Cannabis distillate carts are the technological peak of cannabis consumption. The effects kick in almost instantly; they offer notoriously low cost per dose and are both portable and discrete.
It’s no wonder vaping was reported as the most common method of using cannabis in 2023.
So, what are the best distillate carts to check out in 2024? Which companies offer the best blend between cost, potency, and quality?
Top 7 Distillate Carts To Buy Online in 2024
Distillate carts come in all colors, shapes, and sizes, with different kinds of THC and a dizzying array of flavors. Being spoiled for choice is nice, but it can also be overwhelming.
But that’s what this article is for! Here’s a list of our most trusted vendors with carts sure to blow your mind — we start with the very best:
1. Area 52 Delta-8 THC Cartridge [Editor’s Choice: 2024]
Area 52 equals quality in anything cannabis-related — a vendor that cuts no corners when making tinctures, oils, or, in this case, distillate carts.
Its Delta 8 Vape Cartridge is a top-shelf glass CCELL device with a ceramic mouthpiece and core to get the best possible taste. Of course, the quality of the content matches the artifact, with a high concentration of pure delta 8 THC and a mix of a natural cannabis terpenes blend for flavor.
Three flavors are available: Pineapple Express, Grandaddy Purple, or Berry Gelato — they’re all worth trying, but we like Berry Gelato best due to its balanced terpene and cannabinoid profile.
Area 52 tests all its products for purity and heavy metals in third-party laboratories — you can be sure these carts are fire and safe.
Advantages of Area 52 Delta 8 Vape Carts:
+ Third-party lab tested
+ Top-shelf ingredients and high-quality cart
+ A natural blend of terpenes
+ Free shipping for the bundle option
2. Finest Labs Strawberry Cough Delta 8 Distillate Cart [Value Pick]
Finest Labs Delta 8 THC Vape Cartridge comes loaded with one gram of delta 8 THC distillate, which boasts a 97.8% concentration of cannabinoids.
How can that number be so much higher than the competition? Finest Labs' meticulous quality control and access to high-fidelity testing equipment. All Finest Labs COAs are readily available to the public on the company’s website — a clear indication of the company’s dedication to its craft and commitment to transparency.
This cart comes with free shipping if you order over $60 and ships to (almost) all 50 states. Visit the website for up-to-date details on shipping and availability.
This cartridge is accessible and highly potent, and we can assure you that the Strawberry Cough taste is one to die for and made entirely from cannabis-derived terpenes— so, what’s the catch?
We couldn’t find one. Finest Labs has made a name for itself, offering low-priced, high-value cannabinoid products for the past several years. This company prides itself in being “scientists first and entrepreneurs second.”
Advantages and disadvantages of Finest Labs Delta-8 THC Vape Cartridge:
+ Exceptionally high potency for vape pens in this price range
+ Extensive 3rd party lab results are available on the website
+ Pure delta 8 THC distillate
– Carts left on their side for too long tend to clog
3. Budpop HHC Vape Cartridges Strawberry Gelato
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) has a more energetic feel than delta-8 THC and is reportedly more potent.
Budpop HHC Vape Cartridges Strawberry Gelato is ideal for starting the day with a rush of euphoric energy and a clear headspace.
The vape contains one gram of distillate and 800mg of HHC, resulting in an 80% concentration. It has natural terpenes for taste and entourage effect, with no chemical additives. Budpop also tests all its products in third-party labs.
Budpop is confident you’ll fall in love with its products, and it offers a whopping 90-day money-back guarantee.
If you don’t, you can simply fill out a refund form. It also offers free shipping on orders over $99 and standard and expedited shipping options.
Advantages and disadvantages of Budpop HHC Vape Cartridges Strawberry Gelato:
+ Potent vape with a high cannabinoid concentration
+ Free and fast shipping
– Only ships within the continental US
– Low concentration (only 80%)
– Some concerns over quality mentioned in reviews
4. Koi Delta 8 THC Vape Cartridges
Koi has grown a lot since its humble beginnings in 2015 — from a small family-owned venture to the stomping giant it is today. Its success comes from two simple reasons — caring about customers and crafting excellent products.
Koi’s Delta 8 THC Vape Cartridges have 1 gram of distillate holding over 90% cannabinoid concentration. It comes in ten delicious flavors and lets you pick between indica or sativa strains or a hybrid.
Koi offers free shipping for orders above $49 or USPS priority shipping for a modest $10. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for refunds and tests all its products in third-party labs.
To put it straight, this vendor is the whole package.
Advantages and disadvantages of Koi Delta 8 THC Vape Cartridges:
+ High cannabinoid concentration
+ Third-party lab tested
– The heating element has a tendency of burning out prematurely
– Some reports of harsh vaping experience
5. TribeTokes 1:1 Ratio – CBD: Delta 8 THC Oil Vape Cart
There’s evidence that CBD can help with anxiety, and we know that delta 8 THC is a mild cannabinoid that rarely gives you the shakes [1]. So, if you’re searching for something to calm your mind, here’s a product for you.
TribeTokes’ 1:1 Ratio—CBD has a 1:1 ratio of delta 8 THC and CBD, which gives you a pleasant high and a peaceful calm. It comes in three flavors: Mango Haze, Blue Dream, and Northern Lights.
The vendor is more expensive than most, but you can save money in two ways: signing up for a 15% discount and buying through a subscription, which gives you another 10%.
Even if you pay full price, this vape is a top-shelf device worth every penny.
Advantages and disadvantages of TribeTokes 1:1 Ratio – CBD: Delta 8 THC Oil Vape Cart:
+ Calming balanced formula
+ Third-party lab tested
+ Several discounts available
– Expensive compared to other vapes of similar quality
– Not many reviews for this company are available online
6. PharmaCBD Euphoria Blend 2g Vape Cartridge
One-gram carts are the most popular in the market but can feel short-lived for heavy users. Some others simply prefer to get a cart that lasts longer than just a few weeks.
PharmaCBD Euphoria Blend 2g Vape Cartridge has twice as much distillate as the other carts on this list, yet it’s up there in its THC concentration levels. It has a devilish mix of delta 8 THC, delta 10 THC, and THCP to give you a killer buzz each time.
Simply put, this one hits like a truck — and lasts forever.
It comes in eleven different flavors, each with natural terpenes for flavor and a more rounded experience. The device's ceramic and metal construction improves heat transfer without making the cart too fragile.
Advantages and disadvantages of PharmaCBD Euphoria Blend 2g Vape Cartridge:
+ Potent cannabinoid mix
+ It lasts a long time
+ Third-party lab tested
– Contains metal in the heating element (concerns over off-gassing)
– Carts tend to clump and solidify if unused for several days
7. 3Chi Disposable Vape Cartridges
3Chi has been around for a long time now. It specializes in budget-friendly vape products, gummies, and other cannabis delivery methods. While this company is certainly one of the cheapest sources of disposable vape carts on the market, you certainly get what you pay for.
These carts are a decent option for anybody on a tight budget, but if you can spend a few extra bucks its worth getting something with a higher build quality.
These vapes come in many different options — you can choose different flavors or cannabinoid combinations to match your individual preferences.
All 3Chi disposable cartridges are standardized to 1 mL volume and use 510 vape battery threading (standard battery size for 90% of vape pens).
Advantages & disadvantages of 3Chi vape carts:
+ One of the older cannabinoid companies on the market
+ Wide selection of products & variants to choose from
– Source of cannabis is unclear (concerns over cheap China-grown hemp)
– Third-party testing data is often incomplete
– Poor build quality reported in many product variants
Expert Tips: How to Buy Distillate Vape Carts Online Safely
Buying distillate carts is an easy, straightforward process — but you should know a few things to make the most out of the experience.
Knowing how to spot a shifty vendor is vital to your safety. Distillate carts are very potent because of their high cannabinoid concentration, but that isn’t all that matters — sometimes, a lower-concentration vape could hit a lot harder.
Here’s what to look for when vetting vape carts online:
1. Risks & Safety
Although vape carts aren’t the most lung-friendly way to consume weed, they’re much safer than combustion-based methods like smoking. Thus, the best way to take care of your health is to know how to tell apart legit from sketchy vendors.
Updated COAs are always a great way for vendors to keep their users safe.
Lab tests are vital, as safe vapes should only have two ingredients: distillate and flavoring, preferably in the form of terpenes.
A COA would show if the vendor is using fillers — people have fallen ill from cutters like vitamin E acetate, so this actually matters.
Always read online reviews and the vendor’s website before purchasing carts. Vendors like Area 52, for example, have rigid manufacturing and testing policies to ensure your safety, plus one of the cleanest track records in the industry.
2. Cannabinoid Content
The cannabis plant contains more than 100 individual cannabinoids. While there are similarities between each of them, they are not the same. The type of cannabinoid you’re using makes a big difference in the overall effects, safety profil, and potency. If you know what kind of experience you’re up to, finding the right cart is much easier.
CBD provides a calm relaxation, but it isn’t psychoactive and will cause you no high. Delta 9 THC is the one prevalent in regular marijuana — it’s very potent but illegal in most of the country.
Delta 8 THC is federally legal, and while 50% as strong as delta 9 THC, it’s also much less likely to cause anxiety and paranoia [3].
And that’s not to mention the cannabinoids rising in popularity after the 2018 Farm Bill, like delta 10 THC, HHC, THCP, etc. Some of these haven’t been researched in-depth, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed of erring on the side of caution and going for the classic ones.
3. Terpene Potency
The best advantage of cannabis distillates is the high concentration of cannabinoids it has — in some cases going over 90%. And while this is a major factor in a vape’s potency, it isn’t the only one. Most cannabis users know by heart that a more rounded experience feels stronger.
A rounded experience comes from the perfect blend of cannabinoids and terpenes, not only from the psychoactive parts of the plant [2].
That’s why a distillate that includes terps can induce a richer high than artificially flavored ones.
In short, check a cart’s concentration and ingredients to gauge its potency. The best option will have terpenes sourced from cannabis.
What’s the Difference Between Distillate & Live Resin?
Distillate and live resin carts are two different kinds of cannabis concentrate products. While both are similar, there are several key differences between them.
Distillate carts have a much more complex production process. The goal is bringing it to its purest — and some reach concentrations as high as 99%. The resulting extract is very potent, but it loses cannabis’ natural flavor and some of its qualities.
Live resins are made from fresh cannabis flash-frozen to maintain its qualities. Manufacturers use solvents to separate the resin and press it away from the plant matter. The final product maintains cannabis’ flavor and qualities, but its potency is much lower than a distillate.
In short, the similarities and differences between distillates and live resin include:
Distillates are extracted using heat, while live resins are strictly cold extracted.
Distillates don’t retain cannabis’ original flavor, while live resin keeps most of it (high terpenes).
Distillates tend to be much more potent due to the entourage effect with terpenes & other cannabinoids.
Are Distillate Carts Better Than Disposable Pens?
Yes, but not as much as they used to be.
Carts used to be vastly superior to disposable pens. They were built out of higher-quality materials and were cheaper in the long run, as you only needed to buy a battery once, and they could be recharged.
They haven’t changed much, but disposable pens have improved a lot.
Disposable pens are vapes that work on the go — you buy one, take a pull, and it just works.
Pens used to come with lower-quality parts and usually short set battery life, but that’s no longer the case — ceramic disposable vapes with rechargeable batteries are becoming increasingly common.
Carts are still better in two regards: they’re much more environmentally friendly — every battery from a disposable pen ends up in a landfill — and slightly cheaper. The battery will be more expensive the first time, but you’ll get the money back in the long run.
How Long Does A Distillate Cart Last?
The cart has a shelf life of six months to two years, but how long it lasts in active use depends on some factors.
First, it’ll depend on how much distillate is in your cart: a 1-gram cart will last double what a half-gram cart lasts. Beyond that, the longevity of the cart will depend on you: how many times in the week you use it and how long your pulls are.
Vendors estimate a pull lasts one second. Based on that information, a 1-gram cart should last around three hundred pulls.
So, ten drags a day roughly equals a month’s long life before you have to get a new cartridge.
Frequently Asked Questions: Distillate Carts
Here are some of the most common questions people are asking about distillate carts online.
1. What Battery Works Best For Distillate Carts?
The best battery for distillate carts is the 510-thread battery.
It’s more efficient than most regular batteries and compatible with almost every cart on the market —unlike expensive, specialized batteries. Some proprietary carts, like the Bloom Pods, aren’t compatible, so always check if your cart has a 510 mod.
2. How Long Does a Vape High Last?
A vape can make you high instantly, as metabolization through the lungs is very fast. How long it lasts will depend on the dose, your body, and your tolerance. The type of cannabinoid also plays a role.
3. What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are the building blocks of plants and the source of their signature aromas. Vendors mix botanical terpenes in their distillates to recreate the plant’s original flavor — the best ones use cannabis terpenes.
References:
Skelley JW, Deas CM, Curren Z, Ennis J. Use of cannabidiol in anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2020 Jan-Feb.
Ternelli M, Brighenti V, Anceschi L, Poto M, Bertelli D, Licata M, Pellati F. Innovative methods for the preparation of medical Cannabis oils with a high content of both cannabinoids and terpenes. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2020 Jul 15.
Kruger JS, Kruger DJ. Delta-8-THC: Delta-9-THC's nicer younger sibling? J Cannabis Res. 2022 Jan 4.