Nugg Vape Cartridge Score: How We Rate These Inhalable Products

There so many THC and CBD vape cartridges, disposables and pods available, it’s hard to know which are worth purchasing and putting into your body. So after much testing, debate and even more trial-and-error, we’ve created our own proprietary 10-factor rating system to help you decide.

This Nugg vape cartridge score will help you understand the reasoning behind our detailed ratings, based on a scale of one (worst) to five (best).  

Packaging

1:

• Bland colors and graphics, nothing eye-catching, sub-par printing.
• Tough, hard to open, difficult to extract cartridge.
• Doesn’t protect the cartridge well, increasing the chance of breakage.
• Not transparent so you can’t see cartridge and oil.

3:

• Sturdy but smashable, a bit tricky to open and extract.
• Noticeable and typical, limited colors and standard graphics.

5:

• Very impressive artwork, unique design/shape/fonts, embossed/debossed, embedded graphics.
• Very strong, cartridge safe, very easy to open and extract, tamper-proof sticker seal.
• Packaging is either made from post-consumer recycled material or is itself recyclable or compostable.

Labeling

1:

• Extremely limited info (only brand name/logo, product name, THC amount, if that). Missing most product info.

3:

• Sufficient info (to use safely and trust ingredients as instructed): brand name/logo, product name, generic blend, size/weight, THC/CBD amount, lab tested, health warnings.

5:

• Extremely detailed info: Terpene profile, strain origin, where cannabis is harvested, extraction/distillation process, full cannabinoid profile (i.e. THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, and CBN), size/weight, ingredients, expiration date, batch identification number, lab testing source, lab testing results, QR code verifiable lab results, Prop 215 or 64 compliance, health warnings, company info, social media and home sites.

Cartridge Quality

1:

• Cheap, plastic cartridge, easy to break.
• Cartridge clogs up easily with no remedy, leaks, or oil spits up out of the mouthpiece.
• Not 510 threaded, costly or hard to find the applicable battery.

3:

• May not be a standard 510 threaded cartridge, glass tank, plastic mouthpiece, no top or bottom rubber stoppers.
• Cartridge clogs occasionally, though easily remedied.  

5:

• Cartridge stays clear and unclogged until the last drop.
• The cartridge itself is labelled with the strain and brand info, as to not mix up different carts once the packaging is tossed away.
• Standard 510 threaded, Glass tank, ceramic heating element, metal, glass or chrome tip, silicone stoppers where needed.

Taste

1:

• Doesn’t taste as advertised; unfamiliar and potentially dangerous flavors, tastes like plastic, too little cannabis taste.
• Taste of cannabis is completely masked by added flavors; doesn’t taste like you’re smoking cannabis, but a tobacco vape instead.

3:

• Vaguely tastes like the derived strain(s) but nothing remarkable.

5:

• Delicious strain-specific flavors that taste just as described; so tasty it’s hard to stop vaping.

Vapor Quality

1:

• Very harsh on the throat and lungs after 1 pull, serious coughing, extremely difficult to enjoy.

3:

• Some coughing and throat irritation after 3 pulls.

5:

• Extremely smooth, light, easy on the throat and lungs.

Oil Quality

1:

• Oil is too thin and fluid displays signs of cutting agents (glycerin, polyethylene glycols, medium chain triglycerides, etc.).
• Can see unidentifiable particles in oil.

3:

• Oil is not too thick or thin. No unidentifiable particles.

5:

• Crystal clear. Fairly thick oil, signifying a lack of cutting agents and producing a perfect hit.

Effectiveness

1:

• Feel absolutely no cannabis effects/desired medical relief, only a scratchy throat, coughing, and very negative side effects (headache, paranoia, cramps).

3:

• Produces claimed effects but requires constant vaping to maintain. Includes mild, undesirable dose-dependent side effects (anxiety, dry mouth, headache).
• Symptom relief and effects according to the recommended usage, but sub-par and/or causes slight discomfort.

5:

• Extremely effective with little use, very enjoyable, and no negative side effects whatsoever.

Ease of Use

1:

• Not 510-threaded, can only be used with a certain battery, requires frequent charging and upkeep.
• Cartridge might be overly-flashy and attention grabbing in an untasteful way, making it difficult to use with discretion in public places.

3:

• Compatible with most all vape batteries, small enough to take anywhere.

5:

• Comes ready-to-use out of the box with a disposable battery, don’t need to own a battery pen.

Consistency (3+ Tries)

1:

• What should be exact same cartridge looks and/or taste different.
• Cartridge never works or always clogs.

3:

• Works most of the time, though results might slightly differ from cartridge to cartridge.
• Occasionally get a faulty cartridge.

5:

• Cartridges have the same look, taste, pleasure and relief; difficult to tell them apart without packaging. Cartridges always work without fail.

Price

1:

• Completely overpriced, paying more for packaging design and cartridge material than the cannabis oil inside. Only buy if there isn’t another alternative.

3:

• Appropriately priced considering the size, strain, potency and detail; worth trying twice.

5:

• Fantastic taste, pleasure, and medical relief for such a moderate cost; a great deal.
• The overall experience, packaging, label/info, consistency, and customer service is so good it’s worth the price.