There are so many brands out there, and everyone seems to have their marketing niche. Some companies promote their strain profiles, while others highlight terpene content. It’s not uncommon for brands to use effect-based marketing to encourage customers to buy based on “sleep,” “energy,” or “bliss.”
To help you cut through the noise, we’re here to help you shop for cartridges like an expert. So read on to learn all about what you should look for and what you should avoid when buying your next vape cart.
Type of Vape: Cartridge vs. Disposable
Cartridges and disposable have limited lifespans, but there is one difference between them. When you finish a cartridge, you buy a new one to put onto your battery. This battery might last years if you take care of it. When you finish a disposable, you throw the whole thing away. The battery is attached to the vessel, and it’s a one-and-done situation.
Choosing one or the other is a personal preference. If you like to vape regularly, investing in a battery is something you should consider. On the other hand, if you travel or like or love the discrete nature of a disposable, you might want to have one around. It’s a no-fuss way to try many different types of oil.
Strain Selection: Sativa vs. Indica vs. Hybrid
The type of strain you select probably changes with your moods. This makes sense, considering various strains will in turn, affect your moods differently. Some brands highlight whether or not the oil is sativa, indica, or hybrid, while others leave out this information.
Sativas are best known for producing a more cerebral, “heady” high and are often suggested for daytime use or anytime you are looking to boost creativity and productivity. Indicas are usually marketed as the “couch-lock” or fully body high strains. They are best for getting, well, really high and especially for pain management or sleep. Hybrids are somewhere in the middle. While the science behind these conventions is a bit more complex, it’s a good starting point to help you make your purchasing decision.
Terpene Formulas
Terpenes are mostly recognized for the specific flavor and aroma they give to cannabis. Whether it’s the juicy sweetness, musky earthiness, or a floral burst mixed with a fresh pine taste. That’s the terpenes doing their work. Yet, they are more than just the flavor makers.
Terpenes don’t get you high, but they do affect your brain and body. When combined with cannabinoids, they provide the overall effects of any particular vape cartridge. Shopping for vape cartridges based on the terpene content is an excellent way to go. A vape cart with little or no terpene content is not going to provide you with the full effect that one rich in terpenes will.
Brand Basics
Sifting through brands is often the most challenging part of shopping for cartridges. It can be easy to gravitate towards the brightest packaging or just choose something that sticks out on the dispensary shelf. Yet, so many things go into making a top-shelf cannabis brand, including transparency in production and the quality of hardware and ingredients. Here are a few considerations when shopping for vape carts.
Type of Hardware
It might seem like cartridges all look the same on the outside, but a lot is going on inside those little oil-filled chambers. First of all—always opt for glass. It’s unlikely that you’d come across a plastic cart these days, but it’s worth mentioning.
A good cartridge and battery will offer temperature control and variable heat settings. This type of control allows you to get the perfect hit every time because you reduce the risk of that burnt vape taste. Ceramic heating elements also prevent burnt terpenes, so you get the full flavor.
If shopping solely for cartridges, make sure you have the correct battery at home to use with it. This is typically a 510 thread. Be sure to fully charge your battery before using your new cartridge.
Terpene Source
There’s a lot of talk about plant-derived vs. food-grade terpenes. For example, some people believe that only cannabis terpenes can provide value to a cannabis oil cartridge, which isn’t true. Both plant-derived terpenes and those created in a lab offer the same benefits.
If you pull linalool out of lavender or create it to be chemically identical in a lab setting, it will still affect you the same way. The important thing to look for is that any terpenes added to the vape are 100% pure, food-grade terpenes.
Use of Additives
Here’s the deal with additives—they are always a hard no. There is no reason to use any kind of additive if the manufacturer is experienced in making oil for vape pens. There should never be any cutting agents like Vitamin E, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or glycerin. It isn’t necessary, and it isn’t safe.
Testing Availability
This might seem like a no-brainer, but make sure there is a Certificate of Analysis available for any product you consider buying. Every product must be fully tested, and brands that operate with high integrity are eager to be transparent about their products. The more information a lab test contains, the higher the likelihood that the brand is serious about quality.
Return Policy
Even the best vape pens and carts are faulty from time to time. If you end up with a lemon or a vape, you’d want to know that the company will replace it for you free of charge.
Skip the Dispensary, Shop Online
Now that you know how to shop for cartridges like a pro, we’ll let you in on a little secret: You can shop all Bloom vapes online, delivering to select areas in California. We have plenty of strain selections with trusted terpene profiles. Our hardware is top of the line, and we work hard to provide only the best of the best to our customers. We offer disposable pens and cartridges with flavors to appease every palette.
Bloom vapes are available in both live resin and distillate strains, so you can find your optimal vaping experience.
California customers can find a Bloom Vape retailer here.
Other customers can find Bloom Vapes at a retailer near you.
