You have decided that you want to purchase your first vape kit. You may have been convinced by friends or family members who are vapers, or perhaps you have seen the growing presence of the vaping community online. Most likely, however, is that you have either recently quit, or are in the process of quitting smoking, and are on the lookout for a healthier alternative. No matter your reasons for turning to vaping, you are ready to get started on your vaping journey.
The biggest piece of advice we can give to vapers who are just starting out is this:
Don’t make a rash decision on your first vape kit!
Deciding on a whim, without giving it any prior thought whatsoever is the quickest way to end up with a kit that is not right for you, and you are likely to have a bad experience as a result. That isn’t to say that you would be alone if you did so, as this is one of the most common errors that amateur vapers make.
Before making any purchase, it is worth doing your homework, but with vaping, this is especially important. It is a lifestyle choice, and if you are hoping to find a vape device that you can stick with, it is hugely valuable to do your research before making a decision based on impulse.
This is exactly why we’re here. We are huge fans of vaping ourselves and have been a part of the community for many years. As we have experienced firsthand the benefits that making the right choice for your first vape can bring, we couldn’t be happier to pass on our learnings to our community here at Legion of Vapers.
We know that when starting out, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the immense amount of vape kits out there. From pod kits to pen-style kits, pod kits to disposables, there really is a lot to take in. And with the huge amount of pioneering vape brands out there, such as Geekvape, SMOK, Uwell, Innokin, Vaporesso and VooPoo to name a few, finding a logical starting point to purchase your first vape is easier said than done. Fear not, we are here to help!
So first thing’s first… what even is a vape kit?
What is a vape kit?
Simply put, a vape kit or starter kit refers to the vape device that you will use to vaporise e-liquid to inhale vapour, or put more simply, to vape.
Starter kits provide everything amateur vapers will need to start vaping for the very first time. With the exception of external batteries which sometimes need to be purchased separately, your all-in-one vape will come with every piece of hardware built-in. This will consist of a tank, a coil, a battery, and a mouthpiece (sometimes referred to as a drip tip). These are the core elements of any vape device, but of course, your kit will come with other pieces, such as user guides to teach you how to use the device and charging cables to power your device’s battery life.
Why choose a starter kit?
For those just starting out, opting for a starter kit as opposed to purchasing individual elements is a no brainer, as everything you will need will be in one place. As you become more accustomed with vaping, you will naturally lean towards purchasing additional, more advanced pieces of hardware for your vape kit, but beginning your vaping journey with a starter kit builds a solid foundation for the future.
If this will be your first kit, the chances are, vaping will take some getting used to. Purchasing a starter kit is the easiest way to familiarise yourself with all of the vaping basics as all of the tools you need will be at your disposal. Whilst it is true that starter kits do not offer the same level of customisability as an advanced box mod or kit, this serves as more of a benefit to beginner vapers. When new to vaping, you do not want to become overwhelmed by the huge amount of customisation that you can do to your e-cigarette, and your vaping experience will be more standardised.
Lastly, as each of these items are likely to incur a more significant cost when purchased separately, starter kits are often the most budget-friendly way to get started with vaping. For those making their first foray into vaping, starter kits are not only convenient, but the most economical way to begin.
Now that you know what constitutes a vape kit, let’s take a look at the most popular types available.
Different types of vape kits
The vape industry has come a long way over the past few years, and as a result, a wide range of types of vape kits currently exist. However, as the ‘kit’ in their name denotes that everything you will need to get vaping comes with the device, we can consider each option below as a starter kit.
Pen Kits
Pen kits, or vape pens, are highly portable devices that are cylindrical in shape. Their compact build makes them very convenient for vaping whilst on the go. As vape pens are one of the more transportable types of devices available, they often feature longer-lasting batteries than other device types.
Their portability does not come at a cost to their power, as they are still more than capable of delivering excellent flavour and producing large amounts of vapour on the exhale. Pen kits feature removable, refillable tanks which you will use to replenish your device’s e-liquid.
At Legion of Vapers, some of our most popular vape pens are the stylish-looking Innokin Endura T18 II, the highly-regarded Aspire PockeX and the powerful SMOK Vape Pen V2.
Vape pens are a very approachable option for amateur vapers as they are very easy to use. However, despite their uncomplicated nature, they are powerful enough to offer a wide variety of innovative features that would not be out of place on even the most advanced vape kits.
Pod Kits
Pod Kits go by many names—pod mods, pod systems, pods vapes, to name a few—and much like pen-style vaping kits, they are compact and portable, but do not compromise on their functionality and performance as a result of their slimmer, smaller stature.
Unlike pen kits, pod kits do not include tanks. Instead, to hold their e-liquid, they use detachable pods which you affix to the end of the device. These pods come in both replaceable and refillable options. A vape user will replace replaceable pods with another when their pre-filled amount of e-liquid runs out. Refillable pods, on the other hand, are not as simple to use as a replaceable pod, but they are less limiting in that you can fill them with any e-liquid of your choice.
As we know just how useful they can be, we stock a wide range of pod devices. Standout performers are the famous SMOK Nord 4, the reliable Geekvape Aegis Boost, and the innovative VooPoo Drag S.
Pod mods prioritise ergonomic comfort and ease of use, so they are similarly a great option for vaping when on the move. They are not just suitable for beginners either; vape users of all levels of experience will get good use out of them.
Disposable Kits
Like your standard starter kit, disposable vape kits contain all of the elements you need to get vaping right away, but with one key difference – they are disposable! They allow for limited usage as they will only contain a certain amount of puffs in each device, but their convenience more than makes up for this, as when you are finished, you can simply throw them away. They do not compromise on their flavour or cloud production as a result, either.
Much like pod systems and pen-style e-cigs, they are pocket-sized and discreet. With a disposable vape, you will not have to worry about replenishing your e-liquid, as they come pre-filled. Most of the time, the e-liquid they contain will be a nic salt – disposable vape kits usually contain higher nicotine concentrations.
We carry a wide range of disposable kits at Legion of Vapers – it seems that our community simply can’t get enough of their convenience! Our most popular model by far is the Geekvape Geek Bar. Following this is the sleek-looking Elf Bar and the brand-new IVG Bar.
Disposable kits are designed to offer a combination of flavour, throat hit and instant craving relief that is most like a traditional cigarette. They emulate the sensation of smoking even more so by the way in which they do not feature fire buttons. To vape from this type of device, you will just need to inhale as you would a regular cigarette. In this way, they perform much like cig-a-like devices.
Different vaping styles
You’ve learned what a vape kit is and its basic functions, and you’ve discovered the most popular types of vape kits available on the market. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more confusing, you learn that there are also different vaping styles?
Don’t panic! The different types of vaping style simply refers to the way in which you draw vapour into your lungs, and it is fairly self-explanatory. Still, it is certainly worth reading to discern which resonates most with the vaping style that you would most like to pursue.
Mouth-to-lung (MTL)
A mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping style refers to the process of drawing e-cigarette vapour into your mouth before you inhale. In the majority of cases, first-time vapers transitioning from smoking regular cigarettes will lean towards choosing a vape kit that supports mouth-to-lung vaping, as the sensation will feel the closest to smoking. Mouth-to-lung devices are mostly smaller than other devices, and pen kits, pod kits and disposable kits can all fit into this category.
More often than not, MTL vape kits will support regular, or plus-ohm vaping, as their coils will have a resistance of 1 ohm or greater. In layman’s terms, this means that your coils are more resistant to the power output from your battery, and they will take longer to heat. Your e-liquid will vaporise at a lower rate than it would in a DTL device. You will receive less vapour, but this isn’t exactly a negative thing. In most cases, you will taste more flavour and receive a more intense throat hit as a result.
Direct-to-lung (DTL)
A direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping style describes the action of inhaling vapour into your lungs, directly from your device. Generally speaking, the types of devices that support direct-to-lung vaping can output more power than MTL devices, and vapers can produce bigger clouds as a result. As the extensive cloud production would have you believe, the sensation of vaping a DTL device is more comparable to smoking shisha than smoking a regular cigarette.
The large majority of DTL vape kits are sub-ohm kits, which means that their coils will have a resistance of less than 1 ohm. With this lower resistance, sub-ohm coils are able to heat e-liquid to produce vapour more quickly, which will in turn lead to extensive cloud production.
If you are transitioning to vaping from smoking, try to remember that you are going through a transition period, and you should not be surprised if you do not feel like an expert right at the beginning. After all, vaping will be completely new to you. However, this does not mean you need to feel overwhelmed! Finding a vape kit that works for you and that you feel comfortable using can make all the difference during this time of transition.
The more time you spend using your vape kit, the more comfortable you will become. Naturally, over time, the technology will become second nature to you, and you will soon be in a position where you can move towards using more advanced devices.
We hope this guide has helped you learn more about the different types of vape kits available and will allow you to choose your first vape kit. If you are looking for any further advice or guidance, please do feel free to get in contact with us. We will always be more than happy to start you on your vaping journey.
Thank you for reading, and happy vaping!
