Are you searching for a portable device that will get you super stoned without the use of a torch or tabletop dab rig? Then a dab pen might be for you. But with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which dab pens to cop.
Below, discover all things dab pens, along with a few tips for purchasing your next favorite handheld device.
What are dab pens?
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Dab pens — also called wax pens and concentrate pens— are handheld vaporizers that you load with cannabis concentrates.
They're vape pens at their core, but they differ from typical vape pens that you use with cartridges and pods since you manually load them with your own extracts.
The 5 best dab pens
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Here are some excellent choices for your next dab pen.
1. Puffco Plus
The Puffco Plus is one of the most popular dab pens out there.
The pros: exceptional vapor quality, temperature customization with four heat modes, and a compact design that slides right into your pocket. Its ceramic bowl also keeps a steady temperature on your oil throughout a session.
The Puffco Plus has both a built-in carb cap and dab tool (dart) that makes getting every bit of vapor out of your sessions pretty easy. The Puffco Plus usually comes in one standard color (metal), but the brand offers a rainbow one that's pretty rad.
Price: $89.99
2. Dr. Dabber Stella
Dr. Dabber is best known for its Evo and Boost — two tabletop electronic dab rigs. But the brand also makes a great dab pen called the Stella.
It can handle big globs of concentrates and offers three temperatures ranging from 460 - 775°F. The Stella has a small battery, which lessens vapor production just a bit, but for an easy-to-use dab pen, it's definitely a solid option.
Price: $99.95
3. Tronian Gammatron
The Gammatron is the newest pen from the squad at Tronian. It's the brand's first dab pen from the same house of brands that released the Zeus Arc GT and the Utillian series of devices. So, obviously, Tronian truly knows how to make some good vapes.
The Tronian Gammatron comes with a ceramic mouthpiece and dab tool, much like the Puffco Plus. However, a con is that its battery handles far less sessions than its competitors. That aside, this dab pen can deliver big clouds of vapor, so if you're looking to get highed up, the Tronian Gammatron is an excellent option.
Price: $109.99
4. G-pen Micro+
The G-Pen Micro+ comes from a company that's been known for its vaporizers for quite some time. You can cop it for a smooth $79.95, which is more affordable than most options on this list.
The Micro+ is made of stainless steel — the design features a ceramic-lined outer layer over the quartz heating element. In terms of vapor production, you get smaller hits due to the Micro+'s smaller battery (850mAh). But all-in-all, this dab pen is an excellent choice for someone who's just stepping into the world of concentrates and wants an easy-peasy first go of it.
Price: $79.95
5. Linx Blaze
The Linx Blaze is a dab pen that's held in high regard for being coilless and — more specifically — having a full quartz atomizer since many other options are ceramic. It might not be the hardest-hitting dab pen, but the hits are definitely smooth, and you'll taste delicious terpenes each time.
The Linx Blaze has four temperature settings, is made of stainless steel, and has two color options: Onyx and Steel. It also comes with a one-year limited warranty at the time of purchase.
Price: $135.99
Other great dab pens
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The dab pens below didn't make our best of the best list but are still good options to try.
Boundless Terp Pen
Terp pens are essentially dab straws that you can put directly into a jar of live resin, rosin, or any number of concentrates, and slurp vapor on the inhale.
The Boundless Terp Pen is a good option for dabbers since it's as simple as a device could be — and at an excellent price point. It's a straightforward and easy device for people that want an inexpensive handheld tool for their oils.
Price: $29.99
Huni Badger
The Huni Badger is a fancy dab straw that comes with all the bells and whistles, including a waterproof case, temperature controls, extract containers, pipe cleaners, and so much more.
The reason it's an honorable mention is because, for most people, a dab pen at this price tag isn't necessary. You pay for the kit, but you also have to purchase its battery separately for $20 — great device though.
Price: $189
Yocan Evolve Plus
The Yocan Evolve Plus is a good pen, but it's limited in its performance. It only has one temperature setting, the flavor and vapor cloud production can be a bit subpar, and holding the button too long may cause a burnt oil taste.
But, it's affordable as hell and comes in over 20 colorways. The more colorful Yocan Evolve Plus costs about $10 more than the standard. Basically, if you want a deal on a dab pen — and that's your main focus — this one could be it.
Price: $49.99
How we selected the best dab pens
We chose the best dab pens by their many qualities, including:
- Ease of use: No one wants a device that's hard to understand. The pieces below are easy to pick up, load with oil, and — in less than a minute — inhale delicious vapors.
- Build quality: You're likely going to drop your device or have it slam around in a bag, and when that happens, you don't want the thing you paid hundreds of dollars for to easily break.
- Vapor production: Your pen shouldn't be a waste of your dabs, so we considered how much vapor you get per inhale/session.
- Battery life: Your device should last throughout the day without needing to be constantly re-charged. These devices let you get plenty of sessions in before a full charge.
- Price: We aren't rich, and chances are, neither are you. So we chose the best bang (and quality) for your buck.
Tips on purchasing a dab pen
Below, we give criteria for deciding which dab pens are the best, but here are a couple of other factors to consider:
- Company reputation and customer reviews: Plenty of companies are known for specifically making products for extracts, so it's easy for you to research a brand's reputation and product reviews. If the company is known for producing great quality products, and also providing great customer service, chances are you'll enjoy its dab pens.
- Personal needs: Is this dab pen going to be your primary consumption device? If so, then you might be willing to fork out the big bucks for a device like the Huni Badger. Is it a device that you'll use when traveling? Then maybe you'll need a quick hitter or something simple like the Yocan Evolve Plus.
Bottom line
In the end, it's up to you to choose which dab pens work best for you. Most of them function very similarly and offer many of the same features. Therefore, choosing one will simply come down to personal needs.
What's your budget? What purpose are you buying the device? Are you chasing flavor first or are you looking to get huge clouds of vapor? Identify your answers to these questions and one of the dab pens listed above may be exactly what you need.
