There are so many ways to consume cannabis, and it can be challenging to single out the best one for yourself. As the legalization of cannabis spreads, more and more consumption methods are showing up.
Vaping and dabbing are two more modern methods of cannabis consumption that have been gaining more popularity recently, as cannabis tourism has been growing. They’re similar in some ways, and both are good consumption methods. But some differences may make you prefer one over the other.
If you’re thinking of getting into cannabis vaping or dabbing but don’t know where to start, this post is for you. Below, you’ll find a concise breakdown of the core differences between vaping and dabbing to help you decide which one you want to try.
What Vaping And Dabbing Have In Common
The main similarity—and also why differentiating the two can be tricky—is that they both involve the inhalation of vapor produced from various cannabis materials. Unlike smoking, neither vaping nor dabbing involves any combustion of cannabis material, so you aren’t inhaling something burning.
Dab Rigs
Dabbing requires a dedicated setup, often referred to as a ‘dab rig’ or ‘dab kit.’ The setup typically looks similar to a bong. It’s usually made of glass and has a mouthpiece, water chamber, chamber for the cannabis product, and nail to heat it.
When you dab, instead of burning cannabis flowers, you vaporize cannabis concentrates. Instead of heating the concentrate directly, you use a torch to heat the nail and use that to heat your concentrate.
Nowadays, technology has given rise to e-rigs and e-nails—electronic alternatives to traditional dab rigs. These essentially use electricity to produce heat, instead of being reliant on a torch.
E-rigs are fully electronic dabbing setups, while e-nails are just electronically heated nails and can be used on traditional rigs. Dr Dabber said that e-rigs are an ideal option for beginner dabbers, as they’re fully functional, all-in-one kits that simplify the process.
Vaping Devices
Vaping setups come in many shapes and sizes, and each device has a unique list of features. Vapes can be small, portable devices or larger desktop devices. Additionally, vaping cannabis uses dried cannabis flowers, cannabis concentrates, or cannabis-infused e-liquids.
Typically, vapes are designed to handle one of the above cannabis mediums. But some have attachments that allow them to accommodate flowers or concentrates. When you vape, the vapor moves directly from the source material to your lips.
The Differences
Now that you’ve got a basic overview of vaping and dabbing, it’s time to highlight the main differences that’ll help you choose between them.
- Water Filtration
Dabbing passes the vapor through water before you inhale it, whereas vaping uses a direct-to-lung pathway. Some people prefer having water filtration because it can help cool the vapor before you inhale it. On the other hand, most vapes have temperature control options. E-rigs often have them too, but traditional dab rigs don’t.
- The Material
One of the most defining differences between dabbing and vaping is the material used. Dabs use cannabis concentrates exclusively. This is often in the form of wax, rosin, shatter, or resin. They’re often referred to as ‘dabs.’ Concentrates are usually pure and rich in cannabinoids, which makes them potent and flavorful.
As discussed earlier, some vapes use concentrates, but most vapes use dried cannabis flowers. Although they may be less potent, the dried herb is usually easier to get, depending on where you live. You’ll also find that, in most places, it’s more affordable than concentrates.
- The Heating
There are two terms to know here: conduction and convection.
Conduction refers to heating the material by applying heat directly to it, usually via a nail in dabbing and a chamber in vaping. Convection refers to heating the material by passing hot air over it.
Dabbing uses conduction heating through a nail heated by a blowtorch or electronic heating. Vapes use conduction or convection. With vapes, you load your material into a chamber. That chamber will either be heated directly or will be open and heated via convection.
- Portability
Vaping is easily the more portable option. If you want a small, discreet device that you can take anywhere, vaping is automatically the choice for you. The most popular cannabis vapes are rechargeable dry herb vaporizers, which are usually no bigger than your smartphone and just as easy to pocket.
Many people enjoy dabbing, but dab rigs are relatively fragile as they’re usually made of glass. They also require more setup and care to use. If you only intend to use cannabis at home or want a dedicated spot in your house, you might consider dabbing.
Is One Better Than The Other?
Not really. It all comes down to personal preference. Vaping is great if you can’t—or don’t want to—source cannabis concentrates and want to use dried herbs instead. It’s also the best choice if portability is a priority. Dabbing is a great choice if you want a more potent, flavorful hit and a dedicated setup for consuming cannabis. And if you can’t choose, you can always get both and enjoy the benefits of each.
