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You’ve likely heard of delta-8 THC — the cannabinoid that’s exploding in popularity. Hemp-derived delta-8 products offer a legal way to get high.
Unfortunately, because delta-8 exists in a legal loophole, it’s attracted plenty of shady companies. Many delta-8 products contain far less delta-8 than advertised, have illegal delta-9 THC levels, or carry residual solvents and other contaminants.
That’s why I researched and compared more than 30 delta-8 THC vendors based on their third-party testing results, product effectiveness, transparency, reviews, and other criteria. Here are the five best delta-8 THC brands.
Table of Contents
Summary
Hometown Hero CBD is the overall best delta-8 THC brand. I tested out almost all of its delta-8 THC products; each had potent effects plus a delicious taste. Better yet, the company is transparent and supports veterans.
- Best Overall: Hometown Hero CBD | full review
- Best Reputation: Extract Labs | full review
- Best Flavor Variety: Koi CBD | full review
- Best Ingredients: Summit | full review
- Honorable Mention: Moonwlkr | full review
Delta 8 Terminology
- Delta-9 THC: The most common form of THC, abundant in marijuana.
- Delta-8 THC: A less potent form of THC that can be made from hemp-derived CBD, which makes it legal.
- CBD: A non-intoxicating cannabinoid that’s been shown to have many potential benefits.
- Hemp: A legal variety of cannabis with high CBD and low delta-9 THC levels (0.3% or less).
- Terpenes: aromatic compounds with a wide variety of beneficial properties (1).
- Full-spectrum: whole-plant hemp extract containing CBD, THC, and other beneficial hemp cannabinoids and terpenes. This form of CBD is up to 4 times more potent than pure CBD (2).
- Isolate: The pure form of delta-8 or any other cannabinoid.
Pricing: $ (cheap), $$ (average), $$$ (expensive)
*Keep in mind that delta-8 vape products are harder to find due to the USPS vape shipping ban
Hometown Hero (Best Overall)
Products: Gummies ($$), Tinctures ($$), Capsules ($$), Flower ($$)
Pros:
- Wide variety of flavors
- Extensive in-house & third-party testing
- Thousands of satisfied customer reviews
- Impressive production process
- Supports veteran organizations
- Campaigned to keep delta-8 legal in Texas
Cons:
- Not as cheap as some other brands
- Lacks vape products
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Hometown Hero is a brand out of Texas that offers not only delta-8 THC but other intoxicating hemp-derived products. It sells gummies, tinctures, capsules, edibles, flower, and more. The company’s delta-8 gummies and tincture won second place at the 2021 High Times Hemp Cup. I tested most of its products, finding them both delicious and highly effective.
Hometown Hero provides comprehensive third-party lab test results; its hemp is grown sustainably in Texas and also goes through in-house testing.
Besides, it’s one of the more transparent brands in the intoxicating hemp space and fought to keep delta-8 THC legal in Texas. True to its name, Hometown Hero also donates to veteran organizations, so you know your purchase is helping a good cause.
Extract Labs (Best Reputation)
Products: Gummies ($), Vape Carts ($$), Distillate ($), Chocolate ($$), Disposable Vapes ($)
Pros:
- Wide product variety
- Established, transparent brand
- Comprehensive third-party testing
- Free shipping over $60
Cons:
- Lacks flavor and edible variety
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Colorado’s Extract Labs built a solid reputation as a CBD company before expanding into delta-8 in 2021. It sells delta-8 gummies, vape carts, distillate, disposable vapes, and chocolate at reasonable prices. The distillate is particularly cheap, with prices as low as $0.01-0.02 per mg of delta-8 THC.
Founded in 2016 by Iraq veteran Craig Henderson, Extract Labs is a transparent brand that uses organic Colorado hemp to make its delta-8 and CBD. Its products are comprehensively tested by a reputable third-party lab to verify their potency and lack of contaminants.
Koi CBD (Best Flavor Variety)
Products: Cartridges ($), Disposable Vapes ($), Gummies ($$), Tinctures ($), Flower ($)
Pros:
- Comprehensive third-party testing
- Wide product & flavor variety
- Established brand
- Good prices
- Free shipping over $35
Cons:
- Gummies and contain artificial coloring
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California’s Koi CBD is another big name in the CBD space that also makes delta-8 THC products. It was founded in 2015, making it one of the most established brands in the delta-8 market.
Koi sells delta-8 tinctures, vape carts, disposable vape pens, gummies, flower, and other edibles at low prices. Its products come in many different flavors and strains, so if you’re looking for variety, Koi CBD is a great choice.
Koi uses organic hemp cultivated in Oregon and Colorado to make its CBD and delta-8 THC. Its delta-8 products go through comprehensive testing.
Summit (Best Ingredients)
Products: Gummies ($)
Pros:
- Comprehensive third-party testing
- Reputable brand
- Quality ingredients
- Free shipping
Cons:
- Only gummies available
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Summit sells 25 mg delta-8 and 15 mg delta-9 THC gummies. What makes this brand special is the fact that it’s run by the same team behind R&R: one of the best CBD companies on the market.
The gummies are vegan, come in assorted flavors, and are made with high-quality ingredients such as tapioca syrup instead of corn syrup.
The delta-8 gummies are sourced from organic Oregon hemp, while the delta-9 gummies are derived from the same USDA-certified organic hemp as R&R’s CBD gummies. I tried both gummies and enjoyed the potent effects and tasty flavors.
They’re backed by comprehensive third-party test results from one of the most reputable labs in the business: Columbia Laboratories.
Moonwlkr (Honorable Mention)
Products: Gummies ($), Cartridges ($), Tinctures ($)
Pros:
- Decent prices and frequent sales
- Wide product variety
- Comprehensive third-party testing
- Organic Colorado hemp source
- Free shipping over $50
Cons:
- Relatively new brand
- Less transparent than other options
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Despite being a newcomer, Moonwlkr has quickly joined the ranks of top delta-8 brands thanks to decent prices, frequent sales, and many flavourful products.
It offers delta-8 gummies, cartridges, tinctures, and disposable vapes in a wide variety of flavors, as well as CBD products.
Aside from great prices, Moonwlkr stands out for its extensive third-party testing, which includes less-common tests for vitamin E acetate and terpene potency. Moonwlkr’s products are sourced from organic Colorado hemp and manufactured in Henderson, Nevada.
How I Chose These Brands
Unlike the CBD industry, which is fully legal and has had plenty of time to develop and improve, the delta-8 market is in a legal gray area and has only been around since 2020. As a result, many delta-8 THC brands are relatively new and operate in obscurity.
For example, most don’t reveal where they source their hemp, provide any details about the people behind the company, or test their products for pesticides, residual solvents, and other common contaminants.
For these reasons, you have to be extra careful when shopping for delta-8 THC. Many people who are new to the world of delta-8 end up being duped.
Here are the criteria I used to find reputable brands:
- Third-party test results (to verify that you’re getting a safe and effective product)
- Effects (to make sure the products are potent)
- Hemp source (a sign of trustworthiness)
- Company reputation (proof of effective products and good customer service)
- Product variety (to meet everyone’s needs)
- Price & value (to get a good deal)
Third-Party Test Results
Done by an independent lab, third-party testing checks delta-8 products for potency and contaminants. It’s by far the best way to ensure you’re getting a safe and effective product.
Potency tests verify that a product contains as much delta-8 THC as it says on the label. They also check the delta-8 THC levels, which is important because the process used to make delta-8 can create notable amounts of delta-9 THC (over the 0.3% legal limit).
Meanwhile, contaminant tests check for heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, mold, microbes, and other potentially harmful compounds.
You should only buy from delta-8 brands that post up-to-date third-party lab test results of their products. Ideally, the tests should be for both potency and contaminants.
I check the test results for all of the CBD and delta-8 products and brands I review to make sure they’re safe, effective, and accurate.
Labs Using Inappropriate Testing Methods
Some cannabis testing labs, such as Marin Analytics, Think20Labs, and Altitude, use inappropriate testing methods to show good delta 8 product test results.
These labs also often have poor customer reviews and provide incomplete test results.
That’s why some delta 8 brands choose to work with these labs to provide favorable test results for their products. I avoid vendors that work with these types of labs.
In fact, many cannabis/hemp testing labs have difficulty differentiating delta-8 from delta-9 THC and end up reporting false results (see video below). That’s why it’s even more important to choose delta 8 brands that work with reputable and experienced third-party laboratories, such as New Bloom Labs and KCA Labs.
Hemp Source
Hemp quality is less important for delta-8 THC products than for CBD. That’s because rather than being extracted directly from hemp, delta-8 is made by running CBD through a specific chemical reaction.
Still, knowing where a company sources the hemp used to make its delta-8 products is important. At the very least, it shows that the company has nothing to hide.
I recommend brands that explain whether their hemp is organic and which state it’s grown in.
Company Reputation
Trustworthiness is a big deal with delta-8 because the industry is new and operates in a legal gray area. Many bad actors cut corners and offer low-quality, potentially unsafe products.
That’s why I look for brands that have many positive customer reviews, make it easy to access third-party lab test results and provide other info that builds trust with customers. All of the brands I recommended here are transparent and have a solid reputation.
Product Variety
Some people may prefer to vape delta-8 THC, while others like edibles more because of their longer-lasting effects and flavor. That’s why I consider delta-8 product variety when choosing the best delta-8 brands.
Price & Value
Last but not least, price is another important consideration. I look for brands that offer high-quality products at affordable prices and consider free shipping, subscriptions, and other deals.
I also help you figure out if you’re getting a good deal by breaking down the prices for every type of delta-8 product into three tiers: low ($), average ($$), and high ($$$).
Generally speaking, the average prices for delta-8 products are:
- Tinctures:$0.06 per mg of delta-8 THC
- Gummies: $0.08 per mg
- Capsules: $0.08 per mg
- Cartridges: $0.06 per mg
- Distillate: $0.03 per mg
- Disposable vape pens: $0.06 per mg
Why I Didn’t Include Other Delta 8 Brands
Didn’t see a well-known delta-8 brand on this list? There’s a good reason why. I’ve done a thorough investigation of the delta-8 market. The vast majority of the delta 8 vendors I researched were not transparent enough to trust.
Here’s a more detailed explanation of why I don’t recommend certain delta-8 companies:
- 3Chi doesn’t reveal who runs the company, where they get their hemp from, and how their products are made. Independent tests have also shown that some 3Chi products contain illegal amounts of delta-9 THC. 3Chi has also been accused of astroturfing the delta8 subreddit, the largest delta 8 community on the web.
- Diamond CBD (a.k.a. Chill Plus) has a long history of shady behavior, including products laced with synthetic cannabinoids and fentanyl in 2018, and had a class-action lawsuit filed against it in 2019
- The brands Area 52 and Finest Labs don’t provide third-party lab test results, which is a major red flag
- Delta Extrax (formerly known as Delta Effex) offers products with questionable/unknown safety (delta-10 and THC-O-acetate) and works with a low-quality testing lab
- BinoidCBD also sells delta-10 and THC-O-acetate and works with a low-quality lab
- Arete Hemp’s owner is embroiled in controversy
- Exhale doesn’t order third-party contaminant tests for most products
- Snapdragon Hemp was only founded in 2021 and doesn’t have a website that inspires trust
- 10DC doesn’t provide full contaminant test results; it’s also a new company that doesn’t share many details about itself
- MyCBDHaven doesn’t post its third-party lab test results
- Harbor City Hemp doesn’t share many details about itself
- CannaClear doesn’t share many details about itself and works with a low-quality testing lab. Also, an independent test of its distillate found 15.8% delta-9 THC.
Delta 8 FAQs
References
- Pamplona, Fabricio A., Lorenzo Rolim da Silva, and Ana Carolina Coan. “Potential clinical benefits of CBD-rich cannabis extracts over purified CBD in treatment-resistant epilepsy: observational data meta-analysis.” Frontiers in neurology 9 (2018): 759.
- Russo, Ethan B. “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid‐terpenoid entourage effects.” British journal of pharmacology 163.7 (2011): 1344-1364.
- Hollister, Leo E., and H. K. Gillespie. “Delta‐8‐and delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol; Comparison in man by oral and intravenous administration.” Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 14.3 (1973): 353-357.
- Abrahamov, Aya, Avraham Abrahamov, and R. Mechoulam. “An efficient new cannabinoid antiemetic in pediatric oncology.” Life sciences 56.23-24 (1995): 2097-2102.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 638026, delta8-Tetrahydrocannabinol” PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/delta8-Tetrahydrocannabinol. Accessed 23 July, 2021.
- Avraham, Yosefa, et al. “Very low doses of Δ8-THC increase food consumption and alter neurotransmitter levels following weight loss.” Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 77.4 (2004): 675-684.
- Helander, Anders, et al. “Analytical and medico‐legal problems linked to the presence of delta‐8‐tetrahydrocannabinol (delta‐8‐THC): Results from urine drug testing in Sweden.” Drug testing and analysis (2021).
Gleb is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Canada specializing in CBD and cannabis. He’s read thousands of studies on CBD and other supplements, helping him translate complex science into plain language. Gleb has tried and reviewed dozens of CBD brands and products, written third-party testing reports, and knows the CBD industry inside and out. When not writing, he likes to kickbox, travel, and tell everyone how awesome intermittent fasting is.
Excellent information! Very much appreciated, especially for a noob looking to get some relief from Fibromyalgia pain.
Good to hear 🙂
I’m very curious to know why you wrote this: “We also avoid brands that use low-quality cannabis testing labs, such as Marin Analytics, Altitude Lab Solutions, and Think20Labs.” I don’t know anything about these labs, but would like more information as to why you say they are low quality.
Last year I heard some hemp/cannabis testing labs provide poor test results. You can read more about this issue here. Sometimes, that’s just because of a lack of experience/expertise. Other times, it’s because the lab wants to give good results so more companies work with them. This is especially a big problem with delta-8 THC because many testing labs have a hard time differentiating between delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC on tests.
With Marin Analytics, my research (reading forums, customer reviews, and looking at tests) found that this lab has difficulty differentiating delta-8 and delta-9, which is why their tests always seem to show high levels of delta-8 with zero delta-9 THC and why I suspect a lot of shady delta-8 vendors use this lab. They also don’t provide full, proper testing. The situation with Altitude Labs and Think20 Labs is similar. For example, altitude labs don’t even have proper ISO cannabis testing certification.
Hey, great article full of information. The only thing that puzzles me is this…you list 3Chi, Area 52 and Delta Effex as companies that cannot be trusted. Yet, literally every other website I have read while researching Delta-8 has those companies in the “best list” for gummies. Would you provide more feedback on that?
Thanks for the question! The main reason why everyone recommends those companies is because they have great marketing. Keep in mind most websites recommending these brands don’t know much about delta-8 THC, hemp, and cannabis as a whole. They just recommend whatever affiliate companies they work with.
However, once you really research these companies you start to see a lot of shady stuff.
With 3Chi, the company is very hidden. They don’t tell you who runs it, where their hemp comes from (major red flag), and any other details that show you can they be trusted. They’ve also been accused of heavy astroturfing on Reddit, which basically means they have paid people pretending to be customers posting great reviews of their company on Reddit. Also, here’s an independent test from a high-quality testing lab showing their vapes have high (illegal) delta-9 THC levels.
With Area 52, they don’t publicly post their third-party lab test results. That’s about as big of a red flag as you can get with cannabinoid products.
With Delta Effex, they’re selling delta-10 and THC-O-Acetate products, two cannabinoids that we know very little about in terms of safety and effects. I wouldn’t trust a brand selling these types of products.
Why would selling delta 10 and thc-0 cause you not to trust a company? You say very little is known about the safety and long-term effects, but couldn’t the very same thing be said about delta 8? Not understanding your reasoning here.
We know more about delta 8 THC than delta 10. Delta 8 has actually seen some research. In one clinical study, it prevented vomiting in children without causing significant side effects. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7776837/
There’s virtually zero studies on delta 10. There’s also a stronger argument that delta-10 is synthetic because unlike delta 8, it’s not found in cannabis plants naturally (AFAIK).
edit: THC-O has also seen zero research and is 100% a synthetic cannabinoid with more potential to be unsafe because it’s much stronger than regular THC.
I very much appreciated ALL the info provided because of past massive panic attacks I have been very reluctant to use CBD that contains even a low < 0.2 mg of THC. However I need to find a product that helps me sleep AND reduces my pain. Would CBD broad spectrum vs CBD full spectrum have an impact on pain too?
For pain full-spectrum is significantly better because research suggests that THC has stronger pain-relieving effects than CBD and works better when combined with CBD. Broad-spectrum will definitely have some beneficial effects as well but it won’t be as effective.
I’d recommend trying a full-spectrum oil and gradually working up the right dosage to make sure you don’t take too much. But if you’re really concerned you can try a high-potency broad-spectrum oil, like the 5000 mg broad-spectrum tincture from CBDistillery.
Any thoughts/opinions about Ground Control D8 gummies?
They’re okay but not the best. They contain less d8 than advertised (219 mg total instead of 250 mg, which is a difference of about 12%. Not huge but notable). And you can find slightly cheaper options. Also, it doesn’t look like they’re tested for contaminants: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0076/7465/8883/files/COA_GUMS_B_DAY_CAKE_25MG_D8_9.pdf?v=1647533635
Thank you so much for your response!
Have you ever heard of or know anything about Hemp High or Kush Kolectiv disposable delta 8 vapes or vape carts? If so, do you know if they’re safe?
Nope, haven’t heard of these brands. Kush Kollectiv does at least have potency third-party test results so it looks like you are getting delta 8. But there’s no contaminant test results so you can’t verify if these are safe.
Any thoughts on Gold Silver 150 mg watermelon delta 8 gummies, or Totally Rad 300 mg delta 8 gummies?