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Dab Pen vs eRig: Which Concentrate Vaporizer Is Right for You?
Dab Pen vs eRig: Which Concentrate Vaporizer Is Right for You?
You’ve decided you want to vaporize concentrates. Smart move. But now you’re staring at dab pens, eRigs, mod-based atomizers, and a dozen other options — and the real question is: which type of device fits how you actually consume?
There’s no single right answer. Dab pens and eRigs are built for different situations, budgets, and priorities. Some users end up owning both. And there’s a third category — the mod-based atomizer — that bridges the gap in ways most comparison guides ignore.
We’re Divine Tribe, and we manufacture concentrate vaporizers at every tier, from an $8 all-in-one pen to a $167 premium eRig. We’re not pushing you toward the expensive option — we’re helping you figure out which one matches your use case.
What Is a Dab Pen?
A dab pen is a compact, portable vaporizer for cannabis concentrates — wax, shatter, budder, live resin. Battery, heating chamber, mouthpiece. Load concentrate onto the heating element, press a button, inhale. They’re pocket-sized, cost between $8 and $50, and require virtually no learning curve. For most people, a dab pen is their first experience with concentrates outside of a cartridge.
The trade-off: limited temperature control (if any), smaller vapor production, and less flavor fidelity than larger devices. Dab pens are built for convenience and portability first, with performance as a secondary consideration.
Our Lightning Pen at $45 represents the upper end of what a dab pen can deliver. It uses a stainless steel diffuser rather than exposed coils, producing noticeably cleaner flavor than typical coil-based pens. With over 1,200 units sold, it’s our go-to recommendation for a reliable, pocketable concentrate device.
What Is an eRig?
An eRig (electronic dab rig) replaces the butane torch from a traditional dab rig with an electronic heating element. eRigs are larger than dab pens, include water filtration via a glass attachment, and offer precise temperature control. Where dab pens prioritize portability, eRigs prioritize the quality of the experience: smoother vapor, richer flavor, bigger clouds. Most eRigs cost $100-400, with the quality sweet spot around $130-170.
Our Core 2.0 eRig at $132 is a fully portable, all-in-one device with a rebuildable V5 ceramic heater, precise temperature control, and integrated glass — over 2,500 units sold. The Core XL Deluxe at $167 adds six heat settings, a larger battery, and deluxe glass.
The Third Option Most Guides Skip: Mod + Atomizer
There’s a category between dab pens and eRigs that most comparison guides skip: a rebuildable concentrate atomizer paired with a box mod. Our V5 rebuildable heater ($59) paired with the Pico Plus with Autofire ($74) creates a $133 kit with the portability of a large dab pen and the temperature control of an eRig. The Pico Plus runs custom autofire firmware — press the button once and it holds your set temperature hands-free.
This setup has a trick neither dab pens nor standard eRigs can match: add an $18 bottomless quartz banger and you can run it through any standard glass rig. More on this hybrid approach below.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Dab Pen vs eRig vs Mod + Atomizer
| Feature | Dab Pen | eRig | Mod + Atomizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $8 – $45 | $132 – $167 | $133 (V5 + Pico Plus kit) |
| Portability | Pocket-sized, most discreet | Portable but visible | Pocket-sized without glass attachment |
| Temperature Control | Limited or none | Precise, degree-by-degree | Full TC, wattage curves, TCR |
| Vapor Quality | Moderate | Excellent | Excellent |
| Flavor | Good (varies by pen) | Very good to excellent | Excellent (ceramic or SiC crucible) |
| Water Filtration | No | Yes (built-in glass) | Optional (with bottomless banger) |
| Cloud Size | Small to moderate | Large | Moderate to large |
| Learning Curve | None | Minimal | Moderate (settings to learn) |
| Maintenance | Replace coils or device | Rebuildable heater (V5) | Rebuildable heater (V5) |
| Stealth / Discretion | High | Low | Moderate (without glass) |
| Best For | On-the-go, budget, beginners | Home sessions, flavor chasers | Enthusiasts, tinkerers, versatility |
Flavor: Where eRigs and Mods Pull Ahead
This is where the dab pen vs eRig comparison gets definitive. Dab pens don’t taste bad — the Lightning Pen with its stainless steel diffuser produces clean flavor. But the physics favor devices with precise temperature control.
Terpenes — the compounds responsible for flavor and aroma — start breaking down above 450°F. Without precise temperature control, most dab pens run hotter than ideal, meaning you taste combustion byproducts mixed with your terpenes instead of the pure concentrate profile.
eRigs and mod setups let you lock in a specific temperature. Set the Core 2.0 to 380°F for a smooth, terpene-rich low-temp dab, or push it to 420°F for bigger clouds. That precision translates directly to flavor you can taste. For the absolute best flavor, upgrade the V5’s ceramic crucible to a polished SiC (silicon carbide) insert — non-stick, glass-smooth, and flavor-neutral.
Portability: Where Dab Pens Win Decisively
If your primary use case is discreet, on-the-go concentrate use, a dab pen wins. Period. It slides into a pocket, looks unremarkable, heats up in seconds, and requires zero setup. The King AIO Pen at $8 is smaller than a marker. The Lightning Pen at $45 is barely larger.
eRigs have batteries and travel, but they’re not pocket devices. The Core 2.0 has glass components and is designed for tabletop use — at home, at a friend’s place, at a campsite. The mod + atomizer setup splits the difference: the V5 on a Pico Plus without glass is roughly flashlight-sized and easily tossed in a bag. Add the bottomless banger and a glass piece at home and it becomes a full rig.
Cost: Upfront and Long-Term
The upfront cost comparison is straightforward. What’s less obvious is the long-term cost of ownership, and this is where the math shifts significantly.
Dab pens start at $8 (King AIO) or $45 (Lightning Pen). eRigs start at $132 (Core 2.0) or $167 (Core XL Deluxe). The V5 + Pico Plus kit is $133. These are real purchases, but significantly less than competing eRigs that start at $250-400.
Long-term is where the math shifts. Most dab pens use coils that degrade and need replacement. Cheaper pens aren’t worth repairing — you just buy another one. Over a year, a $30 pen replaced every few months costs more than a single eRig. Our devices use the V5 rebuildable heater — when the ceramic donut wears out, you replace that component for a few dollars, not the whole device. Over 5,000 V5 heaters sold because the platform is built to maintain, not replace.
There’s also an efficiency angle. Precise temperature control means less concentrate wasted through overheating. Users who upgrade from pens frequently report their concentrate lasts longer because more is vaporized properly instead of partially combusted.
Maintenance: What You’re Signing Up For
Every concentrate device requires maintenance. The question is how much and what kind.
Dab pens require the least active maintenance — but that’s partly because they’re often disposable or semi-disposable. Swab out the chamber, replace the coil when it degrades, and that’s about it. The downside is that “replace the coil” can mean “buy a new pen” with cheaper devices.
eRigs with sealed atomizers (most competing brands) require atomizer replacement every few weeks to months depending on use. These replacement atomizers typically cost $20-50 each. Our Core 2.0 and Core XL Deluxe use the rebuildable V5 heater, so maintenance means an isopropyl alcohol soak and occasional replacement of the ceramic donut — a much cheaper and less wasteful process.
Mod + atomizer setups require the most hands-on maintenance, but it’s also the most satisfying if you’re the type who likes maintaining your gear. Disassemble, soak, replace wear components, reassemble. It takes ten minutes and keeps the device performing like new indefinitely.
The Hybrid Option: V5 + Mod + Bottomless Banger
This is the setup that doesn’t fit neatly into a dab pen vs eRig comparison, and it’s the one that over 3,900 customers have chosen to add to their V5 setup.
The bottomless quartz banger ($18) replaces the V5’s top cap with an open-bottom quartz banger that fits any standard 14mm glass rig — turning your electronically-controlled atomizer into the heat source for a traditional dab rig, minus the torch. One device, three modes:
- Portable mode — V5 on the Pico Plus with standard cap. Full temperature control in a bag-friendly package.
- Home eRig mode — Add the bottomless banger and a glass rig. Water filtration, visual feedback, massive smooth hits.
- Flavor chaser mode — Swap in a SiC insert, set a low temperature, and chase terpenes through glass.
Total cost for the full kit: V5 heater ($59) + Pico Plus ($74) + bottomless banger ($18) = $151. Or grab the V5 + Pico kit for $133 and add the banger later. Either way, you’re getting a device that performs double or triple duty depending on the situation.
Choose This If: A Decision Guide
Forget the marketing and focus on how you actually consume. Here’s a straightforward guide based on real use cases:
Choose a Dab Pen If:
- You primarily use concentrates on the go or away from home
- Discretion and pocket-size form factor are non-negotiable
- You’re trying concentrates for the first time and don’t want to invest heavily upfront
- You already have a home setup and need something for travel
- Budget is your primary constraint
Our pick: Lightning Pen ($45) for quality, or King AIO ($8) for absolute budget.
Choose an eRig If:
- Most of your sessions happen at home or at a friend’s place
- Flavor quality matters more than portability
- You want an all-in-one device that works out of the box with no configuration
- You’re upgrading from a dab pen and want a clear step up in experience
- You value simplicity — set a temperature, press a button, enjoy
Our pick: Core 2.0 ($132) for the best value, or Core XL Deluxe ($167) for the premium experience with six heat presets.
Choose a Mod + Atomizer If:
- You want maximum versatility — portable one day, glass rig the next
- You enjoy dialing in settings and customizing your experience
- You already own glass pieces and want electronic temperature control for them
- Long-term cost of ownership matters to you
- You like the idea of a rebuildable platform that evolves with your preferences
Our pick: V5 + Pico Plus Kit ($133), with a bottomless banger ($18) and SiC insert added when you’re ready to expand.
Upgrading from a Dab Pen: What to Expect
If you’re using a dab pen and considering the jump, here’s what changes:
Flavor improves dramatically. The jump from a coil-based pen to a ceramic heater with temperature control is not subtle. Concentrates you thought tasted “fine” reveal layers you didn’t know were there. If you’ve been paying premium prices for live resin or rosin and vaping them in a pen, you’ve been leaving flavor on the table.
Sessions become more intentional. Dab pens encourage quick hits. eRigs encourage sitting down and paying attention to the experience. Whether that’s a positive depends on what you want from your sessions.
You use less concentrate. The black residue in most dab pens isn’t just reclaim — much of it is concentrate that was partially combusted instead of properly vaporized. Better devices extract more from each load.
Maintenance increases, but it pays off. You’ll clean more, but spend less on replacements, and performance stays consistent for months and years.
Is an eRig Worth It?
If you dab once a week casually and portability matters most, a good dab pen will serve you well. No need to overthink it.
If you dab regularly, care about flavor, and most sessions happen at home, an eRig is absolutely worth it. The improvement over a dab pen is immediate and obvious. At $132 for the Core 2.0 — less than many people spend on concentrates in a month — the payback period is short.
The honest answer: most regular users end up wanting both. A Lightning Pen for your pocket and a Core 2.0 on your desk covers every situation you’ll encounter. That’s not us being greedy — it’s how the categories genuinely complement each other.
Product Recommendations by Budget
| Budget | Recommendation | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Under $10 | King AIO Pen ($8) | Trying concentrates with zero risk |
| Under $50 | Lightning Pen ($45) | Quality portable dabbing with stainless steel diffuser |
| Under $140 | Core 2.0 eRig ($132) or V5 + Pico Kit ($133) | Core 2.0 for simplicity, V5 kit for customization |
| Under $170 | Core XL Deluxe ($167) | Premium all-in-one experience with 6 heat settings |
| $150 – $200 | V5 + Pico Kit + Bottomless Banger + SiC Insert | The ultimate versatile setup — portable, glass rig, and premium flavor |
The Bottom Line
Dab pens and eRigs aren’t competing products — they’re different tools for different jobs. A dab pen gets concentrates into your lungs quickly and discreetly on the move. An eRig turns dabbing into an experience worth savoring at home. A mod-based setup gives you the flexibility to be both.
If you’re new to concentrates, start with a Lightning Pen. Learn what you like. If you want more, the Core 2.0 or V5 + Pico Plus kit will be here — and you’ll appreciate the upgrade all the more for knowing what you’re comparing it to.
Every device we build uses the same rebuildable V5 ceramic heater platform. No matter where you start, your investment carries forward. Browse the full lineup at ineedhemp.com and find the concentrate vaporizer that fits how you actually consume.
