Best and Worst Vape Cartridges of 2015 & 2016
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You’ve probably noticed more and more “vape pens” popping up at your local dispensary, online telemedicine platforms like Nugg & NuggMD, but what about cannabis vape cartridges? Maybe you don’t know exactly what they are or how to use them, but you’ve seen your pal puffing on what looks to be an “armored pen” like its oxygen.
Here’s the deal—the vaporizers you see today are portable electronic sticks that heat marijuana oil to a temperature just shy of combustion, emitting a smokeless “mist” without the tars, toxins and carbon produced and ingested when setting your herb aflame.
Vaporizers make vaping and smoking easy, discreet, and honestly quite a lot of fun (just don’t confuse cannabis vaporizers with e-cigarette vaporizer pens that function the same but use nicotine instead of THC).
After seeing celebs like rapper/weed icon Snoop Dogg, comedian Sarah Silverman, fighter Nate Diaz and others publicly sport these magic healing wands, you’re probably tempted to try one for yourself. You’re not alone. Even a third of Leafly reviews are related to medical or adult vaporizer use.
But what you might not realize is that the vape pens themselves aren’t the key. Yes, each comes with its own design, price, quality, durability, and “wow factor”; but in reality it’s the THC and/or CBD vape oil (also commonly referred to as cannabis e-juice or liquid concentrate) inside the detachable cartridge that produces the relaxing, healing effects.
These weed cartridges are typically created using a CO2 extraction method and can be replaced time and time again with any THC and/or CBD infused liquid.
Which brings us to the point of this article…
What are the best (and worst) vape cartridges available today?
We wish someone warned us which ones to try first and which ones to stay away from, but there’s just not much information out there on what makes one cartridge better than another. Maybe a random reddit thread here and there, a post in High Times or The Cannabist, but for the most part the topic of personal cannabis vaporizers is still an emerging trend with a lot to be discovered.
Plus, when something so small is priced so high you can’t really afford trial and error. We’re writing this post in hopes that prospective wax pen vape cartridge buyers like you find it useful prior to purchase.
Our first piece of advice for medical marijuana users—don’t listen to what the budtenders tell you. They’re job is to push products. They’re not pharmacists. Most of them don’t care about your medical needs and the cannabis industry just doesn’t have standards to make sure the people behind the counter know what they’re talking about.
In fact, most of us are frequently shocked how little they actually know. “This one’s the best” usually means “this is the one nobody’s buying and we really need to get rid of it.”
And you often can’t trust pricing as an indicator of quality; you may think expensive carts trump the rest in quality and potency, but they’re most likely only pricey because of fancy packaging and branding.
In this 2015-2017 breakdown, we’ll try to refrain from talking about qualities that are mainly subjective like smell and taste. They all smell and taste differently, but we know what you care about most are the THC concentration, vapor production, and ultimately the effects of the high, so we’ll mainly address these issues.
We’ve also updated this piece to include vape cartridges that became available to consumers in 2017.
In this brand spotlight, you'll discover:
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We’ll go from worst to best so, even if you don’t have time to read this whole thing, you can click on a brand above and find out which one(s) to try and which to stay away from. When you do find one you’re interested in, check out the last section of this post to learn how you can get it delivered to your home (if you’re in California, that is).
O.pen
Don’t be fooled by the sleek packaging! You might be tempted to buy an O.pen pre-filled hash oil vape cartridge or O.Pen refill because they’re nice, colorful, and have a variety of vape cartridge strains in 250mg ($30-45) and 500mg ($50-65) sizes, but this is the least favorite brand we’ve tried.
And believe us, we wanted to think the first experience was a fluke, but then the second AND third marijuana oil cartridges ended in leakage too.
SEE ALSO: Full O-pen Vape Pen & Cartridges Review
Even when we followed the O.pen vape instructions and managed to get these things puffing, the burnt plastic taste was simply off-putting and unnatural. We imagine this product comes from a production line with little quality control and a company with little interest in the cannabis user. Still looking for O-pen vape cartridges for sale? Scroll or jump to the end of this article.
O-Pen vape cartridges = avoid, not worth the problems when better ones available.
American Flower
This one will get you high, but not very quickly. We had to power-hit it rapidly for ten minutes and only then did the cerebral lift-up kick in. There’s not that much vapor produced, so you feel like every hit comes up short. For some reason this one is priced at $40 for 500mg of vape pen hash oil, but we have no idea what reason justifies that price.
Their packaging isn’t even aesthetically pleasing. See for yourself; it’s freaking atrocious. Looks like it’s straight out of the Kirkland Swiss army knife handbook.
American Flower cartridges = don’t bother, unless the O-pen is your only other option. Then prep the lungs, suck down the entire cart and hope for the best.
Pure Vape
Pure Vape has the potential to be an amazing product. They kill it when it comes to taste, potency, and availability, but they’re not fooling anybody with their price point.
If you’re light on cash $40 for the 500mg cartridge and $50 for the 1200mg cartridge (a better deal) might not be worth it; you’re better off buying some wax or shatter to get more bang for your buck, unless you insist on vaping.
An average Pure Vape cartridge might last about four days, if you have the discipline of a Shaolin monk, but if you’re a regular toker this thing will give you two days of great tasting vapor, and two days of burnt hits. Instead, save those 40 or 50 bucks for one of the bad boys below.
Pure Vape cartridges = quality but short-lasting; not worth the price.
TetraLabs
TetraLabs does not mess around when it comes to quality. These cannabis oil cartridges contain pure liquid THC will get you really high, make your mouth water, and will last longer than most others on the market.
While more expensive than the previous cartridges, their strength, smoothness and effectiveness makes them worth the heftier $70 (1000mg) and $40 (500mg) price tags.
While they come in a variety of flavors, Classic, Crème Brûlée, Earl Grey, Pineapple and Spearmint, unfortunately they don’t come in a variety of strains because you only have one option…Mystery Hybrid.
Although labeled a hybrid strain, we wouldn’t recommend this cartridge if you’re trying to get stuff done. They definitely lean more towards the indica-dominant side of the spectrum, so if you’re looking for that deep body couch-lock then this is the vape cartridge for you.
Tetra Labs Gold cartridges = pricey but dank, almost too dank if you’re tryna function.
Eureka Vapor
Unlike the others on this list, Eureka oil vapor cartridges come in almost 20 popular indica, sativa and hybrid strains like Girl Scout Cookie, Super Silver Haze, and White Window for practically every condition or mood.
Not only is there something for everybody, each Eureka vapor cartridge tastes like what it’s supposed to as their extraction process produces only the purest and healthiest vapor.
SEE ALSO: Eureka Vape Cartridge Review
They’re fairly priced at $35 for 0.5g/500mg and $65 for 1g/1000mg, plus works like any standard 510-thread cartridge. Currently they’re only available in California and Colorado, so if you can legally buy medical marijuana and are lucky enough to find them, take advantage and enjoy! You won’t be sorry.
Eureka vape cartridges = great selection, effective, and affordable; a more balanced cartridge.
Honey Vape
Super potent, super high-quality with a bunch of great tasting strains like Skywalker OG, Blackberry, and Tangerine Dream to choose from.
In our eyes, Honey Vape could’ve taken the cake, but we like to medicate on-the-go and this cartridge slowed us down. Why?
When we first tried the Honey Vape cartridge we were ready to put it at the top of this list (meaning the absolute worst) marijuana cartridge available. We could barely get this thing to hit at all. We were sucking on it like a baby on a pacifier, our lips hurt and we were doing way too much of the work.
But we found the trick—you have to heat this stuff up beforehand until the liquid THC starts to flow and then, believe us, it runs like gold. After giving up on the concentrate and accidentally leaving it to fry in the sun, we discovered that the THC vape juice was swimming around more freely.
We then plugged it into our vape pen, took one huge drag and, would you look at that, the thing absolutely RIPPED.
With up to 80% THC oil in each, we proceeded to get a mind-blowing creative high that lasted well over two hours (impressive for any THC cartridges our book).
SEE ALSO: In-Depth Honey Vape Cartridges Review
So if you don’t mind doing a little prep-work (like putting a blowdryer or flame to this thing) and paying $40 (0.5g), $75 (1g), or $110 (1.8g) for a CO2 oil cartridge, then Honey Vape is totally worth it. You won’t find this kind of quality and potency anywhere else.
Honey Vape cartridges = looks like honey, tastes like it too, and gets you very medicated so go try one of these cartridges now.
Kurvana (formerly Kure Botanicals)
There’s nothing more satisfying than a perfect tasting vapor hit. We’d probably buy these cannabis vape juices even if they didn’t contain active cannabinoids; they’re that good.
However, even though these cartridges taste better than any others we’ve tried, taste isn’t the determining factor for why we put Kurvana at numero uno.
They’re also extremely potent (67-70% THC), come in 11 delicious strains like Pineapple Express, Citron OG and Grapefruit Kush, and the presentation is pristine. Where other companies use fancy packaging to place a premium on price (a.k.a. rip you off), Kurvana uses its stylish packaging as the “wow factor.”
The only downside is they’re one of the most expensive 1g cartridges available, $75 each, but their .5g cartridges are a reasonable $40 a piece, putting them on-par with the Honey vape cartridge.
These embody everything you want in your weed oil cartridges: the intensely flavored strains taste awesome and hit smoothly while getting you high as a kite, and the beautifully crafted vial containers look attractive. Way to go Kurvana, you’ve done us right.
Kurvana vape cartridges = currently one of the best vape cartridge on the market, hands down.
Pax Era
Mostly known for their dried flower vapes, Pax has become a leading vape cartridge producer in 2017 due in part to their super sleek and stylish concentrates pen, the Pax Era. The pen’s thin, rectangular shape is unlike any other, making their cartridges, called “pods,” a high quality specialty item.
Surprisingly, Pax doesn’t make their own vape oil but partners with high quality cannabis companies, licensing their pod’s to different ones in each MMJ state.
Here in California, Bloom Farms produces the pods in a ton of organic strains, including ACDC, Silver Haze, Sour Diesel, White Kush and many more. Bloom Farm’s Pax Era Pods are on the expensive end, with 500mg (the only size available) cartridges costing around $60 a piece.
In addition to the pods’ lasting unexpectedly long, the pen itself heats to a perfect temperature so you’ll never have another harsh hit filled with burnt flavor. It not only looks futuristic, it also comes equipped with an app, allowing you to track your consumption and alter the temperature as needed.
Pax Era Pods = What these pods lack in affordability and diversity they make up for in quality, flavor and lasting ability. Worth the splurge.
FlavRX
The FlavRx takes pride in emphasizing the science behind the perfect dose, so it’s no surprise the company won “Best Vape Pen” at the 2016 HempCon in San Francisco. Now in 2017 they’ve become even popular. Every cartridge provides a quality high that’s full of natural flavor, tasting more like smoking flower than vaping concentrate.
Another amazing aspect of FlavRx cartridges? There are currently 24 strain-specific options to choose from, including favorites like Girl Scout Cookies, Green Crack, Blue Dream, Jack Herer and OG Kush, along with several more so you’ll never get bored.
Their cartridges come in two sizes: 500mg (0.5ml) and 1,000mg (1.0ml). The smaller will cost around $35 while the large will cost around $65, making these some of the more expensive options available.
If you’re more concerned with price than quality, these vape oil cartridges probably aren’t for you. But if you are willing to pay a bit more for better quality flavor and high, FlavRx might be your new favorite.
FlavRX = Rich, natural flavor of smoking flower with the potent high of concentrates.
Read on to learn how to order cannabis delivery online from top dispensaries in your area. We guarantee you they carry some (if not all) of these products.
How to Get Vape Products Delivered in Under an Hour
Where can you find THC vape oil for sale online? While you can’t buy it or other vape pen cartridges wholesale directly from the companies that make them, or buy them outside of your designated state, you can find a variety of vape refills, dab cartridges, wax cartridges, BHO cartridges, CBD vape pen cartridges, hash oil cartridges and more for sale just by using any device with an internet connection!
Keep in mind though, this service is only available in California for now.
Visit Nugg, the leading online cannabis marketplace, to find a competitive list of the vape cartridges you want, and have them delivered to your door! Put in your address or zip code and/or use the search bar to hunt for brands and vape products using key search words like “vaporizer” and “cartridges.”
See which medical marijuana dispensaries near you carry these awesome (or not so awesome) products, compare pricing, and order hassle-free without ever talking to a live person. Instant gratification here you come!
So there you have it. The best and worst vape cartridges of 2015 & 2016, and much more to come in 2017.
We’ll update this page regularly with new cartridge additions, so visit us again to learn about new cartridge brands & products.
Honey Vape Cartridges Review: How to Use, Where to Buy and More
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Today we’re diving into what makes Honey Vape cartridges special—since there’s not much info already out there on it.
Though vaporizer products like the G Pen or MicroG Pen (which require loading loose concentrates into an empty tank) remain very popular with cannabis users, any medical marijuana patient who’s recently visited their dispensary will notice the increase in popularity of pre-filled cartridges that can be attached to vaporizer batteries (often called “mods”) of the user’s choice.
While these pre-filled vape cartridges are a bit more expensive than the product contained within would be on its own, they offer a level of convenience and reliability, making them a great alternative.
I personally prefer pre-loaded cartridges after having numerous, unfortunate run-ins with delicate vape pen coils, even while I’d been diligent in attempting to protect them. Pre-loaded cartridges circumvent this issue (for the most part) and usually contain high quality concentrates too.
What you'll learn in this post:
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Behind the Scenes
One vape-cartridge brand that’s been popping up in dispensaries around California is Honey Vape. Strangely, information about the company is scarce, despite their presence in many collectives, and info on an actual Honey Vape cartridge is even rarer.
I’ve seen them stocked in at least two different local dispensaries, and a Nugg search shows me there are three dispensaries in my area that’ll deliver Honey Vape cartridges.
What has been clearly stated by the company is that Honey Vape cartridges are high in THC and free of unnatural solvents. They advertise a THC content of 75%+ and Cannabis Reports has logged the THC content of a few of their products all within that ballpark.
And being solventless means no butane was used the making. While BHO (butane hash oil) is generally the more popular concentrate, there’s a small but present danger of butane not being properly purged, which can be harmful if consumed. Some users simply prefer an absence of unnatural chemicals in their smoke or vapor, even if it’s been made properly and all the solvent has been purged.
For those consumers, as well as anyone looking for a high-quality vape cartridge, Honey Vape sells a very good product considering you’re willing to make it work…
Honey Vape Requires Maintenance but Gets the Job Done
The biggest selling point of any Honey Vape cartridge is its potency. Vape pens can scarcely, if ever, deliver the same intense high as ground herb smoked through a high quality water pipe, so potency here is relative. However, for oil intended to be vaporized, Honey Vape oil cartridges are easily on the more potent end of the spectrum. Plus, they’re solventless so the taste is a little cleaner too.
Little stands out about the product beyond these points, because for a pre-loaded vape cartridge to do its job successfully, it has to be simple and effective. Customers opting to purchase pre-filled cartridges likely care more about the convenience or portability more than potency, so in these regards, a Honey Vape cartridges should fit the bill.
However, first-time users of these cartridges may find that they’re having difficulty inhaling a significant amount of vapor. One look at the cartridge will give you an idea why. Rather than being flowing liquid THC, the oil inside is more akin to a solid wax. No amount of movement will make it budge the least bit.
Because of this thick consistency, it’s recommended that users place the cartridge itself in near-boiling water for a minute or so before using it. After being preheated, the heat from the battery will have a greater effect on the wax.
Unfortunately, this is a necessary step; without it the product’s high potency will be a moot point. Anyone who’s thinking of making the switch to pre-loaded cartridges for convenience’s sake may want to look elsewhere if it’s too big of a deterrent.
Because of its high potency, a Honey Vape cartridge has few rivals in terms of the “high” produced, given that they’re pre-heated beforehand.
SEE ALSO: The Best and Worst Vape Cartridges of 2015 & 2016
Cannabis Enthusiast Testimonials
“I love these carts…A few seconds with the blow dryer or car heater always does the trick for me. Do not attempt with a skinny vape pen like a bhang stick. You want a battery with adjustable voltage and hit this mf at about 3.7 V.” —Christa
“Absolutely LOVE the Honey Vape cartridge! The taste is phenomenal and I feel like I actually get the full value, since you can hit it with a lighter to melt any remaining oil so it’s vape-able (unlike the plastic cartridges). Potency is incredible, as well!” —Jesse
“Run it under hot water first In the plastic container, till it becomes more liquid and it’s amazing. Best I’ve had by far. High lasts forever lasts at least 4 hours. A baby hit is enough for any smoker.” —Johnny
Should I Try Honey Vape Cartridges?
Whether or not you should purchase a Honey Vape cart depends on whether pre-heating them is an obstacle or not.
If you’re going to be primarily using your vaporizer on-the-go, or would simply like your vaporizing experience to be as simple as pressing a button and inhaling, this isn’t the product for you. What other cartridges may lack in potency, they’ll likely make up for by requiring less maintenance.
However, if you prefer a less intense high and a cleaner taste from properly vaporizing concentrates, and are mostly going to be using your vaporizer at home with access to hot water (or a blow dryer), then this is the vaporizer cartridge for you. It’s available in many dispensaries and will work quicker and more effectively than most others.
The main caveat is that the company has next to zero info online about their brand or products, but that’s what this post is for and that’s why Nugg lets you search for products in-stock at dispensaries near you.
Where to Buy Honey Vape Cartridges
While we love sharing awesome content on our blog to help cannabis patients better understand the plant they love, we’re also pioneering the way for easy, quick, and professional cannabis delivery.
Nugg lets you find and order delivery online from local cannabis dispensaries in more than 60 California cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Think of it like GrubHub for cannabis. It’s free to use, every order is backed by 24/7 Customer Service, and you can choose from thousands of marijuana products across hundreds of dispensary menus.
Simply put in your address then “Honey Vape” in the search bar and instantly get a list of local dispensaries that carry the Honey Vape cartridges with prices!
