What Are the Different Types of Vapes?

If you’ve ever visited a vape shop or looked at the range of vape kits here, you’re well aware of the head-spinning level of variety among the different types of vapes on the market today. That’s a good thing because it ensures that, no matter what your preferences are, you can find a vape that’s perfect for you.

The downside, though, is that deciding which type of vape is right for you isn’t going to be easy if you’ve never vaped before and have no idea what your needs are – so we’re going to clear up the confusion in this guide.

What are the different types of vapes, what are their pros and cons, and what’s the right choice for you if you’re new to vaping? You’re about to learn the answers to those questions.

Types of Vapes: At a Glance

Disposable Vapes

A disposable vape is a pre-charged and pre-filled device that’s ready to use as soon as you remove it from the package. You can simply take it out of the box and enjoy. Disposable vapes generally aren’t designed for refilling, although the refillable Innokin Endura S1 is an exception to that rule. With a traditional disposable vape, you need to replace the entire device when it runs out of e-liquid. On the bright side, recent disposable vapes like the Innokin INNOBAR 20000 have enormous capacities and can last days or even weeks before requiring replacement.

Examples of Disposable Vapes

Benefits of Disposable Vapes

• They’re the easiest vapes to use.
• They’re the only vapes that are ready to use immediately when you unpack them.
• They typically have high nicotine strengths and are very satisfying for smokers.

Drawbacks of Disposable Vapes

• They may be more expensive for long-term use than other types of vapes since you need to replace your entire device when it’s empty.
• They can potentially be detrimental to the environment because not all communities have recycling services available for vapes.

Who Should Buy a Disposable Vape?

You should buy a disposable vape if you’re new to vaping and aren’t sure what to get. Even if you don’t end up using disposable vapes on a permanent basis, buying one is the easiest way to find out what vaping feels and tastes like.

Pre-Filled Pod Vapes

A pre-filled pod vape is a vaping device that stores its e-liquid in a removable plastic pod. You install the pod by pushing it into a chamber at the top of the device. When the pod is empty, you discard it and replace it with a new one. Pods are typically sold in packs of 2-4. The pods usually last a day or two each, although the Innokin INNOBAR CLK is a prominent exception to this rule. INNOBAR CLK pods last up to 5,000 puffs each and can provide several days of vaping before they require replacement.

Benefits of Pre-Filled Pod Vapes

• They’re nearly as easy to use as disposable vapes. Just charge the device, insert a pod and enjoy.
• They’re among the smallest and lightest types of vapes on the market.
• They typically have high nicotine strengths and are very satisfying for smokers.

Drawbacks of Pre-Filled Pod Vapes

• The refill pods are often somewhat expensive compared to bottled e-liquids. That’s because a pod system is proprietary and only works with the pods designed for it. Therefore, manufacturers tend to charge less for the starter kits and more for the pods. A pre-filled pod vape usually costs less over time than disposable vapes but more than a refillable vape.

Who Should Buy a Pre-Filled Pod Vape?

You should buy a pre-filled pod vape if you want to save a little money compared to using disposable vapes but still want a device that’s very easy to use.

Refillable Pod Vapes

A refillable pod vape works like a pre-filled pod vape in that the e-liquid is stored in a removable plastic pod. When you buy a refillable vape, though, you fill your own pods using bottled vape juice. When a pod no longer provides acceptable flavor quality, you’ll replace it. Refillable pod vapes generally don’t give you the option of switching between refillable and pre-filled pods. However, the Innokin Klypse system is an exception to this rule. Klypse devices come with empty pods but also work with our Klypse C1 pre-filled pods.

Examples of Refillable Pod Vapes

Benefits of Refillable Pod Vapes

• They’re small, light and portable.
• They work with all e-liquids and allow you to enjoy the widest possible variety of flavors.
• They’re typically optimized to use high-strength e-liquids and are very satisfying for smokers, but they also work with lower strengths.
• They usually cost less over time than pre-filled vapes, although the starter kits may cost a little more.

Drawbacks of Refillable Pod Vapes

• Refillable vapes require more maintenance than pre-filled vapes and are therefore not as convenient.

Who Should Buy a Refillable Pod Vape?

You should buy a refillable pod vape if you want a small and discreet vape that has low recurring costs and allows you to enjoy the widest possible variety of nicotine strengths. Also, you should be okay with the fact that the device will require a little more maintenance compared to pre-filled vapes.

Cigalikes

Cigalikes are the only types of vapes that look like tobacco cigarettes. You’re likely to find them at supermarkets and convenience stores. A cigalike stores its e-liquid in a filter-shaped cartridge that typically lasts around a day. When the cartridge is out of e-liquid, you’ll throw it away and replace it with a new one.

Benefits of Cigalikes

• They’re small enough to hold between two fingers. Some models are even light enough that you can let them dangle from your mouth.
• No other type of vape looks more like a conventional cigarette.
• The prices for the starter kits and refill cartridges are usually fairly low.

Drawbacks of Cigalikes

• They produce less vapor than other types of vapes, so some people may find them less satisfying.
• The refill cartridges don’t last very long.

Who Should Buy a Cigalike?

You should buy a cigalike if you don’t want to use any type of vape except one that looks like a real cigarette.

Vape Pens

A vape pen like the Innokin Endura Apex is a cylindrical vaping device that looks a bit like a pen or small cigar and stores its e-liquid in a twist-on or built-in tank rather than a push-in pod. In addition, while pod vapes use plastic pods, the tank for a vape pen is usually glass.

Examples of Vape Pens

Benefits of Vape Pens

• Compared to refillable pod vapes, vape pens typically produce slightly larger clouds.
• Some people find that vape pens have higher flavor quality compared to pod vapes since they store their e-liquid in glass rather than plastic.
• They often have adjustable airflow, allowing them to support multiple inhaling styles.

Drawbacks of Vape Pens

• They tend to be a little larger and heavier than pod vapes.
• They usually have replaceable coils. Replacing a coil is a little less convenient than discarding and replacing an entire pod.

Who Should Buy a Vape Pen?

You should buy a vape pen if you’re a heavier smoker and are concerned that a small device like a disposable vape or pod system won’t provide enough vapor to satisfy you.

Vape Mods

Vape mods are the largest, most complex and most powerful vaping devices on the market. They have high-capacity battery cells and can operate at very high wattages. The Innokin Kroma 217, for example, uses a single removable battery and has a maximum power of 100 watts. A vape mod typically has a box-like shape and stores its e-liquid in a large glass tank.

Examples of Vape Mods

Benefits of Vape Mods

• They operate at higher power levels and produce bigger clouds than all other types of vapes.
• They may have a variety of advanced features that most other vapes don’t have, such as automatic temperature limiting and alternative forms of power delivery.
• They work with third-party vape tanks and are the most customizable vapes on the market.

Drawbacks of Vape Mods

• They’re usually more complicated than other types of vapes and generally aren’t best for beginning vapers.
• They’re larger and heavier than other vapes.
• They’re often optimized for low-nicotine e-liquids and are set up to use the direct-to-lung inhaling style. For that reason, they typically don’t produce a cigarette-like throat hit. That can be a drawback if you’re new to vaping and are looking for an experience that feels like smoking.

Who Should Buy a Vape Mod?

You should buy a vape mod if you’re an experienced vaper who doesn’t mind using a more complicated device and are more interested in bold flavors and big clouds than throat hit.

Pod Mods

A pod mod is a more powerful version of a refillable pod vape. Like traditional pod vapes, pod mods store their e-liquid in plastic pods rather than glass tanks. Pod mods are larger than traditional pod systems, though, and they can operate at higher power levels. For example, the Innokin Coolfire PZPulse operates at up to 80 watts. A pod mod has a unique blend of features that essentially combines the best aspects of vape mods and traditional pod vapes.

Examples of Pod Mods

Benefits of Pod Mods

• They’re nearly as powerful as vape mods while still being relatively small and light.
• Many people find that they’re sleeker and more visually appealing than vape mods.

Drawbacks of Pod Mods

• They generally work only with the pods designed for them and aren’t compatible with third-party tanks.
• They’re a bit more complicated than traditional pod vapes and may not be best for beginners.

Who Should Buy a Pod Mod?

You should buy a pod mod if you’re an experienced vaper and want a device that combines the sleek size of a pod vape with the increased vapor production of a vape mod.

Herbal Vapes

The most common type of vaping involves using e-liquid – usually but not always containing nicotine – as a replacement for cigarette smoking. There’s another side of vaping, though, which involves the use of herbal extracts such as CBD vape oils. Many of our devices work very well as 510-thread vape pens for cartridges. We have also partnered with Sunakin to produce a range of high-quality CBD-based pod systems.