When you hear the word “bong,” it makes you think of pot-smoking hippies. What’s even worse than that is the term “vaping,” which is mostly associated with those cloud-chasing Juul addicts. But the Dr. Dabber Switch is meant for neither of those crowds. In fact, this water vape device is easily the fastest and most efficient desktop vape I’ve tried so far (including the MiniNail, Volcano, and several others). While the others hit well, Switch does it harder, better, faster, stronger. And it’s not a desktop — it’s actually portable.
Before we jump in, I have to give a shoutout to Vapor.com for providing the Switch to me. A lot of the vape companies are happy to work with me, but some of them fall through. These guys are a third-party marketplace that sells all the latest vaping gear. After digging through their inventory, I convinced them to send me three vape devices that were high on my wishlist.
The Dr. Dabber Switch is steady at the top of that list, and it hasn’t disappointed yet. Let’s dig into the specs of this machine to find out why.
Dr. Dabber Switch Construction and Design
Sleek on the outside, the Dr. Dabber Switch is much smaller than your average water bong, even with the bubbler attached. Complaints at Digital Trends are vastly blown out of proportion by somebody who clearly doesn’t use cannabis daily. I’ve never had complaints with being too big. It’s also very easy to use, with only four buttons on the body.
Pressing the + and — keys sets the temperature, and the bottom switch (which gives the device its namesake) has the same leaf and oil symbols used throughout Dr. Dabber’s branding. Simply switch to the side that matches what you put in the heating chamber to turn the device on and move it back to center to shut it off.
While on, pressing up and down changes the color while also lighting the side to correspond with which level it’s set on. Pick the heat level you prefer (I tend towards higher heats but do understand the love of low-heat vaping) and press the grey button in the middle with the Dr. Dabber logo to start the heating process. The LED lights are also used to show battery life and operational status.
The ceramic-coated metal chambers (incorrectly labeled simply “metal cups” by Digital Trends) come in two colors — black for loose leaf, and white for oil. I accidentally put oil in the black chamber, and it worked fine. They’re the same basic thing, though probably rated for different temps. From there, it’s heated by a sealed coil induction system that’s the fastest-heating vape device I’ve ever seen. Within seconds, it lights up green, even at the highest heat setting. I thought I was high when it was already ready.
Dr. Dabber Switch Usability and Accessories
Like most Dr. Dabber gear, the Switch comes in a carrying case that’ll make you feel like you’re a roadie helping the band. And this one is big, but that’s what’s needed to keep everything intact. The bulk of the Switch’s weight is dues to the 33.3 watt-hour battery, which lasts up to 100 cycles on a full charge, according to the website. I got 90 on mine, and Digital Trends claims it’s closer to 75 on their model. And it can be used while plugged in if the battery is dead.
The Dr. Dabber Switch comes with a ton of accessories, from a silicon-lined borosilicate glass bubbler and dab tool/carb accessory to a silicone oil holder and silicone-lined tweezers for placing and removing the cup. Each piece is sturdy and well-made, although I do wish there were something smaller I could store it all in.
Still, the Switch has the same size chamber as the Hydrology9 from Cloudious9, but it heats up so fast, you can take two-three massive bong rips from the Switch in the time it takes for Hydrology9 to heat up. And these were very clean, dependable hits every time. This is easily the fastest vape pen on the market of its size (although Airvape X is pretty impressive in its own right).
Of course, this is a $400 vaping device, so it’s certainly not cheap. Even if you only break the bubbler, you’re going to end up paying $75 for a new one. You’ll definitely want to go through the process of keeping everything clean, which is made easier by a cleaning mode.
Dr. Dabber Switch Final Thoughts
Dr. Dabber’s Switch is a top-tier vaping rig and one of the best ways to consume either concentrate or flower cannabis (or any other herbs for that matter). It has customized settings, simple and intuitive interface, and a sleek design that doesn’t look out of place in your living room or kitchen, once you remove the bubbler.
It’s a portable device that’s as big as a desktop device, but it heats up faster than any of them. If you’re a cannabis connoisseur like I am, this is a must-have vaping device. If you’re just a casual user, $400 is a big ask. I would definitely keep these around if I were a dispensary or distributor in the business, because it’ll certainly work well at a Cannabis Cup or other cannabis events.
Overall, if you can afford it, Switch is the best portable water vape device, not only in Dr. Dabber’s collection, but that I’ve seen so far. This is due to three major factors:
- Unmatched heating speed
- Sleek design
- Ability to take massive hits
Final Grade: A-