5 Main Differences Between Dab Rigs and Bongs

Contents

  1. Dab Rig vs. Bong: Smokable Material
  2. Dab Rig vs. Bong: Parts & Usage
  3. Dab Rig vs. Bong: Consumption
  4. Dab Rig vs. Bong: Size
  5. Dab Rig vs. Bong: Price
  6. Bong or Rig?

 

A debate on dab rigs vs. bongs is a relatively recent affair.

Bongs were a long-standing toker favorite, unchallenged by the avalanche of paraphernalia novelties. Then dab rigs entered the picture. Small and concentrate-friendly, they took the 420 world by storm.

The difference between dab rigs and bongs is minor at first glance. Both devices do the same thing—filter the heated terpenes and cannabinoids through the water, generating potent smoke for your lungs, body, and brain.

There’s one massive point of contrast. People who buy (or make) concentrates choose dab rigs. Bong users purchase dried flowers or grow the highest-yielding strains for smoking purposes.

Besides the substance, other minor differences influence people’s purchase decisions. Read on for a comprehensive bong vs. rig comparison.

 

Dab Rig vs. Bong: Smokable Material

The main difference between a bong and a dab rig is whether you’re lighting up the herb or a concentrate.

  • Bongs let you smoke dried flowers, kief, or hash.
  • Dab rigs combust THC concentrates (wax, oil, and honey).

This dab rig vs. bong question relates to preference, accessibility, and legality.

People who use bongs find it easier to get their smokables. Unprocessed cannabis is pretty accessible—you can even grow your own. However, weed is still illegal in many parts of the US, so many prospective bong users face hurdles.

Concentrates require an involved production process, raising the barrier to entry if you’d like to produce it at home. They’re rare in parts of the US without a developed local cannabis industry. Places that stock them do so legally and without concern.

 

Dab Rig vs. Bong: Parts & Usage

Complete rookies might mistake a rig for a bong, but they can tell there’s a disparity between them. Dab rigs have a more complex design to suit concentrate vaporization.

The bodies of both tools look essentially the same. A downstream tube descends into a water chamber containing one or more filters for cooling. Then there’s a neck with a mouthpiece.

The tube is where we see dab rig vs. bong differences. The latter device is simple—so much so that many people are teaching themselves how to make a bong from household objects.

Apart from the chamber, the only essential part of a bong is a bowl, a dish packed with weed. You light up and inhale, drawing smoke through the water and the neck into your lungs. It’s as no-frills as it gets.

Dab rigs replace the uncomplicated bowl with an elaborate dab nail. Instead of packing a bowl with ground buds, you drip concentrate onto this small titanium circle on the side of your rig.

You then use a blowtorch to heat the nail and a thin, long dabber tool to push it forward. The oil vaporizes as you inhale. The setup is still straightforward but not as easy to replicate at home.

Variety is another rig vs. bong disparity in terms of design. While bongs come in all shapes, sizes, and materials, dab rigs are pretty uniform in appearance. They also mostly consist of borosilicate glass since few other materials can withstand the necessary temperatures.

 

Dab Rig vs. Bong: Consumption

The design difference between dab rigs vs. bongs also affects consumption. That is, it influences whether you’re inhaling smoke or vapor.

  • When using a bong, you combust the dried herb, turning it into smoke. Your lungs get a water-filtered version of a joint or blunt.
  • Dab rigs vaporize the concentrate to the point of creating aerosol, not smoke. You’re consuming vapor, which is gentler on the lungs.

What does that mean for the quality of your hit? This rig vs. bong distinction is a matter of herbs and concentrates. Both consumption methods can be shoddy or excellent, depending on your product and tool.

Concentrates can be much stronger than dried flowers. When it comes to the flavor, well-made oil and honey are exceptionally tasty. Their zest lacks what some tokers appreciate in old-school cannabis, though.

 

Dab Rig vs. Bong: Size

You don’t always smoke in the comfort of a large living room. So, we also need to discuss size when evaluating dab rigs vs. bongs.

Bongs are generally larger than dab rigs, and there’s a good reason for that.

When you smoke dry herbs, maximum cooling and filtration matter. The smoke travels longer distances without losing potency, and every second of cooling further smoothens the hit. As a result, an average bong is around 14 inches tall.

When vaporizing concentrates below the combustion point, the steam needs to reach the lungs quickly. Otherwise, it loses potency and flavor. There’s a single filter and a shorter neck, and the entire tool averages at 8 inches in height.

 

Dab Rig vs. Bong: Price

The price is the last but not least important factor in your dab rig vs. bong choice.

Equipment basics usually cost the same for equivalent quality bongs and dab rigs. Both can be plain and simple or works of art with jaw-dropping price tags.

When talking about full-blown setups, deviation in the price of bongs vs. rigs emerges. Barring accessories, bongs require only a simple lighter and your herb. When using a rig, you need a dabber tool and a blowtorch, plus the concentrate.

Note: You can get electric dab rigs that eliminate the blowtorch from the equation, but they’re even more expensive.

 

Bong or Rig?

The question of dab rigs vs. bongs doesn’t have one clear answer. Tokers’ preferences vary, and you can enjoy your cannabis indulgence session with either option. Still, knowledge goes a long way in making optimal decisions.

Remember these key differences between dab rigs and bongs:

  • Dab rigs are for concentrates and bongs for dry herbs.
  • Dab rigs have a nail for heating instead of a bowl for combustion.
  • Dab rigs produce vapor, while bongs create purified smoke.
  • Dab rigs are usually smaller than bongs.
  • Dab rigs require additional equipment, making them pricier.

Whatever you choose, get the highest-quality paraphernalia in our store. Then buy seeds, grow weed, and produce your own bud or concentrate. It’ll take your smoking sessions sky-high.



Some popular Dab Rigs in our store

 

Jennifer Gallagher

Jennifer Gallagher, an experienced cannabis grower at SeedSupreme Seedbank. During a 7-year career in the marijuana growing business, Jennifer has gained a high competence in this field. As far as weed is concerned, she knows it all inside out. Jennifer is an expert in pot-growing, as well as cannabis types and their effects. She’s also familiar with all legislation nuances.

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