Difference Between a Dab Rig and a Bong

Smoking weed was once the standard way to consume it, but many years ago, I discovered herbal medicine. If you could afford it, bongs were the best way to enjoy your smoke. You can grind the weed, fill the bowl, light it up and inhale—simple!

I only learned about cannabis waxes and dabs long after I started using bong. Both methods are ways to consume cannabis, but they have different purposes. Bongs are meant for dried flowers while dab rigs are used for weed concentrates and waxes.

Bongs release cannabinoids through combustion. Dab rigs vaporize wax/oil concentrate with heat.

 Bong Vs. Dab Rig – The Smoking Experience

Bongs offer a thicker and more potent hit of your dry herbs than joints do, as the “rip” goes directly into your lungs. This deep inhalation will intensify the effects of the beneficial herbs while also giving you a large cloud when exhaling.

Dab rigs are perfect for smoking your favourite legal concentrates. To use, first heat up the nail or banger with a blowtorch. Then add your wax, shatter, or whatever Extract you have to it.

You place the concentrate on the nail and use a carb cap to control airflow while inhaling from the rig, similar to using a bong. The exhale produces large plumes of vapour with an even more dramatic and potent effect.

What are the main differences between DAB Rig and Bongs?

Dabbing is a type of marijuana smoking that uses cannabis concentrates. The first step in dabbing is heating up a nail with a blowtorch, then adding the wax or oil concentrate on top of it until only vapor is produced. Dabbers inhale this pure vapor for an optimal vaping experience. A banger is a bowl that connects to the downstream of your dab rig. It works by heating the bowl and then adding the concentrate. A cap is often put on top of the bowl, which controls airflow so that vapor can be better drawn through the water pipe as you inhale.

Bongs are smoking utensils used for dry herbs. Be sure to evenly grind your plant material before use for a more consistent smoke session. Then, place the ground-up herb in a bowl connected to the bong. When lit, draw the smoke through the bong which will help filter it and cool it down for a smoother hit.

Bowl Piece or Dab Nail?

Traditional bongs have a bowl-shaped object that goes into the joint in order to hold dry herbs or flowers. These can then be burned using a lighter. For dab rigs, however, you need a small nail or banger in order to vaporize concentrated oil or wax.

These pipes are typically made from glass, quartz, ceramic, or titanium. The downstream joint of the pipe is where they are attached. By heating it up, the wax can be placed on the pipe and will vaporize. You can then inhale it through the pipe.

The main difference between bongs and dab rigs is the type of attachment used. Both are water pipes, so they function in the same way.

What is consumed?

Bongs are commonly used to smoke marijuana flowers. To use a bong, pack the bowl with flower material, light it with a lighter, and inhale from the mouthpiece. Dab rigs (or oil rigs) are designed for smoking cannabis concentrates rather than dry herb or tobacco products. Dabs refer to compressed forms of THC-rich oils that can be as potent as 80-99% THC extractions.

Percolation

More percolation means better coffee, right?

Dab rigs are an exception to the rule when it comes to percolation. In most cases, more dilutes the THC’s potency. However, if too much water vaporizes the dab, it will reduce its effectiveness. Big or excessive percolators and recyclers aren’t often seen on better-quality dab rigs for this reason.

The reason bongs have larger chambers, more recyclers, and complex percolators is that they require more filtration than other methods. Diffused down stems to triple-stacked honeycomb percs make the smoke cooler and smoother.

 Size

The difference in size between dab rigs and bongs is key. When smoking dried herbs or flowers, you’ll usually want a larger glass pipe with more perks and chambers for the best filtration and cooling possible.

You will want a smaller water pipe when smoking concentrates because the smoke is thicker and denser than vapor. The smoke can travel a long distance as it’s at a much higher temperature.

Vaporizing your concentrate at a lower temperature than dry herb ensures that you get the most flavor and potency without losing any to diffusing in water. A small dab rig is better suited to concentrate, and a large bong is better suited for dry herb.

Price

Although dab/wax rigs are smaller than bongs, they can actually be more expensive to purchase. In addition to the rig itself, you’ll need a dab tool as well as other accessories suchlikkea torch, nail or banger and carb cap. All of these necessary items add up quickly in price.

Online headshops, like Lookah, stock a broad inventory of bongs and dab rigs that come in different designs and price points. Whether you want an affordable cheap bong or dab rig with a basic design or a luxurious one made from intricate artistic glasswork, we have it all.

Can dry weed and concentrates be used with the same water pipe?

If you want to smoke dried herbs, put a bowl on your pipe, and if you want to smoke concentrated herbs, use a nail or banger instead! We recommend not using the same water pipe for both options though.

The truth is that the flavor of dried herbs conflicts with the flavoring from concentrate. If you don’t clean away all residue from your last smoking session, and mix the two types, it will usually taste terrible. It’s also simpler to change between wax and herb using bowls that have an ash catcher or a removable downstem. Nevertheless, if you want truer flavors, then utilizing a pipe exclusively for each substance would be better.

Tips for buying the best dab rig

With the many dab rigs on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when trying to understand terminologies like nails, domes and carb caps. However, all smoking devices come in low-, simple-, high-end and mid-range versions with a set of additional features–dab pipes are no different.

You have the option to choose between ceramics, titanium, quartz, or glass when selecting your nail or banger. Although some people may have a preferred material, it doesn’t really affect the flavor. The only things that change are how hot it can get and how long it takes to cool off.

Choose a dome nail if it’s your first time using a dab rig. They require no maintenance, little airflow and are smaller in size; meaning they take less time to heat up. If you’re an experienced user, go for the  dome-free nail–they provide more airflow but require extensive cleaning after each use. Propane torches get too hot, making it easy to overheat your dabs–butane is the way to go to avoid this issue altogether.

The Final Take

Ultimately, it comes down to each smoker’s individual preferences. Some people prefer smoking from larger bongs, while others like smaller dab rigs that they can carry around with them. The best choice is the one that will work better for you and your needs.

When parting with your money, it’s essential that you feel confident that you are receiving the most bang for your buck–this is especially true when the purchase is a big-ticket item.

In conclusion, rigs made for dabs can be converted to bongs more simply than bongs can be adjusted for dabbing. So, we have to give the clear win to dab rigs for their versatility.