What Vape is Best for Me

As the Canadian cannabis marketplace has evolved, cannabis consumers have evolved, too. Cannabis vaping – once a late arrival to the cannabis party – is growing in popularity. Cannabis data and market intelligence firm Headset found that in 2021, the adult-use cannabis vape market in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan was worth $473.6 million Canadian dollars. 

Additionally, the report found that cannabis vape product sales are anticipated to continue on an upward trajectory, with sales up 79% from 2020 to 2021 and unit volume growing at 100%. So what’s behind these vaping leaps and bounds? MJBiz Daily reported that the growth in vape market share came, “as vape prices fell by 35% over the course of the year, based on price data that reflects different product size formats for cannabis products.”

But there could be something practical at play here as well. Vaping is certainly more discreet (and less smelly) than smoking a joint. Understanding how much you’re consuming is much easier with a vape than an edible, and they are (for the most part) more portable and convenient. 

There are a lot of vapes available to consumers, from the ultra-portable and affordable to the not-so-portable and quite pricey. So, it’s totally understandable if you’re scratching your head and wondering, “What vape is best for me?” Let’s take a look.

Different Types of Vapes

There are so many different types of vapes and it’s difficult to know where to begin, especially if you’re new to vaping. But you can make it a bit easier by getting clear on a few things, including whether you want to consume cannabis oils, dry herb, wax concentrate, and if you prefer something portable versus something to be used at home. 

Dry Herb Vape Pens

A dry herb vape pen is for those who prefer to consume flower instead of cannabis oil. Simply place ground herb in the vape tank and the atomizer heats up the cannabis and converts it to vapour. Some popular dry herb vapes include offerings from Pax and Avant.

Dab/Wax Vape Pens

For the experienced consumer seeking a high potency experience, these vape pens operate much like a standard vape pen but with a higher capacity battery to meet the higher temperature demands of dabbing. This type of vape pen for wax typically costs between $30 and $130. 

Cartridge Pens

More commonly referred to simply as vape pens, they are the most entry-level of the vape types and come with THC or CBD vape cartridges that are refillable or replaceable. Cartridge pens also come in disposable models which can be disposed of when the tank runs dry. The most affordable of the bunch, cartridge pens often start as low as $12.

Hybrid Vape Pens

These pens are designed to vapourize both dry herb and concentrates like wax. For those who like to vaporize both concentrates and ground flower, this is a practical option but one with a higher price point.

Table Top Vaporizers

As the name suggests, these vaporizers are meant to stay in one place and offer options that portable vapes don’t typically offer, like higher capacity, more temperature control, durability, and product bells and whistles like more temperature controls and USB chargers. 

Desktop Dry Herb Vaporizer

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These desktop vaporizers accomplish the same task as the more portable version but on a grander scale. The Volcano is probably the best known (and most expensive) desktop vaporizer, but it comes to the marketplace with more than 20 years of history and features, including: dynamic, balloon and whip options, and bluetooth functionality. A Volcano will put you out at least $716.

Dab Rig or E-Rig

For the committed concentrate consumer, these rigs are a specialised bong or water pipe specifically for dabbing and they deal a high-potency THC punch. But dab rigs are not the easiest to operate; it does take some practice to learn how to work the rig in a way that works for you. They are also much less portable than a wax pen. 

Now that you’ve got the lay of the vape landscape, finding a vape that’s best for you should be easier than ever. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Choose the Right Vape?

You’ll first want to consider what you would like to consume. Is it dry herb, dab/wax, or cannabis oil? Will you be vaping at home or need something more portable? These are a few questions to consider.

What Cartridge Strain is the Best?

Like all things cannabis, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Perhaps check in with a friend to see what strain they love and go from there.