diff --git a/docs/changelog/vectraits-for-all.md b/docs/changelog/vectraits-for-all.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9de668741
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/vectraits-for-all.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Implemented `VecTraits` class for all types
+
+The `VecTraits` class allows templated functions, methods, and classes to
+treat type arguments uniformly as `Vec` types or to otherwise differentiate
+between scalar and vector types. This only works for types that `VecTraits`
+is defined for.
+
+The `VecTraits` templated class now has a default implementation that will
+be used for any type that does not have a `VecTraits` specialization. This
+removes many surprise compiler errors when using a template that, unknown
+to you, has `VecTraits` in its implementation.
+
+One potential issue is that if `VecTraits` gets defined for a new type, the
+behavior of `VecTraits` could change for that type in backward-incompatible
+ways. If `VecTraits` is used in a purely generic way, this should not be an
+issue. However, if assumptions were made about the components and length,
+this could cause problems.
+
+Fixes #589.
diff --git a/vtkm/TypeTraits.h b/vtkm/TypeTraits.h
index f321d3bf9..ae1a5e7ca 100644
--- a/vtkm/TypeTraits.h
+++ b/vtkm/TypeTraits.h
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public:
   /// \brief A tag to determine whether the type has multiple components.
   ///
   /// This tag is either TypeTraitsScalarTag or TypeTraitsVectorTag. Scalars can
-  /// also be treated as vectors.
+  /// also be treated as vectors with VecTraits.
   using DimensionalityTag = vtkm::TypeTraitsUnknownTag;
 
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT static T ZeroInitialization() { return T(); }
diff --git a/vtkm/VecFlat.h b/vtkm/VecFlat.h
index 476241881..01d2b5028 100644
--- a/vtkm/VecFlat.h
+++ b/vtkm/VecFlat.h
@@ -22,20 +22,18 @@ namespace internal
 {
 
 template <typename T,
-          typename MultipleComponents =
-            typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::HasMultipleComponents>
+          typename MultipleComponents = typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::HasMultipleComponents>
 struct TotalNumComponents;
 
 template <typename T>
 struct TotalNumComponents<T, vtkm::VecTraitsTagMultipleComponents>
 {
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT_MSG(
-    (std::is_same<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::IsSizeStatic,
-                  vtkm::VecTraitsTagSizeStatic>::value),
+    (std::is_same<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::IsSizeStatic, vtkm::VecTraitsTagSizeStatic>::value),
     "vtkm::VecFlat can only be used with Vec types with a static number of components.");
-  using ComponentType = typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::ComponentType;
+  using ComponentType = typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::ComponentType;
   static constexpr vtkm::IdComponent value =
-    vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::NUM_COMPONENTS * TotalNumComponents<ComponentType>::value;
+    vtkm::VecTraits<T>::NUM_COMPONENTS * TotalNumComponents<ComponentType>::value;
 };
 
 template <typename T>
@@ -45,7 +43,7 @@ struct TotalNumComponents<T, vtkm::VecTraitsTagSingleComponent>
 };
 
 template <typename T>
-using FlattenVec = vtkm::Vec<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType,
+using FlattenVec = vtkm::Vec<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType,
                              vtkm::internal::TotalNumComponents<T>::value>;
 
 template <typename T>
@@ -64,10 +62,10 @@ VTKM_EXEC_CONT T GetFlatVecComponentImpl(const T& component,
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-VTKM_EXEC_CONT typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType
+VTKM_EXEC_CONT typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType
 GetFlatVecComponentImpl(const T& vec, vtkm::IdComponent index, std::false_type vtkmNotUsed(isBase))
 {
-  using Traits = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>;
+  using Traits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
   using ComponentType = typename Traits::ComponentType;
   using BaseComponentType = typename Traits::BaseComponentType;
 
@@ -80,7 +78,7 @@ GetFlatVecComponentImpl(const T& vec, vtkm::IdComponent index, std::false_type v
 } // namespace detail
 
 template <typename T>
-VTKM_EXEC_CONT typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType GetFlatVecComponent(
+VTKM_EXEC_CONT typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType GetFlatVecComponent(
   const T& vec,
   vtkm::IdComponent index)
 {
@@ -114,7 +112,7 @@ VTKM_EXEC_CONT void CopyVecNestedToFlatImpl(const NestedVecType& nestedVec,
                                             vtkm::Vec<T, N>& flatVec,
                                             vtkm::IdComponent flatOffset)
 {
-  using Traits = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<NestedVecType>;
+  using Traits = vtkm::VecTraits<NestedVecType>;
   using ComponentType = typename Traits::ComponentType;
   constexpr vtkm::IdComponent subSize = TotalNumComponents<ComponentType>::value;
 
@@ -176,7 +174,7 @@ VTKM_EXEC_CONT void CopyVecFlatToNestedImpl(const vtkm::Vec<T, N>& flatVec,
                                             vtkm::IdComponent flatOffset,
                                             NestedVecType& nestedVec)
 {
-  using Traits = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<NestedVecType>;
+  using Traits = vtkm::VecTraits<NestedVecType>;
   using ComponentType = typename Traits::ComponentType;
   constexpr vtkm::IdComponent subSize = TotalNumComponents<ComponentType>::value;
 
diff --git a/vtkm/VecFromPortal.h b/vtkm/VecFromPortal.h
index a5b5caca2..4f2330981 100644
--- a/vtkm/VecFromPortal.h
+++ b/vtkm/VecFromPortal.h
@@ -117,8 +117,7 @@ struct VecTraits<vtkm::VecFromPortal<PortalType>>
   using VecType = vtkm::VecFromPortal<PortalType>;
 
   using ComponentType = typename VecType::ComponentType;
-  using BaseComponentType =
-    typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<ComponentType>::BaseComponentType;
+  using BaseComponentType = typename vtkm::VecTraits<ComponentType>::BaseComponentType;
   using HasMultipleComponents = vtkm::VecTraitsTagMultipleComponents;
   using IsSizeStatic = vtkm::VecTraitsTagSizeVariable;
 
diff --git a/vtkm/VecTraits.h b/vtkm/VecTraits.h
index 440a4ced2..a66ad5136 100644
--- a/vtkm/VecTraits.h
+++ b/vtkm/VecTraits.h
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 #ifndef vtk_m_VecTraits_h
 #define vtk_m_VecTraits_h
 
+#include <vtkm/Deprecated.h>
+#include <vtkm/StaticAssert.h>
 #include <vtkm/Types.h>
 
 namespace vtkm
@@ -42,64 +44,55 @@ struct VecTraitsTagSizeVariable
 {
 };
 
-namespace internal
-{
-
-// Forward declaration
-template <typename T>
-struct SafeVecTraits;
-
-template <vtkm::IdComponent numComponents, typename ComponentType>
-struct VecTraitsMultipleComponentChooser
-{
-  using Type = vtkm::VecTraitsTagMultipleComponents;
-};
-
-template <typename ComponentType>
-struct VecTraitsMultipleComponentChooser<1, ComponentType>
-{
-  using Type = typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<ComponentType>::HasMultipleComponents;
-};
-
-} // namespace internal
-
-/// The VecTraits class gives several static members that define how
-/// to use a given type as a vector.
+/// \brief Traits that can be queried to treat any type as a `Vec`.
 ///
-template <class VecType>
+/// The VecTraits class gives several static members that define how
+/// to use a given type as a vector. This is useful for templated
+/// functions and methods that have a parameter that could be either
+/// a standard scalar type or a `Vec` or some other `Vec`-like
+/// object. When using this class, scalar objects are treated like
+/// a `Vec` of size 1.
+///
+/// The default implementation of this template treats the type as
+/// a scalar. Types that actually behave like vectors should
+/// specialize this template to provide the proper information.
+///
+template <class T>
 struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits
 {
-#ifdef VTKM_DOXYGEN_ONLY
+  // The base VecTraits should not be used with qualifiers.
+  VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT_MSG((std::is_same<std::remove_pointer_t<std::decay_t<T>>, T>::value),
+                         "The base VecTraits should not be used with qualifiers.");
+
   /// \brief Type of the components in the vector.
   ///
   /// If the type is really a scalar, then the component type is the same as the scalar type.
   ///
-  using ComponentType = typename VecType::ComponentType;
+  using ComponentType = T;
 
   /// \brief Base component type in the vector.
   ///
   /// Similar to ComponentType except that for nested vectors (e.g. Vec<Vec<T, M>, N>), it
   /// returns the base scalar type at the end of the composition (T in this example).
   ///
-  using BaseComponentType = typename vtkm::VecTraits<ComponentType>::BaseComponentType;
+  using BaseComponentType = T;
 
   /// \brief Number of components in the vector.
   ///
   /// This is only defined for vectors of a static size.
   ///
-  static constexpr vtkm::IdComponent NUM_COMPONENTS = VecType::NUM_COMPONENTS;
+  static constexpr vtkm::IdComponent NUM_COMPONENTS = 1;
 
   /// Number of components in the given vector.
   ///
-  static vtkm::IdComponent GetNumberOfComponents(const VecType& vec);
+  static constexpr vtkm::IdComponent GetNumberOfComponents(const T&) { return NUM_COMPONENTS; }
 
   /// \brief A tag specifying whether this vector has multiple components (i.e. is a "real" vector).
   ///
   /// This tag can be useful for creating specialized functions when a vector
   /// is really just a scalar.
   ///
-  using HasMultipleComponents =
-    typename internal::VecTraitsMultipleComponentChooser<NUM_COMPONENTS, ComponentType>::Type;
+  using HasMultipleComponents = vtkm::VecTraitsTagSingleComponent;
 
   /// \brief A tag specifying whether the size of this vector is known at compile time.
   ///
@@ -111,81 +104,113 @@ struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits
 
   /// Returns the value in a given component of the vector.
   ///
-  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static const ComponentType& GetComponent(
-    const typename std::remove_const<VecType>::type& vector,
-    vtkm::IdComponent component);
-  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static ComponentType& GetComponent(
-    typename std::remove_const<VecType>::type& vector,
-    vtkm::IdComponent component);
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static const ComponentType& GetComponent(const T& vector,
+                                                          vtkm::IdComponent vtkmNotUsed(component))
+  {
+    return vector;
+  }
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static ComponentType& GetComponent(T& vector,
+                                                    vtkm::IdComponent vtkmNotUsed(component))
+  {
+    return vector;
+  }
 
   /// Changes the value in a given component of the vector.
   ///
-  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static void SetComponent(VecType& vector,
-                                          vtkm::IdComponent component,
-                                          ComponentType value);
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static void SetComponent(T& vector,
+                                          vtkm::IdComponent vtkmNotUsed(component),
+                                          ComponentType value)
+  {
+    vector = value;
+  }
 
   /// \brief Get a vector of the same type but with a different component.
   ///
   /// This type resolves to another vector with a different component type. For example,
-  /// @code vtkm::VecTraits<vtkm::Vec<T, N>>::ReplaceComponentType<T2> @endcode is vtkm::Vec<T2, N>.
-  /// This replacement is not recursive. So @code VecTraits<Vec<Vec<T, M>, N>::ReplaceComponentType<T2> @endcode
-  /// is vtkm::Vec<T2, N>.
+  /// `vtkm::VecTraits<vtkm::Vec<T, N>>::ReplaceComponentType<T2>` is `vtkm::Vec<T2, N>`.
+  /// This replacement is not recursive. So `VecTraits<Vec<Vec<T, M>, N>::ReplaceComponentType<T2>`
+  /// is `vtkm::Vec<T2, N>`.
   ///
   template <typename NewComponentType>
-  using ReplaceComponentType = VecTemplate<NewComponentType, N>;
+  using ReplaceComponentType = NewComponentType;
 
   /// \brief Get a vector of the same type but with a different base component.
   ///
   /// This type resolves to another vector with a different base component type. The replacement
   /// is recursive for nested types. For example,
-  /// @code VecTraits<Vec<Vec<T, M>, N>::ReplaceBaseComponentType<T2> @endcode is Vec<Vec<T2, M>, N>.
+  /// `VecTraits<Vec<Vec<T, M>, N>::ReplaceBaseComponentType<T2>` is `Vec<Vec<T2, M>, N>`.
   ///
   template <typename NewComponentType>
-  using ReplaceBaseComponentType = VecTemplate<
-    typename VecTraits<ComponentType>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<NewComponentType>,
-    N>;
+  using ReplaceBaseComponentType = NewComponentType;
 
   /// Copies the components in the given vector into a given Vec object.
   ///
-  template <vktm::IdComponent destSize>
-  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static void CopyInto(const VecType& src, vtkm::Vec<ComponentType, destSize>& dest);
-#endif // VTKM_DOXYGEN_ONLY
+  template <vtkm::IdComponent destSize>
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static void CopyInto(const T& src, vtkm::Vec<ComponentType, destSize>& dest)
+  {
+    dest[0] = src;
+  }
 };
 
-namespace detail
-{
-
 template <typename T>
-struct HasVecTraitsImpl
-{
-  template <typename A, typename S = typename vtkm::VecTraits<A>::ComponentType>
-  static std::true_type Test(A*);
+using HasVecTraits VTKM_DEPRECATED(2.1, "All types now have VecTraits defined.") = std::true_type;
 
-  static std::false_type Test(...);
-
-  using Type = decltype(Test(std::declval<T*>()));
-};
-
-} // namespace detail
-
-/// \brief Determines whether the given type has VecTraits defined.
-///
-/// If the given type T has a valid VecTraits class, then HasVecTraits<T> will be set to
-/// std::true_type. Otherwise it will be set to std::false_type. For example,
-/// HasVecTraits<vtkm::Id> is the same as std::true_type whereas HasVecTraits<void *> is the same
-/// as std::false_type. This is useful to block the definition of methods using VecTraits when
-/// VecTraits are not defined.
-///
-template <typename T>
-using HasVecTraits = typename detail::HasVecTraitsImpl<T>::Type;
-
-// This partial specialization allows you to define a non-const version of
-// VecTraits and have it still work for const version.
-//
+// These partial specializations allow VecTraits to work with const and reference qualifiers.
 template <typename T>
 struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<const T> : VecTraits<T>
 {
 };
+template <typename T>
+struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<T&> : VecTraits<T>
+{
+};
+template <typename T>
+struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<const T&> : VecTraits<T>
+{
+};
+
+// This partial specialization allows VecTraits to work with pointers.
+template <typename T>
+struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<T*> : VecTraits<T>
+{
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static vtkm::IdComponent GetNumberOfComponents(const T* vector)
+  {
+    return VecTraits<T>::GetNumberOfComponents(*vector);
+  }
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static auto GetComponent(const T* vector, vtkm::IdComponent component)
+    -> decltype(VecTraits<T>::GetComponent(*vector, component))
+  {
+    return VecTraits<T>::GetComponent(*vector, component);
+  }
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static auto GetComponent(T* vector, vtkm::IdComponent component)
+    -> decltype(VecTraits<T>::GetComponent(*vector, component))
+  {
+    return VecTraits<T>::GetComponent(*vector, component);
+  }
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static void SetComponent(T* vector,
+                                          vtkm::IdComponent component,
+                                          typename VecTraits<T>::ComponentType value)
+  {
+    VecTraits<T>::SetComponent(*vector, component, value);
+  }
+  template <typename NewComponentType>
+  using ReplaceComponentType =
+    typename VecTraits<T>::template ReplaceComponentType<NewComponentType>*;
+  template <typename NewComponentType>
+  using ReplaceBaseComponentType =
+    typename VecTraits<T>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<NewComponentType>*;
+  template <vtkm::IdComponent destSize>
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT static void CopyInto(
+    const T* src,
+    vtkm::Vec<typename VecTraits<T>::ComponentType, destSize>& dest)
+  {
+    VecTraits<T>::CopyInto(*src, dest);
+  }
+};
+template <typename T>
+struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<const T*> : VecTraits<T*>
+{
+};
 
 #if defined(VTKM_GCC) && (__GNUC__ <= 5)
 namespace detail
@@ -201,13 +226,29 @@ template <typename T, vtkm::IdComponent Size, typename NewT>
 struct VecReplaceBaseComponentTypeGCC4or5
 {
   using type =
-    vtkm::Vec<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<NewT>,
-              Size>;
+    vtkm::Vec<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<NewT>, Size>;
 };
 
 } // namespace detail
 #endif // GCC Version 4.8
 
+namespace internal
+{
+
+template <vtkm::IdComponent numComponents, typename ComponentType>
+struct VecTraitsMultipleComponentChooser
+{
+  using Type = vtkm::VecTraitsTagMultipleComponents;
+};
+
+template <typename ComponentType>
+struct VecTraitsMultipleComponentChooser<1, ComponentType>
+{
+  using Type = typename vtkm::VecTraits<ComponentType>::HasMultipleComponents;
+};
+
+} // namespace internal
+
 template <typename T, vtkm::IdComponent Size>
 struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<vtkm::Vec<T, Size>>
 {
@@ -224,8 +265,7 @@ struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<vtkm::Vec<T, Size>>
   /// Similar to ComponentType except that for nested vectors (e.g. Vec<Vec<T, M>, N>), it
   /// returns the base scalar type at the end of the composition (T in this example).
   ///
-  using BaseComponentType =
-    typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<ComponentType>::BaseComponentType;
+  using BaseComponentType = typename vtkm::VecTraits<ComponentType>::BaseComponentType;
 
   /// Number of components in the vector.
   ///
@@ -304,10 +344,9 @@ struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<vtkm::Vec<T, Size>>
     typename detail::VecReplaceBaseComponentTypeGCC4or5<T, Size, NewComponentType>::type;
 #else // !GCC <= 5
   template <typename NewComponentType>
-  using ReplaceBaseComponentType =
-    vtkm::Vec<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<
-                ComponentType>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<NewComponentType>,
-              Size>;
+  using ReplaceBaseComponentType = vtkm::Vec<
+    typename vtkm::VecTraits<ComponentType>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<NewComponentType>,
+    Size>;
 #endif
   ///@}
 
@@ -509,7 +548,8 @@ namespace internal
 /// Used for overriding VecTraits for basic scalar types.
 ///
 template <typename ScalarType>
-struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraitsBasic
+struct VTKM_DEPRECATED(2.1, "VecTraitsBasic is now the default implementation for VecTraits.")
+  VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraitsBasic
 {
   using ComponentType = ScalarType;
   using BaseComponentType = ScalarType;
@@ -548,87 +588,41 @@ struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraitsBasic
   }
 };
 
-namespace detail
-{
-
-template <typename T, typename = vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>>
-struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT SafeVecTraitsImpl;
-
 template <typename T>
-struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT SafeVecTraitsImpl<T, std::true_type> : vtkm::VecTraits<T>
-{
-};
-
-template <typename T>
-struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT SafeVecTraitsImpl<T, std::false_type> : vtkm::internal::VecTraitsBasic<T>
-{
-};
-
-} // namespace detail
-
-/// \brief A version of VecTraits that will be available for any type.
-///
-/// The `VecTraits` template is only defined for types that have a specific specialization
-/// for it. That means if you use `VecTraits` in a template, that template will likely
-/// fail to build for types that are not defined for `VecTraits`.
-///
-/// To use `VecTraits` in a class that should support all types, not just those with
-/// defined `VecTraits`, you can use this "safe" version. `SafeVecTraits` is the same as
-/// `VecTraits` if the latter is defined. If the `VecTraits` are not defined, then
-/// `SafeVecTraits` treats the type as a simple scalar value.
-///
-/// This template ensures that it will work reasonably well for all types. But be careful
-/// as if `VecTraits` is later defined, the template is likely to change.
-///
-template <typename T>
-struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT SafeVecTraits : detail::SafeVecTraitsImpl<T>
+struct VTKM_DEPRECATED(2.1 "VecTraits now safe to use on any type.") VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT SafeVecTraits
+  : vtkm::VecTraits<T>
 {
 };
 
 } // namespace internal
 
-/// \brief VecTraits for Pair types
-///
-/// Although a pair would seem better as a size-2 vector, we treat it as a
-/// scalar. This is because a \c Vec is assumed to have the same type for
-/// every component, and a pair in general has a different type for each
-/// component. Thus we treat a pair as a "scalar" unit.
-///
-template <typename T, typename U>
-struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<vtkm::Pair<T, U>>
-  : public vtkm::internal::VecTraitsBasic<vtkm::Pair<T, U>>
+namespace detail
+{
+
+struct VTKM_DEPRECATED(2.1,
+                       "VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR is no longer necessary because VecTraits implements "
+                       "basic type by default.") VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR_is_deprecated
 {
 };
 
+template <typename T>
+struct issue_VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR_deprecation_warning;
+
+}
+
 } // namespace vtkm
 
-#define VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(type)                                                     \
-  namespace vtkm                                                                         \
-  {                                                                                      \
-  template <>                                                                            \
-  struct VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VecTraits<type> : public vtkm::internal::VecTraitsBasic<type> \
-  {                                                                                      \
-  };                                                                                     \
+#define VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(type)                            \
+  namespace vtkm                                                \
+  {                                                             \
+  namespace detail                                              \
+  {                                                             \
+  template <>                                                   \
+  struct issue_VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR_deprecation_warning<type> \
+    : public vtkm::detail::VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR_is_deprecated \
+  {                                                             \
+  };                                                            \
+  }                                                             \
   }
 
-/// Allows you to treat basic types as if they were vectors.
-
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(float)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(double)
-
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(bool)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(char)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(signed char)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(unsigned char)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(short)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(unsigned short)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(int)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(unsigned int)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(long)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(unsigned long)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(long long)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(unsigned long long)
-
-//#undef VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR
-
 #endif //vtk_m_VecTraits_h
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayCopy.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayCopy.h
index 612a7e4f4..8e70f1c1e 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayCopy.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayCopy.h
@@ -33,21 +33,6 @@ namespace cont
 namespace detail
 {
 
-// Compile-time check to make sure that an `ArrayHandle` passed to `ArrayCopy`
-// can be passed to a `UnknownArrayHandle`. This function does nothing
-// except provide a compile error that is easier to understand than if you
-// let it go and error in `UnknownArrayHandle`. (Huh? I'm not using that.)
-template <typename T>
-inline void ArrayCopyValueTypeCheck()
-{
-  VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT_MSG(vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value,
-                         "An `ArrayHandle` that has a special value type that is not supported "
-                         "by the precompiled version of `ArrayCopy` has been used. If this array "
-                         "must be deep copied, consider using `ArrayCopyDevice`. Look at the "
-                         "compile error for the type assigned to template parameter `T` to "
-                         "see the offending type.");
-}
-
 template <typename S>
 struct ArrayCopyConcreteSrc;
 
@@ -74,8 +59,6 @@ void ArrayCopyImpl(const vtkm::cont::UnknownArrayHandle& source,
                    std::false_type,
                    std::true_type)
 {
-  detail::ArrayCopyValueTypeCheck<T>();
-
   using DestType = vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S>;
   if (source.CanConvert<DestType>())
   {
@@ -96,9 +79,6 @@ void ArrayCopyImpl(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<TS, SS>& source,
                    std::true_type,
                    std::true_type)
 {
-  ArrayCopyValueTypeCheck<TS>();
-  ArrayCopyValueTypeCheck<TD>();
-
   detail::ArrayCopyConcreteSrc<SS>{}(source, destination);
 }
 
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayExtractComponent.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayExtractComponent.h
index 4d412a51d..12dc1eeaa 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayExtractComponent.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayExtractComponent.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ namespace internal
 // is defined rather than where it is resolved. This causes problems when extracting
 // components of, say, an ArrayHandleMultiplexer holding an ArrayHandleSOA.
 template <typename T, typename S>
-vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleStride<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType>
+vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleStride<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType>
 ArrayExtractComponentFallback(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S>& src,
                               vtkm::IdComponent componentIndex,
                               vtkm::CopyFlag allowCopy)
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ ArrayExtractComponentFallback(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S>& src,
                                      << vtkm::cont::TypeToString<vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S>>()
                                      << " requires an inefficient memory copy.");
 
-  using BaseComponentType = typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType;
+  using BaseComponentType = typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType;
   vtkm::Id numValues = src.GetNumberOfValues();
   vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleBasic<BaseComponentType> dest;
   dest.Allocate(numValues);
@@ -78,10 +78,10 @@ template <typename S>
 struct ArrayExtractComponentImpl : ArrayExtractComponentImplInefficient
 {
   template <typename T>
-  vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleStride<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType>
-  operator()(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S>& src,
-             vtkm::IdComponent componentIndex,
-             vtkm::CopyFlag allowCopy) const
+  vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleStride<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType> operator()(
+    const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S>& src,
+    vtkm::IdComponent componentIndex,
+    vtkm::CopyFlag allowCopy) const
   {
     // This is the slow "default" implementation. ArrayHandle implementations should provide
     // more efficient overloads where applicable.
@@ -93,15 +93,13 @@ template <>
 struct ArrayExtractComponentImpl<vtkm::cont::StorageTagStride>
 {
   template <typename T>
-  vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleStride<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType>
-  operator()(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, vtkm::cont::StorageTagStride>& src,
-             vtkm::IdComponent componentIndex,
-             vtkm::CopyFlag allowCopy) const
+  vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleStride<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType> operator()(
+    const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, vtkm::cont::StorageTagStride>& src,
+    vtkm::IdComponent componentIndex,
+    vtkm::CopyFlag allowCopy) const
   {
-    return this->DoExtract(src,
-                           componentIndex,
-                           allowCopy,
-                           typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::HasMultipleComponents{});
+    return this->DoExtract(
+      src, componentIndex, allowCopy, typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::HasMultipleComponents{});
   }
 
 private:
@@ -112,7 +110,7 @@ private:
                  vtkm::VecTraitsTagSingleComponent) const
   {
     VTKM_ASSERT(componentIndex == 0);
-    using VTraits = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>;
+    using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
     using TBase = typename VTraits::BaseComponentType;
     VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT(VTraits::NUM_COMPONENTS == 1);
 
@@ -135,7 +133,7 @@ private:
                  vtkm::CopyFlag allowCopy,
                  vtkm::VecTraitsTagMultipleComponents) const
   {
-    using VTraits = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<VecType>;
+    using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<VecType>;
     using T = typename VTraits::ComponentType;
     constexpr vtkm::IdComponent N = VTraits::NUM_COMPONENTS;
 
@@ -254,10 +252,10 @@ using ArrayExtractComponentIsInefficient = typename std::is_base_of<
 /// `vtkm::cont::internal::ArrayExtractComponentImpl`.
 ///
 template <typename T, typename S>
-vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleStride<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType>
-ArrayExtractComponent(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S>& src,
-                      vtkm::IdComponent componentIndex,
-                      vtkm::CopyFlag allowCopy = vtkm::CopyFlag::On)
+vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleStride<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType> ArrayExtractComponent(
+  const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S>& src,
+  vtkm::IdComponent componentIndex,
+  vtkm::CopyFlag allowCopy = vtkm::CopyFlag::On)
 {
   return internal::ArrayExtractComponentImpl<S>{}(src, componentIndex, allowCopy);
 }
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayGetValues.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayGetValues.h
index e4a19fb14..51e23e444 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayGetValues.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayGetValues.h
@@ -120,9 +120,6 @@ VTKM_CONT void ArrayGetValues(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<vtkm::Id, SIds>& ids
                               const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, SData>& data,
                               vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, SOut>& output)
 {
-  VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT_MSG(
-    vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value,
-    "ArrayGetValues can only be used with arrays containing value types with VecTraits defined.");
   using DataArrayHandle = vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, SData>;
   using InefficientExtract =
     vtkm::cont::internal::ArrayExtractComponentIsInefficient<DataArrayHandle>;
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandle.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandle.h
index 09a40f346..6a4467b15 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandle.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandle.h
@@ -752,9 +752,9 @@ VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VTKM_CONT inline void printSummary_ArrayHandle_Value(
   std::ostream& out,
   vtkm::VecTraitsTagMultipleComponents)
 {
-  using Traits = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>;
+  using Traits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
   using ComponentType = typename Traits::ComponentType;
-  using IsVecOfVec = typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<ComponentType>::HasMultipleComponents;
+  using IsVecOfVec = typename vtkm::VecTraits<ComponentType>::HasMultipleComponents;
   vtkm::IdComponent numComponents = Traits::GetNumberOfComponents(value);
   out << "(";
   printSummary_ArrayHandle_Value(Traits::GetComponent(value, 0), out, IsVecOfVec());
@@ -774,10 +774,10 @@ VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VTKM_CONT inline void printSummary_ArrayHandle_Value(
 {
   out << "{";
   printSummary_ArrayHandle_Value(
-    value.first, out, typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T1>::HasMultipleComponents());
+    value.first, out, typename vtkm::VecTraits<T1>::HasMultipleComponents());
   out << ",";
   printSummary_ArrayHandle_Value(
-    value.second, out, typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T2>::HasMultipleComponents());
+    value.second, out, typename vtkm::VecTraits<T2>::HasMultipleComponents());
   out << "}";
 }
 
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ VTKM_NEVER_EXPORT VTKM_CONT inline void printSummary_ArrayHandle(
 {
   using ArrayType = vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, StorageT>;
   using PortalType = typename ArrayType::ReadPortalType;
-  using IsVec = typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::HasMultipleComponents;
+  using IsVec = typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::HasMultipleComponents;
 
   vtkm::Id sz = array.GetNumberOfValues();
 
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCounting.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCounting.h
index 2840eeaeb..7f2eae8c1 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCounting.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCounting.h
@@ -77,27 +77,17 @@ private:
 namespace detail
 {
 
-template <typename T, typename UseVecTraits = vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>>
-struct CanCountImpl;
-
 template <typename T>
-struct CanCountImpl<T, std::false_type>
-{
-  using TTraits = vtkm::TypeTraits<T>;
-  static constexpr bool IsNumeric =
-    !std::is_same<typename TTraits::NumericTag, vtkm::TypeTraitsUnknownTag>::value;
-
-  static constexpr bool value = IsNumeric;
-};
-
-template <typename T>
-struct CanCountImpl<T, std::true_type>
+struct CanCountImpl
 {
   using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
   using BaseType = typename VTraits::BaseComponentType;
+  using TTraits = vtkm::TypeTraits<BaseType>;
+  static constexpr bool IsNumeric =
+    !std::is_same<typename TTraits::NumericTag, vtkm::TypeTraitsUnknownTag>::value;
   static constexpr bool IsBool = std::is_same<BaseType, bool>::value;
 
-  static constexpr bool value = CanCountImpl<BaseType, std::false_type>::value && !IsBool;
+  static constexpr bool value = IsNumeric && !IsBool;
 };
 
 } // namespace detail
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleRecombineVec.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleRecombineVec.h
index f99303a95..1a817e296 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleRecombineVec.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleRecombineVec.h
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public:
     return *this;
   }
 
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator=(const T& src)
   {
     this->DoCopy(src);
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public:
     return result;
   }
 
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator+=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator-=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator*=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator/=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator%=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator&=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator|=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator^=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator>>=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ public:
     }
     return *this;
   }
-  template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
+  template <typename T>
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT RecombineVec& operator<<=(const T& src)
   {
     using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleRuntimeVec.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleRuntimeVec.h
index 6006452a9..4143c8bd4 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleRuntimeVec.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleRuntimeVec.h
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ class Storage<vtkm::VecFromPortal<ComponentsPortal>, vtkm::cont::StorageTagRunti
     vtkm::cont::internal::Storage<ComponentType, vtkm::cont::StorageTagBasic>;
 
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT_MSG(
-    vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<ComponentType>::NUM_COMPONENTS == 1,
+    vtkm::VecTraits<ComponentType>::NUM_COMPONENTS == 1,
     "ArrayHandleRuntimeVec only supports scalars grouped into a single Vec. Nested Vecs can "
     "still be used with ArrayHandleRuntimeVec. The values are treated as flattened (like "
     "with VecFlat).");
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleSOA.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleSOA.h
index 552ab5d5a..d50d64470 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleSOA.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleSOA.h
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ public:
 private:
   using ComponentType = typename ComponentPortalType::ValueType;
 
-  VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT(vtkm::HasVecTraits<ValueType>::value);
   using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<ValueType>;
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT((std::is_same<typename VTraits::ComponentType, ComponentType>::value));
   static constexpr vtkm::IdComponent NUM_COMPONENTS = VTraits::NUM_COMPONENTS;
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/UnknownArrayHandle.h b/vtkm/cont/UnknownArrayHandle.h
index 88b40590f..27c52ffc1 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/UnknownArrayHandle.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/UnknownArrayHandle.h
@@ -82,11 +82,9 @@ inline auto UnknownAHNumberOfComponentsImpl(void* mem)
 // of a use case for the storage to report the number of components for a static data type.
 // If that happens, this implementation will need to be modified.
 template <typename T, typename S>
-inline auto UnknownAHNumberOfComponentsImpl(void*)
-  -> decltype(vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::NUM_COMPONENTS)
+inline auto UnknownAHNumberOfComponentsImpl(void*) -> decltype(vtkm::VecTraits<T>::NUM_COMPONENTS)
 {
-  static constexpr vtkm::IdComponent numComponents =
-    vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::NUM_COMPONENTS;
+  static constexpr vtkm::IdComponent numComponents = vtkm::VecTraits<T>::NUM_COMPONENTS;
   return numComponents;
 }
 
@@ -117,7 +115,7 @@ inline auto UnknownAHNumberOfComponentsFlatImpl(void* mem)
   // static. If a future `ArrayHandle` type violates this, this code will have to become
   // more complex.
   return (vtkm::cont::internal::Storage<T, S>::GetNumberOfComponents(arrayHandle->GetBuffers()) *
-          vtkm::VecFlat<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::ComponentType>::NUM_COMPONENTS);
+          vtkm::VecFlat<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::ComponentType>::NUM_COMPONENTS);
 }
 
 // Uses SFINAE to use the number of compnents in VecTraits.
@@ -364,14 +362,13 @@ std::shared_ptr<UnknownAHContainer> UnknownAHNewInstanceBasic(vtkm::VecTraitsTag
 template <typename T>
 std::shared_ptr<UnknownAHContainer> UnknownAHNewInstanceBasic()
 {
-  return UnknownAHNewInstanceBasic<T>(typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::IsSizeStatic{});
+  return UnknownAHNewInstanceBasic<T>(typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::IsSizeStatic{});
 }
 
 template <typename T>
 std::shared_ptr<UnknownAHContainer> UnknownAHNewInstanceFloatBasic(vtkm::VecTraitsTagSizeStatic)
 {
-  using FloatT = typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<
-    vtkm::FloatDefault>;
+  using FloatT = typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<vtkm::FloatDefault>;
   return UnknownAHContainer::Make(vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleBasic<FloatT>{});
 }
 template <typename T>
@@ -383,8 +380,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<UnknownAHContainer> UnknownAHNewInstanceFloatBasic(vtkm::VecTrai
 template <typename T>
 std::shared_ptr<UnknownAHContainer> UnknownAHNewInstanceFloatBasic()
 {
-  return UnknownAHNewInstanceFloatBasic<T>(
-    typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::IsSizeStatic{});
+  return UnknownAHNewInstanceFloatBasic<T>(typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::IsSizeStatic{});
 }
 
 template <typename T, typename S>
@@ -393,7 +389,7 @@ inline UnknownAHContainer::UnknownAHContainer(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<T, S
   , ValueType(typeid(T))
   , StorageType(typeid(S))
   , BaseComponentType(
-      UnknownAHComponentInfo::Make<typename vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType>())
+      UnknownAHComponentInfo::Make<typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType>())
   , DeleteFunction(detail::UnknownAHDelete<T, S>)
   , Buffers(detail::UnknownAHBuffers<T, S>)
   , NewInstance(detail::UnknownAHNewInstance<T, S>)
@@ -1031,8 +1027,8 @@ namespace detail
 {
 
 template <typename T,
-          vtkm::IdComponent = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<
-            typename vtkm::internal::UnrollVec<T>::ComponentType>::NUM_COMPONENTS>
+          vtkm::IdComponent =
+            vtkm::VecTraits<typename vtkm::internal::UnrollVec<T>::ComponentType>::NUM_COMPONENTS>
 struct UnknownArrayHandleRuntimeVecAsBasic
 {
   VTKM_CONT bool operator()(const vtkm::cont::UnknownArrayHandle*,
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/internal/MapArrayPermutation.cxx b/vtkm/cont/internal/MapArrayPermutation.cxx
index cb3512df0..82de78f0f 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/internal/MapArrayPermutation.cxx
+++ b/vtkm/cont/internal/MapArrayPermutation.cxx
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ struct MapPermutationWorklet : vtkm::worklet::WorkletMapField
                             InputPortalType inputPortal,
                             OutputType& output) const
   {
-    VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT(vtkm::HasVecTraits<OutputType>::value);
     if ((permutationIndex >= 0) && (permutationIndex < inputPortal.GetNumberOfValues()))
     {
       output = inputPortal.Get(permutationIndex);
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/testing/UnitTestArrayHandleRuntimeVec.cxx b/vtkm/cont/testing/UnitTestArrayHandleRuntimeVec.cxx
index a2da0ad5a..fdb4e7bd6 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/testing/UnitTestArrayHandleRuntimeVec.cxx
+++ b/vtkm/cont/testing/UnitTestArrayHandleRuntimeVec.cxx
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ struct PassThrough : vtkm::worklet::WorkletMapField
                           OutValue& outValue,
                           vtkm::IdComponent& outIndex) const
   {
-    using VTraitsIn = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<InValue>;
-    using VTraitsOut = vtkm::internal::SafeVecTraits<OutValue>;
+    using VTraitsIn = vtkm::VecTraits<InValue>;
+    using VTraitsOut = vtkm::VecTraits<OutValue>;
     VTraitsOut::SetComponent(outValue, outIndex, VTraitsIn::GetComponent(inValue, inIndex));
     inIndex++;
     outIndex++;
diff --git a/vtkm/internal/ArrayPortalValueReference.h b/vtkm/internal/ArrayPortalValueReference.h
index e92340a3f..e7f849d31 100644
--- a/vtkm/internal/ArrayPortalValueReference.h
+++ b/vtkm/internal/ArrayPortalValueReference.h
@@ -19,39 +19,6 @@ namespace vtkm
 namespace internal
 {
 
-namespace detail
-{
-
-// TODO: VecTraits should just always be supported. See #589.
-
-template <typename Vec, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<Vec>::value>::type>
-VTKM_EXEC_CONT inline vtkm::IdComponent SafeGetNumberOfComponents(const Vec& vec)
-{
-  return vtkm::VecTraits<Vec>::GetNumberOfComponents(vec);
-}
-
-VTKM_EXEC_CONT inline vtkm::IdComponent SafeGetNumberOfComponents(...)
-{
-  return 1;
-}
-
-template <typename Vec, typename = typename std::enable_if<vtkm::HasVecTraits<Vec>::value>::type>
-VTKM_EXEC_CONT inline typename vtkm::VecTraits<Vec>::ComponentType SafeGetComponent(
-  const Vec& vec,
-  vtkm::IdComponent index)
-{
-  return vtkm::VecTraits<Vec>::GetComponent(vec, index);
-}
-
-template <typename T, typename = typename std::enable_if<!vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>::value>::type>
-VTKM_EXEC_CONT inline T SafeGetComponent(const T& value, vtkm::IdComponent index)
-{
-  VTKM_ASSERT(index == 0);
-  return value;
-}
-
-} // namespace detail
-
 /// \brief A value class for returning setable values of an ArrayPortal
 ///
 /// \c ArrayPortal classes have a pair of \c Get and \c Set methods that
@@ -350,12 +317,12 @@ struct ArrayPortalValueReference
   // cannot write components one at a time.
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT vtkm::IdComponent GetNumberOfComponents() const
   {
-    return detail::SafeGetNumberOfComponents(static_cast<ValueType>(*this));
+    return vtkm::VecTraits<ValueType>::GetNumberOfComponents(this->Get());
   }
-  VTKM_EXEC_CONT auto operator[](vtkm::IdComponent index) const
-    -> decltype(detail::SafeGetComponent(std::declval<ValueType>(), index))
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT
+  typename vtkm::VecTraits<ValueType>::ComponentType operator[](vtkm::IdComponent index) const
   {
-    return detail::SafeGetComponent(static_cast<ValueType>(*this), index);
+    return vtkm::VecTraits<ValueType>::GetComponent(this->Get(), index);
   }
 
 private:
diff --git a/vtkm/io/internal/VTKDataSetTypes.h b/vtkm/io/internal/VTKDataSetTypes.h
index eaeb811ea..483573a6f 100644
--- a/vtkm/io/internal/VTKDataSetTypes.h
+++ b/vtkm/io/internal/VTKDataSetTypes.h
@@ -242,11 +242,9 @@ inline void SelectTypeAndCall(DataType dtype,
       assert(false);
   }
 }
+
 }
 }
 } // namespace vtkm::io::internal
 
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(vtkm::io::internal::ColorChannel8)
-VTKM_BASIC_TYPE_VECTOR(vtkm::io::internal::DummyBitType)
-
 #endif // vtk_m_io_internal_VTKDataSetTypes_h
diff --git a/vtkm/testing/Testing.h b/vtkm/testing/Testing.h
index ed0217f67..36cb38616 100644
--- a/vtkm/testing/Testing.h
+++ b/vtkm/testing/Testing.h
@@ -624,12 +624,8 @@ namespace detail
 template <typename T1, typename T2>
 struct TestEqualImpl
 {
-  template <typename Dimensionality1, typename Dimensionality2>
-  VTKM_EXEC_CONT bool DoIt(T1 vector1,
-                           T2 vector2,
-                           vtkm::Float64 tolerance,
-                           Dimensionality1,
-                           Dimensionality2) const
+  template <typename IsBase1, typename IsBase2>
+  VTKM_EXEC_CONT bool DoIt(T1 vector1, T2 vector2, vtkm::Float64 tolerance, IsBase1, IsBase2) const
   {
     using Traits1 = vtkm::VecTraits<T1>;
     using Traits2 = vtkm::VecTraits<T2>;
@@ -658,8 +654,8 @@ struct TestEqualImpl
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT bool DoIt(T1 scalar1,
                            T2 scalar2,
                            vtkm::Float64 tolerance,
-                           vtkm::TypeTraitsScalarTag,
-                           vtkm::TypeTraitsScalarTag) const
+                           std::true_type,
+                           std::true_type) const
   {
     // Do all comparisons using 64-bit floats.
     return test_equal(
@@ -668,11 +664,13 @@ struct TestEqualImpl
 
   VTKM_EXEC_CONT bool operator()(T1 value1, T2 value2, vtkm::Float64 tolerance) const
   {
+    using Base1 = typename vtkm::VecTraits<T1>::BaseComponentType;
+    using Base2 = typename vtkm::VecTraits<T2>::BaseComponentType;
     return this->DoIt(value1,
                       value2,
                       tolerance,
-                      typename vtkm::TypeTraits<T1>::DimensionalityTag(),
-                      typename vtkm::TypeTraits<T2>::DimensionalityTag());
+                      typename std::is_same<T1, Base1>::type{},
+                      typename std::is_same<T2, Base2>::type{});
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/vtkm/testing/UnitTestVecTraits.cxx b/vtkm/testing/UnitTestVecTraits.cxx
index 9642670b8..85a08c885 100644
--- a/vtkm/testing/UnitTestVecTraits.cxx
+++ b/vtkm/testing/UnitTestVecTraits.cxx
@@ -17,12 +17,18 @@ namespace
 static constexpr vtkm::Id MAX_VECTOR_SIZE = 5;
 static constexpr vtkm::Id VecInit[MAX_VECTOR_SIZE] = { 42, 54, 67, 12, 78 };
 
-void ExpectTrueType(std::true_type) {}
-
-void ExpectFalseType(std::false_type) {}
-
 struct TypeWithoutVecTraits
 {
+  vtkm::Id Value = -1;
+
+  TypeWithoutVecTraits() = default;
+
+  TypeWithoutVecTraits(vtkm::Id value)
+    : Value(value)
+  {
+  }
+
+  operator vtkm::Id() const { return this->Value; }
 };
 
 struct TestVecTypeFunctor
@@ -30,9 +36,6 @@ struct TestVecTypeFunctor
   template <typename T>
   void operator()(const T&) const
   {
-    // Make sure that VecTraits actually exists
-    ExpectTrueType(vtkm::HasVecTraits<T>());
-
     using Traits = vtkm::VecTraits<T>;
     using ComponentType = typename Traits::ComponentType;
     VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(Traits::NUM_COMPONENTS <= MAX_VECTOR_SIZE,
@@ -59,8 +62,8 @@ void TestVecTraits()
   vtkm::testing::Testing::TryTypes(test);
   std::cout << "vtkm::Vec<vtkm::FloatDefault, 5>" << std::endl;
   test(vtkm::Vec<vtkm::FloatDefault, 5>());
-
-  ExpectFalseType(vtkm::HasVecTraits<TypeWithoutVecTraits>());
+  std::cout << "TypeWithoutVecTraits" << std::endl;
+  test(TypeWithoutVecTraits{});
 
   vtkm::testing::TestVecComponentsTag<vtkm::Id3>();
   vtkm::testing::TestVecComponentsTag<vtkm::Vec3f>();
@@ -69,6 +72,7 @@ void TestVecTraits()
   vtkm::testing::TestVecComponentsTag<vtkm::VecCConst<vtkm::Id>>();
   vtkm::testing::TestScalarComponentsTag<vtkm::Id>();
   vtkm::testing::TestScalarComponentsTag<vtkm::FloatDefault>();
+  vtkm::testing::TestScalarComponentsTag<TypeWithoutVecTraits>();
 }
 
 } // anonymous namespace
diff --git a/vtkm/testing/VecTraitsTests.h b/vtkm/testing/VecTraitsTests.h
index e84db5b72..0bec632a8 100644
--- a/vtkm/testing/VecTraitsTests.h
+++ b/vtkm/testing/VecTraitsTests.h
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ inline void CompareDimensionalityTags(vtkm::TypeTraitsVectorTag,
 {
   // If we are here, everything is fine.
 }
+inline void CompareDimensionalityTags(vtkm::TypeTraitsUnknownTag, vtkm::VecTraitsTagSingleComponent)
+{
+  // If we are here, type traits are probably not defined (and default to unknown). In this case,
+  // we expect VecTraits to have the default implementation, in which case it is treated as a
+  // single component.
+}
 
 template <vtkm::IdComponent NUM_COMPONENTS, typename T>
 inline void CheckIsStatic(const T&, vtkm::VecTraitsTagSizeStatic)
@@ -73,6 +79,12 @@ struct VecIsWritable<vtkm::VecCConst<ComponentType>>
   using type = std::false_type;
 };
 
+template <typename ComponentType>
+struct VecIsWritable<vtkm::VecCConst<ComponentType>*>
+{
+  using type = std::false_type;
+};
+
 // Part of TestVecTypeImpl that writes to the Vec type
 template <vtkm::IdComponent NUM_COMPONENTS, typename T, typename VecCopyType>
 static void TestVecTypeWritableImpl(const T& inVector,
@@ -150,8 +162,9 @@ static void TestVecTypeImpl(const typename std::remove_const<T>::type& inVector,
   }
 
   // This will fail to compile if the tags are wrong.
-  detail::CompareDimensionalityTags(typename vtkm::TypeTraits<T>::DimensionalityTag(),
-                                    typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::HasMultipleComponents());
+  detail::CompareDimensionalityTags(
+    typename vtkm::TypeTraits<std::remove_pointer_t<T>>::DimensionalityTag(),
+    typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::HasMultipleComponents());
 
   TestVecTypeWritableImpl<NUM_COMPONENTS, NonConstT>(
     inVector, vectorCopy, outVector, typename VecIsWritable<NonConstT>::type());
@@ -159,7 +172,9 @@ static void TestVecTypeImpl(const typename std::remove_const<T>::type& inVector,
   // Compiler checks for base component types
   using BaseComponentType = typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::BaseComponentType;
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT((std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<BaseComponentType>::DimensionalityTag,
-                                   vtkm::TypeTraitsScalarTag>::value));
+                                   vtkm::TypeTraitsScalarTag>::value) ||
+                     (std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<BaseComponentType>::DimensionalityTag,
+                                   vtkm::TypeTraitsUnknownTag>::value));
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT((std::is_same<typename vtkm::VecTraits<ComponentType>::BaseComponentType,
                                    BaseComponentType>::value));
 
@@ -167,12 +182,12 @@ static void TestVecTypeImpl(const typename std::remove_const<T>::type& inVector,
   using ReplaceWithVecComponent =
     typename vtkm::VecTraits<T>::template ReplaceComponentType<vtkm::Vec<char, 2>>;
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT(
-    (std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<T>::DimensionalityTag,
+    (std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<std::remove_pointer_t<T>>::DimensionalityTag,
                   vtkm::TypeTraitsVectorTag>::value &&
      std::is_same<typename vtkm::VecTraits<ReplaceWithVecComponent>::ComponentType,
                   vtkm::Vec<char, 2>>::value) ||
-    (std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<T>::DimensionalityTag,
-                  vtkm::TypeTraitsScalarTag>::value &&
+    (!std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<std::remove_pointer_t<T>>::DimensionalityTag,
+                   vtkm::TypeTraitsVectorTag>::value &&
      std::is_same<typename vtkm::VecTraits<ReplaceWithVecComponent>::ComponentType, char>::value));
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT(
     (std::is_same<typename vtkm::VecTraits<ReplaceWithVecComponent>::BaseComponentType,
@@ -180,12 +195,12 @@ static void TestVecTypeImpl(const typename std::remove_const<T>::type& inVector,
   using ReplaceBaseComponent =
     typename vtkm::VecTraits<ReplaceWithVecComponent>::template ReplaceBaseComponentType<short>;
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT(
-    (std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<T>::DimensionalityTag,
+    (std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<std::remove_pointer_t<T>>::DimensionalityTag,
                   vtkm::TypeTraitsVectorTag>::value &&
      std::is_same<typename vtkm::VecTraits<ReplaceBaseComponent>::ComponentType,
                   vtkm::Vec<short, 2>>::value) ||
-    (std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<T>::DimensionalityTag,
-                  vtkm::TypeTraitsScalarTag>::value &&
+    (!std::is_same<typename vtkm::TypeTraits<std::remove_pointer_t<T>>::DimensionalityTag,
+                   vtkm::TypeTraitsVectorTag>::value &&
      std::is_same<typename vtkm::VecTraits<ReplaceBaseComponent>::ComponentType, short>::value));
   VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT((
     std::is_same<typename vtkm::VecTraits<ReplaceBaseComponent>::BaseComponentType, short>::value));
@@ -227,6 +242,13 @@ static void TestVecType(const T& inVector, T& outVector)
 {
   detail::TestVecTypeImpl<NUM_COMPONENTS, T>(inVector, outVector);
   detail::TestVecTypeImpl<NUM_COMPONENTS, const T>(inVector, outVector);
+  // The local pointer variables are for some weirdness about `TestVecTypeImpl` taking references
+  // of its argument type.
+  T* inPointer = const_cast<T*>(&inVector);
+  T* outPointer = &outVector;
+  detail::TestVecTypeImpl<NUM_COMPONENTS, T*>(inPointer, outPointer);
+  VTKM_STATIC_ASSERT_MSG((std::is_base_of<vtkm::VecTraits<T*>, vtkm::VecTraits<const T*>>::value),
+                         "Constant pointer should have same implementation as pointer.");
 }
 
 /// Checks to make sure that the HasMultipleComponents tag is actually for a