Wondering what the difference between a dab pen and a vape pen is? We get it. The sheer number of cannabis products and technical jargon associated with the cannabis industry can be super confusing.
Both dab pens and vape pens are designed to get you high, but there are some distinct differences between these weed pen types — but don’t worry, we’ll get into that.
Below, we look deeper into the dab pen vs vape pen debate to determine which one is the best weed pen for you.
Understanding Weed Pens
Let’s start by breaking down everything you need to know about types of weed pens and how they function.
What are Weed Pens?
Weed pens, also known as vape pens, are portable and fast-acting cannabis consumption devices designed to vaporize cannabis materials.
They are compact and cylindrical in design, resembling a regular pen, and are available in various types, including disposable and rechargeable options.
Weed pens are a popular choice among cannabis enthusiasts due to their ease of use, convenience, and discreet nature.
How Do Weed Pens Work?
Weed pens work by heating cannabis materials, such as oil, wax, or dry herb, to the point of vaporization without combustion.
The vapor is then inhaled through the mouthpiece, providing a smooth and flavorful experience.
The heating process is typically powered by a battery, which can be rechargeable or disposable, depending on the type of pen.
Weed Pen Components
The battery is the powerhouse of the weed pen, responsible for heating the cannabis material.
Disposable pens come with a pre-charged battery meant to last until the pen is exhausted, while refillable and other types of pens often feature rechargeable batteries with adjustable voltage settings.
The battery life of a weed pen can vary depending on the type and usage frequency, but most pens can last for several hours or even days on a single charge.
What’s the Difference Between a Cannabis Dab Pen and a Vape Pen?
The modern world of weed is full of new and innovative products that were virtually non-existent only a decade ago.
While flower and hash were the only things people were smoking for years, today’s marijuana market is dominated by various extractions, including cannabis concentrates and extracted oils.
Depending on your pot product preference, you can use dab pens and vape pens to consume various types of cannabis products.
There are different types of weed pens, such as disposable pens, refillable vape pens, dab pens, and dry herb weed pens, each with unique features and advantages.
What is a Dab Pen?
Designed to vape cannabis concentrates such as wax or shatter, wax pen vaporizers, also known as dab pens, are basically the portable version of traditional dab rigs.
If you’re a concentrate connoisseur, dab pens are definitely for you.
With a dab pen, you can easily take weed concentrates on the go. Just when you thought dabbing couldn’t get any better, along comes the marijuana dab pen.
Both portable and discreet, the dab pen makes dabbing available wherever the day may take you.
How To Use A Dab Pen
Using a dab pen is pretty simple, although it might take a bit of practice to perfect it. All you need to do is make sure it’s charged before you use it, set it to the desired temperature, and load your favorite concentrate into the chamber with a dab tool.
This is where practice comes in, as concentrates can be a bit of a sticky mess.
Once your concentrate is loaded up, you’re ready to get your dab on. While different dab pens operate differently, the premise is the same.
With your temperature set (ideally between 420°F and 550°F) and the cartridge loaded with your favorite concentrate, the next step is to hit your dab pen.
There are also prefilled carts designed to be used with dab pens.
What is a Vape Pen?
Vape pens are designed to vape cannabis flower or cannabis oil cartridges (aka vape carts).
The biggest similarity between a vape pen vs a dab pen is that both devices make it easy to consume cannabis on the go discreetly. Oil cartridge vape pens are particularly popular due to their ease of use, portability, and the availability of pre-filled cartridges containing THC or CBD oil.
Using a marijuana vape pen is different depending on whether you’re consuming flower or oil.
If you’ve ever asked yourself what are the best vape pens for CBD oil, for example, you’ll want to purchase a vape pen designed specifically for oil.
When vaping flower, the dry material is loaded directly into the chamber of the vape pen. The ideal temperature for vaping flower in a vape pen is between 320°F and 446°F.
The lower the temperature, the more flavor you’ll experience. Higher temps, on the other hand, typically produce stronger effects.
When vaping cannabis oil, the cartridge containing the oil is heated with a coil or ceramic atomizer. This transforms the oil into vapor, which is then inhaled through the vape pen mouthpiece.
How To Use A Vape Pen
Turn on the pen by pressing the power button, set the desired temperature, wait for it to heat up, and vape to your heart’s content.
Dab Pen vs Vape Pen: What Makes Them Similar?
We mentioned a few similarities between dab and vape pens above. Some of the most similar elements between the two include:
Both dab pens and vape pens are designed to vaporize various cannabis products.
Vape pens and dab pens allow for vaping cannabis products on the go.
Both devices feature adjustable temperature controls for setting your ideal heat level.
Both dab pens and vape pens function by heating cannabis products to produce an inhalable vapor.
Another similarity between a vape pen and a dab pen is the ease of use. Vape pens are extremely simple to use, even more so than dab pens. Once you’ve charged your vape pen, simply attach your oil cartridge to pen or load your flower into the chamber.
Compared to other vape pens, dab pens are specifically designed for concentrates, while other vape pens may be intended for dry herbs or dual-use, offering different features and benefits.
Dab Pen vs Vape Pen: What Makes Them Different?
There are definitely some similarities between the dab pens and vape pens, but their differences, including the longevity of disposable weed pens, are what make the two unique.
Here’s a table showing the contrast between the two:
Feature | Vape Pen | Dab Pen |
|---|---|---|
Substance Compatibility | Cannabis flower and oil | Cannabis concentrates (wax, shatter, budder, rosin, etc.) |
Size | Smaller | Larger |
Temperature Requirement | Lower temperature | Higher temperature |
Maintenance | Less maintenance | More maintenance, easier to clean than dab rigs |
Effect Strength | Less powerful effects | More powerful effects |
What Are The Different Types of Vape Pens?
The biggest difference between a dab pen and a vape pen is what type of product you consume, which is typically where you’ll find the differences in types of vape pens.
Different weed pen types include:
Dry Flower Vape Pens: The dry herb vape pen became the initial type of marijuana vape pen available on the market. Users can add dry cannabis flower to the designated chamber in the vape pen. These pens, designed for discreet consumption of cannabis on the go, produce less aroma compared to smoking traditional flower, contributing to their popularity.
Cartridge Vape Pens: Cartridge vape pens are designed to fit a cartridge that contains extracted cannabis oil. Both THC and CBD cartridges are popular amongst cannabis consumers, and there are several options for cartridges created specifically for vape pens.
Dab Pens: Dab pens are vape pens designed specifically for cannabis concentrates. Dab pens are also referred to as wax pens or dab vape pens. People who prefer the powerful experience of potent concentrates will find dab pens offer an innovative way to enjoy concentrates easily without needing a dab rig or kit.
Vape Pen vs Dab Pen: Which Weed Pen Type is Best for You?
If you’re interested in purchasing your own vape pen, it’s important to keep in mind the type of product you prefer. Let’s take a look:
Aspect | Vape Pen | Dab Pen | Disposable THC Vape Pens |
|---|---|---|---|
Suitable For | Flower consumers | Concentrate consumers | Consumers seeking convenience and portability |
Ease of Use | Easy to add more flower or switch cartridges | Handling sticky concentrates can be less convenient | Rechargeable and easy to use without the need for refilling |
User Experience | Great for new cannabis consumers | Ideal for experienced cannabis consumers who love potency | Crafted with premium cannabinoids and strong hemp extracts for a quality experience |
Simplicity | Simple vaping experience | Simplifies the dabbing process compared to rigs or dab kits | No maintenance required, perfect for on-the-go use |
Effect Strength | Less potent hits with weed alone | More powerful hits with weed concentrate | Potent effects of vaping THC, offering a desirable choice for many consumers |
Knowing The Difference Between a Dab Pen vs a Vape Pen
At Elevate Holistics, we want your cannabis experience to be the best it can possibly be. That’s why we offer countless resources for medical marijuana patients and beyond; after all, this industry can get confusing!
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Our telehealth practice can help you get your medical card online in minutes. Then, you can buy the oil pens of your dreams from your local dispensaries.
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