Vape Kits

Four types of vape kit, one decision

The vape market loves new terminology, but the underlying kit types have stayed stable for years. You are really choosing between four things: a refillable pod kit, a prefilled pod kit, a vape pen/starter kit, or a sub-ohm setup. Each is built around a different priority.

Most people coming off cigarettes or disposables start with either a refillable pod kit or a prefilled system. The logic is straightforward: both are small, draw tight like a cigarette and need very little setup. Sub-ohm kits are a different category entirely and are not a sensible starting point if you have never vaped before.

Refillable vs prefilled pod kits

This is the fork in the road for most new vapers. Both do the same job, but the economics and the experience differ.

Most long-term vapers end up on refillable systems. Prefilled kits make sense if you want minimal effort or are bridging from a disposable.

Vape kit types at a glance

Here is how the main categories compare before we go into each one in detail.

MTL = mouth-to-lung (tight, cigarette-like). RDTL = restricted direct-to-lung (slightly looser). DTL = direct-to-lung (airy, cloud-heavy).

Refillable pod kits: the everyday choice

A refillable pod kit is what most people settle on within a few weeks of starting. The device has a built-in rechargeable battery, usually between 800mAh and 2000mAh. You slot in a pod, fill it with nic salt through a side or top port, and vape. When the coil inside the pod fades after a week or two, you either swap the coil or replace the pod entirely, depending on the system.

The OXVA Xlim at £11.99 is as simple as refillable gets: one-button operation, good build quality, consistent flavour. The Aspire Loomix (from £13.99) is another no-drama option. If you want more control, the Voopoo Argus P3 (£30.99) has adjustable wattage and fits the whole Argus pod family. The Geekvape Wenax Q2 (£16.99) sits in between: compact, reliable, and forgiving if you are still learning your way around a refillable.

All of these take nic salt at 10mg or 20mg. High-VG shortfill is too thick for pod coils and will gunk them up in a day. That is not a brand warning; it is physics.

Refillable pod kits we stock

These are the kits that move consistently, and the ones we would suggest to a friend.

Starter kits and vape pens

A vape pen is a slim, cylindrical device, usually a bit larger than a pod kit, that uses a tank rather than a sealed pod. The Innokin Endura range is the clearest example of this format in UK retail: the T18E Starter Kit (£19.99) comes with the device, the Prism T18E tank and a coil fitted. You add liquid; it does the rest.

Starter kits like this are popular with vapers who prefer a traditional tank they can see into, rather than a sealed pod. The coil lifespan is similar, the draw style is MTL and the liquid is the same nic salt you would use in a pod kit.

The honest trade-off: pod kits are more compact and often more convenient day-to-day. Vape pens work well for people who find small pod kits fiddly to fill or who prefer the physical feel of a longer device. Neither is objectively better.

Sub-ohm kits: not for beginners, and not pretending to be

A sub-ohm kit pairs a high-wattage regulated mod (typically 30W to 80W or more) with a sub-ohm tank. The draw is direct-to-lung, completely open, and it produces large clouds. The nicotine in your liquid needs to be low, usually 3mg or below, because the volume of vapour you inhale is so much higher than an MTL draw.

These kits suit vapers who have already been through the pod kit stage and want more. More flavour complexity. More cloud. More control over every setting. The Voopoo Drag X3 (£29.99) and Voopoo Drag S3 (£28.99) are well-regarded examples: powerful, well-built and not dramatically overpriced for what they are.

If you are new to vaping, start with a pod kit. Not because sub-ohm is dangerous, but because the experience is so different from smoking that it tends to cause more confusion than satisfaction when it is your first device. The refillable pod kit route is a much smoother landing.

Running costs: what a refillable kit actually costs per week

A refillable pod kit has two ongoing costs: liquid and coils. A 10ml nic salt at VapeCity is priced per unit (sold in packs of ten). A regular vaper will go through a bottle every three to five days, so roughly two bottles a week. The coil in the pod lasts one to two weeks and costs around £2 to £3 to replace depending on the brand.

Compare that to disposables, which were running at around £5.99 each and dying every one to two days for a heavy user. The maths shifts dramatically. Even accounting for the upfront device cost, most vapers recover it within a fortnight on a refillable kit.

The highest running cost variable is how heavily you vape, not which kit you choose. A person who hits their device a hundred times a day will spend more than someone who takes ten puffs. That sounds obvious, but it changes how you should think about the value of a big battery: if you vape a lot, a 1500mAh battery matters. If you vape lightly, it is an unnecessary extra.