When you hear the word vaporizer, you probably think of handheld oil devices like a PAX or STIIIZY. Rarely do you think about dabs and their portability, but I’m here to give you some good news: there are plenty of ways to dab on-the-go. Legalization has led to more ways to consume THC, including dabbing.

Let’s talk about dab pens and how to use them.

Before we talk about dab pens, we have to talk about dabs in general. What are dabs? Dabs are a commonly used term for consuming cannabis concentrates, specifically a high-potency oil extract, that you consume through a device called a dab rig. Dabs are derived from cannabis flower but are much more potent than what is found in a typical joint. Dab rigs have reservoirs, usually made from glass, ceramic, or quartz, called bangers (or nails) where you place the oil while heating the reservoir until the oil vaporizes, and you’re able to suck the vapor through a dab rig’s mouthpiece.

A torch is often used to heat the nail or banger, and the rig itself is a type of water pipe designed for vaporizing concentrates. When dabbing, a small amount of concentrate is dabbed onto the hot surface to produce vapors for inhalation. The user then inhales the vapors produced by heating the concentrate, and the concentrate is not "smoked" or combusted in the traditional sense like a joint.

Dab pens are electronic devices that take the aforementioned process and make it convenient and portable. Unlike traditional vaporizers, they work directly with dabs (waxes), instead of pre-filled oil pods and cartridges. Dab pens are also called wax pens. Wax is just another consistency of dabs. There are different types of cannabis concentrates, such as shatter, budder, badder, diamonds, wax, resin, rosin, BHO (butane hash oil), honey oil, crumble, and oil, each with unique forms and effects.

Introduction to Cannabis Concentrates

Cannabis concentrates, often referred to as marijuana concentrates, are powerful extracts derived from the marijuana plant. These concentrated forms, such as butane hash oil (BHO), honey oil, shatter, badder, diamonds, budder, wax, rosin, bubble hash and live resin, have surged in popularity thanks to their high-potency, intense effects and the variety of ways they can be consumed. Unlike traditional cannabis flower, these substances are processed to isolate the most potent active ingredients, resulting in THC concentrations that can reach anywhere from 70% to +90%—far higher than what’s typically found in regular cannabis flower or edibles.

The process of creating cannabis concentrates involves extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from plant material using either solvents like butane, ethanol, carbon dioxide or a Solventless extraction which uses just pressure & heat. This extraction process separates the desired compounds from the rest of the marijuana plant, producing a concentrated form that can be consumed in small amounts for a powerful effect. The resulting products—whether it’s wax, badder, budder, shatter, diamonds, resin, rosin or honey oil—each have their own unique textures and characteristics, but all deliver a much more potent experience than smoking or vaping only cannabis flower.

The high potency of cannabis concentrates can be overwhelming, especially for those new to cannabis or with a history of substance use or mental health issues. Some studies have linked the use of these concentrated forms to an increased risk of anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, and even addiction. The intense effects can sometimes lead to negative experiences, making it crucial for users to approach dabbing and other concentrate consumption methods with caution.

Beyond the health risks, cannabis concentrates have also made their mark on popular culture. The term “dab” has become a slang term not just for consuming concentrates, but also for a dance move that exploded in popularity thanks to athletes like Cam Newton and appearances in music videos. The dance, which involves bending one arm at the elbow and tucking your head into it while extending the opposite arm, has become a recognizable gesture in hip-hop and sports culture, but this is not the kind of "dab" we're talking about here in this context.

Despite their cultural cachet, it’s important to remember that cannabis concentrates are a potent substance that should be treated with respect. The production and consumption of these concentrates can introduce additional risks, such as exposure to residual solvents, pesticides, or other impurities if not made or handled properly. Devices like dab rigs, dab pens, and torches are commonly used, but improper use or contaminated products can pose serious health dangers.

Ultimately, while cannabis concentrates offer a powerful and versatile way to experience marijuana, they also come with significant risks. Responsible use, awareness of potential dangers, and seeking treatment if signs of addiction or mental health issues arise are essential for anyone considering dabbing or using marijuana dabs. By staying informed and cautious, users can enjoy the benefits of cannabis concentrates while minimizing the risks associated with these potent extracts.

What is the best cannabis dab pen?

There are plenty of different portable dab pens out there. Some are built with wax atomizers on top of traditional batteries for heating, some are more advanced with ceramic coils and heating ovens. Whichever is best is up to you. For a list of options, peep sites that rank and review dab pens like Vaping360, TVape, and Smoke Cartel.

Puffco Pivot dab penProduct image provided by Puffco

How do you use a cannabis dab pen?

How to use a dab pen depends on the type of pen you have. But traditionally, the process of using a dab pen follows five simple steps:

Step 1: Open cannabis dab pen

The obvious first step in using a dab pen is to open the dab pen.

Step 2: Insert cannabis hash oil

Logically, after opening the pen, you have to put some oil in it. How much oil to use is up to you. Most people do a little spec, just to see how the pen works and go from here. But if you want to, glob up right out the gate.

Step 3: Heat your device

Once the oil is in the device, push whatever button is on your dab pen that activates its heating mechanism. It's important to not overheat the device, as it'll burn the oil, not vaporize it. Once the oil is burnt, so are the cannabinoids and terpenes within it, which greatly degrades the overall dabbing experience. This is why it's always advised to never take red hot dabs.

Step 4: Consume from dab pen

Once the device has heated, inhale those dabs and bang...you're now high. It really is that simple.

Step 5: CLEAN YOUR DAB PEN

Once your dab pen session is over, just like with dab rigs, cleaning is the priority. Take a cotton swab through the coils to clean out the leftover oil residue. This will ensure that your pen is all gunked up next time you want to use it. Gunked up dab residue distorts that taste of your next dabs, overall leading to a much less flavorful, much less enjoyable experience. Clean your dab pen after every use and you won't have to worry about this.

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The pros and cons of cannabis dab pens

The pros of using a dab pen are portability and freedom of concentrate choice.

Portability

The biggest win with a dab pen is that you can put it in your pocket (or carrying case) and take it wherever you go.

Freedom of product choice

In addition to portability, the freedom of choice with dab pens is stellar. In 510 cartridges, you're mostly limited to distillate and other Co2 oils, though live resin and rosin carts have become more popular as the cannabis market matures. With wax pens, you can go cop some wax, budder, shatter, rosin, resin, live resin, literally any type of dabbable concentrate in the store will work with your dab pen.

The cons of using a dab pen are the lack of temperature control, reduced flavor, price, and battery life.

Temperature control

Most dab pens only have two to four temperature settings, if that. With actual dabs, you can use a dab thermometer to dial temperature to an exact degree. That allows you to get the best out of whatever oil you buy.

Flavor

Simply put: dabs from a dab rig will always taste better than dabs from a dab rig. Rigs were made for consumption over convenience.

Price

Wax pens can be pretty expensive. Some on the lower end will hit your pocket for $70, and that's before you even buy the oil. Additionally, the more you use them, the more you risk wax pens breaking over time. Once your wax pen breaks, it's right back to the store to drop another $70. If you choose a more expensive model, you could end up paying up to $200 out of pocket. For the most part, you can find a pretty good dab pen for under $100.

Battery life

Lastly, a big disadvantage of using a dab pen versus taking dabs, or traditional oil vape pens, is battery life. Dab pens tend to have a battery life that lasts for only a few hours i.e. just a few sessions. Vape batteries can last for days, even weeks. Dab rigs never need power, so they never die on you.

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