I like the Crafty+ if you want to load a bowl and sit down for a full session. Start at a lower temperature and bump it up as the vapor starts to fade. The dosing capsules are nice for taking the Crafty+ out of the house too. Load a few before you leave and you won’t need to bring your grinder and loose herb with you.
I wouldn’t get the Crafty+ if battery life is one of your biggest priorities or you want a replaceable battery. I would also look at the Veazy if the two are selling for close to the same price. If you can find the Crafty+ around $200, though, I still think it’s a really good little portable.
Final Verdict
The Crafty+ is still one of my favorite smaller session vaporizers. The vapor quality is really good, the airflow is wide open and you don’t have to mess around much to get good results. Load the chamber, turn it on and start taking draws once it vibrates.
I would go with the Crafty+ over the Mighty Plus if I wanted something smaller and easier to carry around. It only weighs 135 grams and doesn’t take up much room in a backpack. Load a few dosing capsules before you head out and you don’t need to bring your grinder and loose herb with you either. I would still go with one of the Mighty models for heavier use though, mostly because you’re getting a lot more battery life.
Price is what I would watch now. If the Crafty+ is around $200, I still think it’s a good buy and you’re getting a proven S&B portable with plenty of replacement parts and accessories available. If it’s much more than that, I would look at the Veazy before buying.
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