The Venty is the clear winner, scoring 9.2 to the Crafty+'s 8.2 in our reviews. It leads on vapor, ease of use, build and value, and ties on portability at 8.8, since the Crafty+ is smaller but needs a charge more than twice as often. The Crafty+ only makes sense if you want a pocket-size Storz & Bickel for $170 less.
Key differences
- Airflow: up to 20 L/min on the Venty's dial; fixed on the Crafty+.
- Heater: the Venty's flowmeter adapts heater output to your draw speed.
- Heat-up: rated at about 20 seconds for the Venty and about 60 for the Crafty+.
- Battery: 11 sessions per charge on the Venty in our testing, about 5 on the Crafty+.
- Controls: a display with + and - buttons on the Venty; one button, three presets and a web app on the Crafty+.
- Size: 135 g and 110 mm tall for the Crafty+, 252 g and 157 mm for the Venty.
- Price: $279 US list price for the Crafty+, $449 for the Venty.
- Warranty: two years on both, plus a registration year on the Venty.
Venty vs Crafty: vapor and airflow
Both use Storz & Bickel's hybrid heating in a ceramic-coated oven, so the flavor character feels familiar. Where they really split is the draw. The Venty's oven takes about 0.3 g, the Crafty+ about 0.25 g.
The Crafty+ has a low, natural draw, like breathing through a wide straw. Its cooling unit turns out smooth, fluffy clouds, even at the top preset.
The Venty goes further, with a dial that opens to 20 L/min and almost no resistance when it's wide open. Its flowmeter reads your inhale and ramps the heater to match, so hard pulls stay dense instead of thin. The Venty scores 9.5 for vapor against the Crafty+'s 8.2.
Heat-up and controls
The Venty's rated heat-up is about 20 seconds, against about 60 for the Crafty+. Once it's ready, the Crafty+ gives full vapor from its first draw, with no thin warm-up hits.
Control is the bigger difference in daily use. The Venty shows its temperature on a screen and changes it with + and - buttons. The Crafty+ has one button with presets at 180°C, 195°C and 210°C. The Venty starts at 180°C, a double-press of the power button gives you Boost at 195°C, and another double-press gives you Superboost at 210°C. Those are the same three steps as the Crafty+, so the routine carries straight over.
For 1°C steps on the Crafty+, you open S&B's web app in a Bluetooth browser, since the old native app is gone. The Crafty+ remembers your settings, so for most owners it's a set-once job.
Battery and charging
The Venty runs on two built-in 18650 cells, the Crafty+ on one 2800 mAh cell. In our testing that meant 11 sessions per charge on the Venty at 199°C, against about 5 on the Crafty+, and 3 to 4 if you run the Crafty+ at 210°C. The Venty got us through a weekend of moderate use. On a USB-C PD charger rated at 27 W or more it reaches about 80% in 40 minutes and a full charge in about 90. The Crafty+ needs about 80 minutes to reach 80% and 120 for a full charge.
Neither vape heats while plugged in, and neither battery is user-replaceable. If you vape heavily, plan a midday charge for the Crafty+.
Size, build and the Crafty+ phase-out
The Crafty+ is the pocket vape here: 135 g and 110 mm tall, with a finned PEEK body that stays comfortable to hold. Its swivel mouthpiece tucks flush for transport, and the stir tool hides under the plug at the base. The Venty weighs 252 g and stands 157 mm tall, so it rides in a jacket or bag. Its flat base lets it stand upright while you load it.
Storz & Bickel is phasing the Crafty+ out, and retail partners say current stock is the last. New units still carry the two-year warranty, while the Venty gets two years plus a third when you register it within four weeks.
Which should you buy?
- Daily users: the Venty, for airflow, runtime and speed.
- Crafty+ owners ready to upgrade: the Venty, with the same S&B vapor and far less waiting.
- Pocket carry on a budget: the Crafty+, ideally at a sale price.
- Beginners and groups: the Venty, which gives good hits with no technique.
- Pocket size with a longer future: the Veazy, S&B's current compact at a $249 US list price.
The Venty tops our best portable vaporizers ranking. If you're weighing the Mighty+ as well, our Mighty+ vs Venty comparison covers that matchup.
