Whether you are new to vaping or have been doing it for a while, you want to choose the right type of pen for your needs. You might want one for casual use or even for doing party tricks. With a constantly changing market, you will always be able to find better and newer pens. You do not need to keep up with every model, but you will want to do your research.
Between 2011 and 2016, the number of vape pen users skyrocketed from 7 million to 35 million. If you want to be one of them, then you might be in the market to purchase a vape pen. However, before making your choice, you will want to know how to choose a pen that fits your lifestyle.
Basic Parts of a Vape Pen
Before you decide to go with vaping, you will want to have a better understanding of the different components you will be working with. Each brand will differ a bit, of course. However, there are some pieces that every type of device has in common. Each of these performs the same functions, no matter what type of pen you go with.
- Vape Tank: This component has the e-liquid, the heating oil, and the wicks.
- Vape Coils: This is a replaceable assembly that has been wound up into a coil shaped like a spring. The coils have an absorbent material, such as cotton, around them. These absorb the liquid. Then, you can heat the coils, which vaporize the e-liquid.
- Battery: This is the device’s power, and there are different types. Some pens have a built-in battery, and with other types, you can replace the battery.
- Vape Mod: This is the device that holds the battery. It connects with and transfers power to the atomizer.
- E-liquid: This is a substance that contains flavourings, glycerin, and, of course, marijuana. In some cases, it also has nicotine in it.
Complete vs. Mix and Match
Some systems are already complete. All you need to do is add your juice. You can choose a disposable atomizer or a replaceable coil. These are often more attractive to new users of vape pens because it prevents them from having to assemble one.
However, you can also get systems that come as individual parts. That way, you can mix and match everything to create the best type of device for you. That will give you a more customized vaping experience. When it comes to vape pens, there is no right or wrong answer.
Your personal preference will determine which one is right for you. With a complete system, you can easily make one purchase and be good to go. It does take longer for you to pick out different components. However, you also have more customization options when you go with this. Often, you can find kits, which might be your best option as a beginner to vaping.
Think About Your Desired Functionality
Most vape pens are fairly easy to use. These are well suited if you are fairly new to vaping or if you just want a simple experience. To use them, all you need to do is put in your material, turn the pen on, and begin to vape.
Of course, you can also find pens that have more features and are fancier. You might get one with temperature control or be able to program the pre-sets. On the other hand, some pens do not even need to be limited to burning up liquids. They can also do well for other types of vaping materials. No matter which style you decide to go with, you will want to think about what you want to use it for before making your purchase.
Pick out the Right Vaping Material
When you think of vaping, you likely think of a liquid, or e-liquid. However, this is not the only type of vaping material. E-liquids are very popular because you can get them in so many flavours and even customize the type of vapour cloud. Often, they have food flavouring, propylene glycol, nicotine, or water.
However, you can also choose from dry herbs to burn in the vape pen. For example, you might get marijuana or flowers. If you want to burn dry materials, you will need to get a special pen that has the right type of chamber inside of it.
A vape pen for dry herbs is a discrete way for you to take in marijuana or other types of cannabis products. Using this type of pen lets you put your dry ingredients into the cartridge. You can use a wax or dab pen for concentrates.
Consider the Method of Heating
A vape pen can come with one of three different methods of heating. These include induction, convection, and conduction. With convection heating, your pen’s heat does not directly contact your vaping material. That can reduce the pen’s risk of additional combustion and prevent you from wasting the material. However, it might take a little longer to heat.
With conduction heating, your vaping material does come into direct contact with the heat. This can be a great choice if you want to start your vaping experience as soon as you turn on the pen. However, you will want to keep in mind that this method can sometimes waste your pen’s vaping material.
It is not as common to find a vape pen that uses induction heating. This method requires magnetic fields in the pen. You are unlikely to find a pen that has this method. However, because of the newer advances in vaping technology, there might be more of these in the future.
Looking at Battery Life
Before you choose your vape pen, you also will want to think about your lifestyle and how that will fit in with the battery life of the pen. For example, if you will be using the pen very often, you might want a long battery life. On the other hand, you might only use it every now and then. The type of output you want — cloudy or flavourful — will determine the pen’s uses, as well.
If you want your output to be of the highest quality, then you will want to choose a pen that has a longer battery life. If you want to have more clouds or flavours, then you will likely need to get a long-lasting battery, as well. If you choose a premium vape pen, then it will likely have a rechargeable battery made out of lithium-ion.
You will also want to consider the vape pen’s temperature control. Without the right control, the pen might heat up and quickly become too hot. With a high temperature, you might lose some of the more delicate herbal effects or flavours of the vaping substance.
Think About the Pen’s Design
For many vape users, the aesthetic plays a big role in the type of pen that they choose. You can find some pens that look like stainless steel. You can also find pens that look like plastic. When you are thinking about the best type of pen to purchase, you will want to carefully look at the design of it.
In general, it is a good idea to choose carbon fibre or real stainless steel for the pen. These can be more expensive in the short term, but they have often been carefully created to be long-lasting. You can see if the pen has a ceramic heating element or even Pyrex glass. These can be the difference between an average and a premium pen.
It is good if the rods and coils are made out of titanium. However, you do not want to have titanium alloy in your pen. Neither Teflon nor silicone should be in your vape pen because they both have fairly low melting temperatures. It is also risky to have any attachments that have copper in them because of the high temperature inside the pen.
Consider Your Budget
Perhaps you find the perfect pen to use as a beginner. But if you do not have the money to pay for it, then you will need to either wait to get it or look for another one. You should do a bit of preliminary research to determine a good price point for your pen. Then, create a budget for it and stick to it. You should also put aside a bit of cash so you can pay for accessories, such as the cleaning equipment. You also want to be able to afford the materials for vaping. If you cannot use your vape pen, what is the point of getting it?
You will want to remember that a pen that has convection heating can cost you a bit of money. However, this is also considered one of the safest heating methods out there. If you find a titanium pen, then you will need to get either Grade 1 or 2.
You will want to look at how easy the pen is to use, as well. You can find pens that are extremely easy to use. All you have to do is put in your material, close the chamber, and turn it on. However, you can also find pens that have a range of features. These can include pre-sets that you can program or different temperature control. These features do drive up the price a bit.
Some pens can burn all types of materials instead of only a liquid. However, if you choose a pen that has so many different features, you might find that the price point begins to increase dramatically. It will also be harder to use the pen. Consider the features that you absolutely must have and go from there. You should also think about how much you would use these added features.
What to Avoid in a Vape Pen
Now you know a bit more about how a vape pen works and what features to look for in your pen. There are a few things you should avoid when you pick out a pen. As mentioned earlier, you will not want to choose a pen that has a material with a low melting temperature. Using a pen that has this type of material in it can be risky.
You might find avoiding these materials to be difficult because pens that might fit your budget often come with these inexpensive materials. You should save up so you can avoid getting the cheapest pen out there. It is likely that these brands are not as predictable and stable as other ones. You should keep in mind that safety regulations and standards for vaping are still being established.
If you want to get the best, safest model possible, you can see if it was independently tested. This can help you be surer about the materials in the pen. If your vendor does not offer results from testing, it is a better idea for you to go somewhere else to purchase the pen.
You might have seen mechanical vape pens. These have a simple design, and there is no circuitry or wires in place. There are not as many moving parts that can go bad or wear out. Some people like them because they are durable and very rugged.
However, for beginners, they may not be the best option. They do not have as many safety features or protection as other types of pens. If you do not have a lot of experience, the pens could be dangerous for you.
Closing Thoughts
Vaping does not always require getting the newest types of pens or the biggest attachments. Especially when you are new to the process, you want to be able to pick a pen that fits your lifestyle and your vaping habits well. Because the market for vape pens is still growing, you will want to look for a pen that will be safe for you. Now you should know a bit more about choosing the best type of vape pen for you.