When you enter a vape store for the first time, it’s possible that you’re going to end up feeling a little intimidated because of the enormous amount of variety. There are several different types of vapes on the market today, and each of those types has its own selection of brands, models and flavors. A good vape shop will be crammed from floor to ceiling with these products because there’s so much out there and not enough room to display all of it. With such a huge variety, how can you possibly buy your first vape if you don’t even have a general idea of what you want?
In this guide, we’re going to clear all of that up by walking you through the different types of vapes and explaining their pros and cons. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a much better idea of what’s available and why you might want to choose one type over the others. Let’s begin!
Disposable Vapes
What Are They?
A disposable vape is a ready-to-use vaping device that’s filled with e-liquid and fully charged when you buy it. You can remove it from the box and start puffing on it right away, and you’ll never need to do any maintenance except charging the battery when it dies. Disposable vapes aren’t refillable, so you can only use one until it’s empty. After that, you’ll need to replace it. You’ll find a huge selection of disposable vapes at any good vape store.
What Are Their Pros?
- Disposable vapes are the most convenient vaping devices that you can buy since they don’t require charging or filling before you begin using them.
- To use a disposable vape, all that you need to do is puff on it. It’ll feel completely natural to you right away.
- Since a device only lasts a few days, disposable vapes are ideal for people who want to try many different brands and flavors.
What Are Their Cons?
- Although disposable vapes are inexpensive on a per-unit basis, they’re more expensive than other vaping devices in the long run because each time you buy one, you’re buying an entirely new vaping device.
- They have the greatest environmental impact of all types of vapes. Millions of disposable vapes end up in landfills every week because it’s difficult to find recycling services willing to take them.
Pre-Filled Pod Vapes
What Are They?
A pre-filled pod vape is a vaping device that stores its e-liquid in a pod that you push into a chamber at the top of the device. The pods are pre-filled and aren’t refillable, which means that you’ll throw a pod away when it’s empty and replace it with a fresh one. The device itself, however, is rechargeable and reusable. Packs of pods are available in many convenience stores and in some vape shops.
What Are Their Pros?
- Pre-filled pod vapes are extremely easy to use. Just charge the battery, push in a pod and puff. Recharging the battery when it’s dead and replacing the pod when it’s empty are the only maintenance tasks that you need to perform with this type of vape.
- Compared to disposable vapes, pre-filled pod vapes and other types of refillable vaping devices aren’t as hard on the environment because you’re not discarding an entire device every few days.
What Are Their Cons?
- Pre-filled pod systems have fewer flavors than other types of vapes due to legal restrictions. Because of those restrictions, pre-filled pods are only available in tobacco and menthol flavors. Unfortunately, these aren’t the flavors that most vapers prefer.
Refillable Pod Vapes
What Are They?
Refillable pod vapes are essentially the same as pre-filled pod vapes, but the difference is that the pod for a refillable pod vape is empty until you fill it yourself with bottled e-liquid. You can continue refilling the same pod as long as you like until you no longer enjoy the flavor. When the pod reaches that point, you’ll replace it.
What Are Their Pros?
- Refillable pod vapes are generally the simplest and most compact vaping devices that allow you to choose your own e-liquid. If you want to have the maximum possible freedom for selecting your flavor and nicotine strength while still using a vape that’s as sleek and stylish as possible, this is what you’ll want to choose.
What Are Their Cons?
- Pod systems are the most popular refillable vaping devices on the market today, and they have no significant drawbacks.
Vape Pens
What Are They?
A vape pen is a pen-shaped vaping device with threading at the top that allows it to accept a small tank or cartridge. Although vape pens are often used for e-liquid vaping, they’re also very popular for use with herbal extracts.
What Are Their Pros?
- Vape pens are typically very small.
- Because they use the industry-standard 510 thread, they work with a wide variety of different tanks and cartridges.
- They’re usually designed to work at low wattages, which makes them appropriate for use with herbal extracts.
What Are Their Cons?
- Most of the vape pens on the market today are designed primarily with herbal vaping – not e-liquid vaping – in mind. If you are only interested in vaping e-liquid, you’ll probably want to choose a different type of vape.
Pod Mods
What Are They?
A pod mod is a pod-based vaping device that’s larger and has more advanced features than a standard pod vape. Pod mods tend to hold more e-liquid and operate at higher wattages, making them appropriate for vapers who have higher nicotine needs and need bigger clouds. Although pod mods are larger than standard pod systems, they’re still very sleek compared to vape mods, which we’ll discuss below. In that sense, a pod mod has several of the benefits of both pod systems and vape mods.
What Are Their Pros?
- Pod mods are small but powerful. If you want a vaping device that produces huge clouds but can still fit in your pocket, you’ll probably enjoy using a pod mod.
What Are Their Cons?
- Pod mods are a bit more complex than standard pod vapes, which may not be what you’re looking for if you’re new to vaping.
Vape Mods
What Are They?
Vape mods are the largest vaping devices. They typically store their e-liquid in large glass tanks, and they can operate at much higher wattages than other types of vapes. Because vape mods are often boxy in shape, they’re sometimes called box mods.
What Are Their Pros?
- Vape mods can often operate at up to 100 watts and even higher. They offer the biggest vapor clouds and the boldest flavors of any type of vape, so experienced vapers often use them.
What Are Their Cons?
- Vape mods are typically much more complicated than other types of vaping devices. They’re not the devices that new vapers usually choose.
