Kratom Labs is an Arizona-based kratom vendor that’s currently making noise on the smoke shop circuit. Thanks to its partnership with Mr. Checkout Distributors, the brand is gaining consumer recognition across the country.
The company’s name is a bold, attention-grabbing choice. After all, third-party lab results are the number one thing that many consumers look for when shopping for pure kratom.
So, is Kratom Labs the next generation kratom vendor that so many of us have been waiting for? Or is the name merely a gimmick to drive users to its site?
Find out the full details in today’s post.
Kratom Labs is located in Scottsdale, AZ, which is where the company was first established in 2019. Or so one can assume from what little personal information is provided on its website.
The company’s About page is about as vague as one can get, consisting largely of broad terminology.
In paragraph one of three (two and a quarter, if we’re being accurate), Kratom Labs represents itself as a perfectionist’s dream come true—a samaritan site holding itself to the “highest standards,” while following its “vertically integrated vision.”
To be clear, holding oneself to the highest standards would imply that Kratom Labs follows GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), but this vendor does not participate in the AKA (American Kratom Association)’s GMP program.
It’s become a bit of a cliché for millennial companies to allude to their “vertical integration.” That’s because it’s a business model already adapted by the vast majority of American companies, such as Amazon, IKEA, Netflix, Target, etc.
Vertical integration simply means you own or control your suppliers, distributors, or retail locations. In the case of kratom distribution, one would hope that Kratom Labs does not own its suppliers, as that would violate U.S. labor laws.
While we have no doubt that “vertical integration” was used strictly to sound cutting-edge, the question of legitimacy remains. Is Kratom Labs really a lab-tested and trustworthy source for Mitragyna speciosa?
The unfortunate answer is, no.
Kratom Labs’ certificates of analysis are outdated by two years and tell us nothing pertinent whatsoever. Furthermore, this analysis focuses solely on the alkaloid content of select strains.
Based on the evidence provided, Kratom Labs does not submit its kratom to be tested for potential contaminants, such as heavy metals, bacteria, or mold.
Alas, we didn’t find this out until it was too late (we had already sampled its kratom collection). Consequently, we have plenty we can say about its kratom powders.
On the plus side, Kratom Labs is an approved vendor with ILK (I Love Kratom), and its packaging carries the kind of bar code and batch number that enable the vendor to keep track of quality control.
If there’s one good thing that can be said about this brand it’s that the design does its job. As soon as you log on to the site, your eyes are glued to your screen. The slide show is something worthy of a top-shelf travel agent, while its fundamental layout and logo are akin to an elite cologne brand.
Let’s take a moment to acknowledge Kratom Labs’ superior design. The packaging on its kratom powders and kratom capsules is drop dead gorgeous. Samples come in sleek purple sleeves, with durable aluminum inserts, while larger volumes are housed within ergonomic pods, with purple seals.
These guys offer powders, capsules, and liquid extract, with trial packs made available to first-time customers.
Raw powder is the right choice if you like to get your hands dirty. Kratom powder can be sprinkled over a bowl of cereal, tossed into a smoothie mix, or steeped in hot water for a fine cup of smooth tea.
This is the DIY user’s choice, one whose versatility is appreciated by individuals with visionary minds. Many users have incorporated kratom into their lives in colorful ways, either by making their own homemade kratom soap or incorporating it into a bowl of potpourri.
Kratom Labs’ kratom powder is as versatile as any other in this regard. Each kratom strain is bold and fragrant, providing a lasting aroma to anyone who enjoys it.
The variety (or lack thereof) won’t hurt this brand’s chances of catching on with consumers, but it won’t help either. Raw powder comes in four types—Bali, Green Malay, Maeng Da, and White Thai.
This small batch kratom vendor only offers kratom powder in one of two sizes—30 grams or 100 grams, respectively. 30 grams sell for $14.99, while a 100-gram pouch goes for $29.99.
There are no split keys or kratom kilos for those who wish to stock up for the season. You won’t find any four-ways splits either.
Green Malay is this vendor’s most exceptional strain, which says more about Malaysian Kratom than it does about Kratom Labs or its vertical integration.
Green Malay is often regarded as one of the best strains in the world. That’s because it is one of the strongest.
When submitted for testing alongside other kratom veins, Green Malaysian Kratom exhibited the highest percentages of Mitragynine and total alkaloid content in its extracts (59.7% Mitragynine and 94.9% total).
Encapsulated kratom is a feasible choice for those with sensitive gag reflexes, as the casings mask kratom’s naturally bitter taste. What’s more, kratom capsules are easy to swallow, so you won’t have to deal with clumps of raw powder sticking to the roof of your mouth.
This vendor offers kratom capsules in 50-count bottles for $19.99. You can also get a 100-count bottle for $29.99. A trial pack of 12 capsules goes for $5.99.
This vendor’s liquid kratom extract is a bit different than your garden variety extract. Each 10ml bottle purports to consist of 100% pure Mitragynine.
We have not used this product and, therefore, we cannot comment one way or the other. However, it’s worth noting that Mitragynine comprises only 12% of total alkaloids in kratom leaves.
In one study out of Japan, the average Mitragynine concentrations in dried leaf and kratom powder were found to be approximately 12-21 mg/g.
Needless to say, a 100% Mitragynine extract would be quite robust and should be approached with caution.
One 10ml bottle sells for $19.99, which may sound lofty, but it’s actually a common price point at smoke shops and convenience stores.
As mentioned earlier, a 30-gram pouch of kratom powder goes for $14.99, which is well within the industry average. Brands like My Brave Botanicals charge $15 for 28 grams, while more prominent brands like Authentic Kratom charge as much as $27.99 for the same.
It’s important to bear in mind the cost of doing business with overseas partners and importation expenses. However, one should always remember that native kratom farmers charge their American counterparts very little for raw plant matter.
To put this in perspective, 30 grams for $14.99 equates to a whopping 50 cents per gram. This figure is steep, which wouldn’t be a problem if Kratom Labs had bulk pricing to incentivize customers to buy big. Unfortunately, it does not and 50 cents per gram is about the best you’re going to do here.
All orders are shipped via the USPS (United States Postal Service), with Ground Mail automatically provided. You may opt for an upgrade to Priority or Express Mail if you would prefer an expedited shipment.
Expedited shipping costs are surprisingly affordable at Kratom Labs. This may come in handy if you have to return your package at your own cost.
The Terms of Service allude to a Return Policy, but no such policy appears to be published to the site. That being said, the Terms of Service make it clear that Kratom Labs cannot and will not be held liable to consumers, and refunds may be difficult to procure.
This is another area in which this vendor demonstrates a bit of sketchiness. If you click on the How to Pay page on the site, you are invited to fill out a contact form with your personal info. A company rep will then be in contact to take your credit card information.
This does not seem at all secure and I wouldn’t trust anyone with my card info without a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and a checkout with encrypted protocol.
As of this writing, the Checkout page reads, “This store can’t accept payments right now.” To say that this is unprofessional is an understatement.
Most reputable vendors would apologize for any inconvenience, roll out free kilos, and drop kratom coupon codes like they’re hot. Not Kratom Labs. This seller appears to take for granted that its customers will return for more despite the total lack of decorum.
Speaking of rolling out special deals (or not), Kratom Labs has no discernible history of offering promotional codes. Even on I Love Kratom where this vendor was approved, no coupons were ever offered.
Kratom Labs does not strike us as a reliable kratom brand, nor does it seem to be deserving of your trust. While it has been approved by the ILK, so have countless other kratom vendors. Such approval is arguably meaningless and should not affect your decision.
If you’re thinking about buying small batch kratom from this vendor, you may want to reconsider. Although its name and appearance would suggest quality and purity, there is little concrete evidence of its safety.
