Judging by the BHO, solventless, live resin and crystallized THCa waves we’ve seen over the past few years, cannabis concentrates are clearly here to stay. Dabbers who aren’t willing to carry a pelican and torch everywhere they go are better off with a dab pen while traveling. Most vape pens are designed to make consuming concentrates on-the-go easy. However, some are better than others. It’s also worth noting that the best vape pens depend on your personal needs. If you keep the terps on deck, you’ll want something that will make the best of your oil. If you’re a budget buyer, you’ll want something more affordable but effective. We’ve gathered a list of some this year’s best vape pen offerings. Their pros are weighed against their cons to help you find the best vape pens specifically for you.
Yocan Magneto
The Magneto by Yocan offers a few innovative features to make your experience with concentrates on-the-go less miserable. The name should hint at the main feature that sets this pen apart from the rest: magnets. Instead of struggling to unscrew your mouthpiece from your atomizer once things get gunked up, simply pull. There’s even a magnetic carb cap that also acts as a dab tool.
Price: $85.00
Pros: Easy to take apart and refill with oil. You won’t even need to carry around a dab tool or even a separate container for your wax. At the bottom of the vaporizer, you can unscrew a hidden silicone compartment that is perfect for traveling dabbers. You can pack your atomizer and start vaporizing much faster with the magnets instead of threading.
Cons: You can find better heating elements on our other best vape pens in a similar price range.
Why We Like It: Plenty of convenient features in a compact device.
Rokin Nitro
Rokin makes good looking, efficient vape pens for concentrates at an affordable price. The Rokin Nitro model has three temperature settings and it comes with two dual quartz atomizers for strong flavorful hits. The R logo and the name “Nitro” makes this pen feel like a race car in your hands. The Nitro also comes in several stylish colors like matte black, rose gold and more. Additionally, Rokin is one of the only companies offering an atomizer subscription. You can get a set of three atomizers for only $24.00 shipped to you once every one to six months depending on your preference.
Price: $79.95
Pros: Great for people just getting into concentrates that don’t want to deal with a rig, torch and carb cap. It’s affordable and contains no plastics, fibers or glue. The quartz atomizer’s chamber goes deep so you can pack large amounts with no sticky oils spilling out. Since it’s made with metal components, you can heat the threads with a lighter or torch when oils start to build up there and wipe it with a paper towel. Putting your pen back together will feel as good as new.
Cons: The dual coil atomizer doesn’t deliver the flavor of your concentrates as well as some of the other options on our list.
Why We Like It: Sleek and efficient with extremely affordable replacement atomizers.
Clout OOZI Magnum
The OOZI Magnum by Clout is designed to be stealthier than your average wax pen. The exterior makes it look more like an unregulated mod for e-juices than a pen for hash oil. The metal exterior gives the pen a hefty feel to it. It will survive fine in the pocket of someone doing physically taxing work like construction.
Price: $85.00
Pros: They included a large battery for extra long battery life. USB port on the bottom of the battery makes things simpler. You won’t have to worry about your battery getting stuck to your charger and compromising things. The bottom of the device is magnetic which makes it easy to keep it standing up on any metal surface. They have an accessory that fits right into the bottom of the Magnum Oozi. It’s a container with silicone-lined walls for carrying concentrates. Great airflow and dual coil atomizers make it easy crank out huge clouds of vapor.
Cons: There are vape pens in this price range that will make better use of your oil. However, if you’re into big hits and durable devices, this could be the one for you.
Why We Like It: One of the most affordable and durable dual quartz vape pens on the market.
Dr. Dabber Aurora
Dr. Dabber has been one of the top providers of portable vaporizer technology since the very start. From the light up logo to the matte black design, the Dr. Dabber Aurora is one of the best vape pens when it comes to the sleekness. It hits smooth every time and it’ll easily slip into your pocket. The mouthpiece is ceramic and there are three atomizers, all lined with quartz cups for maximum flavor preservation.
Price: $99.95
Pros: The battery, mouthpiece and atomizer are held together by powerful magnets to avoid waxy threads that become impossible to unscrew. Dr. Dabber found several ways to make the dabbing experience more convenient. Their charging station has a slot for holding the top half of your pen upright while the battery lays down for a charge. Their low-heat technology prevents your oils from burning too hot and losing their flavor.
Cons: The only con is that you won’t be blowing out huge clouds of visible vapor. Take long draws if you want bigger clouds. This pen is best used on flavorful extracts, not chucking clouds.
Why We Like It: Sleek and convenient design delivers tasty low-temperature dabs with superior airflow.
R2 Series Gen3
If you’re looking for something extremely discreet, Thisthingrips has got you covered. Their R2 Series Gen3 model is one of the best vape pens when it comes to stealth, affordability and convenience. Comes with a pen cap that makes it look innocent as can be. It uses a ceramic atomizer with dual titanium coils. The ceramic is for preserving flavor while the titanium coils are made for producing potent clouds of vapor.
Price: $49.99
Pros: The R2 Series Gen3 kit comes with a new vapor blast mouthpiece for powerful hits but it also comes with their classic see-through window which allows you to see the amount of vapor forming as you’re inhaling. Perfect for starters because it’s easy to use and comes with a silicone station, dab tool and two atomizers. The station acts as a stand so you can pack the atomizer or clean it with less hassle. The battery lasts up to twelve hours on a full charge. You can also use it while it’s being charged.
Cons: The replacement atomizers only come in “cartridge kits.” The kits come with the entire mouthpiece half and an extra single ceramic coil for half the price of the device.
Why We Like It: Stealthy, affordable, effective and convenient.
Kandypens Prism+
Kandypens has a wide range of vapor products for liquids and concentrates. Their premier concentrate vaporizer is the Prism+ which comes with a black velvet protective pouch, dab tool and atomizers. There is a heating chamber with a ceramic dish and another one with titanium coils wrapped around two quartz rods. You can swap between the two depending on what you’re in the mood for like flavor or intensity.
Price: $127.99
Pros: Very compact concentrate vaporizer with a ceramic mouthpiece. The airflow is better than most vaporizer pens on the market. You won’t have to strain your lungs to get a satisfying amount of vapor. The dual quartz atomizer lets off huge clouds of vapor with a slight compromise in flavor. With the ceramic chamber, the PRISM+ becomes the best coilless wax vaporizer in its price range. Hits are much smoother on the inhale with no uncomfortable heat or taste from atomizers with metal wires.
Cons: Delicate glass mouthpiece will likely break if dropped. The price of replacement coils is about a quarter of the device itself.
Why We Like It: One of the most efficient concentrate vaporizers in its price range makes this one of the best vape pens on the market.
Source Orb 4
Source Orb uses some of the purest Titanium of any vape pen company on the market. In fact, they have USA lab-certified 100 percent real grade 1 titanium coils. With the Source Orb 4, you’ll have 9 different atomizers to choose from. There are 5 settings for variable airflow and 8 for heat. The mouthpiece is held to the atomizer by magnetic force so you won’t have to struggle through sticky threads. There is a lifetime no-hassle warranty.
Price: $99.95
Pros: Comes with six different atomizer coils. Three of them are dual coils, two are coil-less and one is single. Magnetic lock makes it easier to load your atomizer and get to vaping. If you dislike constricted airflow you can open all the valves for one of the easiest drags you’ll ever experience on a vape pen.
Cons: Intimidating to beginners. There are many different coils, temperatures and airflow settings to choose from. This is great for people who love to fine tune every aspect of their vape pen experience but someone looking for a quick and simple way to vape may become frustrated by the number of choices. The top is also really bulky and heavy making it less portable than some of our other best vape pens.
Why We Like It: Sturdy design with the most customizable vape pen experience on the market.
Kind Pen Dream
Kind Pen makes a variety of vaporizers for both loose concentrates and prefilled cartridges. The Dream is designed with the connoisseur concentrate user in mind. If you want something simple and effective at vaporizing oils and waxes look no further. The Kind Pen Dream gives you the option of a coil-less ceramic chamber or a dual quartz atomizer.
Price: $99.99
Pros: User-friendly but not stranger friendly. There is no button on this device so someone unfamiliar with it might have a hard time figuring out how to use it. At the bottom, there is a touch sensor which can be pressed five times to turn on and three times to toggle through heat settings. Heat is sent to the atomizer for as long as you hold your finger on the sensor. Middle fingers tend to work best. You can get the full flavor of your extracts with the ceramic coil on a low heat setting. If you want a quick potent dab on the fly, you can turn the heat all the way up to finish the dab in one or two hits.
Cons: The biggest cons are the size and the breakable glass component. For the price, there are more portable devices that are more durable all around.
Why We Like It: Solid vapor production from a ceramic coil even on the lowest heat setting.
Linx Hypnos Zero
Another contender for one of the best vape pens, the Linx Vapor is bringing quality vaporization at reasonable prices. They’ve got a couple of options for cannabis concentrates as well as a portable vaporizer for dry herbs. The Linx Hypnos Zero is their offering to concentrate connoisseurs and one of the best vape pens we’ve come across. It is a vape pen made to mimic the experience of a low-temperature dab. The vapor path is constructed with zero fibers, plastics or paints. There are also four temperature settings to toggle through.
Price: $77.99
Pros: Short and sleek design make it one of the most portable vaporizer for cannabis concentrate on the market. Figuring out how to use it is simple. There are no coils in the Linx Hypnos Zero. Instead of applying your oils directly onto a hot wire, you have a ceramic plate for a more enjoyable experience. The Linx Hypnos Zero slowly cooks your oils so you get to enjoy the flavors without the taste of metals or charring. Several hits in your live resin will still be light in color. No oil gets wasted, you can vaporize it until there is just enough to Q-tip up.
Q-tipping after each use like you would on a quartz nail is the best way to have every pack tasting as good as the last. When you get home after a days use, heat the chamber up for a few seconds and clean the inside with an isopropyl-soaked Q-tip. You should also hit the mouthpiece with a soaked Q-tip to keep things clean and convenient.
Cons: Hard to get a big puff even on the highest of four settings. You may have to take four to five hits rather than one to two on a more powerful vaporizer. Furthermore, if you overpack it, oil will likely clog the five airflow holes directly above the ceramic chamber. Over time the oil residue will build on the glass mouthpiece and you’ll feel it on your lip if you don’t clean it.
Why We Like It: One of the best vape pens of 2017 when it comes to preserving flavor and oil.
Puffco Plus
Finally, we have the Puffco Plus. Puffco brought us one of the first premium vape pens for cannabis concentrates years ago. In fact, we ranked it as the top vape pen multiple times a couple of years back. Since then, several companies have mimicked their original design while they shifted their focus onto their vastly improved Puffco Plus model. They thought of every grievance vape pen users had and addressed them. There are no glues holding together rods wrapped in cheap metal wires. The Plus’ ceramic chamber allows you to enjoy the full flavor of your extracts while blowing big clouds of visible vapor.
Price: $99.99
Pros: This is one of the best vape pens of all time for several reasons. The Puffco Plus provides the at-home experience in your pocket. Even without the water, the Puffco delivers a smooth hit consistently with less room for error. If you don’t time the cooldown right with your nail and torch it can end up being harsher than a dab on the Puffco Plus. There are two ways to use it: sesh mode or the same you would with any other vape pen. Sesh mode allows you take huge hits, comparable to an actual dab. If you feel like spreading it out or taking it easy, you can hold the button down for a smaller dose at a time.
It’s extremely user-friendly. Pack .3 or less onto the dart, hold the device upright anytime it’s in use and then just puff away. Once there’s a thin dark layer of oil left on the ceramic chamber, you can Q-tip it up. Do this every time and the flavor of every one of your dabs will be as fresh as the first. After coming home from a day of using the Puffco Plus you can warm it up for a few seconds and run an alcohol-soaked Q-tip through it for a thorough cleaning.
Our favorite part is the dart attached to the mouthpiece which acts as a carb cap, tool and splash guard all in one. You won’t get wax on your lips or even on the tip of your mouthpiece like with other vape pens. Furthermore, you won’t have to carry around a sticky and stinky tool. Puffco’s ceramic dart stays hidden and contained when attached to the atomizer.
Cons: Get’s hot after continuous use but only to the hands, not the lips. Battery dies after a few uses but it recharges within 30 minutes.
Why We Like It: The biggest clouds of vapor we could find with no compromise to the flavor of high-quality extracts.
Final Hit: Best Vape Pens 2017
There are vape pens for every type of concentrate user. Do you drop fat dabs of flavorful concentrates on the regular? Or do you purchase the most affordable oil and use just enough to feel the effects of your medicine? The best vape pens for you will depend on your answer. Either way, you should be able to find something suitable for your needs on this list. There are pens for beginners, average users and even connoisseurs as you get closer to the top of the list.
Thanks so much for sharing the best vape pen.
I would love to see an updated version of this article for 2024. I feel like things have come such a long way in 7 years.
There are so many more options now as well. It would be interesting to see how the best stack up.