8 Best Vape Starter Kits for 2025 (UK)
Choosing your first kit is one of the most important decisions you can make as a new vaper. If it’s too difficult to use, or not satisfying enough, you might well find yourself back on the cigarettes.
Luckily, there are plenty of kits specifically designed to cater to new, less experienced vapers who want a straightforward introduction to vaping. This list identifies the best of the best.
We don’t just add a kit here because it is new, though. After all, just because it’s not brand new doesn’t mean it’s not a great kit. At the same time, just because a kit is new doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better than an older kit. So you’ll still see some steady favourites here, but you’ll also find some impressive new devices.
Contents
- Top pick
- Types of vape starter kits
- Best starter kits in depth
- Best starter kits at a glance
- How we select these kits
- The future?
- Related guides
Top Pick
Great flavour delivery | Premium build quality | Adjustable power levels
Best for: Flavour
Read more below
Types of vape starter kits
In this post you’ll find four types of vape starter kits.
Pod Systems: Vape pods are super easy-to-use and come with a pod that clips into a compact battery. They come with either pre-filled or refillable pods.
All-in-one vape devices: These devices contain everything you need to get started. AIOs distinguish themselves by having no separate pod or tank, with e-liquid simply being filled into the top of the device itself.
Vape pens: Just as the name suggests, these devices are like an oversized pen and fit easily in the hand. Think chunky marker pen as opposed to a biro and you’ll be along the right track.
Mod/tank kits: Mods are usually larger, more powerful vapes, often with a box design, which also come with a separate tank.
Best starter kits in depth
Vaporesso Xros 4: Best for flavour
Reviewed by: Corey, ECD Team
As a longtime fan of the Vaporesso Xros Series, I had high expectations for the Xros 4 device - and it didn’t disappoint. In my opinion, this is the best pod kit on the market!
The first thing I noticed was the impressive build quality. Being aluminium alloy, this feels a lot more solid and premium than other pod kits.
I always expect great flavour from Xros devices, but the addition of adjustable power levels made it even better with the Xros 4. Using the 0.6ohm Xros pod at output level 3, the flavour was the best I’ve experienced.
This additional power did mean sacrificing some pod and battery life (although the 1000mAh battery still lasted 6 hours of heavy use), so I eventually settled on the middle setting.
I also noticed a big improvement when charging - with a much quicker charging time compared to previous Xros kits. I like that the charging port is situated at the side of the device, which is always more convenient than a bottom-placed port.
Overall, this is a fantastic pod device with some great new features. I’d personally recommend the Xros 4 for vapers of all experience levels. However, if you’d prefer something even more easy to use, there’s always the Xros 4 Mini (see below).
What’s to like:
- Premium build quality
- Exceptional flavour
- Customisable power
Also see: Vaporesso Xros 4 & Xros 4 Mini: Worth the Upgrade?
Aspire Pixo: Touchscreen display, customisable settings
Reviewed by: Lloyd, ECD Team
The Aspire Pixo is one of the best pod devices I’ve tested in a long time - with great flavour and plenty of customisable features.
The build feels solid and it’s a conveniently sized device. My favourite feature is the HD touchscreen display, which feels much like a mobile phone screen. I particularly like that you can simply double-swipe the screen to enter wattage adjustment mode.
Having a range of customisable settings including a choice of output modes (smart or manual wattage), activation modes and screen themes meant I could set the device up exactly how I wanted. The haptic feedback alerts are also a nice touch. However, I did find the 1100mAh battery depleted a little quicker than on similar devices I’ve tried.
Using the 0.4ohm Pixo pod, the flavour produced was very good and I liked that the transparent pod design meant you could easily see your e-liquid levels.
The adjustable airflow design is interesting - with a hole on the closed side meaning you can’t fully close it off. This was a plus for me as I’ve found a lot of other devices can be closed when in a pocket or bag - so this design negates that issue. The slider itself doesn’t protrude too much and is stiff enough to stay where you have set it.
Overall this is a very impressive device if you want flavour, customisation and a high-quality pod kit.
What’s to like:
- HD touchscreen control
- Great flavour + airflow
- Plenty of customisable features
- Haptic feedback
SKE Crystal Bar: Stylish disposable
Reviewed by: James, ECD Team
While I’d always recommend new users choose a reusable device over disposable vapes, there’s no denying that their ease of use and convenience make them a great entry point to vaping. There’s no setup or maintenance needed – just unwrap, vape and dispose of it when you’re done!
Having tried many disposables since their rise in popularity, it takes a lot for one range to really stand out amongst the rest. However, SKE’s Crystal Bar disposables do just that.
The design is the first thing I noticed, with a square shape and crystal-like finish creating a unique look that sets them apart from others on the market. Another design feature I liked is the solid metal base – which allows you to stand the device up for full coil saturation.
My favourite thing about this range, however, is the flavours. With a wide variety of fruit, beverage and dessert options, there’s a Crystal Bar to suit all preferences.
I particularly liked the Lemon and Lime flavour, which balances sweet and zesty citrus notes. I was also impressed that there was a tobacco option, which you rarely find in other disposable ranges.
When you inhale an SKE Crystal Bar, it’s a satisfying, airy hit with strong nicotine delivery. Unlike other disposables, I found this inhale closer to a Direct-Lung (DL) style than the Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) inhale that you usually find with starter kits.
What’s to like:
- Stylish design
- Great flavour
- Easy to use
Also see: Best Crystal Bar Flavours.
If you are a disposable user looking to move to a reusable device, see our Guide to Switching from Disposable to Reusable Vapes.
Oxva Xlim Pro 2: Easy to use yet versatile
Reviewed by: Lloyd, ECD Team
The Xlim Pro 2 is a very impressive pod device that provides all the flavour you’d want from a vape kit.
Design-wise, it’s conveniently sized - slim and lightweight with a high-quality metal finish. I even found the included lanyard and charging cable were great quality too!
Using the included 0.6ohm Xlim pod, the flavour produced was great, as I’d expect from the Xlim series (although the rubber bung filling can be a little fiddly).
While easy to use, I like that the device has both adjustable wattage and airflow that allows me to customise my vape.
The 1300mAh battery is larger than you usually get with devices of this size and I was impressed to find 50% battery life remaining after a full day of use (350 puffs) at 22W.
In terms of operating the device, the button click patterns are easy and, if you forget, you can simply hold down the button for instructions. The screen is vibrant with a clean display and I like that you can vape while the device is charging - although I do wish the remaining charging time was displayed on the screen.
Overall, this is a perfect device for those looking for a compact, high-quality pod kit that’s easy to use yet customisable with great flavour and battery life.
What’s to like:
- Long-lasting battery
- Easy to use
- Great flavour
- Vibrant display
Aspire PockeX: Most popular
The Aspire PockeX has been around for a while now – indeed, it made it into last year’s round up – but its popularity shows no signs of slowing. The PockeX was one of the first devices to combine a traditional pen-style device with a lower resistance coil to create some real oomph in an otherwise easy-to-use starter kit. Indeed, many of our staff continue to use the PockeX, which is saying something given they are exposed to a constant influx of new devices.
What’s to like:
- Easy-top-fill
- High-quality vape
- Great build quality
Top tip: It’s well worth putting a vape band around the top tank. These cost just one pound, but help to protect the tank if it is dropped.
Smok Novo 4: The chance to experiment
Smok‘s Novo 4 has all the elements needed for a new vaper’s first kit – simple, single-button design, easy filling pods and push-fit coil installation, alongside the great aesthetics the Novo Series is known for.
While easy-to-use features are great for beginners, an added bonus of this Novo 4 is the other features that allow you to start experimenting as you become more experienced. This helps you progress, discover your preferences and also means there is no need to buy another device as you become more advanced.
One of the standout features is the Novo 4’s easy to control airflow wheel. This allows you to precisely control the airflow and experiment with a more airy or restricted inhale to see which you prefer.
There’s also the inclusion of a small OLED screen displaying device information – a feature not usually found on starter kits. This helps you keep tabs on the status of the device and learn more about how it is operating.
What’s to like:
- Airflow control wheel
- OLED screen
- Gives you the chance to experiment
Innokin Endura T18II: Classic pen style
This may not be the newest device on our sites, but this popular device has garnered 116 reviews with an average rating of 4.8/5. Part of the popular Endura Series, the device is easy to use while allowing you to adjust the heat and airflow so you can customise your device to your preferences. Customers have also praised the battery life of the device and the long-lasting coils, which make it economical to use.
What’s to like:
- Easy-to-use
- Adjustable airflow and heat
- Excellent performance
SKE Crystal 2400: Innovative alternative to disposables
Reviewed by: Corey, ECD Team
As prefilled pod kits have gained popularity as an alternative to disposable vapes, I was keen to see how SKE’s Crystal 2400 compared not only to disposables, but to other offerings from the likes of Elf Bar and Lost Mary.
Prefilled pod kits strike a good balance between the flavour and convenience of disposables, with the cost-saving of a reusable, rechargeable device. But what sets the Crystal 2400 apart from similar kits is its 4-pod design. Having 4 prefilled pods means you can get 4 times the e-liquid and mix and match your flavours.
Using the Green Edition kit (citrus and tropical flavours), I found the flavour intense and the inhale very similar to disposables. I think regular disposable users would be satisfied with this as an alternative.
As a moderate to heavier vaper, I found each 2400 pod lasted me most of the day, which is similar to a single disposable vape. However, this would vary depending on how heavy a vaper you are. The battery life was also impressive - with the 950mAh battery lasting me a full day before I needed to recharge it.
Overall, I’m impressed with the Crystal 2400 and, with the upcoming ban on single-use devices, I’d definitely recommend it to any disposable users looking to switch to an easy-to-use alternative. It has the same great flavour but at a cheaper cost and with less waste!
What's to like:
- 4-pod design
- Disposable-style flavour
- Easy operation
Best starter kits at a glance
Here are 9 of the best starter kits to choose from.
| Product | Type | What's Special? |
| Vaporesso Xros 4 | Open Pod | Easy to use, great flavour |
| Aspire Pixo | Open pod | Touchscreen display, customisable settings |
| SKE Crystal Bar | Disposable | Stylish design, no-fuss introduction to vaping |
| Oxva Xlim Pro 2 | Open pod | Simple yet versatile |
| Aspire PockeX | All-In-One | Most popular, great build quality |
| Smok Novo 4 | Open pod | Airflow wheel for precise control |
| Innokin Endura T18II | Pen style | Classic style, highly rated by users |
| SKE Crystal 2400 | Prefilled pod kit | Easy to use, Rotating 4-pod design |
How we select these kits
With new vape devices launching almost daily, it can be difficult to choose a select few to recommend to our customers. Luckily, we have a team of experienced vapers on our team who are more than happy to test out new devices.
When we receive a new device we assign it to a tester within the team. They will then provide personal feedback (both positive and negative) on all aspects of the device from how it looks to the way it works and the flavour it produces.
Of course, our feedback isn’t the only thing that matters, so to select the kits here we’ve also looked at the device’s popularity, both in terms of sales and ‘on the scene’, as well as customer feedback.
Very occasionally we’ll add a just launched kit to the list – but only if it totally blows us away in testing.
All the kits here are made to UK standards and are compliant with EU and UK regulations.
The future
Vape trends continue to evolve, and technology continues to improve. So, just like last year, we’ll continue to monitor new products and add the very best to this post.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear what YOUR favourite starter kits are, so do let me know in the comments!