Trying to find the perfect glass piece to improve your smoke session can be a huge pain when you realize how saturated the market is with options. New brands and companies are popping up all over the internet without much word-of-mouth or any reviews on their services and products. Charging an arm and a leg for merchandise, shipping, and whatever other fees they can think to tack on in the check-out process, they leave with a worse taste in your mouth than old bong water. Vetting your smokables and their sources is crucial to having a good experience, and we’re here to help you do just that.
Teach yourself: The difference between dabs, flower, rigs, and bongs
Breakdown time for the less experienced tokers: A dab is a hit of wax or concentrates extracted from a cannabis plant with heat and pressure, and a dab rig is a glass piece or electronic device that heats the wax to the temperature necessary to get a hit. Wax must be heated with something like a propane or butane torch in order to experience the effects, but not all rigs are created equal. Using nectar collectors or dab straws is simple and direct, with no real setup necessary, though there are plenty of risks involving the use of these tools: If your dab straw is still hot and you idly set it down it could burn the surface it rests on, or worse, a belonging of yours by touching it.
Most dab rigs are similar to a bong or bubbler: there is a place for the concentrate much like a bowl, and you can add water or ice to help smooth the hit experience. For a clear explanation of the differences in smoking pieces, check out this article. Rather than light broken down flower with a lighter and inhale, however, you heat what is called a nail, or banger, which then touches the wax and releases smoke to inhale. Using this method, you can safely set aside the rig while it cools down, and you are free to enjoy your high without worrying you’re going to burn the coffee table or couch. This also leaves you free to remove the banger to swap for a traditional bong bowl for smoking flower.
Why choose one over the other
What makes full rigs, or more advanced nectar collectors, better than the basic utensils is their ability to filter or recycle smoke. Water, ice traps, and a longer distance inside the smoking device can help make each hit smoother and a pleasant experience versus the usual coughing and hacking caused by scalding smoke. You might be hesitating to commit to a rig because they appear complicated and difficult to clean, but the beauty in them is many are carefully constructed to be taken apart for the easiest maintenance possible. You don’t have to be an expert to own and clean a nice piece, like the Dab Rigs Here, simply follow the care instructions the pieces come with, and make a habit of emptying them between seshes!
Hearing the term “stoner” or “toker” might give some folks a mental image of someone lazy or untidy, but in truth, we have unmatched skills in keeping our glass pieces and smoking tools clean and organized. These utensils and accessories aren’t always cheap and can be difficult to find, we won’t just leave them laying around to be dropped and broken, or spilled on. We also like having a clean space to roll up in, the last thing you want is pet hair, dust, or food crumbs getting mixed into a bowl or blunt. Taking your rig maintenance equally seriously can yield delicious smoking experiences, and create good habits for future you to appreciate when a surprise sesh opportunity arises.
You don’t have to take my word for it, as the recognizable name of a lifestyle magazine company will agree, read more about glass piece cleaning here: https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/how-to-clean-a-bong-1121339/
From buying pipes and glass pieces online to researching strains, their effects, their flavor profiles, and finding the best deals for dispensaries in your area, there are plenty of avenues online where you can be pointed to more information. In order to fact-check and source your purchases, be sure to check the review sections, or do a quick search of the site’s reputation before buying. Convenience comes with a cost, which is variety in exchange for consistent quality. Much like your favorite band getting picked up by a huge label, you’ll get more albums, but possibly with changes imposed by the company.
Knowledge is power, and protection against changing laws
As the market grows with more accessibility for small growers and distributors, there is just as much room for scam artists and shady people looking to make a quick buck selling products that are likely less than legitimate. Finding sites, dispensaries, and brands you can trust is a natural part of partaking in cannabis products, you want to know that the money you are spending on flower, concentrate, or edibles, will be worth it for the effects they claim to offer.
More than an influx of poor-quality products, you must also keep yourself up-to-date on the evolving laws regarding the sale, purchase, and consumption of cannabis in your area. State and Federal laws and policies don’t always align, and occasionally there is an overlap of time between what is Federally legal, and what is locally regulated.
Be it inspiration for a new work in progress, motivation to get back into an abandoned routine, or just something to help you unwind from a long day at work, take the time to find the right resources and tools of the toking trade. There is little as disappointing as trying to elevate yourself for a nice experience only to be disappointed by the end of the smoke session.
Using the best tools, coupled with your favorite strain and form of cannabis, you can have a chill and easy sesh, with or without company in the rotation.
