By Max Sargent


You may have heard of bongs and dab rigs; you’ve probably even seen pictures. Bar a few minor differences, they look more or less the same, right? So it’s fair enough to assume that they could be the same thing.

On the whole, they are basically the same—but each serves a unique purpose, and they're not necessarily interchangeable. Below we tell you everything you need to know about the difference between bongs and dab rigs.

Herb vs Concentrate

To understand the differences between dab rigs and bongs, it’s essential to understand the difference between herbs and concentrates.

Herb is the general name given to unprocessed cannabis—be it raw flower, kief, or hash. Basically, anything you would put in a spliff is probably herb.

Concentrates, on the other hand, are rarer, at least outside parts of the US, and require a more involved process to produce. To make concentrates, resin is extracted from the cannabis flower’s trichomes (where cannabinoids are produced and stored) and then, as the name suggests, concentrated into a product. Different concentrates look and behave differently, but they are often an off-white to yellow colour, and sticky or rock-hard.

In terms of potency, herb can reach up to about 30% THC at maximum. Concentrates, however, can get up to 80% THC or even more, so a much smaller amount is needed to get high.

Dab Rig vs Bong: Design

Dab rigs and bongs look and function similarly. In fact, they are fundamentally the same thing—tools that allow for water filtration—but with slight tweaks that allow them to handle different substances.

The bodies of dab rigs and bongs are essentially the same. Or at least, they can be. Each has a downstem descending into a water chamber. At any point, there may be one or more percolators to help with the cooling process. Then, there will be a neck, and a mouthpiece from which you will draw the smoke/vapor.

With bongs, the neck simply has an opening at the top, and you put your mouth there; dab rigs tend to have a little mouthpiece extension that comes out laterally.

Now, although their basic design is essentially the same, there are some common differences between the bodies. Dab rigs, on the whole, tend to be smaller than bongs. And bongs have a propensity to vary more in terms of shape, size, design, and internal components.

A bong may be beaker-shaped, it may have a rounded water chamber, and so on. Bongs also come in a wide range of materials—acrylic, borosilicate glass, enamel, and more—while dab rigs are most commonly made of borosilicate glass, as they are exposed to higher temperatures.

Another difference is that bongs tend to have more accessories. These can include ice catchers and a whole array of percolators and filtration systems. Dab rigs tend to have only one percolator, and will not have ice catchers.

So, what’s the real difference?

Dab Rig vs Bong: Design
  • Bowls vs Nails / Bangers

The true difference between a dab rig and a bong is to be found in the part where you actually burn or vaporize your cannabis product.

Bongs = Bowls

A bong has a bowl. A bowl is literally a metal (or glass) dish that you pack with cannabis. You then burn the weed and inhale from the mouthpiece, which draws smoke through the downstem, into the water, then into your lungs.

As mentioned, bowls are most often made from metal, and tend to use disposable gauze (fine metal mesh) on top of which your weed will sit. With a bowl, you use a conventional lighter to directly burn the cannabis.

They are simple and highly effective.

Bowls vs Nails / Bangers

Dab Rigs = Nails or Bangers

A dab rig, on the other hand, has a nail or “banger”. While these are basically the same, a nail is smaller and usually made of titanium, whereas a banger has a more traditional bowl-like shape and can be made from quartz, titanium, or glass.

A nail or banger will not use a gauze, as concentrates are placed directly onto its surface. Likewise, whereas with a bowl you apply the flame directly to the herb, with a dab rig, you heat up the nail/banger with a blowtorch until it is very hot, and then, using a dabber tool, place a little concentrate onto the heated surface and watch it vaporize as you inhale!

Bowls vs Nails / Bangers

Dab Rig vs Bong: Function

As mentioned, the two devices function slightly differently.

Essentially, with a bong, you combust the herb, which releases smoke to be inhaled.

With a dab rig, you vaporize the concentrate, as opposed to burning it, which means you’re inhaling mostly vapor.

In terms of functionality, that is the difference. As outlined above, the process varies between the two, but is ultimately quite similar. With dab rigs, however, there are now electric options that don’t require a blowtorch to heat. Though becoming more popular, they are also pricey.

Dab Rig vs Bong: Smoke / Vapor Quality

The quality of your hit will depend on a large number of factors. These include:

  • Quality of cannabis product
  • Quality of bong/dab rig (including accessories)
  • Cleanliness of equipment
  • Level of heat applied

The two most important factors are the quality of the herb or concentrate, and the quality of the bong or dab rig. A tiny device with no percolators is never going to taste great. Likewise, poor-quality flower or concentrate will never be delicious either.

But are herbs or concentrates superior?

  • Dried Herb vs Concentrates: Which Offers a Better Hit?

Making any outright claims here would be foolish. Ultimately, it comes down to personal taste. Great-quality weed and great-quality concentrates will both taste amazing when smoked with good equipment.

One thing to be aware of, though, is that concentrates, if made well, can be outrageously tasty. If all the terpenes are present, and they are vaporized at the optimal temperature, then you are in for a real treat. Likewise, because of the lack of vegetable matter, and the fact that they are vaporized rather than combusted, there tends to be no sullying of the flavours.

So, given that, some would say that concentrate vapor offers smoother hits than a bong ever can.

Herb vs Concentrate

Dab Rig vs Bong: Safety

It’s important to use these products safely, as shattered glass when you’re really blazed is not the one!

Good products will be well-made, and should be able to take a knock or two without breaking. Likewise, they should be heat-resistant—especially nails and bangers!

Some people like to put their borosilicate glass bong or rig in the freezer before using it, as this helps to cool the smoke even more. Very well-made ones should be able to handle extreme changes in heat, but there is always the possibility that they will shatter when you get to lighting up. So on the whole, we’d advise against this. If you really want super-cold smoke, get a bong with an ice catcher.

In terms of one versus the other, there's not a lot in it. Dab rigs have the potential to present more of a danger because they are exposed to higher temperatures, but if they are made well, they should be fine. Perhaps the greatest danger comes from the misuse of the blowtorch itself.

Dab Rig vs Bong: Price

The price of each device can vary significantly.

For those on a tight budget, you can pick up an acrylic bong for a very reasonable price—this makes them quite accessible. However, as you enhance the design and material, they can reach into the hundreds, if not thousands. Bongs offer the greatest range of choice, in terms of price.

Dab rigs start out a little more expensive than bongs, but you should still be able to find one for a decent price. Then, much like bongs, they can become very expensive.

Should You Get a Dab Rig or a Bong?

Of course, for many, the primary concern will be price.

But ignoring that, why not get both? In an ideal world, this is a great option. For most of us, though, another big consideration is what we actually have access to. A dab rig might be a great ornament, but do we have anywhere to buy concentrates? Do we have the resources to make our own? For some, concentrates will not really be an option, so in that case a bong will offer the most functionality.

But if you can buy or make concentrates, then they’re such a good experience that a dab rig is a worthy investment!

DisclaimerExtracts, concentrates, and oils used for dabbing are among the strongest cannabis products available. Proceed with caution when using substances high in THC. Start with low doses and slowly increase over time to build up a tolerance to the compound.

Remember: Set and Setting will help you deal with various situations.

Stay Cultivated.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: