Brands are competing for a spot in your vape battery and the live resin market continues to boom. However, Big Chief, a brand known for years in the extract industry has recently jumped into the fray with their new line of Live Resin Disposables and Cartridges. But will they stand out from the increasing competition in the live resin market?
In our hands-on review, we’ll take a closer look at the Big Chief Live Resin Disposable and 510 threaded Cartridge to see what they offer when it comes to flavor, quality and functionality and provide insight to help you determine whether Big Chief's live resin vape products are worth adding to your arsenal.
First Impressions: Unboxing the Chief
Big Chief goes big with the branding. With a logo of a Native American chief front-and-center, the box is loud. It's retro-styled, yet not boring. The packaging is solid, but not sleek. The hardware is substantial — both the disposable pen and the cartridge are heavy. Neither of them felt flimsy, so that's a great start.
But once you crack the box, the true beauty comes out. If you've only ever used distillate carts, the smell of live resin is eye-opening. In contrast to a single, overwhelming blast of 'Blue Dream,' or 'Gelato' that smells more like a candy factory than a cannabis plant, you get a diverse array of scents that include earthy, gaseous fragrances. It smells like you opened a fresh jar of quality cannabis flower. This was my first, 'hey, maybe they know what they're doing' moment.
The Experience: Highs, Lows, and Flavors
Now let's dive to the heart of the matter – the effects. This is the area where live resin differentiates itself from distillate.
Distillate high, for me, is always a one-dimensional experience. A sharp, cerebral, sometimes anxious THC rush that leaves a little to be desired. Big Chief's live resin provides a multi-faceted experience. The onset is milder, and a slow creep that begins in the back of your head and then spreads throughout your body. You receive a more nuanced entourage effect (the subtle interaction of cannabinoids and terpenes) that feels like you smoked a solid bowl of flower. The high is rounded, medicinally-oriented and for me, much more practical and less crazy-racing. There is a huge difference between drinking a cheap shot of vodka versus sipping a rich, complicated whiskey.
While there were highs and lows, the overall flavor profile was definitely closer to actual cannabis than most distillate carts I've tried. You taste the plant; the diesel, the pine, the citrus peel, and the earth. Less "flavor," and more "essence."
The Gelato was rich and gassy with a sweet earthy aftertaste. The Super Lemon Haze, surprisingly enough, had a sour, citrusy tang that didn't have the artificial lemon candy taste I worried about, and was bright, energetic.
Do not expect the flavor to be as strong or last as long as dabbing live resin directly from a jar. By the end of the cart, and particularly if you pull long, continuous hits, the flavor will degrade into a somewhat burnt, general plant taste. Many live resin vapes struggle with this problem — Big Chief is no exception.
Hardware & Performance: Disposable vs. Cartridges
That distinction is important, and I have a strong bias toward cartridges.
- Disposable Vape Pen: Convenient, for sure. No need to charge anything, no need to screw in cartridges — just inhale. However, I thought the battery life was a major weakness of the disposable pen. I am a moderate user, and I felt the pressure of the battery running out before the oil ran dry. Also, the draw was somewhat tight and inconsistent. It got the job done, but felt like the weakest part of the equation.
- 510 Thread Cart: That is where it excels. Alongside a basic, reliable battery (I use a Yocan Uni Pro at approximately 2.2v-2.6v), the 510 thread cart really shines. At lower voltages, the delicate terpenes are preserved and you enjoy greatly enhanced flavors from the first hit to the final hit. You have control, and the experience is better. The oil lasted longer, tasted better, and I never had to worry about a dead battery, and therefore, a half-filled cart.
Conclusion: What is This For?
Big Chief Live Resin is a solid, middle-of-the-pack entry into the low-cost live resin market.
It's not going to overthrow the top shelf, artisanal live resin brands that cost $50-$60 per piece. But at the price it sells at, it does provide an authentic and enjoyable full-spectrum experience that absolutely crushes any distillate cart in the same price range.
Try Big Chief Live Resin if:
- You are a flower smoker who wants to try vaping but are tired of the empty high of distillates.
- You're looking for a full-spectrum experience, but don't want to spend too much money.
- You care about the effects and authenticity of the product rather than being the best at reproducing flavor.
You may want to look somewhere else if:
- You prioritize flavor above everything else, and you're willing to pay for it.
- You prefer the sharp, quick, but short-lived rush of a high-potency distillate.
Final Take: Big Chief Live Resin is a gateway to better ways of consuming cannabis. It successfully brings together the ease of vaping and the complexity of experiencing flower. It has minor drawbacks, but it is a respectable and deserving product that I have placed in my regular rotation. Just do yourself a favor and buy the 510 cartridge over the disposable.