Vape Kits FAQs
How Do Vape Kits Work?
Your kit has a very important job, it's responsible for turning e-liquid into a vapour that you inhale and exhale. One of the first decisions you’ll have to make when you start vaping is what type of vape kit you’re going to use. Luckily, they all work the same way.
The liquid in your tank/pod is absorbed by your coil’s wick. When you activate your kit the battery heats up the coil and it vapourises the e-liquid. This vapour is then inhaled. As the wick dries out it absorbs more e-liquid and the process starts again. You can keep vaping as long as there is liquid left in your tank.
What Are The Different Types Of Vape Kits?
Even though they all work the same way, there are different kinds of vape kits and learning a bit more about them can make picking the right one a lot easier. Below we’ve broken down the main types and what we like about them. If you’re looking for some direct recommendations, make sure you read our best starter kits guide.
What Are Prefilled Pod Kits?
If you don’t like the idea of throwing away your device every time it runs out of e-liquid, prefilled pod kits are the perfect solution. Compact and almost as simple as disposables, they use replaceable pods that arrive prefilled with e-liquid. Each prefilled pod lasts as long as a disposable vape and is replaced when empty, The rest of the kit is reusable and the battery inside can be recharged.
Buy A Prefilled Pod If…
- You’re looking to move away from disposables: The closest thing to a disposable, prefilled pods feature the same design, the same inhale activation and are even the same size as most disposable vapes. But, they’re cheaper to use and generate less waste.
- You still want something simple: Even though they’re not quite as easy to use as disposables, prefilled pod vapes only need to be charged and have their pods replaced when empty. This makes them much simpler than refillable vapes.
Don’t Buy A Prefilled Pod If…
- You want use your own e-liquid: Although there might be a wide variety of prefilled pods available for each kit, the range doesn’t stand up to the frankly enormous collection of e-liquids you can take advantage of with refillable vapes.
What Are Refillable Pod Kits?
A simple option that you can pair with a huge range of e-liquid, refillable pod kits are a favourite amongst beginners and more experienced vapers. These kits tend to be compact devices fitted with long-lasting rechargeable batteries, making them ideal for vaping on the go. Cheaper to run than prefilled vapes, replacement pods and bottles of e-liquid cost less than single-use devices and generate less waste too.
Buy A Refillable Pod If…
- You want more control over your vape: Picking a refillable kit opens you up to a whole world of options when it comes to e-liquid. You can vape any flavour and nic strength you want, and you’ll never be limited to what your kit’s manufacturer thinks are the best e-liquids.
- You’re looking to save money: One of the biggest draws of refillable kits is that they offer a real opportunity to save more money. You won’t be throwing away an entire device or a pod every time it runs out of juice, instead, you refill and reuse your kit.
Don’t Buy A Refillable Pod If…
- You don’t like maintenance: Changing coils and refilling your kit are easy ways to save money, but these jobs aren’t for everyone. If that’s the case, you’re much better off with a prefilled vape.
What Are Box Mod Kits?
Trading the long, thin battery for something a little bulkier, box mod kits are a more powerful option that last for longer and create a larger amount of vapour. They use refillable tanks and removable coils, like vape pens, but normally have a higher power output. They’re also the type of kit most likely to feature “vape modes” that you can use to adjust power and temperature for your perfect vape.
Buy A Box Mod Kit If…
- You’re looking for more customisation: A lot of box mod kits feature customisable output modes, this means you can control the flavour and temperature of your vape with more accuracy, as well as the amount of vapour it produces.
- You want a DTL vape: There are pens and pods that deliver a genuine DTL vape, however, the big batteries in box mod kits allow them to produce larger amounts of vapour for longer, with some going all day between charges.
Don’t Buy A Box Mod Kit If…
- You’re looking for a compact vape: While their larger batteries do mean these kits can last for longer – even at higher power outputs – this does have an impact on their size. Don’t worry, they’ll still fit in your pocket, but they’re nowhere near as slim as something like a prefilled pod kit.
How Much Do Kits Cost?
Every kind of vape kit, whether it’s prefilled or refillable, is cheaper than smoking, but some cost a little less than others. Here’s a quick, one-off cost, price breakdown.
After the one-off cost of buying your kit, you will need to factor in the ‘running costs’ and this includes things like replacing your device entirely (disposables), or buying extra pods, e-liquid and coils to keep your kit going. If you’re looking for an in-depth analysis, check out our Vaping Vs. Smoking Calculator .
What Are The Best Vape Kits?
Picking the right vape kit comes down to more than just price, and every variety has its benefits. Picking the right one is all about price, simplicity and maintenance. You don’t want a kit that’s out of your price range and similarly you won’t use a kit that’s too complex or requires more upkeep than you’re comfortable with. Find the balance of all three and you’ll have found the best kit for you. Make sure you also check out our best vape kit guide for more inspiration.
What Are MTL & DTL Kits?
Vapes might come in lots of different styles, but they actually fall into two main categories: Mouth To Lung (MTL) and Direct To Lung (DTL).
Mouth To Lung kits produce a small amount of vapour and feel like smoking a cigarette. You inhale vapour into your mouth and then breathe it into your lungs before exhaling.
Direct To Lung kits produce a larger amount of vapour and you have to inhale a little differently; breathing vapour directly into your lungs, without holding it in your mouth first, and then exhaling. DTL vapes offer a longer, more relaxed inhale and don’t feel the same as smoking. You can find out more about them in our Beginner’s Guide To Sub Ohm Vaping .
- Disposable Vapes - MTL
- Prefilled Pod Kits - MTL
- Refillable Pod Kits - MTL or DTL
- Vape Pens - MTL or DTL
- Box Mod Kits - MTL or DTL
What’s The Best Vape Kit Brand?
We stock a lot of different brands and each one has a unique take on kits. Some manufacturers focus on simple devices, Vaporesso vape kits and Aspire vape kits are a good example of this. Others, like Voopoo vape kits , often feature customisable modes and are geared towards vapers looking to control how their vape feels.
Where Can I Find Cheaper Devices?
Vaping on a budget isn’t as hard as you might think! Alongside picking more economical vapes, like refillable pods and vape pens, you can also take advantage of our clearance section. We get new products all the time and we need to make space, this means you can get vapes from your favourite brands at a price lower than RRP. The sample goes for e-liquid too!
What E-Liquid Goes With My Vape Kit?
Ignoring flavour for a moment, picking the right e-liquid comes down to whether you’re using an MTL or DTL kit.
MTL kits will work best with 50/50 juices and high PG e-liquids. These thinner e-liquids will create a small amount of vapour and feel more like a cigarette. The higher the PG content of your vape juice, the less vapour it will create.
DTL kits are a little different. As they’re intended to create a large amount of vapour, you’ll need an e-liquid that can do the same. In this case, an e-liquid with a VG content of 60% or higher is the best choice, 70% VG vape juice is the most popular.
Aside from picking the right VG/PG ratio, you’ll also need to decide which nicotine strength and flavour you’d like to try. If you’re looking for a bit of guidance, check out our Ultimate Guide To E-Liquid for more tips.
Need Help Picking A Kit?
Picking your vape kit is an important job and a little knowledge goes a long way. If you haven’t already, go check out our short beginner’s guide to vaping for a bit of grounding.
If you fancy talking to a human, contact our Customer Service team . They’re all vaping experts and are always happy to offer a recommendation on what might work best for you.
There’s also our full selection of vape kit guides , that cover everything from picking your first kit, to what are the best pod kits and most popular vape pens. There really is a guide for everything!