Are you standing at the crossroads of dabbing and vaping, trying to decide between investing in a dab pen vs cart? It’s like choosing between a hand-rolled joint and a dry-herb vaporizer – both deliver a satisfying session but with their own unique style.
Understanding Dab Pens and Vape Carts
A cart, more formally known as a vape pen cartridge, is the go-to for those who love simplicity and convenience. These little tanks come filled with your choice of cannabis oils, each with varying levels of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, ready to twist onto your vape battery and go. Most carts use the common 510-threading, which makes them virtually universal, and some carts are even refillable, a bonus for DIY enthusiasts.
Dab pens are your personal, portable rig for those potent, wax-based concentrates. Unlike carts, which are set-and-forget, dab pens invite you to get hands-on with your vaping. Load your atomizer with the concentrate of your choice, heat it up, and experience the robust flavor and intense effect that dabbers love.
Dab Pen vs Cart: Spotting the Differences
Let’s examine what really sets these two apart. Dab pens are about choice and customization. You choose your concentrate, dial in temperature, and control your dosage down to the last detail. On the flip side, carts offer a quick grab-and-go option. Pre-filled and pre-measured, they’re about as user-friendly as it gets.
But what about potency? Here, dab pens usually win. They deliver potency based on whatever concentrate you choose. Carts are usually a little more mellow – but don’t get it wrong, they can still pack a powerful punch – so take it low and slow if you’re new.
The User Experience: Sessions with Style
With a cart it’s pretty smooth sailing – screw the cartridge onto your battery, inhale, and enjoy. It’s perfect for a busy, on-the-go lifestyle. But, if you forgot to charge your battery or if it dies while you’re out it can be a big pain.
Now, with a dab pen it’s more hands-on experience. You’ll need a dab tool to place just the right amount of concentrate onto the coil. Heat it up, and within seconds, you’ll be savoring full-bodied vapor. But, for the connoisseur, the ritual can be part of the allure.
The Pros and Cons Showdown
Every choice has its trade-offs. Dab pens bring power and punch but require a little practice to master. Carts, while incredibly accessible, may not hit the high notes of potency that seasoned vapers seek.
Dab Pen |
Cart |
|
| Portability | Less portable | More portable |
| Convenience | Requires loading | Pre-filled, ready to go |
| Customization | Highly customizable | Limited options |
| Potency | Higher potency | Moderate potency |
| Maintenance | Cleaning required | Minimal cleaning |
| Cost Effectiveness | Higher initially | Generally, more cost-effective |
Dab Pen vs Cart: What are my options?
The world of concentrates is HUGE. There’s budder, badder, jelly, jam, sauce, hash, wax, shatter (could go on!), and dab pens can use them all. Carts, however, are a different story, with a selection of distillates and higher-end live resin or live rosin extracts that cater to a subtler taste and preference.
Dab Pen Options:
-
Budder
Known for malleable textures and creamy consistency, budder is similar to spreadable butter. It’s easy to work with and loved for its flavor and potency.
-
Badder
Similar to budder but with a more cakey texture, badder is whipped to perfection, offering a balance of rich flavor and robust effects.
Learn about the differences between badder vs budder.
-
Jelly
As the name suggests, it has a gel-like consistency, boasting a delicate balance between potency and flavor.
-
Jam
Studded with THCA crystals, akin to fruit chunks in a jam, providing a flavorful, full spectrum experience.
Learn more about Live resin jelly and live rosin jam.
-
Sauce
A thick, syrupy concoction packed with cannabinoids and terpenes – that’s your sauce, offering layered flavors and aromas.
-
Hashish
A classic concentrate, hashish, aka hash is pressed resin from the cannabis plant, offering a traditional and potent vaping experience.
Explore the history of hashish!
-
Wax
Has a sticky, crumble-like texture, wax is a fan-favorite for its ease of use and solid potency.
-
Shatter
Aptly named for its glass-like consistency, shatter breaks easily and offers a clear, potent experience.
Vape Cart Options:
Distillates
These are the most common vape oils, providing a high-purity product refined multiple times to achieve up to 99% cannabinoid content.
- Cannabis-Derived Terpenes Distillate: This distillate is the connoisseur’s choice, where the terpenes are extracted from the cannabis plant itself. These terpenes are responsible for the distinctive scents and flavors that mimic the original strain from which they are derived.
- Botanical Terpenes Distillate: On the flip side, we have distillates enhanced with botanical terpenes, which come from sources other than cannabis, like fruits and other plants. Lab technicians select terpenes to create specific flavor profiles, ranging from citrusy to floral notes.
Live Resin
Crafted from fresh-frozen flower using a pressurized hydrocarbon extraction to preserve terpenes, live resin carts deliver a very robust flavor and a well-rounded high.
Live Rosin
Lab technicians make solventless by applying heat and pressure to hash made from fresh-frozen flower. The result is a rich, flavorful oil called Liquid Live Rosin or “LLR”, that captures the essence of the living plant.
What are Terpenes?
Terpenes are the aromatic oils that give cannabis its diverse array of scents and flavors. These compounds define each strain’s unique aroma and flavor profile. In the world of vaping, particularly with dab pens and vape carts, terpenes play a pivotal role in shaping your experience. They not only influence the taste and aroma of the vapor but are also thought to interact with cannabinoids to enhance effects — this is known as the entourage effect.
When it comes to dab pens, the ability to use a variety of concentrates allows users to experience the full spectrum of terpene profiles, from the spiciness of caryophyllene to the earthy aroma of humulene.
Vape carts, with their precise formulations, offer curated experiences. High end carts will include strain-specific terpenes while mid-range and cheaper carts will use cannabis derived terpenes or botanical terpenes. Revolution Cannabis takes the experience a step further by using an extraction process that avoids heating terpenes, preserving the flavors and aromas. This approach guarantees a rich experience with the essence of the plant front and center, just as nature intended.
Learn more about cannabis terpenes.
Upkeep and Care
Maintaining a cart is as easy as keeping the mouthpiece clean. Dab pens, however, call for a bit more TLC—regular cleaning of the atomizer and mouthpiece ensures the best performance and longevity.
Who Should Choose What?
If you’re about discreet, low-maintenance sessions, carts are your backstage pass to convenience. They’re perfect for micro-dosing and discreet use. But if you’re seeking the premium experience with heavy-hitting sessions, dab pens are your VIP ticket.
Making the Right Choice
Like most things in cannabis, the “dab pen vs cart” debate is about your lifestyle, preference for potency, and willingness to engage with the process. Whichever path you choose, both lead to the satisfaction of enjoying your favorite strains and flavors in a way that resonates with you.
