With vaping becoming ever more popular and more people picking up a kit than ever, there are new vape starter kits hitting the shelves every week. Trying to sift through everything to know which one is right for you can be a little tricky. Pods? Pen vapes? Variable wattage? Coil resistance? There’s a lot to look at and it can be a bit overwhelming when you might have only had a few puffs of a friends vape kit on a night out.
To clear up some of the confusion we’ll break down the benefits of each kind of starter kit as well as give you a few recommendations from each category.
TOP 10 STARTER KITS TO BUY IN 2019, AS CHOSEN BY YOU:
- Zeltu - X Pod Kit
- Uwell - Caliburn Pod Kit
- Smok - Mico Pod Kit
- Aspire - AVP Pod Kit
- Innokin - Endura T20-S Pen Kit
- Aspire - Tigon Pen Kit
- Freemax - Twister Pen Kit
- Voopoo - Drag Mini Box Kit
- Innokin - Kroma iSub-B Box Kit
- Geek Vape - Lucid Box Kit
THE POD MODS
Pod vapes are the ideal first step into vaping. They’re simple to set up, low maintenance to keep and depending on which one you choose, can adapt to a wide variety of nicotine strengths and liquid types.
The pod kits on our list are all “open pod” varieties - meaning you can fill them with whatever e-liquid flavour and strength you like. Using an open pod kit is also more cost efficient as unlike pre-filled pods you can refill each pod multiple times until the coil burns out.
Our list has different shapes and sizes - so you’re sure to find something not only enjoyable to vape but something that suits your personal style too.
1. ZELTU - X POD KIT
The Zeltu X has been on our shelves for a while now because we know how much vapers love it, and for good reason. It’s got a very high end feel with its brushed metallic finish, magnetic protective cap and minimalist looks. Inside it houses an internal 1100mAh battery which lasts you a whole day of vaping with no recharging. There’s just a single button for switching it on and firing the device.
The pods are one of the stand out features of the Zeltu X. They hold 2ml of e-liquid, are super leak resistant and have a top fill design. To refill, just unscrew the little top cap and pour in your e-liquid. You’ve got two resistance options with the pods, one is a 1.2ohm, the other a 1.6ohm making them perfect for nic salts in particular. They’re held in place with magnets, so if you want to swap flavours quickly you can always keep two pods on the go and switch them out when you fancy a change. While the pods are both plus Ohm they both offer a fairly loose mouth to lung inhale and have adjustable airflow so you can control how airy an inhale you get.
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2. UWELL - CALIBURN
Next on the list is a super pocket friendly and minimalist looking kit from Uwell. The Caliburn pod kit is ultra-slim, measuring in at just 11cm tall and just over 2cm wide, it’s the perfect option for those of you who don’t want anything that’ll weigh you down. It’s powered by a 520mAh battery to give 11 watts of fixed output- about the perfect amount for a mouth to lung vape with high nicotine liquids.
Despite its diminutive size, the pods still hold 2ml of liquid meaning you don’t need to refill a whole lot and they just click into place. They offer incredible flavour, particularly for a lower powered kit and using the Caliburn couldn’t be more simple. There’s a single button for switching the device on which can also be used to fire the vape, or you can flip a switch and use it in manual draw mode. When it’s in manual draw mode, you just inhale to vape - couldn’t be simpler.
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3. SMOK - MICO
The Mico is a colourful little option from SMOK, super easy to set up and has a few pod options making it a versatile option for newer vapers. It’s about the size of a box of matches - measuring in at 56mm x 46.5mm so will still fit even in the smallest pocket of your favourite jeans. Like the other kits on our list, it’s powered by an internal battery with 700mAh of power. There’s an LED on the side that lights up as you inhale, fading from green to yellow to red as the battery drains.
It’s a manual draw kit - to use you just slide the switch on the side of the battery up and then inhale to vape. The pods can hold 1.7ml of e-liquid and the best part of this kit is the different resistance options. It comes pre-installed with a 1.0ohm pod, perfect for 50:50 liquids and nic salts that new vapers often go for. You also get a 0.8ohm Mesh pod which can be used with higher VG liquids (40:60 PG:VG is about right) for bigger clouds and a more direct to lung inhale. The pods have an ergonomic mouthpiece, meaning it’s also super comfortable and discreet to vape on.
4. ASPIRE - AVP
We could hardly have a list without Aspire, they’re one of the go-to brands for many a new vaper and the AVP AIO kit is one of their latest models. It’s got a modern shaped design to it and is the most “advanced” pod kit on the list owing to its variable output settings. Powered by a 700mAh battery you’ll get plenty of vaping time and the 1.2ohm Nichrome coils make for a super flavourful vape.
It’s another inhale-to-vape kit and you can choose how much power you want to use too. There’s an LED light on the side to show you which power setting you’re in - red indicates 8 watts, blue for 10 and green for 12. The more power you have going through, you’ll get a warmer and more cloudy vape. It’s an ideal kit to start you off if a vape pen feels like a little too much power.
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THE PEN KITS
Vape pens are the original model design for e-cigarettes. Slim, plenty of battery life, even more coil options and often a whole lot more versatility than pod mods. We’ve included three kits ranging from a more basic and simple option, up to a more advanced pen vape that prepares e-cig users for variable wattage box mods. If you choose one of these kits and love the tank, you can also remove them from the pen vape battery and use them on a more advanced box mod instead (if and when you’re ready for that). Given that pen vapes have more power, they’re better suited to 50:50 liquids and shortfills rather than nic salts. If that sounds like you, you’ll find a kit that’ll suit you here.
5. INNOKIN - ENDURA T20-S
For a first step into Sub Ohm vaping, the Endura T20-S within the Innokin range is a great choice. Slim in design and easy to use, it’ll offer a more amplified amount of vapour than a pod kit with less of a throat hit. Once you get into pen vapes you’ll have a lot more power at your disposal and the T20-S brings you a 1500mAh internal battery for all day vaping.
The tank up top has a hardy metal casing around the glass to help prevent and cracks if you drop it and the curved drip tip funnels vapour to help enhance the flavour of your e-liquid. You can use 50:50 liquids for a stronger throat hit or a 40:60 if you want something more mild hitting and more cloudy. When you get around to it, refilling and changing the coil are both simple to do. To top up your e-liquid, just unscrew the top cap and pour it in carefully around the coil. When you need to change the coil, you unscrew the tank, remove the base of the tank and pull out the old coil before clicking a new one into place.
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6. ASPIRE - TIGON
If you’re in between mouth to lung vaping and Sub Ohm, direct to lung vaping, the Tigon is the perfect option for you. It’s got a hefty 1800mAh battery inside, making it a super long lasting option that’ll keep you going all day and then some. There’s just one button for switching it on and off and firing the e-cig with an LED indicator to let you know how much power remains. It also comes in a whole range of colours from more minimalist options like stainless steel and black, to a more bold matte rainbow finish.
The thing that sets the Tigon apart is the tank. It’s one of the most leak-proof tanks we’ve seen as well as being child proof. To refill, you lift the top cap then slide it back to expose the fill port. It can hold up to 2ml of e-liquid and depending on the coil choice, you can use it for nic salts and 50:50 liquids or for high VG e-liquids. There are two coils options to choose from - one is a 0.4ohm for Sub Ohm vaping that gives you bigger clouds or a 1.2ohm coil for direct to lung vaping. When it comes to changing the coil, you don’t need to do anything more than open the base of the tank, pull the old coil out and click a new one into place.
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7. FREEMAX - TWISTER
For a kit that helps you hone in on how you like to vape with a few more options than just pressing a button to fire the battery, we recommend the Freemax Twister. It’s still the same simple set-up as a pen vape, except it also allows you to change the wattage output with a twist of a dial. While more advanced kits often have external batteries, a screen and a whole lot of extra features, the Twister keeps it simple with an internal 2300mAh battery that can fire at up to 80 watts.
The Twister comes with Sub Ohm coils, the first is a pre-installed 0.2ohm option and the other is 0.15ohms. Both are great for pairing with high VG liquids to give you a direct to lung inhale with super-charged cloud production. The dial at the base of the battery just needs to be rotated to adjust the wattage, allowing you to find the perfect range that you like to vape at.
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THE BOX MODS
While they might look a bit intimidating to some, there are plenty of simple to use box mod kits that are easy enough to pick up and use even with little to no experience. They offer even more battery life, greater power options as well as incredible flavour and the biggest clouds. If you want to skip the mouth to lung style kit, many people find they’re fine going straight to a direct to lung style of vaping. The kits we’ve picked range from internal batteries to a single external battery. This means if you want to keep things simple you can, or if you don’t mind purchasing a couple of batteries and a charger you’ve got an option there too.
8. VOOPOO - DRAG MINI
Memorable not only in name but also in appearance, the Voopoo Drag Mini is beautiful to look at and packs a whole lot of power and functionality into its compact frame. On the exterior, you'll find a colourful resin panel with a high-shine finish on the opposite side and around the edges of the mod. Inside, it has a hefty 4400mAh battery that can fire at up to 117 watts as well as in temperature control mode (for if and when you want to experiment more). A bright OLED screen displays all your vape settings and simple “up and down” buttons underneath the display are intuitive to use when you adjust your settings.
The tank that comes with this kit is the UFORCE T2, featuring a resin drip tip that matches your mod and a pre-installed 0.4ohm coil for a balance of crisp flavour and thick vapour. If you’re concerned about safety, Voopoo created the GENE.Fit chipset for a regulated vaping experience. There’s plenty of features built in including overheat protection and over-discharge protection so you can use the Drag Mini with confidence.
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9. INNOKIN - KROMA ISUB- B
If you’re looking for a box mod kit that’s a little more subtle to look at but still has plenty of power, we’d recommend the Kroma iSub-B from Innokin. Ergonomically designed and small enough to fit comfortably in your palm, it measures in at 112mm by 47mm without the tank. Inside its metallic body is a 2000mAh battery, capable of firing at up to 75 watts. It has an LED indicator to let you know how much power is remaining as well as 2A quick charge for when you do need to plug in. The screen is bright, easy to read and interact with making the Kroma a simple first step into variable wattage vaping.
The mod is paired with the iSub-B tank, 2ml capacity with top fill design and a pre-installed PLED3D 0.35ohm coil. This tank is a modest and easy step into Sub Ohm vaping - you’ll only need around 35 watts to get great results. It won’t vape too hot but you’ll still get crisp flavour and plenty of vapour from high VG juices.
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10. GEEK VAPE - LUCID
Last on the list is the Lucid vape kit from Geek Vape. Still small enough for popping in your bag without taking up too much space (or being too heavy) this kit is compact and lightweight. The mod measures in at 52.9mm wide and 75mm tall with enough space for tanks up to 24mm in diameter. You’ll need to purchase a couple of batteries for this kit - one for vaping with and one spare. With a single 18650 battery you can fire at up to 80 watts which is more than enough for most beginners.
The mod has been paired with the Lumi tank, a disposable option that’s the tank equivalent of a refillable pod. Inside is a 0.3ohm Mesh coil for 30 - 45 watts, giving wonderful flavour and it’s perfect for higher VG juices. If you’re looking for a low maintenance option, the Lumi tank means you don’t need to change coils at all - just pop on a new tank when the coil wears out. Or, if you want to choose a separate tank for higher wattage vaping you can do that too.
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No matter whether you want something super low maintenance and easy to use, or are looking for a vape kit with a few more bells and whistles, we think there’s an option you’ll love on this list. From refillable pods with no buttons to kits with Sub Ohm tanks, regardless of whether you want to start off easy or dive straight into cloud chasing, there are plenty of options to choose from. If you’re still unsure or torn between two, you can always drop us a message or hop onto live chat for a personalised recommendation.
www.vapesuperstore.co.uk contains general information about vaping and vapour products. The information provided is not medical advice, and should not be relied upon unless explicity cited. We do not make any warranties surrounding the health benefits, reliability and accuracy of written copy across all pages on our website, including blog content and content posted on social media.
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