An introduction (you can skip the next 3 paragraphs if you so please; there is a TLDR at the bottom, however I do recommend you read this guide in its entirety if you have the time):

Through years of research and trial and error, and seeing a general lack of advice and understanding, I finally decided to write this comprehensive guide on how to vape DMT cartridges. Despite the common rhetoric within some of the comments and posts on this sub, not only is it possible to break through on a cartridge - it’s so easy that I’ve broken through more times accidentally than purposefully.

This guide will lay out the pros and cons of vaping DMT with a cartridge, explore common struggles, then lay out how to break through with ease. I am basing the content of this guide off the assumption that you understand what N,N-DMT is and the effects it has. If not, PsychonautWiki is the holy grail of knowledge regarding psychoactive substances and I suggest you read the DMT wiki.

At the end of this guide, I will share how following my practices has all but guaranteed extremely positive trips and breakthroughs. My goal is for everyone to be able to share in the wonder of DMT using what I’d argue is the easiest and most accessible method of consuming it.

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What is a DMT cartridge? (feel free to skip if you already know):

A DMT cartridge is a mixture of DMT and some form of non-nicotine vape juice - typically (and preferably) propylene glycol (PG for short). This liquid mixture is within a cartridge that contains a heating element, which can be connected to a battery. The common standard for cartridges (which I personally use) is 510 threaded, which are compatible with 510 threaded batteries (commonly known as vape pens, thanks to the conveniently pen shaped/sized configuration).

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Cartridges - the pros and the cons (I recommend against skipping, but you can if you are really that impatient):

Let’s start with the pros!

• Accessibility: purchasing a battery can be as easy as going to a gas station or a local head shop.
• Affordability: even good batteries are cheap. My favorite battery, which I still use regularly, costs $20.
• Ease of use: following the methods within this guide, it’s literally as easy as pushing a button and inhaling. No lighters, no measuring.
• Portability: all your gear is in a compact package.
• Safety: no risk of fire/burns from hot gear. For the pedantically inclined, yes, some batteries have been known to explode, however it is extremely uncommon these days - particularly with established brands that are incorporated within your country and would face legal repercussions if their products failed catastrophically.
• Unassuming: for those that it may concern, vape cartridges are way less assuming than a vial of white crystals. I imagine it would be easy to pass it off as a new shoe/mothball flavored nicotine cartridge if caught by a displeased authority (be it personal or legal). If the questioning authority knows what DMT smells like, they've probably done it and are cool with it (I jest).

And the cons.

• Information: you have to suffer through reading this long winded guide to get the most out of using a cartridge.
• Uncertainty: there is a bit of guesswork involved when using a cartridge, since you can’t accurately measure out your dose. As I mentioned above, I have broken through accidentally more times than not. To some, this could be a big deal, which is entirely understandable.

That’s seriously it. There aren’t any other cons that aren’t related to a general misunderstanding of using cartridges, at least not that I can think of. I’ll be curious to read the naysayers opinions, so please don’t hold back in the comments!

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The guide (SKIPPERS, STOP SKIPPING!):

To begin, this is how you will know you are improperly vaping DMT.

• Despite consuming what you believe to be a lot (more than two full hits of full inhale/exhales), you don’t get major visuals.
• Your DMT tastes rancid or sour, and/or leaves a caustic feeling on your lips, tongue, or mouth.
• The vapor is extremely harsh.
• Your lungs and/or throat hurt after vaping your DMT.

If you answer yes to any of the above, you are almost certainly burning your DMT and your cartridge’s contents, unfortunately, have probably been burnt and ruined. Let’s understand why that is happening and how we can avoid it in the future.

So, let’s get started!

First and foremost, let’s talk about your gear, starting with your battery. I personally prefer a 510 threaded battery. It’s pretty much accepted as the universal standard as far as vaping cartridges goes. I’ve had cheap batteries and I’ve had expensive batteries. The battery I finally settled on is the dōp absolute, and it’s the second cheapest battery I’ve purchased. I like it for a couple reasons:

• It’s variable voltage, and can be set to 2.7v (more on that soon).
• Its power output has always seemed consistent for me. After charging, or towards the end of its life, it still seems to remain uniform.
• It can be charged via USB, so none of that finicky screw on charging that always gets goopy and messed up.

With all of that said, you only need to worry about a couple of things. First, the battery’s voltage can be set below 3v (preferably 2.7v). Second, the brand is well established; an established brand makes a product that is reliable and consistent, which will deliver the appropriate voltage.

Why do I keep bringing up voltage? Because it is arguably the most important and frequently overlooked, mis-advised, and misunderstood aspects of vaping DMT cartridges. To put it simply, voltage determines how hot the heating element in your cartridge will get. DMT has a narrow sweet spot between vaporizing and burning. In basic terms, vaping delivers DMT to your lungs in its purest inhale-able form, smoking/burning will combust the DMT into a non-psychoactive molecule (I’d love if someone in the know or an organic chemist can touch more on this). In summary: vaporized DMT = good, burnt DMT = bad; low voltage will vaporize your DMT, high voltage will burn it. The difference between vaping and burning DMT is only a few tenths of a volt, which is why it is an absolute must that your battery be reliable and have a low voltage setting. I have experimented as low as 2.3v and as high as 3.7v; 2.7v is my discovered sweet spot - at least on the battery I currently use. I would like to note that unfortunately, some batteries deliver more or less power based on their amperage (wattage = voltage X amperage) which is not typically advertised, so there is a bit of trial and error per battery. With that said, lower voltages are better to test with first, then SLOWLY work your way up if it isn’t vaporizing enough.

Next, let’s talk about your cartridge. First, the type of cartridge is not too important in my experience, as long as it isn’t extremely cheap. Every cartridge I have used has had either a ceramic or quartz heating coil - you can’t go wrong with either. Second, the ratio of DMT to vape juice in my experience is ideally 1:1, meaning 1 gram of DMT to 1 milliliter of vape juice; additionally with regards to vape juice, I believe I have read that PG based vape juice is ideal, as DMT does not dissolve as effectively in VG. Second, and the most common issue I’ve seen regarding the cartridge itself, is why has your DMT crystallized, and what do you do if it has.

In my experience, these practices keep your cartridge nice and dissolved, and extend the life of your cartridge to the very last drop. READ THIS - IT IS VERY IMPORTANT:

• When storing your cartridge, keep it in a dark place that sits between 60-80 degrees constantly.
• ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS remove your cartridge from your battery when not in use.
• Attach silicone plugs to both ends of your cartridge when storing. Most cartridges come with a circular cap for the bottom, and a small mouthpiece shaped cap for the top. You can buy these caps online if your cartridge did not include them.
• I recommend keeping your cartridge in a small airtight secondary container - be it a baggie with the air pressed out, or one of those small containers with the squeeze-to-pop top that store bought cartridges are typically packaged in.
• Use pure white DMT crystals for your mixture. Yellow DMT contains more plant fats, which I don’t believe dissolve as effectively in PG. Poorly dissolved DMT acts as a ‘seed’ for crystallization.

Following the above will likely guarantee that your cartridge is as fresh in the end as it is in the beginning. In the instance that you have a cartridge that does crystallize, do not fret - it isn’t ruined. Body heat is usually enough to re-dissolve the DMT if the crystals are caught early. If not, place the cartridge in an airtight plastic baggy with the air pressed out, then place that baggy in a bowl of hot water, then twist and slowly flip the cartridge around every minute or two to stir up the contents within. Do NOT place the cartridge over an open flame, or anything that exceeds the temperature of boiling water (preferably a bit cooler than water’s boiling point, though).

That’s it for gear. Now let’s talk about your method of actually vaping. Avoiding burning your DMT is the most important thing here. As I mentioned above, it will be obvious if your DMT is burning. I’ll reiterate that if the vapor tastes harsh, sour, and/or rancid, and burns your throat and lungs even after exhaling, your DMT is most likely burnt. The contents of a burnt cartridge are typically a very dark and opaque brown, and smell much stronger than an unburnt cart. When inhaling, it may burn the back of your throat, but no more than just plain vape juice would. Your mouth, tongue, and lips should not burn or have a caustic tingly feeling, and your throat and lungs will not burn/hurt well after exhaling. To be honest, I quite enjoy the new-shoe taste of unburnt DMT, however I may just be Pavlov’d into my enjoyment of it thanks to the positive emotions related to DMT.

When vaping your DMT, follow these steps. ONCE MORE, READ THIS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT:

• Make sure your battery is charged.
• Set the voltage of your battery to around 2.7v and absolutely not above 3v.
• Meditate, and breathe! This prepares your mind and body for what is to come. I spend 15-30 minutes practicing breathwork and focusing my mind; sometimes longer if I feel I need it.
• Do NOT preheat your vape. Instead, while meditating prior to consumption, warm the cartridge in your hands or against your body. I typically tuck it in the waist of my shorts against my side, which is one of the warmest areas of my body.
• Prior to each hit, exhale all of the air out of your lungs.
• This may be a matter of preference, but has been one of my most effective practice I believe: I take what I like to call a ‘stretch hit’. Similar to stretching before strenuous exercise, I take a small hit (~2-3 seconds), hold it in for 5-10 seconds, then exhale. I like to take in one more lungful of fresh air after exhaling the stretch hit - inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth, then prepare for the big hit. I have found that this further prepares my body and mind, by allowing it to acclimate to the experience rather than tossing myself down the rabbit hole full throttle.
• The big hit! This part is extremely important, as it is the determining factor of whether or not you burn your DMT. There is a bit of an art to this step, but once you get it down, it doesn’t take much thought. Despite your battery being on a low voltage, supplying too much power for too long can still burn your DMT. To avoid this, we will cool the vape off quickly, but periodically, during consumption. When hitting your vape, depress the button and inhale for 2-3 seconds, then release the button while still lightly inhaling for 1-2 seconds. This will flow fresh, cool air over the heating coil and cool it off a small amount. Through all of this, don’t suck on the vape like you’re trying to suck a golf ball through a garden hose - be gentle. Repeat this until you have consumed your desired amount.
• This step is subjective per person, and takes a fair amount of trial and error. I have an above average lung capacity (can hold my breath for over 3 minutes), and thanks to this, it is difficult for me to accurately tell you how much you should consume. A single hit of a completely full lungful can break me through. This is also determined by whether I leave the corners of my mouth open to take in fresh air while hitting the vape (which I do to make the vapor less harsh), which I recommend for those that struggle with the slight burning/tickling sensation in the back of your throat. I have timed how long my hits are, and in total, this is my experience: 15 seconds gives me a heavy body load and basic visuals - nothing too crazy, but a nice trip. 20 seconds is a solid heavy dose: intense CEVs, disconnection from body, possible ego death. 24 seconds is typically a breakthrough dose, completely immersive visuals, total ego death, major time dilation, reality breaking, etc.
• Through trial and error, when using a new battery or new cartridge, always start small and work your way up. Due to the inability to accurately measure a dose and know exactly what the output voltage of your vape is, you must acclimate yourself to your new gear each time. Yes, this can be kind of annoying, but I enjoy experimentation, so I personally don't mind.

After returning to reality, remember to meditate, reflect, and integrate! Afterwards, remove your cartridge from your battery, and store your cartridge with the silicone caps and place the cartridge within the airtight container of your choosing.

This bit is subjective to my experience, research, and trials, however I believe it’s important and another key to my success. I spend the day in preparation, which includes:

• Avoiding negative media, be it social media, news, or violent/stressful TV, movies, or video games.
• Eat healthy and clean. I believe less meat is better - particularly since it takes more effort to digest.
• Hydrate! Drink lots of water throughout the day.
• Empty your bowels and pee. Worrying about peeing or pooping your pants can seriously ruin a good trip. It is common to feel like you are peeing or pooping as your muscles relax when the DMT kicks in.
• Exercise. If physically able, work out or go for a walk.
• Go into DMT sober. I recommend going into your trips without having consumed any other substances that day - particularly depressants and stimulants (unless you would suffer withdrawals without). I recommend against using marijuana as well. I’ve read that other psychedelics can enhance the trip, however I suggest you save that for when you are more experienced with DMT and the other psychedelics. Of note: if you’re trying to quit abusing substances, I think DMT can help significantly, if not help you overcome it entirely (like I did).
• Set and setting! Take your journey in a place you feel comfortable and safe where you won't be stumbled upon while your blasting through hyperspace. Hiding from your parents/partner/kids/roommate in your basement or car is not the proper set and setting. If you aren’t in a place where you have an hour or two to yourself (and your trip sitter(s) if you so choose), then it isn’t the right time to use DMT.
• If you have to ask yourself or others if it is the right time or if it’s okay to use DMT, then it most likely is not. You should be almost entirely certain that you are ready and able to use this substance.
• Hesitation, fear, and anxiety are common. Despite being well experienced myself, I still get preflight anxiety. Fear of the unknown is evolved into us as animals, and is nothing to be ashamed of. Meditation helps, other substances like booze, benzos, and weed, are bandaids and not recommended.

As I mentioned above, I believe these methods have pretty much guaranteed positive experiences for me. Of course, I am still prepared for challenging journeys and don’t believe that DMT may not throw me a curve ball. Always respect your DMT - and it will very likely respect you in return.

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TLDR, and a brief summation:

• Set your battery to below 3v (2.7v is my discovered sweet spot).
• Store your DMT well, preferably in a small airtight container, to avoid crystallization/oxidation.
• Use a 1:1 cart, preferably made with pure white crystals (low plant fat content) to avoid crystallization.
• If your cart crystalizes, re-dissolve the contents by placing the cart in an airtight baggie with the air squeezed out, and placing that baggie in hot water. Avoid submerging the mouth/seal of the baggie in case of a leak.
• Prepare your mind and body with meditation and a positive day.
• When consuming, avoid supplying constant power, and release the button while still inhaling every 2-3 seconds for about 1 second to allow the heating coil to cool.
• If the DMT tastes rancid, really burns your throat/lungs minutes after consuming, and/or leaves a caustic tingly feeling on your lips, tongue, or mouth, you’re DMT is likely burnt/burning, and you need a new cartridge.
• Burning your DMT is pretty much the source of all strife when using a cartridge.
• If the above doesn’t work for you, try a new battery from a more established brand.
• If that doesn’t work, your cartridge is most likely bunk and you need a new one.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to ask questions, I don't know everything, however I’ll try to be as responsive as possible and do some research if necessary. Much love and save travels, and thank you for reading this long winded guide!