KandyPens Oura vs Puffco Peak Pro

Background

Vaping dabs have thankfully evolved way past the old torch and nail. Torches were more than just a fire hazard, they burnt material to such high and imprecise temperatures that wasted terpenes and cannabinoids. Portable dab rigs are now such a popular category of extract vaping that nearly every manufacturer has one in their product line.

The Puffco Peak was the first one out of the gate, revolutionizing extract vaping by being an all-in-one device. In the simplest of terms- it was the first device that could be held in your hand like a bong and provided an intense vaping experience. Allowing users to draw powerful vapor at the push of a single button. The Peak has since then been upgraded as the Peak Pro (review | buy) – with a whole host of new features like an accompanying smartphone app that allowed real-time temperature control, wireless and USB-C charging, an improved ceramic bowl, and a better carb cap.

In July 2019, California-based brand KandyPens followed suit and released the KandyPens Oura. A device that mirrored the same maximalist design as the rest of KandyPens product line-up and featured a body made from zinc-alloy, a 3000mAH battery, a quartz and a ceramic atomizer, four preset temperature levels, and haptic feedback.

At half the price of the Peak Pro, and with similar functions- it’s worth it to compare and contrast these two devices to see if the Peak Pro is really worth the $$$ or if the Oura is a worthy replacement. Both devices are compatible with wax, dab, and other solid concentrates. I tested mine with Girl Scout Cookies CBD wax from Steve’s Goods and THC wax from my local dispensary.

Kit and Accessories

Both the Peak Pro and the Oura have similar kits and they both have carrying cases that both do a fine job of protecting the devices in transport. The Peak’s case is geometrically shaped and snaps closed with magnets while the Oura’s case is designed a bit more like a traditional travel case with zipper closures.

The entire Peak Pro kit contains:

• Puffco Peak Pro
• Loading tool
• Cotton swabs
• Silicone tether for the Carb cap
• USB-C Charger
• Instruction manual.

Optional accessories for the Peak Pro include a wireless charger / Power Dock (buy) for $120 and an optional Travel Kit (buy) which contains a silicone storage for cleaning and dabbing tools, an angled silicone mouthpiece, and a tether for the carb cap.

The KandyPens Oura kit contains:

• KandyPens Oura
• Quartz crystal atomizer
• Ceramic atomizer
• Carb cap + tether
• Dab tool
• USB-C charging cable
• Four Cotton swabs
• Carrying bag

The Oura’s accessories aren’t as technologically oriented as the Peak’s, but they are very signature to KandyPens. There’s a range of multi-colored and differently shaped glass attachments, and carb caps available to purchase directly on the KandyPens website. Use our code TVG25 for 25% off your total bill on check-out.

Design and Features

Both the Oura and Peak Pro measure 7 inches tall, and only differ by half an inch in diameter – at 2.5in and 3in, respectively. Based on looks alone, the Oura is more loudly designed- featuring a bulbous bubbler with rounded curves. While the Peak resembles its namesake, a sharp angular mountain peak.

The Oura’s body is crafted from a durable zinc alloy shell and while the Oura remains in line with KandyPen’s artistic aesthetic- it’s probably the most muted one they have. Regardless, it’s still a standout because of the handmade glass bubbler. Another way that the Oura stands out is through the use of a touch sensor instead of a button. The tactility of a button is then replaced with haptic feedback and the LED ring that surrounds the button.  The LED ring also lights up to indicate your selected temperature.

At its height and width, holding the Oura with one hand is a breeze, although the placement of the button could definitely be improved. Since it’s located underneath the atomizer, accidentally swiping the button happens more often than not. But other than that, the Oura is very user-friendly and switching between the two provided atomizers is a no-brainer.

The Peak Pro features three main components- the glass, the base, and the coil. The glass component is made from hand-blown, heat-resistant, borosilicate glass with percolation water filtration, for a smooth hit at every turn. The minimalist style and the frosted inner cone complement the entire device design. The glass attachment also easily snaps in and out of the base to make storage and cleaning much easier.

Other than making the entire device more stable – the wide base also houses the app-controlled LED lights. Located at the front of the base is the firing button (under the coil) and has the Puffco logo at the back, as well as the USB-C charging port. It also has an LED ring at the button which indicates the current temperature setting and device status.  

Battery

The Oura’s battery doesn’t differ much from other e-rigs and is at the standard capacity of 3000mAH. It’s good for roughly 28-30 dabs, depending on which temperature settings you choose. It charges via the accompanying USB-C cable in just about an hour. To check the current battery status, simply hold down on the sensor for 5 seconds.

The Peak’s battery is good for 30 dabs, which is similar to the Oura. However, it takes much longer to fully charge at 2.5 hours. The LED lights at the base indicate how much battery there remains before needing to be recharged. Green (100% – 60%) – Yellow (60% – 30%) – Red (30% – 0%)

Performance and Ease of Use

Both the KandyPens Oura and the Puffco Peak Pro have fairly wide temperature ranges and may be cycled through each device’s single-button interface. Both are also customizable to a certain extent- with the Puffco Peak being the more flexible one of the two.

The KandyPens Oura comes with two interchangeable atomizers – a quartz coil and a ceramic coil. Both atomizers produce excellent vapor, but the quartz coil is the clear winner here. The vapor from this coil tastes much purer and is denser as well. The ceramic coil takes a bit of time to heat up, but it does result in very flavor-forward vapor with a good amount of density.

To turn on the Oura, simply tap the sensor five times and the Oura will vibrate to signal its been activated. Two taps of the button activate “Session Mode” which heats the atomizer for a full minute. When session mode is activated, there’s also the option to change temperatures even while the Oura is in use. Tap the button three times to cycle through the four pre-set temperatures (490F, 590F, 750F, 800F). I’ve found that I got the best results when I employed the two middle temperatures. At these two settings, the vapor was cool and flavorful- but not too dense, which I didn’t mind since the flavor is more my priority over cloud production.

The Peak Pro only comes with one ceramic coil and it’s 40% larger than the one on the original Peak. The gold-plated connections and lock mechanism feels a lot sturdier than the original. The coil is connected to a smart sensor that monitors the bowl’s temperature and reports that to the onboard microchip. This allows the Peak to make automatic power adjustments and keep the bowl’s temperature precise at all times. The Peak pro makes micro-adjustments on the fly and keeps an accurate temperature in the bowl no matter how large your dab is or how hard you are hitting it.

With the smartphone app, you can customize heating profiles, change the profile names, set the temperature anywhere between 450F and 620F, set the heating duration from 15seconds to two minutes, and change the colors and reduce the brightness of the LED lights. The app also allows you to activate boost mode, ready mode, and even activate a fun party mode which makes the LED lights shine in rainbow colors.

I’d highly suggest sticking to the two lower temperature levels- this is where the sweet spot is for vapor production and a well-rounded flavor. At the higher levels, the vapor quality is still good but you will end up sacrificing some flavor.

Bottom Line

Both the Puffco Peak Pro and the KandyPens Oura are incredibly easy to use and would be a great device to start vaping dabs with- especially if you’re a beginner. The smart sensor on the Peak Pro secures a consistent experience and when the Peak is connected to its accompanying smartphone app- there are even more options to choose from. Oura’s flexibility stems from its pre-set controls and the two interchangeable coils. Both of these coils produce exceptional vapor, with the quartz coil being the most balanced of the two.

The Peak Pro was the device that changed the way users consume dabs, and for that reason- it will always be a leading device. But at half the price, the Oura definitely delivers a near same experience and even charges in half the time. If you are looking to own a device that’s truly iconic and have the $$$ to spend- the Peak Pro is the device for you. But if the results are what matter most – the Oura wins, it does a great job at a much lower cost. If you’re still on edge, there’s much more to see on our list of the best e-nails/ dab rigs of 2024.