How to Switch From Disposables To Reusable Vapes
If you’re reading this post, I’m guessing you’re a disposable vaper looking to change to a rechargeable, reusable vape!
In this post, we’ll cover why you should switch from disposable vapes, the best reusable vapes for replicating the disposable experience (and how to use them) as well as tips for making the switch.
There’s a lot here, so please use the contents section below to jump to the section most relevant to you, or see our selection of disposable vape alternatives.
Contents
- Why switch from disposables?
- Options for switching
- Best e-liquid options for a disposable user
- Wrapping up
- FAQs
- Related guides
Why should you switch from disposables to reusable devices?
Cost
The biggest personal reason for switching from disposable devices is the reduction in cost.
Costing anywhere from £4 - £6, disposables may not seem that expensive . However, if you look at it from the perspective of using e-liquid, you can rapidly see the price mount up.
There is just 2ml of e-liquid in a disposable device. That means you are paying between £2 - £3 per ml.
However, a high-quality bottle of 10ml e-liquid typically costs less than 40p per ml. That’s less than a fifth of the cost of even the cheapest disposable devices.
Of course, you do have the initial cost of buying a device. However, once you have bought that, the savings rapidly start to mount up.
To help set these out, we’ve compared some of the costs below.
| Device type | Average cost per month | Average cost per year |
| Disposable | £150 | £1780 |
| Prefilled pod devices | £77.34 | £914.98 |
| Refillable pod device | £66.89 | £652.18 |
Environment
If cost isn’t enough to think about, consider the environment.
Every year, we buy and use three billion disposable vape devices. Each one contains a lithium-ion battery which could be re-used many times. In total, we throw away enough batteries to power 1,200 electric cars. Yet after a single use, they are thrown away.
Most current disposable devices are also difficult and expensive to recycle. That’s because they are designed as a single unit, where it is difficult to separate the battery from the device. When they are not recycled, lithium-ion and plastic waste can pollute waterways and harm animal and aquatic life.
In contrast, a refillable device can last for months before needing to be replaced.
Upcoming ban on disposable vapes
The UK has announced a ban on single-use vapes, which will come into place in June 2025.
Rather than wait for the ban to take place, it’s a good idea to experiment with different refillable devices right now. When it does happen, you’ll be ready!
Flavour and nicotine options
Typically, many disposable ranges offer a limited number of flavours.
While there are numerous disposable ranges out there, let’s face it – they do tend to use the same set of flavours!
However, if you switch to a refillable device, you have access to literally thousands of different flavours.
What’s more, many disposables offer a limited range of nicotine strengths. When you use e-liquid, you can choose from a wide range of strengths, and also have the option to slowly reduce your strength over time.
Finally, almost all disposables use nic salts. When you use a refillable device, you can choose different nicotine types, including regular (freebase) and hybrid e-liquids to further customise your vape experience.
Options for switching
Prefilled pod systems (best for replicating the disposable experience)
As we mentioned previously, one of the main advantages of disposables is how easy they are to use – with no need for refilling or switching coils. Prefilled pod systems are the perfect next step as they are almost as easy to use, at less expense and with less environmental impact.
Kits such as the Elf Bar Elfa Pro and SKE Crystal Pro 600 use sealed, prefilled pods with a fixed coil. This means you simply attach the pod and replace it when the vape juice inside runs out.
Like disposables, most of these kits require no button pressing or settings – you just inhale on the mouthpiece and start vaping. The only thing you’ll need to remember is to change the pod and recharge the battery when it runs low.
The taste, draw and convenience of these devices mean they come close to replicating the experience of using disposable vapes. Once you are used to these devices, you might then want to consider moving to a refillable device for further cost savings.
Pros:
- Super easy to use
- More cost-effective & environmentally friendly than disposables
- Provide disposable-style flavour
Cons:
- Battery needs to be recharged and pods changed
- Limited flavours compared to refillable devices
- Best option: Lost Mary Tappo
We originally had the Elf Bar Elfa Pro here, but since then the Lost Mary Tappo has come out - and we prefer it.
It has a slightly more restricted draw than the Elfa Pro, which means the flavour comes through nicely. Handily, it’s also cross-compatible with Elfa and Elfa Pro pods, giving you a larger choice of flavours.
If you prefer an airier draw, though, I’d suggest checking out SKE Crystal Pro 600.
Refillable/rechargeable disposable device (easiest refillable device)
While less common than regular disposables, there are disposable vape devices out there that can be refilled and even recharged.
Still super easy to use with no buttons or settings, these devices come with a fixed coil so will still need to be disposed of when this coil runs out.
However, a rechargeable battery and refillable pod mean they last a lot longer than regular disposables.
To use, you simply fill the pod with vape juice, wait a few minutes and inhale on the mouthpiece to vape. You just need to refill the pod and recharge the battery when needed.
You’ll know it’s time to discard the device when it stops producing vapour, the flavour starts to dull or you get a burnt taste when you inhale.
This design not only saves cost and reduces waste, but the refillable pod means a lot more options in terms of flavour.
Unlike regular disposables, which have a more limited number of flavour choices, users can choose any flavour of vape juice they like.
Pros:
- Longer-lasting than regular disposables
- Easy to use – no buttons or settings
- More choice of flavours than disposables or prefilled pod kits
Cons:
- Still need to be disposed of after a certain amount of uses
Best option: Aspire R1
The Aspire R1 is our favourite device of this kind. Lasting much longer than regular disposables, the pod can be refilled up to 8-10 times before it needs to be disposed of.
It’s also incredibly budget-friendly, with the kit costing less than the price of 2 regular disposables.
Refillable pod/pen systems (most economic)
Refillable vape pods and pen systems need to be filled with vape juice before use and refilled when the pod is empty.
They include a wide range of device types, with many different designs and varying levels of difficulty depending on which you choose.
For fixed-coil pod devices with inhale firing, it’s as simple as filling and attaching the pod, waiting a few minutes and inhaling on the mouthpiece.
With replaceable coil devices, you need to soak the coil in e-liquid before using it for the first time. You’ll also need to change the coil from time to time.
Choose a fixed-coil pod for maximum convenience, or a replaceable coil device to maximise cost savings.
Also see: Best Pod Kits & Best Starter Kits
Pros:
- Lower long-term cost compared to disposables
- Less environmental impact
- More flavour choice
Cons:
- Can be more difficult to use than disposables/pre-filled pod kits
Best option: Vaporesso Xros 3
The Xros 3 is easy to use, offers great flavour and has proved to be one of the most reliable devices around. Alternatively, the Xros 3 Mini offers similar functionality in a more compact body.
If you prefer a little more control over your vape, another option is the Oxva Xlim Pro which also uses fixed-coil pods but features manual wattage adjustment and up to 3 days battery life.
Mod kits (best for a tailored vape experience)
Vape mod kits are usually more difficult to use than pod systems. For that reason, we don’t recommend them for most new users, but that doesn’t mean they are not right for everybody. If you are happy with a slightly steeper learning curve, they could be worth considering.
After all, mods come with serious advantages. They often have a significantly longer battery life than pod systems, have excellent airflow control and a wide power range.
Depending on the system you get, they can offer the choice of a Mouth-to-Lung or a Direct-Lung inhale. If you want large vapour clouds, then a mod and tank system should also be your first port of call.
Mods can also offer tremendous control over your vape, although again that depends on the system you use. One nice feature with many modern mods is that you can switch between modes that change the level of difficulty.
A lot is made of the functionality of mods, and it’s true they can be impressive.
But at the end of the day, many people choose them because of their aesthetics, preferring a device which is a bit bulkier and more impressive than a pod device.
Pros:
- Longer battery life
- Often easy to switch between MTL and DL vaping
- Often offer lots of control over your vape
Cons:
- Can be more difficult to use (but depends on model)
Best option: Innokin Adept Zlide
The Innokin Adept Zlide is one of the easiest mod devices to use – and also comes with a seriously long battery life. Read about how our content writer got on with it in Smoking to Vaping in Six Weeks.
Best vape juices for a disposable user
When it comes to replicating disposable vaping, the vape juice you choose is one of the most important factors. Here are some important points to consider:
Type of e-liquid to use
Disposable vapes provide a very smooth inhale and usually have high nicotine levels.
To replicate this with reusable devices we’d recommend using nicotine salts vape juice. Made from the natural form of nicotine found in the tobacco leaf, they provide a smoother inhale than regular, freebase e-liquids.
This means they can deliver higher levels of nicotine without a harsh throat hit. However, if you prefer a strong throat hit, or are using low-nicotine e-liquids, you may prefer to use freebase (regular) e-liquid.
VG:PG ratio
E-liquids are made from a mixture of vegetable glycerine (VG) and propylene glycol (PG). When you are switching from disposable to reusable devices, you’re best off using e-liquids with a VG:PG 50:50 ratio. These are ideal for use with the lower-powered pod and starter kits that make a great alternative to single-use devices.
The only exception is if you use higher-powered mods or pod mods. These devices work best with high VG e-liquids, such as those with a VG:PG 70:30 ratio.
Learn more about VG:PG ratios.
Also see: Everything You Need to Know about Nic Salts
Flavour concentration
A major reason for the popularity of disposables is their strong flavour – usually using e-liquids with a higher concentration than regular vape juices.
Luckily, many manufacturers have caught on to this and have produced nicotine salts with extra concentration to specifically replicate the taste of disposables.
Known as ‘bar salts’, ranges such as Elf Bar’s Elfliq and the Doozy Seriously Bar Salts collection mean users can still experience the strong flavour of disposables while using refillable devices.
Nicotine strength
Ideally, you want to match nicotine strengths to the disposable device you have been using.
If you just walk into a shop and order a disposable without asking about the strength, chances are you are using 18mg (1.8%) or 20mg (2%). If that’s the case, simply order your e-liquid in the closest strength.
For a more in-depth explanation, see our guide to choosing nicotine strength.
Wrapping up
Disposable devices have often had a bad rap – but they have also helped many tens of thousands of vapers to move away from tobacco cigarettes.
But as we have seen they are also expensive, bad for the environment and offer a limited flavour choice.
If you’ve successfully switched from cigarettes to disposables, maybe it’s time to take the next step and move to a reusable vape device.
FAQs
When will disposable vapes be banned?
At the time of writing, an exact date has not been announced. However, it has been suggested that the ban will come into force in early 2025. A six month sell-through period is likely, which will mean vapers can continue to buy single-use devices until stocks have run out.
Why are disposable vapes being banned?
There have been mounting concerns over the use of disposable vapes by children. The government wants to ensure adult vapers have access to vaping while simultaneously discouraging children from using single-use vapes. There are also concerns about the impact of disposable vapes on the environment.
Where are disposable vapes being banned?
While the ban has only officially been announced in England, Scotland and Wales have both said they will implement the ban too.
Are Elf Bars being banned?
While Elf Bar disposables are being banned, Elf Bar pod kits and e-liquid will still be available.
Are there any exceptions or support available for smokers looking to quit?
Stop Smoking Services have expressed concern about the ban, especially for smokers who have disabilities. However, at present the government seems unwilling to include any exceptions.