When you first try vaping, you’re probably just looking to enjoy your new experience. But once you get the hang of vaping, you realize that there are ways to improve your session—and those improvements start with the right vape pen and battery. In this guide, you’re going to learn all about how to choose a vape pen and battery when you’re ready to take your vaping experience up a notch.

There’s a reason why vaping is popular—it’s convenient, discreet, and easy to do—but not all vape pens are created equally. There are vape pens with power buttons, vape pens without power buttons. There are vape pens that let you customize temperature and vape pens with fixed temperature settings. There are vape pens that work with just about any cartridge and vape pens that only work with one type of cartridge. While this may seem like a lot, we’ve simplified all this information to ensure you get the knowledge dump you need to learn about vape pens.

Wondering the difference between a vape pen and dab pen? We’ve got you covered. 

When you’re vaping for the first time, you might think you need a simple battery and a cartridge, and you’re good to go. You actually have more options than that, but each option has its pros and cons. Here are a few different marijuana pen types to consider:

Disposable Vape Pen: If you have a favorite strain, a tried and true, and you’re only interested in vaping that strain, you may be able to find it in a disposable vape form. This means that the cannabis oil and battery all come together, and when you’re finished with them, they’re meant to be thrown out. While this is a convenient way to enjoy your top strain, it limits your ability to try new things.

Rechargeable Vape Pen: With a rechargeable vape pen, especially one with a 510 thread, you have endless options. Many companies sell their products in the 510 family, so you’ll be able to swap your cartridges around as much as you like. The downside is that there’s a little more upkeep—you need to charge them, take care of them, and there’s a slightly bigger learning curve compared to a disposable pen.

Brand-Specific Vape Pen: If you’re a brand loyalist, this is the option for you. Once you find your favorite brand, you can opt for a brand-specific vape pen. This means that your marijuana vape only works with that brand’s cartridges. This is perfect if that brand carries everything you like, but it’s not ideal if you want to be able to try more than that brand’s products.

If you want to use the most universal vape pen battery on the market, opt for a 510-thread vape battery. Just remember that not all 510s are created the same. Here are three things to consider when purchasing your 510 battery:

Temperature Control: A good battery typically has some form of temperature control, allowing you to customize your experience when you vape. This can be a great way to ensure you’re getting the most out of your cannabis oil without ruining it by overheating it. 

Activation Type: There are two ways a battery can be activated—push button or auto-draw (which means simply inhaling). If you want to be able to enjoy your vaping without holding down a button, opt for an auto-draw pen or a push-button pen where you turn it on and then you don’t have to do anything else. If you don’t want to have to deal with power buttons at all, opt for an auto-draw. 

Battery Size: The size of the battery matters with vape pens. The bigger the battery, the longer it will last but the longer it will take to charge, too. Consider how frequently you consume marijuana throughout the day. For a casual consumer, you probably don’t need a big battery. If you’re an everyday vaper, you’ll want to have a battery that can keep up with you.  

In addition to temperature control, activation type, and battery size, there are a few other considerations you should keep top of mind when choosing your marijuana vape pen. First, look for a battery with an automatic shut-off. While this might seem like an unnecessary feature, it can keep your product from getting wasted and your battery from losing its charge. It can also keep you safe from any sort of overheating or combustion.

Look for a battery with an automatic shut-off. While this might seem like an unnecessary feature, it can keep your product from getting wasted and your battery from losing its charge. It can also keep you safe from any sort of overheating or combustion.

Consider your vape battery’s voltage. Most 510 batteries run between 3.3 volts and 4.8 volts. The voltage is a reflection of how hot your vapor will get and how much vapor will be created when you’re vaping. Typically, you want to start with a lower voltage and work your way up to decide what’s right for you and your product.

Keep the charging time of your battery in mind. The bigger the battery, the longer the charge time. So while you might be able to go longer without needing to charge the battery, when it is time to charge, it might take a full day to do so. This is a real bummer if you’re a regular consumer. That said, don’t use your vape pen and then put it back on the charger. While this might seem like a good idea, it can actually damage your battery if it’s on a charger while it’s at full charge.

Before you head out to purchase your new vape pen and battery, keep these answers in mind:

Can I mix and match my battery and cartridges?
Yes, as long as you are using the right battery with the right cartridges. A 510 vape battery that has a threaded receiver can only work with a 510 cartridge. In that, you can absolutely mix and match within the 510 family. If you purchase a brand-specific battery, you may only be able to use that brand’s cartridges, so while you wouldn’t be able to mix and match the brand battery with a 510 cartridge, you can mix and match within that brand’s family of products.

Do vape pens fit all cartridges? 
No, vape pens don’t fit all cartridges. For instance, if you have a 510 battery—a battery that requires a threaded cartridge to be screwed onto it—you may find a much bigger selection available to you. If you buy a brand-specific vape pen that only works with their vape cartridges, your selection will be much more limited.  The good news is that there’s no rule that says you can only have one battery.

How long will my vape battery last?
The duration of a battery between charges depends on its milliampere-hour figure or mAh. For instance, if you have a smaller battery (300mAh), you may get a day’s use before you need to charge it. If you have a larger battery, like 3000 mAh, you can expect to use it quite a bit over multiple days before it ever needs to be plugged in for a charge. Of course, how long your vape battery lasts also depends on how much you use it. For a regular, everyday, all-day consumer, your battery is going to need to be charged much sooner than someone who only enjoys their vape pen before bed.

Once you have all the information you need about the kinds of vape pens you’re going to encounter, it comes down to personal preference. What are you looking for? What would be the most convenient for you? What fits within your budget? Next time you visit a dispensary,ask your budtender which vape pens they recommend. It can be a great place to start.