Dab Pen vs Dab Rig The Complete Guide

As the market develops, so new devices have become available.

Fresh brands enter the vape market regularly, which leads to greater innovation.

For newcomers to the world of vaping, there is plenty of jargon to come to grips with.

This article is about the art of dabbing and in particular the dab pen and dab rig – what are they, and what is dabbing?

Let’s not waste any more time!

What Is a Dab Rig?

Dab rigs are extremely popular glass setups that allow someone to smoke wax concentrates.

Essentially, it is a glass bong but for wax.

Dab rigs had a chamber for water, a mouthpiece, and a bowl or nail to place the wax and apply heat to it.

Often, the heat source was a blowtorch or some other item that would be able to superheat a domeless nail that wax was then applied to begin to vaporize.

Use a dabbing tool to manipulate the wax to avoid smudging your fingers.

What Is a Dab Pen?

A dab pen is essentially a vaporizer that uses wax.

It performs all of the functions of a dab rig (i.e. vaporizes wax) in a different format and manner.

In a dab pen, the three essential parts are the mouthpiece, the battery, and a heating chamber.

The battery functions as the new heat source by electrically charging, and thereby heating, coils that sit within the heating chamber.

These coils then begin to interact with the wax and slowly vaporize it in a similar manner that a heated dabbing nail would contact the wax and begin to vaporize it.

Dab pens come in all different shapes and sizes and have a variety of features available to appeal to anybody.

Dab Pens vs Dab Rigs: What Makes them Similar?

1. Functionality

Both dab rigs and dab pens serve the same primary function, which is to vaporize cannabis concentrates for consumption.

2. Flavor and Potency

Both devices aim to provide a potent and flavorful experience to the user, although dab rigs are often noted for allowing a fuller flavor profile.

3. Customization

Dab rigs offer a high level of customization in terms of temperature control and the amount of concentrate used, and while dab pens may have less flexibility in this regard, they still provide some level of user control over the vaping experience.

4. Portable Use

Although dab rigs are generally less portable due to their size and the need for additional equipment, some modern designs of dab rigs are becoming more compact, making them more suitable for portable use. Dab pens, on the other hand, are inherently portable and discreet.

Dab Pens vs Dab Rigs: What's the Difference between them?

1. Heating Method

The main difference between dab pens and dab rigs is the heating method.

The dab rig uses a blowtorch to heat the wax in the nail, while the dab pen heats the wax by electricity.

2. Dab Nails Versus Wax Coils

The dab rig's nail is made of many different materials such as glass, quartz, titanium, and ceramic to prevent breakage during the heating process.

Also for the same reason of avoiding breakage, the wax vaporizer of the Dab pen is mainly made of quartz or ceramic material.

3. Ease Of Use

Certainly, a dab pen appears to be much easier to use than a dab rig.

Between the different heating mechanisms, size differences, and requirements to operate (battery power v. blow torch and water) there is certainly a steeper learning curve for the dab rig.

4. Puff Size

Nothing will compare to the hits possible from the dab rig.

Not even the most powerful and expensive dab pens will produce a puff comparable to a powerful dab rig.

5. Glass Rigs Are Fragile

Remembering that glass is breakable can sometimes prove harder than it seems at first glass.

Dab pens are not indestructible, but dropping one on the floor is not likely to cause it to shatter.

Even the hardiest glass models of dab rigs are in danger.

6. Electricity Dependent

Dab rigs, however, do not rely on electricity whereas a dab pen does.

Which one should I buy?

If you have the idea of traveling, then the dab pen may be more suitable for you and more convenient to carry.

However, if you want a bigger hit, I’d recommend going for the dab rig, which produces the strongest hit and the biggest cloud on the exhale.

I hope this article can give some help to novices so that they can clearly understand the advantages and disadvantages of dab pen and dab rig, and make a more suitable choice for them.