Best HHC Vape Carts – Top 4 Cartridges Review in 2023

Illustration for Best HHC Vapes Carts
Written by Livvy Ashton | Last updated: November 7, 2023

The hemp scene and cannabis-derived products have come a long way since the introduction of the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp plants and their derivatives.

Technological advancements and the inborn curiosity of entrepreneurs have led to experimenting with different analogs of THC, such as delta 8 and delta 10 THC. These products are theoretically legal on a federal level, so users can enjoy psychoactive effects without getting into trouble with law enforcement.

Now another novel cannabinoid has emerged — hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). It’s a hydrogenated (hardened) version of THC that possesses several unique qualities that make it particularly appealing to those who are looking for a cannabinoid with a longer shelf-life.

The HHC vapes are the fastest way to enjoy the effects of this ingredient, as it enters your bloodstream directly through the lung tissue.

Keep reading this guide to learn about the best HHC vapes on the market, how to choose one, and the 101 about HHC.

Top 4 Best HHC Infused Vape Carts

  • Area 52 – Best HHC Vape Cartridges Overall, Editor’s Pick
  • Finest Labs – Best-tasting HHC Vapes
  • Delta Extrax – Most Potent
  • Exhale Wellness – Best Variety

1. Area 52

Get 15% off all Area 52 products. Use code “CFAH” at checkout.

Area 52 is a Nevada-based company that focuses on extracting unique cannabinoids from hemp and infusing them into some evergreen cannabis formats, such as tinctures, edibles, and vape carts.

The Area 52 vapes feature 900 mg (will fill that later) of HHC in total, ensuring a potent cognitive experienced spiced up with natural plant-derived terpenes. You can choose from a variety of strain-specific flavors, such as Super Sour Diesel, Wedding Cake, and Northern Lights. All these strains produce different effects based on your preferences; they can be focused more on the mind, such as mood elevation and happiness, or provide deep physical relaxation and relief from different kinds of discomfort.

What separates Area 52 from other HHC manufacturers is that the brand has partnered with some of the largest leading extraction and testing centers in the US to analyze the final product for purity and potency accurately. Area 52 uses a process that doesn’t require the use of toxic heavy metals.

The Area 52 HHC vapes are made with cannabiripsol, which is a naturally occurring isomer in Cannabis sativa.

2. Finest Labs

Finest Labs is a relatively new brand offering a broad selection of delta 8 THC vape carts and an even more impressive range of terpenes for users who want to create their cannabis blends.

After succeeding with its line of delta 8 THC extracts, the company has joined other innovative manufacturers, pursuing HHC products. The company currently offers HHC prerolls, gummies, and best-selling vape carts.

These cartridges are available in a wide range of varieties. Each of these vape carts has a different aroma and effect profile, from Sativa to Indica, and hybrid strains.

What I like the most about these vapes is that they use plant-derived terpenes instead of artificial flavorings and colorings, which actually recreates the experience of vaping real cannabis resin oil.

Finest Labs also provides batch-specific certificates of analysis for its HHC extract. Each batch is thoroughly tested for potency and purity using high-performance gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

3. Delta Extrax

If you’re looking for a reputable brand that provides a versatile selection of different cannabinoids, you’ve come to the right place.

Delta Extrax has recently released HHC carts as their latest development. They come in two different flavors — Blue Widow (Sativa-dominant hybrid) and Cherry Pie (balanced hybrid). Each HHC vape cart contains a blend of HHC distillate and naturally occurring terpenes.

The results of the independent tests show no signs of pesticides, fertilizers, mycotoxins, solvents, and heavy metals, so they’re free from any dangerous ingredients. The company recommends starting with two puffs for the optimal dosage if you’re a beginner.

Unfortunately, the range of flavors looks pale compared to Area 52 and Finest Labs. I’d like to see more options in the future because the taste is spot-on.

4. Exhale Wellness

Exhale Wellness specializes in cannabinoid-infused vapes that are made with a blend of pure distillate and natural terpenes; there’s no vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, or MCT oils that could potentially do more harm than good to your health.

You can enjoy three different flavor options, such as Sour Candy, Pineapple Express, and Purple Space — all of which use different cannabis strains, providing various effects for the mood, focus, and creativity, and inducing feelings of relaxation for the body and mind.

How We Chose the Best HHC Vapes

We took the time and effort to put together this list of the best HHC vapes from reputable hemp manufacturers. The ranking is based on our research, personal experience, and verified customer reviews.

We always dive in deep and consider factors such as product ingredients, third-party testing, extraction methods, and hemp sources to ensure that these products are safe.

Furthermore, we narrow down our list of the best HHC vapes vendors according to their availability online and in the local market.

We used the following criteria:

Transparency

The way hemp brands communicate with consumers is paramount when it comes to gaining trust. People tend to put more trust in companies that broadly describe their activity, manufacturing methods, third-party testing practices, etc.

The most important factor here is third-party testing. Hemp companies have the option to send samples of their products to an independent laboratory for content analysis. Suppose a product is pure and contains the declared amount of the active ingredient. In that case, it receives a certificate of analysis, which is a form of a lab report listing the desired parameters.

The presence of foreign materials such as pesticides or heavy metals is harmful to humans, so it’s best to purchase from companies that can prove the purity of their products.

Reputation

Some of these brands may sound familiar to you if you’ve previously had some experience with THC and CBD-based vape products. That being said, you might not know all of the companies that you come across on the way to buying HHC vapes.

When searching for the best HHC vape carts, look for companies that have already established their position in the hemp market; they’re more likely to provide you with top-shelf HHC products.

Potency

The potency of your HHC vape is another important factor because HHC is about 20–30% less potent than THC. Therefore, if your tolerance to THC is already high, you may need a larger amount to experience the desired effects. That being said, the potency of HHC isn’t the only determinant; some terpenes can intensify the psychedelic potential effect of THC, making lower doses stronger than with a product containing a different bouquet of aromas.

Strain Variety

The basic categorization of cannabis strains includes the division between Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid strains. Some users claim that Sativa products are more stimulating, while Indica is more relaxing. Hybrids, on the other hand, should provide you with the best of both worlds — but in different ratios depending on the proportions between Indica and Sativa. However, the hybridization of cannabis strains that we have today makes it difficult to judge the effects by simply looking at these 3 labels. Again, the terpene profile of your strain will suggest the direction in which the effects may come.

Ingredients

HHC vapes are appealing format because they combine an enjoyable form of consumption with high bioavailability and a fast onset of effects. Unfortunately, too many vape cartridges come infused with potentially dangerous ingredients, such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, or MCT oil.

When consumed orally or topically, these ingredients are relatively safe, but when heated and inhaled, they can deliver toxic compounds to your lungs, increasing the risk of lung diseases such as lipid pneumonia.

When searching for the best HHC vape carts, make sure your vendor uses only two ingredients: HHC distillate and a terpene blend.

What to Know When Buying HHC Carts for the First Time

Okay, so if you’re buying HHC vapes for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions in mind. Don’t worry, it’s not rocket science; all you need to do is pay attention to the four main variables that can make or break your experience with HHC.

Dosage & Strength

Dosage means the amount of HHC you intend to vape. With vape carts, the amount of HHC I measured in milligrams, can be translated into puffs using instructions from the manufacturer.

For example, some carts contain 900 mg of HHC, while others have 1200 mg or more.

Users with a low tolerance should start with 5–12 mg of HHC; medium tolerance hits the 12–30 mg range; anything above 60 mg is considered a strong dose.

Vape pens have different voltages, so they use different strengths to heat oils. For one vape, the ideal dose may be 2-3 puffs, while others will call for 4 puffs to achieve the desired effect.

Hemp Source

Hemp source means a lot for the quality of your HHC vape carts. That’s because hemp is a dynamic bioaccumulator; in other words, it can draw up every substance from its surroundings. The best HHC vape carts are made with non-GMO, pesticide-free hemp that has been tested in a third-party laboratory for purity.

Price

HHC isn’t cheap to produce. There are two reasons for it. First, it doesn’t appear in hemp in substantial quantities, so manufacturers need to use complex procedures to extract a usable amount of HHC. There’s also the aspect of lab-testing, which is more demanding than with CBD or delta 8 THC products. If you see a company advertising itself as “the best HHC vapes on the market” while selling suspiciously cheap products, it’s a red flag because no company would sell you a premium product at a loss.

Customer Reviews

Last but not least, look into the customer reviews to check your brand’s reputation. The more positive reviews on third-party websites, the better for the company’s transparency. On the other hand, low-quality brands have little to no online presence or many negative reviews from verified purchasers.

What Is HHC?

HHC is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that you can find in deficient concentrations in the cannabis pollen, but we can now have more of it thanks to science.

HHC is made by hydrogenating delta 9 THC by using the same process as margarine manufacturers use to produce it from loose seed oils.

Due to the different availability of carbons in its chain, the potency of HHC is somewhere between delta 8 and delta 9 when it comes to its psychoactive effects.

There’s also an option to produce HHC from the terpene Citronellol, but the end product is non-synthetic.

Although some online stores offer HHC, it’s best to do your own research and follow recommendations from other users because there are plenty of scammers out there. It may take the next two years until we see this cannabinoid rolling into the market at full potential and speed.

How Is HHC Different from THC?

HHC is just THC in its hydrogenated form. When it comes to potency, it’s around 20% less potent than THC, with some studies suggesting that it might be stronger. Otherwise, these two cannabinoids are virtually identical.

Related: HHC vs. Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC

So, when you consume HHC, you may expect euphoria, giggles, a boost of appetite, alteration in time perception, sharpened senses, and deep relaxation.

In doses that breach the user’s sensitivity to HHC, the cannabinoid may cause feelings of anxiety and paranoia, and an increase in heart rate.

Is HHC Legal?

That depends on who you ask.

On a federal level, hemp and all its derivatives are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill as long as they contain no more than 0.3% of delta-9-THC in dry mass.

However, regulatory bodies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) claim that despite being found naturally in hemp, HHC is illegal because it requires the use of various chemicals to be extracted in usable amounts.

So, the truth about the legal status of HHC is that the cannabinoid remains in legal limbo for now. As always, check out your state’s regulations regarding HHC and other “tetrahydrocananbinols” to better understand its legality.

What Are the Benefits of HHC?

One of the most noteworthy benefits of HHC is its stability. It has a longer shelf-life than THC due to being hydrogenated. On top of that, HHC is able to bind with various and more receptors in the body because it has more carbon chains.

As for its medicinal benefits, there’s still much to be researched. In fact, we can only judge them by looking at the health benefits of THC.

Since HHC has around 80% of THC’s potency, it can be used to help relieve anxiety, promote more restorative sleep, curb inflammation, alleviate nausea and vomiting — all of this with a lower incidence of anxiety and paranoia.

HHC may also cause changes in heart rate, body temperature, and alter your headspace. Its effect profile is more focused on relaxation rather than stimulation when it comes to psychoactive potency, so it may ease the mind and remove tension from your body.

What Are the Side Effects of HHC?

As with any psychoactive compound, side effects may occur, especially if you take too much HHC.

Similar to THC, hexahydrocannabinol may cause you to experience:

  • Increased heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Confusion
  • Problems with motor coordination
  • Short-term memory issues

The good news is that you can’t fatally overdose on cannabinoids because they don’t interfere with the brain stem area responsible for controlling respiratory functions. That said, always remember to use HHC and other versions of tetrahydrocannabinol responsibly. There’s always a risk of forming bad habits around your use, which may result in a cannabis use disorder (CUD).

Where to Buy HHC Vapes

HHC is a relatively new cannabinoid, so it’s unlikely that you’ll find it in your local dispensary. Many companies are still trying to figure out safe extraction methods that wouldn’t involve using toxic solvents and heavy metals.

Therefore, the best place to look for HHC vapes is the internet. Shopping for HHC vape carts online comes with a few perks, such as better prices, regular discounts, better product selection, and more opportunities for doing research on your potential vendor.

Every time you browse HHC vapes from different brands, ask for certificates of analysis with results for potency and purity. These should be batch-specific so that you know the results refer to your product.

HHC Dosage: How Much to Use for the First Session

Since HHC has just hit the hemp market, no official dosage guidelines or charts are in place. You can use the instructions from the manufacturer or follow similar dosage patterns of delta 8, delta 10, and THC-O products.

Here’s a basic dosing guide based on the tolerance to HHC

  • Beginners (low tolerance): 5 mg – 12 mg per use
  • Intermediate users (medium tolerance): 12 mg – 30 mg per use
  • Seasoned users (high tolerance): 30 – 60 mg+ per use

The pattern is the same with HHC tinctures, HHC vapes, and other HHC-infused items. HHC produces similar psychoactive effects to those found in regular delta-9 THC products, but with a stronger body high and heady relaxation.

It’s best to start at the lower end of the dosage range if this is your first time using HHC vapes. You can gradually increase the amount from there until you find your sweet spot.

The Perfect Dosage for HHC Vapes

Because HHC vapes provide high bioavailability, they act faster than other products, provide stronger effects, and last for only 3 hours.

It’s difficult to gauge the number of milligrams in each puff because people have different inhaling techniques. Some users take deeper puffs, while others like to take a few short inhales instead.

In addition, the wattage of your vape battery controls the amount of vapor released each time you take a puff. That’s why the typical dosage of HHC vapes is determined by the number of puffs rather than milligrams.

  • Entry dose: one small puff
  • Psychoactive dose: One or two puffs
  • Highly psychoactive dose: three puffs or more

Factors Determining the Optimal Dosage for HHC Vapes

Individual Tolerance

As mentioned previously, HHC uses similar mechanisms of action to delta 9 THC, providing a stronger high than delta 8 or delta 10. Before deciding on the dose, think about your tolerance to THC because it will determine your reaction to HHC. Even if you’ve used other cannabinoids before, always start slowly when introducing new compounds to your body.

In other words, even if you’re a regular delta 8 THC user, it’s better to start with half of the recommended dose when vaping HHC for the first time. However, the higher your tolerance for THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids, the more HHC you’ll be able to tolerate.

The Person’s Comfort Level

Because HHC has intoxicating properties, the optimal dose for each individual depends on how comfortable the person is with such effects. You may not want to go overboard since you aim for a moderate buzz. But, if you feel good enough with the psychoactive high, you can go for stronger dosages.

The HHC Delivery Method

As I said, different consumption methods offer different levels of bioavailability. For example, with oral products such as HHC-infused gummies, you’re getting 20% of the ingested content at best. With tinctures, this figure rises to 35%. Vapes, in turn, offer the highest bioavailability because up to 56% of the inhaled cannabinoids end up in your bloodstream.

The Type of Strain Inhaled

The effects of HHC vapes depend on the type of strain you’re using. Without terpenes, the effect profile of cannabinoids would be bland. If you’re vaping a Sativa-dominant hybrid with citrus fruits and pines scents, you may expect a more heady, stimulating buzz. Sweet and earthy notes, especially those from Indica strains, may produce the opposite effects, inducing relaxation and sleepiness. Finally, there’s an entire spectrum of effects in between depending on the specific blend of terpenes. The rule of thumb is that you should choose your strains based on which aromas and flavors you find the most appealing.

How to Use an HHC Vape Cart

Here are the basic instructions for using HHC vapes:

  • Charge the battery of your vape pen.
  • Screw the HHC cart to your device.
  • Press the power button.
  • Inhale for 2-3 seconds.
  • Exhale the vapor.

Always keep your vape pen upright and store it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight or direct sources of heat.

Since different brands have different instructions, follow the cart’s manual for the best results.

How Long Does It Take for the Effects to Kick In?

When you vape HHC, the cannabinoid travels to your bloodstream through the lungs, avoiding the first-pass metabolism in the liver. As a result, the effects kick in faster than with HHC tinctures and gummies.

Usually, you should feel the first effects within 5 minutes from inhalation — with peak psychoactive effects after one hour.

After 3-4 hours, the high should wear off.

Summarizing the Best HHC Vapes

Besides a similar psychoactive profile, HHC has some unique benefits, such as a longer shelf-life and a lower incidence of anxiety and paranoia from using too much.

According to anecdotal evidence, HHC doesn’t show up on a drug test, but this has yet to be confirmed by large-scale studies.

HHC carts are undoubtedly more discreet than smoking a preroll. Moreover, based on the selected dosage and overall potency, you need as little as a few puffs to feel the cart’s effects.

Several brands focus on HHC vapes, but our list is made of the most reputable manufacturers whose products focus on integrity, purity, and natural ingredients.

Factors such as third-party lab testing, extraction method, hemp source, potency, and pricing are important parameters to look at when shopping for the best HHC cart. With sufficient information at hand, you can make an educated decision and avoid scammers.

Livvy is a registered nurse (RN) and board-certified nurse midwife (CNM) in the state of New Jersey. After giving birth to her newborn daughter, Livvy stepped down from her full-time position at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey. This gave her the opportunity to spend more time writing articles on all topics related to pregnancy and prenatal care.

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