Moving Beyond Disposable Vapes

Disposable vapes are long-lasting, boast massive e-liquid capacities and have amazing performance. Vaping.com carries a vast selection of models because these are the most popular with adult vapor consumers. 

The sheer capacity and puff count of modern disposable vapes necessitated a digital display to show e-liquid level and battery life. And within these initial parameters a real arms race began. Geek Bar surged in popularity with the Pulse Mode disposable and rocket ship animations. Then flavor control vapes entered the fray.

Even before these more powerful disposable vapes, obsolete gas station pod kits were completely overmatched by the performance of devices like the Elf Bar BC5000. Only the FDA's PMTA scheme chasing viable adult-friendly vaping products off the market has kept vapes like the NJOY and Vuse Alto relevant. 

 

Disposable Vapes Arms Race: Boost Mode to Flavor Control

Larger screens appeared, more power modes were made available, larger batteries were needed to power these modes, boost modes were relabeled "Nic Boost", and dual tanks with flavor control arrived on the scene.

We have been left with technologically amazing disposable vapes. Unfortunately, they are also one-time use. This means the big battery, big screen, and sophisticated electronics all end up in a landfill after the 15ml or so of e-liquid contained within are consumed.

This has resulted in ever larger devices, many resemble plastic vape mods, that are in the garbage after only a few weeks. There are solutions available that provide a satisfying vaping experience, do not skimp on performance, and reduce your environmental footprint.

 

Misleading Propaganda Targeting Disposables

While alarmist propaganda, discussed in our feature "Is the US Being Flooded by Chinese Made Vapes?", is easy to dismiss as Big Tobacco's Vuse, Juul and NJOY are made in China as well. Vuse claims their e-liquids are "blended in the US". The reader can decide why they chose to use the vage terms "blended" and not state the e-liquids are made in the USA. Not did they list the point of origin for the ingredients in these e-liquids: vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine salts, and artificial faux-bacco fake tobacco flavor.

 which does not answer where the e-liquid ingredients, but the hardware is coming from the same trusted Shenzhen-based manufacturers as an Elf Bar or Geek Bar.

A particularly misleading quote you will read is that vaping sales have reached all-time highs in recent years. The reality is the minors vaping has reached a ten-year low. And flavor bans have increased cigarette sales, for youth and adults, in New Jersey, New York, California and elsewhere. 

What this number shows is how the tobacco industry is hemorrhaging customers to alternative nicotine products like pouches and vapes. 

 

Responsible Disposal of Disposables

For many adult vapor consumers who successfully resisted efforts to funnel their money back to the cigarette industry, disposable vapes remain a lifeline. There is no denying the ease of use, flavor and appeal of their performance. 

If you are not ready to switch to a refillable device and a modular disposable is not available in your market, there are steps you can take to reduce the impact of disposable vapes.

You should be mindful but also keep in mind that the environmental impact of cigarettes, with monoculture practices, pesticides, labor issues, rampant litter, and the incredibly toxicity of cigarette butts means that switch back to ripping butts is not giving the environment a break. 

• Check with your city or county to find how they handle the disposal of batteries and material recovery.
• Located designated e-waste recycling points in your area that accept small electronics.
• Never litter your disposable vape. They stick out like a sore thumb and any level of litter will be used as an excuse to further deny adult vapers access to their preferred products.
• Do not leave your disposable vapes, or any product with a battery, in a hot car or direct sunlight.
• Make sure, within reason, that the battery is discharged before disposal.
• At one time local vape shops offered disposal service for battery powered devices. But when the FDA adopted the PMTA scheme to destroy the independent vaping industry and grant the tobacco industry a monopoly on nicotine products, thousands of these shops were shuttered and employees with the knowledge to assist adult vapers was dispersed to the wind.

Alternatives to One-Time Use Disposable Vapes

Adult vapers using disposables but who are looking for an eco-friendlier option have two choices. These are modular disposable vapes and refillable pod systems.

The refillable vape pod systems are the "greener" solution but require a bit more effort because they require filling. They also have a lower capacity than a disposable, it is not like you can forgot about everything but charging for days on end. 

Modular disposable vapes provide basically identical performance to a standard disposable. The difference is that you detach the battery when the e-liquid is drained and only throw away the half that contained the e-liquid and very small battery.

Refillable Pod Kits

In a world with no complications, where the federal government wasn't dead set on banning the flavors that adults prefer and denying 21+ year old nicotine consumers access to alternative products, the refillable pod kit would be a no brainer. They take almost no effort to fill. They charge quickly and are draw activated. You should, but in some states cannot, have access to any bottled nic salt under the sun to fill the device up.

There are also Pod Mods, which has greater performance that allows users to embrace lower nicotine vape juices and bask in clouds of vapor with the direct lung vaping experience.

The first wave of pod kits was benchmarked to beat Juul and Vuse. As such, the precedent for a capacity of 2ml was set. Moreover, the EU and UK limit pod capacities to 2ml. In pursuit of a more global device, you won't find refillable pod kits with a ginormous 15ml pod. In any event, for freshness and performance it is better if the e-liquid stays in the bottle longer and is not subjected to the heat of the atomizer.

Vaping.com carries an excellent collection of refillable pod kit devices. We recently reviewed Geek Vape's Wenax Q series collection. The Smok Novo, Mi-Pod kits, Vaporesso XROS, Voopoo Vinci, and UWell Caliburn are other notable draw activated pod kits that provide the taut and flavorful nic salt performance that adult vapers seek.

Related Links

• Shop Nicotine Salts
• Shop Pod System Vapes
• Shop All Replacement Pods
• Shop Geek Vape Kits and Pods
• Shop Vaporesso Pod Kits and Replacement Pods
• Shop VOOPOO Mods and Pods
• Shop UWELL Caliburn Pod Kits
• Shop Mi-Pod Pod Kits
• Shop Smok Vape Kits
• Shop Smoke Replacement Pods and Coils

Related Reviews

• Smok Novo Master Kit Review
• Smok Novo Box Kit Review 
• Which Geek Vape Wenax Q is the Best?
• Which Geek Vape Pod Mod is Better: Digi Max or Digi Pro?
• New Vaporesso Corex Pods Review
• Rating Every Smok Novo

 

 

Modular Disposable Vapes

If you are an adult vapor consumer wed to the ease of disposables, there are now modular disposables where the battery is saved and only the e-liquid containing half is tossed. Off Stamp vapes is the frontrunner here. The Foger Switch Pro adopted a similar approach and Geek Bar seemingly snapped their Digiflavor SKY in half to create the modular Digiflavor BRK

We discuss these modular vapes at the end of this feature. This approach is a massive improvement but still less eco-friendly than a pure open system pod kit where only a small plastic ends up as trash. In some cases, only the coil is removed, and the pod itself is utilized for many months. Instead, our focus is an open system that benchmarks popular disposable vapes and prefilled pod systems.

Related Links

• Shop Off Stamp Vapes
• Shop Off Stamp X-Cube
• Shop Off Stamp SW-Series
• Shop Digiflavor BRK
• Shop Foger Switch Pro

Related Reviews

• Modular Vapes Collide: Off Stamp X-Cube versus Foger Switch Pro
• Off Stamp X-Cube Review
• Digiflavor BRK Review

 

Best Disposable Vapes with Reusable Batteries and Screen

A mod sized disposable vape is a regular site, so popular that Altria has dedicated millions to barring them from the market as flimsy and obsolete gas station pod kits like the Vuse Alto could never hope to compete with disposable with a puff count of 20,000, better flavors, more interactive technology in the form of a screen, stronger vapor production, more wattage on tap, multiple modes, and a battery 3-5 times larger.

Attempting to eliminate the competition so the tobacco industry can go back to selling mediocre 2015 technology disposables at an inflated price is the impetus behind the PMTA Registry Laws. But this does not mean that disposable vapes are an ideal solution. It is a wasteful approach.

 

 

Top Vape Brands Enter the Fray

Our introductory section spoke in some length on modular disposable vapes with reusable batteries and screens. Hopefully we will see even more innovation to green up the disposable market or a wider embrace of open systems like the Geek Vape Wenax collection. But if squeezing a bottle just doesn't work for you, three of the most trusted brands in vaping have a modular disposable vape.

Off Stamp Vapes

One solution to this waste was hit upon in the Off Stamp vapes collection. Powered by Lost Mary, Off Stamp vapes reuse the battery and screen component. Only the half that contains the e-liquid, and a small battery that requires the reusable battery half to charge, is pitched away. This approach saves money, the replacement "disposables" that are affixed to the battery half are less expensive as they have no screen or large battery. This design also allows for an experience identical to a disposable vape, no filling. Just charging and magnetically connecting the two halves.

 

Off Stamp X-Cube

The original Off Stamp SW9000 and SW16000 were compatible with each other. They benchmarked the Elf Bar BC5000 and Lost Mary OS5000, providing unbeatable flavor, a simple display and huge puff count.

The Off Stamp X-Cube targets fancier disposable vapes, making it more than a match for Rifbar Mixpro, Geek Bar Pulse X, Lost Mary MO20000 Pro, and other powerhouse vapes with multiple modes, a reusable screen with vaping animations, and dual tank flavor-controlled vaping.

The Sweet Cube Collection for the Off Stamp X-Cube is the flavor control model. Combined with boost mode, it has every feature of the most elaborate disposable. The Off Stamp X-Cube Classic Cube has a more typical vaping experience without the flavor control button.

You can seamlessly switch between both as these compatible disposables vapes serve as replacement pods that are affixed to the Off Stamp X-Cube battery dock.

 

Foger Switch Pro

The Foger Switch Pro is another modular disposable. The disposable half has a clear tank and an unusually slick and refined appearance. It looks nice and has amazing flavors. The Off Stamp X-Cube is a more sophisticated device, but the Mixpro is still an outstanding option.

There are a ton of flavors, and they are great. The disposable vape tank half has impressive capacity. Foger also embraced more subdued design language. If the popping pastels of the Off Stamp X-Cube are too much for you, the Foger is a great choice.

Foger Switch Pro Disposable Vape Pod

• Disposable Battery: 200mAh
• E-Liquid Capacity: 19ml
• Nicotine Strength: 50mg
• Puff Count: 30000 Normal Mode, 18000 Boost Mode
• Coil: 1.0ohm Dual Mesh Coil
• Airflow Control
• Clear Tank
• Disposable Size: 96 x 31 x 27.66mm

Foger Switch Pro Battery Charging Dock

• Power Bank: 850mAh Magnetized Charging Dock
• 2- Level Power Modes: Normal/Boost
• USB Type-C Rechargeable
• Super-Fast Charging Capabilities
• OLED Screen
• Display: Battery and e-liquid levels.
• Disposable Size: 96 x 31 x 27.66mm
• Combined Size: 96 x 54.58 x 27.66

 

 

Digiflavor BRK

The Geek Bar Skyview 25K had its name changed to the Digiflavor Sky 25K to avoid market confusion. You can basically buy a modular version of the Digiflavor SKY, which is called the Digiflavor BRK. Fans of Geek Bar vapes will notice the attention to detail and familiar flavors. The screen remains impressive, and it feels good to know it is not heading straight to the trash bin once the disposable vape is deleted.

Digiflavor BRK Disposable Vape Specs

• Puff Count:20000
• E-liquid contents: 12ml
• Nicotine Level: 50mg
• Two Mode Options
• Fixed Airflow
• Adaptive Color
• Charging: Requires 1000mAh BRK Battery Component
• Built-in 200mAh Battery
• The Digiflavor BRK Pods need the BRK Battery to work and recharge

 

Digiflavor BRK Battery Specs

• Magnetic Connection to Digiflavor BRK Disposable Vape
• Two Mode Options
• Fixed Airflow
• Puff Timer
• Dual Mesh Coil
• 3D Curved Screen Display
• Adaptive Color
• Type-C USB Rechargeable
• The Digiflavor BRK Battery is required to power the Digiflavor BRK 20K disposable vape collection. Disposable has 200mAh battery that requires BRK Battery for use.

 

Final Thoughts

The Off Stamp X-Cube and Foger Switch Pro are a perfect compromise. Ideally, all disposable vapes would adopt this form factor with a reusable battery. They are more wasteful than pod kits but require less customer education for novice initiates looking to make the switch from combustibles or a classic disposable vape.