With all of the advances in product development, there’s never been a better time than now to start vaping as an alternative to smoking cigarettes.
Today we’re going to explain the different types of entry-level vape device and present our picks of the best vape starter kits of 2020.
Pod Kits
Pod kits are the most basic style of vaping device. They come in all shapes and sizes but share one attribute, the use of a disposable pod. A pod kit integrates the tank and coil into a single piece. This creates a simple user experience and allows for small and sleek designs.
Some pod systems are even pre-filled with e-liquid, resulting in an even more user-friendly experience. However, this style of product tends to be more costly in the long run and means you won’t be able to choose from the thousands of e-liquids on the market.
Our Picks:
1. Uwell Caliburn
Price: £20-25
The Caliburn exemplifies the refillable pod category. It’s easy to use and is revered for excellent flavour production and pod longevity. This results in a great vaping experience and lower overall running costs.
The battery might not last heavy users all day but it’s quick to charge and we can only expect so much run time from such a small device. An excellent choice for anyone who wants a discrete, simple and reliable entry-level vape device.
2. Vaporesso XROS
Price: £20-25
The XROS shares many of the Caliburn’s features, including top fill and fire activation methods.
It also features airflow adjustment which is an important feature for new vapers. This allows you to more closely emulate the experience of smoking with a tight draw, or move away from that entirely with an open, airy draw. The battery should last for a full day of use for most people.
The XROS is slightly larger than the Caliburn but is still pocket friendly, so the difference between these two devices is largely one of personal preference.
AIOs
All in one devices (AIOs) are the next logical step up from pod kits. They are often styled in a similar way to pods, but with the option to use replacement coils, instead of a disposable pod.
The extra space in AIO designs allows for bigger (or removable) batteries and additional features such as chipsets which allow you to customise the power output of your vape. If you don’t mind a device that’s slightly larger than a pod system, an AIO might be the best choice for your first vape.
Our Picks:
1. Aspire Nautilus Prime
Price: £28-35
The Nautilus Prime is a sleek AIO kit that can utilise all of Aspire’s existing Nautilus BVC coils, which are widely available and well regarded.
On top of this, the large battery, airflow control and regulated chipset allow you to tailor the power of your vape all the way up to 60w. The combination of widely available coils, simple chipset and smooth airflow controls makes for a great user experience.
2. SMOK Fetch Pro
Price: £30-35
The Fetch Pro is powered by replaceable 18650 batteries which allows you to swap a fresh battery in whenever your device is running low. The device is compatible with all of SMOK’s RPM and RGC coils, which allows new vapers to experiment with different styles of vaping and find out what works best.
The experience of this kit is topped off with a streamlined wattage only chipset, which means you don’t need to mess around with any complicated menus to get the most out of the device.
Internal Battery Mods
Vape mods use a standardised 510 connection, which allows you to use any compatible 510 atomiser with the mod.
This means you are never locked into one brand’s coils and are free to experiment with the latest 510 tanks as you see fit. Internal battery mods are offered in many shapes and sizes but internal battery starter kits are often referred to as “mini mods” due to their small size.
Our Picks:
1. Geekvape Aegis Mini
Price: £35 (mod only), £40-45 (with tank)
The Aegis Mini is a fantastic “first mod” and definitely one of the best vape starter kits on the market. It’s waterproof and shock resistant, which makes it a great choice for those who work outside, travel frequently or tend to be clumsy. Meanwhile, the battery should have plenty of capacity to get most people through a full day.
The Aegis Mini is sold as a kit with the Cerberus, which is a basic but reliable tank that serves as a good introduction to the world of higher wattage vaping.
2. Innokin Coolfire Z50
Price: £40-50
The Coolfire Z50 is an outstanding mini mod and tank combo that should suit just about any new vaper who is interested in low power vaping.
The mod itself is tiny but powerful and is bundled with the Zlide tank, which is one of the best of its kind on the market. The Zlide tank features a simple top-filling design and precise airflow control.
The tank is compatible with all Innokin Z-coils, which are widely available and known for their excellent flavour production. As an all round kit, it’s hard to go wrong with the Z50.
The Wrap
Although we consider these six devices to be the best vape starter kits out there, it’s important to remember that there are hundreds of devices on the market than can provide you with a great vaping experience.
The most important thing to look for in any vape is that it can keep you from smoking cigarettes. If your device is doing that, it’s working!
Header Image by Itay Kabalo on Unsplash
