Boundless Terp Pen & Terp Pen XL Review

Background

Concentrates are a material that can be consumed in a myriad of ways and these ways can either be quite complex or quite simple. The Boundless Terp Pen and Terp Pen XL (visit store) focus on the latter.

The Terp Pen XL is an upgraded version of the original Terp pen that was released in 2019. They are both draw-activated Honey Straws that can also be used as an eRig. But the XL comes with a few added features, like a redesigned ceramic coil, larger battery, and variable voltage.

One of the best things about this product is certainly its size and design. While the $90 Puffco Plus (review) and the $100 Dr. Dabber Stella (review) are sleek as well, the Terp Pen and Terp Pen XL certainly beat them in price- at $30 and $60. These prices are definitely pretty good for this device – it was made for quick, easy and very discreet concentrate vaping.

Compatibility: Both the Boundless Terp Pen XL and the Terp Pen are compatible with THC/CBD Wax, Shatter, Honey, and other solid-type concentrates. I used it with CBD dab from Steve’s Goods, which is available to ship anywhere in the US.

Design and Features

Minimalism seems to be a new design trend amongst Vaporizer brands, with most devices today featuring clean lines, sleek shapes, and muted or dark colors. The Boundless Terp Pen and Terp Pen XL are no exemption. The Terp Pen is made with stainless steel and has a matte, almost rubber coating. The slightly larger Terp Pen XL is made with the same material and comes in either a steel finish or in the same matter rubber coating. 

Like I mentioned earlier, it’s a pretty straightforward device- so it also only has a few key parts. Less moving pieces mean less wear and tear. And that’s a good thing especially when you wanna bring your pen around. Cleaning the device is also pretty simple since the device is quite modular. Everything is easy to screw back on or attach magnetically. To clean, simply disassemble and wipe them down with isopropyl alcohol (buy on amazon), and let dry before reassembly. 

The key components of the Boundless Terp pens are;

• Mouthpiece: Both devices have a tapered medical grade stainless steel mouthpiece, but differ in size – the Terp Pen has a 10mm mouthpiece, while The XL has a 14mm mouthpiece. They also fit securely in the same sized water pipes, like these ones from Higher Standards.
• Coil: The original Terp Pen has an exposed ceramic coil, while the XL has a significantly larger coil- allowing you to consume more of your dab in a single session. The Terp Pen XL has a Dual Ceramic Coil that produces intense and dense clouds. You can either put a dab onto the coil or use it as a honey dabber to directly heat the wax on a dabbing tool or a concentrate jar.
• Concentrate Storage: Both Terp pens have a magnetically screwed quartz storage jar that covers the exposed coils. Being made of quartz means that the jar doesn’t get too hot even if you’re dipping directly into it. It’s also quite convenient to be able to bring around enough material for a session or two to have throughout the day.
• Battery: These devices differ greatly in battery power. The original Terp Pen has a 300mAH battery that lasts for about 10, 10-second puffs on its single heat setting. While the XL has a 700mAh battery, that lasts 40-50 puffs, depending on which of its three temperature settings you use.

The Pens each have a button located above the micro-USB charging port. Tapping the sensor twice shows battery level, indicated by a small LED light. On the Terp Pen XL, you’ll have to tap the touch sensor on the XL to cycle through the 3 heat settings. However, the sensor seems to respond to any sort of pressure, and not just your finger – so check your device at each use to be sure. Both pens have an auto-shutoff feature, turning off the device when it’s idle for 10 seconds. 

Performance & Vapor Quality

The Boundless Terp Pen and Boundless Terp Pen XL have almost the same loading and use options. The Terp Pen XL simply had the added step of choosing your desired voltage. One thing I found intriguing with the device is that, because it has an exposed coil- there’s a good number of loading options to pick from. You can either use a dip the device directly in the material or use the dab tool and have either a cold load or a hot load.

Like the traditional dab, a hot load will give you a more potent hit, while a cold load (loading the concentrate and then inhaling) gives you more flavor and less vapor.  Since the XL has a bigger coil, it’ll consume a bit more wax- so I recommend using it with the dab tool for more control. 

Not all draw-activated devices are created equal, some devices have more drag resistance than others and heat up a little slower. Boundless did a pretty great job here, engineering the Terp Pens to heat almost instantly and very smoothly. Inhaling from it is as natural as breathing. Vapor quality on the original Terp Pen is actually pretty good for its size and price. While it does have a single heat setting – it heats your material very efficiently. The vapor is smooth, flavorful, and not too light. 

The Terp Pen XL builds on this efficiency and heats up to its three settings just as well. If you’re after more flavor, I’d highly recommend a cold load the lowest setting. While if you’re looking for denser vapor, a hot load on the highest setting is the way to go. Although if you’re not too used to it, it might irritate your throat.

Water Filtration

When using the device as an eRig, simply flip the pen over and insert the mouthpiece on the downstem of your water pipe. and load directly onto the coils. The mouthpiece on the Terp Pen fits 10mm rigs, while the Terp Pen XL fits 10-14mm rigs. Adding water filtration to the experience is pretty great since water cools and rids the vapor of any irritants or impurities. 

Bottom Line

Both devices, especially at their very affordable price points, make them a very worthwhile purchase. Especially if you’re looking for a device to start vaping concentrates with. The vapor is clean, controlled, and smooth, and while it’s not as powerful as some of these premium vape pens.

The Terp Pen may not have the longest battery life, but it makes up for that by charging quickly. If you want something that lasts longer, the Terp Pen XL isn’t that much bigger, but it is $20 more. Both are really versatile and straightforward vaporizers that work great for both outdoor and indoor vaping.

A pen that also functions as an eRig is quite a hard find in the below $100 range. If you’re in the market for something less basic and are looking to upgrade, check out the  KandyPens Crystal (Review).