Best Starter Vape Kits for Beginners in 2023

If you're looking to make the switch from smoking to vaping, then choosing the right starter kit is essential. There are so many vapes suitable to start your vaping journey with, and choosing the best vape starter kit for you can be the key to making the switch successfully. When picking out your first vape, it's important to consider factors such as ease of use, quality, and price. Most of all though, make sure whatever you choose feels right for you. The best starter vape kits for beginners are designed to help you move over from smoking to vaping, and aim to offer the best possible experience when just starting out.

This blog explores some of the top starter vape kits for beginners in 2023. We’ll highlight the features that make these kits stand out from the crowd, and share tips on how to choose the right vape for the experience you’re after.

Whether you're a smoker looking to make the switch or have already begun vaping, this blog will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions when buying a beginner vape.

How to Choose the Best Starter Kit for You

To make sure you’re choosing the best starter vape for you, you’ll need to think about what type of vape experience you’re looking for. Whichever starter kit you choose, vaping.com has got you covered with a range of pod systems and vape pens. Not sure what the difference is? Let us break it down for you. 

A pod system, or pod vape, has a removable cartridge called a “pod”. Depending on the kit, the pod is either refillable or entirely replaceable. They’re simple to use in most cases, and can be draw-activated (where you only need to draw from the device to activate it) or single-button (where you’ll have to press a button to use it). Some devices have screens with adjustment buttons.

Rechargeable vape pens are often long and cylindrical shaped. Rechargeable vape pens are built for more long-term use, and let you fill the vape with your own chosen e-liquid, provided it’s compatible with the device. Just like pod systems, rechargeable vape pens will require some upkeep on their parts.

Read more about each device type in our Beginner’s Guide to Vape Pens and Vape Devices. 

Before you decide on which device to go for, there are some important factors to consider to make sure you get the best vape starter kit for your needs. These include the following:

• Ease of use - to start your vaping journey off right, any device you choose should be user-friendly, with clear instructions and simple controls.
• Size - consider the size and portability of the kit. If you plan to take your vape with you on the go, you might want something that’s compact, fairly light, and easy to carry around.
• Battery life - picture this, you’re out and about and your vape goes flat. If you want a vape that lasts while you’re out and about, it’s good to make sure the kit you choose has decent battery life.
• Quality and reviews - read reviews from other users to get a feel for a brand’s reputation and the quality of its products.
• Price - vape starter kits come in a range of prices, so consider your budget when making a decision. It's important to invest in a good-quality kit, but you don't want to overspend if you don't have to. If you’re looking for something simple, there’s no need to buy a vape with loads of features - these devices are intended for more experienced vapers.
• Nicotine strength - when using vaping as part of your smoke-free journey, it's important to consider the nicotine strength of the e-liquid you’re using. Make sure it's suitable for your needs. It can also help to check if there are compatible e-liquids with lower nicotine strengths, so you can gradually reduce your nicotine intake over time. Take note, while you’re looking for the best vape starter kit UK regulations state that maximum nicotine strength is 2mg per 1ml - this is the maximum strength allowed in the UK to meet regulatory requirements.

Vape Parts Explained

So far, we’ve mentioned a few specific terms like e-liquids, coils, and tanks. If you’re a beginner, you might not be familiar with these, but they’re fairly straightforward to get to grips with.

E-liquids are the flavoured liquids that you use in a vape. They come with a set PG/VG ratio - PG meaning Propylene Glycol, and VG - Vegetable Glycerin. The ratio of these two components help determine the consistency of the e-liquid, and can affect the vaping experience altogether. Alongside PG and VG, e-liquids also commonly include flavourings, nicotine and water. 

A coil is a spiralled bit of metal wire that heats up the flavoured liquid in a vape to produce the vapour that you inhale. It is normally housed inside a small cylindrical metal casing. A tank or pod holds the e-liquid. The coil’s wick soaks up the e-liquid, then heats it and turns it into vapour. You can find out more about them on our pods and tanks page. 

Both coils and tanks require some maintenance to ensure your vaping experience is the best it can be. In fact, all refillable kits should be cleaned regularly. You don’t want the lingering aftertaste of your previous flavour tainting the fresh new e-liquid you’ve just filled up with. For more guidance on this, read our article on How to Clean Vape Tanks and Coils. 

If your device needs a new coil entirely, you’ll need to prime it. You’ll need to replace your coil if your vape tastes burnt. Find out more on why this happens and how to prime a new coil through our guide “Why Does My Vape Taste Burnt”.

The Best Vape Starter Kits for Beginners

Now you know the basics, let’s get into the best vape starter kits for beginners available on vaping.com. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of pods, pens, and disposables for you to check out, and why we think they’re suitable for new vapers.

Disposable Vape Kits

Disposable vapes are exactly what they sound like. They’re low maintenance, easy to use, and you can simply dispose of them responsibly once they’re used up. Plus, they’re a great way to test out your flavour preferences without worrying about the maintenance and upkeep of a refillable system just yet. Disposable vape pens are pre-filled with e-liquid and can’t be refilled once used up. It’s a good idea to dispose of your vape properly once you’ve finished using it. They can come in a variety of different flavours, from sweet and fruity to tobacco and menthol options. 

Keep in mind that disposables aren’t a good long-term vaping solution. If you try one out and find yourself enjoying the vaping experience, it’s best to then explore other, rechargeable options.

SKE Crystal Bar

The Crystal Bar disposable vape by SKE is probably the hottest vaping products in the UK right now. Crystal Bar lives up to it's name with a super stylish smooth injection moulded finish. Contained with the pod is 20mg (2%) of super smooth and satisfying nic salts. When it comes to flavour options you have an astonishing 28 flavours to try out to find your favourite. Each Crystal Bar comes with an integrated 500mAh non-rechargable battery which will see you through 600 draw activated puffs.

Dinner Lady Disposable Vape Pen 1.5ml

This Dinner Lady Disposable Vape Pen is sleek and stylish in its design and easy to use. Prefilled with 20 mg nic salt in its 1.5 ml capacity, it has an integrated coil and battery and is ready to use straight out of the box. These pens are draw-activated and have a built-in LED light which illuminates on the inhale to indicate the battery is on and working. This light flashes four times to let you know when the battery is depleting. Choose from a variety of flavours, including - but not limited to - Banana Ice, Smooth Tobacco, Fruit Mix and Fresh Menthol.

 IVG Bar Plus Disposable

The IVG Bar Plus Disposable is a draw-activated, 20 mg nic salt vape. All you have to do to use this device is take it out of the box and start inhaling, without the need for refilling or recharging. Its ease of use makes it perfect for beginners, and with 16 exciting flavours to choose from, it’s sure to delight your taste buds too. Flavours range from unique Aloe Grape and Vanilla Custard Tobacco to Strawberry Watermelon, Polar Mint and more.

Elfa Pod Kit

This Elfa Pod Kit is a rendition of the popular Elf Bar disposable vape, available in five fun colours. It’s draw-activated and can be used MTL (mouth-to-lung) style, which is similar to how you inhale a cigarette. This makes it well suited to beginners looking for a sense of familiarity when first switching over from cigarettes. The Elfa Pod also contains 20 mg of nicotine salts, great for those with high nicotine preferences, including ex-heavy smokers [Internal link to ‘Best Vapes for Heavy Smokers’ article]. The kit comes with a 2 ml pod in Blue Razz Lemonade flavour, with 13 more flavours available to buy separately.

Vape Kits 

If you’ve already got a taste for vaping through disposables, or have decided to jump straight to a more long-lasting device, rechargeable vape kits have a lot to offer. Here are our top five picks for the best starter vape kits. 

UWell Caliburn X Vape Kit

The Caliburn X Vape Kit is a powerful device with an 850mAh battery that can last the entire day. It has a Type C charging cable for quick charging, and an OLED display screen which gives you a wealth of vaping data, including puff count, wattage setting, coil resistance, and if the device is locked or not. This vaping kit is short, lightweight, and easy to use making it ideal for beginners. 

While the vape has a firing button, it can also be draw-activated, even when the device is locked. It also lets you adjust the airflow to switch from MTL to DTL vaping, great for if you want to try inhalation styles other than MTL.

Spare parts for this particular vape kit are Caliburn G Coils. Thanks to the excellent Pro-FOCS flavour technology, these coils last longer than most for unrivalled flavour and long-lasting performance.

Geekvape Sonder U Pod Kit

The lightweight Sonder U Pod Kit can easily fit inside your pocket or bag when on the go. Its surface is textured for better grip and long-lasting durability, and comes in eight cool colours. It’s ideal for MTL vaping, making it a great fit for beginners who have just transitioned over from smoking. 

Beginners can invest in GeekVape’s B Coils (x5) designed for regular vape juice and stronger nic salts for delicious flavour. Simply replace your existing coil with this replacement and start vaping!

Vaporesso Gen Fit Kit

The Gen Fit is a great kit for beginners. This MTL vape pen has been designed to make vaping easier, cleaner, and more enjoyable. You’ve got the choice of either button activation or draw activation, which makes it simple to use and perfect for beginners. Its sleek design is available in six colours and made from lightweight, yet durable, aluminium alloy. This design features a useful LED light next to the tank, above the firing button, which has three colours to indicate how much charge is left in the integrated battery. 

This vape kit is compatible with the Vaporesso MTX 1.2Ω coils with 8-12W - developed for MTL vaping. This product will soon be available on Vaping.com. 

Geekvape Wenax M1 Kit 

This Wenax M1 Kit is an ultra-portable vape perfect for beginners. It’s lightweight, small, and decently priced - great for those just transitioning from smoking to vaping and want to test the waters without spending too much money. It has a 2 ml vape juice capacity with a silicone coating on the mouthpiece, making it both easy and comfortable to use. The design is sleek and discreet, comes in a selection of solid and gradient colours, and feels great in the hand too.

The spare part for this particular vape kit a beginner can invest in is Wenax M1 Pods. This particular kit provides a pre-installed 2 ml e-liquid pod with 0.8Ω 14-16W coil, making it easy for beginners.