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If you want to enjoy the most powerful experience when vaping concentrates, your best option is to get a dab pen – and as you’re about to learn, the best dab pen for your needs may actually be a dab straw. Reading this article, you’re going to learn everything you ever wanted to know about dab straws, and you’re also going to learn why a dab straw can be so much better than a traditional dab pen.

First, though, let’s start with the basics. What exactly is a dab straw?

What Is a Dab Straw?

Also known as a honey straw or a nectar collector, a dab straw is a dabbing device that has a heating element at the bottom rather than the top.

With a traditional dab pen, the heating element is at the top. You put the wax on a coil or heated nail, and then you put a mouthpiece over the heating element and inhale.

With a dab straw, on the other hand, there’s no need to dispense your wax; you can leave it in the container. After turning the dab straw on, you dip the heating element directly into the material while inhaling through the mouthpiece at the top of the device.

I’ll discuss the benefits of dab straws in greater detail in a moment – but before I get too far ahead of myself, I’d like to discuss the dab straw that should be at the top of your list if you’re on the fence about what to buy.

What’s the Best Dab Straw on the Market?

The Stinger by Rokin Vapes is my pick for the best dab straw on the market. Costing just $79.95, the Stinger operates at four selectable voltage levels, making it easy for you to get exactly the level of intensity that you want. The Stinger uses a ceramic heating nail that’s extremely easy to clean – and the best part is that it has a built-in water bubbler to help you achieve an unprecedented level of smoothness without the need for a separate bubbler or water pipe. If you want to buy the ultimate dab straw, the Stinger is definitely it.

Pros and Cons of Dab Straws vs. Dab Pens

So, how do dab straws vs. dab pens compare? Putting the heating element on the bottom of the device rather than the top doesn’t just change the way you vape; it also leads to some major changes in the overall vaping experience. These are the pros and cons of dab straws compared to dab pens.

• Dab straws help to prevent burnt hits because you place the heating tip directly on the material. With a traditional wax coil, there’s a lot more effort involved because you have to pulse the coil gently and melt the wax before you take a deep puff.
• Dab straws are much easier to clean – especially in the case of an exposed ceramic nail such as with the Stinger vaporizer.
• Dab straws make it very easy to use exactly the amount of material that you want. You can even microdose with a dab straw if you like. With a traditional dab pen, you need to use enough material to cover the entire heating element, or you’ll get a burnt hit.
• Dab straws are much easier to use with runny material that isn’t easy to pick up with a dab tool. A dab straw works well with any type of concentrate ranging from very runny oils to very hard waxes.
• Dab straws allow for more complete usage of your material because nothing remains stuck inside the device as can often happen with traditional wax coils. Dab straws are very economical for that reason.
• Dab straws tend to be cooler and smoother than traditional wax pens because there’s a little more distance between the heating element and the mouthpiece.
• Dab straws are very small, but they’re meant for tabletop use and aren’t particularly portable. Traditional wax pens aren’t highly portable either, but you can theoretically pre-load a wax coil and carry the vape pen in your pocket. That’s not possible with dab straws.
• Dab pens are often 510 threaded, and that means they’re not just for dabbing – they’ll also work with pre-filled oil cartridges. Dab straws, on the other hand, generally don’t work with third-party attachments of any type.

How to Use a Dab Straw

The best part of dab straws is how incredibly simple they are to use. All that you need to do is put your material in a heat-resistant container – you’re probably storing it in a silicone jar already, which works fine – and place it on a table. Turn your dab straw on and wait a few seconds for the element to heat up. The element will get very hot, so don’t touch it. A dab straw will often come with a holder that keeps the element off of the table and away from your hands during the preheating process.

When the element is done preheating, you can vape by touching the hot tip to your material while simultaneously inhaling through the straw. If you’re not used to vaping concentrates, start slowly – perhaps with just one puff – until you become familiar with the effects.

After you’re done vaping, allow plenty of time for the heating element to cool before you put the device away.

Note that some older dab straws have non-electric elements that require manual heating with a lighter or torch. I don’t recommend using that type of dab straw due to the inconvenience and risk of fire.

How to Clean a Dab Straw

To clean a dab straw, you’ll need some cotton swabs, rubbing alcohol and potentially a few soft pipe cleaners. Disassemble the dab straw completely. Set all electronic components aside, because you don’t want those to get wet. Your goal when cleaning a dab straw is to remove the residue from all of the glass, ceramic and silicone components. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol and rub the residue until it dissolves. Repeat the process until the swabs come out clean. If your device has a long straw, clean the straw by dipping a pipe cleaner in alcohol and running it through the straw. Rinse the components to remove the alcohol and allow everything to air dry completely before using your dab straw again.