Dabbing vs. Smoking vs. Vaping Live Resin

Posted by David Nadel on Aug 08, 2022

Live resin is taking over the hemp market, giving us a more bioavailable, terpene-rich extract that gives us stronger flavor and effects. Making its way into every product type, live resin can be enjoyed through any delivery method, but inhalation-based methods reign supreme. That being said, there are some distinct differences between dabbing, smoking and vaping live resin, which you’ll want to know ahead of time.

Dabbing

Live resin dabs are for those who want a very potent cannabinoid and terpene experience. Dabs are concentrates, which are produced by concentrating the compounds in the flower material through various means, either with or without the use of a solvent. The most common type of dab that contains live resin is wax, which gives you powerful flavor and a seriously impressive cannabinoid serving. Wax gets its name from its wax-like consistency that can be a bit messy, but, as any dabber will tell you, is well worth it.

Dabbing must be used with dabbing equipment, since standard vaping and smoking devices can’t achieve the high temperatures needed to melt wax into an oil for proper vaporization. You can find dab rigs as well as electronic dabbing devices. Because of the high potency of dabbing, it may be a bit much for a total beginner, since the effects can be very strong.

Pros:

  • The most potent hemp effects out of any product type
  • A little goes a long way, offering more bang for your buck
  • The strongest terpene flavor possible

Cons:

  • Can get messy
  • Requires special equipment
  • The high potency may not be best for beginners
  • May cause some minor coughing

Smoking

Then, we have live resin flower, which is a little misleading. Raw hemp flower buds must be dry-cured in order to be usable, as live resin is only compatible with extracts. So, live resin flower takes dry-cured hemp buds and infuses them with live resin to boost their terpene and flavonoid content, while offering the only way to achieve the benefits of live resin through smoking. You can find loose buds in pre-rolls, in various strains, just like you can with traditional flower products. You’ll also find live resin flower moonrocks, which are infused flower buds rolled in kief for even more phenomenal terpene power.

Live resin flower is not as easy to find as the other two product types we’re talking about today. But, if you’re already a flower enthusiast, it’s absolutely worth digging around for, because it can enhance your smoking sessions in ways that go above and beyond your expectations. Flower infused with ultra-fresh and concentrated terpenes can really boost the entourage effect for even more satisfaction.

Pros:

  • Highly bioavailable
  • Loose buds and pre-rolls available
  • Stronger effects than vaping
  • Less potent than dabbing, making it good for beginners
  • Raw and unprocessed, additive-free

Cons:

  • Can be irritating to the throat due to the nature of smoke
  • Less discreet than vaping
  • Tricker to travel with, due to the need to grind the flower and avoid making a mess

Vaping

Finally, we have vaping, which is by far the most popular way to enjoy the benefits of live resin. Live resin is a thick, dark and somewhat sticky extract that works beautifully as a vape oil, blended carefully with cannabinoid distillate to provide the perfect whole-plant experience. Vapes come in all kinds of strains to choose from, and you can go with pre-filled, 510-threaded vape cartridges to use with your favorite vape pen device, or the convenient disposable vape pens that are becoming very popular among today’s hemp enthusiasts. Ideally, these vape oil formulas contain only live resin and cannabinoid distillate, with no added ingredients whatsoever.

Pros:

  • Discreet compared to smoking and dabbing
  • Portable and travel-friendly
  • Pure – no additives
  • User-friendly
  • Beginner-friendly

Cons:

  • Less potent than dabbing, if high potency is what you’re chasing
  • Possibly less bioavailable than the other two methods

The Live Resin Delivery Method Choice is Yours!

So, which type of live resin product is right for you? Each of them offers something valuable, and even provides you with the full benefits that live resin has to offer. So, it comes down to what it is that you prefer from your hemp experience. At The Calm Leaf, you can find all of the above to explore what each product type brings to the table.