As cannabis has evolved through out the years we have come a long way from your standard ‘marijuana cigarette’. As dabbing concentrates has quickly come onto the scene, we’ve seen companies adapt to provide the ultimate mobile option: the dab pen.
Portable pens with batteries now make it simple and easy to take your dab on the go. Instead of the more extensive process with a handful of dabbing tools, people are turning towards vaping to get their dab in a very easy and discrete way.
What is a Dab Pen?
Dab pens are a convenient portable option to consume cannabis concentrates. They consist of a cartridge that contains the concentrate and a battery to heat up a coil that vaporizes the wax in the pen. Simply press a button and inhale, then you’re on your way to a pleasant experience consuming cannabis concentrates.
Dab pens have been around for a few years, but they continue to grow in popularity. Many cannabis consumers enjoy their ease of use and the ability to stay medicated throughout the day without having to worry about how they smell. With a simple press of a button people can be consuming cannabis concentrates avoiding the process of heating up a nail, waiting for it to cool, then taking the dab and having to clean the nail afterwards with a Q-tip.
Cannabis consumers can also purchase dab pens that offer self filling cartridges that you can put your own wax in. This allows users to choose exactly what kind of concentrate they want to vape, allowing for a more personalized experience. They offer the same convenience of on the go dabbing with one added small step of putting your wax in the dab pen cartridge.
Do Dab Pens Get You High?
Dab pens with THC will most definitely get you high. This is because of the cannabis concentrate that is used to fill the cartridge. These cartridges have a higher THC content than your average cannabis flowers.
It’s a great way to consume less product, but still achieve the same level of high as your would with normal cannabis flower. The convenience of using a dab pen also allows users to take a hit faster than you could off a dab rig or a bowl of flower.
There are also dab pens that are strictly CBD, or a mix of CBD and THC. Pens that are strictly CBD will not get you high. These are used to help with pain, anxiety and insomnia. CBD is THC’s non-psychoactive counterpart, offering relief for many ailments.
Do Dab Pens Smell?
Dab pens do in fact smell. A person that has a nose for cannabis would know if you exhaled right in front of them.
However, the smell that’s puts off would dissipate almost instantaneously in a well ventilated space, and only linger for a short time in a closed room. If you are consuming a dab pen outdoors most consumers would go undetected, just short of exhaling right in someones face.
What to Look for in a Dab Pen
When purchasing a dab pen there are a few things you should look for to make sure that your aren’t disappointed with your purchase.
First, you’ll want to look for a brand that you can trust and is reputable in the cannabis space. The next thing you should look for when buying a pre-filled cartridge is the strain of cannabis used to fill the cartridge. It is best to stick to strains you know and love, then branch out from there. Buying a strain you are familiar will ensure that you will like the effect and flavor of the cartridge that you choose.
When purchasing a battery to power the coil in vaporizing your concentrate, look for a pen battery that allows you to change the voltage output. This will allow you to adjust the temperature that the wax is vaporized at to either increase the size of your heat by raising the volts, or increasing the flavor profile of the cannabis concentrate by lowing the voltage. Lowering the voltage on your dab pen will allow you to vaporize your concentrates at a lower temperature.
Dab Pen Oil
Dab pen oil is the cannabis concentrate that is put in the pen cartridges, also known as distillate.Distillate concentrates that are used in dab pens have a liquid like consistency to allow for easy vaporization. Distillates usually have an added compound to help make the concentrate into a more liquid like state.
Another cannabis concentrate that is used to fill dab pen cartridges is sauce. Sauce also has a liquid like consistency and can be made with out the use of any compounds. While sauce pen cartridges may cost a little more, the flavor and high is unparalleled. You can really tell you’re consuming cannabis; they don’t have that fake, too go to be true flavor.
Cartridge
A dab pen cartridge is the container that holds the cannabis concentrate and screws in or magnetizes to the dab pen battery. Concentrate companies around the country have their own cartridges that they make along with their regular waxes.
The cartridge has the tank for the concentrate and a mouth piece to inhale from on it. The design of these cartridges vary from company to company. Some companies choose to establish their difference from other companies by using a cartridge that is unique to them. They do this to set themselves apart from other companies and can add a cool factor to what you’re smoking on.
Pen Battery
The battery is used to conduct electricity and heat up a coil in the dab pen. The heated coil then vaporizes the concentrate in the cartridge as you inhale. They come in many shapes and sizes. Some have a spot to screw the cartridges into, while others have a magnetic connection. A good pen battery to look for would be one with an adjustable voltage setting. This would allow you to adjust the temperature you vaporize your cartridge at and allow for a more personalized experience.
Best Dab Pen
Concentrate companies have developed wonderful strains that taste amazing to put in their cartridges. It really comes down to your individual tastes and what flavor profile and high you’re looking for. A good rule of thumb is to stick to reputable companies from a reputable cannabis dispensary.
Cheap Dab Pens
For those on a budget that still want to take part in the new age way of using a dab pen. They may not taste as great as the higher end brands, they still do the trick in getting a person adequately stoned. They are especially great for those who mainly smoke at home but still want the option to be able to consume concentrates when they are on the go.
Best Dab Pen 2019
There are so many good companies out there making dab pens it’s really hard to choose, these are a few of the top name brands in the business:
- Gpen
- Ccell
- Puffco
- Stiiizy
Best Cartridge 2019
There are a great number of concentrate companies that make excellent cartridges. It’s really hard to say which is the best and it all boils down to personal taste. Some brands to consider:
- LoudPack Kingpens
- West Coast Cure CurePens
- Stiiizy
- Cookies Ca Gpen
- Brass Knuckles
- Heavy Hitters
- Rove
- Moxie
Best CBD Dab Pen
- Stiiizy
- Kushy Vape
- Rove
Where to Buy Dab Pens
Buying a dab pen is easy. You can find batteries at your local smoke shop, or both batteries and cartridges at you local dispensary.
FAQs
What are the settings on my dab pen? ›
The v1 has three heat settings denoted by different colors– green is low, blue is medium and red is high. To adjust the heat level, press the button three times, and the color will change along with the setting. For the best flavor and oil longevity, we recommend using your v1 on low heat.
What do the colors on my dab pen charger mean? ›A vape pen's indicator light can work in several different ways when the device charges. Some lights are red when charging and turn green or white when charging is complete. Some lights are on when charging and turn off when charging is complete. Some lights pulse when charging and turn solid when charging is complete.
What do the lights mean on a dab pen? ›The color of the indicator light helps to convey different things. A Red light will display when heating up or when a setting is not selected (Note that the pen will not heat up until you select your filament type and speed) A Blue light will display when feeding on a pre-set temperature mode.
Do all dab pens fit all carts? ›Do vape pens fit all cartridges? Not all vape cartridges are alike! The typical size is a 510-thread cartridge, and this will fit many batteries available at your local dispensary. There are also a few battery-specific cartridges, such as pods, that only work for a certain brand.
What setting on a dab pen is the highest? ›High - Green lights mean you are at the high setting, which is 4.0 volts. This setting is going to provide the biggest vape hit but will sacrifice flavor, some THC cartridges may even start to burn at this voltage setting.
What wattage gives the best flavor? ›What Vape Wattage Has The Best Flavour? The perfect balance of vapour and flavour is anywhere between 50 and 100 watts depending on your coil choice. Clapton and Alien coils usually take a bit more power to ramp up so you'll want to boost the wattage if you're using either of these options.
What do the different colored lights mean on a battery charger for a cart? ›Short green flash = less than 80% charged. Long green flash = more than 80% charged. Solid green light = 100% charged. Red flash = fault code, charging error.
How do I know when my DAB pen battery is fully charged? ›Check Your Vape Pen Charger
If the charger is working properly, the small LED will glow red if the vape battery is charging or green if the vape battery is fully charged.
A light will typically appear or flash to indicate it is on. Once it is on, it's ready for use. If your vape pen is button activated, simply hold down the button as you draw from the mouthpiece of your cartridge. You'll want to make sure you vaporizer battery is charged before you get started.
What does 3 flashes mean on a dab pen? ›Certain batteries will flash 3 times to indicate a short circuit. Most standard e-cig batteries will have what's called short circuit protection, so when there is a short and you press the fire button it will just blink 3 times and then won't do anything.
What does 3 blinks mean on a dab pen? ›
Your vape pen is low on battery
On many vape pen models, pushing the button and seeing the vape blinking three times can mean that the vape pen battery is very low. Your vape brand's manual should mention how to properly tell if your battery is running low, but a blinking vape light is a tell-tale sign of this.
Yes, dabs are stronger than cartridges.
Also, they offer a quick and intense feeling that no other cannabis ingestion method can attain. Dabs have higher concentrations of THC, and rarely do they tag along with any additives.
In fact, although the term is often used when describing cannabis or THC carts, there is no such thing as a dab cart. Dabbing refers exclusively to heating semi-solid concentrates, like wax and shatter, at high temperatures to produce vapor, and carts use runny, honey-like oil.
Are dabs and dab pens the same? ›A dab pen is something which is used purely for the consumption of dabs. Dabs are tiny little concentrates of THC, instead of your more traditional dry herb or e-liquid. A dab pen is made up of the same components as a vape pen, and works more or less in the same way.
How many hits of a dab pen is normal? ›The lifespan of a cannabis vape pen
5 gram size will typically yield 150 puffs and 300 puffs from a full gram cartridge. A 'puff' is generally considered to be about 3-5mg depending on how long you inhale.
Many low-temp dabbers recommend heating the nail for at most 30 seconds and letting it cool for about 20 seconds. Start with these recommended times and adjust as needed. Getting the perfect low-temperature dab isn't easy on the first try, but with practice, it can become second nature.
How many hits of a dab pen first time? ›When you first start vaping, start with just one puff, even if your pen has 65% THC. Once you see how it makes you feel, you can up your dosage. To be safe, wait for at least 30 minutes before taking another puff; vaping takes a while to hit.
What size coil is best for flavor? ›The best ones to go for flavour wise are clapton, titanium (if you prefer vaping with TC mode) or an Alien coil. The sweet spot for getting a balance of vapour and flavour is around 0.3ohms. Depending on your coil choice you'll want to up the wattage from anywhere between 50 and 100 watts.
Does higher wattage make bigger clouds? ›Adjusting your power settings for maximum clouds
The simple lesson here is that more power generates bigger clouds. If you vape at 60 W you'll get much bigger clouds than when you're vaping at 30 W, as long as it's with the same tank and e-juice.
Higher wattage = more power. When considering the capacity of your power supply, there's one rule of thumb that's important to remember. It's better to have more power than you need because you shouldn't run your power supply at 100% capacity.
What does blue charging light mean? ›
A blue light means that it is too cold to charge the battery. Lithium batteries cannot be charged at a temperature below 3°C (37.4°F).
What does red mean on a pen charger? ›A red light comes on to indicate fast charging of the battery.
Can you overcharge dab battery? ›Don't Overcharge Your Vape Battery
By leaving your vape plugged in when it's reached its capacity (fully charged), that extra power doesn't do anything. Well, nothing good, anyway. Overcharging your battery can lead to problems like: Capacity loss, meaning your battery will lose its charge a lot faster.
Overcharging a vape will significantly reduce the lifespan of the batteries and damage them. The lifespan of your vape batteries behaves like the batteries in any other device you own; you should be mindful, especially if the batteries are not rechargeable.
How long should you leave a dab pen charging? ›Charging time for most standard vape pens takes up to two to three hours (possibly more if the LED indicator light is red). Bigger vapes with bulkier batteries, such as box mods, may take longer than vape pens.
What is my dab pen not hitting? ›The Battery Is Dead: One of the most common reasons why vape pens stop working is because the battery is dead. If your pen isn't turning on, it's probably because the battery needs to be charged. Most vape pens use lithium-ion batteries, which need to be recharged after a few hundred uses.
Why is my dab pen on but not hitting? ›If your vape pen seems to be in good condition but doesn't work when you pull, it's possible your airflow may be compromised due to a clogged cart. In order to unclog your cart, check to see if your vape pen's airflow holes are open.
Is a dab pen supposed to blink when charging? ›It's normal for your vape pen to blink when charging. The light will usually turn green when it's done, but some devices continue flashing red while charging. This means it's getting the charge it needs.
What setting should my cart be at? ›In general, the ideal voltage setting for more THC carts is 2.5V - 3.3V. More specifically, a voltage right around 3.0 V should yield a balance of taste and potency from your draw. The reason for this is that at this medium level of temperature, you get the best flavor from your THC carts.
What is the difference between high and low voltage on dab pen? ›What Voltage Means on a Vape Pen. Simply put, the higher the voltage you set, the higher the heat. This will intensify or lessen certain variables of your vape. A lower voltage setting allows more subtle flavors to come through since some delicate terpenes may not be discernible with higher heat.
Is blue the highest setting on a dab pen? ›
Blue = Low Power Setting. Yellow = Medium Power Setting. Green = High Power Setting.
Is green the lowest setting on a dab pen? ›Green is the lowest voltage, blue is in the middle, and red is the highest. The voltage can affect the potency and taste of your cannabis, so you'll want to experiment to find your preference. We recommend the 'blue' setting for our Arizona Natural Selections' house blend oil.
Should carts be dark or light? ›Color – The best oils are light amber, yellow, or gold color; stay away from odd colors or oils that are exceptionally dark. Thickness – Good oil is very thick, so you shouldn't see air bubbles slipping through when you move the cart or the oil sloshing around.
What is the perfect temp for carts? ›The optimal temp to vape THC on is 157 degrees centigrade / 315 degrees Fahrenheit. This is THC's lowest boiling point, which means that it evaporates at this point but maintains its molecular structure.
What temp should dab carts be? ›The best temperature for dabbing is anywhere between 500 and 650°F. This is the temperature for an ideal low-temp dab which preserves terpenes and fully vaporizes your concentrate, leaving behind minimal mess and the best flavors.