If you love to smoke concentrates, this one's for you. Have you ever struggled to scoop up your concentrate from the container, place it onto your nail, hold your dab rig, and manage not to make a mess in the process? It’s not easy! And too often the surface you’re using–like a table or countertop, pays the price when your concentrate drips from the tool or the nail. Dab mats solve this problem. In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything we know about dab mats, including:

• What is a Dab Mat?
• What are Dab Mats Used For?
• What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Dab Pad?
• How Do You Clean a Dab Mat?
• FAQs About Dab Mats

What is a Dab Mat?

A dab mat is a heat-resistant mat made of non-stick material that is designed to use during your dabbing sessions. The dab mat is placed on a level surface to hold your dab rig, terp pearl, e-nail, torch, and most importantly, concentrate. Dab mats are great for keeping your tools organized and your rig from sliding around. While there are many advantages to using a dab mat, its most important use is protecting your surfaces from heat and those sticky concentrates that can make a mess.

Every cannabis enthusiast is going to have their own personal reasons for using a dab mat. In general, there are two reasons we love to use a dab pad:

1. Protection: Dab mats protect your surfaces from heat, scratches, and sticky concentrate spills. Plus, they’re much easier to clean than the wood surface of your dining room table.
   
   
2. Organization: As long as your dab mat is big enough, it can hold all of your tools–from your dabber to the container you use to store concentrates.  You can let everything cool when you’re finished with your session on your dab mat, too.
   
   

As you start to use your dab pad, you will likely find even more uses you didn’t expect.

Not all dab mats are created equally, so there are a few things you should look for when you’re purchasing your pad. These are the top three features we want in our dab mats:

• Heat resistant: From the butane torch to the carb cap, you’re going to be putting some pretty hot things on this mat. It needs to be able to hold up to that heat.
  
  
• Size: If you have a small dab rig, a dab tool, and a mini torch, you don’t need a giant dab pad. That said, if you’re wanting to keep all of your dabbing essentials organized and in one place, a larger mat might be a better option for you.
  
  
• Non-stick: This might seem obvious, but one of the biggest reasons to purchase a dab mat is to ensure that your sticky concentrates can be easily cleaned up. Make sure your dab mat has a non-stick surface.
  
  

In general, a silicone dab mat is going to do the trick for you when it comes to all three of these features, but we recommend looking at your product’s packaging to ensure it’s going to do what you need it to do.

One of the many good reasons to have a dab mat is that it’s as easy to clean as a dinner plate. Dab rigs are made with non-stick material, meaning that typically, a little soap and water will do the trick. If you’ve got a particularly stubborn bit of concentrate on your dab pad, isopropyl alcohol can help dissolve that so it can be washed away.

Dab mats are a handy tool for concentrate lovers. Here are a few things you should know about them:

Can you use a nectar collector on a dab mat?
Yes! Nectar collectors require you to put your concentrates on a heat-safe surface. Dab mats are the perfect solution for that, and they’re much easier to use than trying to hold a dab tool with concentrate and your nectar collector.

Are dab mats heat-resistant?
Yes, silicone dab mats are heat resistant. They’re also microwave-safe.

What dabs can I use with a dab mat?
You can use any dab (concentrate) with your dab mat, including wax, shatter, budder, and rosin.

If you love cannabis concentrates and regularly use your dab rig to enjoy them, a dab mat can be a great addition to your routine. It’ll keep everything clean, organized, and protected while you’re dabbing. To purchase a dab mat, visit your local dispensary. Your budtender will be able to show you what’s in stock and answer any questions about the mat.