If you’re a recent smoker looking for a cost-effective and user-friendly vape kit, that’s compact and pocket friendly, requires low-maintenance, is leak-free and mess-free, provides enough power to get you through a full day, and is compatible with nicotine salt e-liquids which are available in high nicotine strengths for fast acting nicotine craving relief, then pod system kits are for you.
Pod Vape Kits: Types, Benefits, and Choosing the Best Pod System
Pod vapes are one of the most popular styles of vape kits available in the UK. In this guide will provide all the information you need to see if pod kits are a better fit for you and your needs.
If you’re asking yourself questions like ‘What are pod vape kits?’, ‘How do pod vape kits work?’ and ‘What vape kit is best for me?’, you have come to the right place. Join us as we jump in and answer all your pod kit questions.
What Is A Pod Kit?
Pod kits are e-cigarette devices used to turn e-liquid into a vapour that can be inhaled, providing a less harmful alternative to smoking. Electronic cigarettes are around 95% safer than smoking. What makes pod system kits different from the all other vaping devices is that they use a plastic pod to store e-liquid and a heating coil, instead of a glass tank. Pod vape devices are more portable, easier to fill with e-liquid, clean to maintain, highly durable, making them an ideal choice for transitioning smokers looking for an easy to use vape kit as they switch to vaping.
Like disposable vapes, most pod kits are activated by inhaling on the mouthpiece. Pod vape devices are equipped with clever technology which allows them to detect airflow as you draw from the mouthpiece. The inhaling process triggers a sensor which activates the device to send power to the coil to vaporise e-liquid within the pod. Often called “inhale-activation” or “draw-activation” which simplifies the vaping process with a button-free design.
Pod vapes are purpose built for on-the-go use, therefore the working parts inside are tightly packed together making pod kits more compact and lighter in weight compared standard kits, they will slide in your pocket or purse with ease. They are designed with first time vapers in mind making them an ideal vaping option for all vaping experience levels, and those looking for a hassle-free and reliable vaping kit that’s simple to use and maintain.
What Parts Makes Up A Pod Kit?
Pod kits are made up from two main parts, a vape battery device and a vape pod.
Vape Battery Device
The vape battery is built into the device which provides power to convert heat to the coil which turns e-liquid into an inhalable vapour. The vape pod connects to the top section of the pod device via a magnetic connection.
Vape Pod
Vape pods are convenient reservoir cartridges used to house a vape coil and e-liquid on top of your pod vape device. They are most commonly made from eco-friendly food-grade PCTG material which is transparent and won’t deteriorate from the heat of the coil. Following TPD-regulations in the UK, e-liquid pods for vaping hold a maximum capacity of 2ml’s of juice to be fully compliant.
Pods feature a filling port where e-liquid is added, sealed by a silicone plug to ensure the pod doesn’t leak out any e-liquid when in use. Anti-leaking technology vaporises e-liquid condensation, locking the vape liquid inside the pod preventing any unwanted spills for a clean and mess-free vaping experience.
There are two main types of vape pods, refillable pods and prefilled pods.
What Are Refillable Vape Pods?
Refillable pods (also known as ‘open pods’) are empty cartridges, with an opening to fill the pod up with your favourite e-liquid. When refillable vape pods run low on e-liquid, just top them up with more juice and continue to use them without throwing away the pod. Refilling pods with e-liquid is an easy step for most vapers, and it opens up a world of flavour and nicotine types offering more choice and customisation options.
Pros Of Refillable Pods:
- Variety of Flavours: Ability to enjoy more e-liquid options from various brands
- Nicotine Options: Choose from various nicotine levels, including nicotine-free e-liquids allowing you to lower your nicotine dose if you wish
- PG/VG Ratios: Explore different styles of e-liquid and PG/VG formulations, to alter vapour production, throat hit and texture of vapour
- Cost-Effective: Works out cheaper as the pod can be refilled and used again
- Environmentally Friendly: The pods can be reused multiple times generating less waste
- Reliability: Refillable and reusable vape pods offer reliability, with few issues
- Widely Available: Refillable pods are compatible with a wide range of e-liquids including 50VG/50PG, nic salts and freebase e-liquids which can be purchased from reputable retailers across the UK
Cons Of Refillable Pods:
- Maintenance: Requires slightly more maintenance and upkeep including cleaning and in some cases coil replacements
- Potential for Leaks: Incorrect filling can potentially cause leaks. If e-liquid enters the central airflow tube chimney, this can result in you getting e-liquid in your mouth
- Learning Curve: Brand new vapers may feel a little intimidated when refilling pods with e-liquid and cleaning pods
- Knowledge of E-Liquid: Some knowledge of types of e-liquids available and compatibility with various devices is required
What Are Prefilled Vape Pods?
Prefilled pods (also known as ‘closed pods’) arrive pre-filled with e-liquid in the flavour and nicotine strength you choose. These pods don’t have any access points to add more e-liquid when the pod is empty. When the e-liquid within the pod is used, switch the pod out for a new one. This means no refilling or coil changes are necessary, with minimal maintenance required similar to the convenience of disposable vapes.
Pros Of Prefilled Pods:
- Beginner-Friendly: Really user-friendly even for brand new vapers with no prior vaping experience
- No Refilling Required: Pre-filled pods contain e-liquid, so no manual e-liquid filling is necessary
- User-Friendly: Very easy to use, even those with little vaping knowledge, or dexterity issues
- Convenience: Other than pulling out the used pod and replacing it when the e-liquid is used up and charging the battery, there are no other maintenance steps required
- Flavour: Pods arrive already filled with e-liquid flavours, primed and ready to vape
- Leak-Proof: There is no way for e-liquid to escape out of the pod as the cartridge is tightly sealed
Cons Of Prefilled Pods:
- Less Choice of Flavours: Available in a limited selection of e-liquid flavours
- Fewer Nicotine Strengths: Available in a limited choice of nicotine strengths usually in 20mg (2%), which may be too strong for some vapers
- Quite Wasteful: Once the vape liquid in the pod has been used, there’s no way of refilling the pod. This means that the prefilled vape pod needs to be replaced which generates plastic waste
- More Expensive: When used every day prefilled pods can be quite expensive compared to refillable pods which are cheaper
- Proprietary Pods: Only pre-filled pods specifically made for your device will fit your vape kits connection, limiting flavours and places to purchase replacements
Pods are available with coils built-in to the pod, or empty pod cartridges that use replaceable vape coils:
What Are Refillable Pods With Built-In Coils?
Built-in coil pods (also known as ‘fixed-coil pods or ‘preinstalled cartridges’) are refillable replacement vape pods which contain a non-removeable integrated atomiser coil (heating element). Built-in coil pods offer a convenient and hassle-free option as they eliminate the need for coil replacements and pod cleaning.
Fill the pod with compatible e-liquid and puff on your vape, when the coil built-into the pod starts to taste burnt, simply pull out the used pod and replace it with a fresh pod. When using a new fixed-coil pod always ‘prime’ the coil by filling the pod with e-liquid by waiting 5-10 minutes for the e-liquid to saturate the coil and coil wicks before taking a hit on your vape.
Pros of Built-In Coil Pods:
- User-Friendly: Simply fill your pod with 2ml’s of vape juice, wait 5-10 minutes while the e-liquid saturates the coil, and you can take a nicotine hit on your vape
- Minimal Maintenance: Fixed-coil pods dramatically reduce maintenance steps like changing coils and cleaning pods
- Hassle-Free Vaping: When your pod starts to burn, remove the pod and insert a fresh one. Pods generally last roughly one week before they need replacing
- Limited Coil Selection: Built-in coil pods are often available in fewer resistances limiting your options, which may be helpful for new vapers discovering vaping for the first time, but the choice of coil resistances offers more customisation
- No Coil Installation: The non-replaceable coil is fixed into the pod, limiting the risk of incorrect atomiser head installation which can lead to leaking and lack of connection between your pod and vape device
- No Messy Coil Changes: Over time a gunky residue can build up on the coil itself, sometimes creating a mess when switching out old coils for new ones. There’s no coil replacements necessary with pods that feature non-replaceable fixed-coils
- No Cleaning Required: When you notice your preinstalled coil starts to taste burnt, vapour production is reduced, e-liquid flavours aren’t as strong tasting, and the e-liquid within the pod has turned dark and thick, simply pull out the entire pod and press fit a new one
- Mouth-to-Lung Vaping: Built in coil pods are most often designed for mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping which provide an inhale that mimics the draw from a cigarette, nicely bridging the gap for recent smokers transitioning to vaping
Cons of Built-In Coil Pods:
- Limited Choice of Coil Resistances: There’s generally less coil resistance options available when choosing integrated coil pods compared to removable coils
- More Expensive: The preinstalled coil pod will last as long as the heating element, when the coil starts to deteriorate over time, the entire pod needs replacing which works out less cost-effective compared to replaceable coil pods
- Less Eco-Friendly: More plastic waste is generated when using built-in coil pods, if you are an environmentally conscious vaper, pods with removable coils that can be replaced are a greener vaping choice
What Are Refillable Pods With Removable Coils?
Removable coil pods arrive as an empty cartridge, compatible with a range of resistance coils. The common plug-and-play design makes for easy coil installation. When you notice a burnt taste, the coil needs changing. Simply swap out the coil while continuing to use the same pod until you start to notice wear and tear after a few months of use, then you can replace the pod. Each coil should last about one week on average.
Pros of Removable Coil Pods:
- More Customisation: Customise your vaping experience with coil resistance selection, whether you’re an MTL, RDL or DTL vaper, you can choose the right coil for your needs
- Cheaper to Maintain: Pods which adopt a removeable coil method work out considerably cheaper compared to pods fixed within the pod itself
- More Eco-Friendly: Adopting greener vaping practices is always beneficial. The pod cartridge can be reused, just replacing the coil itself instead of the entire pod and coil
Cons of Removable Coil Pods:
- More Maintenance Steps: Pods that use loose coils require more maintenance steps especially for beginners who are less familiar with vaping
- Learning Curve for Coil Replacements: With a bit of practice, coil replacement becomes a quick and clean task
