I’ve spent years switching between a high-end quartz banger and the latest e-rigs, and as much as I love the tech and simplicity of E-Rigs, there are differences in how they hit and, of course, the vapor quality.
It’s not as noticeable as it used to be; modern E-Rigs like the Dr Dabber Switch 2, the Carta 2, to a lesser extent, the latest PuffCo Peak Pro 3DXL, have now pretty much closed the gap.
Even now, though, I do often find myself going back to back to the torch just to feel that “oomph” again.
If you’ve never used a torch rig before, you won’t miss it. But if you have? Yeah, there’s definitely times when the only way is analogue.
Here is my honest take on the vapor gap after putting hundreds of grams through both types of dab rigs…
Why I Still Reach for My Torch and Quartz
Whenever I get my hands on some absolute top-shelf, 6-star live rosin, I usually pull out my glass recycler and my Blazer torch.
Why?
Three main reasons:
- The “Heavy” Factor: There’s a specific density you get from a properly timed quartz dab that e-rigs struggle to mimic. I find the clouds are thicker and more “lung-filling.” It hits me harder and faster.
- The Nuance: When I nail the cooldown on a banger, I pick up subtle, floral notes in the resin that seem to get slightly “muted” in an electric chamber.
- Airflow Freedom: My big glass rigs have massive chambers and percolators. I can rip them as hard as I want. On most e-rigs, I have to sip it slowly like a hot tea, or I’ll end up sucking oil straight into the reclaim catcher.
Where My E-Rig Saves the Day
Despite the purist in me, my e-rig is what I actually use 80% of the time.
And the reason for this is twofold:
- Zero Anxiety: I love that I don’t have to stress about “chazzing” my $200 banger because I got distracted. I click a button, wait for the buzz, and I get a perfect low-temp hit. Every. Single. Time.
- The 3D Chamber Evolution: I’ve noticed the gap is closing. Since I started using “3D style” atomizers that heat from the sides rather than just the bottom, the flavor is surprisingly close to my manual setup. It’s smooth, consistent, and way better than any cheap vape pen I’ve ever tried.
In fact, when I switched to the Dr Dabber Switch 2 (I got it because it can do dry herb as well as concentrates), I was kind of blown away by how powerful it is – it hits HARD.
And, unlike PuffCo rigs, it doesn’t use replaceable parts in the atomizer; it’s all done via induction heating which means you spend less on replacement parts and get better flavor.
Chicken dinner!
My Biggest Gripes with Electric Vaping
I’ve definitely had some frustrations with my electronic units, especially the older, cheaper models. But that was back in the day. Things have progressed massively in the last few years.
Newer E-Rigs like the Dr Dabber Switch 2 and PuffCo Peak Pro 3DXL are both very, very solid in the how-hard-they-hit stakes. But even then, a proper torch rig is still sometimes preferable.
Here’s the main issues to watch out for with E-Rigs (especially cheaper, non-brand ones):
- “Thin” Vapor: Even on high settings, my e-rig hits sometimes feel a bit “wispy” compared to the milk-white clouds of a traditional rig.
- The Tech Fatigue: If I forget to swap my atomizer or if it starts to wear out, the flavor drops off a cliff. This was the main reason I switched to the Dr Dabber Switch 2. It uses 100% induction heating, no replacement atomizers required!
My Routine
Nowadays, I’ve got a pretty good balance (and far too many rigs). My e-rig is my daily driver (currently the Dr Dabber Switch 2) and is what I use 97% of the time like after work or when I’m gaming or when I have friends over.
Basically, whenever I don’t want to mess around with a torch (which is most of the time).
For special occasions, like when I have some prime concentrate on hand, I go back to the torch and quartz because it’s not every day you get some super-dank, high-end rosin. Going manual makes it more special, more of a ritual, and for me this is the perfect balance between the two.
If you’re brand new to dabbing and you’ve never used a torch, just go with an E-Rig. They’re so much less hassle and the good ones (my current picks are detailed here) deliver pretty much the same level of vapor quality.
