Now that many are moving away from harsh blunts and bong rips, we have turned to vaping for a healthier and more discrete experience. The overall use of vaping devices has increased over the last couple of years.

How do I choose which battery to buy for my cannabis consumption? To be honest, I typically head to the nearest smoke shop and go with the cheapest, most often that is a good ol’ Ooze battery. I have a problem misplacing my pen so I personally don’t like to invest in pricier batteries. I’ve probably gone through six batteries in the last year. However, I did wonder, what makes those more expensive batteries go for such a higher value? Here is what I found.

Battery Life 

I spoke with Jae Graham from Mary Jae CBD boutique in Austin, TX about choosing a vape. She mentioned the duration of battery life, which is important to me because I ALWAYS also forget to charge my devices. Running on low is the story of my life. How frequent you use it, and at which level does effect battery life too of course. Most batteries should last around one hour puffing once fully charged according to WayofLeaf.com.

The type of charger for your battery is also a factor. Those that have the traditional 510 thread, screws into the top, usually connected to a mini USB which you slide into a power source. Another option that I have started to see more recently are the ones where you can plug a lighting cord into the bottom of the battery, making it especially convenient for iPhone users. Then there’s those condensed size, iPod shuffle looking vapes that usually require an additional converter. The converter is a very small circular screw piece required to use most cartridges. Again, not the best choice for someone like me that loses everything. New Paragraph

Temperature Options

But a more important aspect is the temperature options a battery offers. Occasionally I will find a battery that does’t have a button, just charge, pull, and puff. This is fine is you really just do not care about temperature settings. I, like many others, thought that the different lights signifying on/off and different levels just meant how hard of a hit you want. Sounds logical right? While this does partially determine how harsh you want to hit the pen, it actually has more to do with the density of the substance you’re vaping. Jae mentioned that your typical CBD oil is usually a lot less dense than a THC oil (also depends on the source). Therefore you want to keep the pen on a low level when using a thinner oil, to not burn through more than a necessary amount of product. Keep this in mind when choosing a vape, whether the light indicates the temperature or those fancier ones digitally shows the temperature at which it is burning. According to Herb.co article 3.4-4 volts is low temperature and 5 is considered high. A cautionary tip they give is that consuming without producing a thick cloud is a good indicator of healthy vaping. 

Automatic Shut Off

Another factor you want to consider is if there is an automatic shut off feature. A friend of mine recently, quite literally burned a hole in his pocket because he didn’t turn off the battery. He had placed his cart and battery into in shorts' side pocket and about half an hour later he felt his thigh get extremely hot. He quickly realized the button was being pressed his thigh while in the tight pocket. This wasted the battery, burned it out, and could have caused potentially bodily injury or combustion. Yikes.

Bang for Your Buck

Lastly, let’s talk about price. I have seen batteries start at $15-20 (should include the charger, but in rare cases they are sold separately) up to the $50-60 range. Brand, battery, voltage options all play a factor. My most recent battery I’ve been using is from the brand BrassKnuckles. It is silver, very basic, because I didn’t have many options, but boy does the battery last. I think it’s been at least two weeks since I charged it, I hit it a few times a day. I paid a little over $20 for it. Typically I’d go for a cuter one, maybe a classy matte black, or a pink if they have it. More and more brands are coming out with new and unique batteries, so more fun options. YAY!

Well, that’s it folks. I hope this has helped in understanding the differences of batteries based on what and how you consume the substance inside your cart. Please comment below what your personal preference is. 

#LetsWinTogether,

Alexis Olive