Vape pens are massively popular, portable smoking devices that have taken the world by storm in the last decade. Their appeal lies in the simplicity and ease of use, and they are great for beginners and seasoned vets alike. Vape pens are also incredibly versatile as people can use them to enjoy CBD, cannabis, wax, and nicotine.
With all the different varieties of pens available, it can be overwhelming for beginners to know where to start. In this guide, we will cover the basics of how to use a vape pen and the benefits it can provide.
What is a Vape Pen?
Vape pens are devices that heat cartridges containing your chosen product—whether it’s dry herb, liquid, or wax—to transform it into vapor rather than smoke. You then inhale the vapor to experience the effects of the material in the pen. Vape pens come in various shapes and sizes, offering different battery lives and tank capacities.
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What are the Benefits of Using a Vape Pen?
One of the main reasons people prefer vape pens is because they are lightweight, portable, and easy to use. They are a great hassle-free product for beginners who may feel hesitant to try edibles or smoking. Speaking of, in comparison to smoking, vaping completely reduces the harshness while inhaling. Therefore vape pens can also be great for experienced smokers who want to switch it up and use something more simple, soothing, and laid-back.
With vape pens, you can space out your usage. By taking only a few small puffs at a time, you enjoy consistent yet mellow effects instead of consuming the entire pod in one go. It’s just like taking your drink one sip at a time or breaking up your edibles into multiple pieces. Many consumers practice and refer to this as microdosing or taking small doses.
Vape pens are engineered to heat the liquid or flower to just before the combustion point, increasing the product’s bioavailability, or how much the body absorbs the product. With higher temperatures, some of the cannabinoids and terpenes can burn off or get destroyed. However, vapes utilize less heat, helping to preserve more of the beneficial elements than other smoking methods.
Another benefit of vaping is how fast it works. The vapors directly enter the bloodstream once inhaled, and the effects can be felt within just a few minutes. In comparison, you can feel the effects of vaping far faster than eating edibles, which can take up to an hour to enter your bloodstream.
What Types of Vape Pens Are There?
Vape pens can come in many different forms, depending on your preference
Pre-filled, Single-use Disposable Pens
Disposable pens are the easiest to operate and can be discarded after one use. No customization or recharging is necessary. These are usually inhale-to-activate pens and do not have a button.
Rechargeable pen with replaceable cartridges or pods
Pens with replaceable CBD vape cartridges can help people try different flavors or strains. These pens require little to no customization but will need to be recharged after use.
Rechargeable pen with refillable tanks
These pens are usually higher-end vape pens and offer several customizations, whether with the coils or battery. These vapes could be more cost-effective in the long run, but consistent maintenance is needed. You can refill these with vape juices or any e-liquid instead of replacing the entire cartridge.
Box-Mod Vaporizers with refillable tanks
Box mods are usually the largest and most expensive vapes you can buy. Box mods refer to the large battery attached to the vape for longer use and the high levels of customization available. These vapes are best suited for experienced vapers because they require the most maintenance and care. Whether your pen is disposable or rechargeable, they come in two varieties: button-less/draw vapes or push-button vapes
Draw Vapes
Draw vapes are activated by inhaling on the pen – they do not come with a button. Inhaling will automatically start the atomizer and heat the liquid. These vapes are easier to use for beginners but are less customizable. They are also safer because they cannot accidentally turn on in your pocket or bag
Push-Button Vapes
These vapes require you to press the start button to activate the atomizer. Depending on the vape, multiple button presses can adjust the different heat levels or turn the vape pen on and off. However, any pen without temperature controls keeps the heat at optimal levels ensuring a good puff without any burning
Parts of a Vape Pen
There are many vape pens on the market, with the more expensive ones able to be modded and customized. All pens have five basic parts:
- Battery (disposable or rechargeable) – The battery is the bottom half of the pen that connects to the charger. The batteries are removable on higher-quality vapes.
- Tank or cartridge – E-liquids must be put into a prefilled or refillable cartridge. Different pens use different cartridges based on the product (wax, dabs, CBD, weed)
- Atomizer (or vaporizer) – This is the heating component that vaporizes your liquid or herb. It is specially designed not to burn the product and instead creates vapors for you to inhale. Atomizers can be made from cotton, ceramic, or quartz, depending on the level of temperature needed to vape CBD oil.
- Coils – Coils are a component of the atomizer that wraps around the atomizer head and heats it. The heat then evaporates the juice and creates the vapors that you inhale.
- Mouthpiece – Vape pens that have replaceable cartridges will have built-in mouthpieces. For refillable vape pens, the mouthpiece can usually unscrew.
Related: How Long Do Vape Cartridges Last? A Basic Guide to Vape Cart Shelf Life
Which Type of Vape Pen Is Best for You?
Depending on your background with vapes, choose one that matches your comfortability level and experience. If you’ve never vaped you might want to try a disposable pre-filled vape pen to determine if you enjoy the experience. Replaceable pods, such as Juuls or Stiiizys, are also a decent place to start.
However, replaceable, pre-filled cartridges are often the go-to option for beginners and people that use vape pens because of their functionality and portability. It is as simple as screwing the cartridge in and easier than refilling vape juice into a tank. These are great for people who want a simple, no-hassle experience.
For more experienced users, a refillable vape pen may be more cost-effective in the long run. They do not need to purchase new cartridge replacements all the time and they can buy their e-liquid in bulk.
Related: How Does CBD Vape Make You Feel? Find Out Here!
How Do You Use a Vape Pen?
Vape pens are very straightforward to use, but there are a few things to always look out for. If you are a beginner or unsure about a new pen, always make sure to read through the instruction manual for directions. As mentioned, there are two main types of vape styles when it comes to utilization: draw vapes and push-button vapes. You will find that no matter the category (for example refillable cartridge vapes or disposable vapes), all vapes either need a button for activation, or just a simple inhale on the mouthpiece.
Draw vapes typically do not have an on/off button or a button to activate the vaporizer. All you need to do is put your lips to the mouthpiece and inhale to activate the device. This process can be repeated until the consumer is satisfied.
Push-button vapes, which are the most common, usually do have an on/off button. Most times, this button has multiple functions, such as changing the heating temperature. Follow the directions on how many presses it takes to turn the device on (typically 5). Then, push the button to activate the vaporizer while inhaling from the pen. Release the button when you feel you have inhaled your desired amount of vapor. Then repeat this process until you are fulfilled. To turn the device off it usually takes the same amount of presses that it took to turn on.
A good tip before using your pen is to prime it. Many vapers test their pen for the first time without any juice or liquid to make sure that it works. For the vape veterans, mods are great for adjusting the vapor amount and occasionally the flavor.
Temperature Control
The more intricate vape pens will have temperature settings, so test each one to determine which works best. Start with small puffs to figure out how much vapor comes out and how hot the mouthpiece gets.
Temperature control is important because it can help with consistency in the flavor and draw. For example, a lower temperature can improve the smoothness and long-lasting flavor. A higher temperature can increase the potency and thickness of the vapor for stronger effects.
Why Isn’t My Vape Pen Working?
The best way to figure out why your vape pen isn’t working is to consult the included instruction manual. However, here are some common reasons why your pen isn’t working:
- Device is not on – Make sure to either hold the button for a few seconds or click it five times, depending on the pen.
- Cartridge is not attached correctly – Ensure the cartridge is adequately secured and not too loose, or the pen will not activate.
- Coils or batteries need replacement – sometimes cartridges can come with defective coils that need replacement. If possible, try the cartridge with a different battery to determine if the battery needs to be replaced.
Regardless of your pen’s sophistication, always make sure the battery is charged and the cartridge is filled. There is nothing worse than wanting to enjoy a nice hit and finding out that you forgot to charge the battery or ran out of juice. Sometimes the battery can die in a disposable pen, which then becomes unusable and must be tossed out (although some disposable pens come with a charging port)
What Are the Best Products to Use with Vape Pens?
Always remember to purchase your vape products from reputable brands or manufacturers. Whether you are vaping CBD, Juul pods, or cannabis make sure the products are made only with high-quality, clean ingredients.
CBD
At Cheef Botanicals, we highly recommend our line of CBD vape cartridges to use with your vape pen. CBD has grown in popularity in recent years because it can provide serene, soothing effects. CBD does not produce any “high” or euphoric feelings and has become the go-to for many people. If you need a rechargeable vape battery, we have those too.
Related:Best CBD vape cartridges for vape pens
Warning: CBD tincture oils are meant to be ingested, not vaped. Do NOT add tincture oils into your refillable vape pen. Heating and inhaling the oil can be potentially very dangerous as the smoke can damage your lungs. Do not attempt to vape CBD tincture oil as it can be hazardous to your health.
Our products are all made with organic, all-natural ingredients, so you don’t need to worry about poor quality or suspicious additives. Plus, all of our CBD is obtained via a clean CO2 extraction so that you won’t find any traces of chemical solvents in our juice.
Cannabis
Cannabis is a popular option for vape users. In the states that allow it, you can buy cannabis pre-filled juice cartridges that are similar to the nicotine and CBD ones. The replacement cartridges will work in a regular rechargeable vape pen. For dry herbs, make sure to buy specially designed flower vape pens. Regular vape pens do not vaporize dry herbs.
Similar to dry herb, wax or dabs require specifically designed pens. Wax pens need ceramic or quartz atomizers that can handle the higher temperatures needed to heat the wax.
Nicotine
Of course, the most common use of vape pens is nicotine and the most popular vape juices often refer to nicotine pods, like Juul pods. There are many vape pen variations to choose from due to their high demand.
Final Thoughts – How to Use a Vape Pen
While there is no “best way” to enjoy the effects of CBD, THC, or nicotine, vape pens can be great for quick, on-the-go access. They are easy to use, and you can carry them anywhere. Vaping can be quite enjoyable and it offers almost instant effects!
Read Next: How To Vape CBD [The Complete Guide]
