2025 Dab Torch Buying Guide: Flame

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The best dab torch in 2025 is one that gives you a steady, adjustable blue flame, burns clean butane, has real safety features, and actually fits how you dab. This dabbing guide is about choosing a torch that matches your ritual, not just the one with the loudest paint job on Instagram.

So here’s what happened.

A few years back I watched a friend try to hit a beautiful, thick glass dab rig with a five dollar gas station torch. The flame sputtered, licked the side of the banger, and turned the oil into a burnt, angry mess. That same rig, ten minutes later, on a solid butane torch with a tight blue flame, turned the exact same concentrate into something that tasted like citrus and pine.

Same rig. Same oil. Entirely different experience, all because of the torch.

That’s why I care so much about this stuff. I’ve been dabbing since around 2014, and over that time I’ve burned through cheap torches, mid range workhorses, and high end monsters that could probably solder a car frame. I test them alongside the rest of my dabbing accessories, on an oil slick pad or silicone dab mat, with real daily use, not just a couple of novelty rips.

Let’s get into what actually matters in 2025, and what is just marketing noise.

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What actually makes a great dab torch in 2025?

Look, there are four pillars that decide if a dab torch is worth your money.

• Flame control

• Fuel quality and efficiency

• Safety features

• How it fits your real life setup

If any one of those is garbage, your dabs suffer.

A good torch gives you:

• A clean, focused blue flame that does not flicker every time you move your wrist

• Enough power to heat a 25 mm quartz banger in 20 to 40 seconds

• A reliable ignition system that works on the first or second click

• A base that lets it stand up on your dab tray without feeling like it might tip onto your wax pad

In 2025, more people are mixing setups. One night it’s a hefty glass dab rig with a big quartz banger. Next session it’s a compact rig or even a hybrid with a vaporizer. Your torch has to be nimble enough to jump between all of that.

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Which flame types should you care about for dabs?

Flame type matters more than brand hype. There are three common options for dab torches.

Single jet flames

Single jet torches are the most common. One tight column of blue flame.

They are perfect if you:

• Mostly use smaller bangers or slurpers

• Prefer low temp dabs and slow, controlled heating

• Want to avoid overheating your glass

They take a bit longer to heat a big banger, but they are way more forgiving. You can circle the bottom of the banger, keep the heat even, and avoid burning a ring into one spot.

Multi jet flames (2 to 4 jets)

These are the “I’m serious about this” torches. Multiple jets converge into one brutal zone of heat.

They are great if you:

• Run larger rigs or thicker quartz

• Like doing back to back dabs with friends

• Don’t want to stand there heating for a full minute

The tradeoff is precision. A triple jet will get that banger red hot fast, which is fun until you realize you just vaporized all the terps before your lips touched the mouthpiece.

Soft flame and “cute” novelty torches

Soft flame is basically a lighter flame, not a jet. Novelty torches often hide weak jets under pretty shells.

These are fine for pipes, joints, or a bong bowl. They are not ideal for real dabbing, especially with modern thick bottom quartz. You will stall out, overheat in patches, and chase your temp forever.

If you are serious about how to dab properly, stick with a real jet torch. Even a small one.

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Should you choose butane or propane for dabbing?

This is one of those questions that always starts a small argument. I’ve tested both over years, and here’s the real talk.

Why most dabbers still choose butane

Butane torches are the standard in the dabbing world for a reason.

• Cleaner burn with high quality refined butane

• Easy to refill at home

• Tons of torch shapes and sizes available

• Better control at lower flame settings

The key is the fuel quality. Cheap butane from random gas stations can leave residues and stink. Refined butane from brands like Newport, Vector, or Colibri is noticeably cleaner. Your quartz stays clearer, and your rig does not develop that “mystery funk” as quick.

What about propane?

Propane burns hotter and is more common in hardware stores. Some people grab a small propane torch because it feels powerful and cheap.

Here is the issue.

• Propane burns hotter than needed for most quartz bangers

• It is easier to overheat and stress your glass

• The tanks and heads are bulkier

• It is overkill for a typical dab station

If you are doing glass work, or you want a garage torch that can dab and also heat metal, propane has a place. For daily dabs on a dab rig, butane wins almost every time.

Fuel efficiency and real world costs

In 2025, a good mid sized butane torch refilled with refined butane will usually cost you maybe a couple of dollars of fuel per month, even if you dab daily.

Propane is cheap per unit, but the sacrifice in control is not worth it for most people. Especially when good butane torches now are more efficient than they were back in 2016. Better valves, better nozzles, less wasted flame.

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What safety features matter most on a dab torch?

Torches are basically portable fire cannons. The safety details are not optional.

Here are the features that actually make a difference.

Flame lock and trigger safety

Two features, often confused.

• Trigger safety keeps the torch from igniting accidentally

• Flame lock keeps the flame on without holding the trigger

You want both, but you want them done right. Flame locks are great for heating a banger on a big glass rig, because you can relax your hand and focus on where the flame hits.

But you want a clear off state. A physical “click” or slide into off that you can feel, so it does not light in a bag or drawer.

Sturdy base

I am convinced half of dab torch “accidents” start with a wobbly base on a cluttered dab tray.

Look for:

• A wide, flat base that sits solidly on a dab pad or silicone dab mat

• Enough weight at the bottom that it does not tip if you bump the table lightly

Pair that with a non slip surface like an oil slick pad, and suddenly your whole dab station feels ten times safer. Flame plus gravity is not a combo you want to gamble with.

Material and heat resistance

The best torches in 2025 use metal bodies with some heat resistant polymer for grips. Fully plastic housings can warp or degrade with constant heat exposure, especially if you like heating for 40 seconds at a time.

If you feel the torch housing getting uncomfortably hot during normal use, that is a bad sign.

Certifications and build quality

Some torches now mention compliance with testing standards similar to what lighter companies use. If a brand is willing to talk about safety testing, valve quality, and leak checks, that is usually a good sign.

Cheaper unbranded torches might work great for a month, then start leaking at the fill port. I have tossed a few like that into the trash without even trying to fix them. Not worth the risk.

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How big should your torch be for your setup?

The size of your torch changes how your whole session feels. It is not just aesthetics.

Let’s break it down.

Pocket / compact torches (20 to 50 dollars)

• Best if you dab on smaller rigs or mini recyclers

• Good for travel or balcony sessions

• Easy to stash in a portable dab station setup

They often have smaller fuel tanks, so if you are doing long group sessions, you will refill more. But for personal use, they shine.

Mid size workhorses (40 to 80 dollars)

• This is where something like a Blazer style torch lives

• Enough power for big bangers and pearls

• Solid bases and better materials

If you mostly dab at home, on a proper dab tray with a dab pad under your rig, this size is the sweet spot. You get stability and power without feeling like you stole gear from a welding shop.

Large “table torches” (80 to 150 dollars)

• Big fuel chambers

• Massive flames, often multi jet

• Great for heavy use, multiple daily sessions, or groups

They can be overkill if you are only hitting a small rig occasionally. And they hog space. If your dab station already has a rig, cotton swabs, carb caps, tools, and a silicone dab mat, a giant torch might make it feel cluttered fast.

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How do you maintain and store a dab torch safely?

You do not need a whole toolkit, but a little care keeps your torch reliable for years.

Refilling the right way

Here is a quick sequence that has worked for me across dozens of torches.

1. Turn the flame adjustment all the way down.

2. Make sure the torch is completely off and cool.

3. Hold the torch upside down.

4. Press the butane can nozzle firmly into the fill valve.

5. Fill for 5 to 10 seconds until you see a bit of sputter.

6. Let the torch rest for 5 to 10 minutes before lighting, so the fuel stabilizes.

If you skip that rest period, you will sometimes get weird, choppy flames. Let the butane settle.

Clearing air and “burping”

If your flame is inconsistent, sometimes there is trapped air in the tank.

Use a small tool to briefly press the fill valve and release gas. You will hear a hiss. Then refill with high quality butane. That simple habit has “fixed” more torches for me than any other trick.

Storage and your dab station

Real talk, most people toss their torch wherever there is space. Better approach.

• Keep it upright on a stable dab pad or concentrate pad

• Do not store it right next to a hot nail or e nail coil

• Avoid leaving it in a car or direct sun, especially in summer

If you run a full setup with a dab rig, carb caps, pearls, Q tips, and a wax pad or oil slick pad, give the torch its own consistent corner. Same spot, every time. Muscle memory is a safety feature.

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How does this dab torch dabbing guide fit your setup?

Torches do not live in a vacuum. They live on cluttered coffee tables, cramped desks, garage benches, and bedside shelves. They live next to glass rigs, bongs, pipes, and sometimes next to a vaporizer that has become the “weekday option.”

So here is how I think about matching torch to lifestyle.

If your main setup is:

Solo quartz banger on a medium dab rig

• Get a mid sized butane torch with a single or double jet

• Look for a lock, a stable base, and metal body

• Price range 40 to 80 dollars

Travel and small sessions, mixed glass and a vaporizer

• Compact, single jet butane torch

• Emphasis on portability and fuel efficiency

• Price range 20 to 50 dollars

Heavy home sessions with friends, big slabs, big rigs

• Larger multi jet butane torch

• Big tank, strong base, quality brand

• Price range 70 to 120 dollars

Now layer in your surface. If you usually dab on a bare wood table, upgrade that first. A silicone dab mat or oil slick pad under your glass rig does more for your safety and sanity than an extra fancy paint job on a torch.

And if you are still figuring out how to dab properly, your money is often better spent on:

• A consistent quartz banger

• A solid dab pad or dab tray

• Good carb cap and tools

Then upgrade the torch once you know what kind of dabs you actually like. Low temp. Big clouds. Terp sips. All of that changes what you want from the flame.

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What torch should you actually buy in 2025?

If you want a simple answer you can repeat, here it is.

For most people in 2025, the best dab torch is a mid sized, metal bodied butane torch with a single or double jet, a stable base, a flame lock, a trigger safety, and a price somewhere between 40 and 80 dollars. Fill it with refined butane, park it on a dab pad beside your rig, and treat it with basic respect.

Smaller pocket torches are perfect if you bounce between rigs, a bong, and a vaporizer and want something that can do it all quietly. Bigger multi jet torches only really make sense if you are heating thick quartz all day or hosting regular seshes.

This whole dabbing guide comes down to one idea. Your torch should disappear into your ritual. It should not scare you. It should not distract you. It should just make clean, predictable heat so you can focus on flavor, friends, and the small joy of watching a perfect puddle spin across glass.

Pick the torch that fits that picture, not the one that just looks wild in a photo. Your lungs, your glass, and your concentrates will all thank you.