Ditch the Disposable: 5 Reasons Why You Should Switch from Disposables to a Refillable Pod Vape

The convenience of disposable vapes is unmatched, however, they limit vapers from finding the perfect vape experience. Jump into this article and find out why you should ditch the disposables and step-up your vaping experience!

Photo: Dominick-Abe Cacatian @ DigitalImports.ca

Due to their ready-out-of-the-box nature, disposable vapes are the most convenient type of vape on the market. They are one-time use devices that are designed to be thrown away after the juice is finished. Because of this, users aren’t able to fill the device with their own juice. This leads to limitations that can be easily addressed by switching to a pod-style vape. In this article, we will explore the key benefits of a pod-style vape and why you should make the switch from costly disposables.

Benefits of a Pod-Style Vape

Compared to disposables, pod style vapes are more cost effective, highly customizable, open up more juice options, less wasteful, and provide a more consistent performance. Here is a breakdown of why this may be the case.

1. Long-Term Savings

While the initial start up cost of pod-vapes is typically more expensive than a disposable, the cost of juice and pods will end up being cheaper in the long run. All you would need to get started is the vape, juice, and maybe spare coils if you want to try other options. 

One way to look at the recurring costs is like this; the average price of a 20mL disposable in Canada is about $40, with 30mL disposables seeing prices at around $50. The average life-span of the disposable is typically 1-2 weeks, meaning you’re spending about $80 - $160 per month. Compare this to a $35, 30ml bottle of juice; for around the same price you can get 10 extra mL of juice! You can take your savings even further by buying a 60mL bottle of juice for around $52. Here is a breakdown of the cost comparison*:

*Please keep in mind that this is a rough estimate based on average to heavy vape use. Actual cost calculations will vary based on device and individual usage.

If you are concerned about recurring costs but want to stay with a low-maintenance device, consider using a closed-pod system to get the convenience of a disposable with higher cost effectiveness!

2. More Customizability (coils, airflow, and wattage)

Refillable pod-style vapes open up a broad range of customizability to help vapers find the perfect puff. The components of a pod-vape you can typically adjust include:

• Coil type Resistance

• Airflow; and

• Power setting

The type of coil will determine how much flavour your vape will produce. Its resistance will affect both the tightness of your draw, what you should set your power at, and how quickly the power ramps up for you to receive the hit.

Adjusting the airflow will also impact the flavour your vape gives off and how tight the draw is. Compared to disposables, pod-style vapes typically will have a wider selection of draw resistances to help you find what satisfies you the most.

The power adjustments will determine how much vapor your device will produce and how warm the puff is; higher wattages being warmer and producing more vapour than lower wattages. Most disposables will only fire as hard as the battery will let it, meaning you will get less vapour as the battery starts to die, or they will offer 2-3 different power settings (low, medium, high). Pod style vapes will let you set your power level to the exact wattage you prefer and consistently vaporize the juice at that power setting.

3. Broader Selection of Juice Flavours and Nicotine Levels

Disposable flavours are limited to what the specific brand offers. Choosing a refillable-pod style vape opens up a wide range of e-liquid flavours so you can try more juices to find the perfect puff. Dessert-y flavours are becoming very niche and harder to find among disposable devices, which can be an issue for those who dislike candy and fruit flavours. With a refillable vape, your flavour selection becomes so much wider and makes tasty options like Peach Orchard by Vibe or Electric Blue by Slice available.

In addition, many disposable companies have also started carrying their own juice line so you can use your favourite disposable flavour at a better cost!

Having different nicotine options can help vapers who are trying to reduce their nicotine intake. Most disposables come with 20mg of nicotine; in comparison, the nicotine in an e-juice bottle can range from 0mg to 20mg in Canada.

4. Less Waste - Reduced Environmental Impact

Because pod systems are designed for long-term use, they generate substantially less plastic and electronic waste compared to disposables. With disposables, you are throwing away the plastic, electronic components, and entire battery cells . Alternatively, with refillable pod vapes you will likely be only throwing away the pods. This significantly reduces the amount of metal and plastic that ends up in our landfills and fosters a more environmentally sustainable way to enjoy your e-cigarette.

5. Increased Buyer Confidence & Consistent Performance

Due to the mass-manufacturing of disposables, pod-vapes have higher quality-assurance practices. This leads to many stores and brands offering warranty for their devices. This differs from disposables where most stores aren’t able to warranty a disposable after it has left the store. The higher quality assurance also leads to less chance that you will encounter a manufacturer defect, providing vapers with the peace-of-mind they deserve.

Many disposable companies advertise misleadingly high “puff counts” to make consumers think they are getting more for the price, when in reality, the most common capacity of these devices is 20mL of e-juice. The only way you can get more puffs out of the same amount of juice is if you are vaporizing less juice. So while you may be getting more puffs out of the vape, you are likely puffing on the vape more to get the satisfaction that you need.

Best Pod-Style Vapes for First-Time Users

1. Vaporesso Xros Series

Photo: Digital Imports @ DigitalImports.ca

The Vaporesso Xros Series contains over 15 user-friendly devices that are perfect for first time users. Their pods are widely accessible, affordable, and come in a broad range of options to get the most satisfying puff. Generation 1-3 and the ‘Mini’ series are some of the most simple devices to operate and maintain due to the lack of wattage control.

2. GeekVape Sonder Kit

Photo: Digital Imports @ DigitalImports.ca

The Sonder kit is a pen style device designed with simplicity in mind. It has a small fill port covered by the mouth piece and can fire up to 30w on a full charge. With minimal adjustments required, this device is cost-effective and convenient, making it great for any first-time user.

3. Uwell Caliburn & Koko Series

Photo: Digital Imports @ DigitalImports.ca

The Uwell Caliburn series is a staple in the pod mod world, with the Koko being their square counterparts. Their pods help vapers save on recurring costs due to their high reliability rating. Their newer devices take customization further by allowing users to personalize their vapes with custom themes and text.

Pod-System vs Disposable - Which should you choose?

If you’re still on the fence about switching from disposables to a pod vape, here’s a breakdown of things to consider when deciding:

Choose a Pod Vape If…

• You want to save money on recurring costs;

• You want more customizability to find the perfect hit;

• You don’t want to be limited in flavour and nicotine options;

• You want a more environmentally friendly approach to vaping; and

• You want better quality out of your device.

Choose a Disposable If…

• You’re completely new to e-cigarettes and want to find out if vaping is right for you;

• You need a short-term device to get you through a few days;

• You easily lose your vape;

• You aren’t picky with juice flavours and nicotine levels; or

• You don’t want to deal with long-term maintenance of a refillable device.

Ready to ditch the disposables? Take a look at the selection at Digital Imports to find the best, reliable pod-style vape here!