Best Vape Carts to Check Out in 2024 (Online Brands)

A vape cartridge is a replaceable device that houses both the cannabinoid distillate and heating element in one component. The idea is that you can puff away on your vape, and by the time the tank is empty, it can simply be unscrewed and replaced with a new one — no fussing around refilling sticky distillates and no burnt heating elements. 

The only reusable part of a cart-style vape pen is the battery — which is the only part that truly matters if it’s replaceable or not. This also keeps the cost of carts very cheap (no electrical components aside from the small ceramic heating element).

With so many options out there, buying vape carts online can be a hit or miss. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to find the best vape cart for your use case.

Top 8 Vape Carts (Updated For 2024)

It seems like THC vendors are sprouting from every nook and cranny, and most of them sell vape carts. The following list is curated specifically for you and has the safest, most potent, and highest-quality weed carts available in the market. 

1. Area 52 Vape Carts

Area 52 has some of the highest-quality THC products we’ve tried, including these premium vape carts.

The performance of their delta 8 Vapes is off the charts thanks to its ceramic core, mouthpiece, and high-tech CCELL. These carts feature an all-glass vapor pathway, ceramic element (no heavy metal leeching), and standardized 510 threading. 

The distillate itself is even more impressive. The company’s third-party lab testing is extensive, and all the ones we looked at showed a purity of over 97%, which is basically unheard of in this industry.

Our favorite is the delta-8 carts from Area 52, which come in three cannabis-inspired flavors: Pineapple Express, Grandaddy Purple, and Berry Gelato. 

Area 52 also carries HHC carts, THCA carts, and a long list of other premium cannabinoid products.

Likes & Dislikes: Area 52 Vape Carts: 

• ✅ Made with premium CCELL vape carts.
• ✅ Each batch is third-party lab-tested.
• ✅ Made from all-natural, 100% hemp extracts.
• ✅ Same-day shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all orders.

2. TRĒ House Vape Carts

The Rainbow Sherbet from TRĒ House is one of our favorite one-gram carts — containing a blend of both delta 8 and delta 10 THC and a pinch of tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP). 

This last compound is considerably more potent than any other cannabinoid in the market, and it’s yet to be researched in-depth.

This cart is for those looking for a potent experience and not for newcomers to weed. TRĒ House expressed it best on their website: “Helmet suggested, but not required.”

In case you don’t enjoy this mighty buzz or the lack of sweet flavoring puts you off, TRĒ House offers a 60-day money-back guarantee.

TRĒ House also carries a variety of other distillate options aside from this blend, including pure delta-8 carts, THCA carts, HHC carts, CBD carts, and more.

Likes & Dislikes: Tre House Vape Carts: 

• ✅ Very potent products.
• ✅ Exceptionally large product catalog to choose from.
• ✅ Third-party lab tests are available on the company website.
• ❌ Some cannabinoids offered on this site may be illegal in certain states.

3. Moonwlkr Vape Carts

Moonwlkr is a great entry point for newcomers to vaping or cannabis in general. The company’s Strawberry Gelato vape cart is our go-to from this brand, which is made from a blend of cannabis-derived terpenes and delta-8 THC distillate. The overall experience is super mellow compared to other options on this list.

The fact that it tastes like ice cream doesn’t hurt either.

Moonwlkr is an all-around great vendor with free shipping, lab testing, and a 30-day refund policy. Its vaping collection is somewhat lacking for people looking for variety in cannabinoids or hybrid products.

Likes & Dislikes: Moonwlkr Vape Carts:

• ✅ Excellent flavor (made from terpenes).
• ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee.
• ✅ Balanced and clean effects.
• ❌ Often takes more than a week to ship.

4. Budpop Vape Carts

Our favorite Budpop vape cart is the Blue Dream Vape. This uplifting blend contains both delta 8 THC and THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). 

THCa comes from the hemp plant and turns into the more potent delta 9 THC when heated, and vaping is the best way of consuming it.

The cart is an all-rounder thanks to its mix of 200 mg THCa and 500 mg of delta 8 THC. Your mood will lift immediately after taking it and enjoying its ripe berry taste. The experience is stronger than delta 8 THC without being overwhelming.

This company offers lots of different vape options, all made from the same materials, all third-party tested, and all backed by a money-back guarantee.

Likes & Dislikes: Budpop Vape Carts:

• ✅ Free shipping on orders over $99.
• ✅ Save money through its subscription service.
• ✅ Transparency in their product’s testing.
• ❌ Some issues with quality have been reported in the past (not in our case).

5. Eden Cannabis Vape Carts

This brand carries lots of different psychoactive aside from vape carts. We’ve reviewed several of these products in the past. This is a legal cannabis company only available in a few select states — so make sure to check the website to see if it’s available where you live.

As for their selection of replaceable cannabinoid carts, the Cannabis Culture Club cart has to be our all-time favorite. This cart contains 1 g of extract from the Apple Fritter marijuana strain. It’s a balanced 50:50 mix of sativa with indica, making it a mood booster that will help you focus without being overwhelming. 

The only mark against this vendor is that while its products are great, its customer-oriented practices need work. There’s no free shipping nor a 100% money-back guarantee for refunds.

Likes & Dislikes: Eden Vape Carts:

• ✅ Tests not only for purity but also for potency.
• ✅ Discounts through its loyalty points system.
• ❌ Some recent lab tests missing for current batch.

6. Canna River Vape Carts

If you’re looking for variety in flavor and accessible prices, you’ve hit the jackpot here.

Canna River offers eighteen flavors in its carts, from its acidic Tahiti Lime to its sweet Watermelon Zkittles, all for a modest $15.00. These include a premium ceramic cart, resin, and a gram of delta 8 distillate.

Usually, low prices are a red flag that a vendor might be cutting corners, but all of Canna River’s delta 8 products are lab-tested for heavy metals and other contaminants. Its products are safe and accessible, and the results are available on the website.

The products are also cruelty-free and without gluten for those concerned about health or the environment.

Likes & Dislikes: Canna River Vape Carts:

• ✅ Large selection of flavors.
• ✅ Very low prices (suspiciously low).
• ✅ 60-day money-back guarantee.
• ❌ It’s a small and relatively new company (not vetted by the community).

7. Exhale Wellness Vape Carts

Exhale Wellness is typically not a brand we recommend simply because we think they’re too low quality… however, we’ve decided to include them on our list because they’re one of the lowest cost brands on the market right now that maintains great reviews online.

This brand carries a massive selection of products encompassing just about any cannabinoid you can think of. Check out their THCA vapes, HHC vapes, or THCP vapes for alternative cannabinoid options.

Likes & Dislikes: Exhale Wellness  Vape Carts:

• ✅ Lots of positive reviews online for this brand. 
• ✅ Large product catalog (there’s something for everybody).
• ❌ Known to leak if stored on its side. 
• ❌ Purity level is on the low end of what we consider acceptable.

8. Eighty Six Vape Carts

We’ll be completely honest, this is not our favorite weed carts — they feel cheap and aren’t nearly as pure as some of the other options on this list… but they’re one of the most budget-friendly brands available right now and they boast a large and loyal customer base on Reddit. They must be doing something right.

There are obviously some good aspects to this cart that make it worth your attention — just don’t expect it to compare to the premium tier we’ve covered above.

Likes & Dislikes: Eighty-Six Delta 8  Vape Carts:

• ✅ Very cheap weed pen for those on a budget.
• ✅ Fits any rechargeable 510 threaded vape battery.
• ❌ Build quality feels a bit cheap; be careful of leakage with these carts.
• ❌ Purity is on the low end of what we’d consider acceptable.

Types of Vape Carts

Vape carts come in all shapes and sizes. Many carts use proprietary connectors, but the best option is to use a standardized system to fit rechargeable batteries. These devices are preferred because they’re better for the environment (less unnecessary electronic waste) and don’t limit you to one overpriced brand name option.

After considering cart design and compatibility, the most important choice is the type of THC distillate you want to order. There are several kinds, each with subtle differences in effects, potency, and cost. 

In places where cannabis still hasn’t been legalized, the most popular weed carts contain either delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC or HHC. In legalized states, delta-9 THC carts are, by far, the most popular.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular cannabinoid vape carts on the market today:

Delta-8 THC Vape Carts

Delta-8 THC is a naturally-occurring variation of delta-9 THC. It’s differentiated only by the location of a double bond in the molecular structure. This change has little impact on the psychoactive effects but reduced the potency by about half.

Delta-8 THC cartridges are popular in states where marijuana and its extracts are still outlawed because it can be extracted from hemp (which is legal in all 50-states0. 

Recently, some states have introduced their own regulations which ban this substance — so check your local laws before ordering.

Related: Delta-8 THC Pre-Rolls | Delta-8 THC 101

Delta-9 THC Vape Carts

Delta-9 THC is the most abundant cannabinoid in the marijuana plant (aside from CBD, in some cases). It’s the most common psychoactive cannabinoid but also the one outlawed around the world. You can only buy delta-9 THC carts in legal states.

A recent “loophole” some companies have been using to avoid these restrictions, without having to modify the molecular structure to look like delta-8, delta-10, or HHC, is to use the raw THCA (tetrahydrocannabidiolic acid) form.

This loophole is sketchy, at best, as THCA is the same compound as delta-9 THC, only with the addition of a carboxylic acid. It’s the raw form found in both hemp and marijuana plants. Exposure to heat tears off the acid group to yield pure delta-9 THC.

Related: THCA Vape Carts | THCA Flower | What is Delta-9 THCA?

Delta-10 THC Vape Carts

Delta-10, like delta-8, is made by slightly modifying the chemical structure of THC. The double-bond is located on the 10th position, which maintains the same psychoactive qualities of THC, but roughly half the potency compared to delta-9.

Delta-10 is technically present in raw hemp and marijuana but in even lower concentrations than the already scarce delta-8 version.

Delta-10 vapes are said to be more “stimulating” than delta-8, but we haven’t found this to be the case. We even have a sneaking suspicion that most delta-10 products on the market right now mostly contain delta-8. Most brands selling this cannabinoid fall short on the third-party testing front.

Related: Delta-10 THC 101

HHC Vape Carts

HHC stands for hexahydrocannabinol — it’s essentially delta-0 THC because the double-bond that differentiates the different types of THC is simply removed. A process called hydrogenation is used to saturate the double-bond in the molecular structure — it’s a similar process to hydrogenating oils to create margarine. 

The main benefit of HHC cartridges (aside from being legal in roughly 50% of the US) is its exceptionally long shelf-life. Nobody knows for sure how long HHC remains active — but we do know it’s significantly more stable than any other form of THC. If you’re planning on saving some THC carts for the apocalypse, make sure to pick up some HHC.

Related: HHC vs. THC | What is HHC?

CBD Vape Carts

CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid abundant in both hemp and marijuana. It’s most often used for its medicinal effects rather than for any psychoactive qualities. CBD has been found to offer powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) qualities.

Many companies mix CBD with psychoactive distillates to help counter negative side effects like anxiousness and paranoia. It’s also common in full-spectrum cartridges because the raw extract naturally contains high levels of this cannabinoid.

THCV Vape Carts

THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) is a trace cannabinoid most common in a few landrace African marijuana strains. There are both delta-8 THCV and delta-9 THCV versions of this cannabinoid. Most legal THCV carts use the delta-8 version, which is only about 40% as potent as the delta-9 isomer.

This cannabinoid is said to have a more stimulating action than other forms of THC and is often promoted for use as a study aid or energizer for use while exercising.

THCP Vape Carts

THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol) is, by far, the strongest naturally occurring cannabinoid discovered so far. It’s estimated to be about 7X more potent than delta-9 THC but is only found in trace concentrations in the plant.

Some researchers believe this cannabinoid is the reason why some strains of marijuana feel so much stronger than others despite having comparable THC concentrations. You only need a tiny dose of this stuff for very strong effects. For this reason, companies rarely sell pure THCP carts and instead mix it with other cannabinoids at concentrations ranging from 5–15% to boost the overall potency. 

Live Resin Carts

Live resin carts are made from a cold extraction of hemp or marijuana flower. The goal of this type of extract is to preserve as much of the raw terpenes as possible. The extraction must be done without adding any outside heat that could damage or evaporate the terpenes — so companies must use expensive supercritical CO2 or inefficient rosin presses to extract tha active ingredients.

Live resin carts maintain exceptional flavor thanks to the retention of raw terpenes and cannabinoids but tend to be very expensive. You can only find true live resin THC carts in legal states because it’s impossible to reduce the THC levels to legal levels without the use of chemical processes that would damage the sensitive terpene profile.

There are a ton of very low-quality, fake live resin products on the market today which are made by combining cannabinoid distillates with terpenes. None of these are true live resin extracts — just distillates with terpenes added. In most cases, these terpenes are manufactured synthetically or extracted from other plants.

How to Use a Vape Cart

The whole point of a replaceable vape cart is to make vaping as simple and straightforward as possible. You don’t need to worry about measuring doses, checking the heating element, or refilling tanks with sticky distillates. 

Here’s how to use them: 

1. Open the package and remove the plastic caps covering the mouthpiece and threading.
2. Make sure your vape battery is fully charged.
3. Screw the vape cart to the top of your vape battery using the threading.
4. Turn on your device (most require you to press the button 5 times in rapid succession).
5. Haul on your device (some devices have pull sensors that kick on the heating element as soon as you start drawing air through it; others require you to hold the button).

Why You Should Opt For Standardized (510-Threaded) Vapes

We’re strong advocates of using standardized vape carts for two main reasons:

The first reason is that they have a significantly higher value than proprietary vape cart designs. There are lots of companies that use their own patented vape cart design. You must use only this brand’s products for it to work in your vape — thus significantly limiting your options and incurring a price premium. By standardizing the vape cart connector, you can shop for products from many different companies all competing on price and product selection. You can try products from all sorts of different companies until you find one you like.

The second reason is that standardization is better for the environment. Standardized vape carts contain no lithium and no heavy metals that contaminate landfills and deplete the already scarce lithium supply.

Related: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Disposable Vapes.

What to Look for When Buying Vape Carts

There are literally hundreds of vendors offering a myriad of vape carts. It’s no surprise people are confused about what to buy.

Glass or ceramic? Delta 8 or Delta 9? What kind of battery? There are hundreds of options, and safety is something to look out for, too. 

Here are some of the things you should know before buying carts:

1. Cannabinoid Choice

There are dozens of different cannabinoids on the market these days — each one offering slightly different effects, duration of action, and potency. The first step to choosing a vape cart is to decide what cannabinoid(s) you’d like to try.

The most common choice for psychoactive effects is THC — of which there are several kinds. The most “natural” form is either THCA or delta-9 THC. Other popular options (usually due to their improved legal standing) include delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and HHC.

Other, more popular naturally occurring cannabinoids include THCV and THCP.

The most popular cannabinoid for health benefits is CBD, or a combination of CBD, CBC, and CBG — none of which are psychoactive.

2. Safety (Purity & Third-Party Testing)

High-quality vape carts usually have only two ingredients: some sort of hemp extract for psychoactive effects and terpenes for flavoring. Some lower-quality vape carts contain artificial flavorings, synthetic cannabinoids, or various other adulterants.

Major problems may arise when manufacturers use cheaply-made vitamin E acetate-based cutting agents. Pesticides, residual solvents, and heavy metals are other toxic contaminants you have to be on the lookout for.

The only way for a company to prove their products don’t contain any of these harmful ingredients is to send a sample to an independent analytical laboratory to test it. The results of these tests should be readily available on the company website. Always check that the date is within 4 months of purchase and show all metrics to be clean and clear.

3. Brand Recognition

Customer reviews are vital to gauge quality before buying anything, including THC carts. All the same rules apply: A vendor with many reviews is more trustworthy than one with none. At the same time, a vendor with only five-star reviews could be faking them.

Go beyond the reviews on the site. You can check Google reviews to find what the general customers think, or you can go deeper into Facebook groups and Reddit communities to find the opinions of connoisseurs.

4. Value

There is a big difference between a high-quality vape cart made using premium distillates, glass cartridge design, and ceramic heating elements (rather than toxic metals). However, the price a company can sell its vape rarely corresponds to the build quality. We’ve seen a ton of brands selling super low-quality vape carts at a premium simply because they have strong marketing.

Truly assessing the value of a product relies on reading past customer reviews, calculating the cost per mg of active ingredient, and checking for third-party tests to prove the purity of the final product.

3 factors to assessing a high-value vape cart: 

• Cost per mg — divide the total cost of the cart by the total mg of distillate.
• Cartridge materials — premium carts use glass and ceramic, and budget options use plastic and various metals.
• Reviews — just because a brand “looks” good doesn’t mean they really are. Read reviews to see if the premium price point is valid or not.

5. Legality

Cannabinoid legality is one of the most convoluted topics in the world. All marijuana-based products are considered Schedule I in the United States (the highest classification for illegal substances), but roughly 50% of US states have their own laws that make it legal.

Cannabinoids like delta-8 and HHC sidestep this federal law even in states that haven’t legalized marijuana — but there are exceptions where state laws specifically ban these substances.

The regulatory status of cannabinoids is constantly shifting and evolving — even professional law firms that spend their days tracking these changes are often confused.

The bottom line is that before you place any orders, double-check the current laws for the cannabinoids you plan to order in your state or country.

What’s the Difference Between Carts & Disposable Pens?

Carts are glass vials holding the extract of your vape cart, and they go attached to a battery, the 510 being the most popular model. Disposable weed pens, on the other hand, come as an individual piece. They include a vial and battery, which you can dispose of after use.

In general, replaceable carts are more expensive the first time you buy them — simply because you need to also order a reusable battery — however, in the long term, they’re significantly cheaper (and better for the environment).

FAQs: Best Vape Cartridges

If you still have questions, stick around! Maybe they’ll be answered in this next section.

1. How Long Does a Vape High Last?

This is mainly tolerance-dependent, as it happens with joints and most inhalable cannabis products. There isn’t a universal answer to this, but if you have your tolerance under control, a vape cart high can last up to 3-5 hours, of course, depending on the dose, too.

2. Is Vaping Less Harmful Than Smoking?

Vaping doesn’t have some risks associated with smoking, such as exposure to certain toxins and CO, but there aren’t enough studies to conclude it’s safer in a definitive manner [2].

3. How Long Does a Cart Last?

It varies depending on how often you use your cart and the length of your puffs. A one-gram cart holds around three hundred puffs, depending on how long your puffs are.

The shelf life goes between six months to two years. It’s more than enough to finish it, even with occasional use.

4. What makes a good quality vape cartridge?

High-quality vape carts have several things in common — ceramic heating elements, an all-glass vapor pathway, standardized 510 threading, and extensive third-party lab tests to prove the purity and safety of the distillate contained inside.

5. Why is third-party lab testing important for vape cartridges?

Third-party lab testing is important as it ensures the purity and safety of the vape cartridge by testing for harmful substances like pesticides, residual solvents, and heavy metals.

6. What is the difference between delta-8, delta-9, & delta-10 THC vape cartridges?

All 3 of these different types of THC offer the same general effect profiles, albeit at different potencies. Delta-9 THC is the strongest, followed by delta-8 (50% as strong) and delta-10 (40–50% as strong).

Delta-9 THC is the most abundant naturally occurring type of THC, while delta-8 and delta-10 are typically converted from CBD using chemical processes.

Some people argue delta-8 is more relaxing than delta-9, and delta-10 is more stimulating — however we disagree and feel this is mostly marketing ploys used by companies selling these products.

7. What are the advantages of using 510-threaded vape cartridges?

510-threaded vape cartridges are advantageous because they are standardized, allowing compatibility with various batteries, and they avoid the environmental and economic downsides of disposable vapes.

8. What is the benefit of using vape cartridges with ceramic elements?

Ceramic elements in vape cartridges prevent heavy metal leaching, provide better heat distribution, and offer a cleaner, more flavorful vaping experience.

---

Subscribe For More 🍄

References

1. Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. Br J Pharmacol. 2011 Aug
2. Chaiton M, Kundu A, Rueda S, Di Ciano P. Are vaporizers a lower-risk alternative to smoking cannabis? Can J Public Health. 2022 Apr.