It’s no secret that smoking or vaping wax dabs have grown wildly in popularity over the last decade. Dabbing wax has not only influenced the way people choose to consume cannabis but also what cannabis products are being developed and marketed.
Prior to dabbing, cannabis was typically consumed through smoking, edibles, vaporizers, or tinctures. Dabbing is when you heat up a small amount of cannabis concentrate or wax and inhale the vapor. Dabbing is pretty well-known for its higher potency, a distinct flavor, and is well-believed to provide a more intense high than smoking or vaping. Dabbing wax has also introduced new products, such as Dab Rigs, and Dab Bangers that are explicitly designed for this.
In this article, we will explore many of the different types of bangers out there to help guide many of the new users out there confused about which type of dab banger to choose. We take a deep dive into the Different Types of Bangers w/ photos, & round up the top 12 most popular Dab Banger Types + angles & materials
Are there Different types of Bangers?
Yes, there are literally dozens of different types of bangers. There are dab bangers made of different materials such as quartz, glass, titanium, and ceramic. There are different shapes, sizes, and even male or female bangers.
There has been a sharp rise in desktop vaporizer dab rig products such as Puffco Peak Pro, Dr. Dabber Switch, and the Kandypens Oura Vaporizer. These vaporizers use atomizers that are very similar to torch-style dab rig bangers, and are often marketed as “Dab Bangers”.
Even though we are experts in Vaporizers – When people are asking us for recommendations about our favorite types of Bangers, we know that they want help in choosing a dab banger that is right for them. And that is usually a Quartz Dab Banger on a traditional Dab rig.
Top 12 most popular Dab Banger Types
In conducting our research for this article, we found over 30 different types of bangers. We narrowed this down to the top 12 most popular dab banger types based on product volume and statistical trends like search volume at Google. Listed below in order of popularity, with number 1 being king, here are the 12 most popular dab banger types:
1. Terp Slurper Banger
A Terp Slurper is the most popular type of Banger. A terp slurper has a series of small tubes or “slurpers” attached to the bottom. These tubes improve airflow, increasing the vaporization and flavor of the wax by pulling it down into the banger with a vortex effect. Alternatively, the design may feature a dish built into the bottom that has grooves to create a vacuum effect. Pushing your concentrates back into the middle of the banger. Both types of Terp Slurper bangers create a benefit in percolation for your hits.
A terp slurper banger also offers enhanced flavor by directing terps towards the mouth, increased efficiency by vaporizing the material more evenly, and less waste by reducing the amount of leftover residue after dabbing.
2. Thermal Banger “Double Walled”
A thermal banger is a type that is designed to retain heat for a longer period of time, while also eliminating direct combustion. Many connoisseurs want to avoid heating dabs “directly” because it creates some harmful off-gasses. Unlike traditional Dab Bangers that lose heat more quickly, Thermal Bangers are thicker and have double walls that create an insulated chamber to keep the heat in, resulting in a more consistent and controlled dabbing experience. When using a Thermal double walled banger with a torch, you actually heat the outer wall. The inner cup will heat more indirectly via convection. By retaining heat for longer, thermal bangers allow for lower-temperature dabbing, which can provide a smoother and more flavorful hit. It also reduces the risk of burning or wasting the concentrates.
3. Cold Start Banger
A cold start banger allows for a low-temperature dabbing experience. Cold start bangers involve placing the concentrate in the banger first and then heating it slowly to vaporization temperature second. This type of banger is usually round or oval at the bottom. This method of dabbing allows for more flavorful and efficient dab hits, as the concentrate is vaporized slowly at lower temps. Many people claim low-temp dabs have the best terpy flavor, so it’s a no-brainer why Cold Start Bangers are the 3rd most popular type of Banger. Typically, with other Banger types, one would heat up the banger first then drop in the dab.
4. Banger Bucket
When I think of a Dab Banger, the first type I think of is immediately a Banger Bucket. While not special in any way, they are probably the type of Dab Banger you are most familiar with. The basic Quartz Bucket Banger is what most people probably take their first dab in. Shaped like a standard bucket – with a stem to connect to the dab rig. They come in a number of variations, but at the end of the day, their simplicity is why it is so popular. Your first dab rig likely came with a Glass Banger Bucket, and if you like the shape we suggest upgrading to a Quartz Dab Banger to reduce the risk of shattering or exploding while hot.
5. Flat top Banger
A flat top banger type allows for better use of carb caps, spinner caps, and marbles by providing a resting place on the lid. Additionally, the flat-topped bangers can have a thicker bottom that absorbs more heat and stays hot for a longer period of time. The main benefit of using a flat top banger is the variety of carb and bullet caps available to pair with it for an increased vaporization strength. Pairing flat tops with caps allows for more efficient use of the concentrates. The flat top design also helps to prevent pooling and clogging of the concentrate, making it easier to clean and maintain.
6. Terp Blender
A Terp Blender Banger is a type very similar to a Terp Slurper Banger. It’s made specifically to create a vacuum or vortex via airflow at the bottom. A Terp Blender usually has a dish at the bottom of the Banger that has curved air grooves that create a wonderful spinning “blender” motion of the dab vapor as you inhale it. This spinning can result in the cooling of the vapor before it reaches your lungs. The swirling incoming airflow also helps to keep your extracts in the center of the banger during heating and inhalation. Terb Blenders are almost always made from Quartz.
7. Opaque Banger
Like most Dab Bangers, Opaque Bangers can vary in shape. Flat Top, Bubble or round bottom, or beveled edges just to name some examples. What sets Opaque Dab Bangers apart is that they are almost always made of Quartz, and they have a thick bottom that you cannot see through. By being thicker at the bottom with a denser quartz construction, the heat is more evenly distributed to the inside of the bucket. Similar to a hot stone that radiates heat more efficiently. This is the beginner’s choice to learn the techniques in low-temp dabbing, before advancing to Terp Slurpers or Terp Blenders.
8. Core Reactor Banger
A core reactor banger features a solid, quartz cylinder in the center of the dish/bucket. This added block of quartz provides extra heat retention in the center and a larger surface area for the concentrate to come in contact with. The core cylinder can also have heat-reactive color-changing crystals inside to help gauge the temperature level more accurately. By heating the concentrate from both the inside and outside of the extracts simultaneously, the core reactor banger allows for quicker and more thorough heating of the extracts and allows you to push huge hits through.
9. Terp Cycler Banger
A Terp Cycler Banger is a specialty dab design for large dabs and champion lungs. When heated, the melted concentrate will drip down into the cycler tube, and cause the leftover concentrate to recycle back through the heating and cooling process. These allow you to stretch your wax, and use less while creating huge dabs. When you dab off this banger it keeps recycling the dab over and over through the heated banger until every last drop is vaporized to perfection. The efficiency of this banger cannot be overstated. Due to the extra stem, these are a bit harder to clean with a cotton swab.
10. Beveled Edge Banger
A beveled edge banger has a different edge at the top of the Banger bucket. This edge allows your carb cap to seal nicely with more pressure. This pressure will allow you to dab at lower temperatures for a smoother hit. However, we think the absolute best reason to use a beveled edge banger is to use it in combination with a bubble cap, bullet cap, or other round caps. The beveled edge allows a bubble cap to move and float more smoothly while maintaining a better seal where the cap meets the Banger glass. In the photo here you will see a beveled edge banger with a female joint.
11. Round Banger / Bubble Bottom Banger
A Round Bottom Banger is very similar to a traditional Bucket Banger. The number one advantage to a round bottom banger is it is so much easier to clean. With a bucket, the corners where the sidewalls meet the bottom create a consistently difficult part to clean. With a Round bottom banger, this is solved. This design has no corners, and a cotton swab will make quick work of the round bottom cleanup. The second reason many prefer a Round Bottom Banger is the ability to cold start the dab at lower temperatures. Additionally, because of the round bottom, the extracts will naturally pool to the bottom center of the banger when heating and inhaling.
12. Double Banger
Double Bangers or Double Headed Dab Bangers are the party favorite. In most cases this is going to be designed like a traditional simple bucket banger, only double! Two buckets, One stem 😂.
These are designed to dab 2 different extracts at once, take monster-sized dabs, or share with a friend. You can also dab different extracts in different orders to really experiment with the flavor profile.
Dab Banger Angles
45° Degree Banger Joints
The stem portion of the Dab Banger will be set at a 45-degree angle. This angle of orientation is the most searched-for and most popular angle of a Banger joint. This is because a vast majority of the existing smokeware out there likely uses a 45° angle down-stem. Think about every bong you have ever owned. It most likely has a vertical vapor path, with a 45° down-stem that you would fit your bowl into. With a 45° Angle Banger, you can use most glass bongs. This makes them very popular with new users looking to enter the dab game without having to buy a completely new dab rig.
90° Degree Banger Joints
The contemporary version of a glass Dab rig will likely need a 90° joint angle. The design and style of today’s more modern Dab Rigs like the RiO from Stache Products will have a vertical female down-stem in which you can attach a 90° Quartz Banger. This just means the steam of the Dab banger will make a full 90-degree turn to point straight down. Nearly every photo in this guide demonstrates a 90° Dab Banger joint. If you have purchased a dedicated Dab Rig specifically for use with dabbing extracts, it very likely has a 90-degree bend in the stem, and requires a male joint, as seen in the example. This is the most common setup. Take a look at your dab rig to see what angle and gender you need.
How do Bangers affect the quality of Dabs?
- The cleanliness of the Dab Banger is going to directly impact the flavor of your extracts. How clean your Dab banger is will also affect how evenly your material will heat up, as well as the accuracy of its temperature. We recommend always keeping your Dab Banger clean. It just tastes so much better, so don’t be lazy. Check out this link for the Complete Guide on how to clean your Dab Banger.
- The material in the Dab Banger’s construction is going to dramatically affect every aspect of the dab you take. The material the dab banger is made of will impact the flavor, the efficiency of your extracts, the temperature you will be able to attain and sustain, as well as the overall cost of purchase.
Materials used in different Types of Bangers
Quartz Dab Bangers
Quartz is tougher than glass or ceramic and doesn’t get damaged by heat or dropping as easily. It also heats up fast and keeps its heat for longer, which means you can enjoy your vapor for a longer time. That’s why lots of people like to use Quartz Dab Bangers. Quartz is the most popular choice.
Glass Dab Bangers
When you buy a dab rig, it likely will come with a basic glass nail or banger because it is inexpensive. Glass is easy to clean and works well. But, glass can crack if it’s heated unevenly or used frequently, so it’s not the best choice for people who dab a lot.
Ceramic Dab Bangers
Ceramic is a slow-heating material that can be perfect for users who prefer to dab at low temperatures. Ceramic retains the heat for longer too. So there’s no need to frequently reheat the nail. Ceramic is more difficult to manufacture, so there are not yet a lot of options in the different types of Dab Bangers available made of ceramics.
Titanium Dab Bangers
Titanium nails are a popular choice in the cannabis community because they are very strong. Unlike glass and ceramic nails, they don’t break if you accidentally drop them, or if you heat them up too much. These features make titanium nails ideal for use with electronic dab rigs. Much like ceramic, there are not yet a lot of styles and options available in different types of Dab Bangers made of Titanium yet.
Are quartz bangers better than glass?
Yes. And that is why they are more expensive. Quartz Dab Bangers are much safer from shattering when you use them – even when exposed to very high heat. Compared to other materials, quartz is sturdy and more stable than glass, and safer than titanium. You can safely heat up the surface area of quartz bangers until they’re red hot without worrying about them exploding. If you plan on enjoying your dab experience to the max, you definitely want to upgrade from glass to quartz. Anyone that has ever had to clean up a shattered banger covered in melted extracts will not make the same mistake twice.
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Henry
This guide makes me want to start trying low-temp dabs. I just blaze up the bucket banger and drop in my dab. But I hate cleaning chazzed bangers. I am gonna go try a cold start dab right now ✌️
MC
Go get it! The low-temperature dabbing range is usually between 400-450°F. This temperature is ideal for tasting the terpenes in your extracts.