Vape kit buying guide

How to Buy the Best Vape Kit

The most important thing to know about buying a great vape kit is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great value. Vape kits for beginners are inexpensive because they’re designed to provide an experience that’s simple and straightforward. That’s exactly what you want if you’re buying your first vape.

As you gain experience and get to know your preferences, you might want to step up to a new vape that offers features like bigger clouds, adjustable power and longer battery life. When you reach that point, you’ll find vape kits to suit your evolving needs right here.

Types of Vape Kits

The most popular types of vape kits in the UK fall into three main categories.

Disposable Vape Alternatives

Disposable vape alternatives – also known as big puff vapes – are the most convenient vape kits that you can buy because they’re already filled with e-liquid and are ready to use immediately. Although big puff vapes look and work much the same as disposable vapes, they’re compliant with the UK disposable vape ban because their e-liquid pods and/or refill containers are replaceable. That means you only need to buy the full starter kit once and can just buy refills afterwards.

Pros
  • Ready to use right out of the box
  • Just as convenient as disposable vapes, but refillable
  • Can potentially last thousands of puffs
Cons
  • More expensive than refillable vape kits over time
  • Limited range of flavours and nicotine strengths
  • Doesn’t work with third-party pods or e-liquids

Refillable Pod Vapes

Pod vapes are the most popular refillable vape kits in the UK. A pod vape kit stores its vape juice in a removable plastic pod, and you need to fill the pod with e-liquid before you can start vaping. A refillable pod vape requires a little more effort than a big puff vape since you need to fill the pod yourself and replace the pod or coil occasionally. The fact that a pod vape uses bottled e-liquid, though, means that you can enjoy a much wider variety of flavours and nicotine strengths.

Pros
  • Usually smaller and more pocketable than big puff vapes
  • May have better flavour quality than big puff vapes
  • More economical over time than big puff vapes
Cons
  • Requires frequent refilling
  • Need to replace the pod or coil when the flavour quality decreases
  • Higher up-front cost than big puff vapes

Vape Mods

Vape mods are large box-shaped vapes that usually store their e-liquid in glass tanks. Vape mods are the most powerful vape kits on the market, and they’re capable of operating at power levels above 200 watts in many cases. Vape mods often have advanced features like adjustable wattage and automatic temperature limiting. They’re often preferred by advanced vapers and typically aren’t ideal for beginners due to their higher complexity compared to other types of vapes.

Pros
  • Higher vapour production and bolder flavours
  • Wattage control allows for a customised experience
  • Can often work with third-party vape tanks
Cons
  • Complex operation makes them inappropriate for beginners
  • Usually not optimised for the mouth-to-lung inhaling style most beginners prefer
  • Larger and heavier than other vape kits

What E-Liquid Should I Buy for My Vape Kit?

If you’re buying a refillable vape kit, you’ll also need to buy e-liquid in order to use your device. E-liquid comes in two forms: freebase e-liquid and nicotine salts. You’ll need to choose between those types, and you’ll also need to choose a nicotine strength and flavour.

Type

  • Try nicotine salts if you’re looking for an e-liquid that offers satisfying nicotine delivery but doesn’t create a sense of harshness in your throat.
  • Try freebase e-liquid if you’re looking for a stronger sensation in your throat.
  • Use low-strength freebase e-liquid if you’re buying a powerful vape kit such as a vape mod.

Nicotine Strength

Freebase e-liquid and nicotine salts are both available in strengths up to 20 mg/ml.

  • If you’re buying a small vape kit such as a pod system, we suggest starting with the 20 mg/ml strength to duplicate the nicotine delivery of a cigarette as closely as possible. Step down to a lower strength if you experience an unpleasant intensity or harshness.
  • If you’re buying a large vape kit such as a vape mod, we suggest starting with the 3 mg/ml strength. Step up to a higher strength if you find the experience unsatisfying and need a bit more intensity.

Flavour

Taste is subjective, and that’s why there are hundreds of e-liquid flavours on the market today. Many people start with tobacco or menthol flavours, but most vapers who try sweeter flavours like fruit and candy end up preferring them. We recommend buying a few different flavours of e-liquid with your first vape kit because that’ll help you learn what your preferences are.

What Are the Best Brands of Vape Kits?

Choose a reliable brand

At Simply ELiquid, we offer a curated selection of reliable vape kits sourced from the industry’s top brands. We offer brands like Vaporesso, Voopoo, Oxva, SMOK, Aspire and Geekvape because those are the brands we use ourselves.

Look beyond the price

When you buy a vape kit, look beyond the price because the most expensive vape isn’t necessarily the one that’s best for you. Look for a vape that meets your requirements for portability, features and ease of use. You should also make sure that parts like replacement pods or coils are readily available.

Vape Kits FAQ

Questions About Vape Kits?

Find quick answers about what comes in a vape kit, whether you need e-liquid and how to choose the right type of device.

What is a vape kit?

A vape kit is a complete package that includes a vaping device along with at least one tank or pod. A vape kit also usually includes one spare pod or coil, a charging cable and an instruction manual.

Does a vape kit come with e-liquid?

Only disposable vape alternatives come with e-liquid. If you buy a refillable vape kit, you’ll need to buy at least one bottle of e-liquid as well.

What are MTL and DTL vape kits?

MTL and DTL stand for “mouth to lung” and “direct to lung,” which are the two inhaling styles that you can use when you vape.

  • Mouth-to-lung inhaling means that you draw the vapour into your mouth before inhaling it. You also use the MTL inhaling style when you smoke a cigarette. A MTL vape kit has small airflow openings and a small mouthpiece.
  • Direct-to-lung inhaling means that you inhale the vapour into your lungs without drawing it into your mouth first. Some experienced vapers prefer the DTL inhaling style because it produces bigger vapour clouds. A DTL vape kit has large airflow openings and a large mouthpiece.

Are refillable pod vapes better than big puff vapes?

No single type of vape kit is best for everyone. Big puff vapes are more convenient since they’re pre-filled, but a refillable pod vape allows you to experience a much larger range of flavours and nicotine strengths.

How many replacement pods or coils should I buy?

We suggest buying at least one box of replacement pods or coils when you buy a new vape kit. It’s possible to burn a pod or coil out prematurely if you make a mistake – especially if you’re a new vaper – and a burnt pod or coil can produce a very unpleasant flavour.

How often does a vape kit need a new pod or coil?

You can generally expect a pod or coil to last about a week. Replace it when it begins to taste burnt.