How To Choose a Vape Pen

Choosing a vape pen is the first step on your vaping journey because the pen you use will alter your experience. However, even if you’re not new to vaping, it’s easy to find the wide choice of devices too overwhelming. 

Don’t let confusion or analysis paralysis get in the way of your vaping experience. Instead, discover which device will suit you best! 

What Is a Vape Pen?

Designers of vaping technology, also known as vaporiser pens, are specifically created and engineered to heat the e-juice or e-liquid inside the atomiser, which makes the “vapour” that vapers inhale and exhale. 

Vape pens are e-cigarettes in various shapes, sizes, and styles. While some people use vaping pens to help them quit smoking tobacco cigarettes, most vapes will still contain nicotine (the addictive chemical found in tobacco cigarettes). 

While e-cigarettes are not a new invention, the popularity of vaping has spiked in recent years. It’s important to note that just because people can use vapes to help them quit smoking, scientists don’t have enough evidence yet to know the long-term health effects. 

With technology constantly developing, manufacturers aim to improve the vaping experience by allowing users to adapt their settings to suit their needs, offering a more customisable experience. For example, some vape pens will allow you to adjust the heat setting, which gives the user the power to prolong or decrease their quantity of e-juice. 

What Are the Different Types of Vape Pens?

Disposable Vapes

If you’re looking for an easy and convenient vaping method, disposable vapes might fit you nicely. Suitable due to manufacturers pre-filling them with your choice of e-liquid, these e-cigarettes are primarily designed to have you use until the e-juice runs out. While they might be easy to use, a downside to this type of vape is the environmental impact.

Studies show that only 17% of vapers correctly recycle their vapes. In the age of the climate crisis, it’s clear that disposable vapes are adding to the waste problem. If vapers don’t responsibly dispose of their vapes, they add to the climate crisis.

If you know that you’d prefer to buy a more expensive vape model to last you longer and avoid throwing many devices away, the disposable vape might not be for you. However, if you’re looking to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes and want to wean yourself off nicotine, a non-committal purchase, such as a disposable vape, could work well. 

Starter Kits 

If you’re new to vaping and are unsure where to start, what flavours you like, or what you’re looking for in a vape pen, consider buying a RELX starter kit. These kits introduce vaping technology and come with all the components you’ll need to have a working vape. For example, you can expect a battery, charging cable, tank, and coils, which designers create for ease of use. 

Because starter kits are typically less advanced than other device types, you can expect these kits to be more affordable at prices suited to a smaller budget. It’s critical to remember that even starter kit pens can have nicotine in them, so always check your nicotine level isn’t too high. 

Vape Mods

For the more experienced vapers who like to customise their vaping experience, starter kits and disposable vape pen may not do the trick. You can alter more advanced settings with a vape mod, such as your device's temperature, wattage, and voltage. Often, these versions will have larger tanks holding a larger volume of e-juice, allowing more inhalations.

It’s important to note that just because a larger tank will help provide more inhalations, it'll still run out quickly if you use your vape often. So bear this in mind because vape mods are often a more expensive investment than starter kits or disposable devices. They also may require more knowledge of vaping and techniques to use efficiently.

Pod Vapes

If you’re new to vaping, the difference between pods and tanks might seem confusing. However, manufacturers pre-fill pods for ease of use. Once the e-liquid runs out, you replace the pod and continue, making them easy to use. 

Unlike other vaping devices, manufacturers often design pod vapes to be more discreet. 

Squonk Mods

Popular again among e-cigarette users who want to customise their experience, these devices are a form of Vape Mod. They use a built-in bottle, which can squeeze e-liquid into the atomiser, giving you greater control over the quantity of e-liquid consumed. Much like the Vape Mods and Pod Vapes, the Squonk Mods also require more experience and knowledge of vaping and the devices to use effectively. 

So if find yourself asking, “How does a vape pen work?” the more expensive devices might not be for you. 

Key Considerations When Choosing a Vape Pen

While these different devices might seem overwhelming, you don’t need to worry. Once you know all the various considerations, you can make a more informed choice about which type of vaping pen will suit you best. 

Vape Design 

If you know a customisable experience is essential, you may want to skip over the starter kit or disposable. While these devices are great for beginners or those looking to vape infrequently, if you want to control your nicotine level, wattage, temperature, and inhalations, choose a device that allows for these personalisations. 

However, if you’re still asking, “What is a vape pen?” you might be better suited to the cheaper devices until you sufficiently understand them. 

Budget 

You’ll unlikely buy disposable pens or starter kits if you have a bigger budget. However, be realistic when budgeting for using your vape pen.

For example, even with a more moderate budget, you could buy a more high-end vape mod instead of countless disposable vapes to save you from buying many single-use devices. Likewise, if you have a larger budget and can afford to spend more money on higher-quality devices but hope to wean yourself off nicotine, you may not want to invest in a machine that’ll tempt you to use it.

Whatever your budget, there’s a device to suit it. Plan and be realistic about your needs. 

Battery 

Batteries in devices such as disposable pens will be less efficient than those in more up-market styles. So consider how long you want your vape pen to live before buying it. If you want a device with a rechargeable battery that could last you all day, a disposable vape pen probably won’t suit you. 

So, if you’re questioning, “Why should you use a disposable vape?” remember that if you’re looking to use the device once and don’t need it to last you days, these single-use pens will likely be a better fit. 

Flavouring 

One of the biggest attractions for vape pen users is the variety of flavours you can inhale. To their detriment, the flavourings are so appealing they’re attracting child users because they often imitate sweet and dessert-style flavours. With a lack of knowledge of long-term effects and the presence of children consuming nicotine, flavourings can be a cause for concern. 

However, for those on their smoking cessation journey, you’ll want to choose a vape design that suits the flavourings you enjoy. For example, if you have a pod vape, you can quickly try various flavours each time the e-liquid runs out. Alternatively, a disposable vape or starter kit will suit you better if you know what taste you like and don’t vape often. 

Experience 

Your experience as a vaper and understanding of technique and pen design is crucial to helping you choose the best vape for your life. For example, regardless of budget, there’s little point in investing lots of money into a high-quality vape pen if you don’t know how to use it properly. If you can’t use the vape efficiency, it’ll be a waste of time and money. 

Instead, review your experience honestly to help choose a suitable device. A starter kit will be the best if you're a beginner. Once you understand the technique and your preferences, you can move on to looking at the more expensive designs. 

Final Thoughts

Don’t let ignorance or confusion stand in the way of your vaping experiences. Instead, decide which vape pen will suit your style, habits, and budget best! 

Curious about what your next vape pen should be? Discover the wide variety of RELX’s vape devices today!