Compared to smoking a joint, dab rigs offer a smoother flavor and experience. They also work with high concentrates–containing 10% to 15% THC–and yield higher potency, which means that users will only need small amounts of the cannabis concentrate to experience the same effect as that of smoking a joint.

If you often burn your throat and get off-put by the harshness of your cannabis, it might be the perfect time to shift into using dab rigs.

What Is A Dab Rig

A dab rig is a device for smoking cannabis concentrates as compared to pipes and bongs that are usually designed for cannabis flower. In traditional bongs, the bowl holds the cannabis flower while they’re being heated. On another end, dab rigs make use of glass, titanium, or ceramic ‘nail’ where you can place small amounts of the cannabis concentrate.

Dab rigs exist in different shapes and designs with different price points. Generally, a dab rig is divided into two segments:

1. Main body: Typically made of glass or silicone that’s composed of the down stem, tube chamber, and percolator.

2. Nail: The most important component of the dab rig since it’s responsible for heating cannabis, hence it’s capable of handling extreme heat. Skillet type and banger style are the most common types of nail.

Features To Look For In A Dab Rig

With a variety of dab rigs in the market, it’s important to find the best one that’ll satisfy your dabbing needs and preferences. In light of this, here are five features that you should look for in a dab rig:

Rig Size

Monster-size bongs are fun to display around, but you’ll be surprised that they’re not actually giving the best flavor you can achieve from putting cannabis. This is because the bowl can hold a large amount of vapor at a certain time, allowing cannabis to lose its potency and dissolve from the oxygen.

Dab rigs, on the other hand, are relatively smaller than pipes and bongs. However, make sure that you’ll be choosing a dab rig with the smallest rig size. This way, the vapor has sufficient space to heat up before being inhaled. Also, a small rig size won’t waste too much potency of the cannabis.

Degree of Percolation

As the cannabis tincture is heated, it’ll produce smoke as a by-product. Percolators are components of a dab rig responsible for passing the vapor for cooling in the water filter, giving the user a smoother hit.

In ordinary pipes, percolators aren’t too essential, but you’ll have to look more closely into them if you’re using a dab rig since concentrate vapors are harsher to the throat than flower vapors.

Ideally, opt for more percolators with two to four holes as it offers a smoother, cooler, and less harsh dabbing experience.

Mouthpiece Size

In terms of mouthpiece size, you can achieve a seamless dabbing experience with just a smaller mouthpiece.

Dry cannabis flowers smoked on bongs and pipes tend to require a larger hit because users have to pull the bowl in order to empty the chamber. However, the nail on the dab rig supplies consistent vapor flow that enables you to enjoy dabbing consistently in small amounts.

Using a smaller mouthpiece also makes the most out of your concentrates and ensures that every drop isn’t going to waste.

Water Filtration Availability

The vapor’s cooling is essential to prevent mouth, throat, and lung burns. This is where water filters become handy for your dabbing experience.

When shopping for a dab rig, especially if you’re a first-time user, opt for dab rigs with water filtration mechanisms to allow your vapor to cool off before getting inhaled. Many dab rigs don’t have a water filter, so take the extra mile in finding a dab rig that has one.

But avoid dab rigs with complex filtration systems as they tend to lose the potency of your concentrate vapor, as well as give you a hard time in cleaning the resin buildup after several uses.

Nail Material

The nail is the most abused part of the dab rig as it’s directly exposed to heat and flame during combustion. Therefore, the nail’s quality is paramount not only in giving you an excellent dabbing experience, but it’ll also guarantee durability over consistent use.

If you want the most durable nail, opt for dab rigs with quartz nails as it surpasses the ability of glass to resist thermal pressure and flame. They also translate a better flavor than glass nails but are more expensive.

Smoking cannabis with dab rigs presents numerous advantages. If you’re the type of smoker who heavily relies on a smooth, high-quality, and noteworthy experience, dab rigs are the perfect smoking device for you, especially if you know what to look for when purchasing one.

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