Vape Pen, Wax Pen, Dab Pen—What’s the Difference?

Vape pens, wax pens, and dab pens are all excellent options for cannabis consumption. Whether you’re into vaping or not, there’s a chance you’ve seen one of these devices. 

As the popularity of vaping grows, so also have these pens gained impressive reputations, mostly for their flavors and smoke-free experience but also for their ease of use, portability, and affordability.

All three products fall into the category of vaporizers or vaping devices. While all three have offered people the means of enjoying cannabis concentrates, they each have distinct make-up.

Let’s examine this uniqueness and how they affect you.

What Are Vape Pens?

One of the most used terms in the world of vaping is the vape pen. It describes a prefilled THC cartridge or CBD oil attached to a simple battery device. These vapes are unique both in design and functionality. 

The vape pen assumes the shape of a pen and uses a 510-thread cartridge connection. The “510 thread” refers to the way the prefilled oil cartridge connects to the battery—10mm thread, 5mm apart. This connection point makes it easier for consumers to switch cartridges and batteries. The 510 thread is often referred to as the universal connection point.

With vape pens, once the cartridge is empty, you cannot refill its content. Your only option is to buy another prefilled THC cartridge from a dispensary. No cleaning is required. On the other hand, its battery is often a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

The battery used in vape pens has less power. This is because the concentrates used need less heat to vaporize. THC and CBD cartridges are the common cannabis concentrates available to vape pens. Nicotine products also exist for use with vape pens. Vape pens offer cleanliness and convenience. Since it comes prefilled, all you do is attach the THC or CBD cartridge and click a button. You may want to charge the device first before enjoying the benefits of CBD oil. 

There are vape pens that do not need charging. They come prefilled with cannabis oil and its battery attached. These vape pens are disposable because of the lack of rechargeable batteries. Their design supports a short period of use. Without the battery to heat the content of the cartridge, these vape pens are worthless after use.

With the increasing growth of the industry, vape pens and carts have become more customizable. Batteries now come in a variety of sizes and types. Various vape carts and strain-specific types now exist on shelves at dispensaries and online stores.

What Are Wax Pens?

Wax Pens are portable devices designed for vaporizing a thicker style of cannabis concentrates. These concentrates include wax, shatter, live resin, budder, and more. In general, wax pens are like vape pens in design. The difference is the presence of an attachable concentrate chamber and atomizer. These allow the user to vaporize a wide variety of concentrates. 

The same goes for the batteries. They are similar, except wax pens have stronger batteries, making them appear bulky. The type of concentrates used explains why the wax pen comes with such batteries. These concentrates are a lot stronger than those used in vape pens. They need higher temperatures ranging from 315 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit for vaporization.

Wax pens demand more from their users in upkeep. Users will have to clean the chambers with care after use. They also have to change the atomizer on occasion. It is also messy as these concentrates are tricky to handle. But the potency and portability are well worth it for those who find the entire smoking process meditative.

Wax pens and dab pens are often used interchangeably. This is due to how strong the vaporizing wax from a wax pen is, almost like taking a dab.

What Are Dab Pens?

Dab pen refers to various vaping devices that provide a dab-like experience. These vaping devices allow the consumption of concentrates that have no specified dosage. It is why a dab pen is often called a wax pen. The term operates as an umbrella term comprising terminologies like shatter pen, wax pen, and dab tool. 

Hence, the dab pen is a more accurate description of the intensity and experience of a high than the device. The greater the euphoria, the more likely it gets called a dab.

What Are the Similarities Between a Vape Pen, a Wax Pen, and a Dab Pen?

Besides being vaping devices, these three cannabis pens share common similarities. These include discretion, portability, and battery life. All three pens provide vapers with the ability to smoke discreetly anywhere. They also have an element of coolness.

You can find each one in portable sizes in various styles and shapes. This makes it easy to carry along with you whenever and wherever.

What Are the Differences Between a Vape Pen, a Wax Pen, and a Dab Pen?

As similar as they are, these vaping devices do have their differences. While dab pens and wax pens may share more similarities than differences, they do, however, differ from vape pens.

The most significant difference is the type of concentrate they use. The vape pen is fairly limited to refined marijuana concentrates with strict dosages. The wax pen does not share this limitation. It has access to various thicker and more potent concentrates like resin and shatter.

Another difference is the heating temperature of the devices. Vape pens require lower temperatures for vaporization. Wax pens or dab pens work at high temperatures due to the viscosity of the concentrate. 

This also affects the battery types these devices use. The wax pen comes with stronger and much bulkier batteries than the vape pen. The wax pen also can fine-tune temperatures.

Vape pens come with prefilled cartridges. This leaves the user designated to a single concentrate cartridge. This isn’t the case for the wax or dab pen. The presence of the atomizer and attachable chamber allows the user to load their choice of concentrates. Thus, the wax pen is more versatile than the vape pen. 

Vape pens offer more stylistic options. The ease of use and compatibility make them more popular than the wax or dab pen. Also, vape pens are inexpensive to buy. Wax pens require a learning curve that some might not have the patience to learn. This is why hands-on stoners—those that enjoy the raw material and find the smoking process meditative—love them.

Wax pens are high maintenance. After use, they need a thorough cleaning as buildup accumulates on the heating element. They also have reuse value. Only the attachable chamber may require occasional changing. The vape pen, on the other hand, does not need cleaning. Once used, you only need to change the prefilled THC cartridge from a dispensary.

Which Is a Better Option—Vape Pen, Wax Pen, or Dab Pen?

No answer is right or wrong. It all depends on personal preferences and wallet size. If you want to enhance your vaping experience, wax or dab pens are your go-tos. It is advisable to know how much you can handle. 

The wax and dab pen are for the super experienced, so having high tolerance levels is super important. Those wanting the full vaping experience can also source dab or wax pens. As long as you don’t mind cleaning and regular maintenance of your vaping device.

If it’s your first time or you’re still new to the vaping scene, stick with vaping Pens. It is easy to use with no learning curve attached. They require no maintenance and are less intoxicating than wax and dab pens. Although, the cartridge can experience a fault that results in inconsistent hits. You also don’t need to load them. It comes prefilled.

Which of the Three Is the Safest Option?

Compared to traditional joints and bongs, vaping is easier on the body and lungs. There is more evidence that supports this than the reverse. Still, knowing the safest option is always the smartest thing to do. 

The temperature of your vaping device plays a significant role in the safety of your vaping experience. The hotter the concentrates, the more it produces carcinogens. This is one reason vaping trumps smoking traditional joints and bongs. 

So, whichever you choose, vape at a lower temperature. Most vaping devices have temperature control. The ones that lack this work at lower temperatures. 

As safe as it sounds, be aware that there are risks to everything. Be sure to use the best concentrates. Buy one that is quality controlled and sold in safe locations.