In the World of Weed Vapes, These Brands Are the Movers and Shakers

In 2014, the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year was “vape.” However, even a decade ago, that word was more commonly applied to nicotine products. It would take another couple of years for the term to become common in the world of cannabis.

Today, weed vaping is one of the most preferred methods of cannabis consumption, courtesy largely because of its convenience, effectiveness and (of course) the increasing legality of recreational marijuana. That also means the marketplace for such devices has metaphorically exploded: literally thousands of vapes — be they the disposable concentrate-filled variety, the reusable dry herb variety and anything in between.

So how does one suss out which weed vapes are worth your time and money? You can start by getting to know some of the big names in the space — the ones that have proven themselves in the community. That’s why we’ve wrangled together the seven tried-and-true weed vape brands you should know.

Puffco

Some years ago, THC concentrate — also known as hash, dabs, wax, honey, etc. — was a fringe method of cannabis consumption. Today, it’s something you can find in just about any licensed dispensary. Puffco, founded in 2013, had a big hand in making that shift happen, as the brand was born specifically with the aim of making concentrates easier to consume (and, by proxy, making the overall experience better).

And it’s not just technology and innovation that makes Puffco special; the brand has also endeavored to make consuming THC concentrate safer by removing toxins common in other brands’ products and producing devices that are safer for use. While this brand does make a variety of gear (including our favorite discreet bong, the Cupsy), it still focuses primarily and largely on concentrate-focused vapes (like the Peak Pro below).

Puffco Peak Pro Available at Puffco.com

Unlike the original Puffco Peak, the Peak Pro has a sensor in the concentrate chamber that communicates with the device, keeping the temperature at where it needs to be regardless of how much you inhale or how much concentrate you put in, giving a controlled and consistent dab experience.

GPen

G Pen is an interesting and unique brand, perhaps the one most ingrained in the public eye, largely because of the brand’s ongoing celebrity partnerships (that’s Mike Tyson with some of his signature G Pen products above). And it’s not just celebs; the brand also has Artist Series vapes designed by some big names in the art world and a full Charity Series collection, the sales of which partly go toward non-profits.

Perhaps all of those collaborations are possible because the brand also has one of the most widely beloved collections of cannabis vaporizers and other accessories (we’re quite fond of the G Pen Dash and the G Pen Dash+, both of which we’ve reviewed).

Glen Dash+ Available at GPen.com

While it is named similarly to our best budget vape, the G Pen Dash, this is a completely different beast — a very good thing, in this case. Much more feature-rich and user-friendly than its smaller, cheaper sibling, the Dash+ is a world apart, offering a far greater swath of capabilities that translate to an overall better experience.

Pax

Occupying a unique spot in cannabis culture, Pax has practically become synonymous with weed vapes — and for good reason: its catalog, although small, includes some of the most beloved (or at least most talked about) devices on the market today. In fact, the Pax Plus and Pax Mini are among the best vapes we’ve ever tested. But the devices the brand makes (and its array of other products, like edibles and concentrate cartridges), however exceptional, are only a part of the brand’s story.

Pax Plus Available at Pax.com

Called the Pax Plus, this vaporizer can still do everything that its predecessor can do — smoke both dry herb and concentrate, swap modules on the fly, work with a single push of a button, heat to exacting temperatures, super simple USB charging, etc. — but it does all of them just a little bit better.

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