When it comes to getting your toke gear from an online head shop, two of the best websites to order from right now are Smoke Cartel and DankStop. Other than their dope names, they both have a wide array of brands and products on offer.
However, like the many different hints you can discern from strains of weed, there are also different tastes to the websites that sell them. DankStop and Smoke Cartel, for example, have completely different characteristics.
In this article we’ll talk about these unique characteristics to better help you decide which website is best for you in the Smoke Cartel vs Dankstop debate.
1. Vibes
Each site, like physical head shops, have their own vibe.
You can glean a little bit of a website’s vibes with just the color scheme. DankStop’s green and white motif, for example, invokes a pretty sanitized feeling while Smoke Cartel’s black, green, and white color combo connotes a little more chill vibe.
DankStop
It’s not just the white and green color scheme that makes DankStop look clean. It’s pretty obvious that they’re going for that vibe with the other elements on the website. The logo, for one thing, is very minimalistic.
Smoke Cartel
If you like ordering your gear at night while you’re in bed, you’re most likely going to want the dark color scheme of Smoke Cartel. When combined with your smartphone’s dark mode, it’s just a perfect scrolling-in-bed scenario.
Winner: Tie
It really depends on your taste. Or, it could also depend on your current mood. If you’re just casually browsing in the middle of the night, then Smoke Cartel’s dark theme might be better for your eyes. During the day, however, you might want the bright whites of DankStop.
2. Products
You gotta have quality merchandise to be called the best online head shop. Luckily, both these sites are loaded with these as well.
DankStop
DankStop makes their own products. You’ve got DankStop branded dab rigs, rolling papers, and everything else you can think of related to smoking. But they also carry other brands and makers.
As such, they can price their own products a little lower than the other brands such as Nucleus, Diamond Glass, and the others that they carry on their website.
Smoke Cartel
On the other hand, Smoke Cartel doesn’t have self-branded products. But they do also offer high-quality gear from other top bong brands such as GRAV, EYCE, LA Pipes, and DabTech.
Winner: DankStop
When it comes to products, having their own brand goes a long way in making DankStop the top dog in this category.
3. Delivery
Your website may look dope but at the end of the day, the product getting delivered to you is what matters most. This is why both DankStop and Smoke Cartel have great delivery options.
DankStop
DankStop ships for free within the United States. And since its base of operations is on the east coast, the states and cities nearby get first dibs on 1-day deliveries. However, if you don’t happen to fall within their range, you can expect your gear to arrive within a respectable wait time of about 3-5 business days.
But, if ever you’re not in the United States, you can still get shipping for free as long as your order exceeds $300 worth of grass and other gear.
In addition to this, all packaging from DankStop is packaged in a discreet box so nosy neighbors of housemates won’t suspect a thing, making it one of the better websites to buy a bong from. Privacy, especially these days, is a premium commodity.
Smoke Cartel
You can also expect free shipping within the United States and discreet packaging from Smoke Cartel. However, they don’t offer free international shipping.
Winner: DankStop
Dankstop’s free international shipping option is a great way to spread good quality toke.
4. Blogs and Other Resources
No one becomes an expert at anything the very first time they try their hand at it. This much is true even in weed.
So, to learn the ins and outs of the hobby, we turn to blogs. Luckily, these two have great blogs with excellent content.
DankStop
The clean-looking vibes of DankStop’s website make blog reading on it an appealing proposition. There aren’t many adverts on the sides that even news websites couldn’t let go of. It’s just you and the text which makes for a more enjoyable read.
It has a handful of interesting titles such as Beginner’s Guide to Bongs and 710 Essentials: Tools of Dab. The only problem is that the last entry was in 2019 and I don’t think they’re going to update this list any time soon.
Smoke Cartel
On the other hand, Smoke Cartel also handled the site’s readability very well. While the dark theme is still present in the logo, they thankfully left the white background untouched so everything is readable.
What’s great about it is that it looks like they’re keeping the content fresh with the up-to-date articles and quality writing. Both boxes are checked by the Smoke Cartel’s blogs.
It also has a glossary of terms that lists all the terms and definitions you might encounter in weed culture. Suffice it to say that Smoke Cartel’s blog page is a one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about smoking. That’s something you might not even be able to say about Wikipedia. Think about it.
Winner: Smoke Cartel
Keeping the content flowing is the key to a good website and since DankStop looks like they’ve forgotten this, the prize for blog goes to Smoke Cartel.
5. Navigating Through the Merchandise
One of the most important aspects of an online head shop is probably merchandise navigation. The goal is to help people find exactly what they need as quickly as possible while also showing things that they might want to pick up as well.
DankStop
Navigating through DankStop’s inventory has been excellent. It’s aided by its clean aesthetics. The products are always at the front and center which just makes you really want to click “add to cart” all the time.
The photos are also excellent. Because of the white background, the lighting is even from all angles of the product. This way, you see it in all its glory.
The filters are also intuitive. You can filter by brand, type, length, and other features.
Smoke Cartel
Going the opposite route, Smoke Cartel chose to go with the black background that makes the lighting a little uneven.
The filters are also well designed. You can filter out different types, sizes, price points like $100 or less, and other relevant categories you might be looking for. However, it curiously lacks a brand filter so you’re out of luck if you’re a loyalist of a certain brand.
Winner: DankStop
The brand filter for DankStop is an advantage. Sometimes you just want to be able to find a brand you recognize and stick with them where you can.
About Smokecartel
Smoke Cartel is a leading online retailer of smoking accessories, including glass pipes, dab rigs, vaporizers, and more. With a vast selection of high-quality products, excellent customer service, and fast shipping, Smoke Cartel has quickly become a go-to destination for smokers and vapor enthusiasts.
One of the standout features of Smoke Cartel is their wide selection of products. They offer everything from affordable, entry-level options to high-end, custom pieces from top glass artists. The website is well-organized and easy to navigate, making it simple to find exactly what you’re looking for.
In addition to their great product selection, Smoke Cartel is known for their exceptional customer service. Their team is knowledgeable and always willing to help, and they offer fast, reliable shipping so you can get your new gear as quickly as possible.
Overall, Smoke Cartel is an excellent choice for anyone looking for high-quality smoking accessories. Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or a beginner, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at this top-notch retailer.
About Dankstop
Dankstop is a popular online retailer specializing in smoking accessories and supplies. With a large selection of high-quality products, competitive prices, and excellent customer service, it’s no wonder that Dankstop has become a go-to destination for smokers and vapor enthusiasts.
One of the standout features of Dankstop is their vast selection of products, including glass pipes, dab rigs, vaporizers, and more. They offer a wide range of options, from affordable, entry-level pieces to high-end, custom pieces from top glass artists. The website is well-organized and easy to navigate, making it simple to find what you’re looking for.
In addition to their great product selection, Dankstop is known for their commitment to customer satisfaction. They offer fast, reliable shipping, and their customer service team is always available to answer any questions you may have. They also have a generous return policy, which is always a plus.
Overall, Dankstop is an excellent choice for anyone looking for high-quality smoking accessories. With their large selection of products, competitive prices, and exceptional customer service, it’s easy to see why they’re one of the most trusted names in the industry.
Overall Winner?
Much like what I’ve said about the site’s vibe, there’s a lot of subjectivity at play in determining which is a better online head shop. What’s crystal clear is that none of these two are perfect – but who is? 🙂
One can be better than the other in certain situations. Smoke Cartel, for example, has a stunning blog page that’s both entertaining and useful.
If, on the other hand, you already know what you’re looking for, DankStop’s navigation can help you find it much faster than Smoke Cartel.
