Vaping vs Dabbing: Which is Right For You?

Everything changes when you progress from flower to concentrate. A whole new world opens up, where you can enjoy all sorts of nuanced flavor notes and stronger effects than ever before. But how will you go about it? That’s where the vaping vs dabbing debate comes into play.

Vaping involves a pen-style battery device with a pre-filled cartridge. Or in some cases, an entirely disposable vape pen, all in one. Dabbing usually means buying a dab rig, a torch, and concentrate separately. There are more steps and moving pieces, but it’s worth it for the most true-to-strain flavor and effects. There are dab pens, though, which are a good middle ground.

We’re going to weigh both sides of the dabbing vs vaping showdown below to help you weigh your options and make the right decision. You’ll also discover the best selection of dabbing and vaping essentials here at Badass Glass so you can get started!

Vaping vs Dabbing (Fast Facts)

Overview of Dabbing

Dabbing involves vaporizing cannabis concentrate by applying it to a heated surface. You inhale the vapor that comes about as a result of this process. There are a few ways you can do this, but the most common by far is using a dab rig. 

Think of a dab rig like a bong, but with a few little twists to use concentrate instead of flower. A dab rig has a nail or banger instead of a bowl. And rather than packing and igniting the bowl with a lighter, you’ll preheat the nail/banger using a torch - then you use a tool to scoop concentrate into the nail. You’ll control airflow using a carb cap. 

Here are the dab essentials:

• A glass dab rig with water filtration
• A quartz banger or nail
• A butane torch
• A dab tool for handling concentrate
• A carb cap
• Your chosen concentrate

Temperature is the biggest variable in dabbing (and vaping for that matter). High-temp dabs (above 500°F) produce thicker clouds and much more intense effects. But they burn off terpenes and leave you coughing up a lung. Personally, we prefer low-temp dabbing (350-450°F). You get more nuanced flavor notes and smoother effects.

Pros:

• Full terpene profile (especially with live resin and live rosin)
• Way stronger effects (per hit) than vaping
• Complete control over temperature
• Choose from a wide variety of concentrate types
• Water filtration smooths and cools the vapor

Cons:

• You need a lot more gear upfront
• Learning curve with torch timing and temperature reading
• Traditional rigs aren’t portable
• Requires regular cleaning
• More expensive than a vape pen

Overview of Vaping

Vaping concentrate is the simple, portable alternative to dabbing. You just need a battery and a cartridge. These days, a lot of brands sell disposable devices that contain the battery and the concentrate in one unit. It doesn’t get any more straightforward than that.

The battery activates a heating element within the cartridge, which turns the oil into vapor at a very precise temperature. Some batteries let you fine-tune intensity. You can dial it down for flavor town or ramp it up to chase clouds. Most disposable devices do not offer this, though.

Most systems use a standard 510-thread connection: screw the cartridge onto the battery, press the button (or just inhale on draw-activated models), and you're vaping. You quite literally only need two things:

• A 510-thread vape battery (or a proprietary pod system)
• A pre-filled cartridge or pod

There’s no easier way to dabble in concentrates than with vapes. And you can take your sessions anywhere. A friend’s house, a hike, an overnight trip out of town - your pen fits in your pocket. But there are quite a few trade-offs that you need to be aware of. You’re giving up the true-to-strain flavor profile and effects in most cases. And there are concerns about what could be in vape pens.

Pros:

• Extremely simple (charge, attach, inhale)
• Super portable and discreet
• No odor, torch, or cleanup
• Affordable upfront

Cons:

• Less flavor depth than dabbing (especially with distillate)
• Limited to what's available in pre-filled form
• Cartridge quality varies dramatically between brands
• Less temperature control 
• Generally less potent per hit

Dabbing vs Vaping: How Should YOU Enjoy Concentrate?

There’s really no right or wrong way to enjoy concentrate. Thus, there’s no way for us to definitively tell you which is better between dabbing vs vaping. The answer for a lot of people is BOTH! Dabbing at home, vaping on-the-go. That’s the middle ground.

But if you had to choose one or the other (which, you don’t, to be clear), these are the factors you should weigh to narrow it down between vaping vs dabbing.  

Convenience 

Vaping wins the convenience battle without question. You just need a pen and a cartridge. And in some cases, those can be purchased as a single unit. Then it’s just a matter of taking a puff from your pocket whenever you want one. Keep the pen charged up. That’s literally it.

On the other hand, dabbing is a bit more of a ritual. You need to purchase a handful of components and keep all of them in good shape. That means topping off your butane torch and keeping your dab rig and banger clean. The actual process of dabbing is more work, too:

1. Fill the rig with the right amount of water
2. Heat your banger to the perfect temperature (can be a crapshoot itself)
3. Scoop the right amount of concentrate for the size of a dab you want
4. Place the dab in the banger and inhale
5. Cover the banger with a carb cap to finish the dab

Then there’s all the teardown after you finish your dab, which is the last thing you want to deal with while effects are setting in. So, obviously, dabbing is more work. Yet, people are willing to do it. There’s a reason for that…

Enjoyment 

Vaping vs dabbing is more subjective on the enjoyment front. Some people just prefer being able to sip away at a pen all evening. Others would prefer one large dab that carries them for 2-3 hours straight. This is totally up to you.

That being said, dabbing has a dramatic edge in terms of flavor. At least, for those who appreciate the rich characteristics each specific strain and concentrate type has to offer. Really high-quality vapes can replicate this to some extent. But those types of vapes are expensive. A live resin or live rosin vape can easily cost $60+ each. And even then, they tend to fall short.

You typically get more control over the experience with dabbing, too. Especially if you invest in an E-nail instead of the typical torch. This lets you set the temperature to the exact degree, taking all the guesswork out of how hot your dabs are.

Actual Effects

There’s no replicating the effects of a dab. You could take 5 hits from a vape and it still wouldn’t match a single dab. That’s because the concentrates used in dabbing tend to deliver more per hit than most vape cartridges.

Part of this comes down to how concentrates used in vaping are made. Most of the good stuff is stripped away in the process. You might be getting pure THC. That sounds like a good thing. But it’s not. The effects feel one-dimensional. Flat. boring. 

In contrast, the concentrates used for dabbing keep everything from the original plant intact. You get not just THC but CBD, CBG, CBC, THC-V, and all the terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds that lead to a more well-rounded buzz. It’s something you have to feel to understand. 

Safety and Health

We want to be very clear - neither side of the vaping vs dabbing debate is safe. There are risks no matter what. But one thing they do share is you’re not combusting raw plant matter as you would with smoking, which is a good thing.

However, vaping has its concerns - mostly because you don’t know for sure what’s inside that device. Yes, lab tests can confirm purity between batches. But it’s hard to know for sure whether heavy metals from the cartridge have leached into the oil by the time you actually vape it. Or if pesticides or mycotoxins snuck through. Or, if the brand cut corners and used PG/VG (which raises the concern of “popcorn lung”).

Dabbing bypasses the cartridge supply chain because you’re just buying the concentrate. There are still questions about how it was processed, but there are few red flags to worry about.

There’s always a risk of burning yourself with a torch, of course, and even using an E-nail doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of burns. You have to be careful. There’s no getting around that with dabbing. But it’s not “dangerous” if you are careful!

Discreetness

There’s no denying the funk of flower. This is part of why people initially turn to concentrates. While there is still some subtle aroma, it’s much less than with smoking herb. So which is better from a discretion perspective between vaping vs dabbing?

This is another win for vaping. The odor from a vape pen tends to fade a lot faster than a dab. This could matter if you’re consuming in a household with others who don’t appreciate the smell of extract. 

Portability 

Again, vaping is the better fit for someone who wants to take their sessions on the go. Whether it’s a hike, running errands in town, an overnight stay at a friend’s house, or anything in between, your pen fits in your pocket.

Now, you can take dabs on the go as well - but that requires a backpack, a safe means of transporting your glass dab rig, and the ability to set up your arsenal somewhere. You can’t exactly dab in public without catching attention. This goes back to being discreet. Dabbing is something you do in the comfort of your own (or someone else’s) home.

Cost

Vaping is definitely cheaper upfront. You buy a battery for $20-$40 depending on how sophisticated you want it to be. Then you buy a good cartridge - which can run you another $30-$60 depending on the quality of your cart. 

In comparison, a good dab rig costs you $50 - at least. A solid torch is another $15-$20. The concentrate costs you $30-$60 (depending on what you buy). All in, the upfront costs of dabbing are higher.

But there’s a reason people pay more for dabbing. It’s a better experience for most people who are used to smoking. Vaping just doesn’t hit the same. It never will. 

The Vape Pen vs Dab Pen: Finding a Middle Ground?

We know you came here curious about whether vaping vs dabbing was better. But what if we told you it didn’t have to be one or the other? There are dab pens as well. These bring you the portability benefits of a vape pen with the experience of a dab rig. 

Check out our electric dab rigs. You load in wax, shatter, or crumble directly onto a heated coil, press the button, and inhale. No torch or water needed.

The Yocan Evolve Plus ($28.50) is one of the most popular starting points. It has a quartz dual coil, a built-in silicone stash jar in the base for carrying concentrate, and charges via USB. The Evolve Plus XL ($36.50) is bigger and has four quartz rods and adjustable airflow for bigger hits. 

Then there’s the Yocan Orbit ($59.99), which features spinning terp pearls inside a quartz chamber for unparalleled heat distribution across the concentrate. The Yocan Dyno ($64.99) includes a small glass bubbler attachment and an OLED screen for temperature monitoring. This is like a mini dab rig for on-the-go sessions.

Want something a little more premium? Consider the Puffco Pivot ($175). You get manual and automatic heating modes with customizable temperature.

There’s something for everyone at Badass Glass, whether you decide to go with the traditional dab rig experience or something a little more portable and straightforward. 

Bottom Line on Vaping vs Dabbing

The choice between vaping vs dabbing is pretty easy to make once you realize the advantages each has over the other. Vaping is the way to go if what you care about most is simplicity and portability. But there’s no replicating the experience of dabbing. It’s more intense, well-rounded, and lets you enjoy flavor to the fullest.

Remember, a lot of people use both. A pen for quick daytime sessions and a rig at home when they want the full experience. You're not locked into one method. And a wax pen splits the difference at an approachable price point.

We carry glass dab rigs starting at $30 and wax pens from $28.50. Take a look at the full collection and see what catches your eye. Find out firsthand what keeps customers coming back to Badass Glass for more!

Related Resources

Different dab rigs | How to hit a dab rig