How To Choose The Best Vape Device: A Guide for First-Time Buyers

Buying your first vape can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be so if you do some simple research beforehand. Below we’ll go over what you should consider before purchasing a vape and the five most important categories of vapes, from disposable vapes to smart vapes, who they’re for, and in the end, we hope you’ll have a better idea of the vape you're going with. 

What is Vaping?

Vaping is the name we've given to inhaling vapor, basically smoking without the smoke. Vapes usually contain nicotine, cannabinoids, or some other type of active functional ingredient, although some vapes are entirely nicotine-free. While cigarettes contain more than 7,000+ chemicals, vaping uses a liquid named vape juice or e-liquid that only contains four to three ingredients: nicotine (which is optional), vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, artificial and natural flavorings. 

What Are Vape Mods or Vape Devices?

Vape mods are devices you can fill with vape juice or e-liquid. More specifically, they are the devices that heat up the coils using the integrated battery and vaporize the e-liquid in the tank. This way vape devices create the vapor that you inhale.

Although, the term 'vape device' can also be used to refer to disposable vapes.

What Are The Best Vapes?

There is no such thing as the best vape since they all have different advantages and disadvantages. Some are excellent for people starting with vaping, others are perfect for those that want to customize their vaping experience, and others are ideal for those that want to vape but prefer to stay away from nicotine. 

Most devices these days come with various e-cigarettes safety features, especially pod mods, pod systems, and box mods, and in our book, the safer the device, the better.

Unfortunately, most accidents that occur or appear in the news are often the result of mishandling of ecig batteries, particularly those that are detachable (like 18650s or higher), are extremely powerful and require special safety precautions that most beginners ignore. However, these batteries are only found in more advanced devices like box mods and mech mods which are barely used now anyways. 

KUMI

Check out the KUMI smart vape! It's all about blending cool looks with top-notch tech for an awesome vaping session. You can tweak it just how you like, it's super easy to use, and the battery lasts a long time. Perfect for those who want the best.

With its shiny screen, the KUMI lets you check your puffs and battery without being too flashy. It's small enough to fit in your hand or pocket, and you don't even need to press a button to start puffing.

Geek Bar Pulse

With the Geekbar  Pulse you can adjust the airflow and switch between two power modes, giving you heaps of puffs. Plus, the display is really straightforward, showing you everything you need to know at a glance.

Get the full Geek Bar Pulse review here 
Or get the full rundown on Geek Bar Flavors here

Raz Vape TN9000

This device has an incredibly tough battery, airflow you can tweak, and tons of flavors to try. The Raz Vape TN9000 is small and comfy to hold, perfect for when you're out and about. However the display is lightly behind the one on the Geek Bar Pulse.

Check out our full Raz Vape TN9000 review here or our rundown on all Raz Vape Flavors

Kangvape Onee Stick Disposable Vape

The Kangvape Onee Stick 3000 Puffs Disposable Vape is one of our best-sold disposable in 2023 for many reasons. First of all, is made by Kangvape, one of the best disposable brands in the world. It comes in 20+ different flavors that are truly excellent, ranging from menthol to ice cream. And it comes with 3000 puffs more than enough for a beginner. If in doubt purchase this vape. 

Lost Mary MO20000 Pro

The Lost Mary MO20000 Disposable Vape is a game-changer for high-puff count fans. With an astounding 20,000 puffs, it’s built to go the distance—making it one of the longest-lasting disposables available today. Produced by Lost Mary, a brand celebrated for pushing the boundaries of innovation and design, the MO20000 combines sleek aesthetics with powerhouse performance. With dozens of five-star reviews in our store and growing demand, this device is quickly becoming a customer favorite for vapers who want serious longevity without sacrificing flavor. 

Get the full review of the Lost Mary MO20000 or a full rundown of the Lost Mary Flavors

Consider This Before Buying a Vape

Before getting down to the nitty-gritty, there are some things you have to consider:

• Are you a recent smoker trying to quit? This question is important because if you are a recent smoker, you’ll be looking for something that allows you to vape with high nicotine strengths, potentially helping you calm nicotine cravings.
• Are you planning on vaping in public or at home?: If you’re looking to vape discreetly, you might want a vape that does not create too many clouds or has a lower cloud production. On the other hand, if you’re going to make plumes of smoke, you’ll need something with a large cloud output. 
• How much money are you looking to spend?: When buying anything, a budget always comes to mind. While you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a new vape, we do recommend you buy a high-quality product that will last a long time and preferably comes from a reputable manufacturer. We have an entire vape section with vapes under $10
• Do you want a device you can reuse?: There are many devices on the market, those you can reuse are usually high maintenance; knowing if you wish to spend time tinkering with your vape or merely using it without having to clean it is something you should keep in mind. 

Types of Vape Mods and Other Devices

These are the five most popular categories of vapes and who they’re made for.

Cig-a-likes

Cig-a-likes were the first vapes ever created and, as such, lack much of the latest technology. Sold in gas stations and convenience stores, most of them are draw-activated, which means you inhale to activate them. Some are rechargeable, and others are disposable. They are the cheapest out of all the vapes available and, as of now, very hard to find.

Who they are for: 

Cig-a-likes are for people who want to try out and see what vaping is all about. If you plan on switching to vaping full-time, we suggest you spend a bit more and go with a pod system or disposable.

Disposable Vapes

Disposable vapes are the most common entry-level vape devices in the market. They come filled with nicotine salts that are higher in nicotine strength than freebase e-juice, you can find them in a wide variety of flavors, are usually draw-activated, and are designed to be tossed once they run out of vape juice. Nowadays, these are considered the standard entry device for vapers since they come with many features found in pod systems, and now  can come with as many as 50 thousand puffs, in some cases even more. Which means they end up lasting for weeks.

Who they are for: 

Disposable vapes are great for people that need to satisfy intense nicotine cravings, vapers who are looking for a convenient vape solution, or users who need something they can use and throw away easily.

Pod Mods and Pod Systems

Pod mods and pod systems are small, compact, light, and use smaller batteries. The most popular of its kind is probably the JUUL vape or Geekvape. Closed pod systems use flavor pods that snap in and out of the device for maximum convenience. Open pod systems or pod mods come with empty pods which you can use, clean, and re-fill with your e-liquid of choice. Think of them as high-end reusable disposables.

Who they are for: 

Pod systems are also recommended for former smokers who want to get into vaping and for vapers who have used disposables before but are looking for something more long-lasting. Like disposables, they use nicotine salts, so they are better at satisfying nicotine cravings. The only upkeep they require is buying new pods or vape juice.

Box Mods

Box Mods are bulkier and heavier units, especially because they house a bigger battery. They are not very discreet since they release large clouds, but they are perfect for at-home use. They also tend to be more expensive than other products, have the highest upkeep out of all the devices, and are made for users who don’t have a problem with buying and replacing parts. But this is not necessarily a negative feature, it also allows you to fine-tune and customize your vaping experience. 

Who they are for: 

They are for vaping veterans and for people who want to become vaping hobbyists. Box mods come with digital displays and several extra features to help users control voltage, wattage, and battery use. While you can buy a box mod as a first-time vaper, we recommend you stick to pod systems or disposables since box mods require more knowledge to operate. 

Mechanical Mods

The same thing as box mods but also has room for two 18650 batteries and, more importantly, releasing more power for more massive clouds. These look more simple but are usually custom-made and require knowledge of circuitry and Ohm’s law.

Who they are for: 

Although they look relatively simple to use, having just one firing button, they require advanced knowledge of coil resistance, electrical currents, and Ohm’s law. Mech mods are not for beginner vapers, only for advanced vapers that know how to build coils. What’s more, we no longer sell them. 

Conclusion

Doing groundwork and research before purchasing a vape is a key element of a satisfying vape experience, especially if you’re planning on buying your first vape. Our advice? Start with disposables  then consider moving up to pod systems or a box mod if you’re planning on taking vaping seriously. 

Need to narrow down what disposable to use. See our other blog Beginners Guide to Vaping