Beginner’s Guide to Vape Pens & Vape Devices

As one of the most game-changing inventions of the past century, vaping is a non-combustible alternative to smoking that significantly reduces the harmful elements of combustible smoking, while still giving you that satisfying nicotine hit.

There is a lot to learn about vaping and the devices themselves. That’s why we have put together this informative vape guide, to tell you everything you need to know – from what vaping is and how to refill a vape pen, to the different kinds of vape kits and devices you can buy today.

So, let’s start with the basics of vaping.

What is vaping?

A vape device heats your choice of E-liquid and turns it into vapour. If your choice of vape juice has nicotine in it, this is what delivers nicotine into the lungs.

Vape Pens.

Coming in a wide variety of styles and uses, vape pens are traditionally cylindrical and long, as opposed to the blocky style shaping of the box mod vapes.

The two main types of vape pens are refillable and disposable - both of which require E-liquid to function.

Refillable vape pens will also require new coils and external cell replacements – eventually. Once the liquid is down to the minimum required amount, all you need to do is simply unscrew or pull off the stopper, if it’s a pod, and replenish.

Disposable vape pens come with a prefilled amount of flavoured vape juice and a built-in battery. They will stop producing vapour once empty. Once fully used, these can’t be refilled and need to be disposed of appropriately.

If you want more information check our guide on the best vape pens of 2023.

How to refill a Vape Pen.

For vape devices with a refillable chamber, it’s super easy to replenish the E-liquid. All you need to do is remove the silicone stopper or mouthpiece by pulling or unscrewing it from the body of the device. Once you have done this, fill the tank leaving space at the top for flow, reseal and replace the silicone stopper/mouthpiece.

Vape juices are required by law to have a child safety lock. To break the seal, simply press down hard and twist open.

Your vape pen also comes with a coil, that you should replace on average after every 10 days of use. This will ensure you continue to experience the same delicious flavour you’ve come to expect from your vape.

If you recognize a change in taste, stop vaping and replace the coil, using the instructions in the user manual.

Pod Systems (Or Pod Vapes).

For those looking to move away from smoking, pod vapes offer a tremendous amount of simplicity. The majority have a removal pod cartridge, which is refillable or entirely replaceable once the vape liquid is empty. These offer great convenience for those who are just getting to grips with how a vaping device works.

We think the best vapes for beginners are the single button and draw-activated devices – these require the least work to operate. Simply press or draw on the device and your vape will work as intended.

It’s important to note that most pods have a line that signifies the minimum amount of E-liquid the vape should contain for use – too little will result in the cotton inside the coil drying out which can lead to a dry hit and the coil burning out.

Ensure you read the information pack provided for help with how best to dispose of your pods, once you’ve finished with them.

Read our guide on the best pod vapes of 2023.

Box Mod Kits.

Nowadays, box-shaped modifiable vapes (box mods) are a very recognizable form of vape kits. One of the reasons for their popularity is that they have a much larger battery that’s more high-tech than other forms of vapes.

Some of our box mod vapes have options for eco mode, low cell mode, and many other settings to maximize efficiency. If you’re new to vaping, getting too specific about your choice of battery isn’t overly necessary at this stage!

Box mods give you more control over your experience while vaping. Depending on your coil, liquid choice, airflow, and wattage, you can alter the feel of your vape to cater to a more mouth-to-lung (MTL) or direct-to-lung (DTL) feel.

• MTL is more akin to cigarette smoking.
• DTL gives vapers a softer throat feel and the ability to create much bigger clouds.

Vape Kits for Beginners

For those who are unsure of what to buy, vape starter kits make it easy to get all the parts you need in one place. Starter kits won’t include any liquid, but they will contain all the essential parts for operation.

In a starter kit, you can expect to find:

• Your chosen device
• The tank or pod for the vape
• Coils
• One USB cable for charging
• A user manual

You’ll also be able to choose the colour of your vape pen, take a look through the selection available to find the right vape starter kit for you.

Vape Coil Variations.

There are two main types of coil variations, that will impact your vaping preference.

Plus-Ohm.

Most pod systems use higher resistance coils in the range of 1.0 to 3 Ohms - however some use as low as 0.8 Ohms. These are best suited for mouth-to-lung vaping and produce a cool feeling vape with less vapour.

Plus Ohm resistance is designed for nic salts with higher nicotine content and a 50/50 PG/VG consistency, when combined with the correct coil they provide a stronger throat feel with a more satisfying nicotine intake.

A higher degree of resistance uses less battery power – meaning smaller, less powerful devices. If you’re transitioning from relatively heavy smoking, look for a vape device that caters to coils with this higher resistance range.

Sub-Ohm.

Sub-ohm vaping uses lower resistance coils (below 1.0 ohm), allowing more wattage to pass through the wires, which means the coil heats more – giving you a warmer vapour with an airier hit, and much grander clouds.

This style of vaping contains lower nicotine content with a 30/70 PG/VG consistency typically and a less harsh throat feel.

However, more power means a bigger device and more battery use, so prepare for your sub-ohm coil to be more of a drain on your power supply.

There are many different types of Box Mod Vapes available; to help you discover which is the best mod for you, we created this handy vape mod guide.

Vape Liquid, also known as Vape Juice or E-liquid.

Finally, the most unique and fun part of the vape – the vape juice.

Finding the best flavour is completely down to your own taste buds’ preference. This makes disposables particularly useful - especially if you’re new to vaping and are looking to try out a few different flavours.

It's important to bear in mind the differences in the strength of these liquids. You’ll see all our vape juices range from 0mg of nicotine, all the way up to 50mg – the legal maximum amount allowed under American law.

We recommended that you try and match your current nicotine strength with the level you’re already experiencing with cigarettes, then gradually reduce the strength with each purchase until you are nicotine-free!

For UK users:

You’ll see different size bottles across our stock.

• 50ml Shortfill bottles are designed for mixing your own nicotine, coming with space at the top for a 10ml nic shot. Larger box mods and vape pens are ideal for these types of sub-ohm liquids.
• Pre-mixed 10ml vape juices with nicotine added, ranging from the lowest 3mg up to 12mg in strength.
• Smaller pod vapes cater for stronger nicotine salts from, 10-20mg strengths in 10ml bottles with a 50/50 PG/VG consistency.
• Lower nicotine 50/50 blends can be used with these devices - which is great if you are cutting down, or just don't need as much nicotine in your vape.

For US users:

We stock great-tasting regular vape juices up to 120ml, containing nicotine strengths from 0-12mg.

• Our Nic salts are available from 30ml and may contain up to 50mg of nicotine.
• Lots of great-tasting E-liquids are available in tobacco-free nicotine blends.
• As well as sub-ohm salt and 50/50 vape juice options - whatever you want, we've got you covered!

For the latest tips, advice, and insight into how to get the best experience while vaping, make sure you check out our dedicated vaping blog.