At this point, I think it’s safe to assume you’re familiar with the huge variety of weed carts available online.
The days of buying a simple eighth of weed are over — now the standard is to buy 1–2 gram portions of 99% pure THC over the internet.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of trash out there — products contaminated with solvents, heavy metals, research chemicals, and god knows what else.
We’ve ordered plenty of weed carts over the years and have a few recommendations for which ones we liked and didn’t like —and why.
We’ll also explore the safety of using weed carts, what different types to be aware of, red flags to watch out for while you shop, and more.
Let’s dive straight into our list of recommendations.
Related: Best 1-Gram Carts | Best THC Distillates | Best Carts (All) | Cannabis 101
Top 6 Weed Carts For 2024
Collectively, we’ve tried hundreds of different pens and can tell you with full confidence that not all weed pens are created equal — in fact most are NOT worth the money.
Here are a few that are:
1. Area 52 | Delta-8 Vape Cartridge
These carts are pretty impressive — made using premium all-glass and ceramic CCELL glass carts, standardized for any 510 threaded battery, and a delta-8 distillate that’s 97% pure (the average D8 distillate is closer to 92%).
These carts are 100% derived from natural hemp, lab-tested, and federally legal, all while retaining a very high potency — the best option for someone looking for a strong buzz (at the risk of getting couch-locked with a bag of Doritos between your legs).
Digging even deeper than this, we really dig Area 52’s ethos — they are just as much users of their own products as their customers — this means the time and effort that goes into formulation, production, and quality control are bar-none. This ethos shines through their solid return policy and excellent review history.
Product Specs:
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ingredients: Hemp-derived Delta-8 Extract, Natural Terpene Blend
- Dose: 1 mL (900mg) pure delta-8 THC
Likes & Dislikes: Area 52 Delta-8 Weed Carts:
- ✅ Exceptional build quality
- ✅ Pure hemp-derived delta-8 THC (no synthetic ingredients or sketchy noids)
- ✅ Rock-solid, NO BS return policy (30 days)
- ❌ More expensive than other brands (but you certainly get what you pay for)
Visit Area 52
2. TRE House | Live Resin Weed Cartridge
TRE House delivers again with some bomb carts, among the highest-dosed on the market. Their Live Resin Delta-8 Cartridge is a solid choice for people looking for a heavy hitter.
These are easy to use and suitable for most vape batteries (510 thread standard).
Again, the potency of these pens can’t be understated —if you have a low tolerance, this one might be a tad too strong for you.
Product Specs:
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ingredients: Hemp-derived live Resin Delta-8 THC, Proprietary Terpene Blend
- Dose: 1 full gram of Live Resin delta-8 THC
Likes & Dislikes: Tre House Delta-8 Weed Carts:
- ✅ No added chemicals or contaminants (lab-tested)
- ✅ Exceptionally potent for a delta-8 weed cart.
- ✅ Excellent brand reputation.
- ❌ Probably too strong for novice users.
Visit Tre House
3. BudPop Spiced Vanilla | THCa & Delta 8 Carts
BudPop offers “Happiness Guaranteed,” and it delivers with its Spiced Vanilla Carts.
The 1-gram cart has 500mg of delta 8, 200mg of THCa, and BudPop’s proprietary terpene blend rounding out the experience. It has a smooth pull tasting of vanilla, elevated by a touch of spice.
This cart is your best pick if you’d like something packing a stronger punch than good old delta 8. THCa isn’t psychoactive on its own, but it turns into regular THC when heated — turning this from a regular vaping experience into something designed to glue you to your couch.
BudPop is a trustworthy vendor that focuses on customer service. It has free shipping on orders over $99 and a whooping 90-day money-back guarantee. Its only hiccup is its almost ancient COAs, as the ones relating to these carts are from 2021.
Product Specs:
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ingredients: 200mg THCa, 500mg delta 8, and proprietary botanical terpene blend
- Dose: 700mg total cannabinoids
Likes & Dislikes: BudPop Spiced Vanilla Cart:
- ✅ Potent blend of cannabinoids
- ✅ Long refunding time
- ✅ Free shipping for the 3-pack option
- ❌ Outdated COAs
Visit Budpop
4. Koi CBD | THCP Vape Cart
Koi offers a wide range of weed cart options depending on what cannabinoids you’re interested in. If you like your carts as strong as possible, it’s hard to beat Koi’s THCP carts — which are made with a blend of the ultra-powerful THCP along with delta-8 THC and THC-O.
This cart is a heavy-hitter for sure —not for the faint of heart.
Product Specs:
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ingredients: THCP, Delta-8, & THC-O
- Dose: 1000 mg total cannabinoids
Likes & Dislikes: Koi THCP Weed Carts:
- ✅ Exceptionally potent (probably the strongest option on this list).
- ✅ Excellent build quality (for the price).
- ✅ Reputable brand with a wide variety of other weed cart options to choose from.
- ❌ Made with modified cannabinoids (THCP, Delta-8, and THC-O).
Visit Koi CBD
5. Moonwlkr | Delta-8 Distillate Weed Cart
Moonwlkr is a Nevada-based company that runs a white-labeling facility for several other prominent brands in the hemp-derived THC space. We had the pleasure of touring their facility a few years ago and were impressed with the team’s attention to detail and quality control.
One of my go-to weed carts is Moonwlkrs grape runts delta-8 cart. Other members of the Tripsitter team prefer the strawberry gelato. Both are great; it just comes down to personal taste preferences.
Product Specs:
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ingredients: Pure Delta-8 THC, Plant Derived Terpenes, & Natural Flavors
- Dose: 1000 mg delta 8 THC
Likes & Dislikes: Moonwlkr Weed Carts:
- ✅ Large company with complete in-house manufacturing process.
- ✅ Really good quality for the price (lower tier pricing but mid-tier quality)
- ✅ Excellent range of products to choose from.
- ❌ The cartridges themselves have a tendency to leak if stored on their side.
Visit Moonwlkr
6. 3Chi | Delta-8 Vape Cart
There are two kinds of delta-8 carts available from 3Chi; one contains 1 mL of broad-spectrum THC oil, which is 95% delta-8 and 5% strain-specific terpenes. There are quite a few strains to choose from, so you won’t get bored.
The other is their Delta-8 Focus Blend carts, which have 70% delta-8, 20% other cannabinoids, and 5% terpenes, which vary depending on the blend.
There are four to choose from:
- Focus
- Happy
- Calm
- Sooth
If you want to venture into new territory, try their delta-8 cereal treats or water enhancers.
Product Specs:
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- Ingredients: Pure Delta-8 THC & Terpene Blend
- Dose: 1000 mg delta 8 THC
Likes & Dislikes: Moonwlkr Weed Carts:
- ✅ Very low cost for a 1-gram weed cart.
- ✅ Massive selection of flavors to choose from.
- ✅ Solid brand reputation despite controversy over the years.
- ❌ Poor build quality (you get what you pay for).
Visit 3Chi
What to Look for When Buying Weed Carts
If you know your way around weed but are new to carts, picking the right one might feel tricky, but it’s pretty straightforward.
Here are some tips to help you figure out what you’re into or what to dodge.
1. Quality
It doesn’t matter what kind of cannabis product we’re discussing. Quality is always king.
Reliable carts are made of glass, stainless steel, or high-quality plastic. These are made to last and don’t have any leaks or any kind of filtration.
On the other hand, low-quality cartridges are often made of cheap plastic, are very fragile, and leak easily, making storing them a nuisance.
2. Potency
Potency is a tricky one.
No single variable determines how potent the end product will be, as even the device can make a difference in how much each puff does to you.
However, you can get an idea of how potent a vape cart is by looking for THC dosage, strain used, and, of course, reading the buyer’s reviews.
That said, we can’t talk about potency without mentioning tolerance. The more cannabis you use, the more you’ll need to get the same effect, especially if you do it daily.
To keep your tolerance in check, it never hurts to take a two-week break from all forms of THC. Depending on where you’re at, this can reset it to almost baseline levels, allowing you to take advantage of each puff.
3. Ingredients
The ingredients used in regular vape carts don’t vary too much. Most of the time, hemp extracts and terpene blends are present in product labels.
We’re witnessing a surge in cannabis products blended with additional substances, such as muscimol — the active compound in Amanita muscaria. If your goal is to enjoy a classic cannabis high, these mixtures might not be your best choice.
4. Safety & Testing
Reputable vendors will always send their products to a third-party lab for testing. This ensures both the product’s quality and your safety.
Without lab tests, there’s no real way to tell what might be inside the product you’re buying, and you’re risking it both for legality and safety.
Always prioritize products with clear labelings and attached lab test results.
Cannabinoids 101: Different Types of Weed Carts
CBD, THC, and delta-8 are all byproducts that come from cannabis plants, and they all come in the form of vape carts. However, they have vastly different qualities that make them unique.
In the following section, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the most common cannabinoids included in weed carts.
1. CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most famous non-psychoactive compound found in weed. And while it doesn’t produce a buzz, it can potentially provide a variety of positive effects.
CBD is often used for medicinal purposes, mainly related to pain, stress, and anxiety. This is a widely researched cannabinoid, and many scientific studies back its benefits [1].
There’s also evidence backing CBD as a means to help deal with insomnia or sleep apnea [2]. Moreover, many people not necessarily diagnosed with a sleep disorder use CBD, searching for its relaxing properties.
CBD-based vape carts have a high % of Cannabidiol while staying under the federal limit of 0.3% THC, and they can contain other non-psychoactive cannabinoids and terpenes that work synergistically.
2. Delta-9 THC
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the king of all cannabinoids. It’s the main culprit of weed’s psychoactive effects, and most recreational users want it in the mix.
It alters the neurotransmitters in our brains that control our mood, senses, and appetite [3].
While THC is considered illegal federally, there are states where they won’t prosecute or investigate you over it. Still, if you want to avoid trouble, there is another option, which we’ll discuss next.
Related: Best Delta-9 THC Carts | Best Delta-9 Gummies |
3. Delta-8 THC
Delta-8 THC is an isomer of delta-9 THC, which means it’s a chemical that has lots in common with regular THC. The only difference is the location of the molecule’s double carbon bond — which can be found on the eight-carbon chain rather than the 9th. This is what determines the “8” on its name versus the “9” in delta-9 THC.
Although this little chemical difference may appear not to matter too much, it does.
While delta-8 is psychoactive, the high is much milder than delta-9’s — about 50% as potent as its close cousin. Anecdotally, the experience is often described as a more sedative buzz (stronger couch-lock) —however, we haven’t found much difference at the same intensity of effects.
We doubt delta-8 would be so present in the market if it wasn’t for this one reason: The 2018 Farm Bill has made hemp-derived products under 0.3% delta-9 THC legal.
Related: Best Delta-8 Carts | Best Delta-8 Gummies | Best Delta-8 Pre-Rolls
4. HHC
HHC (hexahydrocannabidiol) is another form of THC — this time, instead of moving the double carbon bond to another part of the molecule, HHC removes it entirely.
Through a process called hydrogenation, the double bond is broken and replaced with 2 additional hydrogen atoms. This doesn’t change the effects much, but cuts into the potency slightly (HHC is roughly 10–20% weaker than delta-9 THC).
The major benefits of this cannabinoid are its legality in some states where weed remains prohibited, as well as its shelf stability.
Related: Best HHC Carts | HHC vs. THC
Disposable Pens vs. Vape Carts
When speaking of vaping concentrates, two main forms come to mind: disposable pens and vape cartridges.
Disposable vapes come in the form of pens, already filled and charged. They last up until the battery dies or the concentrate runs out.
Vape carts, on the other hand, are containers filled with an extract that you can then load onto your vape (also known as a cart battery).
Although disposable vapes can be a quick fix and are excellent for those exploring the world of vaped cannabis concentrates, we believe vape carts and a battery are worth the investment in the long run.
Related: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Disposable Vape Pens.
Why Choose Carts Over Flowers or Edibles?
There are many reasons why you may choose carts over flowers, practicality being arguably the main one. They’re small, portable, and discreet. You can take them around almost anywhere, and they’re nowhere as skunky as a joint.
They also tend to last a lot longer than most other weed products due to the concentrated THC within the cart and their high bioavailability. For most people, that’ll be somewhere between one or two weeks.
Overall? It’s a good choice for a quick and hassle-free buzz.
FAQs: Weed Carts
Here’s a little more information about weed carts if you still have questions.
1. Are vape pens completely safe?
Although vaping isn’t as harmful as smoking, it’s still not the healthiest way to use weed. If you’re looking to minimize health risks, edibles may be a better option.
2. What should I look out for if it’s my first cart?
If it’s your first time, we suggest you take it easy at first. A puff or two is often enough to feel some effects. Some vape carts are very potent and could get you beyond the sweet spot if you overdo it, especially if you don’t have lots of experience.
3. Are vape carts legal?
Vape carts are federally legal as long as they’re made out of a cannabis plant containing less than 0.3% D9 THC. This makes D8 vape carts legal on a federal level, but many states have their own regulations. Make sure to check your local legislation before purchasing any kind of cannabis product.
4. What types of cannabinoids can be found in vape carts?
Vape carts can contain various cannabinoids, including CBD, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, delta-10 THC, THCP, and THCA. Each cannabinoid offers different effects and potency levels.
5. How can I ensure my vape cart doesn’t leak?
To prevent leaks, store your vape cart upright and avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures. Additionally, choosing high-quality carts with good seals and solid construction can reduce the risk of leakage.
References
- Rapin, L., Gamaoun, R., El Hage, C., Arboleda, M. F., & Prosk, E. (2021). Cannabidiol use and effectiveness: real-world evidence from a Canadian medical cannabis clinic. Journal of cannabis research, 3(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00078-w
- Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal, 23, 18–041. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041
- Bloomfield MA, Ashok AH, Volkow ND, Howes OD. The effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the dopamine system. Nature. 2016 Nov 17;539(7629):369-377. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature20153
