Cannabis concentrates, distillates, and oils are a $1.71 billion market, expected to grow to $16.8 billion by 2033. They’re getting more popular due to the convenience of vaping a cleaner and more concentrated formula than smoking cannabis buds.
Of course, nobody wants to deal with the hassle of carrying around a butane or propane torch necessary to heat a nail in a standard dab rig. That’s why electronic dab rigs (known as e-rigs) are a vital tool for any oil connoisseur.
Here’s our ultimate guide with everything you need to know to choose the right e-rig for your personal dabbing needs.
What Are E-Rigs?
E-Rigs are the modern answer to traditional torch-and-nail dabbing. They heat concentrates with precise temperature control, producing smooth vapor without the guesswork or open flame. This is because they’re controlled with innovative microelectronics which use electrical voltage to heat the e-nail, which has a heating element encased in either quartz, ceramic, or titanium, along with a bowl to load your oil.
Heat is a vital part of vaping and can drastically change your experience.
Lower temperatures between 350 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit are used for a full-flavor vape that preserves the most terpenes and flavonoids. Lower temperatures are also used for pure cannabinoid distillate.
Meanwhile, a higher temperature from 500-600 degrees Fahrenheit starts to burn the oil and produces thick vape clouds with a high cannabinoid concentration that you’ll feel almost instantly.
Feel free to adjust your temperature to your personal tastes depending on what your device allows.
Why E-Rigs Are Growing in Popularity
Dabbing cannabis concentrates is a relatively new phenomenon that grew in popularity with the rise of legalization efforts across North America in the 2000s and 2010s. It was relatively easy for those who owned a bong to add a titanium nail to dab instead. But heating the nail manually involves a propane or butane torch that increases the risk while decreasing accuracy and not being very accessible on the go.
E-Rigs fix all these problems using modern technology. With precise temperature control, you can guarantee a consistent hit every time with no guesswork to ensure every hit feels the same. And it can be adjusted for friends so everyone in the sesh gets their preferred vape temp without impacting everyone else’s.
There’s also convenience. E-Rigs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and form factors, so you can find a device for any lifestyle and even carry multiples for different use cases, like home and away. Although desktop plug-in models exist, many prefer a handheld bubbler that charges with a common USB cable.
Still not sure what to buy? Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the most popular E-Rig models.
How to Choose an E-Rig
There’s a wide variety of e-rigs to choose from, and they can be divided into three categories–electric nails (enails), desktop e-rigs, and handheld e-rigs. Here’s a breakdown of each e-rig type, along with some our favorite models.
1. Enails
Enails are electricity-powered nails that fit on any water bong. They’re perfect for dabbers who already have a glass rig or want to support local glass artists, especially as there is such a wide variety of glass art geared toward the cannabis market. Even a basic rig can cost around $100, and you can expect to pay thousands or even up to a million dollars for more intricate works displayed in the BIG Industry Show’s Galleria of Glass, so you don’t want to risk using torches.
The Mininail is the king here, with a small box (about the size of a guitar petal or pack of cigarettes) in your choice of 16 colors that plugs into your wall outlet and provides consistent long-term heat to a full-sized dab nail with its coil. You can order a customized enail with your choice of a quartz, titanium, or silicon carbide hybrid nail and even a quartz banger. It also comes with a variety of carb caps and a dab mat.
2. Desktop E-Rigs
Desktop e-rigs are the choice for those who don’t already have a glass dab rig and don’t want to buy one. These e-rigs are full kits that include everything needed to dab contained in a large device about the size of a small bong or tabletop lamp. They typically work plugged into a wall outlet or using battery power, so they are portable, albeit conspicuous and hefty.
The Puffco Peak is the most popular desktop e-rig at cannabis industry events like the Cannabis Cup, because it’s lightweight and small. This makes it perfect for vendors providing on-site sampling at live events, and the Peak Pro 3DXL maxes the feature set with a cyclone glass insert and smartphone app.
The Dr Dabber Boost Evo and Switch 2 are also popular among home dabbers, and the company offers a variety of accessories–like sapphire, titanium, or quartz atomizers–and various glass bubbler attachments. The company also makes useful tools, like the Drop, an updated loading tool to replace the Budder Cutter.
3. Handheld E-Rigs
Handheld e-rigs are the latest trend, featuring the smallest possible design that easily fits in one hand while still providing powerful dabs. These are perfect entry-level models for camping trips, hiking, festivals, and outdoor recreational activities, as they’re lightweight and can be carried on you without taking up valuable space.
The Focus V Carta Sport is a great handheld option. It’s a smaller version of the popular but discontinued Carta 2 you likely saw at industry events alongside the Puffco Peak. The Dr Dabber Switch XS is a similarly pared down version of the Switch. Both retain the same features of their larger brethren’s basic model but now in a smaller, lighter package that cost less.
The Best Dabs for E-Rigs
Once you have an e-rig (or two) that suits you, all you need is the right concentrates to dab. That’s what Fine Fettle does best; we’re a locally owned and community-oriented cannabis business that offer only the highest-quality cannabis wax, budder, distillate, and shatter for your dabbing needs.
Check out our online menu or visit your nearest Fine Fettle location to find the fairest prices in town on the best cannabis concentrates on the market.
