Tips For Choosing Best Weed Pens To Puff In
- 1. General tips for choosing best weed pens
- 2. What are weed pens
- 3. Types of vape pens
- 3. a. Disposable vape pens
- 3. b. Reusable pens
- 3. c. Conduction vs convection weed pens
- 4. How to use a vape pen
- 5. Charging a vape pen
- 6. Rating of the best weed pens
- 6. a. Best disposable vape pens
- 6. b. Best reusable vape pens
- 7. How to choose a vape pen
- 7. a. General tips
- 8. Overall conclusion
- 9. Faq
- 9. a. Are disposable weed pens worth it?
- 9. b. How many ml is a puff?
- 9. c. How many puffs should i vape a day?
Whatever your reason to look for a weed vapor pen, it’s a sound one for sure. Weed pens are slick high-tech devices to medicate on the go and in the most discreet way possible.
Vaporizing weed doesn’t draw much attention in a public place (unless you’re one of those in-your-face pricks), and it doesn’t produce any smoke to eat its way into the very walls of your room and stay there forever. Not to mention the fact that, with vape pens, unlike bongs or joints, you protect your lungs from hundreds of aggressive chemicals from burning plant matter.
But you probably don’t need any selling on the idea of using a weed vapor pen anyway. You’re looking for the tips for choosing the best weed vaporizer there is, so let’s cut to the chase.
General Tips For Choosing Best Weed Pens
To choose a weed pen that will best suit your needs, ask yourself whether you want to use it often or only occasionally, vape dried buds or concentrates, settle for conduction heating, or pay extra for convection. Other options include temperature control and exact dosing, as well as the choice of design, functionality, and durability.
What Are Weed Pens
Weed pens are not unlike electronic cigarettes. They resemble a pen and are portable, light, and convenient to use. They are battery-powered and contain a heating element and a chamber for dry herb, extracts, or distillates.
By turning on your vape, you heat the active material and then inhale the vapor. In many models, there is no “on” button — you just inhale the air through the mouthpiece, and this automatically turns on the heating system.
Weed pens aren’t necessarily illegal even if you use them in a state or country where cannabis hasn’t been legalized yet. Some of them can be loaded with non-psychoactive hemp or CBD oil, or even delta-8-THC. The latter is similar to delta-9-THC (or THC for short), but some jurisdictions don’t list it among illicit drugs.
Types of Vape Pens
Probably, the most fundamental difference between different types of vape pens is whether they are loaded with dried plant material or some kind of vape juice. You’ll need the former if you grow your own bud and the latter if you live in a legal state where different kinds of vape liquids are sold.
Besides that, there are some important differences in technology. Let’s look at them briefly.
Disposable Vape Pens
These come pre-loaded with a whole-plant extract or some cannabinoid distillate and with a battery fully charged and ready for use. Depending on their capacity and your consumption habits, disposable vape pens are good from a couple of weeks to a few months, and then they run out of juice.
Since they are manufactured from many different materials and some of them, such as the battery, are hazardous, be sure to dispose of them in a responsible manner.
Reusable Pens
Reusable vape pens have a battery that you can recharge, but, more importantly, you can replace (or refill) the cartridge that contains vaping liquid. Weed pens that work with dry buds have a compartment that you can refill with fresh ground-up buds after each use.
The advantage of a good reusable weed pen is that you can utilize it for a long time and only change cartridges. On the flip side, you’ll have to clean it which is not a hard chore — nowhere near like cleaning a bong — but still requires some effort.
Conduction vs Convection Weed Pens
A casual user doesn’t really need to immerse herself in the underlying technology, but the distinction between two types of heating—conduction and convection—is actually important. They affect the quality of your vaping experience and the convenience of use.
Conduction Heating
In conduction-type vaporizers, the active matter actually comes in direct contact with the heating coil. This has two important consequences.
First, the heating happens almost instantly, so your weed pen is ready for use within moments. Second, the heating is rather uneven: while the plant material inside the compartment is too cool to produce vapor, it can reach the point of combustion near the coil. Combustion means smoke, not vapor, which defeats the entire purpose of vaping.
Convection Heating
In convection-type vaporizers, there’s no direct contact between the heating element and the mass to be vaporized. Rather, the coil heats the air around it to a very high temperature. Then the air is forced through the herb or concentrate. This allows for precise temperature control and smooth heating. The downside is longer waiting time for your weed pen to become operational.
How to Use a Vape Pen
We suggest that you read your vape’s manual for details, but using it is straightforward and pretty much the same for all models:
- Make sure the battery is charged.
- Put the cartridge in place or fill the compartment with vape juice or dry herb.
- Turn your vape on (if it has an on/off switch).
- Adjust the voltage (if your device is adjustable). We recommend starting at the lowest settings and working your way up before you heat the sweet spot in terms of taste and effect.
- Inhale. Some vapes activate automatically; with others, you’ll have to wait before a LED (or digital screen) shows the device is ready.
- When you stop inhaling, heating also stops, waiting for the next drag. After a while, the vape goes into standby mode.
- When you’re done, press the on/off switch (if there is one).
Charging a Vape Pen
Vape pens operate on a small lithium-ion battery that you can charge the same way you do with any small domestic electronics.
Many models use the standard micro-USB cable that can be connected to a wall socket (through a suitable plug). Or you can connect this cable to a USB port on your laptop or PC. You can even use a plug that fits your car cigarette lighter.
Some weed vapes are charged through a cable with a proprietary connection. If damaged or lost, these cables are impossible to replace with something you might have lying around at home. You’ll have to order a replacement online.
The charging port of your vape can be found either on the side or the bottom of the device. Sometimes, it’s hidden under a cap or lid.
Caution! Please be careful not to charge your weed pen with a charger of inappropriate voltage from some other electronics, such as your phone. You may fry the battery or even cause a fire.
Rating of the Best Weed Pens
Now that you know what weed pens are and how they operate, you can make an informed decision about choosing one. You may start with our curated list of the best pen vaporizers. Odds are that there is one that is perfect for you.
| Model | Type | Capacity | Active Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloom Surf | Disposable | 0.35 ml | THC |
| Dompen | Disposable | 0.5 ml | THC |
| Diamond CBD | Disposable | 0.075–0.1 ml | CBD, delta-8-THC |
| Dosist | Disposable | 0.25 ml | THC, CBD |
| PCKT VRTCL | Reusable | 0.5 ml | THC, CBD, delta-8-THC |
| Wildflower CBD | Reusable | 0.15 ml | CBD |
| Vessel Expedition | Reusable | 0.5 ml | THC, CBD, delta-8-THC |
| Linx Hermes 3 | Reusable | 0.5–1 ml | Any vaping liquid |
Best Disposable Vape Pens
A disposable vape pen is the perfect starter option if you want to decide if this method of consumption works for you. Although, for casual smokers, it’ll be months before you need to replace it with a more permanent solution.
Bloom Surf
Bloom Surf vape pens pride themselves on extended battery life. This means no danger of running out of juice before you’re through with the cartridge contents. Longer battery life is especially important for novices who may need several months to use up 350 mg of active substances.
These weed pens have a remarkably smooth airflow thanks to the triple air intake and carry ceramic coils that prevent the burning of its delicious live resin blends. Bloom Surf offers a variety of potencies and flavors ranging from 27% THC Orange Sunset Surf to 92.9% THC Cherry Berry.
Dompen
Dompen’s battery is also designed to outlast the cart, and these vape pens have a reputation for the lowest failure rates in the industry — just under 1 percent.
Their assortment of products includes live resin blends simply called Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid and also several strain-specific items. With Dompen, you’re sure to find results of lab tests online, specifying the exact contents of cannabinoids and terpenes in your vaping device. This is a terrific way of finding a batch that perfectly suits your tolerance level and your palate.
Diamond CBD
Diamond CBD positions itself as one of the industry’s leaders in hemp-derived extracts. Hence the CBD in the name of their pen vaporizers.
But besides this non-psychoactive therapeutic compound, the company’s proprietary blends include delta-8-THC. This chemical does produce mind-altering effects but, in contrast to the traditional THC, is not prohibited in many jurisdictions. Diamond CBD assures that non of its extracts contains more than the allowed limit of 0.3% THC.
Strain-specific cartridges include such sought-after items as Pineapple Express, Blue Dream, and Sour Diesel. They’re all tested by an independent lab that guarantees their legality and exact chemical composition. All blends are highly soothing and cause no paranoia.
Dosist
Just like the name suggests, the focus of Dosist is on the precise dose that you get from every toke. Dosist vape pens provide exactly 100 doses of 2.5 mg each. This precision is invaluable for medical patients who can also choose a specially curated formula for their particular condition.
However, recreational smokers who value predictability and consistency will appreciate these careful cannabinoid mixes, too. They can energize themselves with Arouse or immerse in euphoria with Bliss, or opt for the CBD-rich blends like Calm and Sleep.
Best Reusable Vape Pens
Reusable vape pens let you refill the cartridge with THC oil or other cannabis distillate. The higher initial cost of such a device is offset by its longer life. Besides, it’s more eco-friendly because you don’t have to discard the pen every time its cartridge is empty or the battery runs out of juice.
PCKT VRTCL
PCKT VRTCL doesn’t exactly look like a writing pen. Its body is a solid piece of metal, making the device very robust. It also has a nice feel in the palm. This vape is compatible with popular 510 cartridges and allows for precise and consistent dosing.
The whole functionality of the vape is controlled by just one button. With it, you can adjust the voltage and LED brightness, check the charge of the battery, and turn the device on or off. The support for the 510 standard means that you have all kinds of THC, CBD, and delta-8-THC cartridges at your disposal.
Wildflower CBD Vaporizer
Wildflower’s design is highly unorthodox. Their rechargeable portable solution consists of a carrying/charging case that has three slots for cartridges under its flip-top. The vaporizer itself includes a battery pen and an attachable cartridge.
Currently, there are two types of CBD cartridges: Immunity, which has eucalyptus, thyme, and myrrh extracts besides hemp-derived CBD, and Aches, a calming and soothing CBD extract with essential oils of lavender and peppermint.
Vessel Expedition Series
These luxurious flashy vaporizers are actually marketed as vape pen rechargeable batteries because that’s what they really are. They are compatible with any 510-type cartridge, but the manufacturer isn’t in the business of selling carts. Instead, it focuses on the robust and stylish design of the pen itself, making it attractive for outdoorsy types.
Vessel Expedition Series vape pens have magnetic chargers, and several voltage settings for exact temperature control, and they ensure outstanding smooth airflow. Whatever your product of choice, you can be sure of getting all the potency it contains and enjoying all its flavors.
Linx Hermes 3
Despite its ridiculously competitive price, Linx Hermes 3 is among the best weed pens on the market. It has a slick design, is manufactured from medical-grade metal and glass, and supports all kinds of viscous material.
A ceramic heating coil and three temperature settings ensure that you get the pure flavor of the vapor that retains all the terpenes and psychoactive ingredients. Linx Hermes 3 has an atomizing chamber that you can refill with your favorite cannabis oil or distillate, whether store-bought or homemade.
How to Choose a Vape Pen
Please carefully read our guidelines. Ignore them, and you may end up paying money for a device that will only collect dust. Follow them, and you’ll get one that perfectly suits your lifestyle.
General Tips
Here’s a list of questions that you should ask yourself before deciding on one weed pen among hundreds of others:
- What is legal to smoke in my jurisdiction? Depending on where you leave, you may use any cannabis product or only hemp-derived CBD. Some local laws allow the ingestion of delta-8-THC while some restrict the potency of your product to 0.3% THC. And, regrettably, there are countries where anything that has to do with the cannabis plant is outlawed.
- Will I vape dry herb or extracts? We didn’t feature any dry herb models in our review, but rest assured: they do exist.
- Will I be able to buy oils/extracts or only manufacture them myself? The second option excludes any reusable weed pens and also rechargeable pens with standard single-use cartridges (510 or others). Only purchase something that you can refill manually.
- Do I need adjustable voltage/heat settings? It’s really the question of price versus vaping experience. Models with temperature control are more expensive but allow you to get the best flavor and maximum potency out of your extract.
- Do I care for conduction vs convection? Convection is a cumbersome technology for a handheld vaporizer. Nevertheless, there are a handful of portable convection models on the market. Just be prepared to pay a steeper price. Convection vaporizers are also not as fast-working as conduction models.
- Finally, a million-dollar question: do I care for my health? Black-market vape pens have been linked to cases of severe respiratory illness or even death. Remember: weed doesn’t kill, but some adulterants can. So, only buy devices and extracts or concentrates from reputable, licensed manufacturers.
Overall Conclusion
The art and science of weed vaping have come a long way. Modern weed pens are versatile portable devices that let you consume a wide range of marijuana products: from dry buds to CBD oils to various THC extracts, concentrates, and distillates. Today’s market offers disposable and multiuse versions, and there are great high-quality examples of weed pens of both types. Our short curated lists given in this article are a good starting point in your quest for the perfect vape pen.
FAQ
Are disposable weed pens worth it?
Disposable weed pens are worth their money because they offer an authentic vaping experience. They are good for dozens if not hundreds of vaping sessions before their load of cannabinoids runs out. The more advanced disposable devices even offer adjustable temperature settings, state-of-the-art ceramic coils, and precision dosing, among other things.
How many ml is a puff?
Weed pens are designed not to overwhelm the beginner smoker with just one puff. It’s estimated that he or she will need about 5–10 mg of THC for a noticeable to strong effect. With the average concentration of THC at about 80%, it is equivalent to 6-12 mg, or 0.006-0.012 ml. Please note that it’s only a very rough estimate.
One vape pen in our review—Dosist—has a 0.25-ml capacity and offers exactly 100 doses of 2.5 mg, or 0.0025 ml each.
How many puffs should I vape a day?
If you’re an inexperienced smoker, you’ll probably need to medicate only once a day, making a single puff. As with other forms of ingesting cannabis, the high lasts from 1–2 to 4 hours and then tapers off. More experienced smokers will make additional puffs when they feel the first one wasn’t enough or when the high begins to subside. Heavy recreational smokers or medical users titrate their use this way throughout all waking hours.
External References
- Cannabis Vaping: Existing and Emerging Modalities, Chemistry, and Pulmonary Toxicology, Jiries Meehan-Atrash and Irfan Rahman, Chem. Res. Toxicol., 2021
- A Qualitative Analysis of Cannabis Vaporization among Medical Users, Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019 Aug
- Cannabis Vaporizer Combines Efficient Delivery of THC with Effective Suppression of Pyrolytic Compounds, Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, October 2008
